Slap!
Natsuki gently patted her with his right hand.
The firm elasticity instantly rebounded from his palm.
"…What are you doing?!"
The girl's ashamed voice came from beneath her messy black hair.
"I just instinctively patted it, my deepest apologies," Natsuki said sincerely, apologizing earnestly, then added, "The color of the wound has returned to normal. It's fine now."
After sucking out the poisonous blood from the wound and applying the antidote ointment produced by the game, Yukino would soon be able to jump around again.
Alright.
Actually, the step of sucking out the poisonous blood could be skipped.
Although the items produced by the game were unlabeled, their quality was absolutely guaranteed.
"..."
Upon hearing this news, Yukino didn't hesitate at all, quickly flipped over, and distanced herself from Natsuki.
Yukino, who was always serious and cool-headed, now had messy hair, shy eyes, her pearly teeth biting her lips tightly, and her pretty face was flushed to the point of almost dripping blood.
"...Lewd!"
Yukino tightly covered her skirt with both hands, biting her silver teeth, and angrily spat out two words through the gap in her lips.
Because she had been lying on Natsuki's lap, she could clearly feel the changes in Natsuki's body.
In short, it was super lewd!
Yukino strongly suspected that this boy might have other ways to detoxify, but he deliberately chose the most embarrassing and worst method.
"Yukino, you're so disheartening," Natsuki sighed deeply, his tone wistful, "Anyone with a bit of common sense knows that using your mouth to [beep] is a very dangerous thing. If there's a wound in my mouth, the toxin will invade my body, and then I'll only be able to commit double suicide with Yukino."
"Yukino, you don't think everyone is willing to commit double suicide with you, do you?"
"The fact is, no one else would be willing except for me."
Yukino: "..."
How thick-skinned was this guy to be able to say such things so nonchalantly!
Seeing that Yukino didn't speak, Natsuki sighed again, his voice aggrieved:
"I risked my life to save you, and not even a thank you, Yukino, you even cursed me."
"No wonder people's hearts in this world are becoming colder and colder."
"Good intentions in rescue are not even thanked, but instead are met with suspicion and blame."
"This world is beyond saving, I'm tired, let it be destroyed."
Yukino: "..."
You didn't say a single word, how did you say so much in one breath!
However... she really should say thank you.
When judging people, one should look at their actions, not their intentions.
Although this boy was lewd, he did indeed risk danger to save her. Both emotionally and logically, she should express her gratitude.
Her upbringing since childhood prevented Yukino from comfortably accepting others' kindness.
Taking a deep breath.
Yukino turned her pretty face away, looking elsewhere, then her lips parted slightly, and she whispered:
"...Thank you."
Natsuki showed a slight smile and said:
"Your voice is too soft, I didn't hear clearly. Yukino, say it again, I like to listen."
"..."
Yukino bit her lip, turned her head and glared angrily at Natsuki, then picked up the wood on the ground and turned to leave.
Lewd!
Frivolous!
Shameless!
He likes to push his luck, it's infuriating!
Natsuki picked up the remaining wood and followed Yukino towards the shelter.
Not long after walking.
Several girls hurriedly came from ahead.
"Natsuki-kun!"
"Yukino-chan!"
"It's so good that you two are alright!"
The girl walking at the front was Haruno. Seeing Yukino safe and sound, Haruno couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and explained:
"We haven't seen you two come back, so we were a bit worried."
Yukino shook her head and said:
"Sister, don't worry, we're fine."
"That's good." Haruno blinked her eyes curiously, "But why is Yukino's face super red?"
Yukino: "..."
Why?
Of course, it's because it's too embarrassing!
If our roles were swapped, even you, sister, would surely blush to the point of explosion!
Natsuki explained: "When Yukino and I were carrying wood just now, I accidentally got bitten by a bug. Who knew that bug was poisonous, so it delayed us for some time."
Seeing that Natsuki took the blame for the poisoning, Yukino's lips slightly parted, and she didn't reveal the truth.
It was naturally best not to tell others about the detoxification process.
