41.04.01

Suddenly Aligned

Gen both likes and dislikes his own birthday.

April 1st.

“Today is my birthday!”

“Eh~ Are you lying? It’s April Fool’s Day after all.”

The reason he disliked it is because since he was a child, whenever he told people his birthday, they would always laugh at him. If he insisted it was true, it only made it seem like he was begging for a birthday wish. As a little kid with not-so-little pride, he would often laugh along and say, "Ah, you got me~.”

After he entered the entertainment industry, he found that his birthday perfectly fit his image. The image of a mysterious magician, a cunning mentalist — a liar. So when he was interviewed, he told them his actual birthday.

“April Fool’s Day…? Eh, Really?”

“I wonder~ What do you think?”

In the midst of countless teasing and joking responses to interviewers, hosts, and fans—when he realized, he no longer felt anything about his birthday.

Gen neither likes or dislikes his own birthday.

It became just another ordinary day that he no longer cared about.

But perhaps, because the people he met after being freed from stone became the people he cared about a little bit more.

When he was asked, he automatically deflected the question.

"What about your birthday?"

That day was September 9th after the Kingdom of Science had won the war against the Tsukasa Empire. Kohaku held a small party in Ishigami Village to celebrate Suika's 11th birthday. The only people invited were children and those close to the birthday girl, about ten people in total. Everyone gathered around the campfire and had dinner together. Francois, who had only recently become a member, also helped prepare the meal.

In a corner of that warm and simple atmosphere, Senku asked in his usual flat tone, not even taking his eyes off the skewer of grilled meat in his hand.

For some reason, his heart beat faster.

Maybe because he didn't want to repeat the empty conversation from 3,700 years ago.

Not here. Not with this person.

“Ehh~~~ Why? Does Senku-chan want to celebrate with me? I’m blushing~”

Gen almost froze when he heard his own voice. It came out overly sweet, sounding even more fake than usual. But those red eyes only glanced at him for a moment before looking away.

"If you don't want to tell me, so be it."

…He gave up so easily.

Gen secretly sighed, shoulders slumping slightly. He wasn’t sure whether the hollow feeling in his chest was relief or disappointment.

Well, it was probably just a meaningless question prompted by the mood.

Senku was obviously the type that doesn't care about special days or festivals at all, maybe except for Christmas, which seems a bit special to him. It probably has something to do with his adoptive father. However, Senku doesn't care about his own birthday, to the point of completely forgetting it.

Though Gen often complained about how Senku ignored the atmosphere, he agreed that celebrating a birthday while preparing for war was unreasonable.

That surprise birthday party for Senku was an exception, because he was the village chief—because Gen could see the lingering guilt deep within his heart for disrupting the peaceful lives of the villagers. Because the unity of the whole village would help everyone get through the upcoming war. Because Senku should realize the gratitude of the villagers... and maybe including Gen himself.

As for his own birthday, Gen was so caught up in Lilian's Southern English, tanks, and nitroglycerin-soaked paper planes that he didn't have time to think about it at all. Even after the war ended, in the Kingdom of Science, which had merged with the Tsukasa Empire, not many people celebrated birthdays.

In this Stone World, celebrating the birthday of more than 150 people would be considered an extravagant affair. Of course, small gatherings among close friends or celebrations for children like Suika or Mirai were fine. But for many people who didn't care about their own birthdays, it was common to forget the day and night as they worked on grand projects like building the ship.

Gen was also one of them, that was all.

.
.

And then he really did forget.

If he had to make an excuse, it would be that in a world without smartphones, schedules, and even weekends, recalling dates on the spot was harder than you’d think. The only person who could do it easily was Senku. So, aside from important festivals that were perfect for holding events to boost morale (and raise oil funds), like Christmas or Valentine's Day, Gen didn't really pay attention to dates.

That’s why when he first heard that Senku had called him to Ishigami Village, Gen hadn’t thought much of it.

His job was quite diverse compared to others. Some days, he was a radio host with Yo; some days he was an iron ore delivery driver; and some days he was a mediator in conflicts between members of the kingdom, which means he always had to travel to many places anyway.

This time, it will probably be some brutal and hellish task, as that scientist always forces him to do.

Imagining his upcoming job, the mentalist couldn't help but grimace... even though he did want to see the face of the person who had called him here a bit.

He was on his way to the village, driving a car. Even though it took much longer, he would never ride in a hot air balloon unless it was an emergency.

As soon as he parked the car, a man in yellow approached him.

"Hey, Gen."

"Oh, Ukyo-chan. When did you get to the village?"

“Just this morning, but I’m heading back now.” Ukyo smiled wryly, unloaded the luggage he was carrying and put it in the vehicle. “Classes are starting again tomorrow, so I came to get some teaching materials I left here.”

The sonarman, who was now also a teacher, referred to the Science Kingdom class that was temporarily suspended during the winter. Now that spring had arrived, the fresh air was perfect for outdoor classes.

"I see. Thanks for your hard work, Ukyo-chan-sensei~"

“If you’ve got time, you should help out with the teaching too.”

“With pleasure—I’d like to say that, but it seems like I’m getting a new task.” Gen sighed, slumping his shoulders. “By the way, have you seen Senku-chan?”

“Ah, um, Senku…”

Ukyo suddenly looked away with an unusually flustered expression, but before Gen could ask anything, he continued. “He is still at the main base.”

"EHH!!!?"

Even though he was the one who called him here!?

Ukyo laughed awkwardly at his extremely shocked expression. “He was supposed to come with us, but there seemed to be some kind of emergency. I saw him talking to Suika. Why don’t you try asking her?”

“Suika-chan is here too? But why’d he tell Suika-chan—”

“Ah, I’ve gotta go. I need to drop off these things at the base and head out to do the iron delivery duty. Let me take this car back.”

Gen narrowed his eyes at the other man’s suspicious flustered expression before realizing which car Ukyo referred to. “I was wondering why you were loading stuff into it… But if you took this car, how am I supposed to get back?”

"Should I tell Ryusui to come pick you up in the balloon?"

"Ukyo-chan!?"

“Haha, just kidding. I’ll be here this evening to pick up Suika and the others anyway. If you’re done by then, come back with us.”

“Ah, okay~ But–”

Ukyo didn't wait for any more questions, driving along the dusty road without looking back. Gen could only watch with question marks all over his head.

He, the mentalist, was ten billion percent sure that Ukyo was hiding something. The shifty eyes, the rapid voice, and the unnatural hand movements were all clear signs. But what exactly was he hiding?

And what kind of emergency did Senku choose to talk to a young kid like Suika instead of Ukyo, one of the five generals?

Furthermore, since the sonarman saw them talking, there was a high chance that his superhuman hearing picked up on what it was about. Then why was he keeping quiet?

“Well, since it’s Ukyo-chan…I guess it’s probably nothing dangerous.”

