Chapter Text
The glare of the searching spotlights stung Gen’s eyes as the vast studio was suddenly bathed in brilliant white. The polished black floor gleamed, mirroring the overhead lights. Neon panels flickered all around, pulsing with vivid color, while massive screens stood poised to broadcast whatever madness was about to unfold.
Deep red velvet drapes flanked the stage, tucked away as if concealing some wondrous, secret machinery. In the gallery, the audience sat in a sweeping semicircle, their faces alight with anticipation, hands held at the ready to burst into applause.
And then, the applause erupted!
There, center stage, stood Gen Asagiri. Clad in an impeccable suit and bowtie, his hair was perfectly coiffed, his smile wider than anyone could have dreamed possible. Though the suit felt restrictive, he had never felt more free within.
"Welcome to a brand-new episode of «Kiga no Kaitsu¹»!" Gen belted into the microphone, thrusting an index finger into the air. "And tonight, laughing is strictly forbidden - no matter how much you might want to!"
A sudden pop sent confetti raining down behind him, followed by a shimmering neon sign that flickered to life: «No Laughing: Science Special!»
A comical noise rang out - something like the sound of a telescope being dropped into a bucket of soda - and Gen carried on with the show:
"Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we have only one contestant, but…what a contestant he is!" Gen declared breathlessly, pressing his free hand to his chest. "Literally, and I do mean without exaggeration, the smartest man on planet Earth - Senkuu Ishigami-chan!"
To the roar of the crowd, the curtain pulled back to reveal Senkuu perched on a rotating leather chair. He was dressed in a sharp green suit and a red tie - perfectly outfitted for the occasion, were it not for his expression, which remained one of absolute, utter indifference.
Gen scurried over at once, thrusting the microphone toward him.
"Yeah. Hey there," Senkuu said nonchalantly, looking for all the world like he’d wandered into the shot by mistake.
"Do tell, Senkuu-chan, how exactly do you manage to be so brilliant? So magnificent? Why, dare I say it - simply the best at everything! What's your secret?"
The microphone suddenly emitted an ear-piercing squeal of feedback. Senkuu merely scratched behind his ear, ignoring it, and spoke:
"In truth, it’s not that difficult, there isn't much of a secret to it at all. The answer is quite simple: «Woof»"
Gen blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?"
"Am I not coming through clearly? What I meant to say was…"
«Woof».
Gen flinched, his eyes flying open. A bright, playful yapping was ringing out right beside his ear.
It was Chalk. The little dog had hopped onto the table and was staring down at him, wagging his tail.
"A-ha, Chalk-chan… I was only closing my eyes for a minute…" Gen mumbled, his eyelids leaden as he buried his face back into his crossed arms.
"Actually, you’ve been conked out here for three hours," came Senkuu’s voice from somewhere above him.
Gen stifled a laugh, the memory of dream-Senkuu barking still fresh in his mind. Approaching the desk, Senkuu gave Gen’s head a playful thwack with the roll of blueprint paper he was carrying.
"Now that you’re awake, move it. I need this table."
With a muffled groan, Gen straightened up only to literally slide off the chair like a liquid, slumping heavily onto the floor. He stayed there, curled on his side, seemingly without a single ounce of will to move. The wooden floorboards pressed cold against his skin, but he didn't even flinch.
Chalk hopped down after him and sat by his side, staring intently at his face as if waiting for something.
Senkuu gave a quiet huff of a laugh as he unfurled the paper across the desk, carefully smoothing out the corners. He stole a fleeting glance at Gen, who clearly wasn't going to get up.
"Rough morning?" he asked idly.
"The morning, the night," Gen groaned, rolling onto his back and shielding his eyes with his palms. "And all yesterday, for that matter."
He let out a weary sigh. Much to his regret, the light still pierced through his closed eyelids. Chalk wasted no time in leaping onto his chest, where the dog curled up and made himself comfortable.
"Do you have any idea how hard it was to find a spot where no one would bother me or make me work, Senkuu-chan?"
Gen felt around for the dog, and as he scratched behind Chalk’s ear, he heard him give a quiet snort and a little shake of his head.
