The bath seems to have finished filling.

As I approached Chiyu, I used my crafting ability to generate a wooden screen.

No sooner had I arrived than I began arranging it in a circle around the stone bath.

It wasn't exactly for privacy... rather, it was just a courteous gesture.

"Sō is so kind."

Noticing this, Chiyu spoke in a voice that lacked inflection but felt somehow soft.

"Isn't that normal?"

"If it's really necessary, you can peek if you want."

"...I'll pass. Also, I made some soap, so please use it."

I also prepared a wooden bucket to ladle the water and an earthen dish to hold the soap.

"Soap...! Sō, I love you!"

Chiyu took the soap and held it up like a precious treasure.

"My pleasure."

I could tell from the context that it was a joke, so I played it off lightly.

Not a lie—I felt a little flutter in my chest, but I managed to keep my composure.

"Next is... the laundry basket?"

"Ah right. Ah yes, use this as a towel instead. And don't worry about your clothes afterward."

I handed Chiyu the towel I’d used on my innards, explaining how to clean up clothing properly.

Chiyu listened to the end, but she didn’t react.

She seemed to have frozen.

After waiting for a few seconds, she suddenly threw her arms around me.

Her hands wrapped around my neck as her ample chest pressed against my pectorals.

Faintly teasing my nostrils were the scents of sweat and of her.

“Sō-kun is a genius.”

“N-Not really...”

No, even I hated putting back on my sweat-drenched clothes after getting out of the bath.

It was only natural that Chiyu, being a girl, would be happy to avoid such an ordeal.

“Ah”

Chiyu pulled away from me, her cheeks flushing.

“W-What’s wrong?”

“It’s nice to have someone clean my clothes for me.”

“Right...”

“But... having Sō-kun see me like that is a bit embarrassing. Like my underwear and stuff.”

Indeed, that was true enough.

I’d also be embarrassed if Chiyu told me to hand over my fresh underpants.

“E-er, I’ll try not to look as much as possible, and I can store them without touching them directly, so please don’t worry.”

Senna looked up at me, her gaze shifting sideways with a flush of embarrassment.

"……Don't you want to smell?"

"I do!"

Before I could stop myself, I blurted it out, and Sennaya—a rare sight—broke into a faint smile.

"......Then, put it on?"

"Absolutely not! If my childhood friend was that kind of pervert, you'd probably hate it too."

"Oh, if Sō-kun really insists, I suppose it's fine..."

"……N-no, I won't smell it, and I'm not wearing it."

My childhood friend has a dangerously wide tolerance for jokes, even when they're inappropriate.

Her threshold is just too high.

I mean, if I started going "Yay! Sniff sniff sniff!" right now, she'd probably be thoroughly repulsed.

I set up the wooden laundry basket and positioned a wooden bucket and stand right next to the bath so that water could be added easily.

The bucket had a cork-like lid; removing it would release the water inside.

"......Sō-kun, were you always this attentive?"

My childhood friend seemed a little surprised.

"Nah, but with this ability of mine, I just end up wanting to build all sorts of things."

"……If anyone found out I was a gentleman like this, I'd be irresistible."

It sounded like a joke, but there was an undercurrent of anxiety in her voice.

"Don't you think my abilities will disappear once we're back in Japan? If that happens, I'll just be the same unpopular guy as before."

In stories where characters return from another world to Earth, their abilities often stay with them, so there was certainly a possibility they'd still work.

"Your charm isn't about your abilities, you know."

"Ahaha, thanks."

I took her words as encouragement and stepped out from behind the screen.

"It might be embarrassing under the open sky, but once you're undressed, just leave the laundry basket outside."

"Understood."

After confirming Chiyu's crisp salute, I lifted the screen into position and set it up.

Now I couldn't see anything.

"...Maybe I should stock up on some roasted mushrooms while I can."

Since time doesn't pass inside my [Inventory], I could keep food fresh as if it had just come out of the oven, which was pretty handy.

