I was approached by Momo, a bratty little devil in pigtails.

Incidentally, Mikron, who had been watching over me upon our initial arrival, is no longer here.

Before the reception began, all the illusion beasts had gathered around Mako.

At first, some of them showed wariness toward the beastfolk, but once they realized they were harmless, they all jostled for position to pet their fluffy fur.

They must be tired now, as the trio huddled together in sleep.

Momo took advantage of that moment to strike up a conversation with me.

Well, since she possesses a "Cloning Ability," she could have slipped past Black Dragon Mikron's guard even if he were present, I suppose.

"Ah, Momo."

"It's rare to see Sōsuke-kun all alone, isn't it?"

"It might be."

"That's right. You're always surrounded by cute girls, after all."

"Aha ha..."

If we were talking about since coming to this desert island, she was entirely correct.

I don't think there have been many moments when no one was nearby.

"That's why I guess you can't be attracted to Momo?"

Momo deliberately hooked a finger into her school uniform button, pulling it open to flash the valley between her breasts at me.

I barely managed to hold back the urge of my gaze dropping downward.

Seeing me hesitate like that, Momo's face fell into a look of boredom.

It wasn't just tedium; it was the sulky expression of a child whose plans aren't going according to plan.

"Hey, Sōsuke-kun, what were you talking about with Ryōka-chan just now?"

"What do you mean..."

Not knowing how much information Jōhō was sharing with which members of the group, I stammered and couldn't give a straight answer.

This only made Momo's mood worse.

"Oh, come on, it must be some story about staying here, right? Makes no sense. What do you guys even get out of a place that's nothing but danger?"

If anything, Momo had the more normal perspective.

I probably would have thought the same way if I didn't have my 『Crafting Ability』.

But despite possessing the extraordinary power of the 『Clone Ability』, Momo's longing for her original world only grew stronger.

"Momo wants to go home soon, doesn't she?"

"Of course! I wouldn't have any fun just sitting around here!"

In terms of showing their emotions, she's similar to Meko or Junme, but there seems to be a slight naivety in her case.

That said, whether the expression is childish or not, the emotion itself could be described as that of an authentic, ordinary student.

In a situation like this, it would actually be a bit weird to adapt too easily.

Aware of that, he deliberately refrains from making any counterarguments.

"Well, I guess everyone feels things differently."

"Even you, Sousuke, wouldn't it have been tough if there hadn't been a single girl around?"

Prompted by Momo's words, he thinks about it for a moment.

"Hmm... since the 'Craft Ability' itself is fun, I probably didn't get too bored. But yeah, worrying about Chiiru comes first, so that takes priority."

He truly felt grateful that they had been transported together.

Because Chiiru was there, he was able to enthusiastically test his 'Craft Ability' from the very beginning.

"No way for me. Up until yesterday, living just on cuteness gave my life meaning, but here, I don't have value unless I work. Plus, being assaulted by a guy who turned into a beast? Absolutely no."

Shion received confessions from countless men without lifting a finger, but Momo was the type who provoked misunderstandings through her behavior to make them confess.

As a guy, I can't help but feel some sympathy for the poor fools whose purity got toyed with, but personally, I hold no grudges against her.

From her perspective, it seems the value of her own "cuteness" has been shaken, which is why she dislikes this desert island so much.

It's like a rich person losing their assets and being transported to another world.

Some can look forward to earning more, while others mourn the fortune they lost.

"Momo, you just want all the attention, don't you?"

I'd heard that story before we even reached this base.

"Of course! I love being called cute, and it's fun to think someone is obsessed with Momo!"

I see, so the goal was purely getting approval; she has no feelings for the people actually giving it.

That’s why she never accepts anyone’s confession.

Momo probably doesn't even recognize that she's toying with them.

She wants to be loved, but she doesn't know what love is.

If I had to summarize Momo's way of being, it would be something like that.

"I mean, it is nice to be complimented or thanked."

"Right?"

"I get it. Making peace and living a quiet life is probably better for fulfilling Momo's wish."

