episode_0095

“Sit here.”

At Ichinose’s call, Rohan straightened his back and stood up.

Perhaps because of the warm light from the wood fire, Ichinose’s expression looks softer than usual.

“Hurry up. You’re not going to make me do it three times, are you?”

Rohan approached Ichinose without saying a word.

Sit down in the seat where they knock and tell you to sit.

“···.”

They try not to cross over, using the clothes laid out as a mat and a boundary line, so they secretly touch each other.

It would be comfortable if two Ichinoses were sitting together, but with Rohan, who is a large man, sitting there, it is an unavoidable situation.

“Isn’t it cold?”

“Not at all. There is still some moisture on the clothes, but they are warm because there is a fire.”

“If you catch a cold, you should consider the exam over. You have to take good care of yourself.”

“Hehehe··· You’re living in luxury on a deserted island thanks to your good partner.”

Ichinose hugged her knees and turned her gaze toward the bonfire.

A spark that was on the verge of death by its own hands but miraculously came back to life by Rohan’s touch.

The fire, which has grown in size, is doing its best to keep the space warm by eating up the firewood.

“I don’t know how Noah is doing. I’m worried because he gets sick easily when he’s hungry.”

“Don’t worry too much. They might be out and about, looking for hidden food.”

Ichinose snickered as if she had imagined it.

It’s better to think positively than to worry about things that can’t be solved.

It’s just not that easy.

“I told Noah that if he couldn’t stand it anymore, he should just peel off the sticker, so I feel a little relieved. The effect was stronger than I thought, so I was surprised.”

“It’s not just Noah, it’s us too. If you can’t stand it, you have to get rid of it.”

Ichinose slowly moved his head and looked at Rohan.

I don’t know about myself, but judging by my actions today, I think Rohan will have a hard time enduring the next five days.

‘···.’

As each moment accumulates, I become more and more curious about Rohan’s past.

However, asking a Southerner about the past is tantamount to triggering trauma, so it is certainly not a topic to be brought up lightly.

‘For now, just knowing that I have a strong partner is enough.’

Ichinose closed her eyes, feeling a sense of peace as her tension eased.

We continued our small talk, feeling the warmth of his touch against our skin.

“There were some things that could be expected from the fact that the uninhabited island was the testing site.”

“It felt like they told me this on purpose at the academy.”

“So I watched a video of a mercenary who was a survival expert with Noah and borrowed a book.”

“Oh! There’s something like that?”

“I’ve learned a lot of theories and knowledge here and there… but what I feel is that experiencing it in reality is so different.”

“The difference between theory and practice is similar in any field. But if you stay away from theory, there will be parts that you can’t solve.”

Rohan sympathized, snapping a branch in half and thrusting it into the flames.

“I remembered it when you said theory. Was the written test okay?”

“Thanks to you, I solved it as best as I could. I didn’t have time to scribble in the corner like I did during the placement test.”

“That’s great.”

“I’ve been bothering you every day, so I guess I should do this much.”

“I never really thought it was annoying. There were a lot of sharp questions, so I often had to look back on the theory.”

Continuing the small talk.

Rohan ate his meal and reached out to grab the sticks and kindling he had collected so diligently.

There are some that got wet, but if we use them sparingly, I think we’ll be able to get through today without any problems.

“Still, education is··· more about physical experience than books···.”

Ichinose’s voice, which had been continuing the conversation, changed into a muttering.

The voice gradually becomes smaller and weaker.

It was late at night, when I would normally be asleep, and I felt hungry and thirsty.

As the desire for stickers increased, the concentration of the desire to sleep increased without brakes, so Ichinose, who was nervous about the unfamiliar environment, couldn’t hold back the drowsiness.

“···.”

Rohan looked at Ichinose in silence.

The sight of someone nodding off while hugging their knees.

After just a few seconds there, he lowers his head.

Although he appeared to have his eyes closed as usual, he was clearly asleep.

‘Well, it’s understandable that you’d be sleepy.’

Because Rohan is holding back the urge to pull down his eyelids.

It was a strong impulse that made me fall asleep the moment I lost consciousness.

Still, Rohan had a knack for it. He kept spinning memories in his head that would make him drowsy, so he seemed like he could easily last a day or two.

“···.”

Let’s look at Ichinose’s profile again.

Then I start to think.

‘Should I let you sleep?’

Wouldn’t it be difficult to pursue a concept like night watch today?

I decided it would be better to let him get some rest and regain his condition.

How long did you keep the campfire burning by adding firewood like that?

“Ugh···.”

Ichinose’s body slowly tilted and her head rested on Rohan’s shoulder.

“!”

Rohan came to his senses.

This is an event that could happen on the subway. It’s a refreshing shock that will completely shake off your sleep.