Along the way, she handed me her clothes through the gap in the screen. I stored them in my [Inventory] to clean them and then returned the basket, though I found myself unusually tense.

Shaking off any improper thoughts, I stared into the campfire and lost myself in thought.

Chiyu’s bath took a while, but the Craft Ability kept things from getting boring.

I suppose it’s best to gather everything you can if you want to craft all sorts of things.

Also, since recipe unlocks seem to depend on my own imagination and ideas, having a teammate with broad knowledge would be incredibly useful.

Aside from that, do I need combat skills or hunting abilities?

Even with the makeshift weapons we currently have, they’re probably good enough for dealing with humans... but...

Speaking of hunting, bows... seem difficult to handle, so how about a crossbow?

The recipe isn’t unlocking, so something must be missing.

What materials from nature are used for bowstrings?

I can hold out since it’s only day one, but the desire to eat meat will surely grow stronger as each day passes.

That said, I don’t think we’re suddenly going to be able to hunt, so for now... maybe fish?

“That’s enough, you’re up.”

Before I knew it, my childhood friend had come out of the bath, clad in her cleaned-up uniform and shoes.

Her wet silver hair shimmered and sparkled in the firelight, while her faintly flushed skin held an allure that made my heart skip a beat.

"A, ah, I see. Then, maybe I'll get in."
"Mm. Here, towel."

She held out the towel she’d used to dry her skin.

I reflexively took it, but realized afterward that I should have just put it into my [Inventory] without touching it. I stashed it immediately.

Now that I’ve reconfigured it, it’ll appear bone dry, without any moisture. "You can go ahead and start dinner."

"Are you still there, Sōku?"

"Ah, I was thinking about my abilities."

"Alright, I'll wait."

"Got it.

I'll be quick."

"Enjoy the leftover bath water from your childhood friend."

"You're always making comments like that…"

Of course, once you say something like that, I can't help but notice it.

Since it’s not fair if she just teases me all the time, I decided to plan a comeback.

"Senryu, as a special treat, you’re allowed to peek in?"

To my teasing, Senryu nodded as if it were perfectly natural. "I know.

I'll make sure to peek properly."

"Hey—"

"And also, can you lend me Sōku’s clothes? I want to smell them and wear them."

"Why would I lend them to you! Plus, I’m not the one sniffing your clothes!"

I might be hopeless against this childhood friend of mine.

I made my way to the bath, moving with the deliberate slowness of someone trying to make a discrete exit.

Senyū came to peek as she had declared, so I let out a few screams at her.

After we finished bathing, Senyū and I sat down to our dinner.

I went through the towels several times—storing them away, repositioning them—to dry them out. We both took great care to wring all the water from our hair, adding the help of the campfire's heat until it was thoroughly dry.

"I doubt any other group had as fulfilling a first day on this desert island as we did."

"I haven't heard what everyone else answered, but I guess you're probably right."

Since someone must have acquired the ability to generate food, we might be at a disadvantage in that regard, but when it comes to overall quality of life, we’re likely the best off.

Speaking of which, I wonder what kind of aircraft was granted to the person who requested an airplane.

Even if they could pilot it and manage a takeoff, could they actually make it back to Japan?

Given how little information we currently have, it seems like a pretty high-risk endeavor.

At the very least, it looks like it could serve as a base camp, so it’s not entirely useless.

"All of this is thanks to you, So-kun."

"I pushed hard knowing I had your magic backing me up, so we’re even, right?"

At my words, my childhood friend shook their head.

"That's not it. That was when you grabbed my hand."

"……Ah, right, that was it."

Even though I didn't know that touching hands would allow us to teleport together.

Perhaps my impulsive action paid off, after all.

"Back then, I must have still thought it was a dream. Even in a dream, Soun-kun comes to save me."

"……"

Before I knew it, the sun had set and night had fallen.

"Should we head to bed soon?"

Chinryu watched me, casting furtive glances.

Her eyes were glistening with moisture, reflecting the firelight so that they sparkled like gemstones.