"Ah, so if you’re in the lab, it must mean you’re busy with something «important»?" Senkuu surmised, glancing sideways. "Clever."
Gen’s lips curved into a smile. Without opening his eyes, he said with a playful lilt:
"Yes, I am."
Forcing himself, Gen finally cracked his eyes open. His head still felt heavy after the short nap, and he wanted nothing more than to stay down for just a few more minutes.
He turned his head, still stroking Chalk, and looked up at Senkuu - he was already busy drawing straight lines. Judging by his expression, he wasn't particularly focused; he was doing it almost on autopilot. Gen asked curiously:
"What have you got there, Senkuu-chan?"
"The barn blueprints burned up. I’m sketching a new set," Senkuu said dryly. "The wheat harvest is coming soon, and we’re going to be short on space."
Gen blinked a few times, shaking off the last of his sleep. "What do you mean, «burned up»?"
"The drawing ended up in the furnace. Whether it was an accident or not... well, that’s the mystery of the century."
Senkuu shot a sideways glance at the dog. Gen caught the look and narrowed his eyes, then let out a chuckle.
"The wind must have caught it, then?"
Senkuu raised an eyebrow, his voice heavy with intent: "Or someone mistook it for kindling."
Gen looked at Chalk: the dog pinned back his ears, shrank down, and lowered his head, clearly knowing he was in trouble.
"Oh, I have no idea who that could have been," Gen muttered.
Chalk had probably just wanted to help but misjudged things. Gen ruffled his fur, and the dog immediately relaxed, letting out a soft, contented rumble.
Just then, Suika dashed past the lab. Seeing the dog, she gave a happy cry, and Chalk, of course, barked right back. She stopped, peeked inside, and burst in with a beaming smile.
"Chalk, you found him!"
Gen let out a heavy sigh and met the dog’s gaze.
"So you were a spy all along, little guy?"
Chalk gave a cheerful yap, while Suika hurried over to Gen, waving her arms energetically.
"Gen! Come on, let's go to the forest - we need to collect some resin!"
Before he could even get a word out, she had vanished again with Chalk, who joyfully rushed after her, mission accomplished. Gen let out a weary groan and dropped his head back onto the floor.
"Why did I even wake up...I was a TV host in my dream..." Gen drawled, leaving out the part about the other, rather amusing half.
Senkuu kept drawing steadily, but it was clear from his expression that he was listening. He found Gen’s stubborn resistance to work highly entertaining.
"Senkuu-chan, save me. I don’t want to go."
He didn’t look up from the paper; he just raised an eyebrow, a corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.
"I could always have you saw the support beams for the barn instead."
"U-u-ugh..."
His voice sounded positively tragic. Then, Gen sat up with immense effort. He took a slow stretch. His back let out a crack, and after a couple of twists from side to side, he finally forced himself off the floor.
"Whew... Fine, I’m heading to the forest."
"You could’ve been sawing beams," Senkuu chuckled with a clear note of irony. "Think about it, mentalist."
Gen shot Senkuu a look full of reproach and mock disdain, but said nothing as he headed for the exit.
"Good luck," Senkuu called out calmly without looking up. Gen only gave a short grunt in response.
For Gen, the choice was obvious. Heading into the forest offered far more intrigue than staying behind to tinker with beams in the village. For one thing, Suika needed a hand, and he loathed the idea of letting her wander off alone, even with Chalk keeping her company. And for another, even if he had stayed, he still wouldn’t have spent any real time with Senkuu. The scientist was bound to spend the whole day buried nose-deep in his experiments, keeping his distance. Gen would have to settle for stealing a passing glance at him before trudging right back to his own chores. And there was absolutely no thrill to be found in that prospect.
Suika and Chalk were already raring to go. Bouncing cheerfully by the trailhead, they snapped Gen out of his reverie. While Gen hardly shared their boundless enthusiasm, he pulled himself together for Suika's sake, forcefully shaking off the last traces of sleep. With that, they set off.
Their mission was straightforward: forage for tree resin and cinquefoil to restock the village's medicinal supplies. Although the morning had broken bright and sunny, the rays could barely pierce the dense forest canopy overhead.
