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

She carefully folded the stockings and the stepmother's dress, placing them neatly to one side along with the black dress. Then she picked up the palm-sized mirror and looked at her face.

"...Is this me?"

She does look quite different in the mirror than she did a few days ago.

Her cheeks glowed with a fair luster, her lips were a healthy rosy red, and the corners of her eyes held a maturity she herself was unaware of.

The change was subtle and not brought about by makeup or deliberate dressing up.

She put down the mirror and turned her head to look at the green hills.

He quickly and attentively put the canned goods and biscuits back into his backpack.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze slid down his arms, shoulders, and waistline, finally settling on his soaked school uniform shirt.

"Aoyama-kun."

"What's up?"

"You'll catch a cold if you wear wet clothes." Her voice was slightly nonchalant. "Take them off first, and put them back on after they've dried."

"Makes sense."

Qingshan suddenly realized what was happening, glanced at her, and took off his soaking wet shirt in front of her.

His shoulders and back were exposed in the sunset, water droplets rolled down the contours of his muscles, spreading a small dark patch on the sand.

"Tsk~!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared intently, not looking away for even a second.

Chapter 24: This is her reward to him.

Nighttime.

The campfire was lit again, casting a warm glow around the area.

Aoyama unscrewed the two cans and handed one to Kasumigaoka Utaha.

It's stewed pork with beans, and it smells quite delicious. It's a rare treat on this deserted island.

He casually placed the split coconut near the fire to roast, the coconut juice bubbling slightly inside the shell, releasing a sweet aroma.

Kasumigaoka Utaha took the can of food, scooped up a spoonful, and squinted her eyes: "Mmm... I never thought canned food could taste so good!"

“That’s normal. When you’re hungry for a long time, everything tastes good.” Qingshan leaned against the reef and scooped up a spoonful and put it in his mouth.

"That's true."

The two ate quietly by the campfire for a while, the sea breeze stirring up the embers before scattering them into the night.

Kasumigaoka Utaha placed the empty can on the sand, picked up a coconut next to her and took a sip, then turned to look at him: "Aoyama-kun, you've been underwater for so long today, do you feel any discomfort?"

Qingshan shook his head: "I've already adapted to the changes in water pressure and body temperature."

"But you, you waited on the beach all by yourself for so long, did anything happen?"

"Nothing special." Kasumigaoka Utaha put down the coconut, braced herself against the sand behind her, and looked up at the night sky. "A few seabirds flew over and circled around a few times."

"I almost thought they were going to attack me, but they just landed on the tree to rest for a bit and then left."

"That's alright." Qingshan added a piece of firewood to the fire, and the flames rose a little higher, illuminating the outline of her profile.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze shifted from the night sky and landed on the folded clothes.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on the fire-dried black stockings and stepmother's skirt, then, as if making a decision, she stood up.

"Aoyama-kun."

"Ok?"

"That dress... I'll go try it on." Her tone sounded casual, but her ears were already flushed.

After all, she had said she would surprise him.

This was her reward to him.

Aoyama's heart stirred slightly, and he quickly said, "Go ahead, I won't peek."

Kasumigaoka Utaha picked up the folded clothes and walked towards the moonlit rock not far away.

Her pace was neither fast nor slow, but her silhouette, illuminated by the afterglow of the campfire, appeared more tense than usual.

Suddenly, I felt a sense of anticipation.

Thinking of this, Qingshan turned his gaze back to the fire and stirred some firewood.

He pricked up his ears, listening to the rustling of clothes and the slight rustling of fabric behind him.

A few minutes later, footsteps came from the direction of the reef.

"Aoyama-kun..."

"..."

The moment Qingshan looked up, his breath caught for a beat.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood in the moonlight.

The black lace-trimmed stepmother dress clung to her body, the V-neck extending from her full breasts to below her collarbone, the narrow waist outlining smooth curves, the hem barely covering the top of her thighs, revealing a section of her slender legs encased in black stockings.

The stockings extended from her ankles to the hem of her skirt, revealing glimpses of her voluptuous thighs beneath the thin black fabric.

Her long, straight black hair was blown by the sea breeze, a few strands brushing against her bare shoulders, and her red pupils shone brightly in the warm firelight.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood there, her head slightly tilted, as if waiting for his reaction.

