Winter Island Survival Life: Day 9
Survivor Breakdown:
Men: 7
Women: 2
Okama: 3
We've run into a mix of expected problems and the kind you never see coming, but for now, everyone's still alive.
Survival itself is still manageable—about the same as before.
But over the past few days, the group's mental state has started to fray.
There are two main reasons.
First: the issue we talked about earlier—the stress that builds when men, women (and okama) are packed together in one place, with nowhere to go and no privacy.
Second: the fear that keeps growing in the quiet moments.
How long is this going to last?
A few times over the last several days, the wind eased and the sky cleared just enough to make us think—
Maybe we can set sail now?!
The men—especially the hot-headed pirates—refused to listen when we warned them to wait and see, and tried to force a departure.
And each time, within hours, the blizzard came roaring back.
If we'd sailed, we would've lost all visibility out on the ocean, drifted blind, and then been trapped as the sea froze around us—starving, freezing, dying slowly with nowhere to run.
This erratic "False Clear Sky," like a cruel bait-and-switch designed to lure people into their graves, is as confusing as it is treacherous.
Luckily, my Weather Vane lets me sense those false clears to some extent, which has kept us from walking into a fatal trap.
But the real damage isn't just the danger—it's the cycle.
Hope.
Then disappointment.
Again and again, like something is playing with us.
That uncertainty has sunk its teeth into everyone. The fear is settling in: what if we never leave? What if this island becomes our grave, not because we died quickly, but because we simply… never escaped?
The frustration keeps building, corroding people's composure until it looks ready to burst into indiscriminate anger at any moment.
The "sexual urges" situation was only one symptom. It's bleeding into everything—every tiny irritation, every petty inconvenience, every annoyance people used to swallow because survival came first.
Compared to the early days, the base feels tighter. More arguments. More sharp words. Or, on the other end, people withdrawing into themselves, visibly drowning in anxiety and despair.
Each time, Shere, the okama, and I manage to calm things down.
But how long can we keep doing that?
What surprised me most was the pirates.
You'd expect them to be the first to lash out, but lately they haven't been throwing tantrums or venting their rage.
They've been… weakening.
More often than you'd think.
At first, they wore their usual swagger like armor. Rough voices. Big talk. That familiar "we'll do whatever we want" attitude.
But something about them has changed.
Shere and I noticed it and couldn't quite place why it made us uneasy.
Once again, the Big Sisters saved us—without even trying.
"It's simple, really," one of the okama said, joining us during lunch. "They're scared. Just like everyone else. Now that they have time to think, they've finally realized it."
We were eating when she slid over with that bright, gentle smile.
"Mind if I join you, dears?"
The three okama had been considerate from the start. Whenever they sensed someone brooding, they'd drift closer, listen, let them vent, and then soothe them back from the edge. They were the glue holding the group together.
So when she said she understood what was happening, I believed her.
"At first," she continued, "I was so anxious, so desperate to survive, I couldn't think about anything else. Then we found a little breathing room, and my mind started wandering into… mischievous places." She laughed softly. "But after a while, I calmed down. And I started seeing the bigger picture."
"Bigger… how?" I asked.
"Just like you said earlier, Sue-chan. What happens if this continues? Do we even have a future? Like that last False Clear Sky. They were all shouting, 'Let's get out of here now!' But if we'd actually sailed, we'd have died out there, right? We stopped them. That's why we're still alive."
"So they're terrified," Shere said.
"More than that," the okama replied, glancing toward the pirates. "They've realized their judgment was wrong. If they'd done what they wanted, they'd be dead. And they know we saved them by stopping them. That's what's eating at them."
Her eyes were the same ones she used when she comforted Nikolai and encouraged the adventurers—gentle, patient, and unwavering. Even directed at pirates, that tenderness didn't change.
"That's…" I hesitated. "But isn't it too late for regrets? I mean… we're all stuck in the same situation."
"Exactly," Shere agreed. "We divided up the work, lightened the burden, and somehow kept everyone alive."
Even the pirates have been doing their assigned jobs. Of course they have. Slacking off equals death.
As long as they pull their weight, why should they feel guilty?
The okama smiled, almost sadly.
