Chapter 23 – Status: Angry.
"I'm happy to see you, but right now we have to treat Ginko."
Jun carried Utaha—walking slowly because he was tired—and Ginko in his arms from the raft that had landed on the beach.
"Ginko-chan!"
Megumi looked at the two people who had just arrived. One of them was a girl who looked like a mud creature (Utaha). The other was being held tightly, and her face was deathly pale.
Her face showed a mix of shock and relief.
"Megumi-neesan... kuhuk... kuhuk..."
Ginko, who had just woken up, coughed really hard. Her voice was rough and her breathing was heavy.
"She has a fever. And it's pretty bad!"
Jun quickly laid her down on a pile of dry straw and looked anxiously at the forest.
"If I'm right, there's a kind of plant that can help with the flu..."
He tried to remember the shape and name of the plant, but he was nervous and couldn't think clearly.
"There should be grass for the cows. The root of that plant is very good for coughs and colds. I'll go look for it!"
Katō Megumi used to be an ordinary high school student, but now she's a botanist.
When he saw his sister go into the forest, Jun was amazed.
Since when did Megumi know about medicinal plants?
Don't tell me...
_ _ _
[Name: Katō Megumi
Hunger: 100/120 (full)
Health: 140/140
Stamina: 90/120
Sanity: 160/160
Skills: Botanist (Passive Skill)]
_ _ _
So it's true… a skill effect, huh.
Jun looked upset. He was surprised that such a thing existed. Support-type skills?
My little sister is becoming amazing.
Jun then started checking the other girls, one by one, to see how they were doing.
However, no other skill screens appeared.
It appears that the game is triggered by hunting or crafting tools first. This might be how you unlock more skills.
On one hand, Jun was happy to find more classmates who were still alive. But on the other hand...
An active volcano, a mysterious giant creature, a tribe of cannibals...
This island might still be hiding many more... horrors that have not been told.
Jun took a deep breath. It wasn't clear what would happen to them in the future.
"Thank goodness... you're safe."
After gently putting Ginko on the straw, Utaha, who had seemed so calm until now, finally fell down.
The sky is getting dark.
The world spun around her. Utaha only managed to lean against Jun's shoulder before she fainted.
"Hey! Are you all right?"
Jun panicked. He realized that Utaha's condition wasn't much better than Ginko's.
Her body was covered in mud, and her left hand looked terrible.
She had an open wound, peeled skin, and a sharp rock stuck in her palm.
"It's so hot..."
Jun touched her forehead. The girl had a high fever. Maybe she caught it from Ginko. Or was it because he was extremely tired?
He quickly lifted Utaha and laid her down on the straw.
But the girl started to mutter like she was in a dream. Her words were hard to hear; they were just a faint, shapeless whisper.
Jun leaned in to hear what she was saying.
But—
"Ugh... it hurts..."
Utaha's right hand grabbed Jun's wrist and held it tightly.
"Wow, she's strong..."
Even when she was unconscious, the girl held on to him tightly, as if she didn't want to let go. Jun flinched a little.
"We have to clean the cut on her left hand right away. If not, it could get infected."
Yukino knelt down and looked at the large cut on Utaha's hand.
"Ugh..."
When I saw the rock deep in the flesh, the blood oozing out, and the peeled skin—
Yukino and Yui both shuddered. A wound like that must hurt a lot.
"Boil fresh water. We need to wash her wound right now."
Jun tried to gently take Utaha's hand, but he couldn't.
"How is her grip so strong even though she's unconscious?"
He didn't want to hurt her, so he let her keep holding on to him.
"Can we use seawater?" Yukino asked.
She just realized that they didn't have much water left after the hut collapsed.
"No. Seawater will make the infection worse," Jun said, shaking his head seriously.
He looked again at the mud on the girl's body.
"But... to wash her body and clothes, seawater should be fine."
"Then I'll go get it!"
Yui immediately offered to help when she saw Yukino go to boil the water.
"Okay."
Jun nodded, but Utaha's hand still held on to him, and he let out a sigh.
This girl's hand is still holding my wrist really tightly. It's even making a red mark on my skin.
He realized that whatever Utaha had gone through with the cannibals must have been very traumatic.
Maybe Ginko survived because of this girl's determination.
As Yukino and Yui worked, Jun brushed Utaha's messy hair aside, even though it was dirty.
The girl's scent was strong.
But remembering the look of fear on her face as she ran away, Jun didn't feel disgusted. He felt admiration.
...Just like Yukino. This feeling is exactly the same.
"Katō-kun, the water hasn't boiled yet. I'm going to help Yuigahama-san first. Watch the fire carefully!"
Yukino returned with her usual cold tone. Her face looked as flat and stiff as winter snow.
Today, I won't forgive you for tying me up, no matter what you say.
"Wait, Yukino—"
Jun suddenly grabbed Yukino's small hand with his free one.
"What is it?"
Yukino tried to pull away, but Jun held her firmly. She couldn't do much, so she finally stopped moving.
Her cheeks and ears were a little red, but she didn't show any emotion.
"I'm sorry about this morning."
Jun gave a slight bow. He spoke with a sincere voice.
"Let go of my hand first!"
Yukino pointed at the hand he was still holding tightly.
"Oh, sorry!"
Jun quickly let go.
"Hmph!"
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't say anything in response to his apology. She just gave a quiet snort, turned, and walked quickly toward the beach.
How embarrassing...
I have to wash these clothes quickly before Katō-kun smells them.
[Yukinoshita Yukino – Affinity: 93]
[Status: Angry]
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