"Jii..."

"... ... ..."

So absorbed were we in gathering materials with Shinhō that it ended up like this, with Shōko coming to fetch us out of worry.

It seemed she’d relied on Fenrir’s Mashihiro to locate us as quickly as possible.

With his sense of smell, picking out the scent of a comrade would be a walk in the park.

Since we spotted Mashihiro first, we managed to scrape together just enough time to straighten up our clothes, but…

From her flushed face, the sweat-slicked clothes, the wandering eyes, and the unnatural puddle of water forming near a tree, Shōko probably had it all figured out.

Riding Mashihiro’s back on the way back to base, Shōko said nothing.

On the contrary, Shinhō and I were uncharacteristically chatty, forcing conversation.

Then, once we returned to base and dismounted from Mashihiro, the full weight of Shōko’s withering glare hit us. "Sorry. The material gathering thing was a lie."

"No, I think everyone's already noticed it."

"Huh...?"

Taken aback, Shinhō dropped his jaw open in astonishment.

"Try not to worry us so much, okay?"

Rarely, I saw Shouko looking genuinely angry, so I bowed my head obediently.

"Aah, I'm really sorry. I'll be careful."

"…Mm."

Shouko seemed to forgive me with that.

Later, I would have to apologize to everyone else too.

"U-Um... Shouko-san? When you say everyone noticed, that is..."

"Well, Minorin is the only one whose morning routine was upended because of the event incident, right? Souji wouldn't forget to make up for it."

"B-But. The ones inside... they also... noticed?"

"Of course they did. Once they realized you were safe, they'd relax and think, 'So that's why she was being all clingy.'"

"Gh... N-No way... I'm, embarrassing..."

Fukaho covered her face with both hands.

I felt a bit of shame too, but not nearly as much as she did.

"Fukaho, are you okay...?"

"Eh? Ehh. I'll accept it as punishment for worrying everyone. I'm sure I'll get looks that say, 'Typical class rep to be so lewd,' but there's nothing to be done about it."

Fukaho's eyes were glazed over.

"No, I don't think there are any such mean-spirited people in our school."

He seems to have turned negative from sheer embarrassment.

"That's right, Minori-chan. Everyone knows Sou-suke is perverted, so no one blames you."

"Well, 'everyone' might be an overstatement."

After all, some of the people involved haven't actually done that kind of thing.

Like Yume-kyou, who can erect barriers, or Gen-chu with his shapeshifting ability, or the energetic black gal Sotobu, or even the teaching assistant Teacher Luminas, who masters photothermal magic.

I had just a brief encounter with the omnipotent maid Roa.

"No way. With four girlfriends, it’s already impossible to hide anything."

Mekako let out a mischievous laugh.

"Ghh..."

I had no retort.

As we exchanged those words, we passed through the entryway.

"Woah, it smells amazing." It was the aroma of a sauce that whetted one's appetite.

"Right?

Let's hurry up."

We crossed the hallway to the dining table.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I guess I caused you all to worry."

"I will do my best to ensure this doesn't happen again."

Sou-suke and I bowed our heads to our companions.

"Hmm. From now on, bring one of the two spirit beasts with you. That way, we can feel safer even if you're running late."

"I figured the two of you would be fine, but I'm just glad you made it back safe and sound."

«Welcome back. It’s a relief to know you’re safe.»

«Oh...! Please be careful, okay? Kudo-kun is the leader and Tetsubo-san is the party's brains, right? You really shouldn't be acting so recklessly.»

«I was relieved, honestly. I didn't think Kudo made human mistakes. He's been such a perfect leader on this island.»

«And what were you two doing anyway? Get specific.»

«D-Don't, Runa. That sort of thing is... well, it's private and...»

Chiiru, Shiine, Roa, Professor Luminus, Muikai, Shoube, and Genchuu all chimed in, voicing the same concern.

Excluding Mr. Luminous, who was scolding me in the capacity of an adult, most everyone seemed to feel more relief than anger; there were very few who appeared truly angry. "Yeah. I'll be careful."

I'd probably worry just as much if someone failed to show up at a promised time and place, so here I was, honestly reflecting on my mistake.

"Alright then. Shall we eat dinner?"

At Shiin's words, everyone moved toward the dining table.

I felt like washing off the sweat, but I couldn't keep everyone waiting any longer.

