I Was Stranded on a Deserted Island with a Beautiful Classmate - Chapter 16

“Why are you pointing a knife at me?”

“Because this is how I show my love. In a way, it’s kind of like a confession.”

A love confession with a knife at my throat? You’ve got to be kidding.

The tip is almost touching me.

Maybe for some outsider with a strange fetish, this might work.

But I’m just a regular guy.

I’d like to have a normal relationship if possible.

“I’m sorry, Kitakami, but I like girls like Amane, the calm and graceful type.”

Suddenly, Kitakami stood up and dashed towards the cave.

—Wait, this is bad!!!

I chased her at full speed and managed to stop her.

“What are you trying to do, Kitakami? Don’t tell me you’re going to attack Amane!?”

“…That’s right. I’ll eliminate her from this world and make you mine, Hayasaka-kun.”

“Stop! Just stop!”

“Why are you stopping me?”

“Why? Well, of course, I’m stopping you. Please, just put the knife down.”

“Alright, but if you betray me, I’ll stab you, Hayasaka-kun.”

Her whisper sent chills down my spine.

I felt a little happy, but…no, the fear definitely won.

Scared, I agreed with Kitakami.

“I don’t like pain, after all.”

“Good. So, that means you’ll be my boyfriend, right?”

“Huh…?”

Wait, is that what we were talking about just now!? Also…I didn’t know she liked me this much.

…Honestly, I’m kind of happy about it.

“But…Amane-san…!”

Kitakami turned her back to me and tried to run again.

I stopped her immediately!!

“Stop!”

“If you don’t want to be my boyfriend, I’m fine with being your mistress.”

“That’s even worse! Besides, I’ve never dated anyone before. I have zero experience. I only just started talking to girls properly after arriving on this island.”

“That makes two of us.”

“…Ugh.”

Now that I think about it, Kitakami has no relationship experience either.

Is that why she’s become so twisted…?

“Think it over carefully.”

This time, Kitakami started walking in a different direction.

That path leads to the forest.

“Where are you going?”

“Just heading to the sea.”

“Then I’ll come too.”

“You can, but…I’ll be naked, so…it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“What!?”

“We’ve been using the sea instead of a bath. All the girls have been swimming in the seawater.”

Apparently, they’ve been washing their underwear while they’re at it, too.

I decided not to pry further, but it seems like they’re doing the same as me.

With no bath available, we have no choice but to rely on the sea.

Ugh, it’s a hassle to walk fifteen minutes there and back every time.

I should figure out how to build a reservoir or maybe even a bath soon.

“Kitakami, could you lend me your knife?”

“My knife? Sure, but…it’s a valuable item.”

“I know. I totally understand why you’re reluctant. But we need it to improve our living situation.”

“At the moment, it’s the second most important thing after my life. But since it’s for you, Hayasaka-kun…”

Just having a knife makes things so much easier. It’s also a powerful weapon.

In a way, it’s like entrusting your life to someone.

The fact that she’s lending it to me must mean Kitakami really trusts me.

“I’ll start by making a reservoir.”

“Good luck. I’ll join you later to help.”

She handed me the knife. It was heavy and solid.

“Thanks. I can get the work started now.”

“Well, I’ll be off then…Oh, and you can peek if you want.”

Kitakami grinned and disappeared into the forest. …Wait, did she just say that casually!?

Maybe I’ll sneak a look if I feel like it.

* * *

I decided to build the reservoir about ten meters away from the cave entrance.

Though it’ll probably end up being more like the size of a bathtub.

But how am I supposed to dig it?

Using my hands is impossible, and a knife won’t work either.

I guess I’ll have to process some wood and make a wooden shovel.

Kitakami had left behind some logs nearby.

If I use the knife to carve them out properly, I should be able to make something.

It’ll take a while, though.

“Well, you never know until you try. Let’s do this.”

I fired myself up and chose a suitable log.

…Alright, this one will do.

It was about the size for a child. Maybe Amane had used it as a chair.

Sorry, but I’ll borrow this.

Using my multitool saw, I started cutting into the log.

The blade was small, so it was slow going.

…How long is this going to take?

As I worked for hours, I sensed someone approaching from behind.

“Good morning~! You’re up early, Tetsu-kun.”

“Good morning, Higanbana.”

“Hey, we agreed you’d call me by my name, remember?”

Oh, right.

I did promise her that.

But calling a girl by her first name…that’s a high hurdle.

My mouth wouldn’t move properly.

“…Higanbana.”

“Geez, you’re so shy!”

“Sorry, I’m not used to it.”

“It’s fine. But what are you doing, making katsuobushi out of logs?”

“Katsuobushi…?”

I mean, the debris scattered around does kind of look like that.

I explained to Higanbana that I was planning to make a reservoir.

She smiled like the sun and clapped her hands.

“Wow, that’s a great idea! It’s such a hassle to fetch water, and a 500ml plastic bottle doesn’t hold much. Also, I’d love to take a hot bath instead of using seawater!”

I feel the same.

I want to soak in a hot bath and relax.

That’s why I’m making a reservoir first.

Rainwater is safer than seawater and isn’t salty. If we boil it, we can drink it.

So first, we need to secure water for daily use.

“To dig into the ground, I’ll need a shovel.”

“You’re making a wooden one?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan. If we had a metal shovel, this would be easy.”

“We do.”

“——Huh?”

I stared in disbelief as Higanbana pulled a metal object from her bag. Wait…could that be…?

“This is a shovel, right?”

“No way! That’s a military folding shovel!”

“Is it? I thought it belonged to Yomogi-chan from the gardening club.”

“Y-Yomogi-chan? You know her?”

“Yomogi is a friend of mine. It seems she accidentally grabbed this bag when the boat capsized…”

Now that I think about it…Higanbana has been carrying her school bag carefully since we first met.

“At the time, everyone was panicking.”

Maybe the bag acted as a flotation device.

But thanks to that, we now have a shovel.

“Higanbana, can I borrow that? With it, we can make not just the reservoir but a proper bath, too.”

“Really!?”

“Yeah, I guarantee it. So, can I borrow it?”

“You can, but…I have two conditions.”

“Let’s hear them.”

“One, you call me by my name.”

“I’ll try.”

“Two, I get priority for the bath.”

“Fair enough. This shovel belongs to you, after all. I’m sure everyone will understand.”

“Deal?”

“Deal.”

We shook hands, sealing the agreement.

Now I had both a knife and a military folding shovel.

This is insane, I’m invincible now.

With these two tools, there’s nothing to fear anymore.

I immediately started digging with the shovel.