Chapter Text
That couldn’t be him, it just couldn’t be. And yet, despite your refusal to acknowledge it, it couldn’t be anyone else.
“Senku,” you note flatly, your eyes trailing over his frame. He wore strange attire, some sort of tunic crafted out of what seemed to be an animal hide.
Despite the careless demeanor he displayed, a faint glimmer of something unspoken passing through his sharp, crimson eyes. For a moment, the smug confidence you knew so well faltered, replaced by a flicker of a fleeting warmth. Then his lips curved upward again, and the mask returned.
“Prodigy.” He smirked, the word sliding off his tongue naturally, as though no time had passed at all. You hadn’t heard him call you that in years, yet the sound carried the same arrogant lilt, that teasing sharpness that he always had whenever talking to you
You could almost feel the weight of the past pressing against your chest. The memories, the arguments, the shared victories.
Everything you thought had been lost to the flash and silence of centuries was standing right in front of you again.
And for the first time since awakening, your mind felt alive.
Once the initial shock and recognition passed your senses began to sharpen. Every detail that your overwhelmed mind had once blurred into insignificance now came into focus with ruthless clarity.
You hadn’t noticed them before, but since you’d broken from the dazed state you were in, the small group gathered loosely around Senku caught your eye. They wore clothing similar to Senku, primitive looking attire that hung off their frames, eyes locked on you, waiting.
And then, there was you.
The realization came like a cold blade. You were completely naked. The air, thick with the scent of soil and pollen, pressed against your skin, each breath of wind an unwanted reminder of exposure. The eyes around you seemed to pierce straight through, dissecting you, picking you apart.
You forced yourself to exhale, to steady the rush of humiliation before it could consume reason. Emotion was noise, logic was control. You had no time for modesty, not when the world itself demanded explanation.
Turning your attention back to Senku, you met his gaze again.
“The world was reclaimed by nature after thousands of years of human inactivity, correct?” You hummed. Your tone was more observation than inquiry, the question merely a confirmation of what you had already deduced. The evidence was everywhere, the vegetation that covered everything in sight, the erosion of stone structures in the distance, the distinct purity of the air.
Every sense, every calculation aligned perfectly with one truth: humanity had vanished long enough for the earth to almost completely remove everything humans tainted. And now, you were standing in the aftermath of both its destruction and rebirth.
Of course he wasn’t surprised. He knew you too well. If anyone would emerge from centuries of petrification and immediately start analyzing the state of the world, it would be you. And, predictably, you were right.
You exhaled lightly, a small hum escaping as your gaze sharpened. “You didn’t bring me back for sentimentality.”
He raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching upward. You were right.
“You require my assistance.” The faintest smirk tugged at your lips. “Senku Ishigami, asking for help, I should frame this moment.”
A dry chuckle escaped him, followed by a resigned sigh. “Hah. I was sure you’d figure that out before you even finished your first sentence.”
Your face softened. “How am I needed, then?”
“We’re headed to America,” Senku began, matter-of-fact as ever. “And we could use help from someone with your expertise.”
The small group around you stirred, voices rising in soft murmurs. Skepticism, you thought. You didn’t blame them. Their eyes darted between you and Senku, as if trying to gauge your reunion.
You tilted your head slightly. Your expertise?
The word felt strange on your tongue. You and Senku had always been equals in a way. Both driven by that same insatiable hunger for knowledge, for the kind of understanding that transcended boundaries of reason. You had spent nights arguing theories, exchanging data, pushing each other past exhaustion just to prove a single point. And, as much as your pride burned to admit it, he’d always been a few steps ahead.
So why now? Why would he, Senku Ishigami, the man who you were certain already knew everything you knew, need you for anything?
You studied him carefully, searching for any hint of deception or hidden motive behind those sharp red eyes. “My… expertise?” you echoed at last, the edge of disbelief softening into wry curiosity.
He smirked, as if he’d been waiting for that exact response. “Dead right,” he said simply. “We need you, Prodigy.”
He paused, deliberately, giving you space to process his words. His tone was casual, almost dismissive on the surface, but you knew better. There was something in his voice. Something only you seemed to notice.
“Up to you,” he added finally, folding his arms. “Whether you’ll help us or not.”
The wind moved through the clearing, carrying with it the hum of distant life. You could feel all of the people’s eyes still on you, awaiting a response.
You met Senku’s gaze again. Beneath that familiar arrogance was something you couldn’t exactly pinpoint, though you could see it clear as day.
And in that moment, your curiosity stirred to life once more.
Besides, it wasn’t like you would be able to accomplish anything in solitude.
You hummed, the edges of your lips raising. “Alright. I’ll join your crew.” You paused.
“Just..Get me some clothes first.”
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“So your goal is to head to America to harvest corn, refine nitric acid, and revive all of humanity?” you asked, brows tightening. It was exactly the kind of insane yet perfectly sensible plan only Senku would conceive.
“Spot on,” he said with a brisk nod. “If we want the Kingdom of Science to keep advancing.. and if we’re going to crack the mystery behind ‘Why-Man’…”
He slowed as you approached a small hut, its walls draped with pelts and woven fabrics.
“…then we need every capable brain we can get.”
He finished, stepping aside toward the open entrance.
Inside was an array of clothing: winter wear, travel gear, lighter garments suited for mobility. Your eyes raked over each and every article set up.
You hummed and stepped forward.
“Take your pick. Completely free of charge,” he said with a smirk, watching your gaze sift across each option with precise calculation and, perhaps, a hint of vanity.
You shifted the comically large leaf wrapped around your waist. The cool surface did little to ease your discomfort.
You chose an outfit that balanced practicality and dignity, something that offered movement without compromising the refined image you preferred to uphold. Naturally, you also wanted to uphold a classy demeanor even in the stone age.
When you turned to face him, Senku’s eyes flicked over your selection. A spark of dry humor lit his expression.
“Heh. Figures you’d go for that.”
“Meaning?” you snapped lightly, narrowing your eyes. His ability to predict your preferences wasn’t surprising but the tone he displayed suggested he was enjoying himself far too much. Surely, he thought, it was only a given that someone like yourself would like to reflect their status in their clothing.
He raised his hands in a half shrug. “Relax. It suits you.”
You exhaled through your nose, lifting the garments. “It’ll suit me better once I’m actually wearing it.”
“Roger that,” he noted, a laugh slipping out as he pivoted toward the door. “I’ll give you some space.”
You sighed softly, shaking your head lightly. The next few days were going to be a while.