For Haizaki's left ankle to fully recover would take several days.
During this period of recuperation, the daily schedule he had set for himself could be temporarily put on hold. Haizaki decided to shift the time he normally spent going out and training to theoretical study instead.
However, an unexpected situation arose.
"I want to learn how to drive."
Utaha said this to Haizaki.
"Sure."
After thinking it over briefly, Haizaki agreed.
They went to a driving school in Wuhua City, found a training vehicle, and Haizaki began teaching Utaha how to drive according to the procedures in the training manual.
One more skill meant one more layer of security.
If Utaha learned how to drive, things would be more convenient and easier for him in the future as well.
But reality was unpredictable.
Despite being a top student academically, Utaha frequently made mistakes when learning how to drive.
Once, twice—
And even now, problems still persisted.
There were even moments when the car nearly flipped over.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Haizaki was terrified, afraid that the next second they would overturn.
Flying a fighter jet had never made him as nervous and panicked as riding in the car of this novice female driver.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha-san… goddess… my lady, could you please spare me…"
Haizaki swallowed hard. He was genuinely frightened.
Female drivers truly lived up to their reputation as road killers.
Just now, they had almost flipped the car.
Driving straight but suddenly turning for no reason, nearly crashing into the wall beside them—if he hadn't reacted quickly and slammed on the brakes, the two of them might have ended up bleeding from head injuries.
"Haizaki, that was just an accident. You have to believe me."
"I've already believed you more than three times. If not for your sake, at least think about mine. I feel like your driving issues aren't something that can be solved by learning."
It wasn't that Utaha lacked comprehension.
It was that her ability to react in real situations was severely lacking.
Sometimes she even tried to be clever unnecessarily, leading directly to accidents.
The training vehicle they were using now was already the third one.
The first two had already sacrificed themselves for Utaha.
If this continued, she might be able to handle it—but he couldn't.
"I don't think this is a student problem."
Utaha turned her head toward the scenery outside the window and spoke softly.
Clearly, if it wasn't the student's problem, then it was the teacher's.
And the one teaching her to drive was Haizaki.
This woman was infuriating.
"As a coach, I also have my limits. How about this—I'll switch you to another vehicle. What do you think?"
"What kind of vehicle?"
"A Type 99A main battle tank."
Haizaki began introducing the advantages of this "vehicle."
"Nearly sixty tons of weight and over 400 millimeters of ceramic composite armor will fully meet your safety requirements."
"The low profile and powerful engine mean you won't fear any collisions while driving."
"Even if you run into traffic jams, it's no problem at all—just step on the accelerator and crush your way through."
"If that still isn't enough, you can use the 125-millimeter smoothbore cannon to eliminate anything ahead."
"Driving it, Kasumigaoka-san, you would unquestionably become the queen of the road."
Armored vehicles weren't enough—only a main battle tank could satisfy Utaha's driving needs.
"That actually sounds pretty good. Then I'll leave it to you."
Utaha turned to meet Haizaki's gaze and nodded.
She knew perfectly well that Haizaki was mocking her, but she thought it was fine.
A tank, right?
No problem at all.
She would drive a tank and conquer this man.
"You're serious?"
"Of course. I have no problem with it. I trust you. I'll drive a tank and become the strongest goddess on the road."
"Please don't. Kasumigaoka-san, if you really drive that thing, I think our villa is finished."
"Then shouldn't you teach me properly now? Come over here, closer. I'm not some kind of demon—am I really that scary?"
You're not a demon, but that doesn't mean you're not scary.
Still, Haizaki's final, helpless compromise caused a faint smile to appear at the corner of Utaha's lips.
Days like this didn't seem so bad.
Ordinary warm days filled with laughter.
If only this man could be a little more proactive—it would be perfect.
...
July 18, 2019.
During the fifteenth fighter-jet training session, Utaha asked to fly together with him.
This wasn't a commercial aircraft—it was fighter-jet training.
But he agreed.
After hurriedly studying parachuting knowledge, Haizaki also gave Utaha some related training.
To be honest, the training was extremely basic—just theoretical instruction.
Haizaki himself had only learned and mastered it at a general level.
The real reason he agreed this time was simply to let the girl experience an actual fighter-jet flight, so she would completely give up the idea of flying again.
Moreover, his own training with fighter jets was nearly complete.
"Once we're up there, if you feel uncomfortable at all, tell me immediately…"
"Understood. Don't worry. I remember everything I need to."
Utaha nodded.
At this moment, she was wearing a blue-gray flight suit, looking sharp and heroic, with a unique charm.
"But since this is such a rare opportunity, let's take a photo together?"
As a girl, how could Utaha not like taking photos—especially selfies?
Even with only the two of them left in the world, she still maintained this habit.
She carefully tended to the chickens and ducks, watered the tomatoes and potatoes, recording their daily changes and growth on her phone.
Of course, her phone contained far more photos of one particular person.
"Hurry up. Don't delay boarding."
Seeing Haizaki hesitate, Utaha urged him.
She affectionately wrapped her arm around his right arm and extended her phone forward.
"Ready? I'm taking it. Smile."
Seeing Haizaki's expression stiff, she reminded him.
"Smile… Smile for me, got it?"
Click.
The camera captured the two of them in their flight suits.
Haizaki had thought it would end after one photo, but he had clearly underestimated Utaha's enthusiasm in this area.
This woman—she had been the one urging him to board quickly, yet now she was completely absorbed in taking photos.
But he didn't refuse.
Their time… was still plentiful.
Sometimes, even Haizaki himself would unconsciously forget that he was in another world, immersing himself in this peaceful, tranquil life.
Next April, he and Utaha would leave this world.
She would forget everything that had happened in the "solitary apocalypse" world.
The more beautiful her smile was now, the heavier and more stifled his heart became.
This was the price he had to pay.
When a person chooses something, they are destined to lose something else.
The moment he chose to accept the Trans-Spatiotemporal Human Civilization Salvation System, it meant giving up the normal life he should have had.
No regrets—and no room for regret.
Someone had to make sacrifices for that apocalyptic future.
In his previous life, so many people—directly or indirectly—had sacrificed themselves to protect him, to keep him alive, to ensure the continuation of human civilization.
Now, it was his turn to shoulder that responsibility.
Next, it was time to learn new knowledge and master new skills.
...