Chapter 449
Chapter 449
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 449
Chapter Title: Story on the Uninhabited Island (4)
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"It's so warm... Ehehe..."
"Rei-chan, nothing really happened, right?"
"Yeah... Sorry for making you worry."
"Sensei, was Mukai-kun's place really that nice?"
"Yeah, there was a bed and blankets... I was super jealous."
"Blankets... Lucky..."
After clearing up the misunderstandings one by one, the three of them managed to borrow a lighter. Thanks to Hayato's whim, they were able to get the stove going without any trouble, but unfortunately, they couldn't bring themselves to smile about it. The story about Hayato's house that slipped from Reina's lips. When she mentioned the fluffy bed and cozy blankets, Miyu teared up without realizing it.
A rickety roof visible upon opening her eyes, the musty smell of damp earth assaulting her nostrils when she closed them. They'd done their best to make it feel like some kind of shelter... but all she could do was sigh. Unlike her friends lounging in fancy cabins, Miyu had to sleep on the hard ground. Feeling deeply wronged, she cursed her own misfortune.
"Sigh... Damn it."
And Ushio felt just as stifled.
Hayato's abilities were undeniable, even if he hated to admit it. With powers like 'telekinesis' and 'inventory' straight out of a comic book, he was practically a god on this deserted island. In comparison, all Ushio could do was gather branches and leaves to cobble together a crude roof. Plagued by feelings of inferiority, he instinctively turned against Hayato.
"Still, Miyu, Rei-chan! It's better than living like slaves under that jerk!"
"...Yeah! That's true!"
"R-right?"
"It's uncomfortable now, but let's hang in there a little longer! A rescue team's bound to come looking for us eventually. You all know who my dad is. There's no way he'd abandon me!"
In a situation where constantly falling behind might cost him the trust of the other two, Ushio dragged his father into it to forcibly rally Miyu and Reina. To keep them from entertaining dangerous thoughts... he had to instill belief that rescue was certain. That was Ushio's way of protecting them.
"D-delicious smell... Haah, must be nice..."
"S-Sensei, drool! You're drooling!"
"......Damn it."
But the next morning, the three of them plunged back into despair.
Crispy bacon and perfectly sunny-side-up eggs sandwiched between soft bread—Hayato took a big bite, savoring the toast with a cheerful hum. He'd even set up a picnic table first thing in the morning, going all out to rub it in. Enraged, Ushio swallowed hard. Separate from his anger, his stomach was just too empty.
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Mukai-kun... Isn't he going too far?
That bacon egg toast looks delicious no matter who sees it... Slurp. Seeing Mukai-kun eat it right in front of us like that made my anger boil over. If he'd made something like that, the polite thing would've been to share a bite! As expected of the dimwitted student Mukai-kun—he has no idea how society works.
Look at him now, staring right at us while munching that toast... Huh...? Wh-what?!
M-m-m, milk?!
Mukai-kun, no way—you're drinking milk too?!
He pulls out a clear glass, pours in fresh milk. I hate Mukai-kun for creating the perfect combo of toast and milk. And making that much—he can't possibly eat it all alone... W-wait a sec! Mukai-kun, that's not fair!
His stomach must be full, since he left two whole pieces of toast behind.
It hurt to see the abandoned toast cooling on the plate. If he just tosses it like that, it'll pollute the environment... Does the idiot even know that? I should've taught him more diligently—as his homeroom teacher, I feel guilty.
Hah, but... even on a deserted island, I can't let go of education, so maybe now...
A-ah... Aaaah!
Inventory skill again?! Not fair! How am I supposed to teach him like that!
The toast vanished in an instant. Feeling empty, I teared up, and Mukai-kun looked at me, smirking with one corner of his mouth. As expected, the worst kind of delinquent—Mukai-kun. That devilish villain look made my stomach growl loudly.
"S-Sensei, drool! You're drooling!"
"Toyama-san, I'm so sad..."
"Sensei..."
"It's okay, everyone! If we hold out just a few days, we'll get to eat stuff way better than that!"
