Haizaki put down the scalpel, pulled over a chair, and sat straight down, his breathing somewhat rapid. He was truly exhausted. His right hand could barely be lifted.
Haizaki glanced at the clock not far away—it was already six o'clock. After dinner, he had spent more than an hour dissecting a mutant that had been left under the sun. He shook his right hand, trying to relax the tense muscles.
Dissection was a task that tested both physical strength and willpower. The mutant exposed to sunlight had varying degrees of cracking on its surface. After dissection, he found its internal organs had suffered a certain degree of dehydration.
Biological instinct drives creatures to avoid danger. On clear days, mutants instinctively hid in dark places. That was probably why he hadn't encountered mutants on the streets during the day these past two days.
In some sense, they were nocturnal creatures. But in non-clear weather, they could still come out. Why this phenomenon occurred, Haizaki suspected, was inseparable from the crystallization virus. The specifics would have to be studied later.
After resting briefly, Haizaki cleaned the scalpel with alcohol, then stored it away.
When Haizaki returned to the villa, Yukino was sitting in the living room reading. On the table in front of her lay several literary anthologies and a handgun. She had developed self-protection awareness. The gun never left her side.
"Finished?"
Noticing Haizaki's return, Yukino put down her book and looked at him.
"Mm. I'll go wash up at the pond…"
Haizaki pointed outside toward the pond. Washing up would make him sleep more peacefully tonight. The bloody images of limbs and organs still flashed in his mind from time to time.
"Bathing? Isn't it too cold now?"
"It's fine. Not too cold."
Haizaki carried clothes, a basin, and other daily items out of the villa.
Yukino watched his departing figure, thinking about bathing herself. With the villa's water and electricity cut off, the only option was the nearby pond. But the thought of bathing outdoors…
Yukino decided against it. She knew Haizaki was unlikely to peek, but imagining herself naked at the empty pond made her uncomfortable.
"Sigh, I wish there were places where the water still ran…" Even cold water would be acceptable.
Unlike Yukino, who hesitated and gave up, Haizaki quickly washed himself. His gun was placed within sight. His attention stayed on the surroundings. It wasn't yet time for mutants to roam, but wild animals were still a threat. He had to stay cautious.
…
Night fell. Haizaki modified the villa, setting up many obstacles in the yard to block possible mutant intrusions. All doors and windows on the first and second floors were locked. If mutants broke in, the second-floor hall windows would be the best entry point. Haizaki placed obstacles there too.
In short, everything that could be done was done. The SUV was parked in a suitable position. If the villa couldn't hold, he and Yukino could escape by car. But that was the last resort. He hoped mutants wouldn't appear.
"Rest early. I'll keep watch, don't worry."
Seeing the girl still awake, Haizaki reminded her.
They were in the largest room on the first floor. In the center, a fire burned, releasing warmth and light. Yukino's delicate face was flushed red, like an apple.
Today, Haizaki and Yukino had found unopened blankets in a supermarket. Sleeping bags were convenient, but not good for mobility. If mutants attacked, blankets were more practical.
"Mm, good night."
Yukino gave Haizaki one last look, then closed her eyes.
"Good night…"
Her breathing gradually steadied. In the distance, faint wolf howls echoed. Duke must be living freely now. Perhaps one day, he would become a wolf king. Thinking of this, Haizaki smiled.
…
Something cold touched him. Startled, Haizaki opened his eyes.
"Ah…"
Yukino jumped back, frightened, her body instinctively retreating.
"You… you're awake…"
Haizaki realized what had happened.
"Mm. No mutants last night. This area probably doesn't have them…"
But Haizaki believed that over time, mutants from other regions would gradually enter their area. They couldn't relax.
Yukino noticed his gaze linger on her right hand, and her face flushed. Earlier that morning, she had found Haizaki asleep. Watching his sleeping face, she didn't know why, but she had leaned closer and touched his cheek. She hadn't expected him to wake at that moment. It filled her with shame.
Luckily, Haizaki said nothing. Otherwise, she wouldn't know how to respond.
"From now on, you don't need to keep watch…" Yukino said.
But Haizaki shook his head.
"Necessary vigilance is still needed. But at night, we can sleep in separate rooms."
His tone was calm.
"Don't lock the doors, just in case…"
Yukino's hand twitched, but the words of refusal stuck in her throat. She accepted his decision silently.
"I understand."
"After breakfast, I'll teach you handgun shooting. Be prepared."
She nodded. In a world threatened by mutants, being skilled with firearms meant protecting herself and helping Haizaki.
During the attack two nights ago, if her shooting had been better, she could have eased Haizaki's burden. Without the husky and female wolf's help, Haizaki might have been…
Yukino recalled the moment Haizaki was knocked down by a mutant, his calm eyes suggesting he might have been infected with the crystallization virus. That cold despair, like the sky collapsing, was something she never wanted to feel again.
She shook her head, casting away distracting thoughts. She needed to improve herself quickly, to adapt to this world.
…
"The night before last, you experienced a handgun firsthand…"
At the makeshift training ground, Haizaki began teaching Yukino how to shoot.
"Handguns are the smallest firearms in terms of weight and size, but their operation isn't as simple as you might think. The other night, it was probably just luck that nothing went wrong."
-----
Gimme your stones, please.
( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀)