Multiple updates today.

This is Part 1.

Today, we’re splitting up into two groups to scout the area.

Me, the gyaru Yousuko, and Fenrir’s Mashiro are heading far out in search of spices and such.

Childhood friend Chiyu, the pristine head chef Shion, and the earnest mage Shinpō will handle exploration around the base camp.

"Let's go, Sousuke."

"Yup. Alright everyone, see you around noon."

"Go safe, Sousuke-kun, Yousuko-chan, Mashiro-kun."

"If you get hurt, come straight to me, okay?"

"That's right. Don't push yourselves too hard. Your safety is more important than anything."

Seeing our companions off, we set out.

I should’ve been riding him yesterday, but Mashiro’s back still feels like it’s been a while since I last felt it.

I wrapped my arms around Yousuko’s waist, gripping on tight so I wouldn’t fall.

"Mn... T-That means, please take care of us today too, Mashiro."

At Yousuko's words, Mashiro chirped back energetically and took off at a run.

The scenery whipped by at a speed that had no comparison to walking.

"Shiro is just too fast, as always. Thanks for all the help you've been giving us. We definitely need to build a hut today."

"Yeah, I think she'll be happy about it."

"I'm sorry for locking you into the exploration team like this, Meiko. Please let me know if there are times you want to take a break, okay?"

"Hmm, well, I already love going out anyway. But I'll tell you if there's ever a day I just want to chill."

"Haha, sounds good."

"Same goes for you, Sounosuke. You don't have to try crafting everything. It's more than enough what you're doing now. And isn't it mostly stuff you make for us or the whole group? You really should make more things just for yourself."

"Nah, it's just that what I want overlaps with what everyone else wants. Plus, I was hyped as hell crafting the house."

"Really? Well, if that works for you. But honestly, our place is insane, right? We're the only ones on this island living in something like that."

Judging by Meiko's excited demeanor, it really seemed like she liked it.

There was no denying how satisfying it was to see people happy about something you made.

"We've grown a lot from that first-day hut, huh."

"I actually liked the feeling of everyone sleeping together, though. It felt like a school trip."

"There are no co-ed dorm rooms on school trips, you know."

"That's true."

Meiko laughed with delight.

"If there's something I want next... it might be glass."

"Wait, you can make glass too?"

"I gave it a quick consult with Fukaho, and if we can get some quartz, it should all work out."

The remaining materials could already be sourced from the shells and seaweed they had found.

"Seriously? Having glass would make things feel way more modern in an instant. But since it's stone-related, does that mean yesterday’s addition being a mine was just a lucky break?"

It had been a choice between the water source and the mine, with the vote for the water source immediately surpassing the majority.

If it had actually been a mine added, today's schedule might have been completely different.

"That's true, I guess. But I think the water source was a good call. There are other people who got transported here besides us, and they all need it."

"...Yeah, you're right. As expected from Sousuke!"

"Ah, come on, saying something like that while we haven't been actively looking for other transmitters is pure hypocrisy."

Given Mashiro's sense of smell, which had pinpointed the boar so accurately, he should be able to find other humans too.

For now, they were having him use that same sense to hunt down citrus fruits.

The topic of searching for classmates hadn't even come up as an agenda item.

They probably didn't want to say it out loud, I suppose.

"Why? Sōsuke doesn't have some obligation to save everyone, right? Helping someone who's struggling right in front of you is different from going on a hunt for people who might be in trouble somewhere else, isn't it?"

"Well, I guess that makes sense. The latter would turn him into a hero."

"Exactly. He doesn't need to be a hero. We already know Sōsuke is a good person, no matter what he does or doesn't do."

Honestly, people's feelings on that front probably varied.

If you were the one currently in trouble, I'm sure you'd think someone with that kind of ability should help you.

Still, it was a relief to have my friend Shōko on my side.

"Thanks, Shōko. I feel a bit better about it."

I rested my forehead against Shōko's back and murmured quietly.