Chalk ran ahead, occasionally burying his snout in the undergrowth or vigorously shaking the dirt from his coat.
The deeper they ventured into the woods, the crisper the air became. Before long, they had left the village far behind; the conifers suitable for tapping grew deep within the woodland.
"We’re here," Suika said, stopping beside a stand of tall pines.
Gen swept his gaze over the trunks. The bark on a few of them was scarred and peeled back, resin had clearly been harvested here already. Stepping up to a random pine, he spotted a gash in the wood, glistening with a single drop of amber.
"We need to go higher."
"I can do it!" Suika nodded.
Gen smiled slightly and crouched down.
"Hop on, Suika-chan."
He lifted her onto his shoulders and stood up straight, steadying his balance as she reached for the drops of resin. Suika deftly scraped the sap into a small ceramic cup she had cleverly tied to her wrist. The trick was not to pull too hard and damage the tree. She was practically an expert at this by now, so she managed it with ease.
Chalk sat at the base of the tree, his nose pointed upward, watching the process with interest.
"Almost done," Suika called from above. "Just a little higher, Gen."
She gave the top of his head a light tap.
"Well... higher it is," Gen chuckled. He straightened up just a bit more, keeping perfectly still.
Once Suika finally climbed down, he rolled his shoulders and shook himself off, picking a stray drop of resin off his arm.
"Cinquefoil next?" he asked.
Suika nodded and pointed deeper into the woods.
"Down by the water, past the hill. We have to hike down a bit there."
They walked on, stepping over a springy carpet of pine needles. The forest grew denser, and the pines gradually gave way to broadleaf trees. Gen, barefoot as usual, was walking slowly. It wasn't fatigue, but a strange sensation: the ground beneath his feet had suddenly turned unexpectedly warm. Not just warmed by the sun, but as if something were radiating heat from just below the surface.
"Hmm, the ground is strangely warm," he noted, slowing his pace even more. "Don't you think, Suika-chan?"
Chalk barked happily and trotted around in circles. Frowning, Suika knelt and pressed her palm against the dirt.
"You're right," she said, surprised.
"Has it always been like this here?"
"Hm... I don't think we've walked through this exact spot before," she said, standing up and pointing off to the side. "We used to come from way over there. So I'm not sure."
Gen looked around. His first thought was an underground spring. A hot spring, maybe? It was possible. Except this area was far from any of the known springs, the ones closer to the village.
He took a deep breath. There was something else in the air. A faint, subtle scent, like sulfur or wet stones after a storm.
Suddenly, Suika cried out: "Gen, look!"
He turned, following her pointing finger. Through a gap in the trees, a column of steam was slowly rising.
"I don't know enough to say for sure," Gen squinted. "Maybe a geyser?"
They made their way to where the cinquefoil grew, down where the water seeped around the roots of the bushes. Using his knife, Gen carefully cut the thin green stems with their reddish nodes, tucking them away into Suika's bag.
"Let's go check out that steam," she suggested once they had finished gathering.
"Only if it's safe, Suika-chan," Gen was quick to warn her.
"And if it gets scary, we'll run!"
Gen smiled back, and they headed toward the column of steam, pushing deeper into the forest. Chalk dashed ahead, occasionally looking back to make sure they were keeping up. All the while, Gen could still feel that peculiar warmth beneath his feet.
"These pebbles look like they're covered in ash," Suika pointed out along the way.
A little further on, they reached the edge of a downhill slope that offered a clear view of the rising steam.
"Is it coming from that mountain?" Gen squinted, peering into the distance.
"Yeah!" Suika replied eagerly, shading her eyes from the sun to get a better look.
Sure enough, it looked as though the steam was venting straight from the peak of a mountain a few kilometers ahead of them. The warm ground, the smell of sulfur, the column of steam... Gen figured he didn't know enough to fully grasp the cause of all this, but it instantly occurred to him that a certain someone might find it very interesting.
"I bet Senkuu-chan could explain what's going on here," he said aloud.
"Yeah, let's go tell him!"
"Maybe he can figure out a way to use this place."
