April 7th. The third day since entering the "Solitary Apocalypse."
Haizaki collected electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, storage drives, and power banks.
While the network in the current "Solitary Apocalypse" world was still functioning, Haizaki began frantically downloading entertainment resources, including videos, novels, music, and games.
In addition to that, he deliberately downloaded materials covering various fields of modern knowledge. As long as he could think of it and it was permitted to download, he downloaded it.
According to Haizaki's plan, he would pilot an aircraft and leave Japan on the 10th.
There were three choices of aircraft: a civilian airliner, a helicopter, and a fighter jet.
Each had its own advantages and disadvantages.
The straight-line distance from Tokyo to Dongbu United Coastal City exceeded 1,800 kilometers, and Haizaki ultimately chose a civilian aircraft as his primary means of transportation.
Although Haizaki knew that he currently possessed D-level aircraft piloting skills, he had no concrete idea what level D actually represented.
Before the 10th, he needed to conduct real flight operations to understand his true piloting ability.
"Next stop, Chiba Police Headquarters…"
Haizaki made notes and markings in his notebook. After finalizing his short- and mid-term plans, he prepared to head to the Chiba Police Headquarters to search for any police helicopters that might still be there.
Pedaling his bicycle, Haizaki rode steadily through streets filled with stationary vehicles.
Half an hour later, Haizaki arrived at the police headquarters and unexpectedly noticed a metallic object glinting among a pile of discarded clothing.
"A handgun…"
Haizaki picked up the handgun. The cold metallic texture transferred to his skin, and he revealed a slight smile of relief.
After the apocalypse broke out, various disaster-born creatures that threatened humanity began appearing one after another, and firearms remained humanity's best weapon for eliminating them.
Possessing a firearm meant possessing a certain degree of self-defense capability.
Even if the "Solitary Apocalypse" did not contain creatures that directly threatened life, Haizaki still needed a gun.
He had already included firearms shooting training in his mid- and long-term plans.
In addition to that, he also needed to undergo vehicle driving training and aircraft piloting training.
With the handgun secured, Haizaki began searching the Chiba Police Headquarters. Fifteen minutes later, he finally found a police helicopter stationed there.
"Not bad luck…"
Afterward, Haizaki found the pilots' office in the surrounding area and discovered the helicopter's operation manual.
"Let's begin."
Following the manual, Haizaki began inspecting the instruments, cross-checking the data, and confirming whether there were any issues.
His hand rested on the control stick. It was unfamiliar machinery, yet it carried a strange sense of familiarity.
He knew how to operate it.
When he consciously tried to control it, his movements became slightly clumsy. But when he relied on instinct, his actions became faster and more fluid, revealing a level of proficiency.
Haizaki gained a clearer understanding of his own piloting skills.
"Rumble… rumble…"
Accompanied by the rapid rotation of the rotor blades, the police helicopter lifted off smoothly.
At an altitude of three hundred meters, Haizaki piloted the helicopter in a normal circuit.
Ten minutes later, the helicopter landed steadily back at the police headquarters.
After loading spare fuel, Haizaki piloted the helicopter to Sōbu High School and landed smoothly on the school field.
This round of real flight operation gave Haizaki an even clearer understanding of his piloting ability.
Under the current conditions, ordinary flight would not pose a problem.
"Choose good weather to depart and minimize the risk of accidents as much as possible."
He could not afford to be careless.
After all, this was flight. Once an accident happened, it would mean death.
As night fell, Haizaki, who had been seriously studying the helicopter operation manual, finally gave in to the overwhelming drowsiness and chose to rest.
"I'll sleep first and continue tomorrow."
Haizaki yawned, took off his outer clothes, and slipped into bed. The soft, comfortable mattress relaxed his entire body.
Sleeping here made him feel more at ease. At the very least, he no longer needed to worry about disaster-born creatures appearing in his sleep and devouring him alive.
When the first ray of morning sunlight streamed through the window, Haizaki opened his hazy eyes and reached for his phone with his right hand.
"Ah…"
His mind instantly cleared a great deal.
Email after email. Call after call.
Unknown callers. Unknown email addresses.
"So there's finally news."
It had already been three days, and he could not help worrying whether something had happened to the assistant. Now, the appearance of calls and emails put him somewhat at ease.
If something had truly happened to the assistant, Haizaki felt he would bear an unavoidable responsibility. Fundamentally, the assistant had entered the "Solitary Apocalypse" because of the system—and he was the system's owner.
He needed to shoulder this responsibility for the system.
Helping her safely endure one year and return to her own world—this was Haizaki's silent promise to her.
Haizaki scrolled downward and opened the very first email.
...
April 7th, 23:11
Hello, Yusuke Haizaki.
I saw the message you sent two days ago, and I'm truly grateful that there is still someone else in this world.
Like you, I woke up from sleep and suddenly found that the world had changed drastically, becoming unfamiliar to me.
I don't know whether I crossed into another new world, or whether our world itself underwent a drastic change and everyone disappeared.
If you see this message, please reply to me immediately.
Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Student of Toyogasaki Academy.
...
Kasumigaoka Utaha.
Haizaki widened his eyes and froze completely.
He had never imagined that the assistant would be someone he knew.
It should be a coincidence, right?
Yet a certain thought deep inside made Haizaki feel that this might have been an intentional choice by the system.
After all, among countless avatars, selecting one of the few women he had interacted with carried odds comparable to winning the lottery.
"System, was this assistant chosen randomly?"
But the cold mechanical female voice in his mind offered no response, as if it did not exist at all.
...
April 7th, 23:23
Yusuke-san, have you received my email? If you have, please reply immediately.
Kasumigaoka Utaha.
...
April 7th, 23:35
Yusuke-san, I'm very sorry for sending another email. It's already late at night, and I assume you might be resting. If you don't reply within three minutes, please forgive me for disturbing your rest. I will call you.
Kasumigaoka Utaha.
...
Following that were fifteen missed calls.
And repeated emails.
...
Is it really… just me left alone?
What should I… do?
...
Between the lines, the girl's fear of the future and terror of being alone were clearly revealed.
His message had given her hope,
Yet because he did not reply in time or answer the calls, he had once again, mercilessly, destroyed that hope.
In his previous life,
That senior with long black hair and black stockings had left a deep impression on him.
Beautiful girls always remain in a man's memory without realizing it.
And meeting again after the apocalypse was even more unforgettable.
But everything had begun anew.
He now held the opportunity to change the future direction of the original world.
Everything would get better.
...