And now this level of physical contact was way too much!
Meanwhile, Yukima Azumawho had woken up firstwas counting his blessings.
At least he had woken up first.
Otherwise, he was pretty sure Shijo Maki would have killed him on the spot.
After all, he was used to hugging his Eriri body pillow to sleep
So even upon waking up just now, his palm was still resting on a particularly soft curve of the girl's body.
"Let me explain first," Yukima Azuma said in a low voice.
()
Shijo Maki glared at him. "Fine ahem, go ahead and explain."
(_)
Her voice was slightly hoarse, but after clearing her throat, she quickly adjusted it.
Then, she looked at him as if waiting to see what kind of nonsense he would come up with.
But Yukima Azuma simply raised a finger and pointed behind her.
"Actually, I didn't move at all."
Shijo Maki struggled to turn her head and look back.
And what she saw was
Not far away, on the pile of straw nearby
Lying closer to the inner side of the cave, Shinomiya Kaguya was still fast asleep, completely unaware of what had transpired.
Shijo Maki's eyes widened in realization.
So it wasn't that Yukima Azuma had sneaked over to ambush her in the night.
It was hershe had voluntarily crawled into his arms?!
As this horrifying fact settled in, Shijo Maki wanted nothing more than to find a hole in the cave and bury herself in it.
( //>///
Her pale toes curled tightly.
A wave of secondhand embarrassment so intense that she wanted to gnaw through an entire three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment flooded her mind.
Without a word, she lowered herself
Quietly wriggled out of Yukima Azuma's arms
And hurriedly scurried back to her sleeping spot.
Her movements caused Shinomiya Kaguya to stir awake.
She drowsily sat up, blinking in confusion.
First, she glanced around groggily.
Then, her gaze landed on Yukima Azuma.
"Did something happen?"
( -) z Z
Yukima Azuma chuckled and shook his head.
"Nothing at all."
Shinomiya Kaguya let out a soft "Oh."
But then, she suddenly remembered last night's conversation.
Her eyes darkened slightly as she gave Yukima Azuma a mildly reproachful look.
"You didn't wake me up? Didn't we agree to take turns keeping watch?"
()
Yukima Azuma gestured to the dying fire beside them, where a faint warmth still lingered.
"I figured there was no need anymore, so I didn't wake you."
"Besides, we don't need to keep the fire going."
Hearing that, Shinomiya Kaguya understood his reasoning.
But she still felt a little displeased.
She couldn't shake the feeling that Yukima Azuma had dismissed her.
...
Outside the cave, the sky remained a dull, gloomy gray.
It looked like it might start raining again soon.
"I'll go to the shore and check if any fish got stranded, or if there's anything edible."
With that, Shinomiya Kaguya stood up and stepped outside.
Since it wasn't raining yet, she needed to take advantage of this time to get things done.
Otherwise, if another storm rolled in, who knew how long it would last?
If they didn't make use of this window, they might be forced to venture out in the middle of a downpour.
"In that case, I'll gather all the coconuts from the beach."
Yukima Azuma said.
There were several coconut trees by the shore.
Considering how long it might take for rescue to arrive and the amount of fresh water the three of them needed, they would have to collect those coconuts sooner or later.
Might as well do it now and be prepared.
"Then I'll go gather firewood."
Shijo Maki spoke up.
But her eyes were still darting around in a slight panic.
(///// " )
The three of them split up to carry out their respective tasks.
However, as soon as the other two left, Shijo Maki's expression collapsed.
She raised a hand to her throat.
Even swallowing her own saliva sent a dull pain radiating through her.
Her head felt light, slightly dizzy.
She wasn't sure if she had a fever.
But one thing was clearshe was definitely sick.
Realizing this, a wave of fear rose in her heart.
Falling ill on a deserted island like this was practically leaving one's life up to fate.
No medicine. Not even a proper place to rest.
Whether she could recover or not depended entirely on her own body.
Shijo Maki recalled the past few days.
It was highly unlikely that she had only gotten sick after arriving on the island.
By the time symptoms started to show, it usually meant the virus had already reached its peak.
If she did the math she might have been infected back when they were still in Hawaii.
Thinking back, there were some warning signs.
For instance, when she was playing volleyball, she had run out of stamina much faster than usual.
