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As the Perseus got closer to America, Kirisame started to catalogue everything she would need after departure. There were the obvious things, like food and water, but she liked being prepared for any situation.
When she was at her home, she could always use the petrification device if she had to. Now that it was out of power, she felt exposed. Which reminded her: a tent to keep her from the elements. That also included a sleeping bag and a mosquito net. Wait, were there mosquitoes in America?
”Yep,” Senku answered her question. “Probably quite a few given that humans aren’t around to kill them.”
Kirisame nodded and ran off to pack a mosquito net, only to realize she couldn’t find any. None in the storage, the deck, or even the kitchen. She didn’t know why there would be one in the kitchen, but it was the last place she thought to check.
Returning to the deck, she saw Senku looking at her with a raised eyebrow. “What are you looking for? You’ve been running around like a headless chicken for two days now.”
She was not amused. “Where do we keep the mosquito nets?”
”Oh, we don’t have any of those.”
”But you said there would be mosquitos.” She thought for a second and then added, “did you not know people can die from mosquito bites?”
Senku laughed at her. “I had no idea. Someone should make you the head scientist around here.”
Kirisame fought to stay neutral. “Would you like me to ask Yuzuriha to make some?”
”Sure, if you feel like it. It’s really not that big of a deal.”
She remembered being seven, and hearing that twenty villagers died of mosquito sickness that year. She remembered being ten, and hearing that one of her friends was sick. She remembered her friend passing that same year.
Maybe she was being overly cautious or too uptight, but she still wanted everyone to have some kind of protection against the creatures.
Yuzuriha looked delighted if not a little surprised to see her approaching.
”Do you need something?” The crafter sat cross-legged and sewed a patch on someone’s outfit.
Kirisame still felt awkward around most of the Perseus crew, but she was glad Yuzuriha always made an effort to make her feel welcome. ”Could you make a few mosquito nets?”
”Of course! I would never have thought of that.” Maybe her idea wasn’t stupid after all. “How many do we need?”
”If it’s possible, one for everyone. I’ll count the crew members and get back to you.” She was gone again. She had always found it difficult to stay put in one place for more than a minute.
When she returned with the number, Yuzuriha got to work. They were done the next day.
She breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that her companions would be safe from one more danger.
===
Right after they reached landfall, it was clear she hadn’t been wrong about mosquitos being an issue. They swarmed the camp in droves.
“Senku, got any bug repellent recipes in that brain of yours?” Gen asked.
“Of course I do.” He produced a lemon and began slicing it up. He added it to a jar along with a few drops of an unlabeled liquid and pieces of basil. Then, he added a candle on top of the jar and used a stick to light it. It smelled amazing.
The mosquito swarms moved on.
”This is erfect-pay. I— wait, will these candles stay lit all night?”
“Nope, but luckily someone thought of that.”
Senku pointed at Kirisame. Right on cue, she indicated the box filled with mosquito nets next to her.
Choruses of cheers erupted from the crowd. Most went back to enjoying their burgers. The camp was lively for a few more hours before people gradually started going to sleep. Despite feeling exhausted, she chose to stay awake. After all, someone would need to clean up the mess they made. Anyone could find their camp from just the trash alone.
It seemed like someone else had the same idea; A dark figure was picking up litter and throwing it in the trash.
Eventually, their work was complete.
They both made their way to the box. Though she couldn’t make out her partner’s face, she still had a guess of who the other person willing to clean up after their crew could be. Upon reaching the box, they both paused. There was only one net left between the two of them.
Kirisame forgot to count herself.
”Take the net. It was your idea in the first place.”
Kinro. She wasn’t surprised.
“No, I was the one who miscalculated. You take it, I’ll be fine.”
She lifted up the net and tried to give it to him, only for him to push it back to her. “Seriously, you take it. I wouldn’t want you to get the mosquito sickness.”
The night air was much colder than she expected it to be, and the night was already way too long. She was too tired to think, let alone argue. She never handled the cold well and just wanted to bury herself under a pile of blankets. She threw the net so it perfectly captured him, then started walking away.
”How could I call myself a man if I let a woman die for my own comfort?” He stood firm in his decision, which was quite comical considering he had a net perfectly draped over his head.
She was really too tired for Kinro to be a gentleman right now.
He looked up as if he suddenly got a genius idea. “Why don’t we just share it?” The thought took her by surprise, but it wasn’t half bad. Her exhausted brain couldn’t find any problems with it at least.
”Sure. Where’s your tent?”
He looked confused. “Aren’t you going to get your sleeping bag first?”
Rationality was the only thing left in her mind, besides the desperate need to sleep. ”No point. It’s only big enough for one anyway. I guess I could get more blankets if we need them though.” She stifled a yawn. She really hoped he wouldn’t argue about this too.
“No, it's… fine. My tent’s this way.”
He led her to a medium sized green tent at the back of the camp. His was one of the few with a tarp over it, she noticed. Good if it started raining.
Mosquitos were already buzzing around her as she hung the net over the sleeping bag. She really hoped none got to her before she got inside. As soon as it was done, she got in.
===
Although Kirno’s sleeping bag was bigger than most, he would still have to be right next to her if they were both fitting inside. As in, not enough room for even a pillow divider. He rubbed his eyes from under his glasses. This sounded like a better idea ten minutes ago. He set his glasses away from the bag and waited for a few seconds at the net. But this was his idea, and she would just be upset in the morning if she realized he didn’t get in the net.
