With no one to hold the surfboard for her, her pride wouldn't allow it.
And so, Yukima Azuma and Shinomiya Kaguya stepped out of the cave, one ahead of the other.
The sea breeze swept through the forest outside the cave.
As they stepped on the ground, they could hear the soft squelching of wet mud.
"Should we dig a water reservoir?"
Shinomiya Kaguya lowered her gaze to the ground and asked.
"No need. Even if we boil rainwater, there's no guarantee it's clean, and we don't have the necessary tools."
"There are some coconut trees on the barren shore. For now, we can rely on coconut water to replenish fresh water."
"If the coconuts run out and we still haven't been rescued then we'll just set the forest on fire."
Yukima Azuma voiced his thoughts.
This was likely the safest option.
Since this wasn't Japanese territory, setting fire to a deserted island would surely require compensation.
(note: I think even if this were Japan, this act of burning forests would be criminally liable and require compensation.)
But for the three of them, money was just a tool to be used at their discretion.
"You're really something." Shinomiya Kaguya looked up at the sky through the gaps in the foliage. "Truly reliable."
Through the misty sky, faint traces of the moon could barely be seen.
The moonlight struggled to pierce through the thick layers of clouds.
But not seeing the moon actually made Shinomiya Kaguya feel happier.
She didn't like the moon.
Even though her name, Kaguya, was deeply connected to it.
Hearing Shinomiya Kaguya's words of admiration
Yukima Azuma's mind was suddenly filled with fragmented thoughts.
"So, Kaguya, what do you think caused this tsunami?"
In the end, he couldn't hold back from asking.
A prolonged silence was his answer.
Yukima Azuma turned his head and once again met those ruby-red eyes.
Only this time, there was a faint sadness hidden within them.
He was about to say something
But Shinomiya Kaguya spoke first.
"Azuma-kun, you're suspecting that I orchestrated this tsunami."
"That this entire situation is just a play I wrote and performed myself, right?"
She pinpointed exactly what was on Yukima Azuma's mind.
Not just because Shinomiya Kaguya's intelligence far surpassed that of ordinary people.
But mainly becausewhen their gazes met just moments ago
A sudden intuition had flashed through her mind.
"Ah, he must be doubting me."
Immediately after, a sharp pain spread from her chest.
It hurt so much that Shinomiya Kaguya had to question whether she had some kind of illness.
Otherwise, if it was merely heartache, how could it cause such an intense reaction?
At this moment, Shinomiya Kaguya lowered her eyes slightly.
"It's completely natural for you to suspect me. If I were in your place, I would suspect myself too."
As she spoke, she clenched her fists tightly.
Her nails dug deep into the flesh of her palm.
Her body trembled slightly with each rapid breath.
"But what's even sadder is that I really am that kind of person."
"In the moment I rushed toward you, I truly did think about the benefits that a life-saving debt could bring me."
"If I had thought of this plan before coming to Hawaii, I might have actually carried it out."
"Shinomiya Kaguya Shinomiya Kaguya is exactly that kind of personsomeone who always puts a price on everyone."
Saying this, Shinomiya Kaguya looked like someone on the verge of drowning.
Her ragged breathing was almost terrifying.
She struggled to lift her head, her blood-red eyes clouded with mist.
"But listenthis tsunami really wasn't my doing."
"The moment I rushed toward you, all I truly felt was worry for your safety."
"You don't have to believe me. You're free to investigate me once we return."
"No matter what, I'll cooperate. But at the very least at the very least, don't condemn me in your heart just yet, okay?"
Yukima Azuma looked at the Shinomiya Kaguya standing so close before him.
He was momentarily stunned.
Never had he imagined that someone as proud as Shinomiya Kaguya could say such words.
What kind of emotions
Could make someone who always held their head high bow down like this?
Yukima Azuma hadn't lost his wits just because they were stranded on an island.
Of course, he understood Shinomiya Kaguya's feelings.
What he hadn't expected
Was that her love had come so suddenly.
And so fiercely.
Like the sun rising over this dark, mist-covered island.
A radiant light tearing through all the clouds.
Chapter 247: Shijo Maki: You Two Are Anything But Normal!
The blazing flames of love burned away all lingering doubts.
In Yukima Azuma's heart, he had completely leaned toward the girl standing before him.