"Eh, eh, Natsuki-kun was poisoned?" Chika looked over anxiously, "How are you now?"
"Don't worry." Natsuki reached out his right hand, stroked Chika's small head, and said softly, "I'm fine now."
Seeing this scene, Yukino couldn't help but furrow her delicate brows.
Didn't he already marry the future me?
Why... why is he still having intimate contact with other girls?
For some reason, Yukino suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
"Let's keep going." Natsuki glanced at the sky, "It looks like it's getting dark."
"I'll help." Chika clenched her fists, her voice clear, "Natsuki, give me a few pieces of wood."
"Mm."
Chika took the wood, heaved it onto her shoulder with a grunt:
"It's really easy... Let's go!"
"..."
The rest of the journey was silent.
They quickly returned to the shelter.
Natsuki checked the progress of the cave excavation. Although the comfort level was zero, it was barely enough to accommodate everyone.
"It looks like it's getting dark," Natsuki said, "We'll stop digging here for today, prop up the cave with wood, and then go to the sea to bathe."
Upon hearing about bathing, the girls immediately cheered.
Chika: "I've sweated so much, I've wanted to bathe for a long time!"
Tsubame: "I really do want to wash up."
Hayasaka: "Everyone, hurry up, finish quickly, and then go to the sea."
"..."
Bathing in the sea, seawater can actually damage the skin, and one should rinse their body with fresh water after coming ashore. However, this was a survival situation on a deserted island, so naturally no one demanded that much.
After propping up the cave, Natsuki led the girls to the sea.
Below the cliff.
"Same as before." Natsuki clapped his hands and said, "Those who want to climb up can climb by themselves, and those who don't want to can let me carry you up."
Tsubame complained: "There are no protective measures at all, free climbing is too dangerous, isn't it?"
"Actually, as long as you are bold and careful, there won't be any danger." Natsuki looked around and said, "Who wants to go first?"
"I'll go first."
Kaguya stepped forward, glared at Natsuki, and climbed the cliff herself.
After awakening her memories, the mere cliff of less than ten meters was nothing in Kaguya's eyes.
However, while Kaguya could go up, the other girls didn't have the courage to climb up.
At this moment.
Whoosh.
A rope was thrown down from the top of the cliff.
Kaguya poked out her pretty face and called out:
"Grab the rope, I'll pull you up."
However, the cliff face was not smooth; it had many protrusions and indentations. Even with someone pulling from above, climbing was very difficult—secretary Chika, who volunteered to be the first to try, suffered quite a bit.
So, the girls who had originally intended to stay away from Natsuki, hesitated again.
"Don't waste time." Natsuki picked up Tsubame in one swift motion and instructed, "Senpai, hold me tight, let's quickly go up and bathe. It will be more dangerous after dark."
"I, I understand…"
Tsubame's pretty face quickly flushed red, she quickly agreed, stretched out her arms, and tightly wrapped them around Natsuki's neck.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Natsuki naturally couldn't take advantage of Tsubame; he simply free-climbed.
His physical fitness at this moment had already surpassed human limits. He didn't need any protective measures, and even while carrying someone, it still didn't affect his free-climbing.
Looking from afar.
Natsuki's climbing figure was clearly more agile than an ape.
In just over ten seconds, Natsuki reached the top of the cliff.
"Senpai, we've arrived."
Natsuki steadily placed Tsubame on the ground.
As her feet touched the solid ground, Tsubame couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Only then did she open her eyes, her pretty face flushed, and she whispered:
"Thank you, Natsuki-kun."
Natsuki said with a righteous expression:
"Senpai, there's no need to thank me. We are all stranded on a deserted island, so we should help each other and unite to survive."
"Eh?"
Tsubame opened her beautiful eyes in confusion.
What was with such righteous remarks?
Her gaze shifted, and seeing the Sheltered Young Lady nearby, Tsubame quickly understood.
Is it because of... Kaguya?
For some reason.
Tsubame suddenly felt her mood darken.
"Goodbye, Senpai, I'm going to pick up the others."
Natsuki turned and jumped down the cliff.
