"Found it…"
The list for Class 2–J indeed had his name on it, and to his surprise, he also found his personal records.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, keeping an eye on me on just the second day of school… you really are a good teacher."
There was a trace of self-mockery in his words, mixed with the happiness of being cared for.
Back then, Shizuka had told him to study hard while maintaining a balance between work and rest for the sake of physical and mental health. Using that as a reason, she required him to join a club and participate in club activities. The club she arranged for him to join was the Service Club founded by Yukino.
To be honest, he had been tempted at the time. The desire to agree immediately grew stronger and stronger. Being able to participate in club activities with a girl he liked—it felt like a gift falling straight from the sky.
Perhaps, through day after day of spending time together, he and Yukino would grow closer, and in the end, he would win the beauty's heart and walk alongside her.
But Haizaki's rationality prevailed.
With nothing to his name, what qualifications did he have to possess a girl's feelings? Rather than clinging to unrealistic fantasies, it was far more practical to focus on studying seriously and improving his overall abilities.
Thus, he rejected Shizuka's request—and not just once, but repeatedly—until she finally gave up helplessly, leaving behind the words, "Do whatever you want."
Thinking back now, all of it was filled with nostalgia—beautiful memories that naturally brought a smile to his face.
"Teacher, see you again in one year. At that time, I'll accept your guidance. For now, let me do my best to get through this difficulty. Your student won't bring you shame."
As if reminding himself, as if encouraging himself, Haizaki spoke softly.
A familiar office. A deeply missed office.
During that one year of the apocalypse, he had lost far too many important people. In the end, only memories remained in his mind.
Only these memories accompanied him back to 2019 and then to the "Solitary Apocalypse." They were his most important possessions.
The cigarette in the ashtray had already gone out, and Haizaki prepared to leave.
However, noticing the girls' uniform on the office floor, he felt it was an eyesore, making him uncomfortable.
In the end, Haizaki decided to clean it up, making the office feel a little better.
Clatter.
Haizaki grabbed the scattered clothes in one motion, and the student ID mixed among them fell out, making a crisp sound.
The photo and name on the student ID were facing him directly, causing him to freeze in shock.
"Yukinoshita…"
How could it be her student ID?
"You too…"
Haizaki slightly opened his mouth, but felt the words were inappropriate and turned them into a helpless sigh instead. In a world where even he himself had disappeared, how could they still be here?
Shaking his head and coming back to his senses, Haizaki realized that his gaze had somehow landed on Yukino's cat-pattern panties, which made him extremely embarrassed.
He absolutely did not have any perverted intentions of looking at a girl's underwear. That had definitely been an accident.
Still, Haizaki had not expected the Ice Queen Yukinoshita Yukino to prefer such a cute style of panties.
Shaking his head, Haizaki bent down, picked up her student ID, gathered her clothes, and went to Class 2–J, where he neatly placed her clothes inside her desk.
"One year later… see you again."
At the moment he turned to leave, Haizaki looked back at the girl's empty seat and spoke.
...
In the vast city of Chiba, not a single person could be seen. There was no new information online. Haizaki began to think about his next steps.
With a full year ahead of him, he needed to formulate long-term, mid-term, and short-term plans.
"Food, water, shelter."
The short-term plan focused mainly on solving basic necessities.
However, considering that Japan is a country prone to earthquakes and frequently affected by typhoons, Haizaki ultimately decided to return to his home country.
On October 12th in the main world, Japan would suffer four disasters simultaneously—typhoons, volcanic eruptions, mudslides, and tornadoes.
With only himself and the assistant left, Haizaki had no intention of facing such natural disasters head-on. Avoidance was the best choice.
Returning home would give him a stronger sense of security.
"Stay in Japan for three to five days and make preparations to return home."
Since he had decided to leave, there was no need to gather excessive food or water, and accommodation was not a major concern.
Right now, the most urgent issue was finding the assistant randomly assigned to him by the system.
Compared to himself—who already had some understanding of the "Solitary Apocalypse" and knew that enduring for one year would allow him to return to that peaceful world—the pressure facing the assistant was unprecedented.
With no one around her, a world of absolute silence, the entire planet left with only herself—anyone confronted with such reality would fall into fear and panic.
Humans are social creatures.
Even someone accustomed to loneliness, upon realizing that they had completely lost humanity as a collective, would not rejoice at achieving "true solitude." Instead, they would undoubtedly fall into anxiety and terror.
The loneliness of being abandoned by the entire world, the confusion of having no future—these were enough to shatter a person's mind and spirit.
Thinking this far, Haizaki understood that he needed to contact the assistant as soon as possible, to let her know that there was still someone else in this world.
With the ability to pilot an aircraft, he could travel to most places in the world. He could go and pick her up.
He bore a certain responsibility toward her. If conditions allowed, he needed to take extra care of and look after his assistant.
But how should he contact her?
Haizaki's gaze turned toward the internet.
The internet was one of humanity's greatest inventions.
A normal modern person, once calm, would naturally think of using the internet to verify global conditions and send messages to the world.
Having confirmed his approach, Haizaki immediately took action.
He casually found a mobile phone in the corridors of Sōbu High and confirmed its number.
Haizaki registered a new email account, then used the internet to post messages on major mainstream communication platforms around the world.
Fortunately, most companies' servers were still operational. Otherwise, things would have become truly troublesome.
—
This is Chiba, Japan. I don't know what happened. I woke up and discovered that everyone in the world had disappeared. I am completely alone.
If anyone can still see this message, please contact me immediately.
I don't know how long the internet and power supply will continue to function. If you see this, please contact me as soon as possible.
Call my phone or send an email to my address.
I am at Sōbu High School in Chiba, Japan.
If I receive no response, I will wait until April 10th, Tokyo time, at 12:00 noon.
Yusuke Haizaki
An exchange student who hopes to return home.
(May there still be people left in this world.)
April 5th, 2019, Tokyo Time, 08:57
—
Haizaki sent the message in three languages: Chinese, English, and Japanese. He presented himself as someone just like the assistant—trapped, confused, and terrified.
As for the true nature of the "Solitary Apocalypse" world and the Trans-Spatiotemporal Human Civilization Salvation System, Haizaki decided to keep them secret.
...