Ask Utaha to give him more time again?
Say once more that he and she were not suitable?
Say again that he was incapable?
Haizaki's mind fell into a brief short circuit. Every solution he forced himself to think of was immediately rejected by himself.
He… had thought he could delay everything until April 4th, letting it all come to an end then.
But the development of events always exceeded his expectations. At this moment, Utaha had gathered all her courage, ready to offer everything.
Haizaki understood that, after spending day and night with the girl, one foot of his had already stepped into the sweet, dreamlike "trap" she had woven.
Her beauty, her sincerity, her gentleness, even her occasional cunning, pride, and willfulness—all of it radiated an irresistible charm.
"Is it… okay?"
Utaha spoke softly again, her voice suppressing tension and fear. She was afraid that Haizaki would refuse, because at this moment, she had already wagered a girl's dignity and restraint.
It could be said that if Haizaki rejected her this time, she might never have the courage to move forward again.
Haizaki clenched his teeth tightly. His hands gripping the bedsheet turned pale. His lips moved slightly, but the words were stuck in his throat, unable to come out.
No, no, absolutely none—
There was no solution that could lead to a perfect outcome.
Why was it like this? Haizaki thought dully.
He wanted to know why.
But now that things had come to this, he could no longer keep avoiding it.
The moment Haizaki showed even the slightest reaction, the perceptive girl sensed something, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
All the efforts up to now would be revealed in the next moment.
Haizaki wrapped an arm around the girl's waist and pulled her tightly into his embrace. Accompanied by her instinctive gasp, their bodies pressed completely together.
Utaha smiled.
Haizaki had finally accepted her.
Her persistence had finally been rewarded. At this moment, she felt that everything had been worth it. Today, gathering her courage and forcing the issue as a last resort had been the right choice. This man truly needed pressure to be applied.
"Don't you… want to do something?"
The girl's pleasant voice sounded beside his ear.
Utaha, please let me go, okay?
Really, can you give me a little more time?
Wait until I overcome the end of the world, wait until I can let everything go—then we can be together forever, okay?
But… he couldn't say it.
Once he said it, Utaha's dignity and restraint as a girl would be shattered by his own hands.
"I… still have… very… important things that I must do…"
Things that might cost him his life—but the latter half of the sentence remained unspoken. Haizaki's voice was hoarse, yet he still couldn't say it.
Utaha didn't notice anything unusual in his expression or tone. She nestled her head against Haizaki's right shoulder, her right hand gently caressing his face, tenderness fully on display.
"What could be more important… than me?"
Yes. At this moment, what could be more important than her?
She could clearly feel the reaction from Haizaki's body.
He reacted to her. He felt impulse and desire. His body was craving her.
As long as things continued, everything would be settled.
"There is…"
His flat tone suppressed trembling, the speaker seemingly suffering from his own words.
Hearing this, Utaha froze, then anger rose within her.
How could he say something like that? Haizaki really didn't understand a girl's heart.
Her right hand slid upward along his face, but unexpectedly felt something damp.
What was this?
Utaha quickly realized it. She immediately propped herself up with both hands and stared down at Haizaki in shock.
At this moment, Haizaki's expression was restrained, tears shimmering at the corners of his eyes. His entire being seemed trapped in extreme pain, struggle, and sorrow.
Why—why was he showing such an expression?
She was stunned, confused, completely unprepared.
"Let's… forget it."
Those three words exhausted all the courage she had mustered.
Utaha tilted her head back and closed her eyes, suppressing the reluctance and unwillingness in her heart, and finally chose to step back.
Just half a step away—
She firmly believed that if she continued, Haizaki would not refuse her. They would naturally enter the most intimate relationship.
But facing Haizaki's intense inner struggle at this moment, she… felt pain for him.
Who was it? What was it that made a man who was always calm, steady, and strong like a mountain now wear such sorrowful, painful, and conflicted emotions that had never appeared before?
Was it her?
Was it because she had forced him?
Self-blame, guilt, and an unwillingness that refused to fade.
Utaha understood that even if she succeeded in forming the closest relationship by continuing, it would ultimately leave Haizaki with an everlasting gloom and regret.
Was this… the kind of relationship she sought?
Was this the love she desired?
The perfect love she longed for was not like this.
Utaha remembered that when she first met Haizaki, she hoped he wouldn't force her and would give her more time. And now, weren't her own actions forcing Haizaki?
Did she want to become the kind of person she hated most?
A strong sense of disgust toward herself arose within Utaha.
She and his time together was still long.
There really… was no need to rush.
She could still wait.
Repeatedly reminding herself and soothing her emotions, Utaha gradually calmed the surging impulses in her heart.
"I'm sorry…"
Haizaki apologized while holding the girl tightly. He wanted to tell her everything—to tell her all of his concerns and gain her understanding.
But in the end, aside from a single "I'm sorry," he still couldn't say anything else.
"It's my fault."
"If you don't mind, could you tell me the reason?"
But what reached her ears was only Haizaki's silence.
He still couldn't bring himself to tell her.
Anger? It was more regret than anything.
She still hadn't fully entered Haizaki's heart, still hadn't gained his complete trust.
As expected, she had been too hasty.
A love that would only happen once in a lifetime had to be perfect.
No regrets could be left behind.
"I'll continue waiting, until the day you think it's okay. Just, if possible…"
Her drawn-out voice carried longing and expectation.
"Please… shorten the time a little… okay? And lastly… can you tell me… do you like me, Haizaki?"
What answered her was Haizaki holding her even more tightly.
But this time, it wasn't silence—it was his heartfelt reply. For the first time, his words flowed with his truest feelings.
"I was already attracted to the girl named 'Utaha' long ago."
A fleeting glance in high school in his previous life, a companion in survival after the catastrophic end, ten months of day-and-night companionship in the "Solitary Apocalypse"—no matter how rational or restrained he was, he couldn't stop his feelings for her from changing.
He had already fallen in love with her.
…