"Aha, no need to thank me~. But even so, I rushed straight at Sōsuke on the first day."

When Fenrir arrived at the hut that night, I found Shōko and Shiune riding it.

"Oh, that certainly gave me a start. But I'm glad to have reunited with Shōko."

「No, I'm the one who should be thanking you. I really do appreciate everything for Sou.'s sake.'

It's precisely because we're this kind of friend that I'm glad to have her in my party.

This is how I truly feel, at least.

"Um, it's a bit embarrassing when things get all serious so suddenly."

"I know, right? My face feels hot as hell..."

The two of them fumbled with each other's embarrassment.

Just then, Mashiro's pace slowed, eventually coming to a halt and letting out a whinny.

"Huh? Is this the spot, Mashiro? But... it's just grass."

Shouko was right; all that grew before them was grass.

Countless blades of tall grass stretched out, curving gently in the air.

"Let's try 'Itemizing' it."

I had Mashiro lower me and cut the plant with my stone hatchet.

Now that she mentioned it, it did smell citrusy.

When 'Itemized'——it came up as 'Lemongrass'.

"It's Lemongrass."

"Oh! The stuff that smells like lemons!"

"Ah, right. There should have been some herbal tea, at least. For now, I'll go with this citrus scent."

"Sorry, Mashi. You nailed it perfectly, and I just went 'Oh, it's grass.'"

Shouko clung to Mashiro, apologizing profusely.

Since his chest was pressed firmly against Shouko's breasts, he would surely forgive her everything.

After that, they continued their search and gathering, trusting Mashiro's sense of smell completely.

"I really am, that 'Fuzzy Summoning' ability is insane. If I had used my own ability alone, there'd have been a lot less stuff I could craft."

"Also, isn't our compatibility just great?"

"Yeah."

"A-Wait, no! By compatibility, I meant the abilities...!"

Shouko's voice cracked.

"I know."

"I mean... as friends, our compatibility is pretty good too..."

"Our standing in the class is totally different, though."

"That has nothing to do with it...!"

"...Yeah, that's true. I'm sorry. That has nothing to do with us being friends."

Since Suko’s anger was entirely justified, I offered a sincere apology.

“That’s right! ...It’s only fair that I noticed Sou-suke’s charm before Shio or Minory did...”

Was she intending not to say it? The latter half of her sentence was so quiet that it was indecipherable.

“Suko?”

“It’s nothing! Besides, does Sou-suke want to look for anything else?”

“Hmm. I need some water... like, maybe the ocean?”

At the word “ocean,” Suko’s body flinched violently.

“That’s great! The ocean! Let’s go to the ocean!”

I reacted in a thoroughly cheerful manner.

It wasn’t for a swimming trip, though... no.

“That’s true. Just fetching water would be rather dull; a bit of play sounds like a good idea.”

“Sou-suke, I get what you’re saying!”

Since our joint exploration also served as an apology to Suko, it wouldn’t hurt to oblige her wishes.

“Aah, but I don’t have a swimsuit. How about we just play around a bit on the sandy beach?”

Suko said with disappointment in her voice.

"It won't be exactly like what we had on Earth, but should I try making it from ramie? Both the top and bottom will have to be tied with strings."

"Sōsuke, you're a genius!"

"Ahaha, well then, it's settled."

"Sōsuke needs to wear a swimsuit too! It'd be embarrassing if I was the only one!" "Ah, ah, right, got it." "Yay! The sea—!"

I ended up having the conversation with our usual vibe... but would this count as a beach date?

Once I thought about it that way, I instantly started feeling all fidgety and on edge.

"Mashiro, top speed! Go to the sea faster than the wind!"

"Wait, wait, what is Fenrir's top speed actually— whoaooo!"

I clung tightly to Shimeko so I wouldn't be shaken off.

There was no room in my mind for thoughts like how soft a girl's body could be.

