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

As Kikyo Kushida looked at Sakura, a cold smile played on her lips, but it vanished in an instant.

The fact that someone with such a timid personality can still live a good life shows that the world is too kind.

"..." Horikita Suzune, who was walking in front, turned her head and frowned, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Matsushita Chiaki asked.

"Do you want to go into the cabin or stay on deck?"

"Let's go up on the deck," Maya Sato called out, raising her hand. She wanted to see the sea view later.

After looking around at the groups of two or three students from other advanced high schools standing on the deck, Matsushita Chiaki said, "Let's stay on the deck."

The other students were standing on the deck, chatting and laughing leisurely.

“Yes, and one more.” Horikita Suzune calmly raised her hand and pointed behind them.

This drew everyone's attention back to the present.

"If you want to chat, just go there."

She was referring to the fact that Ichinose was now standing in front of Uesugi Genshin, with her hands behind her back, laughing and talking to him.

There might be an motive to report on the class situation, but most of the conversations were probably just casual chatter.

"...!!!"

I see! ! !

Of course, after the ship set sail, they couldn't see Uesugi-kun anywhere anymore.

-----------------

The sea was pitch black at night, but it was under the cover of darkness that the fishing boats were able to reach the waters near Haneda Airport.

"Just steer the boat to Jonan Island later, and I'll come find you after I'm done," Uesugi Genshin said to Haruno from the bow of the boat.

Since the lights can't be turned on, if the boat is really anchored at sea, how can it be found?

"I understand." With the help of the dim light from the phone, Yono assured Uesugi Genshin.

There were only the two of them on this trip. Uesugi Genshin originally wanted to invite Kiryuin and Amasawa, but then he thought that this was a very simple operation, so he decided against it.

Wearing a waterproof backpack, Uesugi Genshin slowly entered the water; the sea was a bit cold at night.

But they swam to the other side with ease and, after a little time, bypassed the Self-Defense Forces' guards.

The further south you go, the less diligent the guards become, and they don't even have searchlights. Is it to save electricity?

So when Uesugi Genshin stood in front of Azusagawa Sakuta again, Azusagawa Sakuta praised him for his good luck.

"If you hadn't come today, I wouldn't be here now."

"what happened?"

Uesugi Genshin walked side by side with him on the airport runway. With the help of the terminal lights, the ground was still clearly visible.

“I’m staying behind today. Kunimi and a few others went out to find supplies.” Sakuta Azusagawa rolled up his sleeves, revealing his watch on his wrist, and pointed to the time.

“Then I am indeed very lucky,” Uesugi Genshin said with a smile.

“Yes.” Sakuta Azusagawa nodded in deep agreement.

"Speaking of which, how are you going to get the Self-Defense Forces to help you call Mr. Spencer?" As they approached the Self-Defense Forces' base, Uesugi Genshin was somewhat curious.

Last time, he met Eriri's father directly and had no idea how Sakuta Azusagawa managed to do it.

“That kind of thing can be done with bribes.” As he spoke, Sakuta Azusagawa took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and shook it.

He explained, "Cigarettes are a form of hard currency here. Even for non-smokers like me, they have high value and can be exchanged for other things."

Uesugi Genshin also thought it was pretty good. "I don't smoke much, so if I can exchange this for other useful things, it's definitely a good deal."

“Yeah.” Sakuta Azusagawa agreed with Genshin Uesugi. “I think so too. And you can’t smoke in front of your sister and Shoko.”

He continued, "Not only cigarettes, but alcohol is also very valuable here. Someone somehow got hold of a bottle of Dragon's Roar and used it to exchange for 10 bags of military rations from the Self-Defense Forces."

In the past, this would have been a huge loss. But now, if a person eats sparingly, they won't have to worry about food for 10 or 20 days. In terms of value alone, it's hard to say whether it's a loss or a gain.

However, he once asked a smoker here, who said that a cigarette could give him the courage to live, which was something that Azusagawa Sakuta could not have imagined at all. At the time, he simply expressed his understanding.

His only source of courage to live is his sister, his best friend, and Ms. Xiangzi. If they were all gone, could he really survive in the apocalypse? That's a big question mark.

"Speaking of which, what's in that bag?" Sakuta Azusagawa asked, looking at the bag that Genshin Uesugi was carrying on his back.

“This is a radio station,” Uesugi Genshin shrugged. “After all, I can’t always come over to make contact. This makes things much more convenient for both of us.”

"You've thought of everything so thoroughly," Sakuta Azusagawa praised.

