Multiple updates today.
This is Chapter 4.
Shion asked for the ability to detect lies.
It certainly was a useful power.
If you could see through someone’s falsehoods, you’d realize it before falling for a scam.
Even if an outwardly kind person had ulterior motives, you’d be able to tell.
It would undoubtedly be very helpful for navigating social life, though the constant suspicion it breeds might lead one to distrust humanity itself.
But what caught my attention was whether she’d want to bring that ability to a desert island.
After a bit of thought, I arrived at a certain possibility.
—Shion may have chosen her ability assuming she would be teleported to the desert island as part of a group.
Forty teenagers from their teens released onto an desert island, with no teacher to keep them in line.
Demanding that everyone adhere to the laws and morals enforced back home in Japan would be difficult.
With the ability to discern the truth behind a person’s words, one could likely navigate group dynamics and detect crises effectively.
But if that were the case—
“Did Shion anticipate being teleported via class teleportation at that point?”
At my words, Shi-ine broke into a bright smile.
“You’re giving yourself too much credit. Honestly, most of that was thanks to you.”
“Me?”
“In reality, reading the room and trying to be funny aren’t inherently bad things. That’s part of socialization. But at that moment, everyone initially thought it was a dream.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
I nodded.
“So, it was a situation where you didn’t need ‘socializing’; you should have been able to consider your true selves. But a significant number of students gave flippant answers or settled for mundane items. They weren’t thinking deeply; they were just going with the flow. I think that’s dangerous.”
It would be wonderful if one could consciously display social skills when necessary.
But perhaps the point is that if you get too used to conforming to your surroundings, you might fail even in situations where you need to judge for yourself.
“You were the only one who didn’t read the room back then.”
Hearing Chiiru’s words, Shi-ine’s face lit up with happiness. “Really?!” she exclaimed.
“Since it was a dream, you should have been free to give a completely serious answer without worrying about social cues. But you were the only one who took the lead in doing so. On top of that, by voicing your thoughts, you actually gave the other kids a prompt to start thinking about their abilities. I thought it was amazing.”
Being met with such admiring gazes left me feeling flushed and somewhat flustered.
“It’s not as big a deal as that…
Besides, Mousuko is the one who started the flow of people thinking about their abilities.”
“Oh, stop it, it’s nothing,” Mousuko said, blushing with obvious pleasure.
Maybe I should try being a bit more straightforward myself.
“That makes sense. Sōsuke-kun was the one who took the ‘first step,’ and Matsu-chan was the one who created the flow that followed, so they’re both amazing. And then there’s Chiyu-chan, who managed to draw out his ability into words.”
“Yeah, if Chiyu hadn’t spoken to me, I’d just have been thinking about it in my head.”
“Classic childhood friends’ coordination.”
Chiyu emphasized the part about being childhood friends.
“You just said Sōsuke-kun was only thinking about it in his head, but actually, that works?”
Shion’s words carried a tone of certainty.
“So does that mean Shion still hasn’t spoken the items you’re holding out loud?”
“Of course Sōsuke-kun would notice something like that.”
Pressing both hands together in front of her chest, Shion spoke with an air of admiration.
“What does it mean, what does it mean? Explain it in a way us normies can understand, please!”
Matsu was confused.
“Umm, well, in that dream, most people were saying out loud what they wanted, right?”
“Yeah. Didn’t everyone do that?”
“It wasn’t everyone. I couldn’t check on all of them, but there was definitely someone who never opened their mouth until the very end.” “Huh?
Really?”
“Yeah. Plus, the blackboard just said, ‘If you could take one thing to a desert island?’ There was no specific instruction on how to answer. So, I figured there were no restrictions on the method.”
“W-wait, did both of you really think that far ahead in that situation?”
Shouko looked somewhat taken aback.
“Well, I started thinking it was weird partway through, and I didn’t mind pondering those kinds of ‘what if’ scenarios anyway. I just got a bit carried away.”
“I see? So, if not saying it out loud counts as a valid answer, what happens?”
“Earlier, Shiion said that when she wished for two things, only the first one was granted, right? That changing the answer wasn’t accepted.”
“Right.”
“If that’s the case, what if you decided on the ability you wanted first, and then casually answered ‘knife’ in the dream?”
“Huh? …Ah! When reuniting with whoever heard that answer on the island, they’d be misled about your actual ability?”
Shouko seemed to realize it after a brief moment of thought.
“That’s exactly it, Shouko-chan. If it were a knife, you could just claim you ‘lost’ it. And since it’s a consumable item anyway, you could simply say you used it all up.”
“Whoa, so the plan was to trick your classmates? I mean, there are bad people in the world, but…”
Shouko seemed unable to properly imagine someone scheming to that extent back at the stage of that dream.
“Heh… While I didn’t go as far as actively deceiving them, I did keep my answer hidden so no one would know, so that stings a little.”
“It’s not like Isha-chan did anything wrong, right? She has every right not to say things she doesn’t want to say.”
“Thank you, Meiko-chan.”
”…But more than that, Shio-chan.”
“What is it, Chiyu-chan?”
“I’m not going to blame you for when you revealed your ability. But ever since we first met face-to-face, you’ve been using it on me, haven’t you?”
Hearing Chiiru’s words, Shiogine made a face full of regret and bowed her head to me.
“Yes, that’s actually how it is. Meko-chan seems to trust me, but since we weren’t close before, I was anxious. I’m sorry for testing you like that.”
“No, don’t worry about it. If it were just Shiogine, I would have been much more wary and cautious myself. Trying to adapt to the current situation using your own ability is completely natural. There’s no need to apologize.”
Besides, I hadn’t disclosed everything my ability was capable of either.
”…Thank you. Sōsuke-kun, you’re really kind.”
Perhaps she was still using her ability right now.
Maybe because she realized I wasn’t genuinely angry, her eyes widened slightly.
“I don’t have any secrets to hide, so I didn’t worry about it, but Shi-chan said that people usually get disliked once they find out you’re a liar, so I kept quiet. Sorry about that, Sōsuke.”
“So I’m not angry. But still, let’s call it even with that. How about you, Chiiru?”
“It’s fine, but there are some concerns.”
“What kind of concerns?”
Still expressionless, Chiiru covered the corner of her mouth with her hand, the way someone would try to hold back tears.
「Just thinking about how all that So-ku’s transparent lies are going to get blown out in the open makes me feel so sorry, just so incredibly sorry for him」
「Hey, what do you mean by ‘transparent lies’?」
“I’ve seen plenty of people’s chests, yet I still act like I haven’t.”
“Alright, no comment from me.”
My conversation with Senju caused Miko to laugh brightly and Shion to snicker softly, which lightened the mood.
But indeed, Senju was right.
Shion needs to keep in mind that she’ll be found out if she lies, and speak accordingly.
「So then, So-suke-kun, Senju-chan. Will you make us your companions?」
「Sousuke! Let us join you! Mashi will follow too now! Fluffy and soft!」
Senju and I looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
Then he turned to the two of them and said:
“Of course, you’re welcome.”
Thus, our group became a party of four.
We managed to maintain the #1 spot on the Night Ranking & the points kept stretching out……!
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