Thank you so much for maintaining the #1 spot on both the daily and weekly charts!!!!!!

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Being able to achieve the monthly #1 while holding onto the daily and weekly #1s was only possible because of you,

everyone who has been supporting me.

Having a concrete goal is the kind of thing that really pushes me to work harder, so

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Multiple updates today……!!!!!

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Multiple updates today, this is the first one.

Today we decided to split up and explore.

Me, my gal familiar, and Mashiro will go far away in search of spices.

My childhood friend Senyuu, the refined chef Shion, and the serious mage Shinpo will explore the area around our base. "Let's go, Souju."

"Yeah. See you all around noon."

"Take care, Souju-kun, Shouko-chan, Mashiro-kun."

"If you get hurt, come straight to me."

"That's right. Don't overdo it. Your safety is the most important thing." We set off after being seen off by our friends.

I rode Mashiro's back yesterday too, but it feels like a long time since I've been on it.

I held onto Shouko's waist to keep from falling off.

"Um... Mashiro, please take care of us today."

Mashiro cheerfully responded to Shouko's words and took off running.

The speed at which the scenery flows past is incomparable to walking.

"You're really fast, Mashiro. You've been helping a lot, so we really need to build a hut today." "Yeah, I think they'll be happy."

"I'm sorry, Mashiko, for making you a fixed member of the exploration team. If you want to take a break, just let me know."

"Hmm, I actually like going out anyway. But if I want to laze around, I'll let you know." "Haha, you do that."

"And you, Sōsuke, don't feel like you have to make everything. You've already done more than enough, and you've been making things for us and the group all along. You should make something just for yourself."

"No, it's just that what I want is the same as what everyone else wants. I crafted the house with such high spirits."

"Is that so? Well, that's fine. Our house is really something, isn't it? There's no one else on this island who could live in something like that."

Seeing Mashiko's excited expression, it seems she really likes it.

Of course, it feels great to see the things you make appreciated.

"You've come a long way from that first day's hut."

"I also liked sleeping together, it felt like a school trip."

"There's no such thing as a coed school trip, though." "That's true." Mashiko laughed happily.

If there's something I want next... maybe glass? "What, you can make glass too?"

I asked Deep Magic about it, and it seems we can make it if we can get some quartz.

The remaining materials can be obtained from shells and seaweed, which we've already found.

"Really? If we have glass, it'll feel more modern. But since we got a water source, we could have gone for a mine instead?"

The vote was between a water source and a mine, and the water source got the majority.

If we had gotten a mine instead, today's plans might have been different.

"Yeah, but I'm glad it was a water source. There are other transferers here, and everyone needs it."

"...You're right. That's very you, Kousuke!"

"Hey, hey, saying that and not actively looking for other transferers is just hypocrisy."

With Mashiro's keen sense of smell, she could have found other people too, like how she found the boar.

Right now, she's using it to look for citrus fruits.

We haven't even brought up searching for classmates as a topic.

Probably everyone is just not saying it out loud.

"Why? Sōsuke doesn't have an obligation to help everyone. Helping someone right in front of you and going out of your way to help someone somewhere else are different, right?"

"Well, yeah. The latter would make you a hero or something."

"That's right, Sōsuke doesn't have to be a hero. We know you're a good guy even if you don't do that."

Honestly, everyone probably has their own thoughts on that.

For someone who's in trouble right now, they might think that if you have the ability, you should help them.

But it's nice to have a friend like Shōko on my side.

"Thanks, Shōko. I feel a little better now."

I pressed my forehead against Shōko's back and whispered.

"Hehe, it's nothing. Though I did charge at Sōsuke on the first day."

When I thought that Fenrir had come to the cabin at night, Shōko and Shiomi were with her.

"Yeah, I was surprised. But it was good to see Shōko again."

「I'm the one who should be thanking you, Saou. I really am grateful to you.」

This is why I'm glad to have become friends with someone like her. This is the truth.