"Exactly! I thought that if there were lots of Momos, I could hog all the attention for myself, but it’s completely different in reality! The girls become insecure, the guys turn into beasts, and then Ryouka makes me work like a slave!"

She wanted to be seen as cute, not to be ravaged.

If the boys lost their inhibitions, she couldn’t enjoy the same kind of thrill she used to get at school.

"...So, if you had secured a 'Right of Return' this time, would you have gone back?"

Momo puffed out her cheeks in response to my question.

"...I wouldn't have gone back."

It wasn't surprising.

She was free-spirited, but not cold-hearted.

She was the type who used a power like 'Clone,' which could be abused in so many ways, in a way that benefited her party.

"Yeah, that makes sense. If Momo left now, Sumphou's combat strength would drop significantly."

"It's not like... I care about any of that."

She said it with a voice that didn't sound at all indifferent.

"I see."

When I smiled, she blushed, apparently thinking she had been teased.

"B-Before that! Momo, I've been thinking about this!"

Momo looked up at me from beneath her lashes, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Ah, a-ah."

"If Sou-sensei and the others end up voting in favor of Suzuka's plan, we'll be staying on this island for quite a while, right?"

"...It's hard to say for sure, but it is a distinct possibility."

"With Suzuka's 'Charisma' boosted this time around, and Chigyo using her healing magic to calm the ones who were panicking... I'd bet all the girls are on board with it."

I wasn't sure if Sumi had seen this far ahead, but it was certainly a valid point.

Chigyo soothed an anxiety that seemed impossible to quell, while leader Sumi only appeared more dependable by comparison.

Given that foundation, even if she attempted persuasion, many of the students who had previously deemed adaptation difficult might choose to stay behind.

Surviving on a desert island carried the inherent benefit of simply extending one's lifespan.

If one could calmly comprehend that it offered an amount of training time tantamount to infinity, a good number of them would likely consider the option favorably.

The fact that Momo had realized this so quickly proved that while her behavior was sometimes childish, her mind was sharp.

"What would you do if that happened?"

"It can't be helped, so Momo will stay too. But it's true that we're at our breaking point."

I could understand and empathize with those who longed for their former lives.

For the most part, all we can do is endure it.

It is only because there is hope that we will return someday that we think and act in a way to ensure our homecoming occurs under ideal circumstances.

But not everyone can maintain that outlook.

Momo huddled her arms around herself, looking up at me.

"So, Soshu-kun, will you help me?"

"Help with what..."

"I've already given up on SNS and the like, but right now things are really depressing. So, please help me find a way to enjoy my time on this desert island."

It was a pleading gaze and voice.

Had I not been accustomed to the delicate feminine charm of Chiya, my childhood friend, just that alone would have been enough to make me fall in love with her.

"Help you how... so that Momo can be coddled?"

"Yes! Soshu-kun, you can create all sorts of things, right? If life becomes easier because of that, I think everyone will have more breathing room. Then, what if you created cosmetics and clothes for us? I think everyone would start caring about fashion again, and cute girls' value would go up."

My friends are thrilled with cosmetics, too, but I can't help feeling that "care" takes precedence over "fashion."

I see. Perhaps the priority of fashion simply doesn't rise until you have some breathing room in your life.

"If I could, I'd send a clone to the guys' place to top up their affection levels, but Ryoka says, 'No, you're just creating unnecessary problems again.' Isn't that harsh?"

No, I think Sumiho is right in this case.

If it were just about showering them with attention, maybe it would be fine, but the guys' minds have finally settled down, and stirring them up again could do more harm than good.

Even if the clones don't inherit physical damage, they share memories, so the prospect of them suffering was a bit terrifying.

Misinterpreting my silence as deep contemplation, Momo continued.

"Oh, I'm not saying it has to be free or anything?"

She leaned closer to me.

The scent of fruit tickled my nostrils.

It seemed to be drifting from the beautiful girl right in front of me.

It was a fragrance like honey-dripping fruit, so rich that you could taste the sweetness just by smelling it.

"If it makes this desert island fun, I'll do my best to make sure Soosuke has fun too."

