"Why are there chicks?"
Utaha bent over and looked closely at the nine chicks inside the cardboard box. Her slender fingers gently poked at them, every movement extremely careful, afraid of hurting them.
"They should be chicks that were born after all living creatures in this world disappeared. This apocalypse didn't destroy them while they were still fertilized eggs."
"So that means it's not just chickens—other birds and even fish might reappear as well."
"Yes, very likely. I'll go check other duck and goose farms later to see if there are any ducks or geese still alive."
"That's great."
Utaha's voice was soft, barely louder than a mosquito's buzz, simply expressing her quiet joy.
She had once thought that only the two of them were left in the entire world, that all living creatures were gone. But now she understood that they were not alone—there were still other animals in this world.
Humanity was not alone.
"Judging by the growth rate of broiler chickens, as long as we raise them right, in about two months we'll be able to eat fresh chicken and duck meat."
Compared to frozen meat, fresh meat was obviously more delicious!
Just thinking about it made Haizaki feel a little excited.
The moment she heard Haizaki's words, Utaha objected.
"Eat them?"
"Yeah. Raise them big and fat, then we eat them—you and me…" Haizaki deliberately emphasized.
"The whole world only has them left. They're so cute—how can you bear to eat them?"
"I can guarantee that the number of chickens and ducks still existing in the world right now definitely isn't small. This is just one chicken farm in Wuhua City. How many farms are there across the Union? How many across the entire world? Given time, their populations will flourish again."
"And when that time comes… they'll be the masters of this world."
Haizaki's words carried a hint of loneliness.
Utaha also fell silent. Who could have imagined that once-glorious human civilization would come to such an end?
Perhaps someday, they would inherit the remnants of human civilization.
"I think slaughtering them should be something we discuss first."
Utaha gazed at the adorable yellow creatures, her heart filled with a strong desire to care for them.
"Fine! But eggs are still okay, right? You're not planning to let chickens lay eggs, eggs hatch into chickens, and then—"
Haizaki figured there was little hope. He could see in Utaha's eyes that she wanted to treat them like pets. Domestic ones probably wouldn't work—he could go look for wild ones outside. With enough luck, he might find some.
"That won't be necessary."
Still, talking about eggs made Utaha a little embarrassed.
She couldn't help glancing at Haizaki.
"Are you interested in taking care of them?"
Seeing how unusually interested Utaha was in these little yellow creatures, Haizaki felt that handing their care over to her was a good idea.
It would give her more things to do.
He could treat it as a way for her to get out and relax.
Staying cooped up indoors all the time wasn't good for either physical or mental health.
"I'm planning to keep them in Villa Number Four next door. If you're willing, you can take care of them."
"I can give it a try."
Watching them and caring for their growth was also a kind of happiness.
In this lonely world, aside from Haizaki, it seemed they were the only ones she could choose.
"Don't take care of them to death. I'm counting on them to lay eggs."
Utaha snorted and shot Haizaki a glance, clearly dissatisfied with his lack of trust.
"I'm being serious."
Since this involved future meals, Haizaki still held some distrust toward Utaha. He felt more at ease keeping things under his own control.
"Haizaki, don't underestimate me. I'm serious. I'll take good care of them and make sure they grow up properly."
Faced with Haizaki's "provocation," Utaha refused to back down and responded firmly.
She didn't believe she couldn't even take care of a few domestic birds.
...
After settling the room for the chickens, Haizaki drove out to search for sake. Utaha wanted to tell him there was no need to go out specifically for that, but he was moving too fast. Before she could say anything, Haizaki had already driven off, leaving her to swallow her words and return to Villa Number Five.
She went up to the second floor and returned to her room.
Aside from being ogled by a pervert today, everything else had gone well. Most fortunately, there was still other life in this world. A few chicks made her feel as though life had gained more color.
After finishing her diary for the day, Utaha closed her laptop.
Before she realized it, the sky outside was pitch-black. The once-brilliant nightscape of the bustling city had become history. In contrast, the starry sky was even more dazzling and captivating.
She didn't know what her future would be like, nor did she want to think too much about ten or twenty years down the line.
Right now, as Haizaki said, she just needed to live well and fulfill her dreams.
Her sequel, Love Metronome 2, and a new inspired work forming in her mind—these were the works she had decided to complete.
Even if there were no readers left—no, strictly speaking, Haizaki might become her only remaining reader—but even without readers, she was determined to finish these two novels.
Otherwise, with nothing to do, she would definitely start overthinking again.
...
Meanwhile, Haizaki, having found the sake, returned to Villa Number Five and began preparing dinner.
Utaha wanted sushi, so he would make it.
Aside from rice and seaweed, he also needed some fillings.
Given the current situation, pork floss and sausage were the most suitable choices.
Twenty minutes later, the rice cooker switched to keep-warm mode, and Haizaki prepared the ingredients.
Fifteen minutes after that, the sushi was finished.
Haizaki tidied up, then placed salad dressing, seafood sauce, and a bottle of sake on the dining table.
"Oh right, there's still that…"
Haizaki ran to the storage room and found some wasabi.
Although he didn't know whether Utaha ate sushi with wasabi like other Japanese people, it wouldn't hurt to have it.
"Looks pretty decent… but you didn't add anything weird, did you?"
Utaha spoke up again as soon as she sat down.
"Don't worry, I didn't add anything strange. This is the sake you wanted, but I suggest you don't drink too much."
"You're not drinking?"
"I don't need to."
Haizaki shook his head.
"What's the point of eating sushi without drinking? A man who doesn't drink—are you even man enough?"
"Whether I'm a man or whether I'm 'good enough' isn't for you to decide."
"Oh? I don't get to decide? What, want me to find out for myself? Hehe…"
She spoke with a faint smile.
This woman dared to tease him at the dining table.
Normally she was clearly on guard around him, yet every now and then she would still tease and tempt him. Did she really think he wouldn't dare?
If it were another man, who knows what she would have become by now.
Did she really have no sense of self-awareness or self-restraint at all?
...