It’s unclear when, but when the time comes to return to Japan…
I want to take my memories and abilities back with me.
Setting aside the issue of my abilities, the rest of the group shares this sentiment regarding our memories, so the days spent on this desert island will follow us back to Japan as well.
But Japan and this desert island are vastly different.
Japanese social norms certainly won’t accept the nature of our relationships with the girls.
I need to start figuring out how to handle that situation soon.
“Master, the rice harvesting is finished. May I have your assistance?”
But before anything else, it’s time for the celebration.
Called by the maid Loah, I headed over there with Seri named in tow.
Thanks to Nagahata’s ability, countless stalks of rice had sprouted, but they were all harvested and piled up.
While one usually imagines rice growing in paddy fields, thanks to Nagahata’s ability allowing it to mature instantly, it had simply sprouted profusely from the ground nearby.
“Good work on the harvest. I’ll take care of storing it.”
And with that, everything was stored all at once.
Just like that, I skipped everything from threshing to polishing with my [Craft Ability].
Gotta say, it’s a handy power.
I generated a bag woven from straw, filled it with rice, and placed one down as a test.
I wanted the people who had handled the harvest to see the results as soon as possible.
“Truly befitting of you, Master.”
“Really. To polish it in an instant…”
Loa and Fukanomi, who knew of my ability, wore expressions of quiet pride, while Nagahata and Kenki looked on with admiration, their faces shifting accordingly.
“Hmm, indeed a highly versatile power. Impressive.”
“Quite right~. It is a wonderful ability, I think.”
“Master’s wonderful traits extend beyond just his power.”
Loa reacted to Nagahata’s compliment.
“Hehehe, Loa-chan really does like Mr. Kuno~” “Naturally.”
Nagahata rested a hand on her cheek, smiling gently.
Moved by the directness of Loa’s affection, I felt a flush of embarrassment.
“So-suke. Should I take this over to Shiine?”
At Yorina’s words, I nodded.
“Yeah, sure.”
I stored the rice I had just taken out again.
“May I come with you?”
“I’d like to help out too~”
Loa and Nagahata seemed intent on following as well.
The two of them had offered to help Shiino with whatever she needed. “U-um… I…”
Fukumi, too, raised her hand modestly, requesting to accompany us.
Though Fukumi had grown quite close to our group over time, she originally hadn’t had particularly intimate friends in the class.
She might simply feel uneasy about being separated from us.
“I’m afraid I’m not much of a cook, so I’ll have to stop here,” Kenki said.
That was where we parted ways with him for now.
Then, we made our way toward Shiino’s location.
“Ah, Sou-suke-kun!”
Shiino’s eyes sparkled with expectation.
She was in the outdoor kitchen.
“This is rice generated by Nagahata’s ability.”
I placed the same items in front of Shiine that I had just now.
“Whoa…! Amazing! This means we can eat as much rice as we want! The variety of dishes we can make will expand too!”
It meant more than anything to me that the chef was so pleased.
As a male high school student, being able to eat rice was incredibly relieving.
I used to eat it without giving it a second thought, but apparently I had become accustomed to it just by virtue of having consumed it for so long.
Ever since coming to this island, I found myself thinking about food more often than before.
“Hehehe. From now on, I’ll provide as much dashi stock as you like~”
Come to think of it, how much did Nagahata know about Sumikaze’s plan?
It had to be by Sumikaze’s design that Nagahata was chosen among those with abilities.
Does that mean he agreed to staying on the desert island?
I was a little curious, but I decided not to ask right now.
“Thank you, Reia-chan.”
“Oh, may I call Shiine-chan by her name too?”
“Of course you can.”
Uta and Nagahata, two individuals who possessed a mature demeanor in their own distinct ways, exchanged beaming smiles.
“Sonosuke-kun, could you gather the ingredients and cooking equipment?”
“Name whatever you need.”
Since the result would be delicious food, he was more than happy to lend his help.
The cattle hunted earlier were butchered into meat and laid out exactly as Uta instructed.
It seemed there were plans to serve it not only as yakitori but also as steaks.
To ensure the large group could enjoy themselves, I also arranged various items.
This time, I’ll set up a standing-grill format, positioning several stone counters and grates.
Charcoal is already arranged on the counters.
I can just light it later.
The bowls and chopsticks were made of wood, which I distributed across several spots.
Soon enough, the aroma of freshly cooked rice began to waft through the air.
Drawn by the scent, the girls gathered around.
What Uta had prepared was meat and onigiri.
However, before the meat could be grilled, everyone swarmed over the rice balls.
Some took a single bite and burst into tears.
I could understand how they felt.
In the binary choice, wheat was likely picked for its convenience, but for the Japanese, rice is deeply rooted in their daily lives.
Perhaps it was precisely because they had been cut off from such things during their time on the desert island that reuniting with rice served as a reminder of life before the transfer.
For those who longed to return to their former lives, this sentiment must have been even stronger.
From then on, it was total pandemonium.
The sizzle of meat cooking could be heard all around.
No one was actually screaming out in pain.
Yet somehow, it was incredibly loud and lively.
There’s a saying that three women together cause chaos, but here we had twenty-four females gathered in one place.
They weren’t huddled up with just the party members; instead, everyone seemed to be moving about freely as they pleased.
Seina, who had been glued to my side and refusing to budge an inch, eventually went over at the call of a girl named Sora, saying she’d “be right back” with a reluctant look on her face.
Fukumi was being spoken to in some shadowy corner with an eerie tone.
She seemed to be acting alone, or at least it felt that way after so long.
So, I ended up exchanging words with several of them.
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