A youth story of a passerby at the end of the world

But Uesugi Genshin wanted her to feel indebted to him, so he would continue to look for opportunities to help her.

Once you owe enough, you can never pay it back.

"And... um..." Ichinose Honami hesitated for a moment, then asked politely, "May I share it with my friend?"

It would be very impolite for her to give away a gift that someone had kindly given her as a token of gratitude.

“In that case…” Uesugi Genshin took out two more cans of food and placed them in Ichinose’s palm. “This is all we brought. It was originally intended as emergency food.”

Also, reserve food for the return trip.

"Huh? Huh! That's not what I meant." Honami Ichinose hurriedly tried to decline.

"But when you say sharing, how many people do you mean? Ichinose, you must have a lot of friends, after all, you're such a kind and beautiful girl. Although I agree to share, I'll be very distressed if you can only have one bite."

Uesugi Genshin casually closed the trunk and turned to Ichinose Honami with a smile.

"Hmm... things will get better and better from now on, I promise."

Honami Ichinose paused for a moment, blinked her big eyes, and said in a gentle voice, giving him a gentle smile, "Uesugi-kun, you're very kind."

"Kindness?" Uesugi Genshin tilted his head, somewhat disagreeing, but for now, he would silently accept Ichinose's praise.

Yukino Yukinoshita looked at him with mixed feelings, which reminded her of when Hayasaka first came to Soubu High School, and he was just as generous.

For every gain, there must be a loss.

"what......"

"What's wrong, Yukinoshita?" Uesugi Genshin looked at the beautiful woman beside him who was sighing and covering her forehead.

"...It's nothing." After casually denying it, Yukino Yukinoshita turned her face away and refused to look at him again.

"?" No, there must be something, right?

As his inquisitive face drew closer, Yukino Yukinoshita nodded vigorously to show she understood his intention, then made a dismissive gesture with her hand, as if to say, "I know, go away."

"Pfft..." Uesugi Genshin smiled, then he was relieved.

After that, they went into the conference room.

Inside was an oval-shaped long table. Horikita Manabu sat at the far end, while Uesugi Genshin and Yukino Yukinoshita had two seats opposite him.

The table was surrounded by adults, about a dozen people. Some were wearing work pants, had unshaven beards, small bellies, and dark skin. They were probably in their 30s or 40s. There was also a woman in her 3s, wearing impeccably tailored trousers, with the same scrutinizing expression on her face as the others.

On either side of the room stood students from Advanced Nurturing High School. After Ichinose Honami led them in, she also walked to the side and stood against the wall.

Although the student council is not important, Horikita Manabu still seems to allow students to audit his classes, and behind him stand two people, probably his direct subordinates.

Indeed, nothing is more trustworthy than classmates or peers in the same grade. After nearly three years of getting to know each other, we know each other inside and out.

If Uesugi Genshin were to do it, he would also use the people around him as his base, or rather, that's basically how it's always been done throughout history.

He also noticed that the person sitting closest to Horikita, the one sitting next to him and first in line, was also a student from Advanced Nurturing High School, a blond boy with a very frivolous demeanor.

Nanyun Ya.

Of all the students, only he was qualified to sit at the table like everyone else.

"Please have a seat." The waiter standing in front of the empty seat pulled out a chair for the guest to sit down.

The tall waiter was wearing the uniform of the Advanced Education High School, but what was most striking was his bald head and somewhat frightening face; when he got serious, he could definitely scare children to tears.

He seems to be in Class A of Grade 1.

After removing his sword and placing it on the table, Uesugi Genshin searched through his memories and sat down with Yukinoshita.

"This is the envoy from Soubu High School," Horikita Manabu introduced to the others.

But most people's attention was focused on the knife he had removed, and they only came to their senses when they heard Horikita's introduction.

"I heard you're in Chiba?" a middle-aged man with a round head and a towel around his neck asked.

“Yes, Chiba City.” Uesugi Genshin leaned back, exuding an air of ease.

"How many people are there?" asked another tall, thin man wearing square-framed glasses.

"Approximately 500 people."

“500…” That’s a considerable number, but still far fewer than here. He pressed on, “Then how many of you are capable of fighting?”

"More than 30 people, each with the blood of dozens, nearly a hundred zombies on their hands."

"It's actually several tens..."

The others looked at each other. Although nearly a hundred of them were able to go out, no one dared to guarantee that half, no, a quarter of them would have such a record. Most of them probably only had a dozen or twenty kills.

A team once used the terrain to clear out all the zombies on a path, but that was a clever trick; what if the other side did the same...?

"Where's the evidence?" one person asked, and he, or rather the others, were somewhat skeptical.

