I’m posting multiple updates today.
This is Chapter 1.
Satisfied with the moisturizing effect of the emulsion, the four of us took their seats for now.
The work table was surrounded by wooden chairs.
At Shion’s request, we decided to display the ingredients.
We casually arranged whatever items were marked as “Edible.”
“Wow…” A collective gasp rose from everyone.
Shiko and Chiyu, who had come along, likely intended to leave the judgment on what was suitable for eating up to me.
Looking at them now, it was the first time they recognized these as things one could eat.
I only knew because of the information displayed by “Itemization.”
“Could this be… a kiwano?”
Yotsuzue picked up a purple fruit that looked like a bloated sweet potato.
“It seems so.”
According to my [Inventory], that was the case, so I nodded.
I didn’t get it, but Shion reacted.
“Akebi? Wasn’t it sweet?”
The word sweet made both Shouko and Chiiru’s eyes light up.
“Yeah. It looks ripe enough, but I thought akebi were an autumn fruit…”
The Japan we came from was in the middle of spring.
Well, no use worrying about that now…
“Come on, come on. Let’s eat.”
“Okay, I’ll cut it up.”
The fruit had lines running through its skin. Shiun followed those lines with a stone knife and sliced the fruit to share with everyone. They cut the akebi in half and used the hollowed-out rind as a natural bowl.
“It’s like jelly filled with little beads?”
Everyone had been given wooden spoons. Chiiru used one to scoop up some of the flesh.
“Aah, everyone, be careful—the seeds are bitter.”
Shijou explained that in her culture, the rind was used like stuffed peppers, and oil could be pressed from the seeds.
Shiun looked intrigued by this information, and for now, they all took a bite.
“Ohh, it’s sweet!”
“It’s so smooth!”
“Refreshing aftertaste.”
“I’d been craving fruit and sweets, but it’s nice to know I can still get something sweet on this island.”
“Yeah… it’s relaxing…”
It seemed to be well-received by everyone else too.
“Sousuke-kun, what is this?”
Next, Shioto picked up a small, red fruit.
“Uh, that’s apparently called ‘sansho’.”
“Sansho?! Wow, it’s a spice!”
“If you used your ability, Ikuno-kun, it seems like you could probably generate dried sansho powder from the peel.”
I mostly associated it as one of the ingredients in shichimi togarashi, but if that was true, it would indeed be very useful for adding variety to flavors.
It wasn’t too bothersome since it was only our second day, but we usually ate with single, consistent flavors—salt just salt, dashi just dashi—so being able to offer those kinds of variations was welcome.
After that, while exchanging various comments, we finished eating all the akebi.
Since I had just heard that the peels and seeds were useful, I stored them in my [Inventory].
“Now is a weird time to say this, but it feels strange having you store the seeds after I’ve spat them out of my mouth.”
Temari’s face was faintly red.
Seeing Temari like that, Chiya shrugged with a ‘well, well’ expression.
“It really is past time to bring this up. Besides, we’re the ones who’ve been handing Sousuke our brand-new, still-warm underwear.”
“GYAH! Chi-ju, don’t say things like that! I’ll just get more flustered if you put it that way…!”
“I-iwa-san. Since Takano is going out of his way to use his ability to clean our clothes, it’s not good to attach sexual nuance to that fact.”
“Ahaha, don’t worry about it, Shijo-san. For Chi-ju and Sousuke, it’s just like playful teasing.”
Every time, I do get a bit of a start, but she really is used to making dirty jokes.
“I-is that… really the issue here? …No, well, one should conform to local customs upon entering a new place, right? I suppose I need to change my perception and realize this isn’t like school. So, s-so if I proactively use explicit expressions, I’ll fit in? B-but that kind of thing is…!”
“Four Sticks takes everything a bit too seriously, doesn’t he?”
I let out a wry laugh.
“It’s a good thing to be diligent in your studies. So, let me pull up my sleeve and bestow upon you some lewd expressions that Soun-kun might like.”
Chi-ju crossed her arms, trying to look like a grand master.
”…! I, I understand.
