Work Text:
[Reader] looked around uncertainly, searching for students in the school corridor. Fortunately, it was empty. The truants preferred to sit outside, in the shade of the huge cherry trees.
The girl lied to the teacher saying that she was going to the toilet. In fact, she was wandering between the lockers. She held a love letter in her hand. She wrote several versions of it and knew each one by heart. She couldn't decide which was the best. Every time she wanted to put one in the right place, she hesitated.
[Reader] did not have the courage to go directly to Senkū and tell him how she felt. Ever since she met the boy, she felt intimidated by his company. He was handsome, funny and intelligent in his own way. She often didn't quite understand what he was talking about but she didn't mind. It was enough that he was happy when he explained to her the most recent discoveries. He hardly saw the world outside of science and yet there was a place for her in his limited circle of friends. She felt honored.
With time, however, friendship ceased to suffice. With each experiment, she glanced stealthily at her crush. Sometimes she deliberately brushed his hand, hoping for any reaction. Even a sudden hug on his birthday had no effect. He invited her to view the stars through a telescope and, despite the romantic atmosphere, absolutely nothing happened. Even with all his knowledge, he seemed to be blind and deaf to her advances. The girl felt that she should either take matters into her own hands or she would never know if she had any chances with him.
The school bell stopped her train of thought.
Determined, she gripped the letter tightly and headed towards the appropriate class.
— I'll give it to him personally — she said quietly.
She just hoped she wouldn't have a heart attack before that.
***
— I am going to confess my feelings to Yuzuriha-san, Senkū-kun. It's time for you too! [Reader]-san won't wait forever — said Taiju.
— Unlike in your case, science will do the job for me — Ishigami retorted with a confident smirk on his lips.
As if nothing had happened, he continued mixing the chemicals in the test tubes.
— How so?
— I calculated the probability. There is a ninety-nine percent chance that [Reader]-san will come to me today and say that she loves me.
The boy has always trusted science. It was no different in the case of interpersonal relationships. With all the knowledge available to him, he had already thought about ready-made answers to the confession and sincerely hoped to use them.
— Amazing, Senkū-kun! — Ōki's eyes seemed to shine as he admired his friend. — But I think I prefer to do it my way — he added.
— Keep it up, big guy. — The young scientist smiled.
***
Senkū looked at the stone sculpture. The petrified [Reader] was split into two parts by a huge cherry tree.
She had always seemed fragile to him but seeing her in tiny pieces made him realize that he was really right.
The petrified remains could not be saved. She was not as lucky as he and Taiju.
He wondered if she hadn't stood in front of him in the classroom then, would he have been in her place now. A cold, dead boulder...
He wished he had received her letter.
He wished she would know any of his answers.
He wished he could see her alive.
He wished that science hadn't given him that one cruel percent in which he would never hear "I love you" from her.