April 1, Sakurazaka Jin.

I tear off a page from the daily calendar and discard it. It’s April Fool’s Day today.

Next, I check the time on the wall clock. It’s half-past six in the morning.

Alright, everything is going according to plan.

Just to be sure, I check my outfit. I’m wearing a plain, mouse-colored sweatshirt and sweatpants. It’s my favorite pajama set, nothing out of the ordinary.

On my feet and hands, I have handmade cold-weather accessories from my sister: gloves and socks to combat my poor circulation. Even though it’s technically spring according to the calendar, the lakeside area with its abundant nature gets chilly in the mornings and evenings, so I can’t do without them.

I glance around the room.

There’s the sofa, which has lost some of its cushioning. It doubles as a kotatsu during the winter.

I splurged on a large TV that’s connected to the internet, allowing me to stream videos. It’s been quite handy.

At the back is the kitchen.

In front of the counter table in the open-style kitchen, there are two of my sister’s favorite blue chairs and four chairs of a different color.

In the corner of the counter, there’s a cardboard box filled with snacks that my sister stocked up on.

The coffee maker my sister impulsively bought is boldly occupying a prominent spot. It used to be rarely used, but lately, it’s been getting some action.

There are also various seasonings my sister bought out of curiosity, even though she can’t cook.

The furniture and belongings in our living room remain the same as always.

Since we cleaned together yesterday, the visible area is tidy and organized. Let’s not touch upon the unseen areas or the storage spaces.

The TV remote is placed in its designated spot on the table before going to bed, so there’s no need to search for it.

I pick up the remote and press the power button, and the screen lights up.

The channel number of a commercial broadcaster is displayed in the upper right corner, and the images start playing.

It’s an aerial view of the town, probably from a news helicopter. Recently, there have been more drone footage, reducing the need for helicopters in terms of convenience and cost.

…Let’s focus on the images and put aside irrelevant knowledge.

There are flames and smoke rising from various parts of the town, and tiny figures appear to be running around in panic.

The people, appearing as mere dots due to the distance, are running all at once, while other dot-like figures chase after them.

There seems to be a considerable number of people, but it feels like there are fewer than usual for the morning rush hour.

Without a closer zoom, it’s hard to make out the details, but it resembles a scene from a panic-inducing movie.

Despite knowing what to expect, the vividness of the footage showing people being attacked makes me involuntarily gasp.

“It’s like watching footage of a terrorist attack overseas,” I mutter after glancing at the note in my hand.

As if in response to my murmuring, the voice of the announcer resonates.

“Unbelievably, this is happening in Japan! Unexplained riots have been occurring in various locations since yesterday! Viewers, please stay indoors! I repeat—”

The desperate and panicked cries in the announcer’s voice convey the severity of the situation all too well.

Abruptly, the footage changes. This time, it appears to be footage taken yesterday from a viewer’s smartphone.

Screams and cries echo inside a shopping mall, with people frantically fleeing.

The video is shaky, perhaps due to the uploader trembling. Yet, the smartphone manages to capture a middle-aged man covering  a woman who had collapsed.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

A brave young man confronts the suspicious middle-aged man from behind.

Despite being shouted at, the man shows no concern and refuses to leave the woman’s side.

“I told you to back off… off…”

The young man, who had attempted to grab and separate them from behind, freezes in his tracks.

He finds himself face-to-face with the middle-aged man, who swiftly rotates his head 180 degrees.

Glowing red eyes. Blood dripping from the corner of his grinning mouth. Blood vessels visible all over his face.

The abnormality is evident at first glance.

The footage cuts off there, and the scene shifts to a studio set.

“No matter how many times you see it, it’s unbelievable. What exactly is happening? To hear opinions on the ongoing state of emergency, we have invited Professor Funakoshi from the Medical University today.”

“Thank you for having me.”

A man with graying hair and a gray suit, exuding an intellectual aura, is seated at the commentator’s seat.

“It seems that all the people causing havoc across various locations since yesterday are exhibiting similar symptoms. There are rumors circulating online that suggest it might be some kind of contagious disease, like rabies, which can be transmitted through biting,” the host says.

“At this point, the cause is unknown. There are even rumors circulating about it being like something out of a movie… like zombies. But please, do not be swayed by rumors and maintain a calm approach,” the expert responds.

Despite being in a studio with air conditioning, the expert can be seen wiping sweat off his forehead with a handkerchief, displaying nothing but unease. Though he appears to be an expert, it seems that he hasn’t fully grasped the current situation.