Chiya kindly cast "Purification" on me, so for now, I decided to just go ahead and eat my meal.

Tonight's dinner menu was—unadon.

Reflecting the light from the overhead lamps, the unadon seemed to actually glow.

It came with liver sashimi and quick-pickled vegetables; the care Shion and Roa put into it was evident.

Everyone gathered around the table, said "itadakimasu," and immediately started picking at their food.

The flesh had a fluffy, soft texture, and the flavor of the tare sauce was exquisite; chopsticks simply wouldn't stop moving.

Everyone else reacted similarly. Even Yumegai, usually a poor eater, seemed to be eating more than usual.

The most dramatic reaction came from Professor Luminas, who was quietly shedding tears.

"It's been so many years since I've eaten eel... Professor, I feel like I've been eating better food ever since we arrived on this desert island..."

It seemed everyone had decided not to dwell on the professor's reaction.

I suppose adults have their own share of hardships.

"Still, as expected of Shion-chan. I've heard eel is difficult to handle. To think you could make it this delicious."

Sen'ya said, full of admiration.

"Ahh, yeah, I feel like I've heard that too. Something about how many years of experience in skewering you need for it."

“Three years for skewering, eight for splitting, a lifetime for grilling. Sure enough, Shiine and Roa are skilled in the kitchen.”

Fuka-hou filled in the gaps of my vague knowledge.

“Aha ha, it was mostly Roa-chan’s doing this time.”

“Please don’t say such things... Besides, I still believe we fall far short of a true professional in that field.”

The two were being modest... or rather, stating the facts, but food is good when it’s good.

Honestly, comparing home-cooked meals to a specialty restaurant seems like a mistake.

If it’s served on the table and tastes delicious, isn’t that enough?

Sensei was eating with tears in her eyes.

And so, we managed to have eel rice bowls on a desert island.

◇

That night.

After finishing our baths, we talked as a group about settling the deal with the remaining guys tomorrow before heading back to their rooms.

I had become lovers with the four I met early on at the desert island, and we’d even lost our virginities.

I wondered how today would go, thinking there hadn’t been any particular talk... when a knock sounded.

“Ah, yeah.”

Opening the door, I found—Loa the maid standing there. "I apologize for disturbing you so late." "It's Loa. What's wrong?"

At my question, her cheeks flushed and she said, blushing bashfully:

"I've come to keep you company in bed."

Even while resting, it seemed my points kept increasing continuously,

and before I knew it, I was approaching 70,000 points.

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「Jii」 「...」「...」

We got so engrossed in gathering materials with Shinho that Shouko came to pick us up out of concern.

It seems she asked Fenrir’s Mashiro to help locate us as soon as possible.

With his sense of smell, it would have been easy for him to track down the scent of his friends.

Fortunately, we spotted Mashiro first, giving us some time to compose ourselves...

But with flushed faces, sweat-stained clothes, and wandering eyes, as well as the unnatural puddles of water near the trees, Shouko might have figured everything out.

Shachi was silent as I rode on Mashiro’s back on the way back.

On the other hand, I and Shinpo tried to talk too brightly and unnaturally.

And when we returned to base and I got off Mashiro, Shachi’s sharp gaze attacked me.
“Sorry. The material gathering was a lie.”

“No, I think everyone probably figured that out.”
“Eh...”

Shinpo’s mouth hung open in surprise.

“Don’t worry me so much.”

I obediently bowed my head at Shouko’s rare display of anger.

“Ah, really sorry. I’ll be more careful.” “...Mm.”

Shouko seemed to forgive me after that. I had to apologize to everyone else later.

“Ah, um... Shouko-san? When you said everyone knew, that is...”

“No, but only Minori lost her morning time because of the event, right? So if it’s you, you wouldn’t forget to make up for it.”

“W-Well. Do the others... know too?”

“Of course they do. Once they know you’re safe, they’ll relax and think, ‘Oh, so you’ve been making out all this time.’”

“Ugh... That’s... so embarrassing.”

Deepo covered her face with her hands.

I felt a little embarrassed too, but not as much as her. “Deepo, are you okay...?”

“Y-Yes. I’ll accept this as punishment for causing everyone worry. I’m sure I’ll be met with the gaze of ‘What a lewd girl for a class representative,’ but it’s to be expected.”
Deepo’s eyes were vacant.