"Even if you understand it logically, boys can be awkward about this. They want to live on their own terms. Choose their own path. Forge their own destiny. Especially the ones who became pirates. Honestly, that stubbornness is probably why many of them became pirates in the first place."
And because of that—
"Even if they compromise, walking their own path is their creed. But when they end up in a situation where they can't—when their lives are effectively in the hands of people stronger and more capable—some part of them starts thinking, 'If those women abandon us, we're finished.' Even if it's an irrational fear."
"So just thinking that…" I said slowly, "…is unbearable to them."
"More anxiety than humiliation," she corrected, "but yes. And they can't show that weakness. They refuse to." She tapped her cheek with a finger. "That stubborn pride. It turns into sharp words and reckless behavior, and it drags everyone around them into an even worse atmosphere."
I see…
Once she said it, everything clicked.
They aren't just violent idiots. Even if they are outlaws, beneath it all, they're still human.
They get scared. They get anxious.
But instead of admitting it, they lash out—making everything harder for everyone else.
It's… pitiful, in its own way.
Still, it doesn't excuse them turning their fear into poison for the whole group.
And if that's truly the root of the problem, then there's only one real solution.
Escape.
We can't change the division of labor now. If we do, we lose the small breathing room we've carved out, and everything collapses back into exhaustion and panic.
So in the end, there's nothing we can do but handle the outbursts as they happen—put out fires one by one.
Just as I was thinking that—
"Hee hee hee! Those silly boys!" the okama sang, eyes glittering. "Well, it can't be helped. How about us Big Sisters step in and lend a hand?♪"
"…?"
She winked, chirped, "Leave it to me!" and headed straight for the pirates.
She didn't tell us what she planned to do.
And I couldn't even begin to guess.
Maybe she'd just listen to them again, like always. Calm them down. Guide them through it.
But that wouldn't solve the root problem, would it…?
…Who am I to criticize? We couldn't do anything ourselves.
By now, the okama felt like wise elders—people we genuinely respected. So we chose to trust them.
They'll figure something out.
I just… felt it.
That's what I let myself believe.
I think I let my guard down.
Everything had worked out before.
Just leave it to them. They'll handle it. There's nothing to worry about.
That's what I was thinking.
We'd made it this far—all twelve of us, not a single one missing!
And then this happened…?!
A few days later, it happened.
Winter Island Survival Life: Day 14
Survivors:
Men: 4
Women: 2
Okama: 6
"Why?!"
"Oh no~, I messed up cutting the meat! Why can't I ever get it right?!"
"Now, now, dearie, that won't do! You're still a beginner—go slow and be gentle, like a kitten's paw. You want to feed everyone with love, don't you?"
"Exactly! No need to rush—take your time. I'll help too. How about you give me half?"
"Hey, Sister, does this seasoning taste right? Hmm… it might be a little stronger than what the Big Sisters usually make."
"That's perfect! The vegetables will release enough water as they simmer, so it'll turn out just right. Now, everyone, let's simmer this gently until it's done! And don't forget to pour in lots of love, darling!"
"Yes, Sister!!!" the okama chorus answered in unison.
Six okama were standing in the kitchen.
And just recently, three of those six had been unmistakably masculine in both speech and appearance.
Now they were chopping meat, dicing vegetables, tending the pot—clumsy, earnest, strangely radiant as they worked.
Hey.
You guys.
What happened to you?
Just the other day you were acting like proper pirates—thugs and outlaws with rough voices and dirty plans. You used to stare at me and Shere like we were meat, whispering about doing something disgusting.
So why are you suddenly looking at us with the same warm, gentle eyes as the okama?!
And their faces—
Every man who had a beard had shaved it clean, leaving those ridiculous blue-tinted stubbles behind.
They weren't even wearing pirate clothes anymore. They'd changed into women's clothes like the okama—well, not exactly the same, but close enough. On their muscular bodies, the outfits looked completely wrong.
Then again, the okama themselves didn't always look "natural" in them either. That wasn't the point.
What was the point?
What in the world happened in just a few days?
What did you do to their hearts and bodies?!
And you, okama—
I had no idea what your "solution" was going to be, but I trusted you. I left it to you!
Sure, you said it was about male pride—that they couldn't show weakness.
But turning them into women to fix it?!
