After falling asleep again without realizing it after our first night with the Deep Method,
we naturally woke up in the bonus area.
We started in the shopping mall’s hall with ten people standing there.
I had already explained everything to the new members, Lumina, Zoubu, and Genju, beforehand, but they still couldn’t hide their surprise. ”…Really, something like this…”
“Hey? Isn’t this the mall, but we didn’t come back?”
“It’s kind of scary… It’s bright and looks like it’s open for business, but there’s no one here…”
After waiting for them to calm down, I explained again how we should act in the bonus area.
We can stay here for three hours in real time.
Each person can choose one item from the mall to bring back to the desert island.
We need to bring the items we’ve chosen, which we had discussed beforehand with our teammates, back to the starting hall by the end of the time limit.
Even after choosing an item, we don’t immediately end the game; we can spend time considering our next choice or searching for materials to craft our own items.
“Um, I have a question, sir.”
「The items we picked up aren’t actually from the mall, right?」 「――Ah」 I had completely forgotten about that.
Actually, I hadn’t even considered that the mall might be linked to the real one. But, is that even possible?
I looked at the monitor to find an answer.
‘The items placed in the bonus area are ours, and they have no effect on the real world.’
Seeing those words, the teacher let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good…”
With that concern resolved, we each set off to explore the mall.
「Still, Mr. Tanbi. Are you sure about this?」
「Yes. After hearing Ms. Shi’s idea, I was impressed. Let’s gather all the textbooks and reference books early on and create study time. If it’s math, I can teach it too.」
It looks like math lessons will be happening soon.
So, Shinpo and Lumina are collecting textbooks one subject at a time.
「Me and Mia are getting that shower.」
「Yeah. It was really convenient. I didn’t think we’d be able to shower on a desert island.」
With nine female members but only three portable showers, it would take three rounds of three people each.
If there were five showers, it would only take two rounds of five and four people, so I decided to bring back five.
“I’ll take the hair dryer with Roachie.”
“Yes. If your hair stays wet, you might catch a cold, so it might be necessary.”
For the same reason as the showers, Shouko and Roa decided to bring back two hair dryers.
“I’ll take the rice. I’ll choose something tasty and with a lot of it.” Shi-on clenched both fists tightly.
Rice was not chosen over wheat, so it might be a long time before it’s added.
Since there were many times when rice was desired, I finally decided to bring it back. And at this point, it’s “7 points.”
The remaining “3 points” became a free choice.
It means that I, Senyuu, and Muu can choose what we need.
“I’ve already decided. I’m going with Minochan and Lumasun.”
Senyuu’s desired items seem to be at the bookstore. Will she choose manga? I’ll read it later too.
「Every time I say this, it feels weird, but I’m out. Choose something for Kouno.」 A dreamy response.
「Got it. Dream, come with me for a bit. I have something I want, and I want your opinion on it. Think of it as helping me out.」 「…Sure.」
I figured she wouldn’t turn me down if it was a chance to repay me, and it worked.
We left the hall and headed to our destinations.
The escalators and elevators were still working, so we could move around the mall without any issues. 「――This place…」
When we arrived, she let out a small sound. We had come to a CD shop.
「I don’t come here much anymore since I can listen to music on my phone, but what about you, Dream?」 「…………Sometimes.」
The automatic doors opened, and we stepped inside.
Music was playing inside, and commercials and music videos were playing on monitors throughout the store.
「I see. Even on a desert island, I want to listen to my favorite songs, but I don’t have a phone or internet.」 「…Wait.」 Dream stopped. 「What?」
「I mean, did you start preparing for this since the night of the seventh day?」
I shrugged at her suspicious look. 「…Sharp.」
「You bought a laptop with a CD drive, then the next day a tablet PC, and today a CD shop… What? You wanted to put some songs on the tablet and give them to me?」
I could listen to music on the laptop alone, but that was something Deep Law used to create materials. 「Well, that’s pretty much it.」 「…I didn’t ask for it.」 Dream World made a complicated face. She didn’t seem to want to accept it, but didn’t want to be rude either.
I didn’t want to complain about her good intentions, but she had that kind of look on her face. 「That’s true, but…」
Lora the maid has the ability to understand what people want.
Dream World seemed to like music and wanted to listen to her favorite songs even on the desert island.
However, in her current situation where she owed me a favor, she probably wouldn’t ask for it herself.
So, I thought if I could gather items that would be useful to the whole party and end up buying the CDs, she might accept it.
Even if she had some resistance to buying multiple items just to listen to music, maybe she would accept just the CDs.
「Why are you doing all this, Kouya? You’ve already done enough for us, and you’re doing your own work properly…」
It seemed Dream World didn’t understand why I was doing all this.
「No, I just want to make things my friends want as much as possible with my ‘Crafting Ability,’ but I can’t make CDs. But Dream World would probably hesitate to choose them in the bonus area, right? So I thought I’d try to make it seem natural for her to choose them.」
「…So, you’re doing this because you’re friends and you do all sorts of things for them?」
「That’s probably the case. Since we’re going to spend some time together, I want us to get along.」 「……」
From the Dream World’s perspective, it probably doesn’t want to owe us any more than it already does.
But I don’t want my friends to have to endure discomfort in a situation where they can get something they want.
We don’t know how long we’ll be stranded on this island.
I brought a game back with me, and everyone’s lives are gradually becoming a little richer.
I just hope the Dream World will treat us the same way.
But I don’t want to force it either.
「Well, I won’t force you. If you don’t want it, I’ll just pick two cards on my own. Alright, starting tomorrow, there’ll be loud anime music blaring in the living room, so please bear with it.」
To make it seem like I’m okay with a refusal, I try to sound cheerful.
「…………Yeah. Anime music is nice, but wouldn’t it be better if there were a few different genres so everyone could enjoy it?」
The Dream World sighs and starts walking around the store.
「……Haha, yeah. What do you recommend, Dream World?」
「…You know how I suggested buying books in a complete set? I think you should buy music albums, too.」
「Yeah, it’s cheaper if you get a lot of songs.」
Anime releases albums that include all the opening and ending themes.
「…So, can I pick one and you pick one?」 「Sure.」 「Okay… Hey, Kouno.」 「What?」 「…Thanks.」
Mukai said it quietly, looking forward.
I couldn’t see her face, but her ears were red, so she must be blushing. 「You’re welcome.」
I was relieved that she accepted my offer and we started browsing the store together. Thanks to everyone,
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