Work Text:
Unusually Usual
New day, new start, and…
New relationship.
Senku gets out of the observatory to head over to Riki’s hut. His mind still lingers about the dream last night. Being a man of science, it was recollection and rearranging his memories— but when was it the last time he dreamt of the modern past?
[Y/N] shows up in the outfit he last seen of her, hair color of glossy and healthy (h/c), and eyes of (e/c) that held their mirth every time he looked into them. But the smile… the same one he saw before she left.
The dream was very surreal. Could be a sign from the universe. Within reasons and any external factors, wouldn’t be much of a stretch.
While being deep in his thought, he briefly looked up just to be cautious of bumping into something. Before he could registered it, he was already a couple of feet from Riki’s home.
Riki. His girlfriend.
That’s right. The two confirm their romantic feelings for one another. She asked him out, sort of.
For a man who studies everything like a lifestyle… romantic cues is what he knows in concept, not reality.
The curtain that hangs on a short rail to be move aside as a door, revealing the short brunette. Her chocolate browns eye brighten upon seeing him.
“Oh, morning Senku.” She smiles kindly as always. She walks forward, ditching the curtain as she meets him halfway. “What brings you here? Thought I would be seeing you staying at the lab or somewhere in the village.”
“Thought I pick you up and walk us there… together.” He spoke surprisingly low.
“That’s sweet. What an honor to be led by the chief himself.” While cracking a joke, Riki’s cheeks reddened with shyness. The artist quickly redirects him to turn around by a brief hand on his shoulder.
Senku felt a bit of a static when her hand slid down to his palm, but he couldn’t catch it in time as her hand move back to the strap of her messenger bag across her front. Not one to hold back his disappointment, but turn his head to not show it. Acting like he’s viewing the sky to determine the weather, he place his hands on his sides to have be busy with… something.
————
“Ohhhhh the village couple!” Kohaku surprised the two by appearing behind them as soon they arrived. The blond paladin latched wraps her arms around the shorter girl, a Cheshire grins pairs with blue teasing eyes. Then a few of the other villagers approach the three with interest.
Mainly the older generation.
“Are you really together? The chief never showed romantic interest in anyone.”
“Happiness for the two of you!”
“You two are so adorable.”
“When did this happen again?”
The closer the elders get to the three, Senku and Riki unaware are shoulder to shoulder, both flushing shades of pink. Riki tries her best to give the most subtle while Senku just stays silent.
All the while, Kohaku unwrapped her arms and back away from the group. She snickers as her two friends’ faces get even redder.
“Where did the ceremony happen?”
“Ceremony?” The brunette looks at the elder woman in blue with confusion. The other woman also confused with the question, she tilts her head as arms cross over her chest.
“You are his new wife, aren’t you?”
“Oh no no no no, not quite like that!” She waves her hands rapidly. “He’s… the chief is, umm, a special person to me. BUT! Marriage is way too soon.” At this point, a whole tomato is present.
The scientist lips purse with hesitation and frustration. He doesn’t want to make it a big deal, but even in this time period, but elders are relentless and way off the mark in a lot of situations. Yes, she’s also a special person, but not a wife…
“What are you then?” An old man bluntly asked with suspicion in his eyes. “If you’re not married, but confirm you’re together… you some… lady-in-wait-something like that.”
The squinting of his eyes gets closer to her, walking very forward towards Riki. She glares as walk back with the limited space she has. The scientist saw this and without thought, wrap one arm around her shoulders and use his other hand to stop the old man.
“She’s my partner.” Senku spoke with such high authority, which surprised both him and everyone near. Kohaku’s perks at the title. He brought his shoulders back a bit while straightening his stance. “That is all I will say.”
The stingy old man back away. With a huff of his own, he turn and threw a hand down while mumbling confusion. The rest of the citizens disperse the circle and carried on with other duties.
“Partner, huh?” Senku his head at the blonde. “Isn’t Chrome your partner?”
“Not like that!” He dryly responded. But also stole a quick glance at Riki, who’s sporting a concern face. He brought her closer to reassure her. “Chrome is my science partner. Riki’s my… romantic partner.”
“Then just say girlfriend!” Apparently the paladin learnt dating customs. Most likely from Yuzuriha and Taiju. “Saying that would be a lot easier to tell everyone.”
The artist piqued at the title.
“Anyway! We’re heading to the lab.” The chief speed walk past Kohaku, tugging the artist along with him.
——
When they got to the lab, doing their usual of working their own projects within each other’s proximity. The girl stood across from him at the table, pondering and not looking at her sketchbook.
“Hey Senku.” She calls curious. He looks up from melding two copper wires together.
“Is there a difference from saying girl friends and… girl-friend?” She enunciate the second word, puzzled. Still learning the custom of dating.
“Yes, you would still call your girl friends, girl friends. Or, I guess, you would just call them girls…”
“Hmmm… I alway say, I’m going over to hang out with the girls. I don’t really call them my girl friends.”
“We’re in the same circle. I know who you’re referring to.” He mumbled towards the end of his sentence. His eyes returns to the wires and about have them touch again to meld to one another.
“So I should be referring you as my boyfriend then.”
The man of the village almost brand himself a small dot. That made the girl jump at the ready to aid him. Before she could round the corner of the table, he put a hand out to stop Riki.
“…yes… it makes sense.”
She move her head side, confused to that answer when Riki was more concerned for any burns on him. When she looks up the crème-haired man, her eyes widen a bit at the cute.
A young man’s face fully red. Half of his lips draw a thin line as his ruby eyes shift to look anywhere else, her seeing his side profile. Not at her or the copper wires he dropped.
Her chocolate eyes return to the open palm in front of her. How that same hand splay out, the same one that she held tightly to not let him go that very night.
Without a second thought, Riki lift a hand and slips each of fingers through the small gaps between his. Slowly testing the water, she eye Senku to observe any reaction. So far, he stare blankly at her, and then switch his red eyes from her face to their somewhat joined hands. She closes the space and clasp their hand together.
The artist smile wide, slowly waving their hands back and forth before bringing them down to see his reaction.
Her boyfriend’s reaction. Flushing bright red, the slight flinch when their hands touch, and then complete relaxation as he walks interwoven his fingers with her, along with a firm brief squeeze.
“I like the title. But partners works just as well.”