Momo draped her left arm around mine, gently stroking my chest with her right hand.

"Are you relieved? It's not like I'm being coy or anything. I don't really get love stuff, but I was curious, you know? How it would be if that line from a guy like Sou-suke—someone so cool that tons of girls fall for him—shifted to fixate on Momo."

As she spoke, Momo wore a playful expression, her face alight with anticipation, as if looking forward to an unknown thrill.

Looking at her like that, I couldn't help but hallucinate small wings and a tail sprouting from her.

Indeed, it was fitting to call her a little devil sort of girl.

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A devilish-looking girl with twin tails, Momo, approached me.

By the way, Micron, who had been protecting me since I arrived, isn't around now.

Before the fireworks started, the phantoms had all gathered around the summoner.

At first, some of them were wary of the phantoms, but once they realized they were harmless, they all competed to pet them.

Now that they're tired, the three of them are huddled together sleeping.

That's when Momo took the opportunity to talk to me.

Well, since this girl has the ability to create clones, she could probably slip past even if Black Dragon Mikurow were guarding the place. "Ah, Momo."

"Kousuke-kun being alone is pretty rare." "Maybe."

"Yeah. You're usually surrounded by cute girls." "Haha..."

If we're talking about since we got to this desert island, that's true.

I don't think there's ever been a time when no one was nearby.

"That's why, don't you feel drawn to Momo?"

Momo deliberately hooked her fingers on the buttons of her uniform, showing off her cleavage.

I almost let my gaze drop, but I held it back.

Seeing my reaction, Momo made a bored face.

It wasn't boredom, but rather the kind of pout a child makes when things don't go their way.

"Hey, Soh, what were you talking about with Ryouka just now?" "What...?"

I didn't know how much of the group Jyouka shared information with, so I hesitated.

That only made Momo even more upset.

"It's probably just about staying here, right? I don't get it. What's so good about a place that's full of danger?"

Momo had a more general sense of things.

If I didn't have a "Craft Ability," I would probably think the same way.

But even with her "Clone Ability," Momo still longed for the original world.

"Momo seems to want to go back home soon."

「Of course! There's no fun in staying here!」

In terms of expressing emotions, she's close to Shouko and Junme, but there's a certain childishness to her.

Still, even if her expressions are childish, her feelings are very much those of a real student.

It's a bit odd for someone to adapt to this situation so easily.

Since I'm aware of that, I don't bother arguing.

「Well, everyone feels differently, right?」

「I bet you'd have been tough without any girls around, right?」

I think about Mom's words for a bit.

「Hmm, since the 'Crafting Ability' itself is fun, I probably didn't get bored. But I was worried about Chiyu, so I focused on her.」

I'm really glad we all got transferred together.

Thanks to Chiyu, I was able to try out the 'Crafting Ability' from the start with a lot of enthusiasm.

「I can't do that. Before, I lived just because I was cute, but here, I have to work to have value. And I can't deal with being attacked by a man who turned into a beast.」

If Shion is the type to receive countless declarations of love without doing anything, Momo was the type to make guys confess to her by acting in a way that would provoke misunderstandings.

From a guy's perspective, it's hard not to feel sympathy for those who had their innocence toyed with, but personally, I don't hold any grudges against her.

From her point of view, her 'cuteness' seems to have been called into question, so she probably doesn't like this desert island.

It's like a rich person losing their fortune and being transferred to another world.

Some people can look forward and try to earn more, while others regret losing their wealth.

"Did you want to be pampered?"

I heard that before I came to this base.

"Of course! It's nice to be told you're cute, and it's fun to think that someone's crazy about you."

I see, her goal is simply to be acknowledged, and she doesn't have any feelings for the person who acknowledges her.

That's why she doesn't accept anyone's confession.

She probably doesn't even realize she's playing with them. She wants to be loved, but she doesn't know what love is.

That's how Momo is.

「Yeah, it feels good to be praised and thanked, doesn’t it?」
「Right?」

「I get why a peaceful life would be better for fulfilling Momos’ wishes.」

「Right, right! I thought that if there were lots of Momos, I could hog all the attention, but it’s not like that at all! The girls are stressed out, the guys are beasts, and I’m being made to work really hard by Ryouka-chan!」

She wants to be thought of as cute, not to be attacked.