「Suddenly getting serious makes me feel awkward.」

「Y-Yeah, I get it. My face is getting hot...!」 The two of them blushed together.

Then, Mashiro's speed slowed down, and she eventually stopped and let out a cry.

「Huh? Is this where we are, Mashiro? But--there's only grass here.」

As Shouzi said, there was only grass in front of them.

The long grass was growing in countless numbers, curving as they stretched out. 「Let's try 'Itemizing' it.」

I got off Mashiro and used the stone machete to cut the plant.

On second thought, it smelled like citrus.

When I 'Itemized' it--it came out as 'Lemongrass.' 「It's lemongrass.」

「Ah! It smells like lemon!」

「Yeah, I think there was some herbal tea around here somewhere. Let's go with the citrus scent for now.」

「Sorry, Mashiro. I said it was just grass, but you found it perfectly.」

Shouko hugged Mashiro and apologized.

Mashiro would probably forgive her since Shouko's breasts were pressed against her.

After that, they continued their exploration and collection, trusting Mashiro's sense of smell.

「Man, the 'fluffy summoning ability' is really something. If it was just my ability, I probably wouldn't have been able to make as many things as I can now.」

「And, our compatibility is really good, right?」 「Yeah.」

「Wait, no, I mean, our compatibility with the ability...!」 Shouko's voice was strained. 「I know.」

「I think we get along pretty well as friends...」

「But our positions in class are totally different.」

「That doesn't matter...!」

「...You're right, sorry. It doesn't matter, we're friends.」

I deserved Shio's anger, so I apologized sincerely.

"That's right! …I noticed Souzou's charm before Shio-chan and Minorin did…"

She didn't seem to want to say the rest, as her voice got softer and I couldn't hear her. "Shio?"

"It's nothing! By the way, is there anything else you want to look for?"

"Hmm. I want some water… the sea?"

At the word "sea," Shio's body trembled.

"Sure, let's go to the sea!"

She reacted as if she were a normal human.

We weren't going to swim, but… no.

"True. It would be boring just to get water, so maybe we should play a bit." "Souzou, you're so cool!"

I was also exploring as an apology to Shio, so I wouldn't get in trouble for listening to her.

"Ah, but I don't have a swimsuit. Let's just play on the beach for a bit." Shio said with a disappointed tone.

「It won’t be exactly the same as on Earth, but how about we make it out of linen? We’ll have to tie it with strings, both the top and bottom.」 「Masato, you’re a genius!」 「Haha, well then, it’s decided.」

「Masato, you should wear a swimsuit too. It’s embarrassing for just me to be in one!」 「Ah, right, okay.」 「Yay! To the sea!」

I ended up talking like usual, but this must be like a date at the beach, right?

Thinking about it like that, I suddenly got nervous.

「Masiro, top speed! Faster than the wind, go to the sea!」

「Wait, wait, what’s Fenrir’s top speed anyway――woooooo!」

I clung onto Shouko to avoid being thrown off.

I didn't have the luxury to think about how soft a girl's body was.

Thank you so much for keeping me at number one for the day and the week!!!!!!

And finally――I've reached number one for the month!!!!!!

Being able to maintain the number one spot for the day and the week while also achieving number one for the month is thanks to

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I'm the type who can work harder with a goal,

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Multiple updates today!
Here's Part 1.

We're splitting up into two groups for exploration.

Kouno Sousuke, Iyama Shouko (that gal), and Fenrir Masiro are heading out to distant areas looking for spices and other such things. Meanwhile, my childhood friend Chiyu, the demure head chef Shion, and the earnestly serious mage Fukaho will be scouting around our base camp.

"Let's go, Sousuke."

"Yeah. See everyone at noon-ish then?"

"Hurry along now, Young Master Sousuke! Miss Shouko! Masiro-kun!"

"If you get hurt, come find me immediately!"

"You're right—don't overdo it yourselves above all else. Your safety is the most important thing."

