Super Desert Survival 11

Rei: “♪ ~ ♪ ~ ♪”

Koga: “U! N! D! E! A! D!”

Adonis: “We are...?”

Yuuta: “—2wink!”

Hinata: No way no way no way no way?! They were obviously about to say UNDEAD! Yuuta-kun’s acting like some little kid who can’t read the room!

Kaoru: Looks like it’s edited in. ...Wait, what is this? Look at the time and date it was uploaded—this can’t be an edit of old video footage, right?

Hinata: I think it was recorded today? At the very least, that’s what Yuuta-kun looks like today! I can tell!

‘Cause I use Yuuta-kun as a mirror every single day to do my makeup!

Kaoru: Wait uh, I mean you guys are mirror images of each other, but what’s the point of staring at Yuuta-kun to do your makeup? You’re putting it on your own face, right?

Hinata: Nope! We do each other’s makeup! And we mimic each other’s movements too! It’s the same as using a mirror!

Kaoru: Wouldn’t it just be easier to use a mirror at that point?

Hinata: We need some kinda ritual like that nowadays!

Lately it feels like I’m losing touch with Yuuta-kun, and we’re becoming more and more like separate people—

But anyway! What is this video?

Kaoru: I dunno...? It’s like we’ve entered a parallel universe where Yuuta-kun joined UNDEAD instead of me. But then they turned into 2wink—

Hinata: Urgh... what does that even mean? What’s going on here?

Kaoru: I don’t really get it either. But it’s at least nice to know that everyone’s okay.

Hinata: Yeah... I’m glad we could see that they’re safe for the time being.

Kaoru: If it’s possible, I’d like to let them know we’re safe too. You think we can comment on this video at all?

Hinata: Mmm... Hngh... Doesn’t look like it... Is this just a site for watching videos, then?

I can’t access other social media like Hallhands either.

Kaoru: Well that sucks. We can’t get online through our phones either, since of course they were taken. We can’t even tell our families we’re safe.

Hinata: For real. Looking up anything on this laptop is a no-go, so I can’t find any info on what this OasisTube thing is...

Kaoru: Oasis... This inn and all the rest stops in this desert are called Oasis too. Maybe there’s a connection here?

Hinata: There’s no way they’re not related, but it’s not like we have enough info to make any real guesses.

Urrgh, nothing makes any sense! What the heck did we even get roped into here?

Adonis: Mm? Look, it seems as if our video has finally been uploaded.

Koga: Finally. All we did was take a quick video in the middle of the day—it seriously took that long for them to review it?

Adonis: I’m not sure. I’m not very good with these kinds of digital devices.

Koga: Right, if only that four-eyed bean sprout was here...

Hold up, this just posted. How’s it have so many hits already?

Adonis: Hits?

Koga: Like, page views. You should get the nuance of that at least.

Adonis: Yes. Speaking of which, I’ve been hearing vocabulary like that quite often recently.

So many things are expressed in such abstract terms, or even acronyms; it’s hard to know what each one means.

Koga: Oh yeah, like SS or whatever. What the heck does that even stand for?

Adonis: I’ve tried to look it up before, and it seems there are many theories. But perhaps because it’s better to leave it unsaid, or because it feels like it has a deeper meaning, there has been no official confirmation.

Koga: Ah, it was just like that with Yumenosaki’s DDD. They wrap it all up in mystery or whatever, but in the end the truth ain’t nothin’ to phone home about.

‘S all just a fancy cover-up for the fact it’s got no substance behind it. Totally dumb.

Rei: ...... (whispers in Yuuta’s ear)

Yuuta: “Does that strike a little too close to home, Koga?” he says~

Koga: What, feelin’ shy? I’m not gonna be part of your shitty comedy act anymore, ya bastard. Can’t say anything without crying to Mama Yuuta? Huh?

Rei: ...... (whispers in Yuuta’s ear)

Yuuta: “Mama~ I’m being buwwied by an untwained doggie~” he says.

Koga: You don’t have to be his interpreter for that. And hey! I’m not a dog, I’m a wolf! We should at least be able to do our usual back-and-forth thing right?!

Adonis: Now, now... I’ve already said, this is likely because of Sakuma-senpai’s orders.

Yuuta: Ahaha. Well, it looks like Sakuma-senpai can talk to me, and I can interpret for him, so at least you can communicate with each other.

Koga: Yeah. I know it’s a hassle, but we’re countin’ on ya, Yuuta.

Yuuta: ...Well, I can’t promise I’ll tell you everything Sakuma-senpai says.

Koga: What’d you say?

Yuuta: Oh, nothing~ Aaanyway, it’s great that our video has lots of hits. Since we get paid in SSL$ based on our hit count.

Let’s post more of these videos and make bank—so we can win SS.

Koga: Heh, there’s nothin’ else to do anyway. Based on what management told us, we can buy those Desert Coins with SSL$ we get—

And if we buy those and send ‘em to Hakaze-senpai, they’ll have an easier time in that desert.

No friggin’ idea what a “Desert Coin” is, but there’s no harm in gettin’ some.

Yuuta: Who knows what they’ve got going on over there.

(Nn... Things are really in our favor right now. No, it’s more like the Administration is setting things up specifically for us.)

(Maybe we should trust them a little more overall? But adults are way too quick to lie and betray others—)

(At the very least, I want to get in touch with Hinata-kun so we can work together.)

(But I don’t have any way of contacting him... Ahh, I really wish we could use telepathy right about now.)

jp proofing: Moricchiichan
eng proofing: Soph