That 25: A Slow Life in Just One Day

...No good. Trouble. What should I do?

It was just past six in the morning.

Huddled under the blanket up to my head, I was completely immobilized.

So bothersome.

I didn’t want to go anywhere.

I just wanted to stay here like this forever.

That was a genuine feeling, straight from the heart.

Like I’d been sewn into the bed, I lay there motionless.

It was all because of this electric blanket thing.

The warmth inside the futon was so cozy that I couldn't bear the chill of the morning air on my skin.

Grrr.

Reluctantly, still wrapped in the futon, I began reading what appeared to be a cheap edition—probably the kind sold at convenience stores—of 'Detective Conan.'

In an instant, several hours had passed.

Incredible.

Even in a world on the brink of collapse, 'Conan' remains entertaining.

Still, Mr. Aoyama, are you safe? In a situation like this, I really hope you manage to survive and finish your story properly.

My stomach let out a loud growl, and I finally succeeded in getting to my feet.

Slowly making my way to the kitchen, I pulled out items from the refrigerator that were prone to spoiling.

First, eggs. Then vegetables.

Let's have some beef too. I'm not staying long anyway. Probably.

And I unleash my solo-living secret technique.

"Secret art: stir-fry anything with yakitori sauce, and it instantly becomes something like a side dish."

Plus instant miso soup and rice. And a pickle with some takuan.

A sip of miso soup.

Then a bite of beef and vegetable stir-fry with egg.

I bite into the crunchy takuan, then scoop up a big spoonful of rice with my chopsticks.

Happy.

Huh? You think this breakfast is too much for morning? I agree. I know a delicate girl shouldn't eat this much.

But my body right now desperately needed an enormous amount of nutrients. Honestly, I’m amazed at how much food my body can even hold—truly remarkable.

I’m certain I’m eating far beyond what my stomach’s capacity should allow.

Or perhaps it's a side effect of the superpower granted by those mysterious hallucinations.

After finishing my meal, I flopped back onto the bed.

Just a short nap, and by the time I'd read 'Konao' up to a convenient stopping point, a certain thought had emerged in my mind.

Honestly, it's a bold move, even by my own standards.

It could be considered a blasphemous act against society.

"...Maybe I should try taking a bath...?"

That was essentially what I was thinking.

Even though there was still plenty of water stored, now that the tap water had been cut off early on, water conservation had become a priority at school.

This past week, students had been allowed to shower only twice—both times with cold water. Although it was gradually getting warmer, it was still late February. Everyone cried a little as they took their long-awaited showers.

Under these circumstances.

I had devised a daring, luxurious plan—to soak in a bath.

Fortunately, there was plenty of water here, though it was meant for drinking.

I immediately started heating water using a camping stove and an electric kettle.

At the same time, I shoved all my clothes into the washing machine and stood bare except for a single bath towel.

It took about an hour to get everything ready.

Just as the laundry finished, the bathtub filled with hot water.

Still nearly naked, I hung up my clothes and plunged into the bath.

"O-oh my gosh... This is incredible..."

Utter bliss.

I might never be allowed such luxury again.

That’s precisely why the happiness I felt in that moment was priceless.

...and then, at that moment.

A sharp snap.

The bathroom light flickers out with a sound.

It seems we must have used too much electricity.

After that, no matter how many times we tried to flip the switch, the light never came back on.

Well, it's fine anyway. In fact, it gave me the final push I needed to leave this place.

I stepped out of the bath and made my last lunch from the contents of the refrigerator.

By then, my tracksuit had just dried off, and I put it on.

I secured enough non-bulky food, water, and other essentials from the drugstore, fully prepared.

Exactly one full day had passed since I’d stumbled into this store.

— I’ll come back again.

I made that decision silently in my heart.

For now, I must return to school.

If I linger too long, the school staff might come looking for me.

That kind of thing could easily happen with someone as conscientious as Kōsuke.

……fuh

I let out a small sigh, fully refreshed in body and mind.

This is the downside of being a hero of justice.

Still clutching my sword, I stand on the rooftop of the building.

Looking down, a dozen or so "zombies" relentlessly stretch their hands toward me, chanting "Ooowaaah" without pause.

……cough

In my hand is a single sheet of sheet music. The title reads "Song of the Death God."

I think, even without using this, I could probably face those guys head-on right now.

Still.

I would have preferred, if possible, to get through this situation cleanly and without a mess.

Why, you ask?

Well, I'm a girl, after all ☆

"Then... everyone! Please listen!"

I spread my arms dramatically, speaking with the flair of an idol stepping onto a stage.

"——Lululara♪ Lulara♪ Die, die, die, fall into hell♪ Everyone drop dead♪"

………….

……………………….

……………………………Wait?

Nothing's happening? Did I mess up the lyrics? Could it be... that my singing just isn't effective because I'm tone-deaf?

Nonsense.

I've spent countless days honing my vocal skills—perfecting my performance with the high mobility of a lone karaoke enthusiast, never expecting anyone to hear me—my singing should be powerful enough...

Bong, bong, bobbobobong, bong! Bbbbbbbbbbbboooong!

In an instant, torrents of blood erupted from the ears of the "zombies" before me.

I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but the "zombies" are collapsing one after another.

Thanks to that, the drugstore sign became splattered with blood.

No one’s gonna want to step into a pharmacy with such a gory sign, that’s for sure.

Congratulations! You've unlocked the achievement "Terminator"!

Also picked up another achievement along the way.

Was it because I eliminated so many "zombies" at once?

Anyway, it seems smarter to focus on moving forward for now.

I'll save choosing my reward for after I get to school.