Chapter 22: Escape
"Yukinon?"
Yui looked confused as Yukino suddenly ran out of the cave.
She almost chased after her to ask what was going on, but Megumi quickly grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Perhaps it isn't the best moment to bother her."
Megumi watched the girl run with a red face and hold her stomach. She could guess what kind of issue Yukino was facing just from that.
Although it seemed like the ropes had been tied tightly before, when freeing her, Megumi carefully checked that despite the strength of the vine ropes, there were no bruises or injuries on Yukino's body.
It looked like the person who tied her had done it very carefully.
"Not the right time... wait, do you mean..."
Yui was a good person, so it wasn't surprising that she quickly understood what the "not very comfortable" earlier might have meant.
Even Yukinon can have those moments.
Yui couldn't help but smile.
"Megumi-chan! There's writing on the wall!"
Yui pointed to the stone wall inside the cave, as if she had just discovered a new continent. Even though the light inside was very dim, I could still see the writing faintly.
Megumi, who was checking the cave's supplies, looked up.
She moved a little, letting more light from outside into the cave. Then, she examined the writing, which seemed to be made with plant-based liquid.
"Ni-san...!?"
She saw a signature at the end of the message.
Groo's loud roar sounds like this:
While Megumi was reading the message, the ground shook violently.
"Earthquake! Let's get out of here!"
The whole cave shook. Yui almost fell because of the sudden jolt.
"Yeah! Hurry!"
Megumi wasn't expecting a real earthquake, so she immediately grabbed Yui's hand and ran out of the cave.
Luckily, the earthquake wasn't too strong. Though their steps were uneven, and their bodies felt unsteady, the two managed to get out safely and arrived at the open beach.
"It doesn't seem like an earthquake... but a volcanic eruption from that island!"
Even though the ground was still shaking a little and the waves were irregular, Megumi started to calmly figure out the situation.
Thick smoke rose high in one direction. Megumi recognized the direction as the one they had been on before.
A loud rumbling sound was heard from far away. Black smoke covered the sky, and waves began to hit the ocean surface more forcefully.
"That's the volcano you mentioned, Megumi-chan?"
Yui looked at the sky, which was beginning to get dark due to the volcanic ash. The shaking stopped, and she started breathing normally again.
"It seems like that island was really formed from an underwater volcanic eruption a few years ago..."
It's no surprise that the animals started migrating earlier; they probably sensed this eruption coming.
Megumi looked off into the distance. Amidst the thick smoke, flashes of fire could be seen, showing that this eruption was dangerous.
_ _ _
In another part of the story, Yukinoshita Yukino was in a... rather sad state.
She had just started to "relieve herself" when the volcanic eruption caused a tremor, making her stumble to the ground. As a result, her skirt and underwear got wet with... well, things better left unsaid.
"Earthquake?!"
Yukino was used to living in a country where there were a lot of earthquakes, but she still felt scared when she felt an earthquake in the middle of an activity.
She had a red face and looked disgusted. She finished her "task" and put her underwear back on. Now they were cold and damp. Her heart was filled with rage.
That's not fair!
Yukino wanted to bite that big liar right away. She also wanted to rip his chest open, tear out his heart, and drink his blood.
All this—if not for Katō Jun—would not have happened.
She wouldn't be so unhappy.
She cleaned the mud off her body and her skirt as best she could. Then she walked away from the spot, looking sad and angry.
The shaking had gotten stronger for a moment, but now it had calmed down. It was strange.
Hopefully, the cave hadn't collapsed. All the important supplies, including the lens that could start a fire, were still stored in the box inside the cave.
Yukino was tempted to wash her dirty skirt in the ocean, but she decided not to. Instead, she ran back to the cave to save the supplies.
_ _ _
"Yukinon! Over here!"
Yui waved when she saw Yukino come back.
"Yuigahama-san!"
Even though Yukino's hair was a mess, she felt a little better when she saw a familiar face.
