It’s hard to put into words, but I guess I was tempted by Momo…
The terrifying thing is that this isn’t the first time such an experience has happened since coming to this desert island.
I haven’t gotten used to it at all; my heart still races every time.
Keeping a calm demeanor as best I could, I gently pulled her away from me.
“Umm… well, I think I understand your proposal, Momo.”
I would cooperate so that she could have a fun time on this desert island.
And in return, Momo would help ensure that I could also enjoy my stay here.
Even if there was an element of her being drawn to a guy who has a harem, I appreciated the fact that she didn’t just rely on my abilities but proposed a mutually beneficial arrangement.
My original companions were like that to begin with, but the members of the Cheng Huang Party were also very easy to get along with since none of them tried to exploit anyone unilaterally.
In stories, it’s not uncommon for people to seek benefits from someone with a useful ability or treat them harshly, but reality was surprisingly peaceful in that regard.
Or perhaps Cheng Huang was guiding her companions away from that sort of behavior.
”…Then why are you pulling away? Do you dislike me?”
Momo puffed up her cheeks.
“It’s not that I hate it, though…”
As I struggled to find the right words, Momo shot me a deadpan glare.
“Right. So you love girls, Sousuke-kun, don’t you?”
“Huh—!”
A man who had built a harem had no room to deny such an accusation here.
“Why is Momo the only one off-limits? Do you think she lacks appeal?”
Momo’s expression instantly crumpled into anxiety.
“It’s not like that. But first, I’ll discuss your proposal with the rest of the group. It wouldn’t be a bad thing for us if everyone else got some breathing room in their lives.”
Now that the reward known as ‘Ability Awakening’ had been confirmed, even those without abilities now held the potential to become ability users in the future.
If it was acquired by someone who already possessed an ability, its power would simply be enhanced; no new ability would emerge.
While strengthening existing abilities was welcome, it would be extremely grateful if trusted comrades gained new powers.
If the girls of the Suiou party became willing to stay behind, that meant potential ability users would remain on the desert island.
Of course, setting aside such calculated reasoning, I simply wanted my classmates to get better.
“When you say ‘consult with the group,’ does that include asking if it’s okay to put Momo in the harem?”
“Setting aside the harem stuff… well, I guess I’d have to talk about it,” I said.
“Huh…?”
Momo widened her eyes in surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
“A girl who hid from her girlfriend that she was hanging out with us and ended up in a修罗 field—she definitely exists. Sosei-kun, you know, you’re quite sincere.”
But “hanging out” is relative. Judging by the stories I’d just heard, Momo merely wanted to secure the affection of those boys; she hadn’t been harboring any thoughts of elopement or illicit romance, not even a shred of it.
For the guys who continued their relationships with their girlfriends while trying to stay close to Momo without realizing the situation, one could only describe them as disingenuous.
As for whether I, a guy dating multiple girls, can be called “sincere,” I decided to shelve that issue.
“Since Inou-kun is already involved with multiple women, there’s no point in hiding just your relationship with her now, is there?”
Someone had interrupted our conversation.
She was a girl with an air of maturity, sporting light blue hair.
Her hair was cut in a bob style, parted right down the middle.
And she had a large bust.
Since all the girls in my class were jiggly giants, perhaps there was no need to specifically point that out, but as a male, it was an attribute I couldn’t ignore.
Despite being our age, she exuded an incredibly mature and alluring aura.
Inumaki Rara.
A mysterious girl known for using the ability to command monsters.
We had absolutely no points of contact. From what I’d seen in class, she was a strange figure who always wore a radiant smile; she seemed approachable to everyone yet still maintained a certain distance.
“Geez, Nene! Stop butting into the conversation!”
Momo made an openly disgusted face.
“Oh my, quite rude to speak so harshly about your childhood friend.”
Hinu, on the other hand, maintained her smile even after being called that.
“Childhood friend?”
I couldn’t help but react to that phrase.
“Oh? You didn’t know? Unlike Takano-kun and Iyama-san, I’ve known him since elementary school.”
I wondered where Hinu had gotten the information that Sengyou and I had been together since kindergarten.
