"Let's talk about serious business."
After the banter, Kitahara Makoto's expression quickly became serious.
"Soyo's question was how to leave the Otherworld while ensuring everyone's safety. The answer is that two days later, I will seek help from reality through a dream and have Hana come to help."
"Of course, there are certainly other ways to leave the Otherworld, but they clearly carry some risks."
"Simply put, there are two choices."
Kitahara Makoto held up two fingers and summarized:
"One is the safe route: stay put and wait. Everyone can leave unharmed."
"The other option is to find a way out on your own, but it will involve some risks..."
"Let's vote."
The girls looked at each other. Togawa Sakiko, with one hand covering her chest and the other covering her lower abdomen, quickly spoke:
"Safety first. Compared to life, waiting two days is completely acceptable."
"I support Sakiko's view." Nagasaki Soyo pursed her beautiful lips, "But two days is a bit long... If I suddenly disappear for two days, my mom will definitely be anxious enough to call the police, right?"
Tomori also showed a worried expression: "I didn't tell my parents in advance, they must be very worried."
"That is indeed a problem." Kitahara Makoto said softly, "But don't worry too much. The flow of time in the real world and the Otherworld is not the same. The first time I entered the Otherworld, I stayed for several days, but only one day passed in the real world. If we go back in two days, the sun probably won't even be out yet... It's similar to staying out all night."
Chihaya Anon tilted her head and thought for a moment:
"If it's just staying out all night, the problem shouldn't be big."
"..."
After a brief discussion, the girls unanimously chose the safest route: holding their ground.
Compared to staying out all night, safety definitely came first.
As for their parents' worries and concerns, there isn't always a perfect solution in the world; most of the time, you can only choose one. They would apologize properly once they returned to the real world.
"Then it's decided. We'll hold out on the island for two days, and then wait for Hana-chan to come rescue us."
Kitahara Makoto made the final decision, then said:
"Everyone, let's first find a dry place, enter the game space, and see if we can heal Tomori's foot injury."
Although the wound had stopped bleeding, there was still a risk of bacterial infection. If they had the ability to heal it, they certainly couldn't just leave it alone.
Before leaving.
Kitahara Makoto wrung out the seawater from the remaining bathrobes. Of course, it was impossible to wring them completely dry.
"Next, we'll let these bathrobes air dry naturally." Kitahara Makoto exhaled lightly, his arms feeling a bit sore. "We definitely can't wear them before they're completely dry, otherwise, if we catch a cold or fever, it would be extremely dangerous."
Togawa Sakiko's gaze shifted downwards, her tone somewhat worried:
"Kitahara-kun is wearing a wet bathrobe, is that really okay?"
A still-damp bathrobe tied directly around his waist must be cold and uncomfortable.
"It is a bit uncomfortable." Kitahara Makoto said helplessly, "But I can't just take it off, can I?"
Togawa Sakiko's pretty face flushed slightly, and she turned her head away, saying:
"In an emergency... you can take it off."
Kitahara Makoto looked over in shock:
"Togawa-chan really wants me to take it off?"
"You also said that wearing a wet bathrobe would make you catch a cold or fever." Togawa Sakiko turned her pretty face away, speaking as if it were nothing, "If Kitahara-kun falls ill, what will everyone do?"
"That's right." Takamatsu Tomori was the first to cast a vote in favor. "Sakiko is right."
Nagasaki Soyo covered her chest, her pretty face flushing slightly as she said:
"Indeed, we don't know what dangers we might encounter on this deserted island. Kitahara-kun must not fall ill under any circumstances."
"..."
Chihaya Anon opened her pink lips, but the words wouldn't come out.
These were the shorts she had exchanged for eight kiss coupons. Giving them back like this would not only mean continuing to go commando, but she definitely wouldn't get her kiss coupons back. No matter how she thought about it, it was too much of a loss.
One abstention, three votes in favor.
He hadn't expected everyone to actually be willing to let him take off the damp bathrobe, but now that it came down to it, Kitahara Makoto hesitated instead:
"My physical condition is very good, it should be fine..."
Returning to nature in front of several girls, even if Kitahara Makoto was shameless, he couldn't easily do it.
"Even people with excellent physical condition can get sick." Togawa Sakiko reminded him, "You were the one who just said safety first."
Kitahara Makoto: "..."
Alright, alright, the boomerang landed on himself!
"Since you all say so... I'll really take it off then?"
Kitahara Makoto exhaled lightly, preparing to just give up.
This rocky beach didn't even have a single leaf, so there was no chance to make a grass skirt.
Hearing this, the girls shyly looked away.
"Eh, wait a moment." Chihaya Anon suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "I remember now, Kitahara-kun's backpack seemed to have a towel in it just now."
"Let me see..."
Kitahara Makoto opened his backpack to search and indeed found a white towel.
"I remember now, there was a swimming class this morning, this towel was prepared for the swimming class." Kitahara Makoto looked at the girls, "Do you want to wipe yourselves off?"
"Wipe Tomori-chan's body." Togawa Sakiko gently shook her head, "We're already dry."
"Okay."
Kitahara Makoto handed the towel to Tomori.
"Thank you, Makoto-kun."
Takamatsu Tomori thanked him softly, her face red. With one hand covering her chest, and the other taking the towel, she turned around and began to wipe herself.
"Kitahara-kun can cosplay a sumo wrestler; that towel can be used as a loincloth." Chihaya Anon placed one hand on her hip, proudly raising her chin, "This way, you don't have to worry about exposure, nor do you have to worry about the wet bathrobe making Kitahara-kun catch a cold. Isn't it killing two birds with one stone?"
Kitahara Makoto: "...You really are a talent."
Although it was a wild idea, it was certainly sufficient for an emergency.
After Tomori finished wiping herself, and the girls wiped their hair, Kitahara Makoto then took the towel, turned around, took off the damp bathrobe, and used the towel as a loincloth. Tying it around his waist wouldn't work, the towel wasn't that long.
But it wasn't a big problem; it was enough to cover himself.
"Let's go."
Kitahara Makoto covered himself with one hand, handed his backpack to Anon, and with the other hand picked up the bathrobes from the ground, then led the girls to explore the rocky beach.
This beach wasn't large, shaped like a crescent moon, with only various sizes of rocks and a nearly ninety-degree cliff face. Forget trees, there wasn't even a blade of grass; the environment could be described as quite harsh.
A moment later.
"This must be the place."
Walking onto a dry, large rock, Kitahara Makoto stopped, took out the game disc, and sat down cross-legged. "Let's enter the game space first and heal Tomori's injuries."
The girls knelt down, forming a circle.
Since Hana wasn't present, it wasn't safe for everyone to enter the game. So, after a brief discussion, Tomori was assigned to stay behind and immediately wake everyone up if there was any abnormality.
After the arrangements were made, Kitahara Makoto and the three girls entered the game space together.