"The cave... didn't it collapse?!?"
Yukino was shocked when she saw that the wooden rack she and Jun had built had completely fallen apart.
"I'm not sure yet, but it doesn't look like it. It was just a small tremor caused by the volcano erupting."
Megumi pointed to the thick smoke in the distance.
"Eruption?"
Yukino looked at the direction she pointed, her face showing shock.
"That's right. By the way... was it Yukinoshita-san? May I ask... where did my brother go?"
Megumi knew from the message on the cave wall that her brother, Katō Jun, had tied Yukino up.
"You're Katō Jun's little sister? Katō Megumi?"
Yukino felt angry just from hearing the name.
I'm still wearing wet underwear, you know!
No! I must be patient! She was the daughter of a well-known and respected family. Yukino kept her anger in check and reminded herself not to curse in public.
"Unless absolutely necessary..."
"Yes, I'm Katō Megumi. Thank you for taking care of my brother..."
From the message she read earlier, Megumi could tell that her brother, Katō Jun, and the girl trembling with suppressed anger before her had a rather "close" relationship.
"Ha ha... don't turn it around. I should be the one thanking you for taking good care of me!"
Yukino gritted her teeth as she replied. She still felt like her body was emitting a bad smell.
"In any case, thank you for saving me... Katō Jun is currently..."
Yukino wanted to be honest, but then realized that if she told the truth, Katō Jun's sister might get into trouble. So, she decided to hide the fact.
"He's exploring the forest out back. He should be back soon."
"Just exploring?"
Megumi thought that sounded too "simple," considering how her brother had ended up tying up a girl like Yukinoshita Yukino.
She looked a little upset, and she didn't really believe Yukino's explanation.
_ _ _
"Run!!!"
As his attack hit the giant bear, Katō Jun immediately ran toward Kasumigaoka Utaha and Sora Ginko.
The bear could get better at any moment—this was their only chance to escape.
"Yes!"
Utaha nodded seriously, then helped Ginko stand up. They started running, but their steps were slow and shaky.
"Senpai..."
Ginko felt like she was dreaming. She never expected to see Katō Jun again. Jun was someone who had never left her thoughts, even during her darkest days.
Though her body was still weak, a faint blush returned to her pale face.
"Ginko! You two are too slow!"
Jun reacted quickly because he saw that the other player was going too fast. He lifted Ginko into his arms and crouched down.
"Hop on my back! I can run faster this way!"
He had already activated his skills. Now, he felt like he could go on forever.
"Okay."
She wanted to protest, but she couldn't. How could a skinny guy carry two girls and still run? This situation didn't allow for hesitation.
Utaha climbed onto Jun's back and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
"Hold on tight!"
Jun jumped up at once. He ran like a train, quickly and forcefully, through the forest.
"Amazing... he's really strong..."
Utaha was openly impressed. The young man, who was once timid and thin, has now become a hero, saving them from a terrible situation.
It turned out that their "prince" wasn't the big bear; it was this young man carrying them.
Even though she was still weak, Utaha felt more alive than ever when she was on Jun's back.
Shortly after, they arrived at the riverbank where the raft was parked.
"Quick! Get on the raft—we'll escape down the river!"
Jun lowered Utaha, then gently lifted Ginko onto the raft.
"Ready!"
Utaha could now see hope—and freedom—waiting at the end of the river. There was no more fear.
However,
GROAAAAAAR...
The tremor came back. The ground shook violently, almost causing Jun to fall into the mud.
Unfortunately, Utaha slipped and fell into the river mud. Her body was covered in mud from head to toe.
"Are you OK?"
Jun immediately pulled Utaha out of the mud, panicking.
"Ah—pthh... blegh..."
As soon as she opened her mouth, Utaha spat out mud and sand that had gotten in.
"Let me help! I'll lift you up!"
Without hesitation, Jun carried her and jumped onto the raft. He didn't care how dirty she was.
