In just twenty-four hours, two lives had been lost. The survivors knew things would only get more complicated from here. There was no time to rest, no chance to stop and grieve. All were aware that if they wanted to survive, they had to keep working, no matter how tired or scared they were. But even as they pushed forward, one thought haunted them: what else could this island throw at them?
The deaths had shaken everyone, but no one felt the weight of it more than Yuri. She was crushed by guilt, convinced that everything had been her fault. She blamed herself for what had happened to the Hama twins, and her sadness was impossible to ignore. She cried almost nonstop, and her broken state made her an easy target for blame. Still full of anger and fear, the others quickly turned against her. They pointed fingers, whispering harsh words and treating her as if she had been the one to cause the tragedy.
Only a few didn't seem to care much about what had happened. Kitagawa, Kaboto, and the children kept to themselves, too focused on survival to get involved. But Gayo stood up for Yuri. He believed she wasn't to blame, even if no one else agreed.
His defence didn't go well. The others refused to listen, and their anger boiled over before long. Omi hit Gayo with a rock for daring to speak up. The blow wasn't fatal, but it left Gayo hurt and bleeding.
After that, no one said much. The group simply sat together in silence, mourning the two lives they had already lost.
{At The Building}
Kitagawa:
(In a rude, sarcastic tone)
"Well, all this blaming and depression isn't going to get us anywhere!"
Omi:
(In a frustrated tone)
"Oh, so now you are gonna tell us what to do? And according to you, we aren't even allowed to mourn over someone's death?"
Kitagawa:
"And what is it gonna do? Has mourning over a loss ever made a person come back to life? You are pretending like you knew them before coming to this island!"
Shinji:
(Backs up Kitagawa)
"She's got a point, if we sit silently not doing anything to survive then no matter how much you mourned, you will end up right next to their coffins 6 feet under the damn ground!"
Yin:
(In a scared tone)
"But they were the only ones that could have possibly flown us out of this miserable place if we had ever built a plane in the future."
Zohan:
(In an unhinged yet rude tone)
"Does your brain just not exist or something? How do you expect us to build a plane from scratch on an island with no resources?"
Yin:
(Blushes out of embarrassment and yells)
"I AM OLDER THAN YOU, SO YOU SHOULD SHOW SOME LITTLE RESPECT."
Zohan:
(Still unhinged)
"If you are older than me, then act like it!"
Yin:
(To Jin)
"Baby, look, this child has got no manners!"
Kaboto:
(Frustrated)
"SHUT UP ALREADY!"
Jin:
(Regretting all of his life decisions, says calmly)
"Yin, honey, building a plane from scratch isn't something we can do that easily, as shown in those cartoons you watch!"
Karuno:
(To Yin with enthusiasm)
"Wait, you watch Mom and Berry too???"
Yin:
(Gets excited)
"Dude, did you watch the newest episode?"
Karuno:
(laughs)
"Totally, yeah! Mom literally threw a pan at Berry's head, and he started eating his toenails!"
Yin:
(uncontrollable laughing)
"THAT IS ABSURD!!!"
Kitagawa:
(thoughts)
"I can't believe they have a 20-year age gap!"
Yin:
(laughing loudly)
"I really gotta catch up. The last time I watched the show, Berry was with Harry, and they were trying to find the nail clippers an-"
Omi:
(yells and interrupts Yin)
"ARE YOU A MORON??! I GET THAT KARUNO IS A CHILD, BUT YOU ARE A FULL-GROWN WOMAN IN HER EARLY 30s. WE ARE STUCK ON A STUPID ISLAND, AND ALL YOU GOT YOUR MIND ON IS A DUMB, DISGUSTING TOENAIL CARTOON??!"
Jin:
"Well, if a plane ain't the solution, then what about a raft?"
Shinji:
"No, we'll die. Look up at the clouds on top of the ocean! They are dark, which means there's a storm, and since the very second I landed on this island, I haven't seen that cloud move an inch!"
Jin:
"Well, it's not like the storm will never end! We'll just get going with a raft after it ends!"
Karuno:
"It's a possibility, but surviving in the middle of the ocean with no land, no food, no water, no shelter, and nothing to protect us is harder than you might expect. AND THAT'S WITHOUT INCLUDING THE SHARKS AND THINGS THAT ROAM THE SEAS. ALL FOR WHAT WE KNOW THERE COULD BE A LEVITHAN DOWN THERE!"
Omi:
(irritated)
"Why do you gotta shout! It's not like we have food and water on this island!"
Shinji:
"At least we have shelter and land. After last night, we also know that this island has animals, so we have some things to work with on this island!"
At the mention of 'last night', Yuri buried her already lowered head even deeper between her legs. Her body trembled slightly, arms wrapped tightly around herself. A heavy sadness filled her chest, pressing down on her like a weight she couldn't escape.
Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling silently down her cheeks. She didn't make a sound; she didn't want to. If anyone noticed, they might yell at her again more than they already had.
But Gayo noticed immediately.
Without hesitation, he sat beside her, placing a hand on her back and rubbing slow, gentle circles. It wasn't much, and he knew it wouldn't erase what had happened, but it was his way of trying to be there for her.
