In front of the house entrance, two figures stood wearing thick winter clothes.
Azlan wore a dark layered jacket with the blue scarf Akane gave him wrapped around his neck. Akane herself appeared in a cream-colored jacket that made her pale skin stand out more, complete with a knitted hat and gloves.
"This will be our first long trip. Don't push yourself, Azlan-kun. If you feel tired, just say so you can rest."
Akane was busy straightening Azlan's slightly tilted hat while arranging his scarf more neatly.
Their destination was Niigata Prefecture, more precisely to Gala Yuzawa—a ski resort that was once the most popular and most easily accessible from Tokyo by bullet train.
In the flat Tokyo that didn't get enough snow for ski sports, there was indeed no other choice but to make the journey to the neighboring prefecture.
"You're more nagging than my mother used to be, Akane."
Unable to stand being treated like a child, Azlan couldn't help but complain.
"How mean. Rather than mother, comparing with a girlfriend is more suitable for a young girl like me, you know!" Akane replied while puffing her cheeks, a pouty expression clearly dissatisfied.
Azlan quickly changed the topic, turning around and pushing the steel door. The cold winter air immediately greeted them.
"Let's go. Although the travel time shouldn't be long thanks to my flying ability, I don't know the way. Even with a map, finding the exact location can take time."
"About that, Azlan-kun doesn't need to worry. I have a good idea."
Akane who followed him out only pulled the door closed, without locking it. In a world where the existence of other humans was still a big question mark, worry about thieves was unnecessary.
"What idea?" Azlan asked while focusing his mind.
*ZING!*
A pair of pale blue wings manifestation of Divine Dividing began to spread from his back.
"To get to Niigata Prefecture, we just fly following the Shinkansen route. The bullet train rails surely lead to major stations and eventually to the mountainous area in Niigata. We just need to follow them from the air. That's far more efficient than trying to read a map that might already be inaccurate. What do you think?"
Contemplating for a moment, Azlan felt the idea was worthy.
"I never thought of that. That's a good idea. Let's do it like that."
"I'm ready. Carry me anytime."
Akane spread both her arms toward Azlan like a small child asking to be carried.
"..."
Azlan approached her, wrapping one arm around Akane's back and the other under her knees, lifting her easily in a princess carry.
Akane immediately responded by wrapping her arms around Azlan's neck, trying to press herself closer for more security.
*WHOOSH!*
The light wings on Azlan's back flapped strongly, lifting them both from the skyscraper rooftop. With controlled speed, they began to float above the silent Tokyo city covered in thin snow, flying toward the nearest train station.
"Hey, Azlan-kun. I'm not heavy, right? Lately I've been eating well... I think my weight increased a bit." Akane asked with a worried tone.
There was no woman who was truly indifferent about her weight, and Akane was no exception. The peaceful life with Azlan made her lead a relaxed lifestyle until she began to worry about not maintaining her weight.
"Don't worry, Akane. Even if you become fat like a pig, I can still carry you easily considering my current physical strength."
"Who are you calling a pig?!" Akane exclaimed, her cheeks that were initially pale from cold immediately turned red with anger. "That will never happen!"
Clearly, Azlan's words were like stepping on a landmine. The annoyed Akane immediately pinched his cheek gently.
"Ahem... I misspoke." Azlan corrected quickly, realizing his mistake. "I mean, your weight hasn't changed. Your weight is exactly the same as when we first met."
"Really? You're not lying?" Akane asked, her tone still full of suspicion.
"It's all true."
Seeing the sincerity in Azlan's eyes that weren't lying, Akane finally believed.
A warm sense of relief spread in her chest. She hugged Azlan's neck a bit tighter, enjoying their air journey toward a new adventure over the white expanse of Niigata Prefecture.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Travel time from Tokyo to Niigata Prefecture by Shinkansen was usually about 75 minutes. However, with Azlan's flying speed that could take a straight line without land obstacles, they only needed 40 minutes.
They floated above the rail tracks that were sometimes covered in snow, crossing countryside and mountain views blanketed in white, a peaceful panorama that contrasted with the city's silence.
Akane, who had visited Gala Yuzawa in the past, carefully guided the direction. Throughout the day, she had investigated and verified that the geography and history of this world, at least physically, was no different from her own world—a finding she repeatedly confirmed with Azlan's help exploring maps and road signs.
Akane got down from Azlan's carry, her feet landing on thick clean snow piles. She looked around, her eyes sparkling.