It was unclear why the tremor had returned, but now wasn't the time to seek answers. The bear might be catching up soon.
"Uuh..."
Utaha couldn't speak clearly, but from her gaze, Jun knew she was thanking him.
"Sorry, we need to escape first. Once we're safe, we'll clean you up."
"Uuhh...!"
Utaha shook her head, but not strongly. She didn't care about being clean. What mattered was that they were alive.
Then, with shaking hands, she pointed to the back of the room.
Heavy footsteps began to echo from within the forest. The bear was coming, and it was a familiar rhythm.
Jun didn't hesitate. He pushed his pole into the riverbed, moving the raft into the current, then began paddling as hard as he could down the strong current.
A few moments later...
A big, long-haired bear stood on the side of the river. It's breathing heavily and its eyes are red and bright.
But there was nobody there. Its prey had disappeared.
"ROAAAAARRR!!!"
The bear roared in frustration. Its cry echoed deep into the forest, shaking the whole valley.
One of its eyes was completely blind.
That long-haired creature had officially become a blind bear.
_ _ _
"This isn't fair..."
The ground and river were still shaking. Was this an earthquake?
Katō Jun immediately thought the worst.
Yukino was still in the cave! Could it be...
His face showed tension. He had to go back to the cave right away!
Damn it!
But the raft was now moving quickly down the river.
"Senpai, it's really you..."
Sora Ginko's face started to look healthy again, but just as she felt better—
"Cough! Khuukh...!"
Suddenly, she started coughing really hard, like her lungs were about to burst.
"Oh no! Don't tell me Ginko's cold has turned into pneumonia!?"
Utaha, who had just washed her face in the river, immediately turned around. Her face showed worry.
"Pneumonia?"
Jun touched Ginko's forehead.
"It's burning hot!"
"She's had the flu for several days now..." Utaha said gently.
"Damn it! It's because of that weak cage and the rain we had at the time! Damn cannibals!"
Jun understood. Ginko must have caught the flu from being held in that open cage, and from the heavy rain a few days ago.
"We need to warm her up right away!"
Jun paddled as fast as he could. But Ginko's body slowly went limp.
Her face smiled weakly, then she fainted—happy to have reunited with her "senpai."
______
[Name: Sora Ginko
Hunger: 45/110 (full)
Health: 40/100
Stamina: 20/100
Sanity: 60/120]
______
"Yukino! Are you okay?!"
As soon as the raft reached the shore, Jun jumped off and ran toward the cave.
Seeing Yukino standing calmly in front of him, Jun could finally relax.
Thank goodness she was safe.
But how did she get out of the vine bindings and leave the cave?
Jun was confused.
"Hmph!"
When Yukino saw Jun's panicked face, her anger disappeared.
But that didn't mean she forgave him right away. To get back at him, she stepped on Jun's foot.
"I'm doing well! I'm doing well, Katō Jun-kun!"
Yukino didn't immediately lift her foot, so Jun had to put up with the pain and smile wryly.
_ _ _
"Ni-san!"
A cheerful voice came from inside the cave. Megumi, who was reorganizing the supplies, came out as soon as she heard Jun's voice.
"Megumi..."
Jun stopped for a second. The girl he had longed for was right in front of him.
I'm still alive. He even rescued Yukino faster than he did.
Without saying a word, the two siblings hugged each other tightly.
Yukino finally lifted her foot. A scene like this… was so heartwarming that it was hard to interrupt.
"Finally... Katō-kun really came..."
Yui, who was also there, smiled happily at the siblings' reunion.
"Yuigahama-san is here too... So you two rescued Yukino? Thank you so much…"
Jun felt bad about letting Yukino almost get buried alive.
"Yes! I'm happy to meet a classmate on this island!"
But...
Yui looked at Yukino.
Why did Katō-kun call Yukino without the "-san" honorific?
Their relationship seemed more than just friendship.
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