Volume 2 Chapter 26 (1/2)
It had already become the middle of December and the temperature was consistently low. It was always windy on the roof of the building, so even if you wore a coat, you could feel the chilling wind whipping through.
Drying the laundry on the taunt rope pulled between two pieces of machinery, Mizuki looks up at the sky. The sun shone brightly and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. With that weather, the clothes should be dry by night.
This is the 4th day since Yusuke had shown his presence. He had said that he would return in about 3 days; but yesterday, when Mizuki prepared an extra meal for him, he did not show up.
Mizuki became worried that something might have happened to him along the way.
(……He’s fine right?) (TL: Daijoubu da yo ne)
All this time, the supermarket had been empty. Today as well, it had the same appearance. (TL: of being empty)
Unable to calm herself, Mizuki leaves the drying area. White smoke was faintly rising from the smoking device near the stair case heading inside the building. Approaching it, she looks at the thermometer attached, confirming that the interior is being kept at around ３０℃. (TL: 86 degrees)
Cooked for a long time at a low temperature as to make the meat tender, the food inside was now suitable to eat. Opening the smoker, the food was resting on the mesh at the top, surrounded by the smoke coming off the wood at the bottom.
Currently un-marinated sausage and cheese were being cooked. After learning how to correctly adjust the temperature, she planned to attempt the smoke other things.
Yusuke had tasked her with reading manuals on the device and learning through trial and error. There were other tasks asked of her as well. Anyway, a lot had to be done. Firing herself up, Mizuki turns to head downstairs.
After she had finished everything on the list and finished the laundry as well, it was night time, and Yusuke still had not returned.
“I wonder if he’ll return tomorrow….”
Walking between the display shelves, she mutters this to herself. While looking at her notepad which she had filled out with the things they will need for their work in the mountains, she places the items on the list in her basket as she locates them.
Inadvertently, she stumbles into the women’s clothing section.
“…….”
After a brief hesitation, Mizuki places her basket on the floor with her note inside. She slowly walked through the isles of autumn and winter clothing. She could freely take them and try them on as she pleased. Mizuki became a little excited.
“Ah, this is cute…..”
She couldn’t wear one everyday because of work, but Mizuki liked skirts. The 2nd floor was air conditioned, but even so, it was a little chilly when wearing a skirt. Taking some thick stockings from the leggings corner, she makes her way to a dressing room to try them on.
Watching herself in the mirror, she tries on a knee-length checkered skirt, a loose flared skirt, and a skirt with frills on it. After picking out an A line one-piece and a tunic with laces, she finds a blue blazer in a corner in the back. On a whim, she picks it up to try on.
“How nostalgic…..”
With the under s.h.i.+rt and tie, it was just like a school uniform. For a moment, it felt like she was back in time, before the outbreak.
“………….”
For a while she watched the nostalgic appearance in the mirror, but suddenly, she notices footsteps behind her. Turning around, she can see Yusuke at a distance. It appeared he came down from the elevator. He approaches her.
“Takemura-san!”
At Mizuki’s voice, Yusuke slightly raises his hand.
“Ou. I’m late.”
“Welcome back! Are you okay?”
“Ah…, there are no problems. I got my hands on something I wanted. It’s piled in the car downstairs.”
As he was talking, Mizuki noticed Yusuke’s expression become cloudy.
“…..Something you were interested in?”
“The zombies outside became less.”
“Eh?”
“Their numbers didn’t decrease. It seems the ones indoors have dove underground.”
“That’s….”
“Though it would be convenient to go to the mountains … If their numbers go down a bit more, then even you guys could safely move around down there.”
Even as he said this, Yusuke’s expression was not bright. It was as if something was concerning him, but he wouldn’t say it aloud. Yusuke speaks as if shaking off a grudge,
“Ma, with some electricity, we could stay here. There’s really no need to rush. How was it over here?”
“Etto, everything you asked has been finished. I’ve also tried gathering everything we need to be self-sufficient in the mountains that was written on the note.”
Taking the notepad out of the basket, she hands it to Yusuke. As he read the note intently, Mizuki began her story.
“A vynil house is impossible, but digging out a rut and covering it is a possibility. If we plant crops that are resistant to the cold, then if the conditions are right, we may be able to grow certain things even in the middle of winter. Anything else, we will have to wait at least three months until winter ends to grow them, but with the mountains soil, we should be able to naturally cultivate almost anything. Chemical fertilizer, weed killer; if you don’t mind the condition of the crops, I feel we don’t really need them. I’ve been reading a lot of different books but pottery looks pretty interesting.” (TL: I know her report seems all over the place, but this is what was written.)
While listening to Mizuki, Yusuke flipped through the notebook.
The time it takes to sow the crops and even the correct time to harvest them, the right characteristics of the soil, ways to a.n.a.lyze certain types of weeds, how to add compost to soil along with the method of making it, all of the important material from the agriculture books he had brought had been extracted and written down with ill.u.s.trations so it was easy to understand.
Easy to grow and quick to harvest produce including potatoes were picked up on. Each page of information was detailed as if someone experienced had written it. Reading through page after page, Yusuke was silent for a moment before opening his mouth.
“……Could it be, you’re actually really smart?”
“Eh? Saa…… I don’t really…..” (TL: “Saa” is like “Idk”… In this instance anyway.)
“Like what was your grade in school?”
“Etto…..”
She hesitates for a bit,
“One time, I finished a test within the top 5.”
“In your cla.s.s?”
“In my year…..”
“…………..”
Yusuke became silent.
“……..I, I’ve never been higher than the middle of my cla.s.s.”
“Is, is that so?”
“This feels like the notes of a smart person, seriously.”
“Etto….. sumimasen” (TL: apologizing)
“? Why are you apologizing? It’s so easy to understand, it’s better to leave book work to you from now on.”
(TL: he says work that requires thought.)
Being praised by Yusuke, a smile spreads across Mizuki’s face. Even more so than when she took a top place on her test, why did she feel so happy?
Taking one more look at the notebook, Yusuke closes it and looks at Mizuki.
“Well then…. what’s with that appearance?”
Eyeing her top to bottom, he looks at her clothes. Yusuke’s eyes locked onto her thinly spread pink lip gloss. Fidgeting, Mizuki awkwardly adverts her gaze.
“That’s…. when I finished everything you said to do, I thought maybe a change of pace…… I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine but….”
Yusuke cut’s off his words and slowly moves behind her. Mizuki uneasily chases him with her gaze, but he was already embracing her from the back.