"You don't know?"
Haizaki deliberately let out a mocking laugh.
"There's actually something you, Utaha, don't know?"
Utaha was stunned.
"I'm not a god. Of course there are things I don't know."
She was already prepared to apologize, but she was still unwilling to soften her tone completely. She needed a way out.
"Aren't you a goddess? A goddess worshipped by countless boys—how could you not be a god? How could you not know?"
Her heart pounded violently. Thinking back now, she realized her actions had indeed been impulsive. Men needed an outlet, especially someone like Haizaki, who was in the prime of youth and vitality.
"What exactly are you trying to say? What do you want to do?"
Utaha clenched her teeth. At worst, she thought, it would just be violation—something she had already considered before.
At least she had lived safely for two months. If the other party was Haizaki, she could treat it as repayment for saving her life back then.
Yet deep down, she still felt unwilling.
She only hoped that physical intimacy could be built upon emotional connection. She longed to have a perfect love in this lonely world.
"If it's my body, then I…"
With human society already collapsed, even if she were not beautiful and stunning—even if she were an ugly old sow—Utaha was certain that men would still turn into starving wolves and pounce to hunt.
But… faced with the girl's resigned reaction, Haizaki was dumbfounded.
He had only meant to intimidate her a little, to make her apologize and understand the inappropriateness of her behavior.
But why, after two months together, did Utaha still think he was after her body?
Did beautiful girls all suffer from severe persecution delusions?
Fatigue and exhaustion struck Haizaki's heart. His mental energy deflated like a punctured balloon, vanishing in an instant.
He suddenly felt extremely tired.
Somewhat… lonely.
"In your eyes, is that the kind of person I am?"
Haizaki's voice was calm, carrying a trace of exhaustion.
He was tired.
"Even now, you still think I crave your body?"
Utaha's expression changed. Shock appeared on her face, and the rising sense of panic warned her that she might have done something wrong.
"Just because I'm a man and you're a woman, you assume that I want to violate you, to possess you?"
Without giving her a chance to interrupt, Haizaki continued calmly, "And I don't even have the right to deny it, because any denial would just be seen as a false excuse."
"Is that fair?"
"That… isn't fair."
Haizaki took a deep breath and let out a self-mocking smile.
"You have a dignified face and a graceful figure. You're adored by boys, and because you're beautiful, you can act however you want."
"And I—because I'm a man—even when facing your questions, I must be magnanimous and gentlemanly, because men are supposed to yield to women. Isn't that what you believe? Isn't that the unspoken rule society defaults to?"
"To hell with those unspoken rules. I quit."
Each word was spoken clearly and forcefully, venting the negative emotions Haizaki had suppressed for a long time.
In his previous life's apocalypse, surrounded by constant danger, watching familiar people die one after another, enduring… an entire year of overwhelming mental pressure…
If not to obtain more intelligence about the apocalypse and mutated creatures, if not to ensure that humanity could gain the greatest advantage after the single chance of time travel and minimize losses, he would have activated time travel long ago and escaped that oppressive, bloody world of death.
Less than a day after returning through time travel, he entered the "Solitary Apocalypse" again. For two straight months, he trained and studied mechanically, all to improve his strength and gain a greater chance of survival.
He worked hard. He endured. But… but…
Deep in his heart, he hoped that the only companion before him could understand him a little, bring him some warmth—yet she believed he was coveting her body.
"There is no longer any human society in this world. No human civilization."
"The current me no longer needs to be bound by law or morality."
Haizaki knew he had turned Utaha into an outlet, a target for displaced anger.
But he couldn't stop. Once the tightly guarded defenses cracked, the surging flood of emotions broke through the dam, crashing endlessly.
"But I want to tell you this: I am human, not a beast. I have principles and bottom lines. I have my own convictions. Since you can never trust me and insist on believing I desire your body, then… from now on, our lives will not interfere with each other."
After throwing out his final words, Haizaki turned around and left the girl's room without hesitation.
Inside the room, Utaha stared wide-eyed. Her trembling heart drove her to reach out, wanting to stop Haizaki, but her legs seemed magically fixed in place, unable to move.
She had never expected Haizaki to erupt like this. Days of exhaustion and pressure had finally pushed him to the breaking point.
She wanted to apologize, but… was a single apology really enough?
"Sorry…"
Her red lips trembled, tears quivering in her eyes. The distressed girl lacked the courage to chase after him and apologize. She could only stand there alone, expressing her guilt in silence.
...
June 12
A sunny day.
As Utaha gradually woke up, an unshakable gloom lingered in her heart.
She woke up an hour earlier than usual.
Twenty minutes later, after washing up, she went to the dining room.
The dining table was empty.
The kitchen was clean and tidy.
Her chest tightened.
Normally, breakfast would be kept warm on the table, and unwashed bowls and pots would be left in the kitchen. But now… everything was gone.
Haizaki was truly angry.
"What… can I eat?"
Her cool, hesitant voice carried a hint of confusion.
Haizaki usually prepared breakfast, carefully balancing nutrition and taste.
But now… there was nothing, and she had no desire to make anything complicated.
In the end, she obediently took out instant noodles and sausage from the storage room.
She couldn't think of anything else to eat.
Utaha opened the noodles, tore open the seasoning packet, and poured in hot water.
Three minutes later, the familiar aroma of instant noodles spread through the air—but she felt nauseated, even a bit sick.
She hadn't eaten instant noodles for a long time. Why did she suddenly feel such intense nausea?
She was puzzled, though deep down, she already knew the answer.
Enduring the discomfort in her stomach, Utaha quickly finished the noodles and went to the neighboring Villa No. 4. She needed to tend to the chickens, ducks, and geese.
There were nine chickens. Four of them were already ready for slaughter.
But she had never intended to kill them.
Yet at this moment, Utaha suddenly wondered if it might be better to kill one.
Haizaki wanted to eat fresh chicken.
The moment she thought of this, she realized how much Haizaki had cared for and accommodated her.
"Sorry, Saburo. I don't want to kill you, but…"
Utaha held a kitchen knife, trembling.
The nine chickens—long accustomed to her care and closeness—seemed to sense something. They clucked loudly, flapping their wings as they moved away.
They didn't want to die.
"I, I…"
Feathers scattered in the dusty air. Utaha gritted her teeth and took a step forward.
"Cluck, cluck, cluck…"
The cries grew louder.
"I, I…"
"Clang…"
The knife fell to the ground. Utaha fled Villa No. 4 as if escaping.
She really was useless. She couldn't do anything.
...