Chapter 27

Everyone looked at Osamu Dazai in unspoken agreement.

Osamu Dazai curved his russet eyes into a smile. "What is it? Why are you all looking at me?"

The depths of his russet eyes were cold. "Don't get us mixed up. That isn't me."

Indeed, the person Zero wanted to save was not him at all. He could tell the difference.

Ranpo opened his emerald eyes and spoke with rare seriousness. "Really, Dazai?"

"Then don't fight me over her." After all, this man posed far too great a threat. Without question, Osamu Dazai was the only person Ranpo had no confidence he could beat. Being the first always made someone special, didn't it?

"...Are you joking, Ranpo?" Osamu Dazai curled his lips. Did Ranpo mean that he would waver once he finished watching?

It was not impossible, because Osamu Dazai was someone whose affections could easily carry over.

Even if his current self had absolutely no intention of admitting it.

An Xinyi took the ten-year-old Shūji Tsushima away. Shūji Tsushima decided to change his name to Osamu Dazai, and they began their journey.

"If all you've seen is humanity's ugly, dark side, then let me show you more of the world. You haven't seen how beautiful it can be yet."

Admittedly, when this vibrant, beautiful world truly unfolded before his eyes, Osamu Dazai did change somewhat for the better.

But a sudden disaster forced their journey, originally intended to last several years, to end after just one.

Osamu Dazai should have grown up alongside An Xinyi in a truly healthy environment, but disaster struck without warning.

A scientist suddenly made an announcement to the world-the world was going to end.

At first, everyone merely thought it was an April Fool's joke. But then the scientist released extensive evidence. A special neutron stream from space had affected activity in Earth's core. Earth, which had been exceptionally temperate for hundreds of millions of years, was no longer a suitable home for humanity.

What would the future hold?

The scientist described it this way: tectonic shifts, volcanic eruptions, toxic fog blotting out the sun, and tsunamis sweeping in alongside hurricanes. In the end, the continents would sink, and seawater would engulf everything.

Humanity would go extinct as a result.

"No way! This is the apocalypse!" Mizuki Tsujimura could not help exclaiming. Compared with the apocalypses shown before the viewing, the aftermath of nuclear war was certainly bleak, but it was a man-made disaster that could be prevented. Too little had been shown of the paranormal incidents for anyone to grasp their danger. But natural disasters... Human history had recorded far too many. Just imagining them was enough to understand the despair.

Santoka Taneda's expression turned livid. Ango Sakaguchi went pale. "An apocalypse like this..." It was far too cruel to Japan. Whether volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, or the eventual sinking of the continents, Japan, as an island nation... would die faster than anyone else.

"What could we even do? I can't think of anything."

"God, if that's what happens, no one would survive, would they?"

"We'd be dead. If we ran into that, we'd definitely be dead."

Unlike the apocalypses shown earlier, this natural-disaster apocalypse undoubtedly hit them harder. After all, even jujutsu sorcerers and ability users would fare little better than ordinary people against natural disasters.

Even Satoru Gojo had to ask himself: even if those disasters could not hurt him, could he really live on alone once all of humanity was gone?

Osamu Dazai paid little attention to the end of the world. No matter how small the odds, they became one hundred percent for whoever encountered it. He simply watched An Xinyi, who stayed beside that young Dazai.

So the original you kept your promise?

What the hell. The man lowered his eyes, his russet bangs casting a shadow that hid his expression. What an irritating person. Who gave you permission to barge into someone else's life?

Perhaps this was what it meant to say one thing and feel another.

Of course, the evidence that scientist released was soon deleted in its entirety, and an apology was posted as well.

But An Xinyi instinctively felt uneasy. Even though, deep down, he did not want to believe in the supposed end of the world... He glanced at Dazai beside him and suddenly made a decision.

"Aji, we're going to China."

Because of his previous life, he had a special attachment to China, and his network of contacts was broadest there. He wanted to find out whether this was true, and... if the world really was ending, China offered the greatest chance of survival.

He firmly believed that.

And that was indeed the case.

An Xinyi took Osamu Dazai back to China, and three days later, the Chinese government issued a statement.

They acknowledged that the end of the world was no rumor. A volcanic eruption would occur in a month, and a tsunami would follow.

"...After careful consideration, we hereby declare a nationwide state of emergency. We must concentrate all our resources on evacuating people within the affected areas to safety and preparing for the disasters yet to come..."

"Comrades, human history is a history of struggle against disaster. Faced with floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes, our ancestors fought relentlessly. They survived. They overcame natural disasters. And we, their descendants, must likewise face disaster without fear, choose to resist it, and overcome it. With human courage and perseverance, we will continue writing humanity's history!"

