We returned to the campfire, where Haruki and Haruka were sitting. The flames danced between us, casting long shadows as we joined them. I cleared my throat. "We have something important to discuss."
The siblings exchanged puzzled glances but remained attentive. I began, "You've probably noticed how strange this island is—the dead sea, the abundance of animals in an ecosystem that doesn't make sense. But that's just the surface."
Anna chimed in, her voice steady. "What we're about to tell you might be hard to believe, but please hear us out."
I took a deep breath and continued. "We're from the year 2024. That's over 70 years ahead of the time you claim to have left Japan."
Their expressions shifted to one of shock and doubt. Haruka furrowed her brows, while Haruki's mouth opened slightly as if to say something but stopped.
"We know this sounds unbelievable," Anna added quickly, "but we can prove it. We survived a plane crash, and the wreckage is nearby. There are things there that can show you we're telling the truth."
The siblings remained silent for a moment, processing our words. Finally, Haruki spoke, his tone cautious. "This island… it's not normal, that much we know. But what you're saying… it's hard to accept."
Haruka nodded. "Still, we can't deny that things here are strange. We're willing to hear you out and see this wreckage."
A wave of relief washed over me. "Thank you," I said sincerely. "We'll show you everything tomorrow morning."
As the fire crackled between us, Anna leaned closer to me and murmured, "I'm glad we told them. Keeping this from them would've only made things worse."
I nodded, though a grim thought crossed my mind. "But if this is true… our chances of getting rescued are slim, aren't they?"
Anna's face darkened as the realization sank in. "You're right. If this island exists outside normal time, we're on our own."
"We'll make it work," I said, trying to sound optimistic. "We need to focus on building shelter and securing food and water."
Haruki and Haruka nodded in agreement. Haruki spoke with determination. "We'll help. If we're stuck here, we'll survive together."
As the night deepened, a fragile sense of unity formed among us. Despite the uncertainty, we resolved to face whatever this island held—together.
The fire crackled softly, its warmth a fragile barrier against the encroaching chill of the night. I poked at the embers with a stick, trying to keep the flames alive. The others were fast asleep—Anna on one side of the camp, Haruki and Haruka huddled together on the other. Their soft breathing blended with the occasional flutter of wings overhead.
I leaned back against a tree, my eyes on the flickering firelight. My thoughts were a tangled mess of questions and doubts. Haruki's story about setting sail in 1963 kept resurfacing, a puzzle that refused to fit any logical framework. Had they really traveled through time? Had we? Or was there something else at play—something the island itself was hiding?
A faint rustling behind me made me jump, but it was only Anna. She approached quietly, her hair slightly tousled from sleep.
"Your turn already?" I asked, trying to sound casual as I shifted to make room for her by the fire.
"Yeah," she said, stifling a yawn. "You've been up long enough. Get some rest." She sat down, throwing a small branch into the flames to coax them higher.
I hesitated, watching the firelight play across her face. "Anything unusual?" she asked after a moment, her tone light but probing.
"Not really," I replied. "Just… this place." I gestured vaguely toward the dark trees surrounding us. "It feels wrong, doesn't it? Like it's alive, watching us."
Anna gave a small nod, her gaze fixed on the fire. "You're not the only one who feels that way. Something's definitely off here. But worrying about it won't help us right now. We need to focus on survival—on the basics."
I sighed, leaning forward to warm my hands. "Speaking of which, we're going to have to figure out food and shelter soon. Yesterday's fish won't last, and we can't rely on the sea or the river long-term. The sea's empty, and the river's too far for regular trips."
"I know," Anna said, her voice low but steady. "We'll manage, though. One thing at a time. Let's focus on tomorrow. If we can convince Haruki and Haruka we're telling the truth, maybe they'll work with us instead of just alongside us. We'll need everyone to get through this."
"Right," I said, though my stomach churned with unease. I stretched and stood, brushing the dirt off my clothes. "Wake me if anything happens."
"Will do," Anna said, her eyes never leaving the fire.
I lay down near the edge of the firelight, curling up beneath the salvaged blanket. Sleep came slowly, the quiet hum of the night pressing down like a weight.
I woke to the faint glow of dawn filtering through the trees. The fire had burned down to embers, but the air was warmer now, tinged with the earthy scent of the forest. Anna was still by the fire, stirring the ashes with a stick.
"Morning," I mumbled, sitting up and stretching.
She glanced over and gave a small smile. "Morning. The others are waking up." She gestured toward Haruki and Haruka, who were beginning to stir.
We regrouped near the fire, our stomachs growling faintly. Yesterday's catch—a few small fish—had been meager, and the hunger was setting in.
"We need to head to the wreckage," Anna said, her tone brisk. "It's not far, maybe ten minutes. But we'll need to explain everything clearly. They're still skeptical."
Haruki sat up, rubbing his eyes. "We're coming," he said, his voice groggy but resolute.
Haruka shot us a skeptical glance. "We've agreed to see this proof of yours, but that doesn't mean we'll buy into everything you're saying."
Anna crossed her arms, unfazed. "Fair enough. You'll see for yourselves soon enough."
The walk to the wreckage was quiet, the morning air filled with faint birdsong. I caught glimpses of movement in the canopy above as small birds flitted between the branches. Despite their presence, the lack of insects was unsettling.
Haruki broke the silence. "You said the sea's empty. No fish, no seaweed. That doesn't make sense—how are the birds surviving?"
I shrugged. "That's what's so strange about this place. Nothing adds up. The ecosystem here… it's broken, but somehow it's still functioning."
"Barely," Anna added, stepping over a gnarled root. "If we don't figure out a way to secure food soon, we'll be in trouble. And we can't rely on scavenging forever."
Haruka frowned. "The river could work if we can make regular trips, but it's dangerous to go that far every day. What about hunting?"
"Possible," I admitted. "But without tools or traps, it'll be hard. And we don't know what's safe to eat here. This island isn't exactly normal."
The wreckage came into view as we rounded a bend in the forest path. The twisted remains of the plane sat half-buried in the earth, its once-shiny surface now dull and scarred. A faint breeze rustled the nearby trees, as if the island itself was reacting to our arrival.
"There it is," I said, gesturing toward the wreck. "Proof that we didn't make this up."
Haruki and Haruka approached cautiously, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief. Haruki reached out, his fingers brushing the cold metal.
"This is… real," he murmured.
"We told you," Anna said. "We're not lying about who we are—or when we're from. This wreckage is from the 2020s. Look around. There are markings, equipment. You'll see it for yourselves."
Haruka walked around the wreck, her sharp eyes scanning the remnants. "This explains how you got here. But it doesn't explain us—or this island."
"We don't have those answers yet," Anna admitted. "But the important thing is that we're all stuck here, and we need to work together if we're going to survive."
Haruki nodded slowly. "You're right about that. And… we believe you."
A faint breeze picked up, stirring the leaves around us. For the first time since we arrived, I felt a small flicker of hope. This wasn't just about survival anymore—it was about understanding this strange, broken world we'd found ourselves in. Together, maybe we could piece together the truth.
The walk back to camp was quieter than I expected. Haruki and Haruka trailed behind, their expressions locked in quiet contemplation after seeing the wreckage. Anna walked beside me, her steps steady but her thoughts clearly elsewhere.