I Was Stranded on a Deserted Island with a Beautiful Classmate - Chapter 18

When I returned to the cave, Yaegashi and the others were there. So they came back.

“Welcome back, Hayasaka-kun. From the looks of it, you went to get some logs, right?”

Yaegashi and her group seemed cheerful. What is this, a sign of a surprise coming?
It’s kind of scary.

“Yeah, for building the reservoir. See that hole over there.”

“So that’s it. I thought it was a pitfall.”

“That’s the same thought someone else had.”

Amane, standing next to me, scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“Now it’ll be easier to secure water. As expected of you, Hayasaka-kun.”

“No, it’s not finished yet.”

“Is that so?”

“Right now, I’m in the process of drying the soil. Next, I’ll have to compact it, and then fit in the logs.”

However, if it rains, it’ll collapse. I should probably build the roof first.

“Do you need help?”

“Then maybe I’ll ask you guys, Yaegashi and the rest.”

I explained to everyone how to build the ‘roof.’ We set up the logs like unfolding a tent.

We used the string we got from dismantling nets to tie everything together.

With the seven of us working together, the task went smoothly. After about thirty minutes of fixing the logs, the frame was complete.

“Whoa! It’s starting to take shape.”

“This is impressive.”

Amane and Kitakami were surprised.

“It looks pretty good.”

“It’s true that effort makes things happen.”

“It’s starting to look like a hut!”

“I’m impressed, too.”

Chitose, Yaegashi, Riko, and Hoshubana were all more excited than they had been all day.
Although the roof wasn’t finished yet, if we cut down some of the large leaves growing in the forest and put them on top, it would be done for now.

“That’s all for the work today.”

“Good job.”

Amane handed me a plastic bottle. It seemed to be water stored in the cave.

I took it and quenched my thirst.

…Water after hard work tastes so good, even though it’s just plain water.

“Thanks, Amane.”

“…Yeah.”

“What’s up? Your face is red.”

“Th-that bottle…I drank from it too…”

“What!?”

So that’s why. I thought she seemed restless, watching me.

—Wait, isn’t this an indirect kiss!?

Realizing this, I froze like a statue.

“It’s as thanks for helping me earlier.”

“Oh…right. Thanks.”

“No, I should be the one thanking you.”

As I blushed, someone poked me in the shoulder. It was Yaegashi when I turned around.

“Um, Hayasaka-kun. Did something happen earlier?”

“Right, I should tell Yaegashi and the others.”

I told them about how I met ‘Kurashima’ on the beach and got attacked. When I mentioned I fought him off, the three of them seemed shaken. Well, they had been after him from the beginning.

“I see. Actually, this morning, Hokkii found a damaged lifeboat on another beach.”

“What!?”

‘Hokkii’ refers to Hoshubana. So she had been to the beach? Since when?

That explains why she was out earlier. But why was Chitose with her?

As I tilted my head, Hoshubana stepped forward and explained the situation.

“I wanted to take a bath, so I snuck out to the western side of the beach. While I was there, I saw a lifeboat washed ashore…and I thought maybe…So I rushed to call Mao-chan.”

So that’s what happened.

…Wait a minute.

How does she know directions?

“Hey, Hoshubana. Just now, did you say ‘western side’?”

“Yes, the west.”

“How do you know that? Did you figure it out from the sun’s position?”

“No, I have a keychain compass. See, it’s attached to my wallet—”

“What, seriously?”

I wish you had told me that sooner. Then we wouldn’t have gotten lost the other day.

This uninhabited island has a vast forest, so it’s easy to get lost.

Well, never mind that for now.

“So, what should we do?”

“Kurashima is probably still hiding somewhere. He might attack us again. We need to stay alert…From now on, we should stick to group activities. No one goes off alone.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. In the tense atmosphere, Yaegashi raised her hand.

“What’s up, Yaegashi-san?”

“About the damaged lifeboat, we brought it with us, just in case.”

“Oh, is that the one Kurashima was on? Could it be repaired and used?”

“If we patch up the holes with rope or something, one person might be able to ride it.”

“Really? That might be quicker than building a raft.”

I glanced at Kitakami.

She sighed in resignation.

“Hayasaka-kun, I don’t think escape is possible. There was an old movie called Cast Away, where someone was stranded on a deserted island. They tried the same thing, but they were swept away by the waves, and it hurt them badly. The waves here are the same—high and rough.”

She paused for a moment before continuing.

“I mentioned the possibility before, but after reconsidering, I don’t think it’s feasible. Even the raft would probably capsize.”

So it’s not possible after all.

I’m more surprised that Kitakami knows about that movie. I watched it on a streaming site before ending up on this island.

“We should store the lifeboat in the cave. It might be useful for something.”

“Understood. And there’s something else we found. Riko, bring it here.”

Riko brought over several ‘school bags.’

“Riko, those…Could they be?”

“Yeah, probably other students’ belongings. They must’ve washed ashore. Hikaru-kun, what should we do?”

“Did you check the contents?”

“No, we talked and decided to leave it up to you.”

This is a difficult decision.

They could belong to people who died. But we also need useful tools to survive. If the owners are alive, we can just return them.

“Let’s check the contents for now.”

“Good idea, Amane. Let’s do that.”

I carefully unzipped one of the bags.

The contents came into view.

There’s quite a lot.

Inside the school bag was—what the heck!?

“A photobook of a gravure idol?”

The woman in the book was posing provocatively in a daring bikini. It wasn’t an R-rated item, but it was still…stimulating.

“…”

The women in the group stared at me coldly.
Ugh, what is this atmosphere? Even though it’s not mine, it’s making me feel guilty.

“Wait, isn’t this Amane!?”

“What…!? T-that’s meeee!!!”

Amane shouted in surprise when she realized it.

The book was a photobook titled Amane Amane: Love Mana.

Who the hell put this in their bag?

It wasn’t me, for sure. I didn’t even know her name before we met here.

I rummaged through the bag, looking for anything to identify.

But all that came out were more photos of Amane. There were tons of instant photos, too.

The girls seemed even more disgusted.

“Wait, hold on! This isn’t my stuff! It’s someone else’s! Don’t look at me like that!!”

I tried to get Kitakami involved by pulling her arm.

“…The owner of this school bag is definitely Amane’s stalker.”

“Yeah, it seems that way. But whose is it? If it was found near the lifeboat…could it be Kurashima’s bag?”

When I said that, the girls looked even more horrified.

Hey, come on!

It’s not mine…

Amane started crying.

Damn you, Kurashima…Could his target be Amane? He seemed to know her, and he did take her hostage. The possibility is high.

“…sniff.”

“Don’t cry, Amane. I told you I’d protect you, didn’t I?”

“But it’s so gross. That guy Kurashima is the worst…”

“Yeah, bringing something like that on a trip is just abnormal.
He’s someone we can’t forgive. If he makes another move, I’ll have no choice but to fight back with force.”

I continued to comfort the sobbing Amane.

Damn you, Kurashima…If I see you again, I’m going to punch you in the face.