Gen decided to let it go. After all, he wasn't a great detective who could only guess with just this little information. And he couldn't imagine someone as serious as Ukyo involved with 'evil plan' or 'dangerous matter'. In cases where it was something that would harm someone, Gen’s sure that Ukyo wouldn't keep it quiet.

If there are any more clues, he'll give more thought about it.

Now that the scientist who was supposed to be in charge of him isn't here, then he should go find Suika.

As soon as he stepped foot into the Ishigami Village area, Gen found that there was no need to look for her at all. The girl wearing a watermelon helmet was standing in the middle of the square, surrounded by four or five other chirping children. Before he could even call her, Suika saw him and ran over.

"Gen!"

“G’morning~ Suika-chan. Oh, Mirai-chan’s here too? That’s rare.”

Gen greeted the bright-haired girl who was running together with her best friend. Mirai hardly left the main base, probably because she had to take care of the freezer that contained her beloved big brother, so he was rather surprised to see her in this village.

“Umm! I want to see Suika-chan’s village, and riding the hot air balloon seems exciting!”

“I see~”

This probably showed that her fears had eased a little. Of course, her brother was still her number one priority, but new friends and new experiences have led the young girl to start looking to a broader future.

Seeing that, he, as the mentalist who had been watching her growth since the beginning, also felt happy for her.

Gen smiled and turned to the other girl with her hair covering her face who had been quietly following her friends.

“Ello-hay to you too, Namari-chan~ The whole girl group is here, huh?”

Namari, hugging the sketchbook close to her chest, nodded and gestured toward the village and Mirai, as if to say that she had to introduce her village to the new friend as well.

"We already showed Mirai all of the old Kingdom of Science!"

“That’s great!” He patted the watermelon helmet as Suika proudly stretched her chest out. “Oh right, Suika-chan. Did Senku-chan leave me any messages?”

“Ah, he did! Senku said that there was some big problem with the new furnace they’re building, so he had to go check it out right away. He’ll come back as soon as it’s done, so Gen should wait here.”

"Oh~"

It must be the large iron furnace that will be used for ship engines. From what he had seen, it seemed to be a significant upgrade from the original one. It wouldn’t be strange if some issue had come up. But…

“Then wouldn’t it make more sense for him to wait there until I get back? We don’t know how long it’ll take him to fix that problem—”

“Y-you can’t!!”

Suika immediately interrupted, waving her arms in alarm. “Senku–Senku said it would only take a moment. Gen should stay here!”

The incident that was serious enough to require his urgent attention, but would only take a little bit to fix…?

Really suspicious.

Even so, he couldn't help but feel sorry for the girl who was sweating bullets in panic. It seemed that Senku had entrusted her with the ‘mission’ of keeping Gen in the village until he got back. For Suika, who was obsessed with making herself useful, failing her assigned task would be so depressing.

Well, let’s just play along for now.

“I see, I see. So what should I do in the meantime~?”

Suika sighed in relief. The leaves on the watermelon rind rose up again enthusiastically.

“The kids’ team is about to go foraging to restock supplies! Gen can come with us. Suika will take care of Gen!”

The roles seemed a bit reversed, but her words, as an expert on local forests and wildlife, might not be an exaggeration.

“Okay~ I’ll rely on Suika-chan then.”

Hearing that, the little girl's small body seemed to stretch taller. "You can count on me. Suika is also useful!"

The three little friends ran back to join the three other children from Ishigami Village, preparing their equipment for foraging. Gen smiled wryly at their overwhelming energy before following them.

Now that he thought about it, he also kind of missed the forest around Ishigami Village.

While living here, he used to go into the forest many times. Although he spent most of his time with the scientists, he would often find time to go collect flowers for magic tricks, claiming that he was helping to gather supplies for the winter. Sometimes he went with Suika, just like this.

It's a good opportunity. He hasn't had much time to pick flowers lately and his stock was starting to run out.

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.

The forest foraging expedition went smoothly. Suika took the role of leader seriously, telling everyone which grasses and fruits were edible and which mushrooms were poisonous. Most of the children also had experiences, so apart from a few that got a little too excited, there were no problems.

“Chabel-chan, Suzu-chan, don’t get too far~ Or you might run into Mr. Gorilla.”

Gen called out to the two children who were about to run away far from the group. They flinched and rushed back. The two-colored haired man chuckled into his sleeve, thinking to himself that the influence of the Hundred Tales was quite useful.

Though he did understand their excitement. The forest was lush with green leaves, blossoms of the various flowers emitted a faint fragrance, and the singing of birds. The atmosphere in the forest was refreshing and relaxing. In addition to the supplies, Gen had also collected a fair number of flowers, which put him in an especially good mood. Although it was a familiar scenery, the forest was filled with plants and flowers that he didn’t recall seeing in this area before.

Well, he used to visit here only during the summer and fall. Now that it was spring, it made sense that there would be plants that only grow during this time of year.

Hmm, spring?

Come to think of it, today is…

Gen was lost in thought, gazed absentmindedly at the sakura tree full of buds. He almost bumped into someone crouching on the ground.

"Whoa, Namari-chan?!"

The girl looked up. A paintbrush and sketchbook in her hand showed her main goal for this trip, which was clearly not foraging. She gave Gen a nod before quickly sweeping her brush again. Soon, a completed flower appeared on the paper.

“Heh~ Anemone, right? Namari-chan is eally-ray good at drawing.” Gen knelt to look at the drawing, and gave her praise without any need to lie. Although her drawing was made up of simple lines, the key features were perfectly captured. Anyone would recognize it at a glance.

Namari smiled proudly at the compliment, then her expression changed as if remembering something. She tugged twice at his sleeve, signaling him to wait.

“Hm?”

The mentalist watched her flip through the sketchbook until she found what she was looking for. She carefully made several strokes before tearing off the page and handing it to him.

Gen took it with a little confusion. When he saw what was on it, his grayish blue eyes widened.

It was a drawing of a black nightshade, his favorite flower.

But what surprised him even more were the words written on the two corners of the paper.

'For Gen'

'Namari'

The slightly distorted hiragana showed clear care in every stroke, making him feel warm inside.

Back when the Kingdom of Science’s classroom had just started, Namari had been one of the kids who frequently skipped classes. As the painter of Ishigami Village, she was scared of a future where everyone would be able to use the convenient ‘characters’ and her ability to draw would lose its value.

At that time, Ruri had asked him to convince the girl to attend school. So he told her that if she mastered both drawing and writing, her art would develop even further.

This might be her way of saying thanks for that, even though he didn't actually do anything.

“...Thanks, Namari-chan. This is a wonderful drawing~” Gen smiled at Namari, who looked a little nervous. “I’ll take good care of it.”

The girl looked relieved, placing a hand over her chest and offering a shy smile.

“In return, how about I show you something amazing-way? Now, where did I put it?”

Namari tilted her head as he was pretending to search through the supply basket, sneaking something out of his sleeve.

“Oh, I can use this! Namari-chan, could you hold out your hands?”

