The jungle heat had faded into a clammy dusk, casting long shadows over the sandy patch where the group had gathered. After the initial panicking they tried to focus on looking for food.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much to find.
Makoto, arms crossed, sat at the edge of the clearing while the others rustled through bushes and slapped at bugs or in saiko's case sit on a rock and watch them imperiously as if they were ants. " Hey System, Be honest. Will Saiko's GPS save us?"
[System: Negative. The GPS embedded in his shoes and shirt was not waterproof. (´;ω;｀)]
Makoto cursed internally. Great. So much for that backup plan. He sighed, watching Saiko still sitting like royalty on a rock, fanning himself with a large leaf.
"I give it a day before he realizes we're not being rescued," he muttered.
Meanwhile, Nendou and Hairo were shaking a tree.
"Come on, just one coconut!" Hairo grunted, jumping up and swatting the trunk.
Nendou laughed and headbutted it. "Gotcha!"
The tree remained unbothered.
Saiko yawned dramatically, brushing sand from his designer trousers. "This is barbaric. You peasants can forage like rodents. My servants will arrive any moment."
"They're not coming," Makoto mumbled, but only to himself.
Chisato wrung her hands. "I… um… I did already eat all the food from the yacht…"
"We know, Chisato," Kokomi sighed. "We're past it."
"Are we?" Kaidou asked dramatically. "Because I'm close to death."
"You stubbed your toe," Aren said flatly.
Darkness settled quickly. Crickets chirped, and the fire Hairo built with leaves and his last shred of patience flickered weakly. They only had coconuts, there were no berries. Or anything else edible.
"Well," Hairo said, voice too upbeat, "we'll find more tomorrow! Team spirit!"
"Sand is not a bed," Kokomi said through clenched teeth, eyeing a crab scuttling too close.
Saiko hadn't moved. "I'll be picked up before morning. I refuse to lower myself to… sand."
Makoto let him believe it. No one had the energy to argue.
"Where do we sleep?" Yumehara asked.
"Here," Saiki replied, flat as ever, already lying on his back.
So they did. Some curled up on leaves. Others flopped face first into the sand. Nendou snored loudly. Haruka, tied nearby, had long since passed out from exhaustion and yelling.
Only two remained awake.
Makoto crawled silently toward Saiki. "Psst."
Saiki's eyes opened. He already knew.
"Hey," Makoto whispered, eyes big. "I want a shower."
"We're on a deserted island, Where are you supposed to shower?" Saiki replied.
Makoto pouted. "I feel gross." He whined slightly, tugging on Saiki's sleeve. "Don't you care about my suffering?"
Saiki stared at him.
Makoto leaned closer. "Come on, Kusuo. I smell like crab sweat and betrayal."
A pause.
Then Saiki sighed before looking around to make sure no one was looking and In a blink, the beach vanished.
They reappeared in Saiki's spotless bathroom. Warm light. Cool tile. A fresh towel folded on the counter.
Makoto sagged with relief. "Oh my god. You're a lifesaver."
"I regret everything," Saiki muttered.
"I'll be quick." Makoto slipped behind the door. Water started running.
Saiki sat on the edge of his bed, massaging his temples. Of course Makoto wanted a shower now. Of course he caved. What was wrong with him lately?
He could've just said no. He could've teleported him to the ocean and told him to bathe there. He could've ignored the pathetic whining and the ridiculous pout Makoto had thrown at him like a weaponized guilt trip. But no.
Now here he was. Back home. Babysitting his semi feral, island drenched boyfriend, who was currently humming in the shower like this was just a regular sleepover and not a surreal escape from a deserted island after a yacht explosion which he may or may not have caused.
Saiki sighed again and stood up. He eyed Makoto's dirty, sand covered clothes lying in a sad heap by the door. Gross.
Without a word, he floated them up with his powers, dusting off most of the grit and salt. Then he zapped them into the washing machine downstairs. Detergent measured itself, water level adjusted with a flick of his hand. He waited. The dryer buzzed next. Five minutes later, freshly folded clothes drifted neatly into a stack on Makoto's bed.
Dry. Warm. Crisp. Like nothing had ever happened.
He didn't even know why he bothered.
Makoto emerged a moment later from the bathroom, towel slung around his shoulders, hair dripping and skin glowing from the shower steam. He blinked when he saw the folded stack waiting for him.
"Oh," he said, blinking. "You did my laundry?"
Saiki didn't answer. He just raised an eyebrow.
Makoto grinned, soft and smug. "You love me."
Saiki stared. "You're still wet. Don't sit on the bed."
Makoto burst into laughter, walking past him to get dressed, clearly pleased with himself.
Ten minutes later, Makoto emerged dressed in his newly washed clothes.
"You could've warned me you have strawberry scented shampoo," he teased, plopping next to Saiki.
"It was a gift."
Makoto smirked. "You smell like a grandma. A cute one."
Saiki didn't respond.
Makoto yawned. "Oh yeah. Saiko's GPS? Doesn't work. Not waterproof."
Saiki glanced at him. "We're stuck?"
"Pretty much."
"I'll make a way."
Makoto blinked, surprised by the confidence in his voice. "You're really something, you know?"
"Don't start."
"I mean it." Makoto leaned his head on Saiki's shoulder. "Thanks."
A long silence. Then-
"I'm hungry," Makoto whined, the moment ruined as he flopped onto the couch dramatically with a towel still draped over his shoulders. "I almost died today and no one's even fed me."
Saiki didn't move from his spot on the bed, just stared blankly. "You were being annoying five minutes ago."
"And now I'm starving," Makoto huffed, sticking out his lower lip in a practiced, petulant pout. "Do you want me to die of hunger too? You're the only person I can count on right now, baby."
