I Was Stranded on a Deserted Island with a Beautiful Classmate - Chapter 71-72

Chapter 71: Gunshots? Explosions? Late-Night Emergency

It was getting colder as the night deepened.

I kept throwing logs onto the fire, making sure it didn’t go out. Kitakami was asleep on my lap.

She looked so peaceful and adorable.

I wanted to pinch or poke her cheek, but—I held back.

Just a while ago, we were all cozy inside the room…

And lately, both Amane and Kitakami had been really affectionate. Every day felt like a dream.

But right now, this feels pretty close too.

As I brushed her hair while she leaned against me, feeling completely at ease…

*Boom…*

I heard something that sounded like an explosion in the distance.

No…this wasn’t my imagination.

And the explosions kept going off.

*Boom…Boom…!*

What the—? It’s like some kind of shootout!

Even Kitakami woke up, sensing something was wrong.

“…What is that?”

“No idea. But it doesn’t seem like just a random noise.”

“It sounds like gunshots. Could there be a fight happening somewhere?”

“No way. Aside from Marcus and us, no one else should be on this island…or could there be?”

“We should wake everyone up.”

I woke Amane.

“Hey, wake up, Amane.”

“Don’t…not there, Hayasaka-kun…”

What on earth is she dreaming about?

Her cheeks were a bit flushed. Wait, Amane has those kinds of dreams?

“Please, wake up.”

I shook her gently, but she didn’t open her eyes.

“Hayasaka-kun, that’s…intense…”

“What’s intense!? What on earth is she dreaming about!?”

Thinking it was getting risky to leave her like this, I gave her a light tap, and she finally opened her eyes.

“…Mm…Huh? Hayasaka-kun, what’s going on?”

“What’s going on? Amane, what were you dreaming about?”

“Huh…a dream? That was a dream?!”

She looked so disappointed. Just what was she dreaming about us doing?

“Anyway, Ooi, Kotobuki, and Kusamochi are awake too.”

“Oh, they are? What’s going on? It’s still pitch dark outside.”

“We heard strange noises. There might be some kind of fight happening somewhere.”

“No way…”

“Everyone, get your equipment ready.”

Kitakami put on a bulletproof vest she had quickly prepared.

Now, for the weapons…

Knives, an iron bat, a battery-powered modified nail gun, bear spray, a stun gun…all technically legal items.

“We don’t have guns, but we’ve got battery-powered modified nail guns, so they’ll be somewhat useful.”

The nail gun, modified to the very edge of legality, runs on a battery and can fire nails up to twenty meters. It’s been tested for power too.

It looks pretty illegal, but somehow, it still passes as a tool. Really?

It’s no match for a gun, but it’s better than nothing.

“There are enough nail guns for everyone. Does everyone know how to use them?”

“Of course. We’ve done some training over the past month.”

Yes, we hadn’t just been sitting idle. We’d kept up training, thinking we might end up on another deserted island someday. And now, that training might actually be paying off.

It wasn’t safe to stay in the cave.

“Kitakami and I will check things out. Everyone else, please retreat to the back of the cave.”

“B-but…!”

Ooi tried to stop me, but I couldn’t help being curious.

“I want to know what kind of enemy we’re dealing with and how many there are. I’ll call if anything happens.”

“All right. But don’t do anything reckless.”

“Yeah, you too, Ooi.”

Kitakami and I left the cave and headed toward the seashore, where the explosions were coming from.

Wearing night vision goggles, we moved forward carefully.

We couldn’t risk using a light, as it would reveal our location to whoever was out there.

“Hiraku, we’re just here to assess the enemy’s numbers. Avoid unnecessary combat.”

“Of course. Fighting for no reason will only wear us down.”

We pushed through the dark forest together.

Over by the sea, flashes of light flickered repeatedly.

This wasn’t just explosions—this was a gunfight.

I couldn’t see how many people there were, but there was machine gun fire.

Wait, is this a full-blown shootout!?

“That’s…a light machine gun. To think they’d bring something like that for a gunfight…it’s practically a war.”

Are you kidding me…? If they’re using weapons that intense, could it be an actual army out here? Or maybe a private military company?

Give me a break!

“What do we do, Kitakami?”

“If they’re pros, they’re probably using night vision too, which means they could spot us.”

Damn, is this it for us?

But at least…if I could just figure out how many they are…

I leaned forward carefully. Then—no way!

—

Chapter 72: Treasure Hunters Land! Head to the Underground Cave

The number of fighters is unclear, but there were at least ten people engaged in combat. I can’t believe this many people are on this deserted island…

It seems one group is made up of professionals. Their equipment is just too different.

And they’re only up against two people? …Wait, just two?!

“Is this too risky to watch any longer? But what is this fight even about?”

