Next day after establishing the fishery
It’s finally the 39th day. August 26, Monday.
It’s Monday, but we decided to take a day off.
It’s a day off to make up for the fact that we worked yesterday despite being a day off, but most of all…
「 It’s been two weeks now 」
「 Mizuno-kun 」
It’s been two weeks since Mizuno Eitaro left the hideout.
The island across the ocean is our main target at the moment.
AS an accomplished triathlete, he’s on his way to the island to scout it out.
「 If he doesn’t come back after two weeks… 」
I recall what Mizuno said.
I kept thinking about the day where he would come back and here we are.
Everyone’s starting to think that he might not come back.
Even so, we can’t just give up.
「 We’ll stay on the beach just in case 」
We decided to consume our precious day to wait for Mizuno’s return.
◇
After breakfast, we deployed along the coast in pairs.
However, due to circumstances, the Asakura sisters and Yoshi Okada are a trio.
「 If we’re deploying in pairs, why don’t we wait together instead? 」
An outsider would ask.
Don’t wait with two people, just leave one to do the work.
Everyone knew that it would be efficient that way.
Despite that, we’re not doing it.
That’s how much emotion prevails over rationalism.
We don’t want to do something else while waiting for the friend who risked his life to jump into the rough sea.
Therefore, we sat there and looked out in the vast sea.
「 Just spending our time sitting here makes you think of things 」
Mana’s sitting next to me, grasping her knees.
She slants her upper body and leaned her left shoulder against mine.
Then her head went to my shoulder….not
「 This world is so hectic 」
I put my arm around Mana’s waist.
「 It’s too late to say, but this is nice scenery, don’t you think? 」
「 Yeah 」
We’re at the top of the cliff where our hideout is.
The sounds of waves crashing echo from below.
I hear the cry of monkeys from behind.
They’re working on the rice field under Mana’s instructions.
They’re also working for us, taking care of the ducks.
「 Hey, Hokage 」
「 Hm? 」
I reach for the gourd I brought.
I’m thirsty so I drank water.
「 Who else have you done lewd things with? 」
Pfft!
I spat out the water I was drinking.
Some of them got stuck in my throat that I choked wildly.
「 W-What’s with that sudden question? 」
「 You’ve made your move on other girls, haven’t you? 」
「 No, well, that’s… 」
I’m hard press for an answer.
I don’t want to lie, but I can’t tell her the truth either.
「 I guess that wasn’t the right way to put it. They invited you, right? Hokage, you never do it on your own. Even with me 」
「 W-Well, yeah… 」
「 You don’t have to hide it. I’m not angry that you’re doing lewd things with other girls. We’re not dating after all. Besides, everyone else noticed it too. That Hokage’s doing that 」
「 Really? 」
That was basically me admitting it.
Although, she won’t believe me even if I deny it.
「 Girls can tell. Sofia’s the easiest one to figure out. You had sex with Sofia the day before yesterday, right? 」
Bull’s eye.
I had sex with Sofia the other day.
「 W-Well yeah 」
「 Who else did you do it with? 」
「 ………… 」
It’s hard to answer that.
Although, Mana seems to want to know it.
If I remain quiet, she’ll change her question.
「 You’ve done it with Eri? 」
「 Done what? Lewd things? 」
「 Is there anything else to ask? 」
Mana’s getting irritated.
I trembled in fear.
「 No 」
「 Thought so. So, you’ve done it with Eri? 」
「 Yes 」
「 What about Arisa? 」
「 Well, I was hugging her when I was helping her out fishing, does that count? 」
「 Nope. Even kissing is safe. I only count using hands or mouth to squeeze it out, and the next step 」
She meant sex.
「 Then, no 」
「 Eri’s out, Arisa’s safe. What about Karin? 」
「 Did 」
「 You’ve done it with Hinako too, right? I can tell even without asking 」
I thought so.
After feeling pleasure on the boat, her attitude changed clearly.
There’s no need to look at it objectively as you can see it clearly.
「 You’ve done it with Meiko too, right? 」
「 Well, yeah 」
「 Then, Sofia, and Amane. I guess Amane’s safe 」
「 Huh, well, about that… 」
「 Wait, you’ve done it with Amane? 」
Mana’s surprised.
I nodded.
「 I guess that’s too far. I guess Arisa’s the only safe one 」
「 I don’t know what to say when you call them “out” when they’ve done something with me 」
Mana laughed and apologized.
「 Still, I guess that’s expected of you Hokage. I get why everyone’s falling for you 」
「 Falling for me? It’s just sexual urges, right? I’m just the right one to deal with their lust 」
「 That’s not the case though 」
Mana replied immediately
「 If that was the case, then they’d do it with other men too, am I wrong? 」
「 True. You’re right 」
「 Hokage, you’re much more attractive than you think you are 」
「 Hearing you say that makes me happy, thanks 」
「 But you’re enjoying it too much! It’s making me jealous! 」
Mana puffs her chest.
「 Even if you say that, I can’t just refuse when asked 」
「 So kind of you 」
「 I just have a high lust. I’m an 18-year-old man after all 」
Then, the conversation ended.
We kept quiet and looked for Mizuno.
However, nobody that looked like Mizuno came to view.
Time flies, and it’s noon now.
We returned to the hideout to eat our lunch.
At lunch, the pairs reported.
「 I see 」
In the end, none of the pairs found Mizuno.
We finished our solemn air lunch and went back to our post.
「 At worst, I hope that he’s still alive, but… 」
I’m thinking of reasons why Mizuno hasn’t come back.
For example, the natives on the other side of the island hold him captive.
Or maybe he got injured and can’t come back right away.
On the other hand, he might find it difficult to return because the sea is much rougher than he imagined.
The worst of these cases is death.
He might’ve died for any number of reasons.
Sadly, death is most likely the reason.
「 That’s our limit 」
Midday ended, and it’s evening.
The summer sun is stubbornly persistent, but that’s how far it goes.
The night is finally starting.
「 Let’s go back 」
We stood up and returned to the hideout.
We were the first ones back and later, everyone else also returned.
As each new pair comes back, the faces of each member show realization.
The expressions of everyone in the hideout were all gloomy.
「 Something happened, I knew it 」
In the end, Mizuno Eitaro hasn’t come back.