After eating, we got back to foraging, collecting tree nuts, mushrooms, and rocks.
In addition, when I itemized a fallen tree, I got a large amount of “wood,” but it seemed to be treated as a lower-tier version of “normal wood.” I could make firewood and wooden tools, but I couldn’t use it to build a house or anything like that. Well, having it is better than not having it.
I’ll think about sorting out items when my inventory capacity reaches its limit.
And so, we returned to the cliff below.
“For now, we’ll have mushrooms for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.”
“That’s right. I did get some wild vegetables, but… I still can’t make tempura or anything…”
Incidentally, the inventory doesn’t change over time, which is convenient. So, we can eat freshly grilled mushrooms and fresh nuts at any time.
Trying to turn the ashes of the campfire into an item failed. I guess the ash itself could be obtained, but the flame can’t be turned into an item.
Is it because it’s a combustion phenomenon rather than an item?
“I could make a salad, but I don’t have enough ingredients.”
“I heard some things can be eaten raw.”
“I’ll eat them for dinner. Nutrition is important.”
“All right.”
I had transferred to this island in the morning, but it was already getting close to evening.
“Should I build a shelter now?”
“Yeah, let’s give it a try.”
I placed the shack I generated with my “Crafting Ability” at the base of the cliff. Instantly, a wooden shack that was neither a mountain cabin nor a shed appeared before us.
Since I chose a relatively flat location beforehand, it doesn’t seem to be tilted too much. It may not be a proper house, but I can easily store it in my “Inventory” when I need to move, so I did it that way.
Digging holes and building foundations… are things that my “Crafting Ability” can’t do, and it wouldn’t make sense to spend effort on them anyway. It’s more like a temporary shelter.
“This is the kind of secret hideout I’ve always wanted.”
Chiyu said something childish. But I nodded vigorously.
“I understand… If I’d found a shack like this when I was a kid, I would’ve visited it all the time.”
I head straight inside.
The space is about six tatami mats in size. There’s a window, but it’s made of wood too, and it’s a sliding door, so there’s no glass.
Wait, can’t I make glass with my Craft ability? I need sand and… lime, right? I’ll ask Chiyu about it later.
“This is great for a secret hideout, but it’s a bit cramped for two people to live in.”
“That’s not a problem. We can eat outside, and we don’t need shelves or a wardrobe since Sousuke has his Inventory.”
“I see. Without the furniture, this should be enough.”
Chiyu’s positive attitude is a relief.
“I don’t even need a bed, but maybe I do want a futon?”
“Hmm, I agree, but with what we gathered today… this is all I could make.”
I set it up.
It’s like a mat. I made it out of a bunch of grass. It’s woven like a thin tatami mat. It’s wide and long enough for two people to sleep side by side, but…
“Hmm.”
Chiyu immediately lay down on it.
“But I also need a change of clothes. Cloth… thread… fiber…? Hemp or cotton? Is there anything like that on this island?”
I’m not knowledgeable about plants, so I have no idea.
If only I had taken the survival manga’s advice more seriously.
“Well, we’ll just have to huddle together and sleep for now. What a ridiculous situation.”
Chiyu said that while lying down.
“Yeah, I guess so… But we should try to get blankets and clothes sooner rather than later to avoid catching a cold.”
Just because she can heal doesn’t mean we should willingly take damage.
“Maybe we could use animal pelts?”
“Oh, like wool?”
“Or cashmere?”
Her eyes seemed to light up at the mention of high-quality materials.
“I wonder if there are cashmere goats around?”
「To begin with, I didn’t even see any animals.」
「Yeah. I wish I had the knowledge to estimate the location from the vegetation and climate…」
「Sousuke, high school students who can do that basically don’t exist.」
「That’s true.」
If the mysterious blackboard wanted to test the high schoolers’ abilities, it wouldn’t just give them one thing to take with them and transfer them over. Perhaps it’s testing them on what they choose to bring and how they survive with that choice.
「By the way… are you not going to try out the sleeping arrangements?」
「Uh…」
Chiyu must have finally noticed that I was standing there while she was sleeping. If I were a normal person, I might have blurted out something like, “I’ll try the sleeping arrangements too,” but I couldn’t do that.
「I-I’ll pass for now. I still have things to do.」
「All right.」
My childhood friend nodded and got up.
「We just talked about animals, so I thought I should make some repellent just in case.」
「Interesting.」
「I’ll get started on that right away.」
As I was about to move, Chiyu stood up and brought her lips close to my ear.
「Then see you tonight, Sousuke.」
With that, Chiyu left the hut before me.
I stared at her back and covered my face with my hands.
“Ah… This is bad.”
When I was about kindergarten age, we used to sleep together, but that’s a distant memory.
I never would have thought that when I was in my second year of high school, we’d end up sleeping together in a cabin.
If I had a normal high school life, I wouldn’t have been able to get this close to her so suddenly.
Is it wrong to feel happy in this situation?
While torn between wanting the night to come quickly and hoping it wouldn’t arrive just yet, I stepped outside the cabin.
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