“Let me think.” Uesugi Genshin placed his hand on the table and looked around at the people. “We’ve been to the 1st Helicopter Regiment’s base in Kisarazu City. The armory there was destroyed; nothing was left. We’ve also been to the 1st Airborne Regiment’s base in Narashino City. There were a lot of zombies there, and everything was taken. We only found some ammunition there. We’ve also been to the Chiba City Police Headquarters. They must have been mobilized as soon as the commotion started. There weren’t many zombies there, but there wasn’t much equipment left either.”

"When we met, you had just returned from Kisarazu City?" Horikita Manabu asked curiously from across the room.

"Yes, actually the main purpose at the time was to find a ship, and scouting the Self-Defense Forces' base was just a side thing." After saying that, Uesugi Genshin crossed his legs and sat leisurely.

This series of examples is the most direct evidence, and Horikita Manabu also indirectly confirmed it. Everyone present chose to believe it, so it seems that the two visitors are both very important.

"I heard you can provide us with the food we desperately need?" the only woman asked anxiously.

"Yes."

"How will it be transported here?" It's dozens of kilometers from Tokyo to Chiba.

“We have a cargo ship and we plan to go to Tokyo soon, so we can dock here,” Uesugi Genshin explained to her.

"I heard it's a deal?" asked a very muscular middle-aged man with a beard.

"After all, these are supplies we found at great risk." Although it wasn't that hard work, it was right next to the school, so I can only say it had a good location.

However, the location of Advanced Nurturing High School is also very good, and Uesugi Genshin even wanted to exchange places with them if there weren't so many people.

"I have no objection." "A deal is possible." "I agree."

The people gathered around the table exchanged opinions.

One of them said with a bitter laugh, "As for trades, it seems we don't have much left. What you want, we might not have."

This is a fact.

The shortage of resources was originally caused by the large number of people.

"Miss Accountant, is there anything we're missing?" Without an answer, Uesugi Genshin turned to Yukinoshita for a question.

Only then did the others realize that the beautiful young woman sitting next to them was actually an accountant, who was probably in charge of finances.

“…Hmm.” After thinking for a moment, Yukino Yukinoshita guessed what the other person was thinking, so she said in a cooperative tone, “Recently, the scope of activities of Soubu High School has expanded, and we are a little short of people.”

“Humans.” Nodding to indicate that he understood, this was the tacit understanding between him and Yukinoshita. Uesugi Genshin then looked at everyone present, “As our accountant said, we need some labor. Since we are mostly students, we only hope that young people will join us. If some students from Advanced Nurturing High School could join us, it would be a good bridge for further cooperation between the two sides, wouldn’t it?”

Everyone present looked at Horikita Manabu, because his other identity was the student council president of the school, and he was the first person in charge after the chairman's sacrifice.

“I have no objection.” After agreeing with Uesugi Genshin’s proposal, Horikita Manabu said to the representatives around him, “Thank you all for attending. I will take care of the details and discuss them with the envoy from Soubu High School.”

Although they were trying to get rid of people, no one else objected. The important matter had been confirmed, and Horikita Manabu's reputation was also a factor. They looked at each other, nodded, and then left.

As for why the representatives were asked to leave, Horikita Manabu was afraid that Uesugi would offer more tempting conditions to pressure him into agreeing to more specific demands.

Seeing the regretful expression on the other person's face, Horikita Manabu realized once again that the other person was indeed an outstanding talent.

"That was a really quick reaction." Uesugi Genshin tilted his head toward Yukinoshita and complained to her.

“The other party isn’t stupid either. Anyway, you’ve already achieved your goal, haven’t you?” Yukino Yukinoshita gently turned her head, lecturing him in a lecturing tone not to be too greedy.

"...Sort of."

Chapter 254: Come to me, and you'll be the vice president.

This was the situation he had originally hoped to achieve.

Ultimately, whether or not someone joins depends on their own wishes. If they are unwilling, wouldn't he be in an awkward position?

According to his observation, only first-year students are likely to go with him.

It's been less than a month since the start of the semester. I've only just gotten to know my classmates, become familiar with this unfamiliar campus, and started building my own social circle.

To say that I have a deep affection for this school would be a lie.

How much affection remains depends on Horikita Manabu's behavior over the past month.

"Next, I'll talk about something related to our school." Horikita Manabu tapped the table with his knuckles and looked to both sides. "Please sit down first."

Only then did Uesugi Genshin have time to properly observe the students of Advanced Nurturing High School.

Those who quickly sat down first mostly surrounded the two people opposite them, that is, the seats near Horikita Manabu and Nangumo Masaru.

Uesugi Genshin was unfamiliar with these faces, or even completely unfamiliar with them, but he could roughly guess that these were the second and third-year students who were gathered around the two of them.

There weren't many seats left, so we strolled over slowly and mostly sat on Uesugi Genshin's side.

That fierce-looking bald guy should be Katsuragi from Class A of the first year. Although he has a face that kids would call an uncle, he is actually a decent person. He was sitting in a seat a little further away.

