Looks like the bath is ready.

As I walked over to Chiyu, I used Crafting Ability to generate a wooden folding screen.

The moment I arrived, I started placing it around the stone bath.

Not so much “anti-peeping”... more like basic consideration.

“So-kun, you’re kind.”

Chiyu noticed and said it in her flat, but somehow gentle voice.

“That’s just normal.”

“I’ll let you peek, as a special exception.”

“...I’ll pass. Also, I made Soap, so use it.”

I also prepared a wooden bucket for scooping hot water and an earthenware plate to set the Soap on.

“Soap...! So-kun, I love you.”

Chiyu took the Soap and held it up like it was a treasure.

“Yeah, thanks.”

Since the flow of the conversation made it obvious she was joking, I could brush stuff like that off.

No, that’s a lie—my heart does jump a little, but I can still act calm.

“And... a basket for your clothes?”

“Yep. Oh, right—use this as a towel. Also, you don’t need to worry about changes of clothes.”

As I handed her my former undershirt, now acting as a towel, I explained the method for cleaning clothes, too.

When she finished listening, Chiyu didn’t react.

She froze.

After waiting a few seconds, she suddenly hugged me.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, and her full chest pressed against my chest.

A faint scent hit my nose—sweat, and her scent.

“So-kun, you’re a genius.”

“I-is it really that big a deal?”

I mean, I wouldn’t want to bathe and then put sweaty clothes back on, either.

It’s no surprise Chiyu would be happy she can avoid that.

“Ah.”

Chiyu pulled away from me and her cheeks reddened.

“W-what is it?”

“I’m happy you can clean my clothes.”

“Yeah.”

“But... it’s a little embarrassing if you have to see them first. Like... my underwear.”

Yeah. She’s right.

If Chiyu told me to hand over underwear I’d just taken off, I’d be embarrassed too.

“Um, I’ll try not to look, and I can store them without touching them directly, so don’t worry.”

Chiyu looked up at me from under her lashes, like she was shy. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

“...You won’t sniff them?”

“Why would I sniff them?!”

When I snapped back without thinking, Chiyu did something rare—she let out a small laugh.

“...Then... put them on your head?”

“Like hell I would! If your childhood friend was that kind of pervert, you’d hate it too!”

“If So-kun really, really insisted... I could allow it.”

“...N-no. I won’t sniff them or put them on my head.”

This childhood friend of mine is way too forgiving, even as a joke, and it’s hard to handle.

Her tolerance is just too wide.

Well, if I actually went, “Yay! Sniff sniff!” I’m sure she’d finally get disgusted—but still.

I set up a wooden basket for her clothes, and to make it easy to add water, I placed a wooden barrel and a stand right next to ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ the bath.

The barrel had a cork-like lid on it, and when you take it off, water comes out.

“...So-kun, were you always this good at being considerate?”

My childhood friend looked a little surprised.

“No, it’s just... having this ability makes me want to make all kinds of things.”

“...If people find out you’re this much of a gentleman, you’ll be wildly popular.”

It sounded like a joke, but her voice also carried something anxious.

“If we make it back to Japan, won’t the ability disappear? Then I’ll go back to being the same unpopular guy.”

In stories where you return from another world to Earth, sometimes you keep your abilities.

So it’s not like the possibility is zero, right?

“So-kun’s charm isn’t your ability.”

“Ha-ha. Thanks.”

I took it as encouragement and stepped outside the screen.

“It might be embarrassing under the open sky, but once you take your clothes off, put just the basket outside.”

“Roger.”

I watched her snap a crisp salute, then lifted the folding screen and set it in place.

Now I couldn’t see anything.

“...While I’ve got time, I should increase our stock of roasted mushrooms.”

Since time doesn’t pass inside Inventory, being able to store them while they’re still freshly roasted is huge.

Along the way, I stored the clothes she slid out through gaps in the screen into Inventory, cleaned them, and put them back in the basket—but I was weirdly tense the whole time.

Like I was trying to drive out stray thoughts, I stared at the campfire and sank into my own head.

Chiyu’s bath took a while, but thanks to Crafting Ability, I didn’t get bored.

If anything, to make more things, we should probably gather anything and everything.

And since unlocking Recipes seems to depend on my imagination too, it would be incredibly helpful to have companions who could supplement the knowledge side.

Other things I want are raw strength and hunting ability.

We do have simple weapons even now, so they’d probably help to some extent against other people, but...

Speaking of hunting—bows...

Those seem hard to handle, so maybe a crossbow?

But the recipe isn’t unlocking, so something is missing.

For a bowstring, what do you even use if you’re getting it from nature?

I can hold out because it’s still the first day, but the desire to eat meat is going to get stronger with each passing day.

Not like I can suddenly hunt.

So for now... fish, maybe.

“So-kun, I’m done.”

Before I knew it, my childhood friend—back in her cleaned uniform and shoes—was coming out of the bath.

Her wet, silvery-white hair glittered in the firelight, and her slightly flushed skin looked so glossy it made my heart jump.

“A-ah, okay. Then I guess I’ll go in too.”

“Yeah. Here—towel.”

She held out the towel she’d used on her skin.

I took it on reflex, then realized afterward I could’ve put it straight into Inventory without touching it.

I quickly stored it.

If I re-place it now, it’ll come out dry with no moisture left in it.

“You can eat dinner first.”

“Aren’t you eating yet, So-kun?”

“Yeah. I was thinking about the ability.”

“Then I’ll wait.”

“Okay. I’ll be quick.”

“Enjoy your childhood friend’s leftover bathwater.”

“You really have to say things like that...”

If she says it, I’m going to start being conscious of it.

Since I’m always the one getting teased, I decided to get her back.

“If it’s you, Chiyu, I’ll let you peek as a special exception.”

In response to my teasing, Chiyu nodded like it was obvious.

“Got it. I’ll peek properly.”

“Hey!”

“Also, I want you to lend me your clothes too. I’ll sniff them and wear them.”

“Like hell! And I’m not sniffing your clothes!”

I might not be able to beat this childhood friend.

I retreated toward the bath.

And then I ended up screaming when Chiyu came to peek exactly like she’d declared she would.

After my bath, I ate dinner with Chiyu.

We dried the towel by storing it and placing it out again a few times, and both of us got the moisture out of our hair properly, drying it fully with the help of the campfire too.

“This is probably the most fulfilling first day of deserted island life, and I bet it’s just us.”

“I didn’t hear everyone’s answers, but... yeah, probably.”

There’s definitely someone who acquired an ability to produce food, so maybe we lose to them in terms of meals.

But in terms of quality of life, we’re probably number one.

Come to think of it, what kind of aircraft did the person who asked for an airplane get?

Even if they could fly it and actually take off, would they be able to get back to Japan?

With so little information right now, it feels insanely risky.

Still, it could probably function as a usable base, so it wouldn’t be completely worthless.

“Everything is thanks to you, So-kun.”

“You’re the one with magic, and I pushed myself because of that too. It’s mutual.”

At my words, my childhood friend shook her head.

“No. That’s not it. Back then, you grabbed my hand.”

“...Ah. That.”

It’s not like I knew that if we were touching, we’d transfer together.

But maybe my reflex action really did pay off.

“Back then, you still thought it was a dream. And even in a dream, So-kun would save me.”

“...”

At some point, the sun had set, and it was night.

“Should we... sleep soon?”

Chiyu looked at me like she was checking my reaction.

Her eyes were moist, and they reflected the firelight, sparkling like jewels.

“Y-yeah.”

Swallowing hard, I nodded.