At the time, she had simply blamed it on her recent string of sleepless nights.
Gathering a small pile of dry firewood,
Shijo Maki slumped down inside the cave, unwilling to move.
She curled into herself, hugging her own body tightly.
The early morning wind swept through, cutting into her skin like a sharp blade.
Meanwhile, outside the cave
Yukima Azuma was weaving strands of palm fiber into a simple net.
Afterward, he hauled back a pile of coconuts.
The moment he stepped back into the cave, he spotted Shijo Maki lying down in her spot.
"Shijo-san, slacking off at a time like this?"
He teased.
But there was no response.
Immediately, Yukima Azuma sensed something was wrong.
He set everything down and rushed over to her.
Lifting her up, he examined her condition.
Her pale skin was now flushed with an unnatural reddish hue.
Recalling the small signs he had noticed earlier that morning
Yukima Azuma unconsciously clenched his jaw.
This damn tsundere brat!
Being sicksomething that could literally be life-threatening in this situation
And she actually hid it?!
Was she an idiot?!
He pressed a hand to her forehead.
Burning hot.
In fact, even without touching her, he could tell she was running a dangerously high fever.
The girl in his arms was practically a furnace.
Taking two deep breaths, he forced himself to calm down.
He needed a solution. Fast.
Finally, Yukima Azuma turned toward the cave entrance and raised a hand.
The creature he had summoned for hunting and fire-making instantly dissolved into specks of light before vanishing.
This freed up a summoning slot.
Then, he grabbed a scrap of metal that had been used as a makeshift knife.
And began carving symbols into the cave wall.
This time, Yukima Azuma wasn't sure if the summoning would work.
But
It had to.
Unlike the creatures he had summoned before,
The entity he was attempting to call forth now was completely beyond the realm of ordinary beings.
As he carved the final symbol
A searing pain exploded in his skull.
It felt as if someone had slammed a hammer into his head.
Then, a clear, melodic cry echoed throughout the cave.
Golden and crimson hues intertwined, painting a scene of dazzling radiance.
A creature wreathed in divine flames descended into existence.
A Phoenix.
A being of legend and mythology.
Possessing extraordinary powers, capable of rising anew from its own ashes.
Its feathers could be used to craft magical staffs.
And its tearsheld the miraculous ability to heal wounds.
Yukima Azuma shook his head, trying to push through the pain.
Then, he gestured toward the newly summoned Phoenix.
The Phoenix immediately perched on his outstretched arm.
A single, crystal-clear teardrop traced a graceful arc through the air
And landed gently upon Shijo Maki's lips.
Chapter 249: Shijo Maki: Love is Really Difficult
Watching the Phoenix's tear absorb into Shijo Maki's lips, Yukima Azuma still felt uneasy.
Even though he had successfully summoned a mythical creature at the cost of personal suffering
His supernatural abilities were rooted in literary skills.
He could only summon creatures that had appeared in published works and gained widespread recognition.
This Phoenixat most, was merely a slightly stronger-than-usual magical beast.
Would it actually work? That remained uncertain.
Fortunately, after about ten minutes
Shijo Maki's body temperature dropped significantly, returning to normal.
Placing a hand on her forehead, Yukima Azuma finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At the very least, the fever had broken.
Perhaps it was because of his movement,
But her long eyelashes fluttered slightly.
A moment later, a pair of violet eyes slowly opened.
At that moment, they were still in the same position
Yukima Azuma holding Shijo Maki in his arms as he had been checking her condition.
Now that she was awake,
He was about to release her and set her down.
After all, given Shijo Maki's tsundere nature and how easily she got embarrassed
She was bound to make a fuss about it.
But just before he could let go
Shijo Maki suddenly reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.
( )
Feeling the warmth and softness radiating from her slender arms,
Yukima Azuma blinked in confusion.
Since when did Tsundere Maki become so forward?
Shijo Maki, still embracing Yukima Azuma, stared at the boy right in front of her.
"Am I dying?"
( )
Her voice was still hoarse,
Likely from just waking up and not having had any water in a long time.
Hearing her question, Yukima Azuma felt a sudden surge of irritation.
Oh, now she was scared?
What about before?
She had been sick and didn't say a word.