«Or, at least, tell us if it's something to worry about.» he thought.
As if in agreement, Chalk gave a sharp bark and spun around a few times, eager to herd them back home.
As soon as Gen, Suika, and Chalk got back, they headed straight for the laboratory to tell Senkuu what they had found. The place smelled heavily of ramen. Senkuu was right in the middle of his lunch, eating while standing at a table cluttered with test tubes and chemical reagents. Clearly, he had no intention of wasting a single spare second on his meal.
After hearing their report, he gave a curt nod and said without a second thought:
"It might very well be an old geyser."
"Just as I thought," Gen clapped his hands lightly together, quite pleased with his own deduction.
"Is that something useful?" Suika asked curiously.
Senkuu chuckled. When he spoke next, his words came faster, his voice brimming with undeniable enthusiasm:
"You bet it is! An active geyser would open up a ton of possibilities for us."
"Like what?" Gen asked.
"A steady geothermal spot means we can set up a steam generator and rely less on the furnaces. It’s basically a super-cheap heat source. Plus, it’d come in really handy for our future ship."
Suika looked up hopefully.
"Does that mean we won't have to chop down trees anymore?"
"Not exactly. We'll still have to chop them, just a lot less," Gen gently explained, before shifting his gaze back to the scientist. "But why only 'might,' Senkuu-chan? Aren't you sure?"
"It sounds like one from your description, but I can't say for sure until I see it with my own eyes."
"I can show you where it is," Gen offered instantly, almost on autopilot.
"Yeah, let's do it," Senkuu agreed without a moment's hesitation.
Gen was genuinely a little taken aback. He agreed just like that? Then again, it only made sense. Someone had to show him the way. Gen mentally kicked himself for his chronic habit of reading too much into things where there was no hidden meaning.
"There should also be deposits of useful sulfates there that we can't find anywhere else," Senkuu mused. "It would save us months of work."
He finished off his ramen, set the bowl on the edge of the table, and turned to the shelving unit behind him. Its contents were a state of controlled chaos: jars of powders, rolled-up blueprints, and glass vessels filled with cloudy liquids. Everything looked completely haphazard, but Senkuu obviously knew exactly where everything was.
He grabbed a flask containing some gray fluid, clicked his tongue, and muttered:
"Still got a mountain of things to do today."
Gen had no idea what exactly Senkuu was working on, but he had absolutely no doubts that it was all incredibly important. Senkuu seemed to be mentally running through his schedule, trying to carve out a few hours for this little expedition.
For a second, Gen considered suggesting they send someone else in their place, but quickly brushed the thought aside. Senkuu would almost certainly want to inspect it himself. Besides, Gen had no intention of passing up an excuse to spend a little extra time with him.
"It shouldn't rain tomorrow," Senkuu suddenly said.
He was clearly following some internal train of thought, only voicing the final conclusion out loud.
"Think you can wake up early, mentalist?" he asked, glancing at Gen with a faint smirk.
Gen chuckled. "Of course."
He conveniently left out the part where he would stay awake all night to ensure he didn't oversleep.
Suika suddenly spoke up:
"Can I tag along?"
Gen loved spending time with her, of course. He would have gladly taken her with them on any other day - any day that didn't offer such a rare chance to slip away with Senkuu, just the two of them. Gen immediately started trying to figure out a tactful way to let her down, but Senkuu beat him to it:
"Nope. High probability of steam vents and unstable ground. If the pressure spikes, it'll be fun, but not for long."
Senkuu delivered this verdict without even looking up from his notes. Suika pouted in response. Gen could tell she wasn't genuinely upset, but he decided to offer some comfort anyway:
"If it turns out to be safe, we'll all go on a proper expedition together."
Suika perked up a little at that and nodded, accepting the deal.
«Perfect,» Gen thought with secret relief.
Now all he had to do was somehow survive until tomorrow morning. For the first time in a long while, he came to an unexpected conclusion: finding something to do wasn't such a bad idea after all. Light tasks could keep his mind occupied and make the hours pass more quickly without being too taxing. The main thing was not to overdo it, so he'd still have enough energy left for tomorrow.