"Y-Yeah, I guess so."

Swallowing hard, I nodded.

A Request to the Readers

If reading this work has made you, even for a moment

"Interesting!" or "I want to know what happens next!" or "Write more!!!!," please: .

Add a bookmark

. The "Support the author by giving points" section at the bottom of the page

☆☆☆☆☆ Please change it to a ★★★★★ rating and show your support!

It’ll be a huge boost for my motivation to keep updating!!!

Please, I really count on you!!!!!!

The bath water must be ready.

As I approached Chiyu’s place, I generated a wooden screen using my Craft Ability.

As soon as I arrived, I arranged the stone tub surrounded by the wooden screens.

It was more for privacy than anything else. "Sousuke, you're so kind."

Chiyu noticed this and said in a flat but somehow soft voice. "It's nothing." "You can peek if you want to."

"...I'll pass. Also, I made soap, so use it."

I also prepared a wooden bucket to scoop the bath water and a clay dish to place the soap.

"Soap...! Sousuke, I love you."

Chiyu took the soap and held it up like a treasure. "You're welcome."

It was a joke, so I could just brush it off.

Well, it made my heart flutter a little, but I could pretend to be calm. "Then... a clothes basket?"

"Yeah. Oh, right, use this as a towel. And you don't have to worry about changing clothes."

I offered Chiyu the former inner now towel while talking about ways to clean clothes.

Chiyu listened to me, but she didn't react. She seemed frozen.

After a few seconds, she suddenly hugged me.

Her hands went around my neck, and her ample chest pressed against my chest.

The scent of sweat and her own fragrance tickled my nostrils. "Sō-kun, you're a genius." "Really?"

No, I wouldn't want to put on sweat-soaked clothes after a bath either.

It's not unreasonable for Chiyu, as a girl, to be happy that she could avoid that. "Ah."

Chiyu pulled away from me, her cheeks flushing. "What's wrong?"

"I'm happy that you can clean my clothes." "Yeah."

"But... it's a little embarrassing to be seen by Sō-kun. Like, underwear." Indeed, that's understandable.

If Chiyu asked me to take her newly removed underwear, I'd feel embarrassed too.

"Well, I'll try not to look, and I can store them without touching them directly, so you can feel at ease."

Chiyu looked embarrassed and glanced up at me with her eyes lowered. "…You're not going to smell me?" "Smell you?!"

I couldn’t help but interject, and Chiyu, unusually, giggled. "…Then, should I touch you?"

"Touch me? No way! If my childhood friend was a pervert like that, Chiyu wouldn’t like it either."

"If you really want to, though, I guess it’s okay."

"…N-no, I’m not going to smell you or touch you."

This childhood friend of mine had a very wide range of humor, which made it hard to know how to respond. She was far too easy-going.

Of course, if I were to start saying things like "Yay! Sniff sniff!" she would probably be put off.

I set up a wooden laundry basket and placed a wooden barrel and a stand next to the bathtub, so I could add water to it.

The barrel had a cork-like lid on it, which I had to remove to get the water out.

"…Are you really this considerate, Souchan?"

Chiyu seemed a little surprised.

"No, with this ability, I just can’t help but want to make all sorts of things."

「...If someone finds out I'm such a gentleman, I'll be popular.」

Her voice sounded like a joke, but there was also a hint of anxiety.

「If I go back to Japan, won't my abilities disappear? Then I'll be back to being an unpopular guy.」

If you return to Earth from another world, your abilities sometimes remain the same, so there's a possibility they could still be useful, right?

「Souchan's charm isn't from his abilities, you know.」 "Haha, thanks."

I took her words as encouragement and stepped out from behind the screen.

「It might be embarrassing out in the open, but if you take off your clothes, just put the basket outside.」 「Roger.」

I confirmed that Senyuu had given me a crisp salute, lifted the screen, and set it up. Now I couldn't see her.

「...Should I stock up on grilled mushrooms while I have the chance?」

Since the 'Inventory' doesn't progress over time, being able to keep them fresh is a strong point.

