Natsuyū extended his fist, palm down, into the middle of the group.
All three girls — everyone except Yukino — stacked their hands on top without a second thought, their faces carrying a quiet, moved solemnity.
Kiana went first, pumping her fist with full conviction: “That’s right — we’re getting out of here.
My deadbeat dad is waiting!”
Ema looked at Natsuyū with soft, warm eyes: “I’ll do my best too, Natsuyū-kun.”
Kushida thought about it for a moment, decided this wasn’t the time for her signature warm smile, let her eyes drop slightly instead — the picture of earnest concern: “I’ll follow your lead, Natsuyū.”
Yukino studied him for a long moment, drew a slow breath, and said:
“Your father was admirable.
He was willing to break his own principles to keep you safe — willing to give his life.
I believe someone raised by a man like that carries the same quality.”
“Count me in.”
And Yukino placed her clean white hand on top — last of all.
Natsuyū looked at the four girls he’d brought together and quietly apologised to them in his head.
It wasn’t a lie — everything he’d said was true.
But he wasn’t the type to casually share his own story to fish for sympathy.
What he’d done had a somewhat calculated edge to it — he’d used their empathy, their guilt, and the trust that came from being let into his confidence, to anchor them to the group.
To make them want to stay.
It was a little underhanded.
But it was good for everyone here.
And it was the right thing to do.
Less than ten minutes from strangers to a unit.
Four difficult girls, all in.
This — is the power of a Todai transmigrator.
His mind wandered for one smug second — a certain someone’s wrist, carnivorous plants, a certain someone’s figure — before he reeled it back in, still smiling.
He pulled his hand from under Kiana’s first.
That one had zero hesitation about physical contact, no self-consciousness whatsoever.
Ema was softer — she’d only put her hand in after watching Kiana go first.
Come to think of it, Kushida had also moved quickly.
She’d even grabbed his hand earlier, completely on her own.
The two-faced type and the white-haired menace can sit at the same table.
“Alright,” Natsuyū said.
“We’re a team now.
And friends.”
“Time to talk about my ability.”
The four girls registered this a beat late.
The earlier topic had been heavy, and then they’d all been swept up into the team-building moment, led right along by him — they’d completely forgotten the most important part.
Natsuyū considered for a moment, then said: “Have any of you played Minecraft?”
He wasn’t hiding it.
He chose to tell them what he could — selectively, but not dishonestly.
Right now what mattered most was solidarity against the dangers of an unknown world, not protecting his hand.
There was nothing to hide.
And Minecraft was famous enough that the moment he used a crafting table or a pickaxe, they’d recognise it immediately.
There was no point concealing it.
If they found out he’d hidden it after the fact, the trust he’d just built would crack.
That was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.
He’d keep two things back for now: the levelling and stat system, and the fact that he already knew their stories.
That was enough.
Act strong, but don’t act so strong you become useless.
That was the principle.
Showing genuine ability while holding back just enough — not hiding so much you come across as weak or untrustworthy.
Very proud of himself for thinking that through.
Then he looked up and immediately deflated.
Yukino shook her head slightly.
“I haven’t played Minecraft.
I prefer to spend my free time reading.”
Ema said softly: “I haven’t played that one either.”
Kiana blinked her big eyes.
“What’s that?
I’ve never even heard of it.”
“…”
Natsuyū opened and closed his mouth.
There are young people who haven’t played Minecraft?
Did none of you have a childhood?
No wonder your lives have been so rough.
People who never played Minecraft are destined to have a difficult time of it.
He shook his head at all three of them internally.
Then Kushida smiled like a little angel: “I’ve played it with friends before — it’s super famous internationally.”
Natsuyū exhaled and nodded at her with something approaching genuine respect.
Finally.
A normal person in the group.
Then again, ‘normal’ was debatable.
He looked at his four extremely-particular teammates, quietly sighed, and explained: This story is hosted at novelping.com.
“My ability is closely tied to Minecraft.
As long as I meet certain conditions, I can do things from the game — things that would break the rules of the real world.”
Yukino’s curiosity sharpened.
“Can you give an example?
And explain the ability in more detail.”
Before Natsuyū could answer, Kushida shot her hand up: “Like crafting iron — or even diamond — weapons and armour!
Is that right, Natsuyū?”
Her eyes were bright with expectation.
“That’s right.
Though I haven’t unlocked those yet.
Once I craft a crafting table from wood, I should be able to make the most basic tools.”
Kiana scratched her cheek, nodding as if she understood: “Got it!”
She hadn’t understood at all.
It just sounded complicated.
Ema said: “Natsuyū’s ability can grow.
We can help cover for him while he develops it.”
She hadn’t quite understood it either — she just instinctively wanted to do something for Natsuyū in return for what he’d done for her.
Yukino crossed her arms, glanced at Natsuyū, and said:
“I don’t think he’s defenceless right now.”
“But his ability is genuinely rare.
A survival game set in the wilderness — and we happen to be in the wilderness.
Someone with crafting and building skills matters more here than a pure fighter.
Natsuyū is arguably the most important one among us.”
Yukino, you do know how to say something nice.
Natsuyū was close to grinning.
Kushida jumped back in: “More than that — Natsuyū’s ability is flat-out the strongest here.
The perfect backbone for the whole team.
Once we find diamonds, even monsters won’t be a problem.”
Yukino turned to Kushida: “And where exactly do we find diamonds in the wilderness?”
“Ah — iron works too.”
“Do you know where to find iron ore?”
“…Stone is also fine.”
“—”
To be continued…