“If you sleep like this, your neck will hurt. Sleep comfortably.”

Rohan moved slowly, supporting Ichinose’s head with his palm, intending to move away and lay Ichinose on top of his clothes.

As he was trying to escape, Ichinose grabbed Rohan’s shirt while breathing regularly.

“Instructor··· This time, I···.”

Rohan snickered at Ichinose’s sleep and tried to let go of her hand.

My expression immediately broke and I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

‘What is this?’

Even if I try to release the shirt starting from my little finger, the fist that is tightly clenched won’t budge.

How many times did he swing his sword to produce such evil power without using any magic power?

If I force it out by applying more force, I feel like I might get a cut or injury to my fingers.

“···.”

In the end, Rohan is left with only one choice.

‘Stay still.’

*****

‘Oh.’

When Ichinose woke up.

The first thing I saw was a bonfire burning with a fist-sized flame, emitting a faint warmth.

There is a lot of ash piled up because of how much firewood was burned.

‘It’s quiet···.’

The next thing that occurred to me in my half-asleep state was that the pouring rain had stopped.

Even without seeing it with your eyes, the gentle sound of the wind that you can hear makes you realize it.

I wondered if I should sleep a little longer. My head was feeling hazy and unorganized.

I close my eyes again, feeling strangely comfortable.

At that moment, Ichinose was falling back into the pit of drowsiness.

The girl was struck by curiosity as if she had been struck by lightning.

‘Come to think of it?’

When did you fall asleep? What are you using as a pillow now?

Slowly feel the sensation.

Cutting something solid and wide. Something that is warm and unknown, even though it is an object.

‘···.’

Is it okay for this to happen? I hesitated to open my eyes due to a subtle sense of anxiety.

Even so, Ichinose can’t avoid it.

When you close your eyes, the senses become clearer with your unique skills.

Forcibly absorbs information from the surroundings.

‘Surely not… right?’

Ichinose reluctantly opened her eyes. She turned around to look at the ceiling made of rock.

Rather than the ceiling, the first thing I saw was someone familiar.

“Did you sleep well?”

Rohan, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, looks down and greets.

Ichinose, unable to accept reality, blinked blankly.

Rohan continued to explain the situation calmly.

“The sun has just risen. I woke up at a perfect time.”

“···.”

Ichinose absentmindedly fumbled with his hands.

He realized that what he had been using as a pillow was actually Rohan’s thigh.

As soon as I accept it, my consciousness goes blank as if a flash grenade has exploded.

“Ah···? Aah···!!”

Ichinose’s lips trembled, and her face gradually turned red.

Did the heat build up to its limit and cause an explosion?

Ichinose jumped up as if she had been thrown.

“I feel good this morning.”

The beginning of the second day.

Rohan smiled in satisfaction at the sight of Ichinose brimming with energy.

··

··

“The ground is a bit wet and I feel sick.”

“···.”

“I wonder if I’ll see the horned bird today. I can’t eat geroai or mud slime.”

Rohan acted as if nothing happened.

Ichinose followed behind with her mouth shut and her sword in hand.

“If that doesn’t work out, how about going to the sea and going fishing?”

“That, that’s okay too!”

After several attempts, Ichinose finally opened his mouth.

The head is tilted downwards, but it looks like it will recover in a little while.

“Ichinose, have you ever been fishing···? ”

As Rohan’s conversation was interrupted, Ichinose slowly opened her eyes.

The place where your partner’s gaze is directed is the sky. You look there as well.

“···What is that?”

Only then did Ichinose realize what had happened.

The sky after the transport ship passed by.

Something is coming down slowly.

The number of them is so large that it can be called a large quantity. They are not just one, but are spread evenly throughout the island.

A square box hanging from a parachute, spewing red smoke as if it were nothing.

Rohan opened his eyes wide at the familiar form that he could not ignore.

‘Air resupply!’

Rohan recalled what the protagonist had said on the transport ship.

A word about spreading supplies for everyone to see.

This is a part that was promised in advance.

“Maybe it’s popular?”

“Ah! There was definitely a story like that.”

“That’s the closest one.”

Rohan pointed to one supply with his finger.

Immediately changes the direction in which you are moving.

“Just a moment.”

At Ichinose’s voice, Rohan stopped walking.

Looking back, Ichinose looks questioning with her eyes closed.

“Since it’s such a conspicuous object, there’s a chance it might run into other groups, right?”

“I guess I have to assume we’ll meet unconditionally.”

“What are you going to do?”

Ichinose’s question had a clear meaning.

Rohan’s answer was also concise.

“The instructor said that he would understand armed conflict that did not cross the line.”

Ichinose nodded, saying she understood.

Rohan and I started moving.