I Was Stranded on a Deserted Island with a Beautiful Classmate - Chapter 49

The rain is heavy, and visibility is terrible.

If we keep going, we might get swallowed by the high waves.

We need to find the boat quickly.

“What…what is this rain?”

“The ground is muddy. Be careful, Amane.”

“Yeah, thanks, Hayasaka-kun.”

Step by step, we move forward.

Soon, we arrived at the place Ooi and the others used as their base.

“Wow, it’s dangerous here with the high waves. We can’t get close.”

“Ooi-san, let’s avoid the beach. The big rocks over there seem more suspicious.”

“Ah, over there. That might be the perfect place to dock a boat.”

There was a beach further ahead, crowded with large rocks.

Judging by the surrounding terrain, if there’s a boat, it would be there.

We head towards the beach again.

After walking quite a bit, we finally reach the spot.

“The boat…?”

“Hayasaka-kun, look over there!!”

Where Kitakami was pointing, there was a small cruiser. It was hidden behind those rocks.

“Ooi-san, that’s the one, right?”

“Yeah, no doubt it’s the boat we were looking for.”

So, we managed to find it. The treasure is a bit of a loss, but we’ve discovered something even better. If we can get on the boat, we can finally escape.

Through the heavy rain and wind, we somehow manage to reach the boat, all of us together.

Now, finally…

“A boat…”

Amane mutters quietly.

No, everyone is moved, just staring at the boat in front of them. Me too. This is our chance to finally escape.

“There’s a rope ladder over here!”

Sasayama shouts.

Oh, it’s over there.

I didn’t notice it.

I rushed over, and there it was— a rope ladder hanging down. If we climb down, we can land right on the boat.

“We’re going down this. Kitakami-san, you go first. I’ll be the last.”

“No. I want to support the delicate Chitose-san and Momose-san.”

Now that she mentions it, Chitose and Momose don’t seem very strong. They’re not in any sports clubs, either.

“Got it. Kitakami-san and I will help everyone get down. Amane, you go first—”

“No way. I’ll stay with you until the end, Hayasaka-kun.”

“…Wait, does that mean you want to stay with me?”

“Th-th-that’s not what I meant! Ugh, fine! Whatever!”

She’s turning bright red, it’s obvious. But I’m happy that Amane feels that way.

“Alright. First, Yaegashi, Hokkii, and Riko. Then Ooi-san’s team. We’ll go last.”

“But this is really scary to climb down…”

Yaegashi is trembling.

If she slips, she’ll fall into the raging sea. If that happens, it’s over. No one could save her.

“It’s okay. We’ll support you.”

“Please…take care of me.”

“Of course, trust us.”

First up is Yaegashi. As the archery club captain, she steps up.

Slowly, she puts her foot on the rope ladder.

“Am I doing this right?”

“That’s perfect, Yaegashi. Keep going slowly. Stay calm.”

“Y-yeah…”

Her voice is trembling.

Even just watching her makes my heart race.

Step by step, she carefully descends— and finally, Yaegashi makes it onto the boat.

“Oh!!”

“I did it! The deck is bigger than I thought!”

“Nice job, Yaegashi. Now, we’ll send Hokkii and Riko over next.”

“Got it!”

Using the same process, Hokkii and Riko get down. Then Ooi and her team— Nomo, Sasayama, and Ootsuka— all safely make it onto the boat.

Now it’s our turn.

“Good luck, Chitose and Momose.”

“Will we really be okay…?”

“I’m just full of anxiety…”

Neither Chitose nor Momose seem athletic, and they’re clearly nervous. These two are by far the most worrisome.

“If things get bad, jump. Yaegashi and the others will catch you on the deck.”

“That’s still scary!”

Chitose looks like she’s about to burst into tears. She’s really nervous.

“Hang in there, Chitose. When we make it back safely, we’ll throw a big welcome-home party for everyone.”

“A party! That sounds fun. Alright, I’ll do my best.”

With renewed determination, Chitose heads to the rope ladder.

She slowly descends— but a strong gust of wind blows, and she loses her grip.

“Chitose!! Hey!!”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

She screams as she falls.

But fortunately, Yaegashi and the others on the deck catch her. That was close. My heart skipped a beat.

“Are you okay, Chitose?”

“I thought I was going to die!! I’m never using a rope ladder again!!”

I can’t tell if she’s angry or crying, but at least she’s safe.

Next up is Momose.

Though she’s trembling, she surprisingly makes it down smoothly. Huh, she can do it after all.

Now, it’s just me, Amane, and Kitakami left.

“……”

For some reason, there’s a heavy silence.

No, we need to hurry. If we don’t move quickly, a typhoon-like storm could hit us soon. It’s going to be a full-blown dangerous storm.

“Go ahead, Amane.”

“But…”

“I’ll catch up right after.”

“Okay…By the way, what about Kitakami-san?”

Amane glances at Kitakami, looking curious.

“I’ll go right after.”

“Alright then.”

These two were never on good terms until the end. I wish they had gotten along a bit better.

I decided to let Amane go first.

“Amane, we’re finally going home.”

“Yeah. It feels both short and long…but our time on this deserted island is finally over.”

“Yeah. When we get back, I want to—”

Just then, a powerful gust of wind blows, and the rope ladder is torn away.

“Eh…?”

The rope ladder flies off towards the sea.

Now we can’t climb down.

“No way…”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!!!”

Amane’s panicking.

“Stay calm, Hayasaka-kun!”

“Kitakami-san, what should we do!? The ladder’s gone!”

“Jump, and let them catch you.”

“But…I weigh 60 kilograms. The girls’ arms will break.”

“That’s not the point right now! Don’t you want to survive!?”

No, it matters! And to make things worse, the boat is starting to drift away.

The waves are too rough.

“Hayasaka-kun, the boat is drifting away!!”

“Sorry, Yaegashi! The ladder flew away!”

“What are you going to do!?”

“Don’t worry about us! Someone steer the boat and escape!”

“But we don’t know how to steer it!!”

Even I, with all my random knowledge, don’t know how to steer a boat.

But Kitakami, noticing this, quickly explains.

“Do your best!! When you reach safety, call for rescue. We’re counting on you!”

“Hayasaka-kun. Got it. We’ll do our best! So, please, stay safe.”

“Of course. Yaegashi, I’m counting on you to take care of everyone.”

“Understood! We’ll meet again!”

The boat drifts farther and farther away.

What a disaster.

We missed our chance to escape.

“This place is dangerous now. Amane, Kitakami-san…let’s head to the emergency shelter.”

“No way…”

“This is so frustrating.”

Amane is clearly upset.

Kitakami also looks disappointed, her eyes closed.

I understand their feelings all too well. Honestly, I wanted to go home, too. I wanted to confess to Amane when we got back and maybe go on a date.

But this is reality.

We’re just too unlucky.

It’s so unfair.

Are we really powerless against nature? Is this another test for us?

＊＊＊

The emergency shelter wasn’t too far from the beach.

“Hey, isn’t this…”

“It’s a ‘Pillbox.’”

Kitakami calmly names it.

A pillbox.

A type of bunker, designed to fend off enemies with machine guns— a wartime relic.

Maybe this is a leftover from the old military.

“How did Ooi-san and the others not notice this…?”

I’m surprised, and so is Amane, seeing the pillbox for the first time. But this is our shelter now. Looks like we’ll be staying here for a while.

…Hmm? Is there some noise coming from inside?