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Now that the Tsukasa Empire had been defeated, building a scientific civilization seemed much easier. The people Senku and Gen had tricked into believing the United States was coming to save them had been surprisingly forgiving and willing to help, though Senku supposed that was because they could now enjoy the benefits of science. Honestly, the transition had been smooth. Of course Senku knew that there were still going to be challenges, but he was glad this wasn’t one of them.
Senku added the finishing touches to his plans for the boat and rolled up the paper. Once they saw his design, there was a ten billion percent chance they were going to pick it over any other designs the others could come up with. It wasn’t that he thought they would be bad. He just knew they wouldn’t aim high enough.
“How’s it going?” Gen asked from the doorway.
The scientist looked up and smiled. “Great! I’m ten billion percent ready for the presentation,” he answered.
“I never had any out-day~” Gen remarked, returning Senku’s smile. He was fiddling with something is his hands, which caught Senku’s curiosity.
“What do you have there, mentalist?” he asked.
Gen held up a thermometer to show him. “Thought you might ant-way one up here if you’re going to be using it as a lab.”
“That would actually be very helpful,” Senku replied. “Thanks, Gen.”
As Gen started to hand the thermometer over to Senku, they heard a loud crashing noise from outside, causing Gen to startle and the thermometer to slip out of his grasp. Senku reacted fast, covering his nose and mouth as the glass hit the floor and the mercury spilled out. Gen, however, was not as fast, just staring at it in horror. Senku grabbed a cloth that had been sitting on the table where he was working and quickly pushed it into Gen’s face. The mentalist flinched back, eyes snapping up to Senku’s in fear.
Senku had to push an uneasy feeling rising in his stomach back. “Cover your face,” he ordered. He could deal with the rest once they got outside.
Thankfully, Gen grabbed the cloth with shaky hands and pressed it against his mouth and nose. Senku stepped around the mess and put a hand on Gen’s shoulder, guiding him out of the hut.
Gen started to speak as soon as they got outside. “I’m sorry, Senku! I-I didn’t mean to! I-”
“Gen,” Senku said firmly, though maybe too firm judging by the way Gen flinched back.
“Senku, I-I-”
“It’s alright,” Senku said, trying to use his calmest voice despite how freaked out he was. “It’s only a little bit of mercury. I’ll get a gas mask and clean it up.”
Gen opened his mouth like he wanted to say something more, but no words came out. His breathing became heavy, like he was struggling against a great weight on his lungs, and his eyes became glassy and unfocused. It looked like Gen was having a panic attack, and Senku had no idea what to do. He was terrified.
“You’re safe, Gen. Please listen to me,” Senku pleaded. He reached a hand out towards Gen’s shoulder in hopes to comfort him, but Gen just flinched back again, causing Senku to drop his hand to his side and watch on helplessly.
“You’re going to have to help him calm his breathing.”
Senku jumped at the new voice appearing behind him. It was Ukyo. “I can’t,” Senku replied.
The distress must have been clear on his face because Ukyo’s expression turned sympathetic. “Alright,” he said. “I’ll try.”
The archer took a step towards Gen, hands held out to his sides. “Gen? It’s me, Ukyo. Your friend. I’m gonna get closer now. Is that okay?”
Gen gave a shaky nod, and Ukyo stepped closer. “Alright, Gen. I want you to breathe with me. I’m gonna place your hand on my stomach, and you’ll copy my breathing.” As Ukyo spoke, he moved slowly, telegraphing his movements. He took Gen’s wrist in his hand and moved it to his stomach, just like he said he would.
After what felt like an agonizingly long time, Gen started to breathe normally again, matching Ukyo. “That’s really good, Gen,” Ukyo praised him softly. “I’m gonna ask you some questions now. Do you know where you are?”
Gen blinked a few times. “Stone World,” he rasped out.
“Good. Very good. Do you know who I am?” Ukyo asked. Gen remained silent. “It’s Ukyo, your friend. Senku’s here too.”
“Senku-chan?” Gen asked.
“Yes, Senku-chan,” Ukyo repeated. He waved Senku over. The scientist approached hesitantly, still afraid that he would push Gen back over the edge. When Gen showed no signs of recoiling away, Senku came closer, standing next to Ukyo. He tried his best to copy the way the archer moved, slowly and telegraphing everything to Gen.
Suddenly, Gen reached out and latched onto Senku’s hand tight. “Senku-chan,” he breathed.