The girl opened both hands in confusion. The magician held up the newly received paper and turned it face down. When he tapped it lightly, black nightshade flowers fell from the paper into the girl's palms, as if the drawing became real.

Namari opened her eyes wide, looking at the flowers in her hand and then the paper in disbelief.

“See~? Since you wrote it was for me, and the drawing was so realistic, I was able to make the real thing appear,” Gen spouted nonsense without any shame. “If Namari-chan keeps studying the characters until you master them, even without magic, you’ll definitely be able to help everyone with your powers even more”

Today's lies, what kind of truth would they create in the future?

He looked at the little artist's sparkling eyes and had a feeling that she might become someone far more amazing than anyone had expected. But at that time, it wouldn’t be because of the words from a liar. It would be because of her own efforts.

“Gen~ Namari~ Come over here quickly, there are lots of wild veggies here!”

“Oh, Suika-chan’s calling. Let’s go.”

Namari nodded and ran ahead to join Suika and the others. Gen stood, folded the drawing into his cloak, and followed the group of children leisurely.

The rest of the resupply operation was efficient and fun. Even though they were working and playing at the same time, everyone's baskets were continuously filled up until they were full, just as some of the children's stomachs started to rumble.

He was about to suggest returning to the village when Suika spoke up.

"Everyone, let's have lunch here!"

Before leaving, Gen had noticed that Suika was carrying a woven basket that was too large for her. At first, the girl refused to let him carry it, until he claimed, "You have to be agile to protect others, just like Kohaku-chan~". Only then did she agree to hand it over.

Now he found what had been inside the basket he had been carrying the whole way. It was full of Francois's bread, enough for him and all the children, along with side dishes and picnic mats. Thorough preparations, as expected from Nanami Conglomerate’s No.1 butler.

A picnic under the blooming flowers, it was such a peace he had rarely experienced even in the world 3700 years ago.

After lunch, the children begged Gen to show them 'magic', so he started performing small magic tricks using flowers, as well as simple card tricks. The children had been through the Kingdom of Science’s literacy lessons and all memorized letters and Arabic numbers, allowing him to use more advanced tricks than he could back in Ishigami Village.

Their cheers and wide-eyed amazement made him reminisce about those days.

It had been over a year since the villagers had worked together to build a phone. Gen had often snuck in and sat with the children that had been tasked with making the golden wires, telling them tales from the old world and performing magic tricks. Then he’d get scolded for slacking off and slowing the team down.

Even though it was supposed to be a short period of war preparation, it had felt incredibly peaceful.

It wasn't that he disliked the current Kingdom of Science, but observing 150 people required far more energy than 40 people. And it was even a mix of Stone Age and modern people who had fought before, so conflicts were sometimes unavoidable.

So being back here, even for a short time, was not a bad change of pace.

“Everyone~ It’s time to head back to the village. Don’t forget anything~”

Gen took on the role of an elementary school teacher leading a field trip. He watched over everyone as they packed up, when a clear voice called his name.

"Gen!"

The watermelon-headed girl and her best friend ran out from behind the tree. Gen had long noticed that Suika and Mirai had sneaked out during his magic show, but he hadn’t said anything. “What is it, Suika-chan?”

"This is for Gen!"

Suika took out a crown made from various kinds of colorful flowers from behind. “Mirai and I used the flowers everyone helped collect to make it.”

“Oh~ It’s so pretty. Thank you.”

The man with two-colored hair crouched down to let the girls put the flower crown on his head, then looked up and asked, “How is it? Does it suit me?”

“It suits Gen-kun so well~”

“Yeah!”

Suika and Mirai clapped their hands in satisfaction with their work and ran off happily. The young man in his twenties smiled after them, not feeling any embarrassment at all about wearing such an adorable crown. If the little ladies said it looked good on him, then he would believe them.

The puzzles slowly fell into place, pieces by pieces.

The postponed 'work'. The secret. The second gift of the day. And today's date.

It would be unlikely that they all were just a coincidence.

But if he jumped to conclusions now, would he just be fooling himself? After all, that scientist shouldn’t have…

.
.

Senku had returned to the village.

Although he hadn’t seen him with his own eyes, Gen picked it up right away from the excited chatter of the elders. The hot air balloon parked in the open field was enough to prove it.

Gen pondered as he waved goodbye to the children scampered off to play elsewhere.

He was rather surprised that Senku actually came back here as Suika said.

Judging from the clues he has so far, the most likely explanation should've been ‘a plan to stall him in the village while a surprise party was being prepared at the main base’. However, Senku returning to the village contradicts this assumption.

Was he just really fooling himself? Well, he can't really imagine Senku doing something like that.

So maybe it was Suika’s idea? Because all the suspicious things were related to her.

But… in that case, she should have just said something when she handed over the flower crown. From the beginning, Suika had no reason to make such a big deal out of it. Even for her favorite big sister, Kohaku, she just gave her a gift directly on her birthday.

Could it really just be a coincidence? No, that’d be too strange.

Or was it all an April Fool's Day prank—

“Oho, why are you frowning so much, Gen?”

He flinched when he was suddenly pulled out of his thoughts. This voice…

"Kaseki-chan?!"

The small old man, the kingdom’s great craftsman, stood in front of him with his hands full of tools. “That frown doesn’t match your flower clown at all. They’re quite cute, you know?”

Gen was stunned for a moment before he realized what he meant. He had completely forgotten that he was still wearing the flower crown on his head. He chuckled as he took it off and put it in the pocket of his cloak. Not that he was embarrassed—but now that someone had pointed it out, wearing it did feel a little awkward.

“Eh~ Why did Kaseki-chan come here? Wasn’t there ouble-tray with the new furnace?”

“Senku has already fixed it. Chrome’s taking over the rest. I have another exciting invention that Senku asked me to build, so I came back with him.”

“I see.” It didn’t sound unusual. Maybe this was just Senku’s bad luck. “Then I’ll go take the job from Senku-chan—”

Gen, who was about to turn and walk away, stopped in his tracks. His cloak was being tugged by the old man’s muscular arm.

“Senku is not available right now. Ryuusui just called. It seems like there’s an urgent problem with the ship’s parts.”

Hmm…?

Gen raised his eyebrows. He couldn't help but glance towards the observatory where the phone was kept. A glimpse of the distinctive green hair flashing through the window. It seemed like he was really on the phone.

Though this situation felt strangely familiar, just like this morning.

Ignoring his doubtful expression, Kazeki continued. “Senku will come call for you when he’s done. So in the meantime…”

Uh-oh. Bad feeling incoming.

The old man held up the blueprint with excitement.

“Come and help me out with this!”

It really has come to this pattern!

“So uel-cray~”

Gen could only groan as he was dragged by the cloak into the lab, accompanied by Kazeki's cheerful laughter.

…It’s not that cruel, huh?

Wearing safety goggles, Gen watched as the number one craftsman worked with the lathe. At first, he thought that he would have to do the same brutal labor as 800 manganese batteries. But now, being Kaseki’s assistant just meant picking, passing and holding tools for him.

