Chapter Text
Senku finished his work at the lab way earlier than usual. Yesterday, he’d pushed the team a bit harder than necessary, making it ahead of their schedule, so today he can hand out individual tasks to the others. The past two days were pretty rough, and Senku could feel the tiredness today. Yet, since morning, he’d been fully locked in his own part before noon came.
By the time he started clearing his desk, Gen’s call came in. Senku answered with the speaker on, then went back to tidying up with both of his hands to maximize efficiency.
“Senku-chan!” Of course, Gen would greet with high energy. Senku couldn’t help but be infected with the energy as a smile formed on his face involuntarily.
“Aa, I just finished the work,” Senku replied with his usual neutral tone.
“I see, I just want you to know I just landed.” Senku took a glance at the clock on the wall in confusion.
“Oh? Damn it, I miscalculated. Sorry, I’ll be there soon after I finish cleaning up,” said Senku, caught off guard. Even if he’s on call, Senku could sense a couple of people behind him.
“Don’t worry, I’m gonna take my time then. Oh! Remind me to go to the bank tomorrow.”
“Bank? And I’m not your personal reminder, Mentalist.” There’s playful anger in his tone.
“I want to duplicate our debit card. Well, someone had to take advantage of the keen memory you had there.” A teasing tone could be heard through the phone.
Senku searches for his wallet amongst the pockets he had, making sure he has the debit card inside. The wallet was a plain but practical brown leather wallet that Kaseki had made.
“You can use ours. I have it now with me.” When he found the wallet, he flipped it open to slide the debit card out.
In the meantime, it reveals a little colored photo of candid Senku and Gen in front of the observatory. There are little Suika’s back head and Chrome’s half face. But the camera was focused on both of them, looking at the paper that Senku held, and Gen pointing at the paper beside him.
“I need it in the US, Senku-chan. Ryusui had opened his bank there! So it would be cost-effective if I had it for myself.”
They had a joint account since the rebirth of money and Nanami Bank. It was to avoid confusion and quarrel between the two as they both got the money from each other’s effort and strategy. Since then, there’s no problem for them sharing the money, so they keep it that way until these days.
“Ah, I see. Alright, do I have to go?” He put the wallet back inside his dress pants pocket.
“I don’t think so? But if I need to, I would tell you.”
“I’ll keep tomorrow's schedule flexible then. I’m on my way now.” Senku put that as a note in his mind.
“Okay~ Be careful! We don’t want our car to take a vacation in the workshop again,” teased Gen.
“Ugh, it’s one time,” said Senku, annoyed. It’s literally just one time his dumb mistake was missing to put the gear stick in reverse shift. In his defence, he was tired, and Gen wasn’t there to drive the car back.
“One time is enough for me to think twice.” Senku could picture Gen’s act to smirking behind his sleeve.
“Well, you're always the better driver.” There is a chuckle from the other side.
Had enough with the teasing, Senku decided to end the call. “See you there, bye.” With his bag on his shoulder, he’s ready to go. “I take leave for today,” announced Senku.
“You’re not getting back later?” Asked Suika as he turned around, Chrome and Suika faced him directly, blocking his way. A bit surprised, but he decided to just walk in between them.
“Nope. I’ve finished my part for today.”
“You usually would start another project instead.” Now Chrome followed him toward the glass door labeled “Science Department”.
“Not today, Gen’s back, he would not stop whining if he didn’t get his day off. Call me only when it’s an emergency.” Senku said as he got out of there with a visibly good mood compared to this morning’s.
—
“But what does that have to do with Gen?” Chrome asks in front of the door, still wondering about Senku’s attitude.
“Right?!” Replied Suika as they went back to their respective desk.
“He does look happy when Gen was calling.”
“U-huh, it’s like his leek hair finally got watered.” Suika demonstrated with her arms in the air, bending them, then straightening them up.
“Not to mention, his wallet picture.” Chrome is visibly connecting the dots.
“Did they finally…?” There’s hope in Suika’s voice.
“I hope so, scratch that, WE hope so.”
[][][][][]
Senku had arrived at the airport. Apparently, his luck on the road is greater than Gen’s at the airport. Ha! Take that, Mentalist!
Senku used the time he had to change the lab coat to a much more casual fit, which is a burgundy jacket, to balance his formal attire inside. When he spotted Gen out of the gate, he decided to approach him first.