"Comrades, this is a war, a war unlike any before it. None of us can escape it. Every one of us must join the fight. Now, I declare: the war has begun!"

The world erupted.

"God! I'm all fired up!" Nobara Kugisaki clenched her fists. "I can't wait to get to work!"

"...Ugh, I hate to admit it, but does our government really have the Chinese government's resolve and ability to get things done?" Megumi Fushiguro covered his face. Even without thinking, he knew it was impossible.

"That's true." Yuji Itadori scratched his head.

Panda remarked, "As a panda, shouldn't I be enjoying a happy life in China, with my own little villa and someone serving me every meal?"

Everyone: ...Are you talking about a zoo?!

Yuta Okkotsu looked at Satoru Gojo.

Satoru Gojo rubbed his temple. "Even the strongest guy in the world can't think of a good solution." Satoru Gojo himself would not die, but he had little capacity left to protect others, much less all of Japan.

The Bungo Stray Dogs group, meanwhile, understood the situation perfectly-

"We can only save ourselves." Mori Ougai narrowed his eyes. Given Yokohama's circumstances, the government would never help them.

Everyone nodded. In their case, they could only save themselves.

Everyone from the Special Division for Unusual Powers except Ayatsuji Yukito felt a little embarrassed. After all, they were the ones who had failed to measure up.

China's decision to upend the status quo and reveal the apocalypse outright plunged the entire world into chaos.

Some countries had tight control over public opinion and began dismissing the news as false, intending to stabilize their domestic situation. In particular, certain Western countries had always distrusted China's statements, and many people flatly refused to believe it.

But some perceptive people sensed something unusual. After all, a country as large as China would not make such claims lightly. They, too, began actively preparing to save themselves. As for those with wealth and power, they had already begun building shelters and even Noah's Arks.

At that moment, An Xinyi was deeply grateful that he had brought Osamu Dazai back to China. At least China had been the first to mobilize its national resources and actively work to save its people.

Of course, given China's system, abandoning the public truly was not an option.

Thus, An Xinyi's decision to bring Osamu Dazai to China had undoubtedly been the right one.

In the face of disaster, China demonstrated unprecedented organizational strength and efficiency.

"...Suspend all subway, bus, high-speed rail, and air services. Mobilize every available resource. First, evacuate the people who will be affected earliest..."

"...Recruit volunteers in large numbers... Encourage the public to follow arrangements and actively take steps to protect themselves..."

"Comrades, please believe us. Disaster is not as terrifying as you imagine. We will win this war and show the stars humanity's perseverance and courage!"

Hearing this news, An Xinyi let out a long sigh.

"Aji." That day, An Xinyi fell silent for a long time before suddenly pulling Dazai into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry, Aji. I can't give you a happy childhood anymore."

The end of the world would undoubtedly make this generation the most anguished and despairing of all.

Osamu Dazai was precocious, nothing like an ordinary, uncomprehending twelve-year-old boy. Watching the news, he spoke softly. "We're going to die, aren't we-"

"Actually, that wouldn't be so bad."

Osamu Dazai was very calm. After all, he had looked forward to death from a very young age-the death that came only once.

Although Dazai's outlook had improved considerably during his year with An Xinyi, some things ingrained in him had not changed. After all, the eleven-year-old Dazai had already seen far too much filth and ugliness.

"No, we won't."

An Xinyi shook his head, his ink-black eyes seeming to burn. "Aji, I've never accepted defeat without a fight."

He stared into Dazai's russet eyes. "Humanity won't accept defeat without a fight either. It's only a natural disaster. It won't break us. Aji, I'm heading to the battlefield too."

"I believe we'll win in the end." An Xinyi was unexpectedly confident.

And so, he would no longer be the "-big brother" who belonged to Dazai alone.

"...All right. Good Fortune in Battle."

"He really had faith in humanity back then," Chūya Nakahara could not help saying. "It was his first time, after all."

"Of course he did." Ranpo glanced over. "That's An'an we're talking about."

Every An'an was the same!

It was just that a certain bandage freak was really getting on their nerves!

Some of them grumbled inwardly.

Of course, although Osamu Dazai had given An Xinyi his blessing, he could not possibly stand by and let An Xinyi participate alone. Naturally, he went along too. Although his age meant the community initially refused to let him volunteer, Dazai eventually persuaded them to let him help convince residents to quickly pack their things and evacuate.

