Episode 51: The Era of Popularity Arrives?

The sinking sun cast orange light through the window on the tenth floor.

In the glow of the evening light, Hayato began removing various items from a large bag.

"These will be today's spoils."

Yui and Natsuki, along with Sakurai and his daughter, watched Hayato's actions.

The Sakurai family resided in Room 1001 because they had an existing alliance. Hayato had wanted to learn about the zombies' removal and the hotel's condition.

At the hotel, they had been transporting zombies on twenty or so carts since before noon, carrying them past the hotel and dumping them into a valley three hundred meters ahead.

Hayato's early departure had been the correct choice.

"First, the rechargeable batteries and chargers."

From the bag came forty-eight AA batteries and forty-two AAA batteries, along with five chargers.

Rechargeable batteries could be used hundreds to thousands of times after recharging.

Size conversion spacers included eight for AA batteries and ten for A batteries, which could be attached to AAA batteries to use them as AA or A batteries.

"Other lithium batteries were present, but I'm setting aside the ones for the car key's battery."

Do not explain to Sakurai and his daughter, as it is physically impossible. Selecting out ladder, hand truck, tool set, various gloves, auxiliary locks, outdoor extension cords, and more.

"Things like this were common."

"The Home Center in Chukann City was reportedly occupied during the time Japan still maintained order. Even then, prices were absurdly high."

Yui stared at the pile of batteries, dumbfounded. Hayato relayed a fact he had heard.

He glanced at Sakurai, who nodded in agreement.

"Raiding spread from urban centers. Chukann City was a bit delayed. It's fairly rural, after all."

Thanks to that, some supplies had barely survived.

Only the overpriced items remained.

Hayato arranged the larger loot next.

Twelve LED flashlights, ten LED lanterns, all high-end and expensive.

"Flashlights and lanterns are rechargeable. Natsuki's is the most expensive lantern, capable of solar and hand-crank charging, and can run continuously for sixty-seven hours."

"Amazing."

Natsuki stared at the box of the LED lantern in her hand.

The lantern featured a large-diameter LED for long-range illumination and could also function as a flashlight.

It had two USB ports, allowing smartphones to be charged.

It included a radio, alarm, motion sensor, and could serve as an emergency signal light or security light to indicate one's location.

"With this, we won't have trouble with light at night."

"How do we charge it?"

As Yui had pointed out, all the products except the solar-charged lantern Natsuki held required charging from external sources.

Oil lamps provided sufficient light, but the collected items could not resolve the issue.

Hayato, prompted by Yui, opened the next bag.

"This is today's major achievement. There are two units, but we'll start with the first."

The first item Hayato removed was a product found at the Home Center.

Of the three boxes retrieved, one bore the label 'Portable Power 2042Wh,' while the other two were marked 'Solar Panel 200W.'

"Two solar panels can achieve a full charge in as little as seven hours. It's also possible to use the power while charging."

Yui and the others stared at the box housing the portable power unit, which had displaced the flashlight and lantern resting on the desk.

But even if you say 2042 WH, it won’t register.

Hayato relayed the information he had examined earlier.

The rice cooker runs four times a day. The washing machine runs five times a day. The microwave operates for about two hours daily. That means daily meals, laundry, and microwave use are possible.

Yui, Natsuki, and Anna each wore expressions like doves that had swallowed peas from a pea shooter.

It would be a dramatic improvement in quality of life.

Place the washing machine in the bathroom of room 714, convert room 714 into a drying room, and you’ll be free from the hassle of hand-washing and other tedious tasks.

When Hayato spoke, Yui and Natsuki, who shared the task of laundry including Hayato’s portion, exchanged glances.

What about laundry detergent for the washing machine?

Rice bran is available. Place it in a mesh fabric bag to remove dirt.

They exchanged glances and nodded.

Placing the portable power source in Room 714 would mean cooking in Room 714 as well.

Round trips to Room 1001 would be necessary, but climbing up and down the third floor was not significant effort compared to laundry or cooking.

"Refrigerator use seems difficult, but the microwave might work?"

"Yes. The remaining power will be used for lanterns or battery charging."

Anna watched with envy as Yui and Natsuki spoke.

Sakurai alone maintained a poker face, but that changed the moment Hayato pulled out the next product.

"By the way, when I got the portable power source from the Home Center, ten people tried to rob me. I repelled them. They paid me a settlement fee for it."

Hayato placed a different portable power source and three solar panels on the desk, as he spoke.

The portable power source had a capacity of 4096 Wh.

The solar panels were three units of 400 W each.

"Capacity is double. But even with three panels totaling 1200 W, sunlight only provides 1000 W per hour. Full charge takes at least four hours."

Hayato thought this was an unnecessarily complex explanation, and adjusted his wording.

"Previously, 400 W per hour. Now, 1000 W per hour."

When Hayato was attacked by three people, he demanded the same equipment and twice the settlement fee.

They paid 2.5 times the amount.

Probably because the solar panel alone would be unusable if only one remained, and they reluctantly agreed. Different manufacturers meant incompatible charging cables and other standards.

Hayato lowered his spear because of the payment.

He had said himself that he would accept a settlement at double the amount. The matter was settled.