Gen wears comfortable clothes, already with a simple lilac baggy sweater and black cargo pants. To make it a bit fun, the guy is also wearing green sunglasses with a silver chain, a black cap with a silver accent, and a simple gold necklace. He looks cozy in that fluffy sweater.
The airport suddenly becomes noisier with whispers. Ah, right, it’s Asagiri Gen. The diplomat and part-time entertainer. He did have his fans back after they brought the entertainment industry back to life. Senku still doesn’t understand how he manages all of that. Well, he’s rarely at home. That one is obvious.
“Senku-chan!” Gen sang while waving his hand in the air, approaching him, a little bit extra for the receiver. Gen lowered his sunglasses to look better. “Ooo, you look good in that jacket.” A smirk formed as he teased Senku.
“Kukuku, are you fishing for compliments?” Senku teases back as he takes Gen’s suitcase from his hand. The jacket was one of many clothes that Gen bought for him. He said something like Senku never bought good clothes, and their same body proportions made it easy for him to buy them for the other.
“Well, whether or not it’s true, the first statement is still valid.” Gen suddenly stops, making Senku stop too.
He eyed Senku up and down with his index finger. Judging the outfit. “Honestly, the jacket perfectly complements your hair and matches your eyes! Fortunately, that dress shoe saves and elevates your boring white shirt, so you got the point on that.” Gen let out a contented sigh with a smug face. “I did it again.”
“Seriously? I only changed my lab coat, and you gave me a whole thesis about my fit?” Senku was annoyed, with one eyebrow raised.
“I know I’m good at this! even though not at Yuzuriha's level.” Gen maintains his smug attitude.
“Alright, I leave it to the expert.” Senku rolled his eyes.
“Wait.” Gen is closing the distance to untie Senku’s red tie. Then he undoes his own necklace, putting it on Senku’s shirt.
“Ugh, is it really necessary?” Senku groan.
Gen opened the top two buttons of Senku’s white shirt and slipped the necklace inside, so it dangled on his chest. “Done.” Gen gives Senku pats on his chest before resuming to walk.
“Isn’t this too much?” Senku catches up with the other.
“Sometimes you need to look different, Senku-chan. Means you should try to look more sexy every other time. You can’t just wear a neat work fit all the time.”
“Heh, then not gonna neat my hair too?”
“I'm not gonna put THAT much effort at the airport. Besides, I like your defying-gravity hair more. It’s your trademark anyway.” Gen grazes Senku’s hair up to point out his statement.
“Whatever you say, Mentalist,” Senku grunted.
After they put the suitcase in the trunk, they got into the car. Gen took the front passenger seat. “Oh, I’m so hungry!” Gen moaned.
“You didn’t get a meal on the plane?” Senku turns on the engine.
“Not enough.” Gen relaxed in his seat. Senku started to drive, his attention on the road, searching for the way out of the airport.
“Good, you need to eat more anyway.” Senku scowled. “It’s not like being skinny is bad, so is being chubby.”
“Well, I had to maintain my appearance too,” Gen said it easily, like it’s just his life to appear like what people want. It tick Senku.
“Fuck that.” Senku barked, the hatred not even covered.
“Aawww, did Senku-chan worry over me?” Gen leans toward the driver with his amused smile.
“Well, if the person had the same height as me but way lower weight, anyone would be concerned.” Said Senku matter-of-factly. “You’re hungry, right? Let’s have fatty ramen so you can gain weight, kukuku.” Senku snickered. That leads Gen’s smile to gradually disappear, replace with defeat.
“I don't know if I should feel flattered, afraid, or offended.”
[][][][][]
They arrived at the ramen place. It’s a bit far from their house in the heart of the city, but it’s still in a suburban area. It opened not too long ago and is already famous.
“We drove this long for a ramen? As expected from the ramen enthusiast, Senku-chan.” Gen playfully nudges Senku’s arm. Senku gladly goes along with the playfulness.
“Well, as a ramen enthusiast, I had to try the current famous ramen.”
The place was pretty busy but not crowded enough to make a long line. It’s only logical, looking at the time that already passed noon, but not dinner time yet. While they wait, they can see the menu from behind the customer who is taking an order in front of them.
“Look, Senku-chan, there’s foxtail ramen!” Gen tugging Senku’s forearm excitedly.
“Ugh.” The memories of the awful ramen came back, cringing him.
Senku was wondering how it became a trend a while ago. Well, it was around the time when their story was fully public in the same time it became a curriculum. Same as Senku Cola, Foxtail Ramen becomes viral in stores. They probably had modified it so it’s bearable.
