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

According to his original plan, he would walk along the ridge, find a road, flag down a car for help, and return to the civilized world in three days at most.

But the all-encompassing ocean before him shattered all his plans into dust.

He looked down at the steel bar in his hand, then at the rocks beneath his feet, and finally turned his gaze to the boundless blue beyond the horizon.

Aoyama thought to himself, "Could it be that I've transmigrated again?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood beside Aoyama, her red eyes fixed on the distant sea, her expression blank.

Her lips twitched slightly, but there was no fear, despair, or even surprise in her beautiful eyes.

She simply gazed at the sea, as if confirming a fact she had vaguely guessed long ago but had always refused to believe.

The wind blew her black hair and brushed against her cheeks.

She said softly, "...No wonder we didn't hear any rescue efforts even after the school bus overturned for so long."

Qingshan turned his head to look at her.

Her profile was almost transparently white in the sunlight, and her eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes.

Her shoulders were trembling almost imperceptibly, but when she turned to meet Qingshan's gaze, she perfectly suppressed that tremor.

"Aoyama-kun," she began, her voice so calm it was almost unreal, "we're trapped on this island, aren't we?"

Aoyama remained silent for two seconds.

"right."

“…”

Kasumigaoka Utaha lowered her eyes, looking down at her toes, and remained silent for a long time.

Qingshan didn't urge her.

He himself needs time to process this fact.

He once thought that he had lived in this comic book world for eighteen years and was familiar with everything. He believed that the school bus accident was an accident, but as long as he remained calm, he could get away unscathed.

But now he realizes that he is no longer in the original comic book world.

Second time travel.

He fell from a slice-of-life comic book world into a completely unknown wilderness.

“Aoyama-kun.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Ok?"

She looked up, and something rekindled in her red pupils.

It wasn't fear, but a bright light called hope.

“Over there.” She raised her hand and pointed to the sea on the north side of the island.

Aoyama looked in the direction she pointed.

About one or two hundred meters from the beach, a huge dark outline can be vaguely seen on the sea surface. It is half-submerged in the seawater, and the part that is above the water is rusted beyond recognition, but its shape can still be identified.

That was the superstructure of the ship, tilted and stuck in the water, like a stranded log.

"A shipwreck?!" Aoyama's pupils contracted slightly.

“Yes.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s lips curved into a very faint smile.

"I originally wanted to cry, but after seeing that ship, I suddenly didn't want to cry anymore."

"Do you think there might be anything usable inside?"

As Qingshan gazed at the sunken ship, his mind raced.

Since the upper structure is still above the water, it means that the water depth is not deep enough to completely submerge it.

"If there are still supplies inside..."

Canned goods, tools, fuel, and even communication equipment.

That was their key resource for survival on this isolated island.

“Yes,” he said, his voice regaining its composure.

"But we need to find a way to get close to it first, and we don't know if there are any dangers in the water."

"Shall we go down the mountain first?" Kasumigaoka Utaha asked.

"Ah."

Actually, he thought of another possibility.

Could it be that, besides myself and Kasumigaoka Utaha, other people have also traveled through time?

Qingshan, deep in thought, turned around and was about to return along the same path when he suddenly stopped.

He glanced at Kasumigaoka Utaha.

Her school uniform was still soaked and clung to her skin, and fine beads of sweat clung to her delicate face. Her lips were pale due to dehydration, but her red eyes held something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Kasumigaoka-kun".

"Ok?"

Aoyama asked curiously, "Aren't you afraid?"

"Stranded on a deserted island, with no rescue in sight and no way forward."

Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head, her red pupils gleaming clearly in the sunlight.

"I'm scared."

"But I'm afraid it's useless, isn't it?"

“And…” She took half a step forward, stood in front of Qingshan, and looked up at him.

The distance between them suddenly shrank to less than a foot. She could see the fine beads of sweat on his chin, and he could smell the scent of sweat mixed with her hair.

"And if I were all alone, I would have broken down by now." Her voice was so soft that it was almost carried away by the wind.

"But Aoyama-kun is still here, isn't he?"

"When you used steel bars to stir-fry the crocodile head yesterday, I already thought that following you would at least allow me to live a few more days."

"Whether it's living a few more days or a few more hours, it's all good."

After saying that, she took a step back, regaining her languid and composed demeanor, as if her words were just casual remarks.