If the guys lose their reason, she won’t be able to get the kind of enjoyment she got at school.

「...So, if I had ‘Return Rights’ this time, would you have gone back?」

Momos puffs out her cheeks in response to my question. 「...I wouldn’t have gone back.」
That wasn’t unexpected.

She’s free-spirited, but not heartless.

She had been using the ‘Cloning Ability,’ which could easily be abused, in a way that benefited the party.

「Yeah, if Momos went back now, the Seikou party would lose a lot of power.」

「I don’t really... care about that.」

She says that, but her voice doesn’t sound like she doesn’t care. 「I see.」

I smiled, and she blushed, thinking I was teasing her.

"U-um! Momo thought of something!"

With slightly teary eyes, she looked up at me with a coy expression. "Uh, yeah."

"If Seika's plan gets approved by the others, we'll be staying on this island for a while, right?"

"...I can't say for sure, but there's definitely a possibility."

"Seika's 'charisma' has been strengthened this time, and she's calmed down the kids who were worried about the healing magic. I think all the girls will agree."

I don't know if Seika had anticipated this, but it's definitely a possibility.

With Chiyo calming down the anxiety that arose, Seika, the leader, has become even more reliable.

If we try to persuade them, even those who thought it would be difficult to adapt might choose to stay.

Survival on an desert island has the benefit of extending one's lifespan.

If they calmly understand that there's an infinite amount of training time available, many of them would likely consider it positively.

The fact that Momo realized this means that, while her attitude can sometimes be childish, her mind is sharp.

「If that happens, what are we going to do?」

「Well, I guess I'll stay too. But it's really true that I'm at my limit.」

I understand and sympathize with those who long for their former lives.

In a way, we can endure it.

But it's because we have the hope of someday returning that we can act and think to return in an ideal situation.

However, not everyone can do that.

Momo hugged herself and looked up at me.

"So, will you help me?" "Help with what...?"

"I've given up on SNS already, but it's really not fun right now. So, I want you to help me have fun on the island." Her gaze and voice were pleading.

If you weren't used to the delicate charm of your childhood friend Chiyo, it would be enough to make you fall in love.

"Help... you want me to, um, pamper you?"

"That's right! You can make all sorts of things, right? If our lives get easier, I think everyone will have more time to spare. Then, if you make cosmetics and clothes for us, what do you think will happen? I think everyone will start caring about their appearance again, and the value of cute girls will rise."

My friends would also be happy with cosmetics, but indeed, it feels like the priority is on 'care' and 'fashion' comes a step below that.

I see, indeed, the priority of fashion might not rise unless there's some extra room in life.

"I actually wanted to send a doppelganger to the guys to replenish the pampering ingredients, but Ryouka-chan said 'it would create unnecessary problems, so no', isn't that harsh?"

No, I think Seiha is right.

If it were just about pampering, that would be fine, but the guys' hearts, which had finally settled down, might get upset again.

Even though it's a doppelganger that doesn't inherit damage, memories can be shared, so it would be terrible if something bad happened.

Thinking I was in the middle of worrying, Momo continued.

"Of course, I'm not saying I'll do it for free?" And she leaned in closer.

The scent of fruit tickled my nostrils.

It seemed to be coming from the beautiful girl in front of me.

It was like the scent of honey dripping from a fruit, sweet enough to make you feel it in the aroma alone.

"If you can make this desert island fun, Momo will try her best to make you happy too."

Momo entwined her left arm around my arm and gently stroked my chest with her right hand.

“Are you okay? It’s not like I’m saying no, no. I don’t know about love, but I was curious. I mean, you’re a boy who’s liked by so many girls. I wondered what would happen if you, like, fell for me.”

Momo’s face was filled with a joyful anticipation, as if she were looking forward to an unknown emotion.

I imagined tiny wings and a tail on her.

She really was the kind of girl who fit the description of a little devil.

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