"We're here! Oh my, this is amazing! I've been here several times, but never this empty. All the lifts, all the shops... everything frozen in time."
The view before them was truly surreal. Gala Yuzawa, which used to be crowded by foreign and local tourists every winter, was now truly deserted.
Snow piled on the wide mountain slopes, forming pure white expanses untouched. The resort infrastructure—main building, restaurants, and gondolas—were all intact, only frozen in post-apocalyptic silence. Even Titans and zombies weren't seen at all.
"So different from my memory."
Akane was slightly melancholic. However, she immediately shook her head, dismissing those memories.
"But, this is good! It means we have the entire resort to ourselves! Come on, the first thing we need to do is find equipment."
"We need to stop by the ski gear store. Although empty, those stores surely still exist and their goods are still good."
Akane pulled Azlan's arm, walking along a path clean of footprints toward a large building labeled Rental & Pro Shop. Just like in Tokyo, the store was empty, items neatly arranged as if awaiting customers.
"I'll choose for you. Azlan-kun, you don't know anything about skiing, right?" Akane smiled teasingly.
"Don't know." Azlan admitted, his eyes looking confused at various types of boards, boots, and poles lined up.
"Okay, first, we need ski boots."
Akane immediately entered the instructor role. She carefully checked Azlan's shoe size and took a pair of sturdy ski boots.
"Try this. Feel how your toe tips and heels are. Must be snug, not loose, but also not painful."
After several tries, they found the right size. Next, Akane chose a pair of all-mountain skis suitable for Azlan's height and estimated weight.
"For beginners, skis that are slightly shorter and flexible are easier to control."
While handing over the board, she also took a pair of ski poles and protective goggles.
For herself, Akane quickly chose equipment she remembered suited her.
"Well, now we're ready! Usually we have to take the gondola to the top, now we go up there!" Akane pointed toward the motionless gondola. "Usually we would ride that for ten minutes to the beginner hill top."
Azlan didn't need to be told twice. He hugged Akane again in the princess carry position that had now become a habit, and Divine Dividing wings appeared again.
"We'll fly to the gentle slope, the area most suitable for beginners." Akane guided, pointing to a hill that wasn't too steep.
*WHOOSH!*
They shot into the air, diving quickly past frozen gondola poles, gliding over snow-covered pine forests. In a few seconds, they were already at the beginner slope peak.
After landing, Akane nimbly attached her skis.
"Okay, first lesson: how to stand and glide." She stood with skis parallel, knees slightly bent. "Try to follow my position. Weight in the center, not too far back or forward."
Azlan followed her instructions. He felt strange. The body balance he usually controlled perfectly now felt foreign.
"Good! Now, to walk or climb a bit, we make the skis V-shaped, like this." Akane demonstrated the herringbone. "Ski tips open, tails together. This is to grip the snow."
Azlan followed, his movements slightly stiff but accurate.
"Then, to turn, we use basic turning technique: stem turn. Shift weight to the outer ski, and point the ski tip slightly inward, like this." Akane glided slowly a few meters and made a simple turn.
Azlan observed, then tried. His first attempt was somewhat rough, and he almost fell, but with quick reflexes, he balanced himself.
"Great! Try again!" Akane encouraged.
After several practice rounds, Azlan began to understand the feel. The lesson then continued to how to stop oneself with snowplough or braking by forming an inverted V.
"Don't be afraid to fall, Azlan-kun! Falling is part of learning to ski!" Akane shouted when Azlan for the first time glided quite fast and successfully braked quite well, though his body swayed.
After about half an hour of basic practice on the very gentle slope, Akane decided they were ready for something a bit more challenging.
"Want to try a steeper slope? Don't worry, I'll be beside you."
They moved to the blue slope (medium). This was where the real fun began to be felt.
Azlan, who was starting to gain confidence, began to enjoy the sensation of gliding on snow, the wind hitting his face, and the freedom of movement on the white expanse. He wasn't as fast or agile as Akane, who gracefully turned and glided as if dancing with the slope, but he could follow stably.
"Look, Azlan-kun! You're so amazing!" Akane laughed cheerfully when they both stopped at the slope edge, their breath forming small clouds in the cold air.
They spent the next few hours exploring various different slopes (always avoiding the too extreme ones). The sound of Akane's clear laughter and occasionally satisfied smiles on Azlan's face broke the mountain silence.
For a moment, they weren't two survivors in a destroyed world, but just a pair of teenagers enjoying a winter vacation, forgetting all dangers and sorrows, drowning in the simplicity and joy of the present moment.