World Alliance (7)

What came to mind was the dodo, a bird that went extinct on Earth.

This bird, which lived on Mauritius, couldn't fly and was not very wary; moreover, because its meat was delicious, it was hunted to excess as soon as people discovered it. Dogs brought to the island by humans and rats aboard ships also ate the eggs laid on the ground and the chicks.

As a result, it went extinct.

I believe Japan did something similar with herring. Because herring were so easy to catch off Hokkaido, people caught them relentlessly, and the catch fell to about one percent of its peak. Even though there were signs the herring population was recovering in the 1980s, people started catching them relentlessly again, and the herring catch once more fell into decline.

Apparently, when herring were overabundant, people couldn't eat all of them and turned them into fertilizer... Humans are creatures who rush headlong after their desires, regardless of country.

"Did you fall asleep, Reiji-san?"

"No, I'm still awake."

I had given Asha the guest-room bed and was sprawled on the sofa. Sleeping on a sofa was heavenly compared to sleeping rough, but my mind was clear before drowsiness could set in.

The window was open, and the lace curtains fluttered in the breeze. They looked as though they were billowing, filled with moonlight.

Apparently, the temperature dropped at night until it became almost chilly...