It's a relief that it's an easy job.

Kaseki also worked at a relaxed pace. Despite the small size and delicate nature of each piece, it didn't seem like a difficult task with his skill and the upgraded lathe. There was only the sound of the lathe grinding in the lab, which was quite pleasant to the ear.

By the way, what were they building right now?

On the table there were spiral-shaped metals, various sizes of screws, and cylindrical pieces of wood…?

Gen gave up on guessing and leaned over to look at the blueprints spread out on the other side of Kazeki. His eyes widened when he saw a familiar shape.

"Oho, Senku calls it a microscope!"

“Oh, so it was a microscope~”

It was certainly impressive considering the equipment capable of seeing microorganisms was being built in the Stone World. But compared to the giant ship that was being built at the same time, it wasn't so shocking.

He didn't know what purpose Senku had built it for. Couldn't connect it to the ship, their main project. But who knows? This was the same guy who built a telephone using a cotton candy machine after all. Or maybe Senku might want basic scientific equipment just in case.

“This one’s kinda similar”

Kaseki suddenly spoke up. Gen turned to him and asked. “Hm? To what?”

“That one, at the observatory. The telescope…?”

“Oh, right~”

His eyes softened as reminded of that 'gift'.

“The shape and components are similar, but I remember that their principles are quite different.”

“Is that so? I’ll ask Senku to explain them later.”

Kaseki handed Gen another completed piece. He sat down, dusted it off with a brush, and carefully placed it with the other pieces. The old man began cleaning the lathe before starting on the next piece.

“It’s really nostalgic. That was the first work that we, the Ishigami Village, ever made without Senku or Chrome.”

His hand paused for a moment. “...That's right~.”

'We'

Almost all the villagers were like this. They easily made Gen part of them, especially the children and the elderly.

Perhaps it was because they’d already accepted Senku, an outsider, as the village chief. Ever since the day they celebrated that scientist's ascension as the chief, the villagers had dragged him into their drinking parties.

The isolated village that used to reject outsiders, why were they so naive?

Even after the Hyoga invasion, nothing had changed. He wondered how they could trust someone who had been part of the enemy that burned down the village.

But maybe that’s why, in this Ishigami Village, Gen first learned what peace of mind felt like.

The place he used to stand—the stage surrounded by smiles and applause, the spotlight was perfectly controlled. The magician wore a smile that never wavered. Each move and word was carefully calculated.

And when he stepped off, it was the stage of reality that required even sharper vigilance.

He had lived like a man on a tightrope, stepping in a world reeked of money since he was a teenager. The heart-pounding challenges were the proof of his life.

Gen had always thought that was the world he belonged to.

But when he opened his eyes again, there was no stage in the whole world anymore. Lights were gone, only the sun and campfires remained.

Even now, Gen still needs the spotlight. That’s why the first electric light in the dark night was the final pull that made him choose this side.

Only that what followed was a small village that became that boy's kingdom. The sparkling eyes of the children that reminded him of his first street magic show. The laughter of the old folks with their meandering stories. The smiles at dinner after working themselves to pieces…

People who had become a 'home' he never knew he needed.

Even now that he was working, it felt more like a break—

…Eh?

Could it be that today…

Oh, so that's how it is.

Finally, all the puzzle pieces aligned perfectly. The mentalist’s lips unconsciously curled up.

“Oh? Thought of something good?”

“Mm, something like that~”

Gen replied with a cheerful smile that lingered on his face. Kazeki didn’t ask further, and changed the topic back to the telescope. It seemed that the old man was in a chatty mood today.

“You noticed, right? In the end, Senku didn’t really modify our telescope at all. He only adjusted the lens a bit, though he surely knew how to improve its performance”

“If you asked him, he’d probably say something like, ‘I don’t have time for that kind of thing,’” Gen giggled after imitating Senku’s voice with unnecessary accuracy. He sighed and looked toward the observatory where Senku probably was.

If he’s really still on the phone with Ryusui, that line’s probably fried by now.

“Senku-chan is usually uper-say straightforward. But when it comes to feelings, He’s completely dishonest, isn’t he~”

“Oho, I’d say you’re not much different from him.”

Gen winced at the unexpected counterattack. "Eh~ That’s just slander! How are we even alike?"

Kaseki laughed and shook his head.

“No matter how well you understand each other, some things still need to be said out loud. Trust an old man on that.”

The mentalist tucked his hands inside his sleeves and averted his gaze, wondering how much Kaseki knew. He was well aware of his own physical signs of hiding the truth, but in front of this old man, he didn’t feel like putting up the act of a professional liar.

The trickster muttered.

“...But I did say it, eriously-say.”

On that birthday night, he even accidentally said that word.

“You always ruin it at the end by brushing it off."

“...”

This time he flopped face-down onto the table, not defending himself anymore. Rather, he was inarguable.

Kaseki, knowing he had hit a nerve, chuckled and gently patted his black-and-white hair. Then he returned to work as if nothing had happened.

Gen slowly peeked out from his sleeve, glared at the old man with a pout, and let out a deep sigh. After taking a moment to adjust his expression, he quietly got back to work.

About an hour later, the simple microscope was completely assembled.

“This is faster than I thought.” Kaseki stretched his arms, loosening his shoulder muscles. “There’s still plenty of time before sunset. Should we have ol’ Sho grill us some fish to go with tea, Gen?”

Up until now, Senku hadn’t come to call for him, and Kaseki had not mentioned it as if he had completely forgotten. That confirmed his assumption to the point of almost being 100% certain.

“Kaseki-chan~ Is it eally-ray tea you’re going to drink?”

Gen smiled wryly, eyeing the older man knowingly. Kaseki stroked his beard, utterly unbothered.

“You drink tea, while ol’ Sho and I have something else.”

“Knew it.”

Having no choice, he followed the old man with his shoulders slumped.

Fortunately, both Kaseki and Sho had strong alcohol tolerance. Even though they downed the fermented sake like it was water, neither of them collapsed. Gen, sipping tea on the side, didn't have to exert any strength to drag anyone home.

By dinner time, the villagers gradually came out to cook. A few people brought over goat meat stew to join the drinking party.

As dusk approached, the horizon began to turn red. Ukyo drove from the iron mine to pick up the children and take them back to the main base. He didn't say anything when Gen didn't get in the car, only waving goodbye with a smile before leaving.

The sun dipped beyond the horizon and darkness fell, with only the light coming from the bonfires and the bulbs installed in front of some huts. Finally, the drunkards were satisfied and dispersed into their homes.

“Gen, Senku asked me to call you up.”

Kaseki called out, descending from the observatory. Earlier, the old man had sobered up and gone up to discuss some work with the chief scientist for a while.

“Got it~”

Gen stood up and dusted off his cloak. As he passed Kaseki, the old man patted him lightly on the shoulder.

