The afternoon was devoted to assisting in the area around the hideout.
When we have spare time, we collect rocks from the roadside and step in to help when someone needs a hand.
After finishing work, I went to Arisa.
Arisa’s working hard at sea fishing.
She’s sitting on the bank made of rocks and stretching her rod towards the sea.
「 How’s the catch? 」
「 It’s going swimmingly! I’m already on my second bucket 」
Behind her is a huge earthenware bucket.
Inside is seawater, and fish she caught swimming.
A second bucket means that the first one is already overflowing with fish.
Even though the bucket is large, it’s still something that Arisa can carry by herself.
Therefore, the bucket had to be replaced after a few fish entered.
If it’s overcrowded, the quality of fish will decrease.
「 I don’t think you count it like that 」
「 Who cares, you don’t need to worry about it 」
Arisa turned to me and replied.
Her expression is smiling, but her eyes are serious.
She stares at the sea, focusing on her fishing.
「 This bucket has enough, and I’m going to replace it with a new one 」
「 Thanks! Oh, but let’s have a chat first. I’m always alone here so I want someone to talk to 」
「 Sure 」
I sat next to Arisa.
Between the two of us was her water battle.
It’s a bamboo water bottle made by the handicrafts group.
It’s light to carry, with hardly any water inside.
While at it, let’s refill her bottle.
As I was thinking that, and other stuff, Arisa started speaking.
「 Hokage, have you made moves on women apart from me? 」
「 Pfft! 」
I spat out on reflex.
「 What kind of topic is that? 」
「 Just tell me 」
I paused to think.
I talked about this with Mana before.
「 Define “made a move” 」
「 Haa? Are you trying to change the subject? 」
「 That’s not it, if someone asks you out and you accept, does that count? 」
「 What if I say it does? 」
「 Then, I’ve already made a move on everyone but Arisa 」
Arisa replied “thought so”
I thought that she’d say something with a bit more tension.
For example, saying “You stud!”
「 Then, if I say that it doesn’t count? 」
「 Then I didn’t make a move on anyone 」
「 Does that mean they were all the ones who made the move first? 」
「 Yep. The guy won’t be asking in this environment 」
Although, that’s just the beginning.
After the second time, I’m often the one inviting.
「 Yet, you’re not making a move on me?! Even though you’re a stud! 」
「 You want me to? 」
Arisa thinks.
Then, “I wonder.”
「 I don’t get romance you see. How do I say it? Men are so indulgent of their lust, you know? That’s why I’m a little scared 」
「 True 」
I’m a guy, so I get what Arisa’s saying.
「 And I’ve almost been raped before 」
「 The senior from your part-time work, right? 」
「 Huh, how did you know? Who did you hear that from? 」
Arisa’s surprised.
She finally looked straight at me.
But, she hooked a fish so she goes back to the sea.
「 Heave-ho! There we go! 」
She’s reeling while making a self-arranged song she heard somewhere.
The bamboo pole looks like it’s about to break any moment.
Still, the rod didn’t break and Arisa caught the fish with ease.
The bend on the rod was amazing, but the one caught was an okay size.
Arisa removes the deer bone hook from the fish.
Then, she tossed the fish into the bucket.
I applaud, saying “Good job”
After a brief moment of praising Arisa’s skills, I returned to the subject.
「 About that question of yours, I haven’t heard it from anyone 」
「 Then, how did you know? 」
「 You said it yourself 」
「 When?! 」
「 Several months ago. Before coming to this island. You were talking to Mana during break time 」
「 Hey, hey! You were eavesdropping?! 」
「 I don’t even need to eavesdrop to hear it. You were talking right next to me 」
Or rather, Arisa was talking right in front of me.
They were talking at my desk.
That’s why I listen to her talk while staring at her ass.
I was still a virgin back then so that much got me erect.
That’s why I didn’t move.
「 God! Now that you mention it! 」
Arisa puts down the fishing rod.
Seems like she’s done fishing.
She faced me.
「 Speaking of which, do you remember the promise we made right after coming to this island? 」
「 Promise? 」
I tilted my head and Arisa was clearly dejected.
「 No, forget it 」
She looked so dejected that I corrected myself.
「 Just kidding, I remember it 」
「 Really? 」
「 Really 」
Although, I’m not sure if the promise she’s talking about and the promise I remember is the same.
That’s why I set up by saying “sorry if I misremember it”
「 It’s about going on a date after we return to Japan, right? 」
Arisa’s face brightened up.
「 That’s right! That’s the one 」
Seems like I got it right.
I feel relieved.
It’s hard to get it wrong in this situation.
「 The promise was to do normie stuff together 」
「 Yeah, I remember that 」
「 Despite that, you just went off and became a normie 」
Now she goes and headlocks me.
Arisa’s fist is grinding my temple.
「 I’m not a normie 」
「 Says someone who just fucked every woman except for me 」
She ground my temple for a while.
Between you and me, the pain was just okay.
「 You better remember it! I plan to lead you on various things, but Hokage’s been getting laid in the past few months so once we go to a date, you’ll have to lead like a man 」
「 I’ll try what I can 」
「 Good! Let’s go back, the day’s setting! Carry the bucket 」
「 Sure 」
We returned to our hideout.
(Speaking of which, it’s been a while since I talked to Arisa)
I look at Arisa’s face as the setting sun illuminates her.
I gaze at the nape of her neck, visible thanks to her ponytail.
This is the lust of the young boy.
「 Hey, don’t stare at someone’s face too hard. I know that I’m cute 」
「 It’s only Arisa who’ll say that she’s cute 」
「 That’s because it’s true 」
I laughed and agreed.
For some reason, Arisa’s cheeks blush.
「 I-I wonder what the handicrafts team’s trump card is! 」
Arisa changed topics.
「 I heard that they’ll unveil their ace up their sleeve after dinner. 」
The handicraft team repeatedly announces their aces.
They always exceed our expectations and surprise us.
That’s why we’re looking forward to what kind of amazing thing they made again today
Maybe it’s this, that? Our brains imagine.’
–Dinner time.
Meiko, the leader of the handicrafts group unveils their new ace.