As a top-level specialist in computing and communications, An Xinyi was responsible for keeping communication lines running, as well as big-data deployment and planning. Although he and Osamu Dazai were in the same city, they were not together.

There, on his own, Osamu Dazai witnessed the greatest migration in human history.

Online, all entertainment, sports, business, and other news had disappeared. Every media outlet was reporting on this unprecedented mass migration.

From the apartment, Osamu Dazai could see everything below. Everyone was part of the torrent. He watched barriers go up rapidly and all major roads being cleared. Traffic flowed past him slowly but ceaselessly, while large numbers of traffic police and volunteers maintained order.

Shops closed one after another. People poured out of shopping centers and office towers, going home first before evacuating in an orderly manner.

Osamu Dazai followed the community staff, knocking on doors one by one and urging residents to pack their necessities and leave quickly. Even a humble household had possessions worth treasuring, and most people could not bear to leave this or that behind, making the work considerably harder. Some refused to comply and were reported for further action. But most valued their lives and cooperated with the community staff.

Osamu Dazai could tell that most people were reluctant and bewildered. They had yet to recover from the news of the apocalypse, but they were still willing to trust their country, follow instructions, and respond actively.

Osamu Dazai had questions.

"...Of course I don't want to leave my home," said a middle-aged woman whose face bore the marks of hardship. Her household was clearly not well-off, and she was among those who could not bear to leave anything behind, wishing she could carry her entire home on her back. Yet she cooperated readily with the evacuation. "But it doesn't matter if I die. My little girl is still young. Even if there's only the slightest danger, I can't let her take that risk."

What an incredible emotion, strong enough to make a petty, weak, helpless woman so resilient.

Osamu Dazai looked out the window. Volunteers carried elderly people with limited mobility outside. Police helped maintain order. Soldiers helped transport belongings... Not everyone necessarily knew what they could accomplish, but they were all doing their best. They were all fighting.

Without question, this was a war.

He looked into the distance. All the large passenger vehicles, trucks, and military vehicles stood ready. Beyond his sight, more people were coming from neighboring provinces to help. None of them were heroes. They were merely ordinary people.

Selfish, stingy, shortsighted, petty ordinary people.

Yet so many of those ordinary people had become utterly selfless at this moment, helping others without counting the cost.

It was truly remarkable.

Osamu Dazai had never encountered people or events like these. Having been exposed to humanity's dark side far too early, he stared with wide eyes.

At that moment, the incomparably beautiful flower of human nature bloomed there.

"Aji, you look pretty happy." An Xinyi, who had finally found time to see Osamu Dazai after working for so long, breathed a sigh of relief.

"Do I?" Osamu Dazai had not even realized how relaxed his expression was. But clever as he was, he still had concerns. "There'll be even more problems after the migration, though. Even with all this effort, we might not survive the apocalypse."

Osamu Dazai truly was a pessimist.

"If it's only China, it will indeed be difficult." An Xinyi did not deny that. "But there's still hope. If we try, there's at least a one-in-ten-thousand chance. If we don't, there's nothing." He took out his phone to check the latest developments, and a news story suddenly popped up on the screen.

China had begun appealing to the entire world.

"...People of the world, this is not China's concern alone. It concerns the fate of all humanity. We hereby announce that, to prepare for the apocalypse and overcome it, we will shut down most entertainment and securities trading... All existing industries will be restructured, and we will devote our full efforts to building new cities—Sea City... I hope the people of the world will unite and join this unprecedented war. We are a community with a shared future for humanity. We must help one another and win this war together!"

China's statement had an enormous impact, but not every country possessed the same organizational capabilities.

In Tokyo, Japan, for example, poor organization left tens of thousands of people trying to escape Mount Fuji and Tokyo stranded on the roads. Frequent traffic accidents and other incidents only worsened the situation. Other countries were little better, all descending into chaos.

As for the countries in Africa and the Middle East... riots broke out outright, and doomsday cultists went wild. After all, they also knew that, given their level of technology, their chances of survival were practically zero.

Osamu Dazai shook his head. "They can't unite. The other countries can barely keep the situation under control anymore."

"They can't even organize rescue efforts. Their leaders still haven't reached a consensus." After all, their systems were different. If the leaders of other countries still could not even agree on a conclusion, how could they organize its implementation?

"Don't underestimate other people. Relax. Things will improve soon." An Xinyi tapped Dazai. At this point, Dazai was still far too inexperienced. "If China has issued an appeal, it must have some confidence."

"Because there's another group of people in this world who belong to different countries but still move in the same circles."

"And those are-the Superhumans."