Indirect kissing
Midday.Blazing sun.One platform.Two people.
At this point, Calvin and Charlotte were drenched in sweat from the heat. Even worse, little Charlotte really needed to use the bathroom.
But… Calvin was right there. There was no way she could go in front of him!
Of course, that wasn't the biggest issue. The real problem was that they had no food or water left. The single cream bun they had was long gone, and now they were tired and starving.
As Charlotte kept complaining, Calvin tried to comfort her.
"This is survival, after all. Either you let go, squat behind me, hold onto my shoulders, and be careful not to fall or just hold it in a bit longer!"
Then Calvin opened the trading market.
Most of the items listed were useless, wood, stone, straw, even twigs. Some were selling clothes, and some were even selling… used socks.
But items like floating cubes, water, or food? Completely absent.
Everyone needed those.
Charlotte looked dizzy from holding it in, her face bright red as her bladder was on the verge of exploding.
If only they had two cubes at least then she could squat on one while Calvin turned away. It wouldn't be so awkward.
"A cloud! A cloud's coming! Charlotte, hang in there!" Calvin patted her face.
"I'm not blind, don't touch me! Touch me again and I'll just pee on you!"
"Oh? That doesn't sound too bad."
"Get lost!"
Charlotte's face turned even redder.
Soon, the cloud floated closer.
[Food Cloud: Fishing from this cloud guarantees food or water.]
They instantly perked up, exchanged glances, and quickly cast their fishing lines.
[You've obtained: 1000ml water ×1]
[You've obtained: Bento box (1 meat, 1 veggie) ×1]
"Finally! Something to eat and drink!" Charlotte nearly cried.
Calvin thought for a moment and said,
"Charlotte, how about we duplicate the water? If we each drink less than a liter a day, we'll run into dehydration fast…"
She nodded.
"I agree. Water is the most valuable thing right now."
Calvin fiddled around but couldn't activate his talent.
He had to ask in the regional chat:
[Hey guys, does anyone know how to use talents?]
[Damn, you actually have a talent?]
[What even is talent? I think only a few people get it.]
[I got one the first time I fished, open your status panel and click on the talent to use it.]
[Thanks, got it.]
Calvin followed the advice and opened his status panel.
[Name: Calvin
Teammate: Charlotte
Talent: S-Rank – Daily Copy: Once per day, you can copy any item. Copies can stack. Every 10 copies triggers a random critical effect. The more days that pass, the stronger the critical effect.
Skills: None
HP: 98/100
Attack: 11
Defense: 12
Speed: 11
Status: Slightly hungry, slightly thirsty, mildly needing to pee, slightly overheated, a bit tense]
He clicked on the talent.
[Daily Copy – Use now?]
[Yes]
[Select the item to copy]
[1000ml water]
[Copy successful – Next reset: 6:00 AM tomorrow]
Then, a brand-new large bottle of mineral water appeared in Calvin's inventory.
He had just fished up the mineral water, while Charlotte had caught a lunchbox.
"Did you finish copying it? Calvin, give me the water!"
Charlotte, dry-mouthed, instinctively ordered.
Calvin chuckled,
Pulled out a bottle of mineral water, opened the cap, and gulped down several hundred milliliters.
"My turn! My turn!"
But Calvin raised the bottle high, keeping it out of Charlotte's reach.
She could only touch Calvin's head, stomped her tiny foot in frustration, and said angrily,
"Calvin, what are you doing? Stop messing around at a time like this!"
"Ahem, just reminding you, when you gave me that cream bun earlier, what did you make me call you?"
"Sis, so what?"
Charlotte still hadn't caught on.
Calvin pinched her soft cheeks and said,
"Then what should you call me now?"
"…"
So petty!
Charlotte stared at him speechlessly.
"Sis Calvin, you're the best big sis ever. Please give me the water."
"Not sis ! Call me Big Bro!"
"…"
In the end, under some mental persuasion and since she still had a lunchbox to eat anyway. She gave in.
"Big Bro~ Big Bro~"
Charlotte pouted cutely at Calvin, her delicate little face full of charm and a hint of vulnerability, almost criminally so.
But Charlotte was already nineteen, a perfectly legal big-loli.
Body, face, height, age.
The extreme contrasts made her completely irresistible.
Only then did Calvin hand over the water.
"That's better, my good little sister."
He gave her a head pat and playfully pinched her ear.
Charlotte hugged the 1000ml bottle like a living doll.
She looked suspiciously at the bottle's mouth.
Calvin had drunk directly from it earlier.
Did that mean she'd be drinking his backwash now?
Damn it!
Wasn't this an indirect kiss?
That shameless little mutt. How dare he!
But thinking about how they used to eat together in the cafeteria,
How she always gleefully stole his chicken legs and meat slices.
Maybe that counted as indirect kissing too?
Still, they had never shared water like this before.
After a brief internal struggle, Charlotte opened her lips, tilted the bottle, and drank the precious liquid.
But worried there wouldn't be enough to go around,
And afraid of her bladder bursting,
She only drank about 100ml.
"Here you go."
Charlotte handed it back, blushing.
It was unclear whether from holding it in or from embarrassment.
"Big Sis, time to eat the lunchbox, right?"
Calvin rubbed her head again and asked.
"Hmph, want to eat the lunchbox? Then you'll have to call me. Wait, what did you just call me?"
"Big Sis, why? Aren't you?"
Of course Calvin knew what she was up to.
He smirked mischievously at her.
Charlotte blinked and pulled out the lunchbox, suddenly feeling too exasperated to be angry.
Did Calvin even care about dignity anymore?
Maybe next time she should make him call her "Mama"?
No way! That jerk definitely would. She couldn't handle that shame!
Charlotte blushed at the thought.
She took out the lunchbox, which the food cloud had thoughtfully included with a pair of chopsticks.
It was the cheapest chicken cutlet meal: one piece of chicken, some greens, and a portion of rice.
Charlotte suddenly realized if they wanted to eat, they'd have to share the same pair of chopsticks.