For a moment, Yuri stayed curled up, her breathing unsteady. Then, slowly, she lifted her head and rested it against his shoulder. Gayo didn't say anything; he just let her lean on him.
It didn't fix anything, but at least she didn't feel completely alone among 11 people.
Yin:
"But what about water?"
Kaboto:
"Piss!"
Yin:
(pretending that she didn't hear Kaboto's response)
"Sorry, what?"
Kaboto:
"I said you can drink piss! That's the only option we will have if we don't find a river. I saw it in one of those survival shows a long while ago!"
Yin:
(shouts)
"EWWWWW, HELL NO. NO WAY IN HELL!"
Shinji:
(chuckles)
Sato:
"I have to say, he is completely right! We can try and filter it out to drink our urine, but... that's only the worst-case scenario cause it's still not the best for our bodies. I mean, if I had to explain in the simplest of ways, we are just putting what we removed back in our bodies."
Kitagawa:
"Guys, we are on an island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, am I right?"
Zohan:
(finally speaks)
"Since we flew for 10 hours on the westward route, I think so!"
Kitagawa:
(eyes widen in shock)
"Oh no! That means we are stuck on an undiscovered island!"
Yin:
(in disbelief)
"WHAT!!!"
Omi:
"What's all this blabbering about? You can't be serious. How come you know that this island is undiscovered? It's such a massive island; there is no way that it's undiscovered!"
Kitagawa:
(confident)
"I studied all of the geographies this world had to offer for this job. Trust me, this island came onto the radar, but this island doesn't exist on the world map, and I can bet due to that reason that this island isn't a territory of any country up until now!"
Karuno:
(confused)
"Why did you study so much geography? You are an air hostess, not a navigator!"
Kitagawa:
(embarrassed, she usually doesn't show this emotion.)
"Well.....I used to play a lot of GeoQuestor when I was younger. It's a game which drops you at a random spot on Earth, and you need to guess where you are. The closer you are to that spot, the more points you get. So when I grew up, I just fell in love with geography and studied the world maps, memorizing everything on the planet's maps; it was my hobby!"
Omi:
(yawns and completely changes the topic because she is bored)
"We need to find a river if you guys don't want to die!"
Shinji:
"Indeed!"
Kitagawa:
(suggests)
"We don't know how big of an island this is! So we are better off making teams and then going out to find the river; otherwise, we'll probably just waste time, which we don't have!"
Kitagawa organized the teams with sharp efficiency, focused only on what needed to be done. Finding a river was the highest priority—without fresh water, survival would become even more difficult. She assigned three teams of three, making quick decisions to ensure every part of the island would be searched.
No one protested, but the silence that followed was heavy.
Kitagawa wasn't oblivious. She could feel the quiet tension lingering in the air. No one wanted to team up with Yuri. They wouldn't say it, wouldn't dare voice their thoughts aloud, but their hesitation spoke louder than words. To them, Yuri was a murderer—not in action, but in inaction. Gomo Hama died because she had done nothing. His twin, Naru Hama, had followed soon after.
Most of them kept their opinions buried, choosing silence over confrontation. But not Omi.
Omi never cared about whether her words hurt or not. She spoke exactly what was on her mind, without hesitation or tact. And this time was no different. The moment Kitagawa's plan became clear, she let her opinion be known— "I'd rather kill myself than to team up with a murder, because regardless of what I do that will be fate if I team up with her. Either she'll die or I'll die!" cutting, unfiltered, and sharp enough to make the silence that followed even heavier.
Kitagawa didn't react. She never did. She wasn't here to coddle emotions or manage grudges. Survival came first.
So, without hesitation, she made the final call. Yuri wouldn't be joining the search teams. She and Gayo would stay behind at the building. Gayo said nothing, didn't protest, didn't argue. Whether he agreed or simply didn't care, it didn't matter. The decision had been made.
But it still wasn't quite decided who would team up with whom.
Shinji:
(replying to Omi's words earlier in a sarcastic tone, while chuckling)
"Well, if you don't want to team up with a murder, then how about you team up with me? I won't eat you, I promise!"
Omi:
(grins)
"Alright, I'm fine with that!"
Karuno:
"How about we do this? Shinji, Zohan and I will be in different teams, and the same goes for Omi, Kitagawa, and Kaboto! That way, we'll have at least two people that can fight in each team!"
Yin:
(tries to act cute and scared)
"But that way, Jin and I won't be on the same team!"
Zohan:
(frustrated but says it with a straight face)
"No one cares!"
Kaboto:
"This team system sounds right to me! Alright then, how about me and Zohan?"
Yin:
(whispers in Jin's ear)
"Hey, go on, Zohan and Kaboto's team. They are strong so they can protect you as well, you'll be safer with them!"
Jin:
(whispers back to her)
"Then why don't you go in their team? You need more protection than I do!"
Yin:
(whispers again)
"No, I don't like that Zohan kid, and Kaboto is scary; he's like 7 feet tall, and on top of that, he is a bodybuilder. Honestly, Zohan kinda looks like Kaboto's child. I mean, just look at him; he is fifteen, yet he is 6'4 and so bulky, he doesn't even look like a child!"
