The last day of March.
Four days remained before the end of the "Solitary Apocalypse."
Endless rain fell beneath a gloomy sky.
He and Utaha had already lived in the world of the "Solitary Apocalypse" for nearly a year.
They had encountered earthquakes, witnessed volcanic eruptions, endured violent storms, watched meteors fall from the sky, and survived overwhelming tsunamis. They had weathered the bitter cold of winter and raging blizzards. It could be said that they had successfully endured the natural disasters brought by nature itself.
But when it came to birth, aging, sickness, and death… Haizaki hated his own helplessness.
Utaha was sick.
Two weeks ago, Utaha had developed a mild cough. He had thought that with cold medicine, more rest, and careful attention to her diet, she would recover quickly.
But reality was far crueler—the illness continued to worsen.
This was not a simple cold.
Utaha was now bedridden.
Her body was weak and limp, her face pale and haggard.
Haizaki's heart ached at the sight. He would rather suffer the illness himself than let Utaha bear all of this.
Clearly, this apocalyptic world was something he should have endured alone. So why did the final trial have to be borne by Utaha?
This… was unfair.
"Utaha, come on, open your mouth…"
Haizaki carefully took care of the girl.
Blowing away the steam from the spoonful of plain porridge, he brought it to her lips.
"I'm already full…"
Utaha shook her head. She truly had no appetite at all.
"Just one bite, okay? Just one bite…"
"But… you've already said 'just one bite' eleven times."
The girl forced out a weak smile, her voice feeble.
"This really is the last bite. Believe me…"
Haizaki remained patient.
"Mm…"
She opened her pale lips and swallowed another spoonful of porridge. Seeing this, Haizaki set the bowl aside and brought over the steamed egg custard.
"Have a little more egg custard. You need nutrition…"
"But… I'm already full…"
"Just one spoonful, okay…"
How could she possibly be full after less than half a bowl of porridge?
"I want something salty…"
"Okay. I'll make it right away. Wait for me fifteen minutes."
As long as Utaha was willing to eat, he would make anything. She needed nutrients now.
Haizaki quickly stood up and ran downstairs.
After watching Haizaki close the bedroom door, Utaha struggled to prop herself up. She clenched her teeth, enduring the discomfort in her body, and exerted herself again.
At last, she barely managed to stand, trembling, on the floor.
Leaving the warmth of the bed, the room filled with heating felt cold. She put on a coat.
One step.
Two steps.
Her body swayed, as if she might collapse the next second.
There were still things she had to do.
The condition of her body told her clearly that the chance of recovery was extremely small. Without professional doctors, recovery was almost impossible.
This was the cruel reality faced by those who had lost human society. When facing illness, they were utterly helpless without professional medical knowledge.
They could only hope the body would heal itself, but reality was that the illness continued to worsen.
Utaha glanced at the thick stack of medical textbooks on the table in the middle of the room.
Haizaki was desperately studying and researching them. Almost every book was covered with sticky notes of various colors.
But it was too late.
…
Three days ago, a sudden drop in temperature caused problems among the poultry at Villa No. 4.
Haizaki, wholly focused on Utaha, failed to notice the abnormal situation in time. By the time he discovered it, two chickens and one duck had already died.
He kept this from Utaha. He was afraid it would upset her and affect her mood.
Haizaki took out the last egg from the refrigerator.
As he lifted his chopsticks to beat the egg in the bowl, the sound of a heavy fall—thump—came from the second floor.
"Utaha…"
Startled, Haizaki quickly set the bowl down and rushed toward Utaha's bedroom.
Bursting through the door, his pupils shrank. Utaha had collapsed in front of the desk.
"Are you okay?! Where does it hurt…?"
After hurriedly lifting the girl and placing her back onto the bed, Haizaki's face was filled with worry.
"It's not… I'm fine. I just… just wanted to finish my final work…"
"You can write once you're better… For now, rest and recover."
"Will I still… get better…?" Hearing Haizaki's comforting words again, Utaha asked timidly.
She was afraid he would speak the truth that would plunge her into despair, even though she had already confirmed her own condition.
"You'll get better. You definitely will, Utaha. Believe me… I'm Doctor Haizaki now. I'll cure you."
Four more days. Once the fourth arrived, everything would end.
So you absolutely can't let anything happen to you.
"Mm… but I still want to…"
"Alright. Once you eat a little egg custard, I'll allow you to use the computer. If you feel tired, tell me—I'll write for you."
Seeing that the girl refused to give up writing light novels, Haizaki offered a compromise.
"I want to… finish it myself."
"Okay, okay. You finish it yourself. For now, lie down properly. I'll make the egg custard right away. If you get up again on your own, I'll be unhappy."
Haizaki pulled the blanket up a little higher and kissed her forehead.
"Wait for me. I'll be back soon…"
Fifteen minutes later, Haizaki returned with a bowl of steaming egg custard.
The girl lay quietly on the bed, which reassured him. At least Utaha hadn't done anything reckless.
"Here. Once you finish this, you can start typing."
"It's a bit hot…"
As soon as her lips touched the egg custard, Utaha pulled back.
"I'll blow on it. It'll cool down right away."
Five minutes later, after only three bites, Utaha said she didn't want any more. Haizaki didn't force her.
He set up the bed table, turned on the laptop, and placed the external keyboard in the position most comfortable for Utaha.
"At most, half an hour…"
"Mm…"
The girl opened the document and began typing, but her speed was far slower than before.
She watched the pace of her fingers, anxiety filling her heart, yet there was nothing she could do.
Her body was failing.
Only two regrets remained.
The ending of her new work, and…
She looked at Haizaki.
At that moment, Haizaki was flipping through the medical books on the desk, searching for a final shred of hope.
Four more days. She needed to hold on.
She remembered Haizaki's promise.
No matter what, she had to endure four days.
But after four days…
Bitterness and sorrow surged through her heart like crashing waves.
Why did this have to happen?!
Happiness was right within reach. A dreamlike, beautiful future was just ahead, yet… yet… before it could even begin, it was already coming to an end.
She regretted it so much—why hadn't she listened to Haizaki? Why hadn't she worn more clothes? Why hadn't she exercised more regularly? Why…
Why…
Countless "whys" flashed through her mind.
If only that were the case, she wouldn't have gotten sick, right?
Suppressing the negative emotions in her heart, Utaha pressed the power button on the computer.
…