June 25.
Haizaki ended his five-day outing and returned to Villa No. 5 in the Wuhua City villa district.
During his time in Japan, aside from visiting the Yokosuka Base, he had also gone to the Sasebo Naval Base, Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Yokota Air Base, and several other important U.S. military bases stationed in Japan.
He mainly did two things.
Taking photos, and dismantling hard drives he considered valuable.
The hard drives were labeled for easy identification.
In addition to visiting U.S. bases in Japan, Haizaki planned to head north to Russia within the Eastern Union's sphere, spending some time paying attention to Russian military bases.
As for the remaining countries, he would decide later depending on the situation.
These materials and intelligence were the most valuable capital he could obtain in the "Solitary Apocalypse" world to increase his credibility.
To unite the world in facing the apocalypse, he had to start by gaining the trust of the Eastern Union—step by step, one country at a time.
If global military transparency could be achieved, it would allow the world to take a substantial step toward the goal of human unity.
Haizaki now had a rough framework in mind.
What remained was to see what level of strength and skills the system could grant him.
...
By the time Haizaki drove back from the air force base to the villa, it was already close to ten o'clock at night.
The villa was quiet—seemingly… empty.
If he hadn't seen a faint light coming from Utaha's bedroom window outside the villa, Haizaki would have thought she was gone.
At least she was still here…
Haizaki let out a sigh of relief.
By now, things should be… fine, right?
That was his guess.
As for going to Utaha's room to check on her, Haizaki hesitated.
He wanted to end this cold war, but he couldn't bring himself to speak first.
And for the proud, high-spirited girl to take the initiative and break the deadlock?
Haizaki felt that possibility was even lower than his doing so.
Thinking of this, he shook his head, pushed those thoughts aside, opened the villa door, and walked toward his room with his backpack, deliberately minimizing his footsteps.
"Click…"
The light came on, filling the room with white brightness.
The room was clean and tidy, unchanged from when he had left.
"I can finally sleep properly."
Five days of rough travel, with harsh living conditions—he hadn't even been able to sleep well.
Every day he had been busy taking photos, climbing up and down, squeezing in and out of tight spaces. He felt noticeably drained, and his legs were sore for the first time in a long while.
Originally, with the increasing number of military bases he was visiting, Haizaki should have extended his time away.
But when he thought of the promise he had made to Utaha—five days away—
He valued promises.
Even if the girl didn't care, since he had made the promise to her, he would do his best to return within five days.
Back in his room, Haizaki quickly stripped off his foul-smelling clothes and, holding a pair of underwear, headed for the shared bathroom outside his room.
In Villa No. 5, only the master bedroom used by Utaha had a private bathroom. The rest were shared.
He turned on the tap. Water rushed down from the showerhead, and before long, the temperature rose and steam filled the air.
"Hah… that feels good…"
Hot water poured from head to toe, and Haizaki relaxed completely.
Fifteen minutes later, the shower ended. He put on his underwear, draped a towel over himself, opened the bathroom door, and walked toward his room.
"Click…"
The girl's bedroom door opened, and light from inside slipped through the gap.
Haizaki subconsciously stopped.
Seeing her again after five days—for Haizaki, who had been constantly on the move—felt like a very long time had passed.
"You're back."
This was the first time in half a month that Utaha had spoken first. Her flat tone made it impossible for Haizaki to gauge her mood.
"Mm…"
Her long black hair was messy, covering most of her face, so Haizaki couldn't clearly see her expression.
Silence began to spread.
Only the faint dripping sound of water from the bathroom remained.
Standing at her doorway, Utaha simply stared at Haizaki.
Haizaki clearly sensed her hesitation, her unspoken words—and he was the same. Several times he wanted to speak, to break the silence and ease the tension between them, but each time the words reached his lips, he couldn't go any further.
Neither spoke. Neither moved. They remained exactly as they were.
In the end, Haizaki made a decision.
Let it cool down a bit more.
His hesitation made him realize he still couldn't take the initiative to break the deadlock between them.
"I'll head back first. Get some rest."
A standard, polite farewell.
As soon as the words fell, Haizaki turned and walked toward his room.
One step.
Two steps.
The girl behind him still made no sound.
Haizaki let out a self-mocking smile inwardly.
In some ways, he was also the type of man who stubbornly clung to his pride.
"Click…"
Haizaki grabbed the handle and twisted it, the crisp sound of the door opening ringing out.
"I thought you…"
Haizaki froze, left with only his heartbeat and breathing.
"…weren't coming back."
Her voice carried sobbing mixed with panicked, trembling cries.
He turned his head and looked at her.
Only then did Haizaki finally see Utaha clearly.
Her black hair was dull and lifeless, dark circles heavy beneath her eyes.
Her refined face looked gray and drained, her red lips cracked, her entire body radiating exhaustion and weariness…
Tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes.
A sense of—
Heartache.
He never would have imagined that in just the five days he was gone, this girl who once lived so delicately would end up in such a miserable state.
"Bang…"
The sound of a door slamming shut echoed.
The girl disappeared from his sight.
Haizaki was stunned.
In the end, he let out a deep sigh.
If Utaha had been half a second slower,
He might have spoken first.
But in the end…
That sound of the door closing cut off his words.
And the impulse to speak vanished with it.
"Serves me right for being single."
Haizaki laughed at himself. He had no intention of finding a girlfriend, but that didn't mean he didn't understand what men were supposed to do in relationships.
He knew exactly what the right choice was.
One step forward, and he could have embraced the beauty, become the kind of person others envied.
But he chose to stop.
Someone like him being called "deservingly single" was only natural.
In the end, Haizaki returned to his room.
After a few days—after Utaha had calmed down—he would talk to her properly.
Going now wouldn't be appropriate.
He was afraid…
Afraid that her feelings toward him, and her attitude, might change drastically.
...