"How is it?" Her voice trembled slightly with apprehension.

Aoyama took a deep breath, remained silent for several seconds, and then said, "It's very beautiful."

"Just three words?" Kasumigaoka Utaha was clearly dissatisfied with this assessment.

"There's no need to say too much."

“I think you need to say more.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha took two steps forward. Of course, she wasn't wearing high heels, but her steps still carried a calm rhythm on the sand.

She walked to the campfire, stopped in front of him, and turned slightly.

The hem of her skirt rose slightly with her movements, revealing a delicate lace trim around the edge of her stockings.

"...Sigh!"

Green Mountain's gaze was very discerning and insightful.

Kasumigaoka Utaha noticed the trajectory of his gaze. Instead of dodging, she deliberately slowed down when she turned around, letting that angle linger for a moment longer.

She turned back to face him, her hands clasped in front of her, as if awaiting his evaluation.

"...You definitely did it on purpose." Aoyama swallowed.

"What do you mean by 'deliberately'?" Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head innocently. "I just wanted Aoyama-kun to confirm whether the clothes you painstakingly brought back are suitable."

"Perfect, absolutely perfect!"

"Really?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha sat down next to him, closer than usual.

She bent her knees, wrapped her arms around her calves, and turned her face to look at him.

"So, how satisfied are you, Aoyama-kun?"

Aoyama Suzuyu nodded: "Satisfied enough to want..."

"Qingshan really is..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment, then the pink on the tips of her ears became even more noticeable.

She turned her head away, pretending to look at the campfire, but the corners of her mouth turned up, and she couldn't suppress it.

"Qingshan's straightforward style of play can sometimes catch people off guard."

"Then I'll try a different method next time."

“No need.” She turned to look at him, her red pupils reflecting the flickering flames. “A straight shot is fine.”

The moonlight shone from behind her, and the neckline of her black lace dress occasionally glittered.

Her legs, encased in stockings, rested against the outside of his arm, and he could feel the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric.

The green hills have not moved.

He put down the firewood in his hand and turned to look at her.

"When you walked over just now, I almost couldn't hold back."

"So, Qingshan-kun has finally admitted it?"

"I've always been humbled in your presence!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled softly, her voice sounding exceptionally clear and melodious in the night.

She stretched out her legs, drew a half circle in the sand with her toes, then turned to the side and placed her hands on his knees.

"Aoyama-kun, do you know?"

"what?"

“Your reaction now…” She lightly tapped the unseen area twice, “makes me feel that this dress was well worth wearing.”

"..."

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly.

The V-neckline opened slightly with her movements, the black lace clinging to her skin, casting an ambiguous shadow in the firelight.

Aoyama raised his hand, put it around her back, and placed it on her other shoulder.

Kasumigaoka Utaha did not dodge.

Instead, she moved closer to him, reducing the distance between them to almost nothing.

"Qingshan's breathing has quickened a little bit again." Her voice carried that uniquely lazy tone.

"You found out."

“Of course, the heartbeat too.” She gently pressed her hand on his heart.

Kasumigaoka Utaha quietly sensed for a while, feeling the steady, powerful beating in his chest, and then looked up at him.

The neckline of her black lace dress swayed slightly with her movements.

Aoyama: "Do you know how tempting you are right now?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Aoyama-kun really is something, saying things that make your heart race with such a serious expression."

The laughter wasn't loud; it was half-hidden by the sound of the waves in the night wind.

After she finished laughing, she rested her forehead on his shoulder and muttered, "Sometimes, Aoyama is practically a master of romance."

"Just telling the truth."

"That would be even more of a foul."

She buried her face in his shoulder, and as the sea breeze blew by, she curled up slightly.

Aoyama tightened his grip on her shoulder a little.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked up at him, a strange emotion in her eyes.

Her slender fingers touched his lips, a gesture filled with a unique intimacy.

"Qingshan, you do it..."

The campfire crackled, and moonlight shone on the sand, casting shadows on the two intertwined figures.

The sea breeze swept the sparks into the night sky, then scattered them into the endless deep blue.

Kasumigaoka Utaha leaned on his shoulder, her legs, encased in black stockings, bent at her sides, her skirt lifting slightly with the movement.

She didn't say anything, but quietly leaned against him, watching the campfire flicker and burn.