Trapped on a Terrifying Island, This Good-for-Nothing Just Wants to Survive

1.

After serving hot tea to everyone, Airi wrapped herself in an apron, preparing to cook.

“Do you need help, Airi-chan?” Aden jumped behind Airi and hugged her, much livelier than she had been in the car.

Airi gently pried Aden’s hands off and deadpanned, “Absolutely not. Has little Aden forgotten how she almost started a fire in the kitchen last time? If you really want to help, why not go next door and call Nagareta?”

“Airi is so mean, always teasing me about that…” Aden pouted, complaining, “Then I’ll go get Nagareta!”

“Go ahead, but don’t scare the kids next door. Rin-kun, could you please keep an eye on her?”

“Sure.” Rin accepted the task without any further words.

“Okay, okay, Airi… I’m not going to eat the kids, how could I scare them?” Aden stuck out her tongue and pulled Rin outside.

Once the “hot and cold duo” left, Airi started busying herself in the kitchen.

They seem to have a good relationship. It appears that the “Deity’s Child” isn’t as unapproachable as Kasahara Sasa said. But what caused the rift between her and Kasahara before the disappearance case?

Soon, the duo returned, followed by a girl with pale skin, fair as cream, only a few years older than Airi and the others. Her brown eyes, shadowed by long eyelashes, seemed to be in deep thought, adding a melancholic aura to her appearance. The most striking feature was her wavy, soft, long hair, shimmering chestnut under the light.

She bowed gracefully to the newcomers: “Hello, my name is Nagareta Kimura, an apprentice assistant at the rescue station. Pleased to meet you!”

A Japanese surname with Eurasian features, she must be mixed-race. Genji remembered Minakawa-senpai mentioning that Yeh Island had many foreign laborers stranded there and several generations of immigrants settled there.

Genji stood up to greet her and exchanged names.

Nagareta glanced at Airi, who was clattering around in the kitchen, and smiled at Genji: “It’s great that Airi has made a new friend. She’s not very good at socializing. I hope she hasn’t made you uncomfortable?”

“Not at all!”

Except for that arrow, which was a bit scary, everything else was fine.

To avoid awkwardness, Genji quickly changed the subject: “Speaking of which, the Cicada Hiding Shrine also runs a charitable organization. That’s impressive.”

Hearing someone take an interest in the rescue station, Nagareta’s eyes lit up: “Yes, our mission is ‘to provide support to the widowed, lonely, orphaned, single, and disabled.’ We offer various assistance services to the disadvantaged. Airi helps out when she has time, we’re short on staff here.”

It seems Cicada Hiding Town isn’t as idyllic as it appears, hiding severe social inequality. Vast wealth is concentrated in the hands of prestigious families, thus Soshie Town has expansive, fertile estates, yet the Cicada Hiding Plains lack even decent farmland and factories.

Without substantial agricultural or industrial areas, where do the townspeople work?

The institute in “South Yeh” prohibits town residents from entering freely; even security personnel and cafeteria staff are specifically recruited from outside the island. Even without access restrictions, the plant factories and cultured meat facilities in the park are fully automated, eliminating the need for farmers and workers. Perhaps some areas still require manual operation, but students are sufficient for those tasks.

As for small handicraft workshops and the service industry, they mainly cater to neighbors, institute staff, students, and public servants, with limited capacity and unable to accommodate many unemployed.

For example, Endomuki, the town’s only inn and restaurant, mostly hosts guests from the institute and official organizations like the town hall, police station, central hospital, and public schools. They don’t employ many chefs or waiters, and the Endomuki family has to do much of the work themselves.

Dr. Pak runs a private clinic, Sasa’s brother used to be a broadcaster for the town council, and some people set up stalls or unload goods at the docks, but how many are fortunate enough for that?

In today’s world, the rule is that those who do not work shall not eat. If one can live comfortably without working, either their family is wealthy, or they’re living in a dream.

Curious, Genji asked, “Can I take a look after we eat?”

Nagareta seemed delighted at the request: “Of course, you’re welcome to visit!”

2.

Airi finished cooking and reminded everyone to wash their hands. Nagareta laid the tablecloths and helped bring the

dishes.

Aden looked around the table, murmuring, “It feels like something’s missing…”

“Five dishes, one soup, and rice, that’s quite a lot already. Do you want to raid the whole of Soshie Town?” Rin smiled wryly.

“Want this?” Airi magically produced a bottle of sake from behind and waved it in front of Aden.

“Little Tiger Fang” nodded affirmatively. She narrowed her eyes, hugging Airi and pretended to kiss her, “Ah, Airi-chan knows me best!”

Airi gently pushed Aden away, urging in a low voice, “Weren’t you hungry just now? Let’s eat.” Then she returned to her seat.

“I’m digging in——!” Everyone put their hands together and started to enjoy the meal heartily.

The pickled cucumbers were sweet and sour, crisp and refreshing. The roe konbu rolls were fresh and slightly spicy, stimulating the appetite.

The salt-grilled mackerel had been sprinkled with fresh lemon juice beforehand to remove any fishiness. Dipped in soy sauce with grated radish, the tender grilled fish became even more delicious.

The karaage chicken was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a golden color and perfectly fried in chestnut flour. One bite revealed boneless, juicy chicken thigh meat.

The chawanmushi was rich with ingredients like chicken, fish cake, shiitake strips, shrimp, and greens, trembling softly at the slightest touch.

The miso soup freely floated with scallions, seaweed, red and white radish strips, while prawns, scallops, and tofu lay quietly at the bottom.

Genji couldn’t help but admire the meal, far more sophisticated than the synthetic meat and hydroponic vegetables in the institute cafeteria.

Before long, Aden’s cheeks flushed with alcohol, her speech slurred as if she had a pebble in her mouth: “The sake is good, but not… not strong enough. If only there was some vodka! Hic—”

“Japanese cuisine paired with sake is just right. Hard liquor wouldn’t be quite appropriate,” Nagareta rubbed Aden’s head, “If you want vodka, I can make some Russian dishes tonight, how about that?”

“Harasho!” Aden replied in Russian, nodding in agreement, then shoved the sake bottle at Rin, “Cheers… Cheers!”

“I don’t want to get caught by Kasahara!” Rin blocked the bottle, frowning slightly, “And we agreed to review science after dinner, right? You can’t study if you’re drunk like this, Dr. Pak will blame me.”

“It’s easy, Rin can be my dad’s son and go to medical school for me. I’ll be Endomuki Uncle’s daughter! Hic~”

Aden let out an even longer drunken burp.

“Well, now that you’re drunk and talking nonsense, there’s nothing I can do…” Rin held his forehead and sighed, “Alright, since it’s the weekend, just make sure to catch up tomorrow.”

Watching them tease each other back and forth, Nagareta couldn’t help but laugh.

Genji stealthily glanced at Airi; she was still quietly eating her meal, but her gaze softened.