He gingerly climbed in, trying to stay on his side as far as he could. If he leaned against the wall they wouldn’t touch, making it the optimal position. She was doing the same on her side, eyes already closed.
What was he thinking?
Just inviting this girl to share a sleeping bag when she was too tired to think logically about it. Well, this wasn’t exactly what he expected, but still. Somehow he ended up lying next to a sleeping Kirisame, sharing the same pillow.
The only thing keeping him from getting out and braving the mosquitos was their constant buzzing against the net. He knew of several people who got sick from their bites, and decided one night wasn’t worth the risk.
She must have drifted off to sleep, as she stopped leaning on her wall. She was only an inch away now. He kept his breathing shallow so he didn’t wake her up.
Maybe mosquito sickness wasn’t such a bad fate.
She shifted again, and now she was pressed up against his side. How was he supposed to sleep like this?
If he got up now, he might wake her up. His mind told him that he needed to escape at all costs, and that this was diffidently worse than being bit by any number of mosquitos. But he was still frozen solid, a block of ice next to her warm sleeping self.
And then she moved again.
Slowly, she gravitated towards him until her head rested in the crook of his shoulder. His heart beat so loud he thought it might wake her up.
Eyes still open, he stared at the top of the net and reconsidered his life choices.
===
It was freezing and dark. Kirisame was lucky to have something warm next to her.
She thought it was a human, but she didn’t have the energy to care who. She trusted herself to pick someone safe. To her they were heat.
She wrapped her arms around the heat source, mind finally fading into a dreamless bliss.
===
Despite what he thought, Kinro did eventually fall asleep. Unfortunately for him, he woke up in a more precarious position than the night before. His brain was on high alert even though it was only sunrise.
He found that sometime in the night, he must have been cold too. His arms were wrapped around her, their legs crossed over each other.
No. No, no, no.
How was he getting out of this one?
This was a lose-lose situation. She could be a light sleeper. If he got up and removed himself, she might think he had hugged her in the night like some sort of creep. If he waited until she woke up, she would probably notice her arms around him first and think she was the one who did it. But that would mean he would have to wait until she woke up.
Who knows how long that would take? Anyone could come looking for them in that time and see them in this position.
Given the choice, he was forced to choose the second option. He would wait her out. Can’t be too hard, right?
Although, it was difficult to fake sleep when his stomach kept somersaulting. He felt restless, and kept opening his eyes to check if she was still asleep every few minutes.
Over time his muscles lost their tension and he was able to think more logically. This really wasn’t the worst case scenario.
Surely he could rest in the comfort of a friend. He had to admit, this sense of a domestic lifestyle was something he treasured.
And then he remembered that she would eventually wake up, and he would have to be there when she did, and he was right back to panic mode.
===
Kirisame refused to open her eyes.
If she opened her eyes, she would die of embarrassment. In fact, even so much as twitching a muscle might be enough to do it.
What was wrong with her?
Even after Kinro had suggested she get her own sleeping bag, she still went into his. And he got in after her instead of sleeping next to or on top of it.
And now there was sun spilling through the opening of the tent, and he still hadn’t woken up.
She couldn’t get up now. He would diffidently notice she was full on cuddling him.
She would have to wait.
She realized that this was the first time she had been held by another person since she was twelve. At that age friends stop giving each other hugs. Not that she had many friends at that age anyway. She was always a bit ostracized due to her “cold” personality.
She wondered if the boy next to her felt the same. They seemed to share a similar personality.
She did have to admit this wasn’t the worst thing to wake up to. It felt almost safe, being held by someone in the protective way he held her. Safety was priceless after everything she’d been through. She caught herself hoping he would take just a bit longer to wake up.
”Kinro, where are you? I need you to—”
Kirisame looked up to see Ginro staring at her and Kinro. Kinro’s eyes were wide open now.
Kirisame and Kinro stared at each other for a single heartbeat then scrambled out of the bag. It was difficult, considering their legs were intertwined.
Ginro was still staring, mouth wide open. Then, a terrifyingly smug smile played across his face.
”Wow Kirisame, didn’t take you to be the type to do that with anyone, especially not my brother. Of course, next time you could always ask me instead and I’d be more than happy—“
”She’s not sleeping with you,” Kinro nearly yelled at his brother. Kirisame blushed. “No, that’s not… she’s not sleeping with anyone.”
”Really, because I’m not the one who wears glasses. And I’m pretty sure you both laying there was good evidence.”
”We just had to share a mosquito net,” Kirisame blurted. She was surely redder than a strawberry.
Ginro now had a wicked glint in his eye. “Well if you don’t want the rest of the crew to know about this sharing a mosquito net , then pay up.” He reached out his hand.
He wanted hush money now?
Kinro silently gave him a thousand drago. His brother’s hand remained out. Another thousand. Not enough. Kirisame thought about offering some of her own but remained silent.
Eight thousand drago more, and Ginro was finally satisfied.
”I suppose we can keep this between ourselves then. Well Kinro, we have chores to do.”
”And I have training,” Kirisame said as she bolted out.
Only afterwards did she realize that Kinro woke up way too fast.
Was he faking being asleep too?