Bid farewell to my comrades and we set off. Even though I'd ridden this before yesterday, I still feel like it's been ages since I've seen Masiro's back from behind. Wrapping an arm around Shouko's waist, I hold on tight so she won't slip away.
"Hnn... Um, yeah, go ahead and ride again today too, Masiro!"

At the sound of Shouko's words, Masiro cheerfully responds and sets off running. The scenery blurs past at a speed nothing like walking could match.

"You know, Masiro is seriously fast. You're always helping us out anyway—today I definitely need to get that hut built."

"Yeah, sure they'll be happy about it."

"Sorry you gotta stick with the scouting team permanently now... Let me know if there's a day when you want some time off?"

"Hmnn? Well, I love going on outings in general anyway—but tell us whenever something comes up where you'd rather just laze around!"

"A-hahahaha! Please do then."

"But Sousuke yourself—there really is no need to craft everything there is. You already make enough stuff as it stands; besides, haven't we all been making things for the whole group instead of focusing on personal items? Go ahead and start crafting just for your own sake!"

"No, see... what I want tends to overlap with exactly what everyone else wants anyway. Still crafted up that house while having my absolute mood skyrocketed."

"So?" she replies. "Well then great—I guess so! Come think about it though—we're living in a pretty terrible place right now aren't we? This island, only us could possibly manage to survive inside something like that!"

Judging by Shouko's excited expression, I can tell she genuinely loves the house we've built. It brings joy just knowing others appreciate what you make after all.

"Yeah... our first hut really did improve since day one."

"I liked having everyone sleep in there too—it felt kinda like a class trip or something!"

"A classroom dorm-style school field trip with men and women sharing rooms? That doesn't exist, does it?"

"You're absolutely right..."

Shouko laughs happily. "If I had to pick my next desired item... hmm... maybe glass?"

"Eh?! You can make glass too now? What?"

"I consulted Fukaho a little about it—you just need quarts if you want something like that." The remaining materials are things we've already spotted: shells from the beach, seaweed and all.

"Whoa really!? If we get some glass soon this place'll feel instantly more modern-like! But since stone is required too... wouldn't yesterday's new addition being a mine have worked perfectly?" With options between water source or mining site, an immediate majority vote went straight for the latter—naturally so if what appeared were minerals instead.

"Exactly that way..." I mused anyway. "But still glad it ended up as just a water spot because we aren't alone here transferring in either... Everyone needs access to things like this."

"...Yeah... Really smart move, Sousuke!"

"No way, no how—if you're not actively hunting for transplants yourself, bringing this up is just hypocritical."

Mairo's scenting ability, which allows him to pinpoint boars with surgical precision, should theoretically let him detect other humans as well. For now, though, we've asked him to sniff out citrus-scented things instead.

The topic of searching for our classmates hasn't even come up yet. Most likely, everyone's deliberately keeping quiet about it.

"Why? Kouno doesn't have any obligation to save anyone here, right? Isn't helping someone who's in trouble right before your eyes different from going out hunting down some random stranger and saving them?"

"Well... yeah. The latter makes you into a hero or something."

"Exactly! You don't need to become a hero like that anyway, because we already know Sousuke is an awesome guy even without doing all those things."

To be honest, feelings about this sort of thing probably vary from person to person. Someone who's currently in trouble would likely think someone with abilities should rescue them first and foremost.

Still, I'm glad that Shouko—my friend—is on my side. "Thanks, Shouko. It feels a little easier now." Leaning my forehead against her back, I whispered softly.

"Haha! So you're saying it's okay after all? But even though you say that, from the very first day, you just rushed right at Sousuke like crazy!" That night, when Fenrir arrived at our shed, Shouko and Shion were riding on its back instead.

"Ah, honestly I was surprised then too! But it's nice to have reunited with Shouko again."

"I feel the same way, though—I'm really grateful for what Sousuke did." Only friends like this can truly become companions; that's my truest feeling.