Saiki sighed, long suffering. "Don't call me that."
But he stood up anyway, pulling Makoto with him as he padded into the kitchen, muttering under his breath about dramatic actors and poor life choices. He opened the fridge and pulled out some neatly packed leftover which were rice, miso soup, and grilled fish from last night's dinner. No need for psychic conjuring when his mom's cooking was already available.
A few minutes later, they were seated at the small kitchen table. The microwave beeped. Saiki placed the steaming bowls in front of them and sat down without a word.
They ate quietly. Familiar. Domestic.
Makoto looked entirely too pleased, swinging his legs slightly like a satisfied cat.
"You're not allowed to ask for dessert," Saiki said flatly, preemptively.
Makoto smiled, cheeks puffed with food. "I won't, don't worry."
A few quiet moments passed before he nudged Saiki gently with his elbow. "Can we go back now?"
Saiki glanced at him. "You want to return?"
Makoto shrugged, lowering his chopsticks. "We can't leave them there. Even Haruka," he added reluctantly. "I guess."
Saiki studied him for a second, softened posture, tired eyes, that familiar stubborn glint beneath it all, then gave a single nod. He reached out and rested a hand on Makoto's shoulder.
"Alright."
They returned to the island. The fire had burned out. Everyone was still asleep in awkward piles.
Makoto and Saiki walked a bit further down the beach.
The stars above were brilliant, uninhibited by city lights. Makoto lay back on the sand and sighed.
"Wow."
Saiki joined him.
"You know," Makoto murmured, "this isn't the worst thing. If I were stuck with anyone... I guess I'd pick you."
Silence.
Saiki glanced at him. "I know."
They said nothing more. The stars glittered above. The ocean hummed beside them. Somewhere behind, Nendou snored like a tractor.
But here, under the sky, it was quiet.
Makoto scooted slightly closer Just enough that their shoulders touched.
The next morning started once again, with screaming.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Makoto jolted awake, startled. Something warm shifted against his chest, and then he remembered. He and Saiki had fallen asleep while stargazing, curled up together just a little away from the rest of the group. They'd only meant to stay for a bit before going back to the group. Clearly, they'd passed out instead.
Haruka's shriek pierced through the early morning peace. "STOP CUDDLING HIM, YOU MONSTER!!"
Makoto groaned into Saiki's shoulder. "Oh no."
Saiki didn't even flinch. He remained half asleep, eyes still closed. "Should've thrown her into the ocean"
The others were slowly waking up, groggy and confused.
"Huh?" Kaidou squinted at the source of the yelling. "Is there a demon attacking again?"
"No," Yumehara muttered, rubbing her face. "Just the usual stalker."
Nendou sat up, hair a disaster, and waved. "Morning, Koto! Morning, Saiki!"
Saiko, meanwhile, had dramatically buried himself under a towel he'd fashioned into a cape. "Why are my servants not here yet?" he whimpered. "This is the worst. I'm going to die out here. I can feel my skin drying."
Makoto sat up, brushing sand off his clothes, and called out, "She escaped the ropes again. Someone tie her back up."
Aren sighed. "How is she this strong when she looks like she crawled out of a swamp?"
Haruka tried to lunge forward, still screeching something about mind control, but Nendou casually intercepted her and sat on her. "Stay down, lady. You need a chill pill."
"This is hell," Makoto declared.
Kokomi looked around. "Wait… it's already morning?"
"What do we do now?" Yumehera asked, looking faintly horrified at the sand sticking to her sleeves. "We still have no food."
"I mean, we had food," Kaidou grumbled. "But someone ate all of it."
Chisato looked away. "I said I was sorry!"
"And I said we're going to die out here," Saiko moaned. "I trusted technology! I trusted GPS!" He clutched his gold plated designer shoes. "I had one in each heel and one in my inner shirt! Why didn't it work?!"
Makoto leaned in close to Saiki. "I think he's still in denial that the gps isn't working" he whispered.
Saiki blinked slowly. "Figures."
Just as everyone began descending into bickering again, Nendou let out a gasp. "GUYS. LOOK!!"
He pointed at the horizon, where a massive cruise ship was lazily moving across the distant waves.
"WE'RE SAVED!!" Kaidou shouted.
"LIGHT A FIRE!" Hairo ordered. "BIGGEST FIRE WE CAN MANAGE!"
Everyone scrambled, dragging branches, dry leaves, anything remotely flammable into a pile. Makoto added some of Haruka's rope after confirming she was securely tied again.
Saiki lit it with a casual flick of his fingers, making sure no one was looking.
Flames roared high. The group waved their arms, shouted, spelled HELP in rocks.
The cruise ship continued sailing.
Yumehara's smile slowly dropped. "Did... they not see us?"
Aren shaded his eyes. "I think they're playing volleyball."
Silence. The fire crackled uselessly.
Saiko dropped dramatically to the sand, no longer caring about how the sand will ruin his designer clothes "We're going to die here."
"Is this our life now?" Chisato asked. "Do we just… live here forever?"
"Actually," Nendou said, standing tall, "what if we just swam back?"
"No!" everyone yelled in unison.
Hairo scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Wait. What if… we build a boat?"
Everyone went quiet.
Makoto blinked. "Wait. That's actually not the dumbest idea."
"I'm full of not dumb ideas," Hairo said proudly. "We can use trees, vines, maybe sharpen some sticks! This will be our ultimate training arc!"
Kaidou slowly nodded. "Survival tactics... primitive transportation... this is the spirit of a true warrior!"
"And if it doesn't work, we die," Yumehara added helpfully.
Makoto sat down next to Saiki, staring out at the still ocean.
"What a great vacation," he muttered.
Saiki silently handed him a peeled mango.