Aoyama used a rebar rod to push aside a dense patch of ferns.
Sweat dripped from his jawline, splashing onto the soil rich with decaying organic matter.
“Aoyama-kun, your pace is slowing down.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s voice from behind was slightly hoarse, yet her tone remained steady.
“Are you running out of energy?
If so, I might be persuaded to let you lean on my shoulder.” Aoyama didn’t even turn around.
“I’m observing the ground.” “There are signs of animal activity near these plants.
If I’m not mistaken, we’re close to running water.” “Oh?” Kasumigaoka Utaha pushed aside a drooping vine, revealing her sweat-dampened profile.
“To maintain such astonishingly keen observation skills at a time like this…
I’m not sure whether to admire you or be wary.” “Wary of what?” “Wary of whether you’re actually a hidden serial killer.
After all, it’s highly suspicious for a normal person to remain this calm after seeing a car full of their classmates’ corpses, don’t you think?” Kasumigaoka Utaha tilted her head, a glint of scrutiny flashing in her crimson eyes.
“But as a novelist, I can understand.” “An excessively rich imagination often requires a corresponding level of rationality to keep it in check.
Otherwise, one would have gone mad long ago.” Aoyama finally stopped and turned around.
His 1.88-meter frame appeared exceptionally tall and lean amidst the dense forest.
Black hair clung to his temples, damp with sweat, but his eyes remained clear and focused.
“Kasumigaoka-san,” he said, his voice steady.
“Your mouth is probably just as dry as mine.
It would be wiser to conserve your energy and water by talking less.” Kasumigaoka Utaha lightly licked her parched lips, the gesture carrying a strange sensuality in the dim light.
“Oh?
You caught me.” “But Aoyama-kun, how many of those berries do you have left in your bag?” Aoyama shifted the weight of his pack.
“Four.” “We’ve been walking for nearly three hours.
Based on a normal adult’s water loss, if we don’t find a source soon, we’ll be showing clear signs of dehydration by tonight.” “What are the symptoms?
Dizziness?
Hallucinations?” Kasumigaoka Utaha asked, continuing to follow him.
“By the way, I still have an unfinished novel outline on my phone.
Too bad it’s broken.” “If I die in this forest, that novel will never see the light of day.” “Just thinking about it is such a shame, isn’t it?” “You won’t die,” Aoyama said, pushing aside the brush ahead of them, his tone resolute.
Kasumigaoka Utaha followed close behind as they trekked through the dense forest for about forty minutes, the terrain gradually sloping downward.
“Listen!” Aoyama suddenly stopped.
“What?” Utaha nearly walked into his back, then she fell silent, straining her ears.
Swoosh…
The faint sound of flowing water reached them from afar, a heavenly melody in the forest’s stillness.
Utaha’s eyes lit up for a moment before returning to her usual languid expression.
“It seems your survival knowledge isn’t just bragging, Great Adventurer Aoyama!” They quickened their pace.
After pushing through one last impenetrable thicket, the view suddenly opened up.
A narrow stream, about three meters wide, meandered through the valley.
Its water was crystal clear, revealing the smooth pebbles on the bottom that gleamed softly in the sunlight.
“Wonderful!” Utaha instinctively took two steps forward, then forced herself to stop and turn to Aoyama.
“Aoyama-kun, should we test the water quality first?
Or just drink?” Aoyama was already crouching by the streambank.
He didn’t rush to drink; instead, he dipped the rebar into the water and observed its surface for a moment.
“Flowing water, no strange odors, clear in color, and aquatic plants growing at the bottom.” He concluded, “It’s safe to assume this is relatively clean spring water!” With that, he immediately cupped his hands and drank deeply.
The icy liquid slid down his throat, like sweet rain finally falling on parched, cracked earth.
Seeing this, Utaha dropped her reserve and knelt by the stream, cupping the water to drink just as Aoyama did.
Only after drinking four or five handfuls did the two finally recover.
Aoyama wiped the water droplets from his face, took the thermos and the box of condoms from his backpack, and tore open one of the condom wrappers.
He carefully held the open end to the stream, letting the water fill it, then tied the top shut.
A makeshift water bladder was complete.
He tore open a second one and filled it with water the same way.
Utaha watched him work efficiently, then remarked after a moment of silence, “…That actually came in handy.” “I told you, in the wild, condoms have more uses than you’d imagine.” Aoyama carefully placed the filled thermos and the two “water bladders” into his backpack, using a piece of clothing to separate them and keep them from jostling too much.
Kasumigaoka Utaha’s lips twitched as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she only gave a soft huff.
“What’s next?” “Finding water is just the first step, right?” Utaha sat on a flat rock by the stream.
The hem of her school skirt was splashed with water, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Aoyama paced along the bank, observing their surroundings.
“We need to accomplish three things before the sun goes down: find a safe campsite, build a fire, and obtain food.” “What about around here for a campsite?” Utaha asked, glancing around.
“We have water, and the ground is relatively flat.” Aoyama shook his head.
“It’s too open.” “Wild animals will come to drink here at night.
Staying here would be like delivering ourselves straight to their cafeteria.” “And look over there.” He pointed downstream.
“There are tracks from a large animal—maybe a wild boar or a deer.
This spot isn’t safe for the night.” They continued walking upstream for about two hundred meters before finding an ideal location.
A massive rock jutted out from the hillside, forming a natural stone overhang.
Beneath it was a patch of dry ground, backed by the cliff face and shielded on the side by shrubs.
The area in front offered a clear view, allowing them to monitor their surroundings.
“This is the spot,” Aoyama said, setting down his backpack.
“Kasumigaoka-san, could you gather some dry branches and fallen leaves around here?
I’ll need a mix of thick and thin pieces.” “I’ll go look for some larger logs and see if I can find any food while I’m at it.” Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up, brushing the grass clippings from her skirt.
“Understood.” “But Aoyama-kun, is it okay for me to stay here by myself?” Aoyama thought for a moment, then pulled the lighter from his pocket and handed it to her.
“Take this to start a fire.
It’ll keep the snakes, insects, and other animals away.” Utaha took the lighter, her slender fingers tracing its metal surface.
“…Be careful.” Aoyama nodded.
“If anything happens, just shout.
I’ll be nearby and able to hear you.” With that, he gripped the rebar and vanished into the dense forest.
Utaha watched his retreating figure and gave a soft huff.
“He’s surprisingly reliable in times like these.” She looked down at the lighter in her hand, fell silent for a moment, then bent over to begin gathering the dry branches.