Y-yeah, got to believe in Shinada-kun... I wiped my drool and forced a smile, pretending everything was fine. Mukai-kun even prepared hot Americano as dessert, gulping it down... but I'd die before drinking hot—I want iced Americano... Aaaah! Not fair! He has ice too?!
"Sensei! Drool! You're drooling again!"
"Toyama-san, I'm so, so sad..."
"Sensei..."
"I-it's fine, Ria-chan! Just a few more days, right?!"
I genuinely started hating Mukai-kun.
***
Our stomachs were growling from Mukai-kun's teasing. My two students and I got moving again today to survive. We foraged mushrooms, picked fruit, gathered food for the day. It wasn't bacon egg toast, but... at least it staved off starvation. Even if it wasn't bacon egg toast.
"Wh-what do we do, Sensei?"
"Ughhh... Yeah."
"Miyu, there's an unused wooden barrel here, but..."
"Ahaha... That's a bit..."
Separately from food, another problem arose: no container to hold water. There was a river nearby, but going back and forth every time was tough. Plus, river water isn't guaranteed safe, right? Best to boil it if possible... but we had neither a container nor a pot.
"Hmm... Could we fill the wooden barrel and heat it up?"
"Would that work?"
"With water in it, it shouldn't burn..."
"B-but... the fire's completely out."
"What?! R-really..."
And to make matters worse, the firewood in the stove had burned out completely. We should've kept an eye on the embers... Ugh, it was our mistake since none of us had used this type of stove before.
"This means today too..."
"W-we have to go to Mukai-kun..."
"Hah, damn it!"
In the end, they had no choice but to visit Mukai-kun to borrow the lighter again. He wouldn't let it slide like yesterday... Hic, but for my students' sake, I had to step up. I couldn't send Toyama-san since she's scared of him. As an adult, this was my responsibility.
"Sensei... Sorry... Hic..."
"It's okay, Toyama-san! If he asks for anything weird, we'll just run!"
"Ria-chan, sorry..."
"I said it's fine! And if you're sorry, call me Reina-sensei!"
But acting like a proper teacher didn't make the fear vanish. I arrived at Mukai-kun's place trembling. I even needed to borrow a pot... I-is it okay? He was a vigorous young male student, so I worried. He'd talked about trades before, so probably wouldn't force anything... but given the situation, I couldn't help fretting.
-Knock knock knock
"Mukai-kun? Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"One big pot, one small pot, two decent containers for water... Oh, want a ladle too? You'll need spoons, chopsticks, rice bowls, and cups, right? Hmm, that should do it. What do you think?"
"Mukai-kun... J-jackpot! That's perfect!"
But Mukai-kun's reaction was beyond expectations.
Pulling out precious daily necessities while saying we have to live like humans. When he offered all this for just one favor, all my misunderstandings about him vanished. He'd been annoying that morning... but he's a good kid at heart—that's Mukai-kun. Plus, he told me to relax and only answer what he asks...
Aah, what a relief. I worried for nothing!
Mukai-kun was trustworthy.
"Tell me about your first time."
"...Huh?"
"Your first guy. You're not a virgin, right?"
"Wh-wh-wh-what?!"
"What's with that reaction? Were you expecting me to ask about your hobbies or something?"
"N-no?!"
"Reina, have some conscience. You take something, you give something."
"Th-th-th-that's true, but... first time?! Mukai-kun! That's sexual harassment!"
"I know."
"Wh-what?!"
"That's why I'm asking. When else am I gonna hear it?"
"Wha... U-uugh... How am I supposed to say that!"
"Don't want this stuff?"
"That's... not it..."
"Then tell me. When, where, who, what, how, why—the full five W's and one H. Isn't this a steal? Relive memories and get the goods. Hell, I'd do it right now. Here, one minute. Decide. You gonna talk or not?"
Who said he was trustworthy!
Mukai-kun's a total perv! The pinnacle of pervs! The ultra-super-perv! Calm as can be, making unreasonable demands. Not even first love—my first experience! How could he?! Flustered, I glared at him angrily.
I'd let my eyes tell him just how perverted he was.
"If you talk, I'll throw this in as service."
"Ah, toast!"
But this kid... at least he had a shred of conscience.