But since she had just barely made it through the worst,
He swallowed back the scolding he wanted to give her and simply said:
"Stop overthinking. You're fine now."
At those words, Shijo Maki let out a small, wistful laugh.
She knew her own body well.
Before she lost consciousness, her fever had reached a critical levelher entire body weak, her head spinning.
Those were extremely dangerous symptoms.
In the wild, facing a fever that severe
Other than physical cooling methods, there was almost no way to treat it.
Yet now, she didn't feel even a trace of pain.
On the contrary, she felt light, almost like she was floating.
Forget the wilderness
Even in the most advanced private hospital with cutting-edge technology,
It was impossible to recover so quickly, leaving no trace of illness behind.
The only explanation Shijo Maki could think of
Was that her body had already been completely destroyed by the sickness.
What she was experiencing now was just the last fleeting moment of clarity before death.
With that sorrowful smile still lingering,
Shijo Maki gazed at the boy before her.
"I really am so pitiful, huh? Just when I finally found someone I truly like."
"Love is so difficult I haven't even done anything yet, it's so frustrating."
"But at least I already kissed him. Even if it was an accident, it was really wonderful."
"Ne, Azuma-kun Can you kiss me one more time? As my final wish."
Hearing Shijo Maki's words
Yukima Azuma's lips twitched slightly.
This girl seriously?!
"Shijo-san, listen to me. You're not actually"
Yukima Azuma was about to explain everything properly.
But suddenly
Tears welled up in Shijo Maki's eyes.
(`)
Large, shimmering drops rolled down her cheeks.
This was clearly her final wish.
Why was he saying such cruel things instead?
Did he enjoy making her suffer?
These thoughts surged in her mind, and her chest ached with grievance.
So
She lifted her head
And kissed him straight on the lips.
Fine.
If Yukima Azuma wouldn't do it, then she would.
After all, she didn't have much time left anyway.
His explanations were blocked by her soft lips, unable to be spoken.
Yukima Azuma widened his eyes.
It wasn't that he had never been forcibly kissed by a girl before.
But a misunderstanding as absurd as this was truly a first.
A sweet fragrance spread right under his nose.
A scent like the most enticing cake, making Yukima Azuma instinctively seize the initiative.
Shijo Maki attacked based on emotions.
But before long, she was completely dominated by Yukima Azuma.
Her heartbeat accelerated, then accelerated even more.
Only when their breath reached its limit did Yukima Azuma finally release her.
Shijo Maki, who had been brimming with momentum just moments ago, was now as soft as a puddle of water.
The kiss had melted her.
And yet, right after, Yukima Azuma suddenly frowned.
This sweet scent, so rich it stimulated his taste buds... why did he feel that it didn't match Shijo Maki's natural fragrance?
He immediately sensed something was off.
"Call... call me Maki, okay?"
()
Shijo Maki spoke softly.
That "Shijo-san" thing felt way too distant.
If possible, before dying, she wanted to hear Yukima Azuma call her name just once.
"Mm, Maki."
Yukima Azuma responded without hesitation.
He didn't intend to explain anything anymore.
After all, in just a little while, Shijo Maki would realize the truth on her own.
There was no such thing as an embarrassment that wouldn't happen.
Who told tsundere girls to never listen when people talk? She deserved this!
Placing her down, Yukima Azuma carefully began to determine the source of the scent.
The sweet fragrance, like cake, was indeed coming from Shijo Maki.
But the true source... wasn't actually her.
Moreover, Shijo Maki herself never had such an overwhelmingly sweet scent.
It was a purer sweetness, fresher.
...
Shijo Maki was left alone in the cave.
Yukima Azuma stepped outside.
Watching Yukima Azuma leave, Shijo Maki had no intention of stopping him.
All of her wishes had been completely fulfilled.
Before dying, she had been able to kiss the person she truly loved, to hear him call her name.
Shijo Maki was already satisfied.
She simply thought that Yukima Azuma didn't want to face the truth that she was about to pass away.
Thinking this, though she wanted to cry even more, there was a bit of happiness in Shijo Maki's heart.
She quietly closed her eyes, waiting for the sensation of losing consciousness completely.
But after a long time...
Shijo Maki opened her eyes.
It seemed... she didn't feel like she was dying?
