The sun hung high in the sky as the bus rolled to a stop at the island’s dock. It was 10 a.m., and the production crew wasted no time—cameras were already rolling, capturing every raw reaction from the moment the group stepped off the bus.

“Alright, let’s go!” Minami took the lead, stepping onto the sandy shore with confidence. Mirei followed right after, her expression unreadable, while the rest of the members trailed behind with a mix of excitement and nervousness.

The island stretched out before them—lush green forests, crystal-clear waters, and a massive wooden villa standing in the middle of the clearing.

“Wooooah!!” Hikari and Ayumi screamed in unison, practically bouncing with energy.

“This is amazing!! We’re actually on a private island for five days!” Emi spun in a circle, arms wide open.

Risa matched their enthusiasm immediately. “I feel like I’m in a survival drama!” she grinned, running ahead toward the villa.

Meanwhile, Kaede and Yukina watched from behind, walking at a more composed pace.

“Celestial is really something else, huh?” Kaede murmured, admiring how effortlessly the idol group carried themselves.

Yukina chuckled, leaning in to whisper, “Risa fits right in. It’s like she was born for this.”

Kaede laughed. “She really is in her element.”

---

The moment they stepped inside the villa, they were met with… absolutely nothing.

The spacious villa was beautifully designed, but it was completely empty—no furniture, no kitchen supplies, no food, not even a bed. In the center of the room, a large monitor stood ominously, its screen completely black.

“H-Huh?” Ayumi blinked. “Where is everything?”

“Are we in the right place?” Hikari added, poking at the bare walls.

“What kind of vacation is this?” Mirei crossed her arms, suspicious.

Just then—BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

The monitor flashed to life, sending half the group into hysterical screams.

“KYAAA!!” Risa clung onto Emi for dear life.

“Oh my god, what the hell?!” Ayumi yelped, stumbling backward.

Hikari also jumped, clutching her chest. “I thought we were gonna die just now!!”

Kaede and Yukina exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. Even Minami, who was usually composed, smirked at the ridiculous reaction.

The monitor flickered before a video started playing. A deep, dramatic voice narrated:

> “Welcome to your survival challenge. For the next five days, you will live here… but everything must be earned. Your food, water, furniture, and supplies—nothing comes for free. Complete missions to gain essential resources. Your first challenge begins now.”

A dramatic BANG sound effect played at the end of the message.

“WAIT, WHAT?!” Mirei threw her arms in the air.

“You’re telling me we have nothing?!” Minami pointed at the screen.

Risa dramatically dropped to the floor. “What if we starve to death?!”

Kaede raised an eyebrow. “Is that even allowed on TV?”

Emi giggled, patting Risa’s back. “Relax, Risa. The director won’t actually let us die.”

But the production team remained silent, merely smiling knowingly behind their cameras.

That made everyone panic even more.

“Wait… they’re serious?!” Ayumi gasped.

“Are we actually gonna have to survive on our own?” Hikari gulped.

Mirei dramatically turned to the camera, pointing. “Is this even legal?!”

The absurdity of the situation made everyone burst into laughter, even as mild terror set in.

---

First Mission: Finding Food

Their first task was immediately announced on the monitor:

> “MISSION 1: Gather food and water scattered across the island. You have one hour. Work together. Good luck.”

Another BEEP, and the monitor switched to a countdown, displaying 1:00:00, signaling the start of their one-hour mission.

“…You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Yukina muttered.

“We haven’t even had breakfast yet,” Kaede sighed.

Emi crossed her arms. “Welp, I guess we better get moving before we all pass out.”

They were each handed a backpack and tools for gathering supplies. Each member was given their own camera to freely record themselves for the show, making most of the footage feel like a personal vlog. 

The production team would primarily focus on filming at the villa, allowing the idols to capture their own perspectives and experiences throughout the journey. 

Quickly, they decided to split into teams:

North Team: Hikari & Ayumi

East Team: Risa & Emi

West Team: ???

South Team: ???

Kaede reached for Yukina’s arm, but before she could grab her—

Minami beat her to it, taking Yukina’s hand without hesitation.

“Let’s go, Yukina.” Minami said firmly, already leading her toward the west side.

Yukina blinked in surprise. “Eh? Wait—”

And just like that, Kaede was left standing alone.

She froze for a moment, not knowing what to do. Everyone was already running off in different directions. Was she supposed to go alone?

Suddenly—

A warm hand grabbed hers.

“Come on, we don’t have much time.”

Mirei.

Kaede turned to see Mirei holding her hand and pulling her along.

“H-hey—”

Mirei handed her a backpack. “We’re the South Team. Let’s go.”

Kaede felt her heartbeat skyrocket. Why is she holding my hand?

“D-Do we really have to hold hands for this?” she mumbled, looking away.

Mirei squeezed lightly, her grip firm. “It’s easier if we stick together.”

Kaede swallowed hard. Oh god.

Kaede stood frozen, her mind blank as Mirei’s warm hand wrapped around hers.

With a gentle smile, Mirei whispered, "Don't be too nervous, just follow and trust me."

Kaede felt her heart race, the familiar warmth she had longed for filling her chest. Without a word, she simply nodded, letting Mirei lead her, their hands still entwined like they were meant to be.

The warmth of Mirei’s palm, the way her fingers wrapped securely around Kaede’s—it was all too familiar. The touch she had missed.

Does Mirei… even realize what she’s doing to me right now?

Her cheeks burned, but she had no time to overthink. Mirei was already leading the way into the dense jungle, focused on the mission.

While Mirei's cheeks also flushed as her heart pounded wildly, but she took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay composed, determined not to let the cameras catch the storm of emotions swirling inside her.

"This is our biggest and only chance to get close again and make the fans love us together—I have to do this right," Mirei thought, clenching her fists with determination.

---

Meanwhile…

As Kaede and Mirei disappeared into the forest, the camera zoomed in on Minami, who subtly glanced back for a moment.

She had seen everything.

And as she dragged Yukina forward, a small, unreadable smile formed on her lips.