A moment later.
The girls went to the top of the cliff one after another, leaving only the last girl.
"Shoko..." Natsuki looked at the the timid girl and said meaningfully, "It's you again falling behind. Could it be that you still want me to take advantage of you?"
...
The the timid girl quickly shook her head like a rattle-drum.
Natsuki said: "Everyone is waiting above, so I won't take advantage of you this time..."
Hearing this, Komi immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
But before she could be happy, she heard Natsuki continue:
"Give me a quick kiss, as travel expenses."
...
The the timid girl's black hair trembled slightly, and she couldn't help but look up, seeing Natsuki pointing at his cheek with a mischievous smile.
"...Liar!"
The words came to her lips, but unfortunately, the the timid girl didn't dare to say them out loud.
"Hurry up." Natsuki pointed at his cheek, urging, "Don't make everyone wait too long."
...
Some people, when taken advantage of, will fight back.
Others will only submit, and once their bottom line is broken, they will only let themselves be taken advantage of with a sense of grievance.
Like Shoko.
Hearing Natsuki's command, although unwilling, the the timid girl still obediently stood on her tiptoes, her pretty face flushed, and quickly kissed Natsuki's cheek.
"Not enough." Natsuki pointed to the other side of his cheek again, ordering, "I have symmetrical obsessive-compulsive disorder."
...
Taking advantage of!
Too much taking advantage of!
But there was no way. This Shoko was inherently submissive, and she was isolated and helpless, so she could only reluctantly stand on her tiptoes and kiss him again.
"Next time, be quicker." Natsuki wiped his cheek, ordering, "What if we delay too long and everyone finds out?"
The the timid girl lowered her head in grievance:
"So-sorry... Ah!"
Before Shoko could finish speaking, Natsuki had already reached out and embraced Shoko, carrying her on his shoulder, then climbed up the cliff.
Everyone was present.
They all headed straight for the sea.
"The sea, here I come!"
Chika spread her arms and ran towards the sea.
"Chika, be careful." Kaguya raised a hand to her forehead. "There might be danger in the sea. Don't swim too far."
Even though they were stranded on a deserted island and hadn't awakened their memories, why could they still be so happy and optimistic?
Kaguya couldn't understand.
Perhaps this was what they called an optimist.
Natsuki looked at the other girls and said seriously: "Why aren't you taking a bath yet?"
Hearing this, several girls bit their lips.
Bathing definitely meant taking off clothes; there was no reason to bathe with clothes on.
The problem was, taking off clothes in front of a boy would be embarrassing, wouldn't it?
Stranded on a deserted island, there would naturally be no swimsuits. The girls' clothes only had underwear underneath.
It might not be a big deal in a boy's eyes, but to a girl, underwear and swimsuits were completely different.
Not everyone could be as uninhibited as secretary Chika, bathing whenever she pleased.
Yukino clasped her hands across her chest and said in a cool voice: "Natsuki-kun, please go further away. We want to take a bath."
"This is a dangerous island of Don't Starve." Natsuki said seriously, "If I go too far, what will you do if you encounter danger?"
"Um..." Tsubame covered her chest, hesitating, "Natsuki-kun has a point."
Kaguya stepped forward, her pretty face stern, and said: "I'm still here. The President can leave."
Natsuki said decisively: "As per Kaguya-chan's command, I'll leave immediately."
The girls: "..."
Watching Natsuki obediently walk away, the girls became curious.
"Kaguya-chan, why does Natsuki-kun listen to you so much?"
"What's your relationship in reality?"
"It feels very unusual."
...
Kaguya gently exhaled, and said softly: "It's too troublesome to explain. When you awaken, you'll naturally remember... While I wasn't around, the President might have secretly taken advantage of you, but don't worry, the President will never harm you no matter what."
If everyone were just ordinary people, Kaguya would have already mercilessly drawn a line when she knew Natsuki wanted to start a harem.
But everyone was not ordinary people.
As Players, they never knew whether tomorrow or an accident would come first. Having cleared so many dungeons together, the bonds between them were already inseparable.