“What? Didn't you like it? Not even for the sake of nostalgia?” Gen teased him with his Cheshire smile.
“It’s edible, but after tasting the real ramen, I don't think I would go back.”
“But it’s your invention! Your baby!” Gen sobbed dramatically.
“It’s not exactly my inventi–”
“Reinvention.”
“It was meant to be an emergency and politically beneficial food. So when it's done its purpose, I could just move… on…,” State Senku as he use hand gesture to shoo the memories. “and Francois’s one is way better anyway.”
“Yeah, no one can beat them.”
When they were finally at the entrance, the waitress greeted them with a smile and the menu in her hand.
“Welcome to the ramen shop! May I offer you a deal as part of our promotion? We had a Couple Deal this month!”
“Oh, it’s okay, we’re not–” Gen abruptly tries to correct the waitress.
“Don’t be discouraged! Nowadays, we are much more open with every kind of sexuality, especially this restaurant owner.”
“That’s cool, but we’re not–”
“The portion would be triple instead of double for the couple!”
“Oh?! We will take that.”
“What? Senku-chan, we’re not–”
“And it’s gonna be a 25% discount for queer couples.”
“Oh?! Then we’ll take that.” Gen intrigue, as expected from an opportunist bat.
“That’s perfect! Any other order?” The waitress beamed.
“And, Gyoza with two cola, please,” Senku added. Smiling toward the waitress as if they have the same way of thinking and plan.
“Oh, I hate whatever plan in your head is, I appreciate the cola though.”
Gen put down his sunglasses as they got inside. They sit at the table counter in one of the corner side by side, intentionally choosing where there would be fewer people. They talk about anything, mostly their work, while waiting for their meal. With little jokes here and there. It does remind Senku about the dual carrier Gen has at the moment.
“Gen, be honest, do you want to continue to be a diplomat?” Senku’s tone become serious than he intended to as he was never good at beating around the bush.
“What's with the sudden tension, Senku-chan? Did you perhaps bring me here for that?” And yet Gen takes it lightly.
“No way I’m gonna manipulate this situation to have a conversation with the Mentalist. That’s more like your job.” Gen responds with a soft chuckle. They only started talking about a serious matter, but the meal came. The timing of the meal's arrival is the worst.
It was one big –than usually– bowl of ramen that contained possibly three servings with a couple of charsiu and tempura. They both perplexed, questioning their decision. “Ah, so this is what it means. It does look like three servings. At least, let me take a picture first. This is insane.”
While waiting for Gen, Senku brings a much smaller bowl –so they can eat comfortably– to the other side of Gen. “It smells so good, though.” Senku can feel his mouth becoming watery.
When Gen was done with the photo, Senku handed him his chopsticks. Senku takes the honor of trying the broth first. And Damn, it’s so good.
It reminds him of the ramen he used to eat with Byakuya. It’s not the same, but the level of richness was definitely there. He considers he can eat it every day and is not gonna sick of it. Not just the taste, but the environment around him.
The stall, the chatting noise in the background, the TV sounds. And mostly the company beside him, joking around and laughing freely, yet it’s private and intimate. It felt so familiar. It’s kind of bittersweet to think about it.
An amusement puffing sound comes from Senku’s side. “You should see your face, Senku-chan!” Gen visibly covered half of his face with his sleeves to laugh. Seems like that habit is not gonna go away anytime soon, even if he’s not in his haori. Senku could only glare at him.
“You look- you look like a kid who eats ice cream for the first time!” Heat was creeping toward his face as Gen didn’t stop laughing.
“Then it’s like you’re mesmerized, with your eyes sparkling and a half-opened mouth! I haven’t seen that face since… since-” Gen’s laugh died down so fast, his face changing like a shapeshifter to a shocked face. “Holy shit, since the observatory!”
“Did I really look like that?” The question sounds more melancholy than he had in mind. He can’t believe how easy he is to read by the Mentalist.
“No, no, it’s not completely the same, but it has the same weight, you know.” Senku, in fact, doesn’t know. Probably it showed as the man continued.
“You thinking about him, right?” Said Gen as he is all-knowing. Senku shoved the noodle into his mouth and only responded with a hum, don’t really want to answer it. Gen finally takes his first bite. “Whoa, it IS good.” His eyes widen with amazement.
“Told you. It’s more like my face told you.”