The mentalist simply smiled back, pretending not to understand the meaning behind the gesture.

The stairs still creaked as usual. When he reached the top floor, the first thing he saw through the open roof was the back of the boy who had kept him waiting all day. Senku sat on the floor with a small lamp and a large pile of papers. It seemed like he wasn't using the telescope tonight.

“Great work~,” Gen greeted from behind. “Finally ready to brief me on my new task, Senku-chan?”

The spiky-haired scientist turned, his trademark smirk tugging at his lips.

“There was no such task in the first place. You figured that out already, didn’t you, mentalist?”

This officially confirms his hypothesis.

Gen shook his head with a dramatic sigh. He walked over to sit next to Senku where there were no cluttered documents.

“Had my head spinning for half the day, y’know.”

“Heh, took you that long? Your skills are getting rusty or what?”

"Well, a certain someone overcomplicated it."

He gave Senku a light jab, then glanced at the boy's profile with an uncontrollable softness in his eyes.

“So…how’d you know it was today?”

April 1st.

That's right, it's his birthday.

Calling him out to Ishigami Village for no real reason. A new task that kept getting postponed. The substitute job that could barely be called a work. The foraging that felt like a field trip with the little kids. The familiar peacefulness of handling tools to the old craftsman. The nostalgic atmosphere of the village.

None of it was some cliché surprise party like in a drama. After all, the person next to him had never followed some common script.

The birthday present this scientist had forced upon him was ‘a day off'.

Something so ordinary that everyone had every weekend 3,700 years ago, but didn't exist in this Stone World.

"Asked the journalist."

“Oh, so it eally-ray was Minami-chan.” Gen had already made a guess while having dinner. Of course the most suspected was the number one source of information. “She did remember, huh?”

“That woman did say that she doesn’t remember everyone’s birthdays. But yours was suspicious, so she did.”

“Ah~ That makes sense.” Back then when social media was a thing, every year his fans would debate whether it was his actual birthday or not. At the height of his fame, it had even trended on Twitter.

“Even if Minami hadn’t remembered, there were over a hundred modern people. There must be someone who had. You’re the famous mentalist-sama after all.”

Gen’s breath faltered. He just realized that the other had been thinking of a way to find out his birthday for a long time.

That line from September last year — "If you don't want to tell me, so be it." — didn't mean that he didn't care to know his birthday. It meant "If you won't tell me, I’ll just find another way.”

His heart tingled with that incredible realization. He unconsciously clenched his fingers, feeling so restless that he had to blurt out nonsense.

“By the way, Senku-chan let me rest? You imposter, where did you hide the real Senku-chan?”

Senku sneered. “Nonsense. Rest is necessary to work efficiently. Suika and Kaseki are getting a break too. Tomorrow, you guys should work hard to make the most of your full day off.”

Yep. Definitely the real one.

“So uel-cray~.” Gen groaned, but the smile tugging at his lips said otherwise. He leaned back on his hands, looking up at the sky. That was when he suddenly remembered that there was still one more unsolved mystery.

“Say, why did you have to go through all this ouble-tray? You could’ve just said ‘you get a day off’ and called it done.”

The mastermind raised an eyebrow with an expression that seemed to ask, 'Do you really not know?'

“Like that time you said you were going to rest for a day, and ended up working in the fields with Taiju and others?”

“...”

"Or the other time you complained that you were dying of exhaustion, and then got meddling in someone's heartbreak until late at night."

“...Alright, point taken~ Though this is the last thing I wanted to hear from you, of all people, eriously-say.”

The outstanding leader, never taking a day off, rolled his eyes. Despite his teasing, Gen knew that Senku was trying to take care of himself as much as possible, since that was the most efficient way to work. It was just that he surely wouldn’t randomly rest in the Stone World with endless things to do. Well, the time devoted to his beloved science wouldn't be considered tiring for him anyway.

And likewise, as the kingdom’s unofficial psychologist, Gen couldn't take a rest freely. If the tiny problems were left unsolved, it would be unpredictable when they would escalate into something out of control.

Gen didn't protest, because he knew Senku was also well aware of that.

That was exactly why this workaholic scientist had gone as far as crafting an unbreakable day off for him.

He pulled him away from the people who were his main job, used a nonexistent assignment as an excuse, and sent the two he could never say no to as escorts.

A ridiculous yet perfect plan.

Damn, he was too kind.

Gen pulled his knees to his chest, afraid that any sign he gave would expose how flustered he felt. He looked up and pretended to enjoy the view of the starry sky. The moon was bright tonight, but without light pollution, countless stars could be seen.

He refused to glance at the boy beside him in that comfortable silence. After a while, he heard the sound of papers being placed on the floor.

"So, what do you want?"

Gen turned, confused with a sudden question. “Hmm? What do you mean?”

Senku frowned.

"Your present, duh. I don't know what you want. So instead of giving something randomly, wouldn't it be more effective to just ask?"

That answer made him even more baffled. Gen blinked.

“Wait. The gift was a day off, wasn’t it?”

"Huh? Who gives something like that as a gift?"

If anyone would, it’d be you.

But Senku obviously didn't think he was any different from a normal person. He crossed his arms and asked again, "C’mon, spit it out. I’ll make it if I can.”

The self-proclaimed mentalist was still stunned. It was as if an entire universe was swirling in his mind.

This guy had gone to all that trouble to create such an impossibly elaborate day off, and he said it was just a bonus?

Senku actually intended to give him an actual, tangible gift too?

Gen had no idea how to comprehend this new piece of information. What was he to Senku, exactly? Why did he go to such lengths? Or maybe he just didn't understand Senku well enough. This scientist probably had a tradition of giving birthday presents to friends from the old world like Taiju or Yuzuriha.

It was certainly possible. But his heart was still beating faster and faster, ignoring any reasons.

"Hey, are you listening?"

Senku kept urging for an answer, but what could Gen do? He was all confused. Not to mention what he wanted, he couldn't even think of what expression he should make right now. Fortunately, the light wasn't very bright, so the boy couldn't see his face clearly.

Now he had to respond. As someone receiving a gift from 'a slightly closer-than-usual ally', he should not look like a flustered teenager being handed a love letter.

He had to properly think of a gift he wanted. A gift he should want.

It should be something simple, and could be easily made with what they already had. Something that Asagiri Gen would ask for. Something that didn’t seem special, wouldn’t expose the feelings he had for—

“Pizza.”

"...Huh?"

He felt his face gradually heating, and he also wanted to ask himself— Why the hell pizza?! But it was the first thing that he could dig out of his half-functional brain.

He’d said it, and he wasn’t going to take it back. The show must go on then.

Asagiri Gen, control your voice. You can do it. You're a professional.

“…Y’know, pizza~ The food.”

“Yeah, I know what pizza is. But seriously? You built an entire observatory, and when it’s your birthday, you ask for… pizza?”

Even without looking, and he never would, Gen could imagine the exact expression on Senku’s face. His lower lip trembled slightly before he suppressed his embarrassment and continued rambling.