On the other side.
Seeing the girls taking off their clothes and going into the sea to bathe, Natsuki also took off his clothes and went into the sea to swim.
The seawater was cold.
But for Natsuki, this slight chill was nothing. It was just a bit lonely swimming alone.
Splash!
Suddenly, there was a splash next to him.
Secretary Chika emerged from the water nearby and called out crisply: "Natsuki-kun, I remembered something!"
Natsuki looked at Chika and said: "What?"
"There must be food in the sea too, right?" Chika's eyes were full of anticipation. "How about we catch ingredients from the sea? I really don't want to eat spiders anymore."
Natsuki nodded and agreed: "That's a good idea, but the fish in the sea aren't that easy to catch."
"I know." Kaguya raised her chin, proudly, "Fish are hard to catch, but things like crabs and shells must be easy to catch, right?"
Natsuki said: "Those things are usually at the bottom of the sea."
"I thought of it." Chika reached out and said, "So, Natsuki-kun, lend me your underwater breathing mask."
"Lending is fine." Natsuki said, "But not for free."
"Eh?"
"Kiss me, and I'll lend you the breathing mask."
"Wha-what!" Chika's pretty face flushed, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "It's just borrowing something, and you're making me do that... How mean!"
Natsuki smiled and said: "Sorry, it's a lender's market, no bargaining."
Chika puffed out her cheeks and said: "I'll go ask Kaguya!"
Natsuki shook his head and said: "Kaguya doesn't have a breathing mask."
"I don't believe it, I'm going to ask." Chika stuck out her pink tongue, turned, and swam away.
A moment later.
Splash.
Water splashed, and secretary Chika swam back.
"How was it?" Natsuki smiled and said, "I told you Kaguya didn't have one, didn't I?"
"Ugh..."
Chika puffed out her cheeks at his words, her pretty face slightly red, and whispered: "Everyone is not far away. That kind of thing will be seen by everyone, won't it?"
Unlike the highly vigilant Yukinoshita, Chika, who grew up surrounded by "love and kindness," would not think ill of people.
When Natsuki previously said they were dating and provided enough evidence, Chika directly believed most of it—
Not only because she was easily trusting of others, but also because of her idiot's keen intuition.
Chika instinctively felt that the boy in front of her was trustworthy and reliable.
This was an idiot's intuition developed since childhood, and Chika was confident it wouldn't be wrong.
"The method is simple..." Natsuki whispered, "You dive into the sea."
"Eh?"
Chika was startled, not knowing what Natsuki wanted to do, but she still obediently dived.
Immediately after, she saw Natsuki follow her down, then swim directly in front of her.
Their eyes met.
Chika immediately understood what Natsuki wanted to do.
"He-he actually wants to kiss in the sea... I'll definitely choke on water, won't I?!"
Chika's pretty face was crimson, and she was about to shake her head in refusal, but unfortunately, Natsuki had already reached out and embraced her, directly kissing her.
It really wasn't comfortable at all!
All those TV dramas about kissing in the water were liars!
Feeling water choking her nose, Chika was about to struggle when she suddenly felt something placed over her head, and her breathing immediately became smooth.
"Hoo..." Chika couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, "I'm saved."
"You're too nervous." Natsuki signaled with his eyes, "Let's try again."
"I don't want to try again at all!"
Chika wanted to refuse, but she couldn't.
Fortunately, Natsuki didn't lift the entire breathing mask, but only allowed Chika to expose her mouth, and her breathing immediately became smooth.
Chika was surprised to find that kissing in the water… was quite interesting.
So much so that in the end, Natsuki ran out of oxygen, was defeated, surfaced to breathe, and then dived into the sea with Chika to search for ingredients.
No way.
Letting Chika act alone was completely unsettling.
Fortunately, the ingredient search trip was peaceful and uneventful, and the two successfully found several shells, sea urchins, and crabs.
Chika was very enthusiastic and planned to continue diving to search, but Natsuki held Chika and shook his head, saying: "It's almost dark; we should go back quickly."