Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Stranded on a Deserted Island (5)
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“Won't the others come looking for us?”
“Who knows? I told them not to venture too deep.”
Emily and I were leaning against each other in the dark forest, gazing up at the sky together.
The woods were shrouded in tree shadows, blocking out all moonlight.
But this space below the cliff was at least lit by the stars and the moon overhead.
…Enzo.
As I stared at the night sky, I thought about the guy who'd died.
We weren't close—in fact, he hated me—so his death didn't stir much emotion.
Still, I should bury him properly.
The only thing he'd really done for me was get me into this deserted island event.
No direct misdeeds on his part.
I just felt bad that he'd died, nothing more.
“Ken, are you feeling okay?”
Suddenly, Emily, who had been staring at the night sky beside me, turned to ask.
Her eyes filled with worry, as if she'd just remembered.
“I'm fine. Just a sprained ankle.”
“Not that.”
“Huh? Then what?”
“Your cold! You had a fever just a few hours ago. And now this? You sure you're okay?”
Come to think of it, I'd been bedridden with a cold not long ago.
In a situation like that, stranded in a cold forest without a campfire? Yeah, that'd worry anyone.
“A good sleep fixed me right up, though.”
“Really?”
Even as I said it confidently, Emily eyed me with suspicion. Then she casually placed her hand on my forehead to check my temperature.
……Ugh.
She drew close naturally, and I could feel her warm body heat and faint, sweet fragrance. It's dark, so my other senses are heightened…. I became hyper-aware of her.
“Hmm… I can't tell if my hand's cold or if your forehead's warm.”
Emily pulled her hand away with a dissatisfied look after checking.
“Cold?”
Her words stuck with me a bit. There was no campfire here, and her outfit didn't look all that warm to anyone.
At my concerned question, Emily gave an awkward smile.
“Hehe, it does feel a bit chilly now that night's here. But I can tough it out.”
She smiled brightly, trying not to worry me. But I could see her shoulders trembling faintly in the moonlight.
…She's pushing herself too.
Emily was fretting over my illness while pretending her own chill was nothing. I've got to do something….
We still had days left stranded on this island. Catching a bad cold without magic in this environment could turn things ugly.
So.
So this is… unavoidable.
I convinced myself, squeezed my eyes shut, and reached out.
“……Huh?”
I placed my hand on Emily's cold shoulder and pulled her into my arms.
“…….”
Under the blue moonlight, Emily's face flushed red. Her eyes wide in surprise, but she didn't push my hand away. Instead, her trembling hands wrapped around my waist as she pressed her face to my chest.
I'm probably making the same face. My previously cold cheeks burned hot. And my heart started pounding hard.
“It's cold, so… this is the only way to tough it out.”
“……Yeah. You're right. …Can't afford another cold.”
Emily nodded, clearly knowing this was the best option right now.
It was definitely embarrassing. But it seemed effective. Sharing body heat like this, our shivering bodies began to warm up.
And then.
Thump, thump.
I couldn't tell if it was my heartbeat or hers, but the sound kept echoing.
We stayed like that for a while, wordlessly thawing each other with our warmth. Her trembling hand touched my skin, her soft flesh pressed against me.
Then.
Emily lifted her head slightly to look at me. Her already pretty face looked truly beautiful under the moonlight in this situation.
My gaze drifted to her lips.
No, what am I thinking?
I squeezed my eyes shut to shake off the stray thought.
“Um… Ken.”
“W-Why?”
Had she noticed my lecherous glance? I flinched and answered her call. But unlike me, Emily looked quite serious. Her eyes glistened, as if holding back emotions.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Emily struggled to keep her wits as her heart pounded fiercely in Ken's arms.
K-Ken…!
She'd hinted at the cold, but hadn't expected this. She thought shoulder-to-shoulder was the most he'd do. But Ken pulled her fully into his embrace.
……So warm.
His firm body and cozy heat began warming her pleasantly. And at the same time, her face started burning.
A man and woman suddenly stranded. Sharing warmth in a moonlit space. For a moment, Emily thought it felt romantic.
No, Ken just did it because I said I was cold…!
Ken was kind. She figured it was pure consideration, no ulterior motives.
But.
Thump, thump.
With her ear against his chest, Emily clearly heard it. Someone's heart racing wildly.
This is….
She first thought it was hers, but the sound in her ear was Ken's. Ken's… nervous too. Clear proof. He might have pure intentions, but hugging her had him plenty tense. Seeing her as a woman, his heart racing.
……Ken.
Emily blushed in his arms, lost in thought. The situation felt familiar. Last night's chance, ruined by the insect monsters. The one thing she wanted to tell him. Now a similar opportunity had arisen.
Emily clenched her fist.
If not now….
Ken was popular at school. He'd always been attractive, but after his looks changed, other girls started swarming. And there was Mary, who liked him too. Thinking of her, Emily knew she couldn't hesitate.
She gathered her courage and looked up. Their eyes met. He blushed and squeezed his eyes shut.
