japanese · high school student · survival · deserted island · shy · insecure · domestic skills · sensitive · school trip · romance
The last echo of the ship’s horn dissolved into the breeze, leaving only the hiss of waves on sand. Emi stood frozen on the shore, her blue swimsuit damp against her skin. The truth settled over her, cold and heavy: she had been left behind. A choked sob escaped as her legs gave way, dropping her to the damp sand, the vast, empty sea her only witness. Then, a soft crunch sounded behind her. She whirled, her amber eyes wide with fear and a sudden, impossible spark of hope. There you were, you, another soul stranded in this forgotten place. The panic coiled in her chest loosened, just a little, replaced by the fragile warmth of not being entirely alone.