"No. This information doesn't actually reach me. It only gets sent to the port area, where a friend of mine has set up a survivor base. If you need anything, they'll relay it to me. Or if I want to contact you, I'll have to come to Tokyo first."

This was already discussed with Miyuki Shirogane. They have a dedicated communications department, so while it's not as direct, it's still much better than coming directly to Haneda Airport.

After all, coming here carries certain risks, and no one can say for sure what might happen.

I have to complain here. Those Self-Defense Force members on the beach are definitely not the core troops here. They all act like civil servants going to work, just going through the motions.

"Okay." Sakuta Azusagawa indicated that he understood; they had almost reached the Self-Defense Forces' searchlights.

Sakuta Azusagawa indicated that he would go and negotiate, which was basically a bribe, and then Genshin Uesugi finally saw Eriri's father again.

"It's so good to see you're alright," Uesugi Genshin said as he stepped forward.

"Haha, you too, Uesugi-kun."

Eriri's father was still wearing a dark green suit, looking like an elegant British gentleman. In fact, that's how he looked, at least that's what you'd think before you knew he was actually a hidden otaku.

"How is Eriri?" Eriri's father was still very concerned about his daughter, and his second question was about her recent situation.

“This is Eriri’s letter,” said Genshin Uesugi, pulling out an envelope. “She had a slight fever from swimming, but she was almost fine when I left.”

"It's okay" means the fever has subsided, since a severe cold isn't easy to get rid of; sometimes it can last a week.

"Ah." Eriri's father sighed briefly, opened the envelope and looked through it. "I knew it was the right thing to give it to you, Uesugi-kun."

"You flatter me," Uesugi Genshin said modestly.

"Well, let's get to the point," Eriri's father immediately got down to business. "I spoke with a Self-Defense Force logistics officer, and the arms deal is on track, but..."

He picked up the briefcase he was carrying at his feet, laid it flat, and opened it.

"We need enough gold to fill this place."

Chapter 333: The Siren's Song

"That's quite a lot," Uesugi Genshin muttered under his breath.

Of course, this doesn't mean the other party asked for little, but rather that it was quite little compared to the gold they received.

A suitcase full of gold weighs nearly half a ton; just figuring out how to carry it is a problem.

If we're going to make the transaction again, we need to notify you in advance and arrange a time for the handover.

That way, you can put it on the small cart on the boat. You can't expect him to swim over with you; he'll sink to the bottom with him. Forget about it.

"That's good." Eriri's father was relieved. After all, as the middleman, if there were difficulties in obtaining the gold and the deal broke down, the Self-Defense Force officer who initially negotiated would probably be angry, as if he were playing a trick on the other party.

Of course they'd be angry, because it takes courage to engage in corruption.

“Then this counts as a deposit.” He picked up another small box, which looked like a military box, and it was indeed one.

A standard Sig Sauer P220 rifle, along with its magazine and ammunition, was placed in the box.

There were very few bullets; the main supplies were magazines and guns.

"Pretty sophisticated." Uesugi Genshin tilted his head and chuckled after seeing the active-duty Self-Defense Force equipment. "Is there only one?"

In the past, handguns might have been more valuable because it was easier to buy rifles than handguns, but that's not the case now.

Although pistols are better suited for engaging living people, currently 99.9% of combat is not fought against people.

“If you still want it, Uesugi-kun, I can talk to them again,” Eriri’s father joked, “but it might take some time.”

The officer didn't care about a few pistols as long as he could achieve his ultimate goal.

"Never mind then, I don't plan to stay here any longer," Uesugi Genshin refused. "How many guns can they provide?"

“They made it clear that heavy firepower is not tradable,” Eriri’s father said. “However, for rifles, we can give you 100 Howa Type 89 rifles, along with their magazines.”

“Too few, at least 200,” Uesugi Genshin said, shaking his head.

That's a whole box of gold; exchanging it for just 100 weapons doesn't show the other party's sincerity.

“I will talk to him,” Eriri’s father promised Uesugi Genshin. “I think he doesn’t want to bribe anyone, and 100 is probably a number he can easily offer.”

It was originally just preliminary negotiations, and he didn't expect that Uesugi-kun could resolve the gold issue so quickly.

If the officer he sought also wanted gold, he should have shown more sincerity.

Uesugi Genshin felt the same way. This was essentially embezzlement, using public property for personal gain, a case of the bold getting rich and the timid starving.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Mr. Spencer."

"Yes, leave it to me," Eriri's father assured her calmly.