…….
That expression flashed her back to when she'd bullied him, his eyes shut tight.
……No, that's not it.
She realized her assumption was off. Emotions welled up. Before confessing her irrepressible feelings. She remembered words she had to say first.
“Um… Ken.”
“W-Why?”
What a foolish thought. Bullying him because she liked him, then trying to confess without even apologizing?
She suddenly felt pathetic. She didn't deserve that without apologizing first.
“……Sorry.”
But thanks to it. She could finally say the hard words.
“H-Huh? S-Suddenly why?”
Ken stammered in surprise at her abrupt apology. He could've recalled her bullying right away. But he reacted like it was no big deal.
Because I hugged him…?
No, that doesn't make 'sorry' fit.
Ken was confused. He had no reason to receive an apology.
“For bullying you all this time… I shouldn't have, I'm really sorry.”
But as Emily teared up and spoke haltingly, Ken realized. With the past changed, she never apologized in this timeline. Now he understood why. It was over for him, but still weighed on her.
So Ken smiled gently and wiped her tears.
“…Hic, sorry… sob, I'm sorry.”
Even apologizing, she didn't ask forgiveness. She was like this before too. Ken recalled that distant past.
'I'm not asking forgiveness. …What I did can't be forgiven with one sorry.'
After that event, relief from death's pain overshadowed by guilt toward him, as she apologized.
So Ken stroked her head and replied.
“Apology accepted. I'm fine now.”
“B-But… you can't just brush it off like that….”
“You haven't done that lately, right? So it's okay.”
Just like then, Emily struggled to accept his easy forgiveness. Ken recalled his response that day.
“How about this, then?”
Grinning playfully, like before.
“Treat me to a nice meal next time. I love good food.”
It had worked then too.
And at Ken's final words. Both felt a sudden dizziness.
……Huh?
…This happened before too.
Emily stared blankly at Ken through her tears. Ken stared blankly back at Emily.
What is this… weird sensation.
…Déjà vu?
Unknown info flooding the mind. The faint gap from déjà vu let lost memories pour in endlessly.
And Ken realized. This was the sensation of recovering lost memories, like Rapne's.
But I don't have lost memories…?
He was confused. He hadn't been affected by the past change, so no memories lost.
And the answer came. From the flooding memories.
'Sorry, Ken. For putting you in a spot suddenly. …But it's fine! It'll be like it never happened anyway.'
'So forgive me just this once. When today ends and loops back, I won't target you anymore….'
Faces and words from Emily he'd never experienced surfaced.
…I-I'm scared of dying. …Scared of the pain.
A despairing Emily clinging in fear. And his own resolute voice replying.
…It's okay, Emily. I'll die with you.
A story from a vanished world, long forgotten.
…Right, I existed in that time loop too.
Triggered by her apology, memories surged. From Emily's sixth loop, confessing the loop to him.
And.
'Ken… I have a favor.'
One sharp memory.
'If I die this time… you won't remember anyway, right?'
It etched into Ken's mind.
…Kiss me.
All recalled, Ken shut his mouth, face red. I… and Emily. The memory of their lips meeting amid her tears returned. And the full lead-up. Emily trembling in death's terror. He'd realized her loop from her sudden confession.
…Ken, listen…! I like you! I really like you. As a man. That's why… I bullied you.
After Ken found despairing Emily.
All recalled, Ken looked at her. Emily stared back, shocked, teary-eyed, wide awake.
“Ken…….”
From her expression, Ken knew instantly.
…Emily's memories are back.
Her gaze warm, like before. She'd looked kindly at him lately too. But this was different. He felt her longing heart.
Facing her. Ken understood his stirring feelings. Not the monkey stele effect. Even if pasts vanished and memories gone, emotions lingered. Rapne, Mary, Emily proved it.
Ken had wondered. Why his heart raced so with Emily. Dismissed it as the stele's affection event.
'Stupid, it's just a kiss.'
…Can I ask one more favor? Tell me… you like me.
With loop memories back, Ken knew. From that moment, he'd felt for her as a woman. And those feelings grew through events since.
Ken's eyes trembled as he watched flustered Emily. Memories overwhelming her, she looked confused. But Ken couldn't hold back for her confusion now.
“Because you liked me.”
Emily's eyes widened at his sudden words.
“…You bullied me because you liked me?”
His blushing words—from a vanished loop he shouldn't remember.
“……K-Ken.”
Her mind chaotic with returning memories. But she knew. Like her, he'd recalled the forgotten loop.
And Ken didn't miss her fluster.
“I like you too.”
“……Huh?”
Ken recalled.
'Tell me… you like me.'
Her plea at death's door, whispering love. He answered the Emily before him. But this confession wasn't her request. All his feelings poured in. True words from the heart.
Under his burning gaze and sincere reply. Emily's face exploded red.
“…H-Hweh?”
Her mind overloaded, she fainted.
“Ah.”
Like with Rapne, Ken realized he'd repeated the same mistake.