No matter what, at least at this moment, he could no longer just stand there frozen.
Yukima Azuma reached out his hand toward Shinomiya Kaguya.
Her eyes fixated on his palm.
At the corner of her eyes, a faint trace of tears still lingered.
After a brief moment of contemplation
Shinomiya Kaguya gently leaned forward, resting her swan-like, graceful white neck against his outstretched hand.
(*)*.
Seeing this, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
He reached out and lightly pinched Shinomiya Kaguya's cheek.
Then, he took hold of her fair, delicate hands.
Shinomiya Kaguya froze completely at the unexpected pinch, staring blankly at Yukima Azuma's fingers as they effortlessly pried her hand open.
One by one, her fingers were separated.
On her palm, the deep marks left by her nails were clearly visible.
Her skin was nearly scratched raw.
His fingers gently rubbed over the indentations.
Yukima Azuma could feel her pain as if it were his own.
After soothing her, his fingers naturally slid between hers.
Their ten fingers intertwined tightly.
( )
Shinomiya Kaguya snapped out of her daze and lifted her head to look at Yukima Azuma.
"Azuma-kun, do you trust me?"
Yukima Azuma nodded, then shook his head.
"I plan to investigate this thoroughly once we return."
Hearing this, Shinomiya Kaguya responded with a bright smile.
To most people, an investigation would mean a lack of trust.
But Shinomiya Kaguya understood that deciding to investigate required even more courage.
"Alright. No matter how you investigate, I will cooperate."
Rustling footsteps echoed through the forest once more.
"Azuma-kun, you don't seem worried at all."
"After all, the person stranded on this deserted island with me is none other than the heir of the Shinomiya family, the heart of the entire nationKaguya-sama."
"You've been listening to Maki-san's nonsense again, haven't you? Honestly, I might not even be as important as you."
"Either way, don't worry. Since everyone was dragged into this mess and ended up stranded here, no matter what, I will make sure we all return safely."
Yukima Azuma spoke with unwavering seriousness.
Shinomiya Kaguya gave a slight nod.
Indeed, he was utterly reliable, radiating an unparalleled sense of security.
It was a feeling Shinomiya Kaguya had never experienced in her entire life.
In the turbulent Shinomiya family
Her mother passed away early, and her father was practically absent.
She had never been anything more than a small bamboo boat tossed about in a raging storm, drifting helplessly with no sense of direction.
And yet, now that she had truly been cast out into the vast sea
Ironically, she had found stability.
Perhaps, at long last, her streak of misfortune had come to an end.
...
The two of them were fortunate enough to stumble upon a pile of dried leaves.
Brushing away the top layer, they found that the grass and leaves underneath were almost completely dry.
They gathered some to bring back as bedding.
Together, they strolled leisurely toward the deserted beach.
The scenery was bleak.
The rain had just stopped, leaving the shore looking utterly desolate.
The sky was shrouded in thick layers of clouds, with only a sliver of moonlight peeking through.
A dense fog hung over the ocean's surface.
Yet their moods remained unaffected.
On the contrary, they felt even more at ease than when they had strolled along the beaches of Hawaii just two days ago.
They found a coconut tree.
Yukima Azuma called out, and a mysterious creature darted out from the forest.
In the blink of an eye, it had climbed up the tree.
Moments later, several coconuts came crashing down.
This mysterious creature was something Yukima Azuma had summoned the moment he set foot on the island.
He had been using it to scout the terrain of the deserted island.
The two hares he had brought back earlier had also been caught by this creature.
Even with Yukima Azuma's physical ability maxed out at eight points,
Climbing a coconut tree wasn't exactly like walking on solid ground, but it wasn't difficult either.
Still, with a subordinate to do the work, who would bother climbing up themselves?
They carried the coconuts and a bundle of dried grass back to the cave.
By now, Shijo Maki had long since gotten dressed properly.
Seeing them return, Shijo Maki visibly let out a sigh of relief.
But immediately after, a hint of suspicion flashed across her face.
The atmosphere between the two of them now was completely different from when they had left the cave.
Could it be that something had happened between them after they left?
(_ )
"What are you thinking about? Want some coconut water? It's the real deal, completely natural, no additives."
Yukima Azuma shook the coconut in his hand.
Shijo Maki snapped out of her thoughts, coughed lightly, and said, "Ahem Th-thank you"
Yukima Azuma blinked.