“The observatory was built by the whole village, not just me. And as for pizza, it's fast food. Pretty luxurious for the Stone World, isn’t it? Had I not asked for it now, who knows when I’ll have another chance? Or can’t you make it for now~?”

"...It's not like I couldn’t."

Gen was secretly relieved that he seemed to have successfully diverted the other’s attention. Senku’s voice shifted as he entered scientist mode, starting to draft a roadmap in his brain.

“We’ve got an oven, flour, and salt. Oil can be extracted from seeds. Cheese can be made from goat milk. As for the toppings, we can use mushrooms, meat, or even sausage. The spices we have should be enough. The only one missing is the tomato sauce… but there should be a substitute—”

Senku muttered as he sank into his own world of science. Gen knew that this moment was his chance to escape. If he lingered any longer, he might give too much away.

“Yay~ I’ll be looking forward to it then! Well, it’s pretty late, so I’ll be going. Nighty Night~”

Gen stood up, doing his best not to make it seem like a hasty retreat, and turned toward the stairs.

But then a hand closed around his wrist.

"Wait."

Gen drew a slow breath, relying on every ounce of experience and professionalism he had to keep his hands from shaking. Turning to the person holding him back, he offered a smile that hadn’t yet wavered.

“Is there anything else, Senku-chan?”

“That’s it? What you want the most.”

A jolt ran down the back of Gen’s neck. Those deep crimson eyes stared straight at him, as if seeing right through to his heart.

…Calm down. It’s fine. Senku doesn’t know. As long as this mask doesn’t slip off.

There’s no way Senku could see right through to the feeling he was trying to hide.

He won’t.

Because it doesn’t matter that much to him.

“Yeah, just pizza’s enough~ Don’t we still have a whole ship to build?”

"Liar."

Gen was taken aback at the immediate retort. “... What? I’m not lying~”

The hand gripping his wrist tightened slightly.

“Your heart is beating so fast, don’t you notice?”

The mentalist only then realized that the spot the other's fingers were pressing was right over his pulse point. If his brain was functioning properly, he’d have noticed immediately.

“97…98 beats per minute. Way higher than average, you know?”

He gave a bitter laugh at the scientist’s reveal, stubbornly rambling on.

“C’mon, heart rate alone isn’t enough to detect a lie~ Senku-chan, you of all people must know that, right? There are plenty of reasons someone’s heart might beat a little faster.”

“Oh—like what?”

Senku asked, the corners of his mouth curling up. That teasing tone made Gen’s carefully crafted smile falter. He was painfully aware that his pulse had only quickened more. He could almost hear it pounding in his chest.

That look… does he know?

But if he knows, why is he smiling like that? Could it be that he also…?

He stopped himself before the thought spun too far.

People tend to seek evidence to support what they want to believe. It was a psychological mechanism. Maybe that was why he saw a certain glint in the boy’s eyes. Maybe deep down, he just desperately wanted to believe that the other felt the same.

‘No matter how well you understand each other, some things still need to be said out loud.’

It’s hopeless, Kaseki-chan. I…

With a broad smile, the magician once again hid his true feelings behind his mask.

"For example~ It’s scary that you’re acting weird like this."

“Tch.” Senku clicked his tongue. “Still won’t say it, huh? Fine, then.”

“Ah, whoa—!?”

With a sharp tug, the hand on his wrist pulled his entire body down. It didn't seem like he had used that much force. It might have been due to the principle of momentum, or because his legs had already felt like jelly. Whatever the reason, it didn't matter.

What mattered was that he fell forward, straight into the person sitting down.

The person didn’t dodge. Instead, he caught Gen, ignoring the impact. On top of that, one of Senku’s hands pressed his head firmly against his chest, as if refusing to let him move a millimeter. Their current position seemed like…

Gen felt his face heated up as realization sank in.

SENKU-WAS-HOLDING-HIM

His remaining half of functional thought was completely scattered.

“Wh-wh-what are you doing—”

“Shut up and listen.”

His mind went blank, completely losing the ability to use logic. All he could register was the warm, astonishing presence of another human body. He could make out the other boy’s words, but even louder was the violent pounding from his own chest.

Listen? How could he hear anything in this state?

A hand traced down his dual-colored hair, stopping at the base of his neck, pressing his head against his chest. It was then that Gen realized.

The heartbeat that was so loud, drowning out the world, wasn’t just his own.

“...You can hear it, right?”

A whisper from zero distance sent shockwaves down. Yet the silver tongued mentalist couldn't say a single word in response.

Senku didn't wait for a reply. He continued speaking at an unusually fast pace.

“The increased heart rate is mainly caused by the neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. It’s usually released after exercise, in moments of ‘fight or flight’ tension, or when dopamine kicks in. But right now, you’re not running, and there are no lions or bears. So the most likely cause is dopamine. The well-known cause of increased dopamine… You, studying psychology, must be well aware of that, right?”

Who’s the expert in psychology? Who’s the mentalist? Now, there was only a fool who was a mess, only half able to process words.

“Sorry, I don’t know much about psychology…”

"Oi."

It might sound like he's being sarcastic, but this time, Gen swore it came from the depths of sincerity. He really didn’t understand. Not in this state.

Senku seemed to notice, and spoke in a softer tone. "Alright, my bad. That’s my fault."

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"What I’m trying to say is, I like you."

Three words flashed through his ears, silencing all his chaotic thoughts.

They landed so precisely, leaving not even a millimeter of room for doubt.

His eyes widened and trembled. He froze, unable to move. The chemical-scarred fingers slid under the collar of his shirt and pressed lightly on the pulse point under the jaw.

“Now it’s your turn… Why is this beating so hard?”

Was it because of the slight rasp in Senku’s voice? Because the hand pulled away? Or maybe both, Gen slowly lifted himself up to look at him.

The moment red and blue finally aligned, he realized just how wrong his previous assumption had been.

Senku was looking at him.

With eyes that reflected only him, without a trace of shield.

That’s why Gen had a chance to see—a flicker of nervousness that slipped through the cracks in the boy's usually confident expression.

The look in those eyes, mixed between anxiety and expectation, made his heart melt.

If any doubts had lingered, they were all wiped away by this unfamiliar expression on Senku’s face that he’d never seen before.

"...Because I like you."

With a voice unaltered and a face unmasked, Gen spoke the truest words in his life.

"Because I like you, Senku-chan."

He watched, unblinking, as the crimson eyes slightly widened. The anticipation being fulfilled, and the anxiety turning into relief. A thin layer of clear tears coated them. He watched as the boy’s eyebrows relaxed, and the corners of his mouth curved up into a wide smile.

“...Finally said it, huh? you idiot.”

Senku let out a deep sigh, leaning back on his arms in exhaustion.

“You, and me too. It’s just three syllables, why was it so fucking hard to say? So irrational. I’ve lost the right to tease that big oaf anymore.”

