March in Wuhua City—warm spring weather, flowers in bloom, and all things coming back to life.
During winter, Wuhua City had experienced extreme cold and heavy snowstorms.
However, they had been well prepared, and the severe cold and blizzards posed no major threat.
The only incident during that time was a power outage at Villa No. 4. Haizaki repaired it overnight and restored the electricity supply, preventing the shivering chickens, ducks, and geese from freezing to death.
Not far away, the girl happily enjoyed the sunlight. Her graceful figure radiated youthful vitality and energy.
"Utaha, I already told you to wear more. It's still cold."
"It's fine. I'm okay."
After the harsh, snow-covered winter ended, nature—now filled with spring's vitality—finally ushered in the season she had been eagerly waiting for.
"Sigh…" Seeing this, Haizaki could only sigh.
Although winter had passed, spring was the season when people were most likely to catch the flu.
He exercised regularly and didn't think he would catch a cold easily. But the girl, who didn't work out much and occasionally stayed up late, was dressed so lightly. Haizaki couldn't help but worry.
Getting sick was a very unpleasant thing.
"Haizaki-kun, let's hurry. The cherry blossoms might have bloomed."
Eager for the cherry blossoms, Utaha quickened her pace and urged Haizaki to move faster.
They arrived at Wuhua University.
After enduring winter, Wuhua University looked much brighter, with less of the desolate atmosphere typical of cities.
"So many cherry trees. What a pity…"
The blossoms hadn't bloomed yet.
"I've decided—when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, we'll come to Wuhua University to view them."
Utaha affirmed what Haizaki had said about the university's cherry blossoms being famous.
If she didn't know this was the Eastern Union, she might have suspected it was a university campus in Japan.
In her impression, only Japanese schools had cherry blossoms in such quantity and scale.
She imagined the moment when all the cherry blossoms were in full bloom—
A sea of pink filling her vision, petals dancing in the wind. Truly… beautiful.
She never imagined she could see such dazzling cherry blossoms again in the Eastern Union—blossoms she once thought she might never see again in her lifetime.
"Alright. As long as you like it."
Wuhua University, left without maintenance, was overgrown with weeds and littered with trash. Yet the presence of nature felt even stronger.
With just a bit of cleaning, the campus could regain its charm.
Feeling excited, Utaha looped her arm around Haizaki's as they strolled through the campus.
However, seeing scattered trash from time to time, she eventually suggested,
"Let's do a big cleanup of this area!"
At the very least, the cherry blossom viewing spot shouldn't have trash that ruined the experience.
And right now, the only ones who could clean it were the two of them.
"Mm…" Haizaki nodded.
They found cleaning tools on the Wuhua University campus.
Together, Haizaki and Utaha cleaned the flower-viewing area.
Two hours later, they finished cleaning one section.
"So tired…"
Utaha wiped the sweat from her forehead and said wearily.
"I told you to pay more attention to exercising regularly. See what happens now…"
Haizaki handed Utaha a tissue.
"Isn't Haizaki-kun here?" She puffed out her cheeks, leaned closer, slightly raised her head, and said,
"Help me…"
Holding the tissue, Haizaki wiped the sweat from Utaha's forehead.
"My body is sweaty too. How about… you help me?"
Utaha gave a mischievous smile and started her usual teasing again.
If the teasing worked, it was a win. If it didn't, she lost nothing. Besides, watching Haizaki's helpless expression was one of life's small pleasures.
"Go back and take a shower. Put on your coat now—what if you catch a cold?"
Haizaki picked up the coat Utaha had placed on the ground and draped it over her shoulders.
"It's a bit hot!"
Utaha struggled slightly, unwilling to put it on just yet.
"Even if it's hot, you still have to wear it."
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
Though she looked resigned to Haizaki's overprotective concern, Utaha ultimately chose to compromise.
Haizaki was very tolerant of her and usually went along with most things she wanted. But in certain matters, he was stubborn. No matter how much she acted cute or got angry, Haizaki would never compromise.
So although Haizaki seemed easygoing, that only applied to things that didn't involve principles. Once it came to matters of principle, she had no chance of swaying him at all.
"Let's head back."
There was no trash left in sight, but he planned to come back a few days earlier to check again, striving to ensure there would be no garbage or debris affecting the cherry blossom viewing.
Hopefully, the cherry blossoms would bloom before April 4th. Otherwise, he and Utaha wouldn't get the chance to enjoy them.
"Mm."
A rumbling sound broke the silence of Wuhua University.
The roar of engines—products of human industrial civilization—in the "Solitary Apocalypse" world.
In a few years, perhaps no living being would remember this special sound anymore.
...
Bath time.
After returning to the villa, the one thing Utaha wanted most was to take a bath.
The sticky feeling on her body was truly uncomfortable.
"How about… we bathe together?"
Before going upstairs, Utaha smiled brightly and invited Haizaki to bathe together.
She and Haizaki hadn't bathed together before.
Thinking about it, she even wanted to go soak in hot springs with Haizaki.
She felt a bit excited.
She wanted to experience all interesting and fun things together with Haizaki.
"Go by yourself."
Haizaki rejected Utaha's tempting proposal.
Bathing together with Utaha?
Although he was somewhat tempted, Haizaki still restrained himself. There were less than twenty days left—it would all be over soon. Endure it, and it would pass.
"What a pity. Opportunities only come once. If you miss it, it's gone."
Seeing that Haizaki truly didn't care, Utaha didn't continue.
Though she looked indifferent on the surface, she was just as nervous and shy inside.
What would she do if Haizaki had agreed?
Now that Haizaki had refused, she felt relieved—but also a bit dissatisfied.
Bathing with a beautiful girl was such a wonderful thing, and Haizaki actually refused.
How terrible.
"Hmph…"
Dissatisfied with the answer, Utaha stomped up to the second floor.
Meanwhile, Haizaki began preparing lunch.
Due to time constraints, he didn't plan to make anything too complicated.
"Utaha, you have thirty minutes."
"I know."
Just as she reached her bedroom door, Utaha replied unhappily.
Did he really think she'd take that long to bathe?
Of course—girls naturally needed to spend a lot of time showering and soaking.
"Achoo…"
Her itchy throat made Utaha sneeze.
"I need to hurry."
Although she wanted Haizaki to take care of her and experience his gentle care again, she absolutely didn't want to catch a cold or get a fever.
That kind of weakness and foggy-headed feeling was not pleasant at all.
...