I look forward to working with you, Iwa-san,” Shijo said, swallowing hard as she steeled herself.
“Heh, my disciple. My training is strict, and it’s naughty.”
“Hey, hey, hey, what are you two talking about?”
Actually, I had a faint feeling that Chi-ju must have spilled the beans on my sexual preferences to Shion… too?
I had figured, given her behavior throughout—especially near the end—that she was only saying things I would find soothing.
…Well, I guess I can’t really be mad about that part.
“So Sōsuke, looks like you’ve become quite a hit with everyone…”
Moshiko smiled, yet her eyes held a hint of sadness.
“Sōsuke-kun, are you planning to continue searching this afternoon? I can stay behind again if you’d like. I feel like working on the dinner menu.”
“Oh, certainly. Food is a crucial element, so please do take charge of it.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
Shiine accepted with evident joy.
“If that’s the case, will Chiyu-chan and I be doing the exploring?”
Thanks to Mashiro’s mobility, it seemed plausible that they could cover a wide area.
Moreover, among the items collected this time, many were things we hadn’t seen yesterday.
“We’re going to gather more wild kiwi. Also Sōsuke-kun, about that towel from earlier—”
“Right right, it’s ‘hemp.’ I’ll set out the remaining pieces. Can you use this to find where Mashiro grew?”
I addressed the latter part of my question to Moshiko.
“It’s soft and squishy!
Mashiro has an amazing nose.”
“You’re really helping us out.”
“Hehehe~” The boar was found by him too.
Cloth made from flax can be used for things beyond just towels; it’s good for clothing and sheets, too.
Since the fabric has a smooth hand, it must have been used for summer wear. It seems like we could mix and match, wearing flax clothes during the day and wool garments when it gets chilly.
“I picked up a few other things, too.”
Senru puffed out one cheek, her expression blank.
She was cute, but I couldn’t just leave her like that.
“I get it. Besides, knowing you’re with us makes me believe everyone will come back safe.”
“Mm. My companions… no one dies.”
Senru spoke in a monotone, delivering the line like a shonen manga protagonist.
But her mood seemed to have cleared up, for she let out a huff from her nose—a mufoo.
And then there was the last person.
Yotsubo was watching me with a fidgety air, his movements restless.
“Kudo-kun. You seem to be the leader of this group, so… i-if there’s anything I can do, please give me orders…”
His face looked rather anxious.
As if he were afraid of being told he had no role to play.
“I want you to stay with me and Shiin, and protect us if anything should happen.”
“An escort, I see. Understood. Consider it done…”
She seemed quite eager.
“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you.”
“L-lewd business?”
“No it isn’t!”
When I shot her down for the joke, she looked somehow pleased with herself.
Then she turned toward Chiyu.
Chiyu nodded, pulling a strict mentor face and saying, “Keep it up.”
Teasing me and waiting for my retort, or trying to make me blush—those were Chiyu’s signature moves—but would this habit spread to the other girls?
The future looked uncertain.
The frustrating thing was, deep down, I didn’t mind any of it.
“A-anyway. Please use your magic to stay within range of Shiin.”
“Training, right? That seems like a given to me.”
“That’s part of it, but you do have that wind magic of yours, don’t you?”
“Ah, yes, the Wind Blade.”
“I was thinking, could we use it to cut down some trees and secure some lumber?”
Maintaining #1 on the daily & weekly charts……!!!!!!
And thanks to all of you, I managed to climb up to second place for the month……!!!!!!
The point difference is around 4,000, so catching up isn’t exactly going to be easy, but
I would be truly grateful if you could continue to support me……!!!!!!
A Request to Our Readers
If reading this work has moved you, even just a little…
If you found it “fun,” if you’re dying to know what happens next, and if you feel like shouting “Write more!!!!!”
・Add to Bookmarks
・ The ‘Support the author by giving points’ section at the bottom of the page,
changing the ☆☆☆☆☆ buttons to ★★★★★ would mean a lot as support, and
it would be a huge encouragement for future updates!!!!!!
Please, I’m counting on you!!!!!