“However, since yesterday, videos depicting these zombie-like individuals causing havoc have been circulating online and generating discussion. Let’s take a look at the actual footage,” the host says.

The announcer interrupts the expert’s opinion, and the footage changes.

Countless fake creatures fall into a pit, shot with arrows, and set on fire—the familiar scenes play out.

There’s no need to watch any more, so I turn off the TV and boot up my laptop.

Ignoring stock prices and horse racing dividends, I start searching through news sites and social media, one after another.

Everywhere is filled with this chaos. It seems that similar situations are unfolding all around the world, and the posts and videos from people living near the affected areas paint a horrifying picture of chaos and despair.

However, comparing it to my memories from a month ago, it seems that the damage is somewhat reduced. …It could just be wishful thinking or a faulty memory.

I lift my gaze from the display and glance back at the wall clock.

The time reads 7:29.

It’s about time…

“So, how did it go?”

As the long hand of the wall clock approached the six, Diya’s face popped out from the kitchen.

“Jin-chan, was it the same as the premonition dream?”

The door connecting to the living room opened, and there appeared my sister, Jingūichi, Hinoyama, and Iwarō-san.

“It was almost the same, but I think the damage was less than in the premonition dream. Also, the footage that Yae-nee and Diya shared wasn’t mentioned in the dream, so it might be evidence that the future has changed.”

It didn’t turn into a happy ending where all of humanity was saved. Still, I want to believe that what we did had meaning.

“In that case, it’s a job well done. It seems that even those who didn’t take internet information seriously, skipped work or school just in case are not few in number.”

“Those people shouldn’t have existed during the premonition dream, right?”

Jingūichi and Hinoyama didn’t sleep at all yesterday, tirelessly gathering information. They cooperated in spreading information under the guise of third parties, and I later heard that they even utilized the detective agency’s resources.

“It’s a fact that we saved many people who were destined to die. So, please be proud. There is also a man here who was saved by all of you. Thank you very much.”

Iwarō-san, still with bandages and leaning on crutches, bowed his head.

The plan was for my sister and me to be the only ones to survive, but we may have saved tens, hundreds, thousands, or even more people… It’s possible. Even if this was just a temporary extension of life for a few days, I have no regrets. It was the path I chose.

“So, what do we do from here?”

I struggled to find an answer to Jingūichi’s simple question. I’ve been focused on how to get through today, but I haven’t made any plans for the future.

The initial plan was to secure lifelines, grow vegetables on the rooftop, and somehow survive. The preparations for that are in place, but what should we do now…

“Jingūichi-san, could you give us that table that can decipher the code?”

“Code… Ah, I see what you mean. Sure, no problem.”

I’m relieved that he understood right away.

From now on, I’ll make sure to check that table at least twice a day. If I don’t, it will be troublesome for my father.

“Jin-chan has seen the future one month ahead, so why don’t we use that as a reference to plan our countermeasures?”

—Yes, I know.

“Oh, right, I forgot about that. Jin knows the future details, so let’s rely on his instructions!”

— I know what will happen.

Diya chimed in, taking advantage of my sister’s question.

The other three remain silent but are focused on me.

“Sounds good… Let’s strengthen our defense even more! We need a solid fortress that can easily repel dozens, hundreds of those modokis!”

—So that we can endure whatever comes our way.

“That’s a great idea! We still have a lot of unfinished work to do. We should reinforce the moat with a framework and pour concrete, and let’s also create and install ballistae and catapults as defensive weapons! We can set up traps around as well!”

—But even then, it’s not enough.

Eagerly, Diya stands by the window and forcefully opens the curtains. With the morning sun as her backdrop, she looks back at me and winks.

“Hey, Jin!”

“That’s right. Let’s fully DIY our home into a fortress!”

“YEAH!”

Everyone has no choice but to give their all to ensure our survival.

I am the only one who knows, from the precognitive dream—the hellish scene. I, standing alone in the rain amidst the debris, surrounded by Diya, Jinguichi, Hinoyama, Iwari… and Yae-nee.

To change that future of despair, surrounded by those lifeless bodies—I will do whatever it takes!

….

Authors Note:

Thank you for staying with us for a month.

During this month, we tried various new approaches, so I imagine there may be mixed reactions. (As I’m writing this epilogue without having seen everyone’s feedback)

I aimed for an ending reminiscent of typical panic movies, but how was it?

With a hint of continuation and an ending that doesn’t provide a clear resolution, if you felt that way, then it went according to plan.