I Was Stranded on a Deserted Island with a Beautiful Classmate - Chapter 36

It would be disastrous if it got in my eyes.

I moved to shield Kitakami, becoming her protector.

A stray chili pepper flew toward my mouth—!!

“Ugh! So spicyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!”

It was so spicy, I felt like I was going to die. What is this? Some sort of punishment with death sauce? It’s burning hot—my tongue, my lips, everything is on fire!!

I’m going to die—I’m really going to die!!!

“Hey, Hayasaka…why?!”

“Ugh-h-h-h, w-w-w-water…!!” (← I was asking for water.)

“Wa-water? Alright.”

Kitakami paused the fight and went to get me some water. Thank goodness, I thought this fight was over.

While enduring the stinging pain, I glanced over at Riko.

“Hayasaka…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“…(← I nodded, signaling that I understood.)”

Talking was impossible right now. Ugh, this is brutal. I remembered that Kitakami had gone toward the cave. I quickly followed.

When I entered the cave, I saw Kitakami holding a plastic bottle.

“Here you go, Hayasaka.”

“…!!”

I immediately grabbed it and gulped down the water in one go. I felt a little better, but the burning sensation still lingered. It looked like I wouldn’t be able to speak for a while.

“How are you feeling?”

“…(← I shook my head.)”

“I see. You still can’t speak.”

“…(Nodding.)”

“Actually, this is perfect. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

“…?”

Kitakami sighed lightly and sat down on her makeshift bed, crossing her legs. Her skirt was so short I could almost see…well, anyway.

But what does she want to talk about now?

“Actually…no, let’s save it for tonight. It would be bad if someone overheard us.”

Having recovered slightly, I managed to respond.

“W-what? Now I’m even more curious.”

“Ah, you can speak again, I see.”

“Yeah, just a little.”

“Well then. Come closer—I want to whisper it.”

“Is it really something you can’t say out loud?”

“It’s important information. I can’t risk it getting out.”

I had no choice. And honestly, I was curious. I leaned in close to Kitakami, bringing my ear near her.

She whispered softly in my ear.

“I like you, Hayasaka.”

Then, without warning, she kissed me on the cheek with a little smooch, and I almost thought my heart had stopped. We were far enough inside the cave that no one could see us.

But it was so sudden, I was completely caught off guard.

“K-Kitakami?!”

“That was to thank you for protecting me earlier.”

“Oh, so that’s what this is about…But seriously, Kitakami, Riko—both of you are way too reckless. Trying to solve things with violence…”

“Think of it like sparring. Riko knew what she was getting into when she agreed to fight. She was ready.”

Both Kitakami and Riko were far more skilled than I expected—more impressive than many male fighters.

Part of me wanted to see more of what they could do.

But I didn’t want it to end in bloodshed.

“Let’s call it quits, okay?”

“Yes, I was planning to. But that last move was too much.”

“You mean the chili pepper? I didn’t think you’d be carrying something like that for self-defense.”

“That might not be the only thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“…I’m not sure yet. But Riko Higanbana might be suspicious.”

“Really? I don’t know…Riko seems more girly than you, and honestly, I think she’s cuter.”

Suddenly, Kitakami drew a knife.

“Hayasaka…Hayasaka…That is NOT okay. You think Higanbana Riko is cuter than me?! I won’t forgive that. I’ll rip out your spine and hang it in my house.”

“Wait, wait!! That’s terrifying!! I was wrong! I take it back!!”

“It’s too late. You’ve made a foolish choice.”

—Splat.

Splat, splat, splat!!!

I heard a sickening noise—like flesh and bone being crushed—right by my ear. Wait, did I just get stabbed?

Blood gushed out, splattering Kitakami’s face red.

With a cry of joy, Kitakami tore out my spine—ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…!!!

…

…

…

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”

I woke up.

I was…alive.

Where am I…A cave?

It’s dark, like night.

I must’ve fallen asleep at some point.

What happened after Kitakami attacked me?

Everyone’s…still here.

It looks like they’re all asleep.

But Kitakami is missing. Where did she go…?

I couldn’t help it. I bolted out of the cave.

It was pitch dark—I couldn’t see a thing.

Surrounded by forest, it was way too dangerous to go in at this time of night.

Just as I was about to head back, I heard rustling from the bushes nearby. I froze. Was it an animal?

“Oh, Hayasaka.”

“—Wait, Kitakami?! Why are you here? And why did I pass out earlier?”

“It was probably the chili pepper. You suddenly lost consciousness.”

“So that was it. I knew something felt off.”

Which means, the whole thing about my spine being ripped out didn’t actually happen…Thank goodness. That nightmare was way too much.

It was borderline traumatic.

“Shall we head back?”

“Wait a second. Kitakami, what were you doing with that LED light? Why were you out here in the forest in the middle of the night?”

“Actually, something big happened while you were out.”

“Something big?”

“Yes. You know Kubo, the girl on the food supply team?”

“Kubo? Oh, you mean the one with glasses, the class-rep type?”

I hadn’t spoken to her yet. She seemed kind of mature, and honestly, a bit hard to approach.

But what about her?

“Kubo Rin apparently found the small boat that that foreigner John Smith came in on.”

“What?!”

“I didn’t see it myself, but according to her teammate Ooi Chiyo, Kubo Rin disappeared on her own about an hour ago.

Ooi and the others searched for her and found a small boat docked a little ways from their base.”

“Wait, does that mean we can escape?”

“Unfortunately, Kubo Rin seems to have already left the island on the boat. She betrayed us, leaving us behind.”

“No…no way. But a small boat—if we squeezed in, we could have all fit.”

Leaving us behind like that…it’s too cruel.

Why would she do such a thing?

And so the school headmaster had really been here after all. I guess it’s safe to assume the foreigner he hired was too.

But Kubo stole the boat…

Wait—doesn’t that mean she’s now with the headmaster? It’s confirmed. This place is ‘Treasure Island,’ and Captain Kidd’s treasure is hidden here.

Now that the boat is gone, this island is completely isolated.

We have no choice but to survive here.

I won’t be defeated by the headmaster’s stupid ambitions. I won’t die. I’ll survive with the people I can trust and fight.

For our freedom.

Amane, Kitakami, Chitose, Yaegashi, Riko, Hokkii, Ooi, Nomo, Sasayama, Ootsuka, Momose…and any other survivors who might still be out there.

We’ll help each other and live on, no matter what, on this vast and harsh deserted island.

“Hayasaka, no one can survive alone. Kubo Rin, who acted selfishly, will surely face divine punishment.”

“Yeah, let’s work together. If we do that, I’m sure one day we’ll make it off this island.”

“Yes, I believe in you, Hayasaka….”

Yeah, I have people I can trust.

I’ll do my best to survive this island life.