There was never a shortage of work in Ishigami Village. Of course, Gen’s first move was to check if any help was needed in the laboratory. But Senkuu, without even looking up from his calculations, simply muttered:
"Nope, I've got it."
Gen didn't even bother approaching the muscle team, who were currently busy erecting new structures. Over there, it was all noise and hustle, reeking of sweat and sawdust—actual manual labor. Nearby, Kaseki was also tinkering with something new and massive, and Gen definitely needed to avoid catching his eye. He wanted to stay busy without toiling away, simply to make the wait for tomorrow pass faster.
Eventually, he found the perfect task: he volunteered to go with Ruri and Yuzuriha to gather herbs along the outskirts of the village. Light duty that didn't require any special skills. Exactly what he needed.
Yuzuriha carried a woven basket, while Ruri held a list. The girls were discussing which variety of field horsetail they needed more: the stiff kind or the flexible one?
However, Gen only caught snippets of their conversation. Despite keeping himself busy, his mind kept looping back to tomorrow.
He and Senkuu would be going into the woods together. For the first time in a long while, they’d be away from prying eyes, escaping the cramped quarters of the village for the open forest. But despite this rare opportunity, Gen realized that he didn't feel particularly thrilled.
For a long time now, he hadn't been able to give himself an honest answer: why did he even want this? What was he even looking for, angling for these random moments alone with Senkuu? After all, Gen had never once truly taken advantage of the chances fate had thrown his way.
No words that might hint he felt anything more than respect and interest.
No attempt to find out - what if...?
Only once. On Senkuu's birthday. He had tried. After that, Gen decided he wouldn't do it again.
So why, then, was he craving this little outing so much? Gen figured it was just human nature -reaching for the impossible, having no hope, and yet continuing to wait. To desire something that was never supposed to be and could never happen. Gen couldn't bring himself to let go of these thoughts entirely.
Just then, his gaze shifted to Ruri, who was walking a little ahead, and he wondered: how did Chrome deal with his feelings? Unlike Gen, however, Chrome had never hidden them. He certainly wasn't a master of subtle hints, but at least he didn't back down when it came to someone he cared about.
His eyes moved to Yuzuriha. She had Taiju, a man who was simple, honest, and dependable. Gen had always harbored a fond sort of envy for them. He let out a quiet sigh, thinking about how he would never have anything like that.
Gen looked down at the herbs resting in his hands and realized that his resignation had suddenly become oddly comforting. The sadness had lost its sharp edge; it just lingered inside him - an old, familiar presence that didn't really get in the way of living anymore. Gen felt like he was caught in the limbo between "I want" and "I have no right to." But, he supposed, that was his choice.
As long as he had the chance to be near Senkuu, to hear his voice, to catch his stray glances, and just talk with him - that was enough.
The three of them made their way along a narrow path winding between hills and thickets. Branches tugged gently at their clothes, and the wind rustled the tall grass. As it turned out, the sun was already dipping toward the horizon, painting a fringe of gold across the skyline.
Glancing up at the sky, Gen realized he would manage to sleep tonight after all.
The light early in the morning was still soft. The sun was low in the sky, but its warmth could already be faintly felt. The ground crunched underfoot with dry leaves and twigs, and the air was crisp and completely clear. The morning forest exuded a quiet serenity.
Gen took the lead, choosing the direction and carving out a path for them. He gently held back tree branches with his hand so they wouldn't snap back at Senkuu walking closely behind - a gesture the scientist silently appreciated. From time to time, Gen would look back just to make sure Senkuu was keeping up.
Soon, the soil began to change, becoming a bit looser and lighter, speckled with sand and small pebbles. Senkuu took note of it immediately.
The dead leaves vanished from the trail, giving way to a cracked surface. The air abruptly grew thicker and heavier.
Gen stopped in his tracks and said:
"This is it."
Senkuu dropped to one knee and pressed his palm flat against the dirt. He kept it there for a few seconds, feeling for any shifts in temperature or subtle vibrations. When Senkuu finally stood back up, Gen immediately asked:
"A geyser after all?"