"Huh? Did you just say something, Shijo-san? I didn't quite hear you~."
Now that his emotions had settled down, Yukima Azuma found himself in the mood to tease the tsundere girl.
Shijo Maki bit her red lips lightly and glared at him.
"Thank you! Did you hear me now? THANK. YOU!"
"You're always bullying me! Even after getting stranded on a deserted island, you're still bullying me!"
( ) !!!
Hearing her complaint, Yukima Azuma suddenly felt a little guilty.
He reached out his hand toward Shinomiya Kaguya.
Shinomiya Kaguya instantly understood his intention and placed her hand in his.
Yukima Azuma: ( ®® ) ????
He smiled helplessly.
Then, he whispered, "Iron shard knife."
"Eh? Oh!" Shinomiya Kaguya suddenly realized and pulled her hand back.
( )
She picked up the knife crafted from a shard of the surfboard and handed it to Yukima Azuma.
Shijo Maki: ( ®®) !!!
Earlier, when she had complained about Yukima Azuma, she hadn't actually been angry.
She was just pretending a little, playing up her tsundere nature.
But now, things were differentShijo Maki was genuinely pissed.
These two something definitely happened between them while they were out!
How infuriating!
><
Holding the not-so-sharp knife in his hand, Yukima Azuma's vision shifted in an instant.
A moment later, he effortlessly split the coconut in half.
The cut was so smooth it looked as if the coconut had naturally grown that way.
Shijo Maki held onto her coconut, staring at the cut for a long while.
Then, she picked up a shard from the surfboard, pressed it against the coconut shell to compare
After that, with a blank expression, she started drinking the coconut water, lost in a daze, as if questioning her very existence.
( — )
Who am I? Where am I? What has happened to this world?
Meanwhile, Shinomiya Kaguya simply dried the bundle of grass over the fire.
Then, she divided it into three portions and spread them on the cave floor.
Night had fully fallen.
The only source of light on the deserted island was the flickering fire inside the cave.
Shijo Maki's eyelids were visibly drooping.
After staying on high alert ever since they encountered danger, all three of them were utterly exhausted.
"You two go ahead and sleep. I'll keep watch for a while."
Yukima Azuma said.
Standing watch wasn't out of fear that some dangerous creature would wander into the cave.
The main reason was to keep adding wood to the fire.
The fire needed to last at least until midnight.
That way, the remaining warmth would make sleeping more comfortable.
"Let's take turns," Shinomiya Kaguya suggested.
Yukima Azuma casually nodded.
But he had no intention of waking her up.
There was already a summoned creature standing guard outside.
He would add a little more wood later, and that would be enough.
And so, amid the howling sea breeze
Under the flickering firelight, the cave took on an unexpectedly warm atmosphere.
"Don't cross the line" Shijo Maki mumbled sleepily.
Even on the verge of falling asleep, she still bared her little fangs, warning Yukima Azuma.
The flames gradually died down.
In the end, only faint red embers remained.
At some point, Yukima Azuma had fallen asleep as well.
Half-conscious, he felt something soft curl into his arms.
"Eriri stay still."
He muttered in his sleep, absentmindedly patting the soft "hug pillow" in his arms.
Chapter 248: Shijo Maki is Aho-Baka!
Her head felt unbearably heavy, as if it had turned into a block of lead.
Shijo Maki shivered, her entire body chilled to the bone.
She couldn't even tell whether she was awake or still drifting in a dream.
Fortunately, the discomfort didn't last long.
Soon, a warm presence appeared beside her, enveloping her like a kotatsu.
She found herself pulled into a familiar embrace, strong arms holding her tightly as if unwilling to let go.
When she finally woke up again
Shijo Maki slowly forced open her heavy eyelids.
The first thing she saw was a young man, mere inches away.
Her pale violet eyes locked onto Yukima Azuma's dark ones.
In the very next second, Shijo Maki's eyes widened in shock.
(O_O)!!!
She wanted to lift her hand to point at Yukima Azuma.
But then she realized
They were pressed so tightly together that her arm was still wrapped around him.
Even if she wanted to pull away, she couldn't.
A deep red flush spread rapidly across her fair face.
Up until now, the only time she had ever touched a boyeven just the tips of their fingerswas with Yukima Azuma.
