Today, we decided to split up and explore in two groups.

Me, Shouko the gyaru, and Mashiro the Fenrir would go far to look for things like fragrance.

Chiyu, my childhood friend; Shion, our neat-and-proper head chef; and Minori, the earnest mage, would handle exploring around the base.

“Let’s go, Sousuke.”

“Yeah. Alright, everyone—see you around noon.”

“Have a good trip, Sousuke, Shouko, Mashiro.”

“If you get hurt, come to me right away.”

“Right. Don’t push yourselves too hard. Your safety matters more than anything.”

With everyone seeing us off, we set out.

I should’ve ridden him yesterday too, but Mashiro’s back still felt like it’d been a while.

I wrapped my arms around Shouko’s waist and held on tight so I wouldn’t fall.

“Nngh... O-okay, Mashiro. Same as yesterday—please.”

At Shouko’s words, Mashiro responded energetically and took off running.

The scenery streamed past at a speed that was nothing like walking.

“Mashiro really is fast. He’s helped us with so much... and today, we really do need to build him a hut.”

“Yeah. I think he’ll be happy.”

“And Shouko—sorry it’s kind of like you’re permanently assigned to the exploration team. If you ever want a day off, tell me, alright?”

“Mmm. I’ve always liked going out anyway. But if there’s a day I want to just laze around, I’ll say so.”

“Haha. Do that.”

“Also, Sousuke—you don’t have to try to craft everything, you know? Even now, it’s already way more than enough. And... aren’t you always making stuff for us and for the whole group? You should totally craft things just for yourself too.”

“No, it’s just that what I want overlaps with what everyone wants. Stuff like the house—I crafted that while I was ridiculously hyped.”

“Oh yeah? If that’s the case, fine. But seriously, our house is insane. We’re probably the only ones on this island who get to live in something like that.”

Judging by how excited Shouko looked, it seemed like she genuinely liked it.

And yeah—having people be happy about what you made felt good.

“From that hut on day one... we really leveled up.”

“I did like the ‘everyone sleeping together’ vibe too. It felt like a school trip.”

“There’s no such thing as a school trip with boys and girls in the same room.”

“Okay, true.”

Shouko laughed.

“If there’s something I want next... it’s probably glass.”

“Huh!? You can make glass too?”

“I talked to Minori about it a little, and if we can get quartz, I think we can manage.”

The other materials could already be obtained from things we’d found, like shells and seaweed.

“No way. If we had glass, it’d instantly feel modern. But since it’s stone... if what got added yesterday had been a mine, we could’ve pulled it off?”

Between “water source” and “mine,” the vote for “water source” had blown past half immediately.

If we’d gotten a mine instead, today’s plan might’ve changed.

“Maybe. But I think the water source was the right choice. There are other transfer people besides us, and it’s something everyone needs.”

“...Yeah. That’s so you, Sousuke!”

“No, no. Saying that while we’re not actively searching for other transfers makes me a hypocrite.”

With Mashiro’s nose—he’d found a wild boar with pinpoint accuracy—he could probably find other people too.

For now, we were using that nose to look for citrus scents.

No one had even brought up “searching for classmates.”

Maybe everyone was deliberately not saying it out loud.

“Why? You don’t have any duty to save everyone, do you? Helping someone who’s right in front of you is different from going out of your way to search for someone somewhere else and help them.”

“Yeah... I guess the second one is basically becoming a hero.”

“Exactly. You don’t have to be a hero. Even if you don’t do that stuff, we already know you’re a good guy.”

Honestly, people probably see that differently depending on who they are.

If someone was suffering right now, they’d probably think that if you had the ability, you should save them.

Still, I was happy my friend Shouko was on my side.

“Thanks, Shouko. I feel a little lighter.”

I pressed my forehead against Shouko’s back and muttered softly.

“Haha, don’t mention it. And I’m saying that even though I charged right at you from day one.”

That night, I thought Fenrir had come to the hut—but it had been Shouko and Shion riding him.

“Yeah, that surprised me. But I’m glad I got to see you again, Shouko.”

“Same. I’m seriously grateful to you, Sousuke.”

Because she was that kind of friend, I was glad she’d become a companion.

And that was honestly how I felt.

“Man... when it suddenly turns into serious talk, it’s embarrassing.”

“I-yeah. My face is getting hot...!”

The two of us ended up getting flustered.

And then Mashiro slowed down, stopped, and let out a cry.

“Huh? Here, Mashiro? But—this is just grass.”

Like Shouko said, what was growing in front of us was just grass.

Long blades, countless of them, stretching in curved arcs.

“Let’s try Itemize.”

I had Mashiro let me down, then cut the plant with a stone machete.

Now that I paid attention, it did smell citrusy.

When I Itemized it—

It came up as “lemongrass.”

“It’s lemongrass.”

“Ahh! The one that smells like lemon!”

“Yeah. I think it’s used for herbal tea too. For now, this can cover our citrus scent.”

“Sorry, Mashiro. You nailed it and I still said ‘it’s just grass.’”

Shouko hugged Mashiro and apologized.

Mashiro had Shouko’s chest pressed against him, so he would probably forgive everything.

After that too, we kept exploring and gathering, trusting Mashiro’s nose.

“Seriously... the Fluffy Summoning Ability is insane. If it was just my ability alone, the number of things I could craft would’ve been way smaller.”

“Or maybe it’s just that we’re a good match?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh—wait, no, I didn’t mean—‘match’ like that, I meant our abilities...!”

Shouko’s voice jumped up a pitch.

“I know.”

“A-and as friends too, I think we’re not a bad match either...”

“Our positions in class are totally different, though.”

“That doesn’t matter...!”

“...Yeah. Sorry. None of that matters—we’re friends.”

Shouko’s anger was fair, so I apologized honestly.

“Yeah! ...And I noticed how great you are before Shion and Minorin did...”

Maybe she hadn’t meant me to hear it, because the second half was so quiet I couldn’t catch it.

“Shouko?”

“It’s nothing! Anyway—anything else you want to look for?”

“Mmm. I want water... so maybe the ocean?”

At the word “ocean,” Shouko’s body twitched.

“The ocean’s great! Let’s go! Ocean!”

Looks like her instincts as someone who lives in the light had kicked in.

It wasn’t like this was going to be swimming, though... but still.

“Yeah. Just collecting water would be boring. Maybe it’s fine to play a little too.”

“Sousuke, you totally get it!”

This exploration ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ was also meant as an apology to Shouko, so it wouldn’t hurt to go along with what she wanted.

“Ah, but we don’t have swimsuits... Let’s just play a little on the sandy beach.”

Shouko said it regretfully.

“It won’t be the same as on Earth, but... want me to make them out of linen cloth? Top and bottom, tied with strings.”

“Sousuke, you’re a genius!”

“Haha. Then it’s decided.”

“You’re wearing a swimsuit too, okay? If it’s just me, I’ll be embarrassed!”

“Y-yeah. Got it.”

“Yesss! The ocean!”

We talked like we always did, but...

Would this end up being an “ocean date” or something?

The moment that thought crossed my mind, I started feeling restless. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“Mashiro, top speed! Faster than the wind—let’s go to the ocean!”

“Hey, hey—Fenrir top speed is—WHOOOAAAA!”

I clung to Shouko so I wouldn’t get thrown off.

I didn’t have any room to think about things like how soft a girl’s body was.