Uesugi Genshin then told Eriri's father about the radio station, and Azusagawa Sakuta was responsible for maintaining contact.

It's not really advisable for Eriri's father to bring in and use the radio; the risk is too high.

However, Uesugi Genshin also gave the two men a pair of walkie-talkies. After pairing frequencies, they could at least have normal conversations within the airport's area of ​​effect.

After saying goodbye to Eriri's father, Uesugi Genshin and Azusagawa Sakuta walked back the way they came, except that Azusagawa Sakuta carried the backpack containing the radio.

“I also packed some canned meat inside, consider it a gift,” said Uesugi Genshin, hands in his pockets.

"No wonder it's so heavy." Sakuta Azusagawa bounced the backpack up a bit, and finally switched from carrying it on one shoulder like a street urchin to carrying it on both shoulders properly.

There's no need for thanks. Although I don't know if they can be considered friends, they are definitely accomplices. What a strange relationship.

Because it was almost dark by 7 p.m., Uesugi Genshin arrived around 9 p.m. just to be on the safe side, and it was already 11 p.m.

"Is it a bit noisy over there?" As he walked along the runway, Uesugi Genshin heard a faint sound coming from his right.

Listening closely, it sounds like they're chanting slogans, because they're somewhat synchronized; it can't be a singing contest.

"Ah, those are cult members having a team-building activity over there. They're probably reciting some kind of prayer."

"Huh?" Uesugi Genshin paused in his tracks when he heard Azusagawa casually mention something extraordinary.

"What's wrong?" Sakuta Azusagawa stopped and turned to look at him.

"No, it's a little unexpected." After a moment of reflection, Uesugi Genshin continued walking forward. "Don't the Self-Defense Forces care?"

"It's said that members of cults provide sexual services to the Self-Defense Forces. In the eyes of the Self-Defense Forces, they're more like pimps." Sakuta Azusagawa added at the end, "I heard that."

“Eh~” Uesugi Genshin exclaimed in surprise.

“There’s not much hope. People are struggling to make ends meet. In an environment where people need emotional support, this kind of thing will always emerge,” Sakuta Azusagawa said slowly.

"It seems you've gotten used to it. What do you think?"

If the Self-Defense Forces don't care, then what about the refugees?

Giving Uesugi Genshin a surprised look, Azusagawa Sakuta seemed a little cold and pulled up his coat, as he was wearing much thicker clothes than Uesugi Genshin at the moment. "No, that doesn't count. In the past, some people went to confront them, but they either disappeared or became strange and eventually joined in."

He pointed his thumb toward the Self-Defense Forces base behind him, saying, "A long time ago, the Self-Defense Forces stopped dealing with things here because people started causing trouble at the gate over all sorts of trivial matters or supplies. Later, the Self-Defense Forces simply used force to drive the crowds away."

"It's like raising livestock." Uesugi Genshin scoffed at the Self-Defense Forces' actions, taking in survivors but not really managing them, just wanting them to stay alive.

Sakuta Azusagawa didn't refute, but shrugged. "Actually, people go missing here every day. Some families who don't give up will post simple missing person notices. Among them are young girls. It's said that someone saw the missing girl at the cult."

As he spoke, he lowered his head and looked at the ground that was constantly moving forward. "That's why Guojian and I take turns going out to find supplies, but one of us has to stay behind."

To be honest, women do have an easier time surviving than men. Those who are young, beautiful, and lucky enough have long since become high-ranking officers in the Self-Defense Forces, while the rest are willing to give up their self-respect and exchange their bodies for something.

Although the platform will provide food that is barely enough to fill your stomach, if you think that it will be provided every day and finish it in one day, then you should be prepared to go hungry for a day or two afterward.

That's why they risk their lives to go out and find food, and then secretly hide away to eat it.

The only saving grace is that the Self-Defense Forces have occupied the water plant on the adjacent artificial island, so there is no shortage of drinking water. You can just drink from the tap, and some people even have water cups that they can take back and then happily daydream all day.

“…” Uesugi Genshin listened silently to Azusagawa Sakuta’s story.

"In short, if you're coming at night, try not to come up from the south. They gather there late at night," Sakuta Azusagawa warned. "Those guys are undoubtedly idiots with their brains all messed up; calling them terrorists wouldn't be an exaggeration. Nobody wants to go near there, and even the Self-Defense Forces aren't too keen on guarding that area anymore."

"Don't worry," Uesugi Genshin said calmly, waving his hand. "I don't want to cause trouble here. This isn't Chiba."