How was I supposed to predict that?!
"We were so foolish before," Sue-chan sobbed, voice shaking. "We thought we were the only ones suffering… we couldn't even consider how others felt…"
"We've been nothing but a burden," another cried, clinging to someone's sleeve. "Causing pain and discomfort… waaaah…"
"Nikolai, I'm so sorry too…" one of them wailed, throwing his arms around the slave boy. "We were selfish. Blind. All we did was hurt you. We made you suffer so much…"
Ah.
So the slave boy's name is Nikolai.
Nikolai stood frozen, unable to process the fact that the pirates who used to treat him harshly were now sobbing, hugging him, begging forgiveness—completely transformed.
He wasn't angry. He wasn't crying.
His emotions simply couldn't catch up.
Honestly… neither could ours.
Shere, the three adventurers, and I just stared, stunned into silence.
And then—
"…Amazing…"
Nikolai's voice was small, breathless.
"Nikolai?" I said automatically, not trusting my ears.
"Even the pirates who terrified me so much…" His eyes sparkled. "They can have such kind hearts. They can change into loving, gentle, strong people… just like you all…!"
Hey.
Why are your eyes shining like that?
Why are you looking at the okama with admiration and reverence?
I knew you liked them. Of course you did. They helped you. They treated you gently.
But there's a line a man—a human—shouldn't cross, right?!
"Can I…" Nikolai whispered, trembling with awe. "Can I become strong and kind like you all? No, I mean… can I become an okama too?!"
"Of course, Nikolai-kun!" the okama cried, arms wide. "We welcome you!"
"Together, let's strive to become magnificent okama—no, let's become Newkama!"
"Let your heart be as pure as a maiden's! Strong, kind, and beautiful! Now, let us transcend gender and journey beyond!"
"Hee-haw!!"
Whoa, hold on.
Just for the record—those three pirates didn't change because they became okama.
The okama guided them. Patiently. Kindly. Sometimes sternly. They told them it was alright to be honest. That it was okay to lean on someone. That they could walk together.
They melted the pirates' frozen hearts the right way.
It's just that…
As a result of opening their hearts too much and unleashing too much of themselves, the three pirates ended up transcending even the barrier of gender.
Winter Island Survival Life: Day 15
Survivor Count:
Men: 3
Women: 2
Okama (now Newkama): 7
And that was the situation the next day.
Nikolai—young-faced and already pretty handsome—still looked the most "normal" out of the group, relatively speaking.
But all seven of them were getting along like they'd been comrades forever. No awkwardness. No hesitation. They fit together as naturally as breathing.
It almost made me feel left out.
Well… no.
Let's… think about it differently.
At least there won't be any more trouble now.
The pirates' greed, their simmering tension—their mental state has been so thoroughly scrambled that those issues have resolved themselves in a… different direction.
Problem solved!
Sure, there are probably a whole bunch of new problems waiting to pop up.
But if we ignore them, they don't matter!
And on the bright side, now we can focus all our attention and vigilance on the remaining three men—the adventurers—and their anxiety and instability.
So this isn't necessarily…
…a bad thing.
Winter Island Survival Life: Day 19
Survivors:
Men: 0
Women: 2
Newkama: 10
This is it.
No, seriously, I thought about this the other day!
The adventurers' mental state—this is what we should've been focusing on!
But that doesn't mean I wanted you to "solve" it like this!
Stop transcending gender so casually!
So I asked, and it turns out the ones who dragged the three adventurers down this path weren't the original three okama.
It was the three pirates who had "reincarnated" as okama.
They couldn't stand watching the adventurers—who were clearly being crushed by anxiety, just like they had been—so they clumsily tried to listen. Tried to help.
The adventurers, moved by their sincerity, opened their hearts. They reconciled. They connected.
And then… they became okama too.
What is this, a contagion?
Why are redemption and becoming okama always packaged together?
And why do you have so many women's clothes?!
What am I even witnessing?
The Okama Hazard?!
I never could have predicted this…
I'm glad everyone made it through.
But how was I supposed to foresee that everyone except the two women would become Newkama?
Women: the Newkama ratio has shockingly become 1:5.