I put the clothes she had pulled out from behind the screen back into the 'Inventory' to clean them and then returned them to the basket, but I felt oddly tense.

As if to dispel any impure thoughts, I gazed at the fire and sank into my thoughts.

The bath with a thousand cures was quite long, but thanks to the "Crafting Ability," I didn't get bored.

After all, to make all sorts of things, it's probably better to collect everything.

Also, since the recipe unlocks seem to be influenced by my image, it would be great to have a companion who can help with knowledge.

What else do I want? Perhaps combat or hunting abilities?

We do have some simple weapons now, so they might be somewhat useful in dealing with people... but...

When it comes to hunting, there's the bow... but it seems difficult to handle, so maybe a crossbow?

Since I can't unlock any recipes, there must be something missing.

What material do you use for strings in nature?

It's only the first day, so I can still hold out, but the desire to eat meat will only grow stronger.

I don't think I'll suddenly be able to hunt, so for now... fish, maybe? "Souchan, I'm done."

Before I knew it, my childhood friend had come out of the bath, wearing a clean uniform and shoes.

Her wet silver hair shone brightly in the light of the campfire, and her slightly flushed skin was irresistibly alluring.

「Oh, yeah, right. I guess I’ll come in too.」
「Sure. Here’s a towel.」

She handed me a towel she had used to dry her skin.

I took it without thinking, but I realized later that I should have put it in my Inventory without touching it. I quickly put it away.

Now that I’ve reorganized it, it will appear in a dry state without any moisture. 「You can eat dinner first if you want.」
「You haven’t started yet?」
「Yeah, I was thinking about my abilities.」
「Then I’ll wait for you.」
「Got it. I’ll be quick.」
「Enjoy the leftover bathwater of your childhood friend.」

「You always have to say things like that...」

Of course, when you say something like that, I can’t help but notice.

I can't just keep getting teased all the time, so I start thinking about how to get back at them.

"Since you're Chiyu, I'll let you peek if you want."

Chiyu nods like it's obvious, as if she already knew. "I know. I'll definitely peek." "Hey."

"And I want to borrow your clothes, Souchan. I want to smell and wear them."

"Who would lend them to you! Besides, I didn't smell or wear your clothes!"

I might not be able to beat this childhood friend.

I headed to the bath to get away.

While she came to peek as she said she would, and I screamed.

After finishing the bath, I ate dinner with Senyuu.

I dried the towels by putting them in storage and then taking them out again several times, and Senyuu and I dried our hair thoroughly, using the power of the fire as well.

"This is probably the most fulfilling first day on an desert island for just us."

"I didn't hear everyone's answers, but I think that's probably true."

There's someone who got the ability to produce food, so we might lose out on that front, but in terms of quality of life, we're probably the best off.

By the way, I wonder what kind of aircraft the guy who asked for a plane got.

Assuming he can fly it and take off, can he actually return to Japan?

Given the lack of information, it seems quite risky.

Still, it can be used as a base, so it's not completely useless. "All thanks to you, Souta-kun."

"I did my best with your magic too, so we're even, right?"

My childhood friend shook her head at my words.

"That's not it. You held my hand back then." "…Oh, that."

I didn't know that if our hands touched, we could transfer together.

Perhaps my impulsive action worked.

"I thought it was just a dream back then. Even in a dream, you helped me." "…"

By the time I noticed, the sun had set and it was night. "It's time to sleep."

She looks at me as if she's waiting for my response.

Her eyes are wet with tears, reflecting the firelight like a gemstone. "…Yeah."

I swallow hard and nod.

-------A Request to Readers------- If you enjoyed this story, even just a little bit, and felt like saying "It was interesting!" "I want to know what happens next!" "Write more!!!!" please do the following:

• Add this book to your bookmarks

• Under the "Give Points to Support the Author" section at the bottom of the page

Please change the button to ★★★★★ to show your support!

It will be a great encouragement for future updates!!!! Please!!!!