"Could be," Senkuu murmured thoughtfully.
"The steam column is further ahead," Gen said, pointing off to the side, and they pressed on.
The path grew increasingly uneven, littered with protruding roots and thick bushes they had to navigate around.
The slope grew steeper, making the trek more difficult. Behind him, Gen began to clearly hear Senkuu’s breathing. It wasn't ragged, not quite winded, but definitely fatigued. Gen didn't say a word, but made a mental note of it and subtly slowed his pace.
A little while later, a voice with weary irony called out from behind him:
"Didn't you and Suika say this was only a couple of kilometers away?"
Gen glanced back over his shoulder and offered an apologetic smile, his tone appropriately sheepish:
"Looks like my internal compass was a little off, Senkuu-chan."
Senkuu dropped his gaze and only just then realized that Gen had been walking barefoot this entire time. It was a fairly normal habit for the mentalist, especially in the summer, but out here? They were miles outside the village bounds. The forest floor was growing rougher by the minute, littered with jagged rocks, brittle branches, and thorny stems.
"Mentalist, considering where we're headed, you could've at least put some shoes on," he pointed out, his tone less judgmental and more a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
"Hmm," Gen shrugged, not bothering to turn around. "I guess I didn't think it would be an issue."
Senkuu scoffed, but internally his mind was already running through worst-case scenarios. It absolutely could become an issue. The terrain ahead was mountainous and the ground was loose. In some spots, it was pure rock, strewn with jagged fragments. If Gen cut his foot, especially near a potential geyser, which would be a breeding ground for bacteria, an infection was ten billion percent guaranteed. The nearest antiseptic would be whatever they managed to forage along the way, assuming they got lucky. And if they didn't, there was no way he could carry Gen all the way back to the village. Certainly not with his stamina.
Senkuu scanned their surroundings, mentally cataloging which forest plants could serve as a substitute for alcohol or iodine.
«Juniper? Oak bark? Birch leaves - if they’re fresh.»
His train of thought was derailed by Gen's voice:
"Senkuu-chan, looks like the weather is taking a turn."
Senkuu looked up. Above the treetops, right in the direction they were heading, storm clouds were indeed gathering. Heavy, slate-gray, swelling out of nowhere and blotting out the sun. The forest hadn't plunged into total darkness just yet, but a faint chill was already beginning to creep across their skin.
The weather could turn on a dime this time of year, sure, but Senkuu had still been banking on a somewhat more predictable day. He had also calculated that they’d reach their destination faster. It seemed his calculations were missing the mark today. Just an off day?
"Let's pick up the pace," Senkuu said, frowning as he quickened his stride.
Soon, Gen spotted the column of steam.
"Over there," he nodded, and they both sped up, finally having a clear target in sight.
Senkuu had seen it too: it was definitely steam, but something about it struck him as off. He arched an eyebrow for a second, but opted not to share his suspicions with Gen. Suspicions or not, they still needed to check it out. Besides, they had already come too far; there was no point turning back empty-handed.
With every step, the ground grew slightly warmer, the dirt softening beneath their feet. The air turned thick and humid - not with the moisture of impending rain, but heavy with the sharp scent of minerals.
Soon, a low mountain appeared before them. It looked more like an isolated, massive, steep hill. Its slope was jagged, heavily scarred with deep fissures and crusted with yellowish-gray rocks. A dark patch was visible some ways up - clearly the mouth of a cave.
Senkuu stopped, peering intently at the entrance to see if it was what he'd been looking for.
"That's where we need to go," Senkuu said. "Let's find a way up."
They began scouting the base for a way up. Gen was the first to spot a narrow, beaten path winding off to the side - barely noticeable, but distinct enough among the rocks and bushes. Senkuu figured it had likely been worn down by wild animals.
"Looks like a decent path, Senkuu-chan."
Senkuu tilted his head, sizing up the ascent: not overly steep, but littered with loose, crumbling rocks. Probably not the safest route, but they didn't exactly have a choice.
"And it looks like the only one," he noted.
Gen remarked with a faint smirk:
"Good thing it's here. Otherwise, we'd have to actually climb the mountain."