Gen couldn't help but laugh. “Even when you already know the answer?”

“You think you’re that easy to read, mentalist? Until I’ve heard the answer with my own ears, I can’t be ten billion percent sure.”

Right. Even after hearing it with his own ears, Gen still couldn't believe that he and Senku really feel the same.

It wasn't that he, as the mentalist, never suspected. He knew that Senku had feelings like any other normal person, he just suppressed emotions that might get in the way of the goal, faster and more subtle than anyone else. However, because Gen had realized his feelings for Senku first, he was afraid that he was interpreting things to suit his own hopes.

Whenever he caught the gentle light in those eyes, the soft laugh in his voice, or the hint of something special in the way he treated him, Gen would stop himself from reading too much into it.

He couldn’t stand the risk of finding nothing at all.

He loosely clenched his hands. As the thrill and weightlessness of that moment ebbed, what followed was a slight instability.

Gen never dared to imagine this point, so he never even thought about ‘after’.

He was not used to situations without a plan.

“So… what do we do from here?”

Based on how Senku tended to prioritize logic above all else, then now—when they had a mission to uncover the truth behind the mysterious green light that turned everyone to stone on the other side of the world, and with the revelation of Why-Man, potentially the mastermind behind everything—this surely wasn’t the time for romance.

Now that they had known their feelings for each other, it wouldn’t be too late to wait until civilization was restored.

Accepting that calmed him down.

“Huh? You mean about us?” Senku turned to him. “Normally, we’d date, wouldn’t we?”

"Eh? Are we dating?"

They looked at each other, blinking.

A hint of uncertainty resurfaced in the boy’s eyes, reminding Gen that he was not used to these kinds of things at all. "... You don’t want to?"

Gen felt one of his biggest weaknesses intensify. There was no way he could ever reject that rare vulnerability.

“No, no. I didn’t mean it like that. I just thought you had a policy of not getting involved in romance until civilization had successfully been restored.”

“Oh,” Senku nodded. “That was never a ‘policy’ per se, but I’d thought like that.”

"Right?"

The scientist dropped his gaze thoughtfully, as he was organizing the words.

“...If I hadn’t suspected that you felt the same, I wouldn’t have taken action. Just buried my own muddle feelings and kept going. After all, It’s not the time for a young boy to go chasing after someone.”

The calm eyes lifted to meet his. “But if the other feels the same, that’s another matter. I don’t think dating you would conflict with my plan to find the Why-Man or restore civilization.”

Those words sank and seeped in. The more Gen thought about it, the more they made sense.

“In this Stone World, I never thought about looking for a partner. But you came to me first.” Senku tilted his chin, grinning. “And I don’t want to wait. What about you?”

That wording…

“Sounds like I fell into a trap,” Gen chuckled. “Hmm, I don’t want to wait either~.”

“Then that settles it.”

So easy.

But, maybe that’s all it had to be.

As soon as he thought that, Senku spoke up again. “Well, you’ve already mentioned it. Since we’re doing this, there are a few things I should make clear right now.”

“Eh? Uh…okay?”

When he saw the leader of the kingdom sitting cross-legged, resting both hands firmly on his knees, Gen automatically adjusted his posture to kneeling. The mood felt like a formal conversation.

Is this ground rules for dating or something like that?

“First. As you already know, we’re going to revive an entire civilization that has been dormant for two million years. We don’t know what we’ll encounter once we set sail. Both you and I might be damn busier than we can imagine. Second, I’m not familiar with this sort of thing—” Senku waved vaguely between the two of them, implying their new status. “—Not even a millimetre. This is the first time.”

He nodded, still not sure what the other was trying to convey.

“These two factors alone make it extremely possible that I’ll make a mistake. No, actually there’s a ten billion percent chance I’ll mess up. And when it leaves you… I dunno, hurt? Or disappointed, or whatever, and you feel like I’m not what you expected. When that happens—”

It sank in slowly, as his heart dropped.

Would that be the end of it? Would that mean breaking up?

But maybe it was alright. Gen didn't plan on living in some dreamy ideal. At least until their goal was achieved. Even if Senku didn't have much time for him, or acted like nothing had changed, that was okay. Gen wasn't some peevish high school girl. He surely could stand it.

“—Then speak up. So we can find a way to fix it ASAP.”

Huh?

Senku frowned at his confused expression.

“I already know that you’re a liar by nature. But if you try to act like a soap opera heroine, holding on because you don’t want to put pressure on me or something, then I’ll have to spend ten times longer trying to figure it out myself. And if I’m too stupid to notice my mistake? Someone else in the Kingdom of Science will step in. They’re too nosy to stay out of it. All that will slow down our mission to revive seven billion people. Get it?”

Get it…?

He did get it. But more like, he can’t comprehend.

Of course. Senku never intended to give up.

Gen had always known he was that kind of person. Ever since the day he saw the date carved on that tree.

Counting every second in the darkness because he refused to give up on living. Parting ways from his only two close friends because he refused to give in to Tsukasa. Spending hours building a car because he refused to give up on bringing everyone in the village with him. Building a ship to head to the other side of the world because he refused to give up on saving Tsukasa and the other billions more.

It just hadn’t crossed Gen’s mind, that he himself would become one of the things that Senku refused to give up.

Not just as a comrade, but also as a partner.

He was done for. He felt like he was about to cry.

He buried his face in both hands to hide his burning eyes, covering up by talking nonsense. “That's ouble-tray~ Senku-chan really do like me.”

“Hah? Didn’t I just say so?”

“You did, but it felt like getting hit all over again.” He waited until his emotions settled down a bit, then responded to the question he knew the other was still waiting for. “Okay~ Got it. I’ll try my best. If I drag down the world’s recovery, I’ll definitely end up in hell again.”

"Yeah, we’d be going together anyway, right? There's no need to add any unnecessary penalties.”

Although his hands still covered his face, Gen could feel Senku tilting his head to look at him, making him hide even down further.

“Today’s been one big emotional rollercoaster for you, huh?”

“And whose fault is it?”

“Oh? Whose?” The amused tone in his voice made Gen clearly picture the boy’s mocking smirk. “Dopamine?”

That earned a chuckle from him. Now that his senses came back, Gen remembered this name. Dopamine was one of those words he’d seen in passing. To scientists or medical professionals, it probably came with a lot more nuance. But among average people, it was known as the hormone related to romantic love.

“That’s right, it must be dopamine-chan~”

“Heh, stop covering your face. Lend me a hand for a second.”

After quickly wiping away his tears, he offered one hand as requested without thinking. “Why?”

Senku grabbed it and interlaced their fingers.

“Too many dopamine rushes aren’t good for you. Just get used to it now. Starting with this is fine, right?”

Gen glanced down at their interlocked hands before glancing at the other and smiling.

“Will it work?”

“Who knows? The brain still has a lot of mechanisms we can’t fully explain, and I don’t have time to build a brain scanner. Let’s just try it.”

