Comic strip: Survival on a deserted island, surrounded by heroines

The sea breeze swept away their fatigue from their journey.

Further out, about a few hundred meters from the beach, a ship was perched precariously in the sea.

Its upper structure protrudes about three or four meters above the water, and its tilted angle makes it look like a whale sinking to the bottom of the sea.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood on the edge of the beach, the sea breeze blowing her black hair and brushing against her cheeks.

She stared at the sunken ship, her lips twitching slightly as if she wanted to say something but then swallowed it back.

"...bigger than I imagined." That was all she said at the end.

Aoyama stood beside her, also gazing at the sunken ship, his eyes shifting back and forth between the hull and the sea.

He estimated the distance to be about two or three hundred meters.

The middle section of the seawater is darker, indicating that the underwater depth is at least ten meters.

Swimming across is not impossible, but if you run out of energy or encounter any aquatic creatures along the way, the consequences could be disastrous.

Chapter 18: I understand, Aoyama-kun!

Qingshan said, "We can't swim across."

Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head to look at him: "Making a raft?"

After all, with two knives, making a raft wouldn't be difficult.

Qingshan shook his head and pointed to the sea around the shipwreck: "Look over there, the undercurrents are very obvious, and the raft could easily be swept away."

"So, what does Aoyama-kun mean...?"

Aoyama turned around and looked into her eyes: "Don't forget my talent."

"I was wondering, if I eat enough fish, especially the kind that can live freely in seawater, will I be able to survive underwater without breathing?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha blinked, then a subtle smile curved her lips: "So you want to...catch fish and eat them on this beach?"

Aoyama nodded: "We might have to stay for another day or two."

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't hesitate. She took off her backpack and placed it on the beach, then bent down and took off her shoes and socks, letting her fair toes sink into the soft white sand.

Then she straightened up, the sea breeze blowing her black hair and school uniform skirt. She reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, turning her head to look at him.

"No matter how many days, I will always be with you." Her voice carried a light laugh in the sea breeze. "Let me help too."

Aoyama watched her standing barefoot on the beach, the sunlight shining from the side, casting a halo around her.

Her school uniform shirt clung to her body in the sea breeze, outlining her slender waist and the curves of her chest.

Her skirt fluttered beside her legs, revealing her long, slender, fair legs. Her ankles sank slightly into the fine sand, giving her an indescribable vibrancy.

"....good."

Qingshan looked away and turned to walk towards Manji.

“Let’s start from here.”

"Remember, it's best to catch the same kind of fish."

"I understand."

Kasumigaoka Utaha followed him into the sea.

The cool waves washed over her ankles. She took a deep breath to adjust to the temperature and continued walking until the water reached her calves.

Her school uniform skirt was soaked with water, the fabric clinging to above her knees and outlining the full contours of her thighs.

Qingshan had already squatted down in the pond, his sharp gaze sweeping across the clear water.

He moved quickly, scooping the fish up with both hands in a sudden motion. When he lifted his hands again, there was a palm-sized silver-white fish in his palm, its tail thrashing violently between his fingers.

Article 1.

He put the fish into a circle of water that had been built with stones beforehand.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood not far from him, bending down and staring at the water's surface, just like him.

She was very serious about her posture, but she was clearly inexperienced. She missed several times in a row, and the silvery-white fish slipped through her fingers, splashing seawater all over her face.

"What kind of fish are these? They're as slippery as loaches!" She wiped the water droplets from her face and muttered in frustration.

Aoyama glanced at her, his lips twitching slightly: "I don't know them, but they tend to hide in deeper water."

"Try copying it from the bottom up, and be quick."

"Let me demonstrate."

Qingshan walked over, stood beside her, and bent down.

He looked down at the water, leaned forward slightly, and then plunged both hands into the water at the same time, his movements as fast as a shadow.

When he lifted it up again, he had another fish in his hand.

“…”

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at his gesture, nodded thoughtfully, and then readjusted the angle.

This time she succeeded.

As soon as her fingertips came together, she felt the fish tail struggling violently in her palm. She exclaimed in surprise and quickly put the fish into the water.

"Aoyama-kun! I caught him!!"

Her tone carried an undisguised childlike pride, and when she turned to look at Qingshan, her eyes were bright and moist.

Aoyama nodded: "You've made rapid progress."

