Chapter 85: I’ll Come Back Someday

"Ah, I'm stuffed." Sosuke Kitahara let out a long sigh as he set down his bowl and chopsticks. The table, which had seemed overly abundant for just four people, had been completely cleared. Every dish devoured. For women surviving in the apocalypse, conserving food wasn't about dieting or watching their figure. It was about staying alive. "All the best ingredients from the fridge got used up for this meal. We can probably have another round for breakfast tomorrow, but anything left after that won't last without a cold storage room. It'll spoil fast and isn't easy to carry. We'll just have to leave it here on the yacht," said Haruno Yukinoshita, her eyes drifting toward Sosuke, who had stood up to help clean. She quickly raised a hand to stop him and tilted her head playfully. "Cleaning up after the meal is part of cooking too. Go take it easy, Sosuke. It's a shame we've got no internet or TV signal right now, and this yacht doesn't have much in the way of entertainment. Once I'm done tidying up, why don't we go sit on the deck for a bit?" Sosuke gave her a gentle smile and nodded, settling back onto the sofa. "I'll help, Haruno-san," Yukino offered quickly. "Me too, onee-chan," added Utaha Kasumigaoka, rolling up her sleeves. Their pale, slender arms moved deftly as they picked up the plates and bowls. Sosuke lounged lazily on the couch, doing absolutely nothing, just watching the three girls disappear into the kitchen. The soft sound of running water echoed from the sink, tranquil and warm. "So this is what a home feels like..." He narrowed his eyes slightly and whispered, "Yeah... it's nice." ... With the combined effort of the three girls, the kitchen and dining area were soon spotless. After a short rest, Haruno rallied everyone and led them up to the deck. The night deck was bathed in moonlight, the slightly chipped moon hanging high in the sky. The sea mirrored it like a vast obsidian mirror stretching out before them. The waters shimmered with lights from countless boats gathered nearbykept at a distance from the navy warship, which prohibited any approach. The sight was beautiful reflections of ships and the silver moon scattering across the waves like sequins sewn onto the dark fabric of the sea. Sosuke, sipping fruit juice on a canvas chair, didn't think of anything. He simply stared into the scenery, letting the cool, early-winter breeze wash over him. "I knew it. Leave him alone for five minutes and he's already zoned out again," Utaha muttered, arms crossed. "If it were just me and him alone on this yacht, I swear I'd die of boredom." Sosuke bared his teeth at her like a wolf pup ready to bite. If Yukino and Haruno weren't around, he would've shown this woman exactly what it meant to scream till her throat went hoarse. But with the current mood, all he could do was sit in silence. There wasn't much to talk about not without forcing it. So what else could he do but stare blankly at the sea? Haruno slipped off her slippers and sat beside him, clad in a snug set of sleepwear. The yacht's dim guidance lights cast a faint glow on her. She smiled and said, "Why don't we ignore him for now? We've had some rest already. How about we go soak in the bath?" Bathing culture ran deep in Japan. It wasn't just a luxury it was a daily ritual, a necessity. Especially now, with the world on fire, a proper soak was a rare blessing. Earlier, everyone had only done a quick rinse. Tonight was the perfect chance to relax in a real bath. As soon as Haruno mentioned it, both Yukino and Utaha readily agreed. "You all go ahead. I've got something to talk to you about later," Sosuke said. He had made up his mind to teach the sisters his breathing technique. It wasn't something one could learn overnight, so there was no rush. Seeing the three of them still planning to bathe separately, he added, "Why not go together? A soak takes time, and sharing makes it quicker." None of the girls objected. In fact, they found the suggestion perfectly natural. The yacht's second-floor bathroom was spacious enough that even four people could bathe together without feeling cramped. One after another, they headed back inside. Sosuke leaned his head back and watched their silhouettes disappear into the ship. Their slender waists and long legs traced out stunning curves, paired with three exquisite faces it was impossible not to imagine the scene of those three beauties sitting together in the tub... He swallowed hard. Of course, asking to bathe with them would be shameless. So he stayed behind, alone, gazing into the distant shadows of the city barely visible along the dark coastline. Tokyo. The most prosperous city in Asia. Even in the face of financial collapse or economic downturns, its vitality had always burned bright. With over thirteen million people living in the city proper, Tokyo and its surrounding urban zones had fused into a mega-city cluster of nearly thirty-seven million people housing a quarter of Japan's population and a third of its university students. Now, it was just past eight in the evening. Normally, the skyscrapers in the distance would be lit up at least sixty or seventy percent of the windows glowing with office lights. Through them, you'd see silhouettes of hardworking souls toiling deep into the night. But tonight, not a single light shone. Even through binoculars, the city was swallowed in pitch-black silence. Not even street lamps flickered. The sea of boats bobbing on the waves behind him felt more alive than the city itself. Tokyo had turned into a tomb. The eerie quiet sent chills down his spine. Sosuke brushed aside his tousled bangs and breathed in the salty sea breeze. Speaking softly, as though to himself, or perhaps making a vow, he gazed ahead. All the noise in his heart retreated like the tide. His eyes sharpened, glowing with a quiet resolve. "I won't fear Tokyo forever. One day, I'll come back and make this city, this dazzling illusion of prosperity, kneel beneath my feet." ... Meanwhile, Utaha Kasumigaoka slipped out of her clothes, revealing a flawless, alabaster body that looked as if it were carved from pure jade. She carefully folded her clothes and set them on the shelf, then reached out and pressed the wall switch. A cascade of soft light spilled from the starlight chandelier overhead, filling the bathroom with warmth and glow. Even though this was her second time entering, she still found herself awestruck. Earlier, they'd been in too much of a rush to admire the space. Now, with time to spare, Utaha looked around curiously. Under the gentle light, the cream and amber tiles on the walls formed elegant landscape mosaics. What drew her attention most was the tub, a mix of modern design and retro style, covered with a wooden lid. It looked traditional, but the buttons on the rim suggested it had a massage function. "This... was your coming-of-age gift? Isn't that a bit much?" Utaha said with a tsk of amazement. "It's not mine. It's my sister's," Yukino replied, wrapped tightly in a large bath towel that draped over her shoulders and covered her body completely. Her slender fingers clutched the towel protectively at her chest. Haruno, entering last, casually locked the bathroom door behind them and chuckled. "They said it was a birthday gift for me. But honestly, my parents were the ones using it most of the time. This yacht was never just a pleasure boat it's more like a private meeting space. They'd host business partners here to talk deals." Clearly uninterested in discussing business, Haruno turned away from the topic with a smirk. After all, no matter how luxurious a yacht was, once it ran out of fuel, it was just a useless hunk of metal drifting at sea. She grabbed a small stool and set it down with a smile. "So, who's going first?" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh, you like the story? Wow, who knew. Go ahead, drop a review and throw some power stones maybe I'll be motivated to keep going. The story's already ahead on Patron. Go there if you want to catch up faster! [email protected]/_theon Change @ to "a"