Before anyone could ask, Momo let out a loud shout.
“It’s a cursed bond! I’m just really unlucky!”
“How do you figure?”
“Acting like you don’t know! It’s awful because Nene is there and no one pays attention to me!”
“Nonsense? Don’t the guys who love cute girls all become obsessed with you?”
“If Nene weren’t around, Mom would be all mine!”
“Heh. Up until junior high, that was probably true.”
“Gnnn… I guess it’s true that our school, especially my class, is a bit weird…”
There were plenty who felt drawn to the mysterious allure of Inu-ai.
If Shiune was an elegant beauty whose gaze pierced the hearts of her peers, then Inuai was the type who stole your first love, even though she was younger.
And yet, she carried an air that suggested she was dating someone considerably older than her.
“People always say that, but unfortunately, I’ve never been in a grown-up romance.”
As if reading my mind, she spoke up, causing me to flinch.
“Be careful, Sousuke-kun. Nene thinks she’s a psychic.”
“There are just plenty of people in the world whose thoughts are written all over their faces. You’re particularly bad at hiding yours, so it’s lovely that I can chat with you easily.”
“Aww, stop it! Sousuke-kun, once you’re done talking with Chiiru-chan and the others, please tell Mom too!”
Perhaps she just couldn’t stand sharing the same space with them; Mom shot a “Bleh” at Inuai before wandering off.
“I’m sorry for the trouble. She’s not a bad girl, you know.”
Like a parent, Inu-ai offered his apologies.
“Yeah, I get that.”
I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.
The boys who had fallen hopelessly in love with her probably didn’t understand, but at least I felt no hatred toward Momo.
The balance between her mischievous devilishness and her innocent, childlike demeanor even gave off an air of charm.
“After being thrown into completely different environments, it takes time for people to adapt, doesn’t it? She just hasn’t fully adjusted yet.”
“If I didn’t have my ‘Craft ability,’ I might not have managed to adapt either.”
At my comment, Inukai gave a fleeting smile.
“We should be grateful that such power was granted to someone capable of thinking so rationally.”
I hated being judged solely by my ability, but on the other hand, having people praise me for it made me feel self-conscious.
“Would you really say that?”
That was how I brushed her off with a deflection.
“If everyone could adapt as quickly as you did, things would be easy, but reality isn’t so simple. Still, I think this is actually a good opportunity for Momo.”
“A good opportunity?”
“Yes. Her previous state wasn’t healthy. It would be wonderful if her presence on this island helps her improve in that regard.”
“Ah… well, there are probably guys who think they’re being toyed with because of their innocence.”
As someone who had just been talking to Momo, I couldn’t disagree.
“You’re right. There’s no need to invite unnecessary resentment. Right now, Momo is maintaining her self-esteem through the goodwill of others, but ultimately, shouldn’t she be able to sustain it on her own?”
It’s only natural to feel happy when praised by someone else.
But reaching a point where you feel worthless if you aren’t praised by others is unhealthy.
Ideally, one should enjoy the affirmation from others but possess the mental strength to live without it.
I understood what Inu was trying to say.
Even though, as they say, it’s easier said than done.
Those who struggle with their standing in school probably value how others perceive them, which leads to that kind of situation.
As an ordinary otaku who keeps his distance from such things, I might not be able to fully comprehend Momo’s suffering.
“Even so, it’s hard to live while ignoring the evaluation of others. So, I just hope she can find that one and only person who is unique to her.”
Her face shifted into the kind of worry one shows for a loved one.
She looked just like an older sister or a mother.
“The one and only?”
“This is the kind of person who will absolutely stand by your side. The affirmation from that one person alone is enough to let you live with strength. That’s the sort of person.”
”…I see.”
From my perspective, that person would be Chiya.
I’m glad that for Chiya as well, I am that person.
Thinking about it that way, Momo is currently a version of me stripped of Chiya.
She must feel incredibly vulnerable.
“It seems I won’t be enough after all, so it would be nice if you found someone good.”
Saying that, she fixed her gaze on my face.
If they found that person, could Momo live happily without relying on the approval of countless others?
That was what I thought during my conversation with Inui.
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