"Don't say anymore… please, don't say anymore… Utaha, stop talking. You need to rest. Rest now, immediately…"
Haizaki held Utaha tightly, his voice trembling, unable to conceal his sorrow.
The more Utaha spoke now, the more strength she consumed. Haizaki did not want her to say any more farewell words.
Utaha would be fine. She absolutely would be.
"If there is… a next life… I want… to fall in love with you again…"
Her life belonged to no one but him.
A life without him might as well not exist.
"Don't give up. Hold on. For my sake, hold on for one more hour…"
After his pretense was torn apart, tears fell uncontrollably.
He had clearly experienced life-and-death separations many times before, yet why did this moment still feel so heart-rending, so painful, that he could not control the tears falling from his eyes?
Perhaps…
This time, Utaha's departure was truly… a final farewell.
There would be no chance to start over again.
In the past, he had always clung to the last hope that there might be a restart, watching familiar people leave one by one while being powerless to do anything.
At least there had still been a chance to try again—but now… once it was lost, it was lost forever.
"I still haven't confessed to you…" Haizaki cried out hysterically, shouting.
"I still haven't slept with you… You can't die. You can't just give up like this… If you leave like this, I'll go find Yukinoand Iroha. I'll make you so angry."
"That… actually doesn't sound too bad. At least there will still be them… accompanying you."
Even hearing names she absolutely never wanted to hear again, Utaha felt no resentment or disgust.
She had let everything go.
Her jealousy toward those two had faded to almost nothing the moment she realized death was imminent.
As long as she could live, as long as she could continue enjoying the happiness of life with Haizaki, she did not care at all what kind of relationship they had with him.
But it was meaningless now.
Even if she thought that way, could she live on? Probably not.
"Don't cry. You still have to… live on alone… strong… Men… how can they cry!"
Utaha comforted Haizaki, wanting to wipe away his tears, but her powerless left hand could no longer move.
"You still haven't made me a man…"
Haizaki forced a smile uglier than crying.
"That… really is… a pity. Back then, you, you…"
"So hold on for one more hour, Utaha. For my sake, hold on for one more hour, okay! Then you can do whatever you want—confess to you, propose to you, I'll do anything… I'm begging you… I just want you to hold on a little longer, okay…"
"Propose…"
A glimmer of light passed through Utaha's dim eyes.
In her mind appeared the scene of herself wearing a pure white wedding dress, walking into a church with Haizaki.
"Yes, propose…"
Catching that glimmer in the girl's eyes, Haizaki immediately realized something.
"Wait for me. I'll be right back…"
He hurriedly got out of bed and ran toward his room.
When the drowsy girl saw Haizaki leave, panic began to rise.
Why did he leave…
"Haizaki-kun, don't leave me…"
The lingering warmth could not drive away the cold in her heart.
She struggled, trying to search for the already departed Haizaki.
"Utaha, I'm here…"
In less than ten seconds, Haizaki returned to Utaha's side. Seeing her struggling, he spoke while immediately grasping her left hand.
"I'm right by your side."
"Mmm…"
Feeling that reassuring warmth, the panic on her face gradually faded.
"Utaha, hold on for one more hour. I'll confess to you, I'll propose to you. I even brought the ring."
Haizaki hurriedly opened the ring box.
A ring inlaid with amethyst reflected a captivating glow.
"I don't think I'll make it to the day… I put on a wedding dress and wear it."
"You can. You definitely can. Just hold on a little longer. I'm really begging you."
He used every possible means, hoping only that Utaha could live.
"Can you… put it on for me?"
"Okay."
Haizaki placed the ring on the ring finger of Utaha's left hand.
Feeling the touch on her ring finger, Utaha revealed a faint smile. Happiness came so suddenly.
"For now… I can't… accept your… proposal. The ring will… stay with me… for now. Haizaki-kun, I like you… I like the real you right now… I already… have no regrets."
If she accepted it, Haizaki would truly be left alone, wouldn't he?
He would suffer even more.
"If there is… a next life, I'll… accept your… proposal then."
"Shut up, woman. Shut up. I order you to hold on for one more hour…"
Haizaki widened his eyes and roared angrily, ordering the girl not to give up, to hold on a little longer.
"I am Inspector Utaha… after all… How could I accept… such an unreasonable… order from you…"
"A lone wolf… can still form… a pack of his own… Somewhere in this world, there will definitely… be other people. So you must live well… promise me…"
Utaha gently stroked Haizaki's face, her wine-red eyes filled with love.
"No, Utaha. You have to stay with me forever…"
"So…"
"Shut up, Utaha… I want you to be with me…"
...
"'Solitary Apocalypse' world ended. Successfully survived three hundred and sixty-five days. Apocalypse difficulty: one star. Calculating reward points and experience for you."
The cold, mechanical voice of Pepper sounded beside his ear.
"Wait, why is the time…"
Haizaki felt as though he had grabbed the last lifeline.
He suddenly thought of the time zone difference. The Eastern Union was one hour slower than Japan.
So…
"Answer me. Is Utaha still alive? She's still alive, right…"
"Insufficient permissions. Unable to answer. Please confirm for yourself…"
Pepper was completely emotionless, utterly indifferent to Haizaki's agitation.
[T/N: It's either I forgot the system assistant had a name or Haizaki suddenly just assigned a name to it out of nowhere.]
"Beginning reward settlement…"
"Delay the settlement. I want to go back…"
Light filled his vision. Haizaki lost focus as weightlessness enveloped his body.
When Haizaki could see clearly again, he realized he was back.
The Chiba rental apartment he had been away from for a year.
But now, there was only one thing Haizaki needed to do.
With reddened eyes, suppressing the panic and tension in his heart, he shakily dialed a number.
Every press of his finger exhausted all of his strength.
"Beep…"
Answer it.
"Beep… beep…"
Answer it!
Please, Utaha, answer the phone!
Each waiting tone made Haizaki tremble.
"Hello?"
In that instant, Haizaki collapsed into the chair, which let out a loud clang.
That voice—familiar beyond familiarity. Utaha was alive. Thank goodness!
Staring up at the ceiling, Haizaki tightly gripped the phone in his hand, suppressing the surging excitement in his heart.
Utaha was alive. Truly… thank goodness.
...