Gen let out a chuckle. “As I want to say, it’s not the same. Both have the same weight of meaning for you, and it showed.” The man talks with occasional eating in between, in a casual way. Well, the man knows much about Senku that talking about emotion and feeling could be approached with an analytical tone.
“It’s a good thing. People can see, I can see that you care about him.” Senku can’t help but be drawn to Gen’s explanation.
But those chipmunk cheeks he had when he tried to talk while eating tease Senku to pinch them. He cannot take him so seriously because of that.
“The difference is that you didn’t look as sad as before. You’re more… content, I guess.” Yeah, he’s happier nowadays.
He had accepted the fact that he couldn’t meet Byakuya again and was more aware of the presence of people around him. He’s not gonna be alone. And that’s what mattered at the end of the day.
“Heh, the downside to having Mentalist friends. You cannot hide anything.” Senku let out an amused huft. It’s always interesting how the Mentalist can dissect people or situations.
“That’s no way true.” Senku lifted one of his eyebrows in doubt. “Well, it’s more like, sometimes I choose not to read people too much.” There is hesitation in his voice. Senku knows this much. “It can drive you insane, if you don't know.”
“I bet. I think it’s equivalent to me constantly analysing and calculating the time machine, but without a break. And you had it worse because at least with mine, the machine doesn’t have unstable emotions.” Gen responded with a huft of amusement.
“But they sure do explode.” Both of them snort at the same time, and Senku almost choked on broth, followed by a laugh.
The memories of an exploded lab and a gradually not-so-worried Gen are somehow hilarious. First time Gen was frantically running unprepared toward the spread out Senku on the ground. And then a few accidents later, he was just walking calmly with a first aid box, like Senku wasn’t fighting for his life. “What a bombastic morning today, ey?” The audacity the guy had at that time!
As their giggling dies down and they resume eating, Senku notices Gen’s white bangs fall, covering his vision of Gen’s face. It is almost touching the broth. He immediately takes a hair clip from his pocket jacket.
“Mentalist, face me for a second.” Gen faces him with a confused face and a full mouth. Senku’s hand grazed back the white bang –while Gen’s eye closed in reflex of the hand’s position–, and the other hand clipped it in place.
It was a Maru –from Sanrio– hairclip that Gen had bought for him. He bought two, Maru and Kuromi, because of Senku’s two bundles of hair strands, and apparently, the two characters are like in a set or something.
“Done.” Senku couldn’t stand the teasing that Gen’s cheeks gave.
So, Senku pinched one of the cheeks hard. The action resulted in Gen’s stifled cry and Senku getting a hand shoved on his face. Finally, Senku released to laugh as Gen swallowed.
“WTH was that?! I could splutter all over you!” Senku muffled his laugh. “Oh come on!” Gen whined as he wiped some of the broth that dripped from his mouth.
“I’m sorry, Mentalist,” giggled Senku as the laugh died down. “But it’s better, right?” He gives a glance toward the hairclip.
“Well, yeah.” Gen pouted. “You don’t have to.”
“It would be a shame if the white gets dirty.” Senku is still amused by what happened, the smile havent left yet. Senku takes a bite of gyoza this time.
“You’re not any better. Give me the other one.” Gen reaches his hand with palm up. Demanding something.
“Hm?”
“I know you bring the other one, Senku-chan.” With a displeased look, Senku gives him the Kuromi hairclip with an eyeroll. Gen leans into Senku’s personal space.
He takes both of Senku’s strands of hair, bundles them up, and clips them to the middle green top part of the hair. The weight of the hairclip makes it fall in front of his face. Now, Senku looks ridiculous. And that, of course gonna be an entertainer for the other one as he laughs it out.
Senku let out an amused huft as he took the clip out, resulting in one hair strand getting back up. Then clip two of the falling hair strands to the base of the hair, sideways. So it’s gonna stay.
Looking at the giggling Gen, Senku teased him. “Now that nothing’s in the way, you have to finish it all, Mentalist.”
“Eehh?! No way!” Gen groaning, displeased. The bowl at least still had half of the service portion.
“You’re the one who needs to eat more.”
“At least help me, please?” Gen stares at Senku with puppy eyes that he used to do to get what he wanted.
It’s not exactly affecting Senku in the same way as Tsukasa’s man in the Empire of Might. It’s not because of the pretty pleading face, but the fact that he had to use his most powerful weapon –in Gen’s mind– to him, pleases Senku.