Shere and I are relieved, but now we feel like outsiders. We can't keep up with their energy. At this rate, we'll spend our days permanently out of sync with everyone else…
With a sigh, I thought—never imagining there was more to come.
"I… I envy you all."
Shere's voice was quiet, almost raw.
"The way you can be free, unburdened by concerns about being male or female… that spirit, so strong it refuses to be caged…"
"It's alright, Shere-chan," one of the okama said softly. "Don't force yourself. Just relax and tell me what's on your mind."
"The country I was born in…" Shere swallowed. "To put it simply, it was a male-dominated society. Men became knights to fight and protect the nation, while women were expected to stay home and support their husbands. That was considered natural. The key to happiness."
Her hands clenched in her lap.
"It was tradition. Deeply ingrained. Anyone who tried to challenge it was ostracized. Condemned. Driven out." Her eyes hardened. "I hated that kind of country."
"Even though I'm a woman, I wanted to become a knight. I wanted to fight and protect what was precious to me."
Her voice shook.
"But the person who should've been closest to me—my own family—rejected me. They told me, 'You're not a daughter.'"
She laughed, bitter and small.
"So I left. I became a bounty hunter. I lived by my own wits."
"It's true," she admitted, forcing the words out. "Being a woman means I'm weaker than men. And honestly… I wasn't even talented with a sword. But still… I wanted to choose my own path!"
Just decide already!
Man or woman, strong or weak—none of that matters!
What truly matters is your heart! How do you want to live? What kind of life would let you hold your head high?
Tear down those boundaries! Human potential knows no limits! Man, woman, okama—you can become whoever you want! There's nothing wrong with that!
"But…" Shere's voice broke. "Am I not strange? Wanting to be strong despite being a woman… wanting to live like a man… being a woman who loves another woman—Sue—am I not strange?"
"Strange? No!" they cried. "Humans are free! It's all up to you!"
"What's wrong with loving a man?! What's wrong with loving a woman?!"
"Shout your love with pride! Tell that person how you truly feel!"
"I'm…" Shere looked up, trembling, eyes bright with something desperate and fierce. "I'm a woman, but… can I… can I become as free as you, as them, as her!?"
"You can!"
"You will!"
"Let's make it happen!"
"Welcome! Welcome to the world of the Newkama!"
"Hee-haw!!"
Winter Island Survival Life: Day 20
Survivor Breakdown
Men: 0
Women: 1
Newkama: 11
Why?
How?
But… Shere is a woman.
Okama? Why?
I… I'm glad you like me, but…
I don't understand.
Why?
Someone, please explain.
"Come on, Sue-chan."
"Join us in our world."
"I've always thought you'd look stunning in clothes like these."
"You're so cute, Sue-chan!"
"Exactly! And you have such a great figure!"
"Just imagine how everyone will stare when you dress up and show off your style!"
"Let's learn makeup together and get all dolled up!"
"Let's open a new door."
"Let's become Newkama!"
"It's okay. There's nothing to fear."
"We're comrades, always together."
I stopped thinking.
"…That's what happened back then."
"O-oh."
Years later, at a banquet on Amazon Lily, the Kamabakka Kingdom came up in conversation. I remembered that time and told Hancock and the others about it.
Watching Hancock get completely overwhelmed just from hearing the story was… honestly, pretty funny.
After that, the weather finally calmed down in less than a month, and we escaped safely. But until then, I ended up learning all sorts of things—makeup, cute clothes, cooking, everything.
I guess it was a worthwhile experience.
I didn't become "Newkama" myself, though.
Even after becoming Newkama, everyone stayed just as approachable and fun to talk to as ever. If anything, they became even more considerate and cooperative.
I also got a brief introduction to "Offensive Cooking." Apparently it's taught during Newkama Kenpo training, so I only learned the basics, nothing comprehensive.
Still, I can make dishes that give you a real boost of energy when you eat them now. That feels like a surprisingly big achievement.
By the way, Shere is still working as a bounty hunter, but we've kept in touch. She even visits the Gran Tesoro from time to time.
As for the others—the former pirates, the slave, and the adventurers—they followed the okama to the Kamabakka Kingdom. I wonder if they've become proper Newkama by now.
There were times when I felt overwhelmed and couldn't keep up… but looking back, it was actually a pretty fun time.
To be continued...