"Man, suddenly turning this into a serious conversation feels kinda embarrassing now..."

"W-well... yeah I get it! Like hell our faces are getting hot right now--!" Both of them blushed deeply at the thought. Just then, Mairo slowed down his speed and eventually stopped to emit a noise.

"Eh? Here already, Mairo?! But... there's just grass in front of us..." As Shouko said, all that grew before our eyes was indeed grass. Countless long strands stretched out here like they were drawing smooth curves.

"'Let me try itemizing this.'" I asked Mairo to dismount, then used my stone axe to chop down the plants. Surprisingly, a citrus-like scent wafted off them. Upon using 'Itemize'—the result was: 'Lemongrass'.

"So it's lemongrass."

"Ah! The kind that smells like lemon!" It seems herbal teas must contain this somewhere; for now, we can consider citrus scents accounted for. "Sorry about calling you out on finding something only to say 'it's just grass,' Mairo~" Shouko wrapped her arms around Mairo apologetically. Since he had his chest pressed against her ample breasts as she hugged him, surely he'd forgive everything by now!

After that too, we continued exploring and gathering while still trusting in Mairo’s incredible sniffing skills. "Well... 'Fluffy Summon' ability is freaking out everyone here though. If it wasn't for my powers alone contributing to this combo, I probably wouldn’t have been able to craft quite as much stuff by myself back then."

"Come on! Don't you agree we're just built together?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Ah, wait, no, that's wrong! Compatibility—wait, I mean capability compatibility..."

Shouko's voice was rising in pitch.

"I get it."

"W-well, our friendship doesn't feel all bad... but—"

"Yeah, we're totally on different social strata at school, you know that?"

"That shouldn't matter...!"

"...Hmm, right. Sorry about that. That really does not matter; we are friends."

Shouko's anger was entirely justified, so I apologized sincerely.

"Exactly! ...I realized Sousuke's charm before Shion or Yomiren ever did..."

She clearly wasn't intending to say the latter part aloud, since her voice dropped too low for me to catch it.

"Shouko?"

"Nothing important! Anyway, does Sousuke have anything else you'd like to hunt down?"

"Hmm... I could really use some water... maybe something near the sea?"

The moment she heard the word sea, Shouko's body jolted with fear.

"The heck not! Sea it is! Let's go!"

She'd reacted instinctively as someone living in the sun, though... well actually—

"Right then. Just taking water would be boring anyway; maybe we should hang out a bit."

"Sousuke gets me!!"

Since this shared exploration was partly an apology to Shouko too, I figured no arrows were going to fly if I granted her wish.

"Oh man, but I don't have any swimsuits... so we can just sneak around on the beach for a tiny bit..."

She said that with such obvious disappointment.

"Might not be exactly what we had back on Earth, but let's weave one from flax cloth? Both top and bottom will need to be tied together."

"Sousuke, you're a genius!"

"Haha, all right then—that's settled."

"And make sure Sousuke gets a suit too! It'd be so embarrassing if only I had one!"

"Ah... ah yeah, got it."

"Yaaay!! Sea—"

My conversation rolled out in my usual casual tone... but does this qualify as some kind of beach date?

The thought hit me and suddenly made all the hair on my body stand on end.

"Mashiro, Top Speed! Faster than the wind—straight for the sea!"

"Wait wait, what's with Fenrir being at its Top speed anyway——ughhhhh!!"

I latched onto Shouko so hard to avoid getting tossed off.

There was absolutely no room in my mind to think about how soft a girl's body felt or anything like that.

Thank you all for maintaining Day 1st & Week 1st Rankings!!!!! And finally—Monthly Rank #1... !!！！！ Achieving Monthly Top Spot while holding both Daily and Weekly firsts was thanks entirely to the supporters among you. Since I'm someone who pushes harder when there's a goal, despite being ridiculously greedy next time let me aim for Quarter-Limit Victory!

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