Ready to Upgrade

By midday, their stockpile soared:

[Wood: 187/200]

[Cloth: 95/100]

Aria wiped sweat from her brow, the corset's straps digging into her shoulders. "Almost there."

Lucas tossed her a canteen of fresh water, focusing his eye on her forehead. 

"Take a break. You've been grinding nonstop."

She caught it, hesitating. "Thanks."

[Affection +2 (Current: 46/100)]

Aria paused to wipe sweat from her forehead. The corset hugged her chest tightly, the sheer fabric showing hints of her skin underneath. Every breath made the sea-green material stretch across her curves. 

She opened the water canteen, tilting her head back to drink.

Her throat moved with each swallow, droplets escaping down her neck. One trickle slid over her collarbone and vanished into the corset's plunging neckline, darkening the sheer fabric into a translucent patch. The wet spot clung to her skin, outlining the curve of her breast.

Her tank top had been bad, but this? 

The corset left nothing to the imagination—her chest pushed up, her waist squeezed narrow, the outfit glowing faintly as the system's buff activated.

Aria lowered the canteen, catching him staring. "Problem?"

"N-no!" Lucas fumbled the rod, nearly dropping it. His face burned hotter than the sun. "Just… uh… checking your hydration levels. Important. For survival."

She rolled her eyes but didn't adjust her clothes. What an idiot. The corset's lace trim bit into her skin, and her legs felt dangerously exposed in the thigh-high boots. But the buff was working—they'd gathered more wood in a few hours than all last night.

Lucas cleared his throat. "We're almost there. One more catch."

"Then stop gawking and fish," Aria snapped, though her cheeks pinked.

She turned back to the controls. The claw snagged a waterlogged crate, hauling it onto the deck with a thud.

[Rotten Wood x15 → Wood x1.5]

[Wood: 199/200]

Aria groaned. "We need one more point? Seriously?"

Lucas cast the line again, his cheeks still warm. "Almost there. Just grab one more thing."

The rod bent instantly. Something heavy thrashed below the surface. Lucas gritted his teeth, muscles burning as he fought to reel it in. Aria abandoned the claw hook to grip the rod beside him, her shoulder pressing against his.

[Affection +1 (Current: 47/100)]

"Pull!" she shouted.

They yanked backward, stumbling as a treasure chest burst from the waves. It crashed onto the deck, spewing pink glitter.

The treasure chest creaked open, spewing pink glitter into the air. Aria grimaced, swatting sparkles off her corset. "This better be worth it."

Inside sat three items: A leather whip with heart-shaped barbs. A tiny glass vial filled with glowing pink liquid. A bow with arrows shaped like Cupid's.

Lucas picked up the whip. It hissed, coiling around his arm like a snake.

[Item: Heartbreaker's Lash (Tier 1)]

[Type: Whip, melee weapon]

[Damage: Low]

[Effect: 10% chance to inflict "Flustered" status (enemy speed -20%)]

[Effect: using it on a female crewmate under the right circumstances might boost affection.] 

"Uh… it's kind of… intense?" Lucas said, accidentally flicking the whip. It cracked, slicing a rose emblem off the mast.

[Mast Durability: 200 → 195]

Aria grabbed the bow. "This is ridiculous." The heart-tipped arrows glowed.

[Item: Cupid's Kiss (Tier 1)]

[Type: bow, ranged weapon] 

[Ammo: 12/12, refills to full if user's affection is above 70]

[Damage: Low]

[Effect: Arrows deal extra damage if the shooter blushes during combat.]

"We're going to die of embarrassment before the Mist gets us," Aria muttered, cheeks already pink.

The vial rolled toward Luca.

[Item: Lovestruck Elixir (Tier 1)]

[Effect: Boosts Strength +5 for 10 minutes. Side effect: Uncontrollable giggling.]

"This is the dumbest loot ever," Aria said, stuffing the vial into her boot.

Lucas glanced at their material counts:

[Wood: 199/200]

[Cloth: 95/100]

"One. More. Piece," Aria growled, slamming the claw hook's joystick. The arm lunged, snagging a splintered plank.

[Rotten Wood +1 → Wood +0.1]

[Total Wood: 200/200]

"Finally!" Lucas punched the air.

Aria wiped sweat off her brow. "Now upgrade this floating circus."

Lucas opened the [Ship Upgrade] menu. The requirements flashed:

[Level 2 Ship Upgrade]

- Wood 200/200

- Cloth 100/100

- Crewmate's Brassiere 0/1

Aria froze. "We're still missing… that."

Lucas scratched his neck, avoiding eye contact. The dreaded bra requirement. The system's latest troll move.

"This is stupid," Aria muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. 

The motion pushed her breasts higher against the corset's sheer fabric, making her feel even more exposed. She glared at the system message like it might burst into flames. 

"Why does it need a bra? Why not a sock? A button? Literally anything else?"

Lucas cleared his throat, still facing the mast. "Maybe it's… symbolic? Like, uh… intimacy between crewmates?" He winced as soon as the words left his mouth.

Aria shot him a death glare he couldn't even see. "Symbolic? You think the evil pirate game wants us to bond over my underwear?"

"No! I just—the system's messed up!" Lucas's ears turned bright red. He kept his back firmly turned, shoulders tense.

Aria paced the deck, the thigh-high boots clunking with every step. The skirt fluttered dangerously, but she didn't care anymore. 

Her mind raced. Upgrade the ship, and we can finally trade for real food. Fix the hull. Maybe even get proper weapons.But the cost…

She glanced down at the corset. If she gave up her bra now, she'd be stuck in this ridiculous getup indefinitely. Every jerk in Global Chat would mock her if they saw. If they're even alive to see.

Her stomach growled loudly. They'd burned through the chocolates hours ago.

Lucas finally turned around, keeping his eyes locked on her face. "We don't have to do this. There's gotta be another way. "

"With what time?" Aria snapped. "The Black Mist could roll back in any second. We're sitting ducks here." She kicked a plank, sending it skidding across the deck. "This whole system is designed to break us. To make us embarrassed. Well, joke's on them. I don't embarrass."

That was a lie, even Lucas knew it. 

Aria stormed to the edge of the ship, gripping the railing until her knuckles turned white. The ocean stretched endlessly, taunting her with its calm.

Lucas hesitated, then walked over. He kept a careful three-foot distance. "Whatever you choose, I'll back you up. Even if it means eating a six-eyed fish."

Aria snorted despite herself. "You'd puke before swallowing a bite."

"True. But I'd try."

She glanced at him. His face was sincere, sunburned cheeks and all. No smirking. No staring. 

Just… Lucas. Annoyingly decent Lucas.

Aria sighed. "Turn around."