"Hmm~"

A comfortable silence settled between them, and Gen allowed himself to feel the warmth from the hand holding his.

Except for that hug a moment ago, he’d hardly ever touched Senku. He’d seen him avoid Taiju's embrace, and he made an awkward expression whenever others touched him, aside from those quick high-fives. So he had assumed that Senku didn't like physical touch. Gen himself was also used to avoiding others' touching due to his experience in the entertainment industry.

But judging from tonight, it seemed like neither of them mind each other's touch. And from now on, maybe they’d learn more about this together.

He tried giving the warm hand a squeeze, and was met with a faint squeeze in return. When he traced a finger down one of the boy’s long, bony knuckles, he didn’t get pulled away.

The young scientist’s hand felt quite rough, with old chemical burns and hardened calluses. Aside from where charcoal pencils might’ve pressed, he couldn’t quite guess what kind of work had caused them. Not like a musician’s hand that spoke its instrument, nor like an athlete’s that revealed their sport.

This was a hand that refused to be guessed at. So very fitting for its owner.

More than that, this hand had created countless miracles in a Stone World, and would continue to create countless more. And he believed that in the end, it would save seven billion people.

And this hand was now holding his.

…It felt like he’d been ambushed by emotions too many times today.

He didn't know what kind of expression he was making right now. Probably like some idiot trying to hold in both a smile and tears at the same time. Thankfully, Senku didn’t seem to be looking.

The boy glanced down at their hands, as if he was pondering.

“Gen, don’t you really have something you want besides pizza?”

Still stucking on that?

The fact that Senku brought it up a third time surprised him a little. It seemed like he was really bothered by this. Maybe it was about the observatory, or maybe about their relationship that had developed.

But in this state, fully present in the moment, Gen felt more certain of his answer. Because what he wanted most was…

“I already told you~ The pizza’s enough.”

Senku glanced up with a frown.

“I know you were freaking out and just said whatever came to mind —”

Stung by being exposed, Gen pulled a bitter face. “Better if you kept pretending you didn’t notice."

“—So I’m giving you another chance. If you can’t think of anything tonight, tell me later. But if you wait too long, I might not be able to make it before we set sail.”

Gen glared at the boy who continued speaking as if he hadn't heard him. He felt warm and flustered at how Senku insisted on giving him something he liked, yet also a tiny sting at how well he was being seen through, when that was supposed to be Gen’s expertise.

The competitive part of him made him want to turn the tables just a bit.

He secretly smirked to himself, then molded a sweet smile on his face.

“That’s not necessary~ Because the thing I want the most is…”

He slowly lifted their interlaced hands closer, brushing his lips across the boy’s knuckles. He gazed up and whispered.

“...already mine now.”

He felt the faint twitch of a finger as crimson eyes widened slightly, the tips of his ears tinting red. That sight sparked a thrill of satisfaction in his chest.

He winked. “This one’s not a lie~”

The surprise in the boy's eyes turned into a sharp, bright gleam.

“Kukuku. Not bad, mentalist. Being back already, huh? You were just blushing like a monkey’s butt a moment ago.”

“Butt—” The corner of Gen’s mouth twitched, then he gave a challenging smile. “That’s only because it was too sudden, okay~? From now on, you should prepare yourself. I’ve got more experience than you after all.”

“Ho—this is so exhilarating.”

Senku's smile lit up like when a new challenge appeared before him, making Gen’s heart skip a beat.

So he can make that face for things other than science, huh…

That certain ‘thing’ bit down on his lower lip. Shyness and excitement spread through his body, and the anxiety about the unpredictable future dissolved. Only the sound of his own heartbeat and the path they’d walk together remained.

Senku raised their joined hands and waved them back and forth.

“So this is all you want, huh? Where did ‘the man who only cares about his own benefits’ go?”

“Still right here~ But I already got the est-bay~ gift from someone else, so I don’t need one from you, Senku-chan.” Gen intentionally changed the subject. If he let Senku focus any longer on that ‘thing he wanted the most’, it’d only circle back to making him more embarrassed.

“That flower crown? It’s cute.”

“Cu—you saw?” Senku must have seen him walking into the village with it on. He didn’t feel anything when he was wearing it, but an unexpected compliment from this certain person made him suddenly shy. So he covered it up by smiling and taking out a piece of paper that folded neatly in his coat. “I also feel grateful for that, but I’m talking about this one. Namari-chan gave it to me.”

“Namari? When’d you become close?” Senku leaned closer to look at the paper. “Hah. Your favorite flower, huh? Nice drawing.”

“Yep~ And that’s not all. Look, Namari-chan can write too. She’s definitely going to be a famous mangaka one day. This could be her very first signature~ Isn’t that amazing-way?”

Gen bubbled on like a proud parent until he noticed that Senku was staring blanky at the drawing. Gears in his brain were almost visibly turning.

“Uh, Senku-chan? Ello-hay~ What are you thinking about?”

“...Why didn’t I think of this sooner?”

“Think of what?”

“Found it! A substitute for tomatoes!”

“As for the pizza?! You’ve been thinking about that this whole time?!” Gen gaped. Sometimes, Senku felt like a browser with a hundred tabs open. But maybe he should be used to it by now. “What is it? I’ve never seen a wild tomato around here. It’s fine if they’re too far away.”

“They’re so close.” Senku grinned, tapping the flower drawing. “This. Your Black nightshade.”

“ERIOUSLY-SAY?!”

“The scientific name of the Black nightshade is Solanum nigrum, while the tomatoes that we used to eat are Solanum lycopersicum. Simply put, they are related.”

“Really? Their flowers do look similar… but I thought the Black nightshades were poisonous.”

If he remembered correctly, the flower’s description had stated as much. The flower language and its English name pursued him even more. That website he looked at might provide false information?

"Yep, they are."

The young scientist answered innocently, causing his eyes to pop out.

"And you're going to use it to make pizza?!"

“Kukuku, the unripe green fruit and stems have a toxin called solanine. But the fully ripe, almost black ones are harmless. Never tried it myself, but I’ve read it tastes like a super-sweet version of tomatoes.”

Senku explained with amusement, like every time he’d surprised him with science.

“It might not taste exactly like ketchup, but we can adjust the flavor. I’ll ask Francois. Making pizza is more their thing, after all.”

"Eh~ If we ask Francois-chan for help, will Ryuusui-chan charge us ten billion dragos?"

“Don’t worry. If that guy hears ‘pizza’, he’ll just say—”

“ ‘I want it!’ ” Gen snapped his fingers, mimicking the captain with uncanny precision.

Senku burst out laughing.

“You imitated his voice too well, Gen.”

The magician watched that childlike, carefree laugh with a soft glance, before joining in himself.

Honestly, Senku-chan.

The birthday present I wanted the most, I’ve had it for a long time.

Ever since this exact day of three years ago… when I was still sealed in stone.

The day a boy opened his eyes—and carved my birthday into a tree.

- END -