Kitagawa:
(makes a weird face)
"You are whispering so loudly that I can hear you! Well, how about me, you and Karuno team up!"
Yin:
"Wait, Karuno, why did you say that there will be 2 fighters in each team? Neither do you nor I know how to fight!"
Karuno:
"I have made a Vacuous mistake in my statement by accident! Well, if I, Kitagawa, and you are gonna team up, then.... I guess we are better off just staying at the building otherwise, we'll just burden Kitagawa!"
Gayo:
(suggests something better.)
"Why don't you guys go and salvage the plane for any left resources and some metal as well. Maybe I can make you some makeshift weapons!"
Karuno:
"Sounds good to me. Umm, this is a bit off-topic, but Gayo, I have a question. Were you a weapon smith?"
Gayo:
(scratches the back of his head)
"Nope, I was just a 3D artist who specialized in weapons, so yeah, I can make some makeshift weapons cause I know a little about weapons!"
Kaboto:
(with enthusiasm)
"Well, can you make me that one weapon with a long stick... ahh, the one that the grim reaper uses?"
Gayo:
"Do you mean a scyth? Why would you ever wanna use a scyth? It's not a weapon; it's mainly used for agriculture, and it doesn't even have a good grip or any speed! On top of all that, you didn't even know what it was called. You'll probably just end up killing yourself with it!"
Zohan:
(tries to look intimidating even though he is making a weird face)
"Not if I kill you first!"
Omi:
(laughs)
"What's with you always trying to pick fights with someone!"
Jin:
"I would like to go with Zohan and Kaboto!"
Sato:
"I guess I am with Omi and Shinji then!"
Kitagawa:
(with enthusiasm and in a commanding tone)
"Let's go find this bloody river!"
Team Kitagawa moved with purpose, heading straight for the crash site. The wreckage remained unchanged—twisted metal, shattered glass, and scattered debris serving as a grim reminder of how they had ended up here. They worked quickly, picking through what little remained, gathering anything that could be useful. Sticks, scraps of metal, anything that could help them survive even a little longer. It wasn't much, but out here, even the smallest find mattered.
Meanwhile, Team Shinji ventured further inland, stepping into the unknown. The deeper they went, the thicker the jungle became, swallowing the sunlight and muffling the distant sounds of the others. Every step forward felt like pushing into something untouched, something forgotten.
Then, they saw it.
A bridge.
It stretched over a steep drop, barely holding itself together. The wooden planks were cracked and uneven, some missing entirely. The ropes, frayed and brittle, swayed slightly with the wind, looking as if they could snap at any moment. It was ancient—long abandoned, left to decay.
But that wasn't the most shocking part.
This bridge wasn't just some old structure lost to time. It separated the island into two distinct parts. The realization hit hard—this island wasn't a single mass of land. It was split. A discovery that changed everything they thought they knew about where they had crashed.
The others stood frozen, processing what they were seeing, but Shinji… Shinji's face didn't reflect the same surprise. His expression remained unreadable, serious. Almost as if he had known.
Almost as if this bridge wasn't a discovery to him at all.
Shinji:
(with a certainty in his voice)
"This bridge is our only way to the otherside! The other part of the island! Maybe that place has water and a river!"
Omi:
"How can you be so sure about it?"
Shinji:
"It's my gut feeling!"
Sato:
"Why don't you use your foresight to see what's on the other side?"
Shinji:
"It doesn't work that way! I suggest we look out for the bridge and try to cross it before it snaps!"
Omi:
"That's kinda selfish and stupid to go there all alone. What if the bridge breaks right after you cross it?"
Shinji:
(completely ignores her)
"I'll try to cross it 'cause I am the lightest out of us three. Just hold the ropes for protection!"
Sato:
"That is too dangerous! What if it snaps mid-way?"
Shinji:
(he doesn't listen to them and starts to run towards the bridge, but as soon as he stands on the bridge, the ropes snap from where the others are standing.)
Omi:
(grabs the rope before the entire bridge falls)
"YOU IDIOT, COME BACK BEFORE YOU DIE!"
Sato:
(grabs the other rope)
"SHINJI, COME BACK. WE CAN'T HOLD THIS BRIDGE FOREVER; IT'S HEAVY!"
Shinji:
(ignores them and slowly starts to walk towards the other side)
"Just keep holding it like that. You are doing good!"
Omi:
(regrips)
"Are you Insane!!"
Shinji:
(takes another step forward)
Sato:
"SHINJI!"
Shinji was already on the bridge when it happened.
Sato's fingers fumbled, his grip failing him.
The rope ripped from his hands.
In an instant, the bridge jerked violently, the sudden shift sending a deep, splintering groan through the air. Wood creaked, ropes strained, and the entire structure swayed, teetering on the edge of disaster.
Shinji's body tensed as the planks beneath him shuddered. Dust and debris scattered into the wind, vanishing into the abyss below. The others stood frozen, wide-eyed, breaths held as if a single sound could send it all crashing down.
Then—another snap.
The rope slipped even further.
TO
BE
CONTINUED