“Alright, I’ll help.” Feeling mischievous, Senku picks a gyoza with his chopstick. But against what the others thought, Senku leads the Gyoza to Gen’s lips. “Eat.” Senku commended with a smirk.
“This is not what I mean!” Gen whined.
“Aaa…” Senku is sarcastically playful with his act of feeding Gen.
“No.” Gen frowning and pouting.
“Aaaa…” Senku decides to tease him more. Defeated, finally, Gen ate the gyoza with a pout.
Senku quickly picks another gyoza to give to Gen again. And with displease face, Gen takes it with his face getting redder out of embarrassment. “Good boy–” Senku muffled his laughter, but the high pitch still could be heard. It’s ridiculous, two guys act like a couple. That’s not like them at all.
“Dear Senku-chan, it’s the last tempura in the bowl. I’ll give it to you, Aaa…” Said Gen sweetly, too sweet, it makes you choke. Senku could feel the edge of his mouth twitching, knowing the revenge.
“Aha ha ha, No thank you.” Senku diverted his gaze and slowly pushed off Gen’s hand.
“Aww, don’t be like that, honey. I saved this last for you only. Now, darling Aaaa…” And yet Gen did not back down. He only leaned closer toward Senku.
“Hah, it’s not gonna end if I don’t eat it right?” Senku sighs in defeat.
“Yup!” Gen exclaims ‘happily’. Senku takes the tempura to eat it. While Gen is snickers over the sight.
“Aww, what a baby.” Gen pinched both of Senku’s cheeks as he was chewing. Senku could feel his face and neck become hotter while he kept his face neutral, as neutral as stretched cheeks. This is embarrassing.
“Alright, that’s enough.” Senku grabs both of Gen’s wrists to let go, knowing he wouldn't stop anytime soon. They stare at each other, realising the cringing situation that just happened. Both of them let out a muffled laugh at the same time. They’re still in public anyway. It’s really not like them at all.
They, mostly Gen, continue to finish it in the comfortable silence between them. Senku’s attention drifted toward the TV on the wall, across the room. Where it’s in the chef’s area. Minami’s channel reports a spike in visitors to Ryusui’s new amusement park.
It mainly had the typical attractions. Chrome’s team designed the attractions with Sai’s calculation. But there is a museum too. So it’s more like a centralized city’s entertainment area rather than an amusement park.
“The grand opening was last week, right?” Gen said.
“Aa.” That reminds Senku about something. “Shouldn’t Generals have to inspect each other's projects?”
“Yeah, well, I just arrived today, at least that’s my excuse. Oho, did Senku-chan not go there yet?” Gen taunted.
“U-huh, I was busy,” Senku said casually.
“Sure, sure, our chief is always busy.” Said Gen sarcastically before he sipped his cola.
“We didn't use the monarchy anymore, Mentalist.” Senku’s head turns, facing Gen, replying to his sarcasm with facts.
“Right, instead of trias politica, we use ‘pentas politica’ apparently.”
“We’ve agreed on a collective collegial with the directorial system, Mentalist. And Chrome is technically in my department. So it gives you a tetras politica by your logic.”
“Yes, yes, I’m aware, I’m just joking. But Chrome is in charge of the FUN science, yours is the more depressing and oh so serious science. That's a different department in my eyes.” Gen said mockingly.
“It’s not depressing, it’s literally the future of humanity!” If it’s ragebait, Senku had take it as he frowning, denying Gen.
“The future of humanity is depressing.” Said Gen boringly, he has not even hesitated.
Senku decides that he doesn't like Gen to think that way. He was always the one who reacted positively to his every reinvention. Having that pleasingly shocked face is better than this gloomy, defeated face.
After a few-second pause, Senku grasps Gen’s cola from his hand to sniff it. “There’s no alcohol in it, right?”
“Hey, it’s just cola! You drink it yourself, too.” Gen takes back his cola with a frown.
“You hang out with those politicians too much,” Senku explains. “You have to go to the lab some other time, outside the mandatory one.”
“Alright. Though I wouldn’t get half of what you would say if you were talking about the machine.”
“Yeah, but I know you would listen anyway.” Senku scoffed. “And you would find another perspective of the machine with your soft science.” There’s a hint of pride in his statement. Everything considered, Senku respects Gen for what he’s doing.
“Damn right I am. Wanna go to Ryusui's amusement park?” Gen distracted the conversation, but this time, Senku let him.
“Sure, we have to anyway.”