“Yeah, Gen. It’s me,” he responded.
Gen blinked a few more times, the clarity returning to his eyes. “Senku… the thermometer.”
“That’s right,” Senku replied.
“I broke it and- oh!” Gen dropped his hand, face turning bright red. “Sorry about that, Senku-chan! How illy-say of me!”
“Gen-”
“Sorry, Senku-chan! I’ve got lots of ork-way to do~” Gen quickly scurried around Senku and Ukyo, dashing down the path that would take him back down to the base they’d built where the Tsukasa Empire used to be.
Senku moved to follow him, but Ukyo held out his arm to stop him. “Let him go,” he advised. “He probably just needs some time to wrap his head around what just happened.”
In his mind’s eye, Senku could see Gen standing at spearpoint by the ramen stand, calmly and confidently manipulating the situation to his own advantage. He hadn’t flinched then. So what was different about now? Senku needed to know, and not just because he wanted to know every single one of the universe’s secrets. When it came to Gen, he just wanted to help.
“You really care about him, don’t you?” Ukyo asked him.
“Well yeah,” Senku answered, surprised by the question. “He’s my friend. Of course I do.”
“But it’s different with him,” Ukyo replied. “Isn’t it.” It wasn’t a question so much as a statement.
Senku was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Ukyo’s face lit up with amusement. “You like him, Senku. Romantically.”
“What? No,” Senku scoffed, then paused. He really thought about it. The way he wanted to hug Gen and hold his hand… The feeling he got in his stomach when Gen was around… How deep the level of his affection and care went for Gen compared to everyone else…
Oh.
Oh.
“Oh, fuck,” Senku grumbled.
Ukyo chuckled. “Have you never been in love before?”
“Have you met me?” Senku fired back.
“Point taken,” Ukyo replied. “You should talk to him.”
“Tch, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly good with emotions,” Senku said.
“I don’t think Gen thinks that’s a bad thing.” Ukyo shrugged. “Just think about it, yeah? I think you two could be good for each other.”
Senku sighed. He would think about it.
Senku found Gen later that evening with Taiju and Yuzuriha, entertaining them with a silly magic card trick. Taiju of course was just eating it up, cheering along the whole time. Yuzuriha, though not as enthusiastic, seemed to be enjoying herself too, smiling brightly.
Before he could think himself out of it, Senku walked over to where Gen was sitting and sat down right next to him. Gen looked up in surprise, pink dusting his cheeks. “Senku-chan!” he exclaimed. “What are you doing ere-hay?”
“Can I hug you?” Senku asked, ignoring the looks of surprise he got from Taiju and Yuzuriha.
Gen’s face turned redder as he let out a little squeaking noise from his throat. “Uh, uh, sure,” he answered.
Senku smiled and wrapped his arms around Gen’s waist. Gen returned the hug, placing his hands on Senku’s back. It was even more comfortable than before, Senku realized. He tucked his face into the crook of Gen’s neck, inhaling the sweet flowery scent there. At some point, Yuzuriha led Taiju away, muttering something about “privacy”. Senku was grateful for that. He didn’t really want to say what he had to say in front of other people.
“I don’t know what happened earlier,” Senku began. “But I’ve already told you that there’s a scientific explanation for anxiety, and it doesn’t make you weak.” Gen shuddered. “If you feel comfortable telling me what triggered it, I’d appreciate it so I can prevent it from happening again.”
Gen gently pulled out of the hug, placing his hands in his lap and staring down at them. “It was the thermometer,” he said. “I… I broke a prop for my parents’ magic show a few times. Their reaction was to just scream at me for being clumsy. It was… terrifying. I think in my mind, I just went back there.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Senku replied softly. He reached out and took Gen’s hands in his own, squeezing in a way that he hoped was comforting. “I can promise I’ll never scream at you though. Especially not for something as stupid as a little accident.”
“How can you know that?” Gen asked, looking up into his eyes.
“Honestly, do I seem like the type of person to loose my temper like that?” Senku asked. “I never have before.”
Gen smiled. “You always seem to know just what to say to make me eel-fay better,” he said. He scooted closer and leaned his head against Senku’s shoulder.
Senku felt a warm rush of butterflies erupting over his whole body. He felt the urge to lean down and kiss Gen’s forehead, but he shoved it back. Somehow, it seemed unfair to burden the mentalist with his own feelings when he wasn’t even sure what he was feeling himself.
Maybe he should have a talk with Taiju…