“I don’t know. But…since word about this island has spread, an organization after the treasure might have landed.”

That would make the ground above dangerous for us. We should probably head underground.

To avoid getting caught up in it, Kitakami and I left the area.

* * *

We returned to the cave. Amane and the others had gone further in. Kitakami and I followed them deeper into the cave.

“Hey, do you think Marcus might be out there on that battlefield?”

“If Marcus was acting as part of an organization…that’s possible.”

So he’s probably with the group that has more than five people. If Marcus organized that professional team, it makes sense.

If so, then they’re a dangerous group to cross.

If we end up as enemies…they’re real soldiers. The odds of winning are slim.

Anyway, there’s nowhere to escape. We have no choice but to try our best.

As we reached the cave’s depths, we spotted Amane and the others, staying on alert.

“Hayasaka-kun! We were waiting for you!”

“Hey, Amane. Everyone.”

At least they’re safe. But…staying here is risky, too. With the ground above turning into a battlefield, staying put isn’t an option.

“So, what’s happening outside?”

“That’s a good question, Ooi. There was a fight on the shore.”

“A fight?! A real one?”

“Yeah, the real deal. Guns were being used, and it was definitely a fight to the death. A professional group came ashore, after the treasure.”

Everyone starts murmuring, clearly uneasy. Hearing about a professional team shook them. But it’s the truth. There’s no point in lying, and we need to be mentally prepared.

“No way…”

Kusamochi, turning pale, held her head as if she wanted to say this isn’t what she signed up for. I understand her feelings, but…I’d kind of prepared myself.

With all the news coverage lately, I figured it was just a matter of time before people showed up, hunting for treasure. Looks like I was right.

But I didn’t expect real soldiers.

We’re clearly at a disadvantage.

We’re just high school students, complete amateurs.

No way we can stand up to them.

But…I’m the one with the map.

The only clues to the treasure are in my head.

So I can at least guarantee my life and everyone else’s. That’s my only advantage.

“People will come here eventually. We need to head underground before that happens.”

“But how?”

This time, Kotobuki raised her hand.

“Tanaka and Akira once explored an underground cave. The island’s underground is a labyrinth. Somewhere in there, the treasure should be hidden.”

“Is that so? Do you know how to get there?”

“According to the map in my head…not through the forest, but the ‘pillbox’ where Kotobuki hid before.”

When I shared this, everyone was surprised—especially Kotobuki.

“No way! That pillbox is the treasure’s hiding place?”

“Maybe. Somewhere in that pillbox, there’s likely a passage leading underground.”

Why they happened to build a pillbox right there, I don’t know, but it looks like it.

Our first move is to head there and check it out.

“But…isn’t there fighting going on? Can we get there?”

“Don’t worry, Ooi. The pillbox is in the opposite direction. We can make it out this way.”

Originally, we were going to seal this passage. But after the showdown with Tachikawa and Kurashima, there was no need. So it was left open.

“We need to hurry, Hayasaka-kun. If we linger, that professional group might notice us.”

Kitakami’s right.

We pick up the pace.

* * *

Guided by night vision, we moved through the darkness.

We managed to reach the pillbox without encountering the professional team.

It’s been a while since we were last here.

This is where we first met Kotobuki.

“Wow, it hasn’t changed much!”

Kotobuki seemed happy, probably feeling nostalgic. But it’s still as musty as ever.

We entered and turned on a flashlight, aiming it downward to keep the light from escaping.

“I didn’t notice anything unusual the last time I was here.”

“Yeah, me neither, Hayasaka-kun. I checked everywhere back then, but nothing stood out.”

I see, so Kotobuki already examined the place.

Normally, it would be around the floor area, but it’s just covered in concrete. No way to peel that off easily.

Looks like we’ll have to use explosives.

“Shall we?”

“You catch on quick, Kitakami.”

“Yes, just in case…I brought some dynamite from a friend of my father’s construction company.”

I had Kitakami bring dynamite, just in case we needed to blow open a sealed cave or to deal with enemies…or something.

Strictly for breaking rocks, of course.

“Let’s blow up the floor. Can you handle the setup, Kitakami?”

“Certainly. I know how to handle it, but…it’ll make a lot of noise. They’ll probably hear it too.”

“That’s the issue. We want to get underground without drawing attention.”

“It’ll be hard to avoid. Are you sure this is the right place?”

“Yes, this is the exact location on the map. I’m sure of it.”

“Understood. Then we’ll go ahead and blow it.”

Just as we were about to go through with the plan, Kusamochi raised her hand.

“If we blow it up, won’t the whole pillbox go down with it? Shouldn’t we try using a pickaxe instead?”

“Ah, right! We could do that!”

I’d forgotten that Kusamochi had the tools with her. A pickaxe could quietly break up the concrete.

Alright, let’s get to it.