"Use it for the air conditioner in the hotel room. It can run continuously for twenty-four hours."

That was a dramatic statement.

Modern people were weak to both heat and cold.

Scorching summer days above thirty-five degrees, winters so cold it snowed—neither was survivable without air conditioning.

On sweltering days, a certain number collapsed from heatstroke.

In freezing cold, one could only wear thick layers and shiver.

The hellish summers and winters that came every year—could be solved with just a portable power source.

"How about that? Impressive, right?"

Hayato sought a reassessment of his favorability from Yui, who was not easily impressed.

His goal was two hundred. A play-acting recreation of Yoshiwara's red-light district.

Yui, sensing Hayato's lewd thoughts, twitched at the corner of her mouth.

Hayato and Yui exchanged silent glances, sparks flying between them in a quiet duel.

Anna, watching their interaction, stepped smoothly to Hayato’s left. She pressed her body against his, turned to face him, and locked eyes.

Anna stared at Hayato, then finally spoke in a testing, sweet tone.

“I’ll come too.”

Anna’s hands wrapped around Hayato’s left arm.

Something soft between her hands brushed against Hayato’s left hand.

Hayato maintained his poker face, swallowed hard.

“Anna, you have a father, don’t you?”

Yui, observing, interjected without delay.

Hayato did not say no.

Instead, he fought against the softness.

Anna raised her voice again, testing.

“Papa. Anna is… getting married.”

“That’s right. Keep going strong.”

Sakurai nodded, smiling lightly as he followed Anna’s words.

Hayato studied his expression. Half jest, half earnest.

He had heard Sakurai’s thoughts before.

‘How long until my daughter can stand on her own?’

‘If civilization hadn’t collapsed, she’d be graduating middle school about now.’

‘But parents die first.’

If Anna followed Hayato, she would achieve full psychological, environmental, and economic independence.

Complete independence from Sakurai.

In these times, most would worry about a daughter’s future.

But the girl in question killed five hundred zombies in one hour and scavenged supplies from multiple locations.

In a world overrun by zombies, could there be a better match?

As far as Hayato could imagine, the seed island cleared of zombies would be a better environment, but the island’s population was likely at capacity.

Thus, from Sakurai’s perspective, Hayato was currently the best match.

Sakurai’s wish was fulfilled. Anna too would benefit from the rice cooker, washing machine, and air conditioner.

Hayato thought, even so, that this was perhaps not ideal.

— But my left arm.

An irresistible sensation gripped Hayato’s left arm and would not release.

Men did not need cable ties. There was a stronger, unavoidable restraint.

The softness of a fifteen-year-old girl’s hand on his left hand. Could he resist?

There were people in the world who could resist.

Hayato could not.

Yui and Natsuki exchanged glances, watching the bear fully caught in the trap.

"Aah, fool. Fooled by a thief cat."

"Perhaps that's why I couldn't let you touch it yesterday."

Natsuki pointed to the incident at the viewing bath, addressing Yui's astonishment.

Hayato shuddered at the detective's sharp observation.

"Maybe."

Yui narrowed her eyes at Hayato's startled exclamation.

Then, deliberately sighing, she spoke to Anna.

"Impossible. The washing machine and rice cooker in Room 714 are yours to use, Anna."

"But only while Yui and the others are here, right?"

"True... but—"

Hayato and the others planned to relocate to a larger plot of land, cultivate crops, and improve their living conditions.

Anna's hands tightened, pressing harder against Hayato.

—Good. Do it harder.

A traitor emerged from among Hayato's group.

But if the king betrayed them, was that still betrayal?

The chancellor, stunned, moved without regard for the king.

"Yes, an interview. What can Anna do?"

Yui’s defensive action began.

Incidentally, Yui handled all household duties.

Without a working washing machine, laundry was done by hand.

Cooking consisted of retrieving bread and similar items from storage, sometimes assembling them into sandwiches, and collecting trash in a way that made it easier for Hayato to dispose of.

Hayato struck zombies. Yui managed the household. The division of labor functioned.

Natsuki could also manage household tasks, and possessed knowledge of agriculture in general.

She proposed the use of the country elevator, and brought Hayato a large quantity of rice.

Rice was now available in unlimited amounts. They could eat enough to last a lifetime. It also served as currency for hotel stays and various transactions.

Natsuki might already have contributed enough for a lifetime.

"Um..."

Anna surveyed the group.

Yui wore a confident expression, silently signaling that the limit had been reached.

Anna fixed her gaze on Hayato, her lips forming a question: "Is this enough?"

"Youth?"

The left arm held the sensation of a fresh, young fruit.

Even Hayato, for all his caution, could not be so easily swayed.

Yet the fruit was not merely fresh; the tree itself was balanced, its growth harmonious, its form pleasing—ideal for photography.

And she appealed to Hayato: "It’s delicious, right?"

The doubt about whether it was truly delicious was answered by the sensation in his left arm, which, wordlessly, screamed "dangerously good" into his mind.

Not particularly large, but a top-grade specimen from a fifteen-year-old tree.

—Direct appeal was out. But deliberate consideration? That might be acceptable.

Thus, Hayato convinced himself.