“No, I don’t think there’s anyone in our group who would be that mean.”

She seems to be feeling bad about herself.

"Right, Mino. Everyone knows that Sōsuke is a pervert, and no one thinks it's your fault." "Not everyone, though."

There are people who haven't done such things.

Like the dream world where the barrier can be put up, or the phantoms like the "Transformation Ability," the energetic black girl from the Shizuku, or the vice-teacher Lumina who controls the "Light and Heat Magic."

I did have a little something going with the all-purpose maid, Roa.

"No, it's impossible to hide when you have four girlfriends." The servant laughed mischievously. "Guh..." I couldn't say anything back.

While having this conversation, we passed through the entrance.

"Wow, it smells really good." It was the smell of the sauce that whetted the appetite. "Let's go, then." We crossed the hallway and headed to the dining table.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I guess I caused you some worry."

"We'll make sure this doesn't happen again." Deep and I bowed to our companions.

"Okay. Next time, bring one of the phantoms along. That way, even if we're a little late, we'll be more at ease."

"I thought you'd be fine with two of you, but I'm glad you're okay."

「Welcome back. I'm glad you're safe.」

「Come on...! Be careful, okay? Kouno-kun is the leader, and Shizubu-san is the brains of the party, right? Don't act recklessly.」

「I'm relieved. I thought Kouno was just human and made a mistake. On this island, you've always been a proper leader.」

「By the way, what were you two doing? Be more specific.」

「R-Rinna, that's private...」

Chiyu, Shion, Roa, Lumina-sensei, Muuki, Shoubu, and Genjuu all speak up.

Aside from Lumina-sensei, who's scolding me like an adult, everyone seems more relieved than angry.

I would be extremely worried if someone didn't show up at the meeting spot at the agreed time, so I'll just admit my mistake.

「Alright. How about we have dinner?」

With Shion's words, everyone heads to the dining table.

I want to work up a sweat, but I can't keep everyone waiting any longer.

Chiyu, who's being considerate, cleans me up with 'Purification', so I'll just eat like this.

Dinner tonight was unagi-don.

The unagi-don reflected the light from the lamps and seemed to be shining.

It was garnished with liver and pickled vegetables, showing how particular Shion and Roa were about it.

We all sat down at the table, said "itadakimasu," and started eating at the same time.

The soft, fluffy texture and the perfectly balanced sauce were amazing, and no one could stop eating.

Everyone else seemed to have the same reaction, even in the dream world where people eat less, the chopsticks were moving faster than usual.

The one who reacted the most was Mr. Lumina, who was even shedding tears.

"It's been so long since I've eaten unagi... I feel like I've been eating better since I came to the desert island..."

Everyone seemed to have decided not to comment on Mr. Lumina's reaction.

Adults have their own difficulties, I guess.

"Still, Shion, you're amazing. I've heard that unagi is difficult to handle, but you managed to make it taste so good." Chiyou said admiringly.

"Yeah, I remember hearing something like that. Something about how it takes years to master the art of skewering the unagi."

"Three years for skewering, eight years for slicing, and a lifetime for grilling. Indeed, Shion-san and Roa-san's cooking is superb."

Deep Ho had supplemented my vague knowledge.

"Hehe, Roa-chan's strength was really big this time."

"That's not the case... Besides, I believe it's impossible to match the skill of a professional."

They were being modest... or rather, stating the truth, but the food was still delicious.

To begin with, it felt wrong to compare home-cooked meals with those from a specialized restaurant.

If we could enjoy a delicious meal at the dining table, wasn't that enough?

Even the teacher was crying while eating.

And so, we were able to eat eel donburi on an desert island. ◇ That night.

After taking a bath, we all talked about finishing our deal with the remaining boys tomorrow and went to our respective rooms.

The four of us who met at the beginning of our time on the island had become lovers and had experienced our first time together.

I wondered what would happen today, since we hadn't really talked about it... and then there was a knock. "Ah, ah."

When I opened the door, there stood a maid named Roa. "I apologize for the late hour." "Oh, it's you, Roa. What's up?"

She blushed and said shyly in response to my question, "I've come to keep you company."

It seems that my points kept increasing even while I was resting,

and I woke up to find myself close to 70,000 points.

Thank you...!!! The next update is scheduled for three days from now!

Thank you for your continued support!

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