"We wouldn't have climbed a single millimeter. I wouldn't have even tried," Senkuu shot back with a huff.
"Would you really have just given up? Actually, no... You probably would've just sent someone else."
Stepping onto the trail, Senkuu replied:
"Yep. I'd have had to go back with Taiju or Magma. And proper gear."
At first, the path seemed perfectly manageable. Down below, there were still dry pine needles underfoot, but the higher they climbed, the softer and damper the ground became, as if it were soaking up the steam from below. Soon, moss-covered tree roots began jutting out everywhere.
Senkuu frowned. Wet rocks and exposed roots could be a real trap, especially for a certain mentalist's bare feet. He quickly picked up his pace, passing Gen to take the lead. Gen raised his eyebrows in mild surprise but didn't argue.
Meanwhile, something was clearly going wrong with the sky. Dark clouds were steadily rolling in, casting a shadow over the slopes. The air grew even heavier.
Suddenly, a clap of thunder echoed, making Gen flinch in surprise.
"Keep moving. Faster," Senkuu said immediately, without looking back.
"Senkuu-chan, will we be able to make it back down this way if it starts raining?" Gen spoke calmly, but he knew he was just trying to hide his creeping anxiety.
There was no answer. Just the crunch of dirt underfoot and the echoing rumble of a second, much closer thunderclap.
"Guess not," Gen muttered with a wry smile.
Senkuu finally answered a few steps later:
"Yeah. If it rains, this whole path will wash out."
"So, we're heading back?"
"Nope."
"Faster up, then?"
"Yep," Senkuu nodded, picking up his pace again.
Senkuu hurried forward. He kept shooting quick glances at Gen, making sure he wasn't falling behind - and wasn't stepping on any sharp rocks or slippery roots. The path had been steep but relatively easy to walk on before. Now, it was changing rapidly: the higher they went, the damper and looser the dirt became. Sticky clay began to surface, and the rocks underfoot grew slick with moisture.
"Ah, you were right. I really should have worn shoes," Gen muttered with a light scoff, though his usual playful energy was gone.
He was walking much more carefully now, visibly tense.
Senkuu sighed, silently agreeing.
"I did make you those winter shoes, you know," Senkuu said without turning around.
Gen replied lightly:
"It’s summer right now, Senkuu-chan!"
Senkuu huffed, thinking that those winter shoes would still be better than nothing.
He slowed his pace just a bit so they could walk side by side. He tried to pick a path with fewer slippery rocks, where the ground at least wouldn't give way under their feet. A ridiculous thought flashed through his mind again: if he were stronger, he’d just put Gen on his shoulders and carry him the rest of the way. But that wasn't an option. All they could rely on now was caution.
"Want me to make you some tabi² and zori³?" Senkuu asked after a pause, half-joking, but with a thoughtful edge to his voice.
"Huh? Why zori specifically? Why not geta⁴?" Gen asked, surprised.
"Just thought flat soles would suit you better," Senkuu tossed back.
In reality, his reasoning was completely different: zori were simply more stable. They would come in really handy right about now. But for some strange reason, he hadn't said what he was actually thinking. His thoughts got tangled, as if his brain had tripped over its own logic.
Senkuu frowned at the sensation, but didn't say anything else.
Gen didn't seem to notice a thing, suddenly exclaiming:
"Ah, I get it. In geta, I'd be even taller than you!"
"Huh? Shut it, mentalist," Senkuu grumbled, stepping a bit faster to pull ahead of him.
The climb was getting seriously tough now. The slope angled sharply upwards, and the trail began to look like a washed-out gully caught between thick roots and massive boulders. The air grew heavier, thick with dampness. Another distant roll of thunder echoed across the sky, and a moment later, the first drops of rain began to fall over the forest.
"Uh-oh," Gen murmured.
Senkuu quickly replied:
"We're almost there."
Now it wasn't just a race against time, but a fight to keep their footing.
A dull, heavy cracking sound echoed above them. Senkuu knew exactly what it was before the first rock even tumbled down the slope with a heavy thud. He reflexively shot his arm out to stop Gen - though the mentalist had already frozen. Senkuu lunged to the side, shoving Gen against the sheer rock face with his shoulder, pressing himself flat right beside him.