“Let’s go, my great adventurer.” She turned and walked down the mountain, her skirt swaying gently in the wind.

"Let's go check that ship, maybe we can find a few boxes of canned food."

Qingshan watched her walk down the ridge, remained silent for a moment, and then followed after her.

"Oh, right." Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly spoke up again without turning her head.

"what?"

"Don't forget the feeling of my buttocks sinking into you when you pushed me onto the stone platform just now..."

“…”

Aoyama paused for a moment, then continued walking forward expressionlessly.

A wind blew in from the sea, carrying a salty, damp scent, and brushed over their heads.

The boundless forest below the mountain swayed in the wind, while on the other side of the sea, the sunken ship lay quietly on the water, like a sleeping sea beast, waiting to be awakened.

Chapter 7: In other words, she is currently going commando.

By the time the two returned from the summit to the ridgeline, the sun had already begun to set.

The way down the mountain was much easier than the way up. Qingshan was still in the lead, using steel bars to clear away the branches blocking the way, but his pace was noticeably more relaxed than when he came up.

Kasumigaoka Utaha followed behind him, her steps becoming much lighter.

The sweat had dried, and the school uniform fabric, which had gone from being soaked to being half-dry, felt uncomfortable against her skin.

Especially in the areas against the back and chest, the fabric rubs against the skin, creating a sticky and stuffy feeling.

"Qingshan, I want to take a shower," she suddenly said.

"We'll be at the stream soon." Qingshan stopped and glanced back at her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised her hand and brushed aside the black hair that clung to the side of her neck, revealing the slender lines of her neck, where dried sweat still clung.

"I have a question."

"What's the problem?"

"What if a wild boar or snake walks by while I'm taking a shower?" Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head, her tone carrying a hint of her characteristic nonchalance.

Aoyama remained silent for a few seconds.

He hadn't really considered that question.

As dusk falls, the animals in the forest become more active, and the stream is an important water source for various creatures. It is indeed a safety hazard for Shiwa to bathe alone by the stream at Ryuka Hill.

“I’ll keep watch outside. You need to hurry up when you’re washing. You must finish before dark.”

"What a meticulous and thoughtful arrangement." Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled. "Then I'll trouble Aoyama-kun to serve as my temporary bodyguard."

The two walked along the stream towards the Stone Shelter for a while and found a relatively wide section of the river.

The water is about four meters wide, crystal clear, and the deepest part is about waist-deep. The current is gentle, and the riverbed is covered with smooth pebbles.

Dense thickets on both banks form a natural barrier, with open passages only in the upstream and downstream directions.

"This is it." Qingshan looked around and pointed to a large tree upstream. "I'll keep watch over there. If anything happens, just shout and I'll hear you."

"Are you sure you won't peek?" Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly as she looked at him.

Qingshan replied without changing his expression, "No."

"...That was a really hurtful statement."

"If you notice anything unusual, get dressed immediately and call me."

"Safety first."

After Qingshan finished speaking, he turned and walked upstream, sitting down next to the big tree with his back to the stream.

He took out a steel bar from his backpack and placed it across his lap, his eyes scanning the surrounding dense forest, while his ears remained constantly alert to the movements behind him.

The rustling sound of fabric rubbing together.

Then came the sound of water entering the vessel.

With a splash, a soft, shaky sound followed by a suppressed hiss.

"...It's so cool." Kasumigaoka Utaha's voice came, trembling slightly.

Qingshan didn't turn back, but just looked at the interlacing shadows of the trees in the forest ahead.

The sound of water behind me lasted for about five or six minutes, with the gurgling of water mixed with occasional humming.

Aoyama could picture her scooping up the cool stream water with her hands to wash away the sweat from her body.

Then the sound of water stopped.

A moment of silence.

Qingshan frowned: "Finished washing?"

“…Hmm.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s voice sounded somewhat subtle, with a hesitant pause.

"finished Wash."

A dozen seconds later, Aoyama heard the sound of her walking on the shore, followed by the soft sound of fabric being shaken open.

"Aoyama-kun, you can turn around now."

Qingshan turned around.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood on the pebbles by the stream, her school uniform back on. Her wet black hair was draped over her shoulders, and water droplets dripped down her hair, leaving dark water stains on her shirt.

Her cheeks flushed slightly from the cold water, and her lips were more moist than before. She looked much more refreshed, like a fruit washed by the rain.

But Aoyama noticed a detail.