I Was Stranded on a Deserted Island with a Beautiful Classmate

I’ve gotten used to using the fire starter.

I’ve mastered it to the point where I can light a fire almost instantly. Ever since I came to this island, I’ve leveled up quite a bit.

Every time I start a fire, the girls cheer, and I feel pretty good.

“How can you light a fire so easily without a lighter or matches? It’s like magic! Fire~!”

Every time, Chitose looks at me with sparkling eyes.

Am I a wizard or something?

But if I took this fire starter to another world, would the locals react the same way? That would be kind of thrilling too.

“Do you want to give it a try, Chitose?”

“Really? I can?”

“I made a torch earlier. Let’s light it.”

I made a makeshift torch using wild boar skin and fat.

In ancient times, this was used to light the way.

The skin and fat are wrapped tightly around the tip of a thick branch. If it catches fire, it should burn for a while.

But before that, I need to create a ‘spark.’

I handed the fire starter to Chitose and gave her a brief explanation.

“You fix the magnesium rod and scrape the plate, right?”

“Yeah, it’s easier for beginners. It’s simple.”

“Hmm, I’ll give it a try.”

Chitose gripped the fire starter with her slender fingers.

Sparks flew when she scraped the plate. But no matter how many times she tried, the fire wouldn’t catch.

“It’s tough, isn’t it?”

“Ugh…It won’t light at all. You’re amazing, Hayasaka-kun!”

“I trained hard for this. For now, it’s better to shave some magnesium first. And also, use this.”

“What is that? That stick looks like it exploded.”

“This is a ‘feather stick.’ It works as a substitute for kindling. Normally, in camping, you’d use kindling because it’s quicker.”

The feather stick.

You take a piece of wood about 5cm wide and 20cm tall, and carve the tip with a knife. You carve it repeatedly until it looks like an afro hairstyle. That’s how it becomes kindling.

Even for non-beginners, it’s highly recommended.

“Please teach me the trick, Hayasaka-kun. No, teacher! Please!”

Tearfully, Chitose clung to me.

Being called “teacher” kind of boosts my mood.

She really seems determined to start a fire.

I-I guess I have no choice.

“Okay, okay! Just, um, could you let go? Something intense is pressing against my stomach, and it’s becoming a problem!”

“Ah…I-I’m sorry, teacher.”

Chitose hurriedly let go.

It was an innocent mistake.

It felt very soft. As I was lost in the sensation, I noticed Amane stumbling toward us.

“Ugh…I’ve got a headache.”

“Are you alright, Amane? We’re preparing the light, and Kitakami-san is cooking fish.”

“Is that so? Is there anything I can help with?”

“No, it’s fine. Just cheer on Chitose for me.”

“Cheer on Chitose-san? Okay, got it.”

Amane came to stand beside me, watching with me…She’s quite close.

But she seems to be in better shape now.

It looks like she’s recovering.

“Hayasaka-kun, teacher!”

“What is it, Chitose?”

“Come here!”

She beckoned me over, so I stood behind her.

Why behind her?

“What do you want me to do?”

“Like a robot, guide me. You know how parents teach their kids like that?”

“Oh, you mean like holding your hands—Wait, that’s embarrassing!”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

But I do.

And right in front of Amane, too. It feels like I’m showing off…Meanwhile, Amane’s eyes have gone dead.

“……”

“What’s wrong, Amane? You look like you’re about to die.”

“I’m starting to lose confidence in myself as an idol…There are just too many rivals.”

“Don’t worry about it. An idol like you, who comes once in a trillion years, is rare.”

“That’s a ridiculous number, but I’ll take it.”

She barely managed to cheer up.

“Chitose, I’ve shaved plenty of magnesium. This should work.”

“Understood! …But it won’t explode or anything, right?”

“It’s not nitroglycerin, so relax.”

The retry began.

Chitose quickly moved the fire starter, sending sparks flying. This time, the fire caught.

She transferred the flame to the feather stick.

The fire grew stronger, and it worked.

She lit the torch.

“As expected from my guidance. You did it.”

“Wow! The flame is intense, like the Daimonji!”

Daimonji? Oh, she means the giant bonfire from Kyoto’s Gozan Okuribi.

It’s not that big, but the torch came out great, so I’m satisfied.

Yaegashi and the others also noticed the torch.

“Wow, it’s bright. How long will it last?”

“Oh, Yaegashi. Since it’s using animal fat, it’s hard to say how long it’ll last. Torches usually use pine resin. If it’s a proper one, it can burn for about an hour.”

“That lasts quite a while. I wonder if there’s any pine resin on this island.”

“Maybe, if we search. How’s it going on your end?”

“Kitakami-san just finished cooking. I didn’t know that’s how you remove fish scales and guts…It’s my first time seeing it.”

Usually, the fish or meat we eat comes processed at the supermarket.

Of course, there’s no butcher on this island, so we have to do it ourselves. It’s tough work, but taking a life means we should take responsibility and eat it all.

If we kill it, we must finish it.

“Dinner’s ready~”

Kitakami pulled a ‘lump of earth’ out of the fire with a stick.

“You did well, Kitakami-san.”

“Yes, the grilled sea bream in foil is done.”

As we nodded to each other, Amane curiously asked,

“Huh, what’s that?”

“This is foil grilling, Amane-san.”

“What does that mean?”

“First, you wrap the prepared sea bream in large leaves. This time, I used ‘kashiwa’ leaves.

Then, you cover it with clay. Clay is easy to make with water.

Once that’s done, you throw it into the fire. Then, you just wait for it to cook.”