Then came Ichinose Honami. She smiled kindly at Uesugi Genshin and sat down next to Yukinoshita, even pulling up a stool to get a little closer. Yukinoshita also has a "cat-loving" quality, and this intimate feeling reminded him of Yui.

Next was a fox-eyed girl, whose purplish-red pupils made her even more charming, but the cold expression on her face and the aura she exuded that seemed to say "don't talk to me" gave people a feeling of keeping them at arm's length.

Her youthful, full legs were adorned with equally distinctive black stockings, highlighting that she was different from ordinary high school girls. This girl with long, straight black hair, who bore a striking resemblance to Yukino Yukinoshita, must be Horikita Manabu's younger sister—Horikita Suzune.

He wasn't sure whether Horikita Manabu was putting his sister under his nose or whether she was there because of her own merit and status.

Two people were left unseated because one of them had difficulty moving around. Her petite body gave her a frail and delicate appearance. She leaned on a cane, like a fragile piece of glass. She was a girl as delicate as a white porcelain doll, a first-year student from Class A, named Sakayanagi Arisu.

The calm and composed purple-haired girl behind her was following closely, not out of enthusiasm, but rather in an atmosphere similar to that of Shinomiya and Hayasaka. Of course, the other girl was not a maid, but more like a dog.

Her thighs, which she showed off without any hesitation, had not an ounce of excess fat. Even in her school uniform, you could still see her taut waist and toned figure.

The sound of her cane tapping the ground seemed to indicate that Sakayanagi Arisu was about to sit down.

Uesugi Genshin also withdrew his gaze from her attendant, Kamuro Masumi, who was looking past her.

To be honest, the small number of people made him a little disheartened. He turned to Horikita Manabu across from him and asked, "Is this all the first-year student representatives?"

“…Representative? Uesugi-kun.” Having somehow learned his name, Nagumo Masashi smiled. “There aren’t any representatives among the first-year students. Most of these students volunteer to help out in the student council.”

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Sakayanagi Arisu and Horikita Suzune, "Of course, there are also those who are unclear about their roles."

After saying that, he smiled at Horikita Manabu, a smile that was less one of respect and more one of provocation.

In Uesugi Genshin's memory, Nagumo Masaru was undoubtedly a brilliant schemer, but also a clumsy politician.

A wise politician should learn how to conceal his desires, something he clearly fails to do.

Horikita Manabu ignored him, adjusted his glasses, and calmly said, "There are still students outside, but that shouldn't affect your request."

"..." Still outside, are they from Class B, Class C, or Class D? Uesugi Genshin's fingers twitched slightly as he pondered.

The two students from Class A who clearly have the ability to lead the class are here. From Class B, only Ichinose is here. And the people from Class C aren't here at all. As for Class D... he doesn't really believe that Horikita Suzune can represent that disorganized group of people in Class D.

With his arm resting on the table, Horikita Manabu continued, "You said you wanted to recruit students from Advanced Nurturing High School to join your side. To be honest, I'm not very familiar with your situation, but you've already seen our place, which makes me a little hesitant."

Horikita Manabu is precisely worried about the one-sided transparency of intelligence.

Uesugi Genshin looked at Yukino Shino, who understood and stood up to introduce the situation of Soubu High School and its surroundings.

Located in Mihama Ward, Chiba City, it features a factory area that resembles a backyard garden, a clean coastline, and an apartment building where residents can live. Currently, it is actively expanding to include more spacious activity areas.

"If only it were really as you say. But as the student council president of Advanced Nurturing High School, it is my responsibility to protect the students, and I don't want anything to go wrong." Horikita Manabu said ambiguously.

“Horikita-senpai is just like a mother hen protecting her chicks. They’re not children anymore.” Excluding herself, Nagumo Masa teased, then looked at Uesugi Genshin, “Isn’t what’s important about Uesugi-kun’s side?”

"Students from Advanced Nurturing High School who join us are now our people. We treat everyone equally, including in terms of benefits, student council positions, and other roles." Uesugi Genshin continued, his arms crossed on his crossed legs. "Sending a portion of them over first is no problem. If Horikita-kun agrees, I'll gift you 10 tons of flour on my next visit. How about that?"

After she finished speaking, her thigh was grabbed by Yukinoshita. Although she appeared completely normal on the surface, she was exerting a lot of force below.

You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household!

Yukino Yukinoshita was quite angry about the suggestion of 10 tons right off the bat. Who had been in charge of managing the internal affairs all along?

Uesugi Genshin subtly covered Yuki's hand with his own, trying to pull it away. He was the one who moved all the things here, so he had a share in the right to decide what to do with them, didn't he?

Moreover, what is called a gift is actually humanitarian aid; it's just that it's bundled together with other aid.