"Of course." She bent down to look for the next fish, her movements much more practiced than before.

The two of them spent most of the day working in Manzhouli.

As the sunlight gradually rises, the seawater temperature also increases, becoming warm and comfortable.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's shirt was soaked through, the fabric clinging to her skin, revealing glimpses of her slender back.

As she bent over, her neckline opened slightly, revealing the white curve of her breasts from Qingshan's angle, rising and falling gently with her breath.

"Qingshan-kun, how many are there on your end?" She straightened up and shook the water droplets off her hands.

"9 item."

“I have three here.”

Is that enough?

Aoyama said, "It's still a bit short."

"Then catch a few more."

As Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke, she bent over again, her skirt lifting slightly with her movement, revealing a large expanse of fabric on her thigh that was soaked with seawater and clung tightly to her skin.

Her rounded hips and body curves were particularly defined under her soaked school uniform.

She had a slender waist but full, round hips, and seawater flowed down her legs, glistening in the sunlight.

“…”

Aoyama frowned, realizing that things were not so simple.

The next second he looked away and continued searching for fish while staring at the water.

But that image would always float by in my peripheral vision from time to time.

"Aoyama-kun."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's voice suddenly came from the side, with a hint of urgency, "When you were staring at me just now, I saw it, didn't I?"

Qingshan remained unfazed: "I'm looking at the water."

"The water is on my thighs?"

"cough!"

Aoyama coughed lightly, and thankfully, he was thick-skinned enough that the awkward expression of being caught by the person in question quickly disappeared.

"Ah."

Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled softly and did not continue the pursuit.

She bent down to continue catching the fish, her movements more relaxed than before.

When the sea breeze blew by, the moisture on her body carried a faint salty smell, mixed with the lingering fragrance in her hair.

About half an hour later, the water circle was filled with more than a dozen silvery-white fish.

Aoyama counted them and then called Kasumigaoka Utaha to come ashore together.

"Our mission is complete."

"I understand, Aoyama-kun!"

The two walked back to the beach and sat down under the shade of coconut trees near the edge of the bushes.

Kasumigaoka Utaha tugged at her soaked skirt as seawater dripped onto the sand.

She sat sideways, her legs stretched out, her school uniform skirt, soaked by the seawater, bunching up at the sides of her legs, creating several deep, dark gray streaks.

Sunlight shone on her calves, and water droplets trickled down the sand, spreading out in a small dark patch.

Qingshan deftly prepared a fish with a knife, removing the scales, gutting it, and washing it clean.

He put it in his mouth, chewed slowly, and waited for the virtual panel to react.

[Feeding Log: 1 small silver fish]

Current progress: 2/20

[Ability Unlocked: Underwater Breathing (Fish)]

[Effect: Taking a deep breath allows you to hold your breath underwater for 20 minutes.]

Aoyama thought to himself, "What kind of fish is this? It looks a bit mushy..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha leaned against a tree trunk, tilting her head to watch him eat fish, her expression thoughtful.

After a moment, she suddenly asked, "Aoyama-kun, what does this kind of fish taste like?"

"Very fresh, with a hint of sweetness, and firm texture."

"You should try some too."

Aoyama glanced at her, then sliced ​​a thin piece of fish and handed it to her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha took it, imitated him, put it in her mouth, chewed it slowly a few times, and then raised her eyebrows slightly: "...Surprisingly good, better than I expected."

"Seawater fish are fresher than freshwater fish because they don't have a muddy taste."

Aoyama handed her another piece, and when Kasumigaoka Utaha took it, her fingertips deliberately brushed against his fingers.

The warm touch was fleeting, and she casually put the fish in her mouth, her gaze quickly sweeping over his face.

Chapter 19: Why does breathing oxygen feel so good?!

"The taste is indeed very good."

Aoyama ate three more small silver fish in a row.

With each sip, he felt a slight warm current seeping into his chest from his throat.

[Feeding Log: 5 small silver fish]

Current progress: 5/20

[Effect Preview: Underwater Breathing (Fish) - Continue consuming similar ingredients to complete activation.]

"Aoyama-kun."

Kasumigaoka Utaha sat on the sand next to him, hands behind her back, looking up at the sky. "You said you'd gain the ability after eating twenty, but what if you suddenly feel full when you get to the nineteenth?"

"You won't be full."

Why?

"Because I'm hungry."