As a transfer student, Haizaki did not possess strikingly handsome looks or an especially distinctive aura—nothing that would normally make him popular in Class J, which consisted mostly of girls.
However, the label of being from the Eastern Union, his fluent Japanese, and his upright posture still sparked a certain level of interest among the girls in Class J.
Class J of Sobu High's second year was an international-oriented class established for students planning to pursue development abroad. Most of the students aimed to study overseas.
More than half targeted universities in Europe and North America, but there were still several students who favored the Eastern Union across the sea.
Over the past decade, the Eastern Union's achievements had been evident to all. Its international status had steadily risen, and due to its historical ties with Japan and cultural proximity, it had also become one of the countries chosen by Class J students for studying abroad.
As a student from the Eastern Union studying at Sobu High, Haizaki naturally received friendly treatment from some of the students.
"Good morning, Yusuke-san."
Routine greetings. It seemed they had already accepted Haizaki as a member of Class J.
"Good morning."
…
…
After entering the classroom, many students took the initiative to greet Haizaki.
Haizaki responded politely in return.
After a year apart, seeing this scene again, a strong sense of temporal disorientation washed over him, leaving Haizaki momentarily dazed.
He really had come back.
"Good morning, Yukinoshita-san."
As he passed the seat of Yukinoshita in front of him, Haizaki greeted her naturally, as if unaware that she was isolated by the rest of the class.
Hearing this, Yukino merely shifted her gaze toward him, gave a slight nod, and did not speak.
Haizaki was already used to this and did not mind.
However, the surrounding students began whispering quietly.
"Why did Yusuke-san greet her?"
"Probably because they're seated in front of and behind each other."
"Got shut down, didn't he? I told you she's too cold and unapproachable. Who is she even acting like that for?"
The voices were very soft, but Haizaki heard them clearly—and Yukino in front of him needed no mention.
However, his aloof desk mate certainly would not care. Or rather, even if she did, she would not say anything.
Yukino had long been accustomed to the class's attitude toward her. In her view, it was nothing more than the jealousy of the weak.
After sitting down, Haizaki looked at Yukino's back and decided to ask a question.
He recalled the first day he entered the Lonely Apocalypse.
"Yukinoshita-san, may I ask you a question?"
He needed to confirm the degree of overlap between the two worlds.
Was Yukino wearing cat-print panties today? Haizaki couldn't help but think of it.
Judging from the matter of Iroha's student ID, if he brought Yukino's panties back, would Yukino at this moment be…
Impossible. Don't think about it.
Only a pervert would think about something like that.
Haizaki shook his head, forcing the stray thoughts out of his mind.
"Did you go to Hiratsuka-sensei's office this morning?"
The girl seated in front showed no reaction—no response, no turning around—as if her attention remained fixed on the book on her desk.
Just as Haizaki was about to give up, a cool female voice sounded.
"I did."
Yukino had not ignored Haizaki.
After receiving her reply, Haizaki reflected on the circumstances of the Lonely Apocalypse.
Yukinoshita appearing in Hiratsuka-sensei's office did align with what had happened in that world—but what about everything else?
More convincing proof would be…
Her panties.
But forget it.
The students of Class J reacted with visible surprise to Yukinoshita's response.
Throughout her first year, Yukino had stood alone like an iceberg snow lotus, so much so that up to now, she had had very little interaction or conversation with her classmates.
And yet this exchange student had just initiated a conversation with her.
In their eyes, that was nothing short of asking for humiliation.
They had all expected Haizaki to be met with cold indifference and merciless treatment.
Some had even prepared themselves to witness Haizaki's awkward expression.
But what shocked everyone was that the iceberg beauty, Yukino, actually answered Haizaki's question.
Her voice remained cool, without any emotional fluctuation, but she did, in fact, respond.
Was it… because the iceberg beauty, after enduring long-term loneliness, could no longer bear the class's isolation and hoped to slightly change her situation through this exchange student?
Probably…
Maybe…
Impossible.
Students who had entertained that thought quickly denied it.
In the end, they all concluded that Yukino was simply being polite to a new classmate. After all, Haizaki was an exchange student from the Eastern Union.
Out of consideration for his status as a foreigner, Yukino had replied.
Most of the Class J students chose this explanation.
…
Haizaki did not continue questioning Yukino, as if that really had been the only thing he wanted to ask.
Before the outbreak of the apocalypse in his previous life, Haizaki adhered to a principle of neither deep involvement nor deliberate distance in interpersonal relationships.
Everything revolved around studying hard and striving to enter the University of Tokyo.
But after the apocalyptic disaster erupted, he had no choice but to change his approach to social interaction.
To survive, to obtain more information about the apocalypse, he had to choose unity with those around him—sometimes even risking his own life to rescue companions trapped in danger.
If you stood by and watched others die, sooner or later, others would stand by and watch you die.
Because of this, he had crossed paths with many people, including Utaha.
And now, everything had restarted.
He had to face the apocalypse again—a road destined to be filled with loneliness, coldness, and thorns.
So perhaps the loss of memory of his companions was, for him—a good thing.
Haizaki couldn't help but think.
If there were attachments, perhaps… he would become afraid of death.
The final moment of the Solitary Apocalypse, when he and Utaha were torn apart by life and death, was still vivid in his mind—the sorrow, unwillingness, and helplessness he would never forget.
That pitch-black, icy feeling of losing the entire world—if possible, Haizaki never wanted to experience it again.
"Hah…"
Haizaki let out a soft breath and made his decision.
First love, for anyone, was the purest and most worth remembering existence. Every time one recalled it, a faint smile would appear unconsciously—a simple and beautiful feeling.
And now, gazing at Yukino's slender back, Haizaki cut off the last ripples of emotion in his heart.
"Goodbye…"
At that moment, the corner of his mouth lifted into a smile, though it could not conceal a trace of reluctance.
Unwilling to give up that beautiful first love, he would be betraying Utaha, betraying the resolve he had already made to face the apocalypse with everything he had.
So Haizaki decided—it was time to make a decision. Let that beauty drift away like the wind, disappearing forever.
His voice, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, reached Yukino's ears.
She subconsciously turned around and met Haizaki's resolute gaze.
Haizaki was instantly stunned.
Why did Yukino turn around at this moment?
Why did she have to turn around at precisely this instant?
…