It wasn't a full-blown landslide, just a scree slip: a few small boulders had broken loose, dragging gravel and mud down with them. The rocks went hurtling past with a loud clatter. Gen couldn't help but think this mini-avalanche was a pretty harsh warning. Senkuu stood perfectly still, listening until the last of the falling debris finally settled somewhere below.
The rockfall stopped. At that exact second, however, the rain picked up, now pelting the ground in heavy drops. Senkuu straightened up and inspected the slope - the path was still passable. They needed to hurry.
The cave entrance was barely a couple dozen steps away. They started moving again. A second later, the real downpour began.
They made it.
By the time they made it inside, they were already half-soaked. Senkuu stepped into the dark, damp cave first. His hair, usually spiked straight up, now hung in heavy, wet strands over his eyes.
Out of breath, Gen brushed off his damp sleeves and hair, then peeked under his overcoat. Fortunately, the rest of his clothes had stayed dry.
Gen squinted through the gloom to find Senkuu.
"Didn't Ryusui-chan say it wasn't going to rain?" His voice carried a faint echo.
"I didn't ask him," Senkuu replied, breathing a little heavily.
Senkuu pushed the wet strands from his forehead, brushing the cold drops from his face, and suddenly noticed a thin line of blood trailing across the gray stone floor from the entrance.
"Gen, you're..."
"Oh, I didn't even notice," Gen replied with a chuckle. "Looks a bit messy, but it's nothing, really."
He truly hadn't noticed when he got hurt. It must have happened right before they reached the cave. He didn't feel any pain yet, but he knew right away: the cold and damp were probably just numbing it. The wound would definitely make itself known later.
Senkuu clicked his tongue in annoyance. He had been watching this damn trail so carefully, yet at the very last second, on the final stretch, some stupid, unremarkable rock had managed to leave its mark.
Luckily, Senkuu had bandages with him - the same ones he had changed on his own hands yesterday. They were in his bag. He didn't have antiseptic, but he still had a canteen of water. Better than nothing.
"Sit down over there," Senkuu said briskly, waving a hand toward the stone wall.
Gen walked over, limping slightly, leaving drops of blood behind him. He sat down, stretching his injured leg out in front of him. Senkuu was already pulling out the bandages and the canteen. Gen reached out to do it himself, but Senkuu ignored the gesture and silently began washing the wound with water.
"Ah," Gen winced slightly. "I can do it."
"Just sit still."
Senkuu sounded annoyed, but he was really just mad at himself. Another miscalculation. What kind of off day was this?
Gen just shrank back a little, hiding his fluster behind his usual half-smile. He tried to look relaxed, but he couldn't shake the awkward embarrassment of the whole situation.
Meanwhile, Senkuu carefully but firmly wrapped the bandage, trying not to touch the skin more than necessary. He tied a neat knot. A few cold drops of water fell from his hair and landed on Gen's leg.
"Want me to wrap the other one? It's not shoes, but it's something," Senkuu asked without looking up, checking if the bandage was secure.
"Uh..." Gen was tempted to say yes, but decided not to push his luck. "It's fine. We're already here."
Gen stood up, not immediately noticing that Senkuu had offered him a hand. He only grabbed it when he was almost fully upright - more out of reflex than necessity - and then reluctantly let go.
Senkuu looked him up and down to make sure he was okay, but in his head, he was already trying to figure out where to find a natural antiseptic. Maybe there’d be something deeper in the cave. There was a chance.
Looking at the dimly lit walls, Gen asked:
"Where exactly did we end up, by the way?"
Senkuu peered down the narrow passage that gradually widened and curved off to the side. A heavy, damp silence hung in the air. If there were a geyser here, they would have felt it by now. The smell. The heat. The steam.
But here - there's nothing.
Senkuu sighed. Giving Gen a rueful half-smile, he said:
"Looks like no cheap heat for us, mentalist."
And without another word, he headed deeper into the cave. Limping slightly, taking his time, Gen followed behind him.