We decided to push forward with negotiations with the guys as well.

I spotted the three boys who had been picking a fight with the Seifeng Team.

Thanks to Chiya's magic, sensei's persuasion, and my constructs, the boys had a change of heart.

They immediately wanted to apologize to the Seifeng Team, so I decided to tag along.

It was easy to imagine them getting shut out at the door if we didn't step in to mediate.

"Damn, Tamano is seriously amazing."

Normally, if you get hit with a random question in a weird dream, you just throw out a random answer."

Who would have thought that careless reply would cost him his life..."

Having regained their composure using "Sedate," changed into clean clothes, and finished a meal that felt civilized, the three of them had returned to being our former classmates.

"It's because it was a dream, you know? You can say things you'd normally hold back out of social awareness."

Lots of people praise us for our choices when selecting abilities, but it makes me feel awkward every single time.

It probably didn't help that I wasn't acting with some deep thought behind it.

"Ah, I see."

"Thanks to Takano for not reading the room, things have been a breeze."

"...By the way, Takano, something's been on my mind."

One of the guys fell into a solemn expression.

"Hm?"

"How did you manage to pull together a party with nine girls in it?"

"...Beats me."

Another guy gently tapped the shoulder of the one who had asked.

"In elementary school, the popular ones were the kids who ran fast. In middle school, it was the good fighters. In high school, it’s either pretty faces or smart brains. And once you’re an adult, it’s whoever has money. The factors that make someone popular change depending on the situation."

"So what?"

"Being a hit on a desert island is down to having 'crafting skills,'" he said.

"That makes perfect sense..."

Since it wasn't meant as sarcasm but as genuine praise, I smiled wryly.

"But if we say it like that, it sounds like we’re only with Sousuke-san because of his abilities."

"‘Crafting ability’ might certainly be part of Sousuke-san’s charm. But whether he uses that charm or not is up to him alone."

"Right, right! And it’s the thought behind what they made for us that we’re grateful for, not just the items themselves!"

"To begin with, I already liked Sou-kun before we even arrived. Whether he has abilities or not is a mere margin of error."

The group of women sent cold stares at the three men.

The boys were the ones who ended up having to apologize to their female counterparts before anyone else could even direct a word at the Suho Party.

◇

And then we arrived at the Sumikaze Party's territory.

Perhaps because we were accompanied by three guys, it took a little while for the gatekeeper to let us in.

"I see. Then let's just be careful not to interact with each other from now on."

The Sumikaze who came out ended the conversation briefly.

"More importantly, welcome to the party, Kudo Sōsuke."

The guys, who had been sloppily pardoned and then treated as an afterthought with a "more importantly," headed back home with slightly slumped shoulders.

It was a bit pitiful, but to the girls here, they were the culprits behind a nuisance act. It was only natural that they weren't welcomed, so there was nothing to be done about it.

Still, our living conditions had improved dramatically.

To maintain this, they'd probably do their best.

"Ahh. I just stopped by a little this time, though."

"Originally, I intended to ask for it after completing the initial trade, but did you gift the guys a cottage?"

I understood what Sufeng meant and let out a wry smile.

"……Right. Let's set up enough for our numbers here."

When I last visited this place, I was hiding, so naturally I couldn't have brought any huts.

"Then could you prepare one sleeping mat per person and a few larger ones where several can sleep together?"

The fact that she made the request considering the entire party rather than individuals was very typical of Sufeng.

Probably because she is like that, many women are able to look up to her as a leader.

Following the request, I started arranging the huts.

Whether they knew about my abilities or not, everyone raised their voices in joy.

Some rushed toward the houses, while others directed words of gratitude toward me.

"Remarkable……! Kouno, please come to our camp."

Sufeng moved closer with a zuzu.

She was probably doing it on purpose, having left one more button undone than usual.

At the leader's words, the women of Sufeng's party stared at me intently.

Everyone seemed to be cheering on the Suming.

If anything, some of them were unfastening their buttons or shortening their skirts in kind.

...yet it was a guy who had come looking for her.

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We decided to proceed with negotiations with the boys as well.

We spotted the three boys who had been bothering the Seiou team.

Thanks to Senryuu's healing magic, the teacher's persuasion, and my creation, the boys changed their minds.

They wanted to apologize to the Seiou team right away, so we went with them.

Without us intervening, they would have been turned away at the door.

"Man, Kono is seriously amazing."

"Usually, if someone asks you a weird question in a weird dream, you'd just answer back随便地."

"Who would have thought it would end up being life-threatening..."

After calming down with 'Tranquility', changing into clean clothes, and having a civilized meal, the three of them were back to their old selves.

"Because it was a dream, I could say things I wouldn't normally say."

Many people praise me for my ability selection, but I always feel embarrassed every time.

Since it wasn't an action with deep thought behind it. "Ah, I see."

「Thanks to Kouno not reading the room, we got a huge break.」

「...By the way, Kouno, I've been wondering.」 One of the boys looked serious. 「Hmm?」

「How do you manage to get nine girls to join your party?」 「...I don't know.」

Another boy patted the shoulder of the one who asked the question.

「In elementary school, the popular guys were the fast runners. In middle school, it was the tough guys. In high school, it was the good-looking or smart guys. As an adult, it's the rich guys. The factors that make someone popular can change depending on the situation.」 「So?」

「On a desert island, the popular guy would be the one with the 'Crafting Ability.'」 「I totally agree...!」

He seemed to be saying it as a compliment, not as sarcasm, so I smiled wryly.

「That makes it sound like we're only with Tsukasa-kun because of his ability.」

「'Crafting Ability' might be part of Tsukasa-san's appeal, but whether or not he uses that appeal is entirely up to him.」

「Exactly! And we're grateful for the effort he puts into making things for us, not just the things themselves!」

「Besides, I've liked Soun-kun since before the transfer. Whether he has an ability or not is irrelevant.」

The girls shot cold stares at the three boys.

The boys ended up apologizing to the girls in our group before heading to the Shouka party. ◇

And so, we arrived at the Shouka party's area.

Because we were with three boys, it took a little while for the guards to let us in.

"Is that so? Then let's be careful not to interact with each other in the future."

Shouka ended the conversation quickly when she came out.

"Anyway, it's nice to see you again, Kouya Souzoku."

The boys, who were given a rough pardon and treated like "anyway," left with their shoulders slumped.

It's a little pitiful, but to the girls here, they're the ones who caused trouble. It's understandable that they're not welcome.

Still, their living conditions have greatly improved.

In order to maintain this, they'll have to work hard.

"Yeah. I just stopped by this time."

"I was planning to ask after the first deal was over, but you gave the boys a cabin, right?"

I understood what Sumihime was trying to say and gave a wry smile.

「...Yeah, let's get one for everyone here.」

Last time I visited, I was hiding, so I couldn't provide any tents.

「Can you prepare one for a single person and another for a few people to sleep together?」

Considering the whole party rather than just herself, that's very Sumihime.

That's why she can manage so many girls.

I arranged the tents as requested.

People who knew about my ability as well as those who didn't all cheered.

Some ran to the houses, while others thanked me.

「Wonderful...! Kouno, please come over to our side.」 Sumihime came closer, sashaying.

She probably did it on purpose, leaving one button undone.

The girls from Sumihime's party stared at me, listening to their leader's words.

Everyone seemed to be cheering for Sumioka.

Some even opened their buttons and rolled up their skirts in response.

...I had come looking for the boys, though.

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