After Reaching the Happy Ending, I Was Locked up by the Extremely Possessive Heroines I Had Conquered

Chapter 33: What Became of Those Who Tried to Escape the Island

Everyone loved the ferry terminal, but I had no good memories of this place.

That was because every time I came here, the ferry was almost certainly out of service, the man at the ticket window was cold, and I could not even buy a ticket, so there was no way I could have any good memories.

In stark contrast to me, Satori was in an unusually good mood. She descended the steep slope with bouncy steps.

“It’s been a while since the two of us came to the ferry terminal.”

“Since the time I was confined.”

“Yeah. Since the confinement.”

Satori relaxed her cheeks in response to the word confinement for some reason. It was cute, but not cute at all.

While ignoring her like that, I gazed at the distant scenery.

The sea breeze blowing in caressed my cheeks.

The cries of seagulls reached me from somewhere, and combined with the scent of the tide, my heart inexplicably lightened.

“The outside world is still the best, huh.”

“I prefer the cabin, though…”

In response to my sentimental murmur, Satori immediately replied with an unsettling word.

I wished she would value the atmosphere a bit more. So I deliberately pointed straight ahead.

“…………Look, see that? There are tons of ships docked at the harbor! It’s so beautiful.”

“Where?”

Satori tilted her head disinterestedly.

“Well, ships are like a man’s romance, you know. Seeing them makes you just want to hop on. That’s what being a man is—”

“No, you can’t? Don’t get on.”

As she said it, Satori immediately grabbed my arm. When I tried to shake it off lightly, it did not budge.

“I get it, so you can let go.”

“It’s not okay.”

Satori murmured with an upward glance. Illuminated by the sun, her silver hair shone mysteriously.

Combined with the shrine maiden attire, I was nearly captivated when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a surveillance camera.

“Ah…”

In that instant, various traumas flashed back, and I was immediately pulled back to reality. My heart had fluttered at Satori’s appearance for only a brief moment.

“So this is the camera Uncle was talking about.”

“Uncle?”

Satori asked dubiously, but I did not answer and simply looked around.

While confirming they were installed everywhere.

“That said, there are way too many.”

As we approached the ferry terminal, the density of surveillance cameras gradually increased.

—

Three per utility pole.

That was the average number around the ferry terminal. In other words, there were countless of them, and no blind spots existed.

I was certain there were more than in a prison.

I wondered where on earth they managed such a number.

While thinking about that, I continued chatting idly with Satori, and we finally arrived at our destination.

“…………Hm?”

When we entered the building, there were two familiar faces.

“S-Se-n-pa-i, you’re late.”

“Big brother, you’re too late.”

As expected, the two were Toa Watarase and Mahiru Akiyoshi.

They turned around with perfect timing, as if they had foreseen our arrival.

That was odd. There was no way they could foresee it…

“Why are you two here?”

It seemed Satori had the same question, and she asked them with wide eyes.

Then Toa Watarase put on an exasperated expression and said,

“Isn’t that obvious? Because we’re a four-person group. We need to keep an eye on Senpai so he doesn’t leave the island.”

“That’s right. That’s a little sister’s duty!”

Mahiru murmured as if it were the most natural thing.

“Indeed, that’s true.”

Satori nodded as if convinced, then turned back to me.

“This feels kind of nostalgic somehow.”

“It happens all the time, though.”

After all, a class reunion occurred every time I headed to the ferry terminal. I could come alone, but on the way back, someone always accompanied me.

The number of people differed between going and returning.

Was it a riddle?

“……………………”

No, no, I could not do that. I had slipped into escapism from fear, but it was time to get to the main topic.

I steeled myself and opened my mouth.

“That said, why did you bring me to the ferry terminal?”

Satori wore a meaningful smile for an instant, then said in a matter-of-fact tone,

“Because I wanted you to know. What happens to people who try to escape the island—”

“…Huh?”

I let out a foolish sound because I did not understand the meaning of her words.

That was when four high school students walked out from the boarding gate. No, more precisely, three girls were dragging one boy.

“Hey, wait. I just wanted to go to a bookstore off the island to buy some light novels!”

“That excuse won’t fly.”

“Going out three days in a row is suspicious. There’s suspicion of escape.”

“That’s right. The suspicious shall be punished. That’s the rule of this island.”

“It’s ‘the suspicious shall not be punished’! Hey!”

On his right arm clung a black-haired long-haired girl, on his left a blonde gal. And clinging to his back like a piggyback was a loli.

Huh? This group, have I seen them somewhere before?

“Let go of me! It’s a problem if you stick so close!”

The boy resisted desperately, but the girls showed no sign of listening.

On the contrary, they pressed even closer…,

“Hmph, don’t get the wrong idea. We’re just following the four-person group rules. It’s not like we want to stick to you. We’re only dragging you along to avoid collective responsibility, so don’t misunderstand?”

“I don’t buy that!”

“Stop fussing and let’s go home.”

“Resistance is futile anyway.”

“Hey, if you hug me like this, things are gonna bump! Whoa!”

They left the ferry terminal while noisily enjoying themselves.

“…………..”

Having a page of youth thrust before my eyes, I was speechless from the sheer brilliance. What an enviable scene.

I had been confined to the cabin right away…

And yet they got to go home together amicably? Don’t be spoiled. Get confined for real.

However, it seemed I did not have the leeway to wish misfortune on others—

“Akira.”

Suddenly, Satori’s voice came from behind.

When I turned around, there were Satori, Toa Watarase, and Mahiru Akiyoshi, all gazing at me with eyes like wolves stalking prey.

“This is what a four-person group is. If you try to leave the island, the remaining three get confined for a week as punishment. That’s the new rule of this island.”

Satori declared it boldly with serious eyes.

“Uh, isn’t that a bit too much?”

“We have to go this far for it to be effective.”

“Effective? Tell me specifically what effect you’re expecting—”

“—Besides, those three earlier looked like they were having so much fun. They were flirting so enviously.”

“No, those guys are rom-com protagonists…”

I thought they were the exception among exceptions.

Setting those guys aside, most islanders must have been suffering. That was why I could not leave such a ridiculous policy unchecked.

However, having already had my dignity destroyed, I had no means of resistance,

“Let’s go home, Akira.”

“…………..Yes.”

And so I obediently followed her words and headed back.