Chapter Text
Gojo Minoru hadn’t really thought he’d be selected for Project Hail Mary. In some ways, he really hadn’t been.
He would always remember the day he’d gotten the news. JAXA had scheduled the conference call they had all been joking was cursed. Though, what the higher ups were thinking scheduling a meeting marked ‘critical’ during the Hours of the Ox, Minoru couldn’t tell you. Maybe it was their way of telling them all there was no glory to be had, only duty to rise to the call being sent out if you truly believed yourself capable.
The last big project Mioru had actually worked on was the Amaterasu and subsequent Arclight probe that had been sent to the Petrova Line to collect samples. So, of course, he had been keeping up to date on everything that had unfolded from it. Sure, Minoru hadn’t been recruited when the Petrova Task Force formed and came knocking, but he wasn’t upset. There were much more qualified engineers who had been swept away to secret labs for that purpose.
When the meeting started, Minoru was drinking straight black coffee, to his right Nakamura was rubbing her eyes from the nap he’d had to drag her out of, while Ao was trying not to fall asleep because it was his turn to take a break. The three of them huddled around the computer, the webcam on while they watched all the other JAXA teams join. Images of them in similar configurations popped into existence on the screen until every engineering unit had arrived.
Chief of R&D— Dr. Koizumi— at last turned on his camera. Immediately he filled the majority of the screen while all the engineering teams were reduced to small thumbnails. Dr. Koizumi was dressed as if he too had been pulling all nighters. His slacks still pressed, but the button up he wore had been wrinkled, tie lost somewhere in the night.
Dr. Koizumi had always been the sort of older gentleman that was stern, brilliant, and had earned his place at the top of JAXA’s engineering and development division. Already in possession of more gray hair than black, Dr. Koizumi had a history working with the ISS, coordinating missions with NASA and the Roscosmos. He had originally worked with ISAS before the great merger in 2003. He had been one of the brilliant minds who had worked on Lunar Probe Hiten.
“On behalf of JAXA and all of Japan, I thank you engineers for your service,” Dr. Koizumu started and Minoru immediately felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. His first thought was that he needed to call Ren. There was no calling to be done until the meeting was over though.
“I have summoned you for this meeting, because you are the finest engineers that our nation has to offer. Currently, not just within the many divisions of JAXA, but all over the globe similar meetings are taking place within every single Space Agency. On Monday, the Petrova Task Force Liaison Committee informed us that the taskforce has reached the stage of Project Hail Mary where they will begin vetting volunteers for the task at hand.
“I am aware that many of you are not informed of the particulars of Project Hail Mary. I would even venture to say that perhaps none of you are up to date on the duty which you will be asked to perform should you be chosen for the task. And I have faith that among our ranks that at least one of you fine engineers will have this honor bestowed upon you.”
Dr. Koizumi’s stoic demeanor seemed to crack. Once again, Minoru thought of Ren who was sleeping at home, no doubt with their dog Sakura in the bed the way Minoru always hated.
“What I am about to disclose will not be considered classified. We have been given clearance to allow you to inform your families of the details, purely out of necessity for the mission you may be volunteering to embark on.
“As we have all expected, Project Hail Mary is in need of astronauts to man the mission to Tau Ceti. What they have not yet disclosed until now is this: the interstellar research mission is a one way trip for those brave souls who will be selected for it.”
There was nothing like the silence that suddenly fell over the call. Every mic was muted, but there was something eerie about the way even Dr. Koizumi didn’t even breathe.
Minoru could feel something terrible in his heart, creeping slowly. They had all known that going to Tau Ceti would be a risk. There was a reason that the mission had been dubbed Hail Mary outside of any traditional naming conventions for any space program. All of them preferred to name their ships and probes after deities and mythological figures.
To know that it was not only the longest shot in all of human history— but a suicide mission? Minoru felt as if his entire body was locking up in terror.
“This is a large request, but in the face of extinction, The Petrova Task Force has requested volunteers from among every space agency on the globe. From among that pool, they will be selecting six astronauts. Three for the primary team, and three for the secondary.
“We at JAXA headquarters know that there are many of you with the skill to complete this mission. If you also possess the honor and boldness to volunteer we ask you to fill out the application which will be sent to each of your emails. There will be a section to upload it to the Petrova Task Force within your employee portal.
“Currently, the only shared language on the Task Force is English. I ask that you not let that deter you. We have been assured that if you are selected and require language lessons they will be provided.”
Dr. Koizumi stood straight, hands behind his back. Minoru wondered if the man was trembling. A good majority of them weren’t soldiers. Most of them were simply scientists. Yet they were being asked to do this vast thing.
“This is an enormous undertaking, an unparalleled task that we have set before you. It is not without merit though. Should you volunteer, should you be chosen, you will be a hero to– not only our nation, but the world.” Dr. Koizumu reminded them, yet his jaw was tight as if he was overwhelmed, “The Task Force asks that you submit your applications by the twenty fourth. From there you will be contacted directly by the liaison committee should you be chosen.
“Consider this with due weight. This concludes our announcement. Should you have questions, you may view the application upload section on your employee portal for a condensed copy of the request headquarters was sent by the Task Force.
“Thank you once more for your service.”
WIth that, Dr. Koizumi bowed low. Lower than he should ever bow to any of them. Minoru knew at that moment that he would be submitting an application. It was his duty and honor. What other choice was there?
“Dr. Gojo?”
Minoru spun around from where he was trying to figure out what the hell Tanaka was thinking when she’d drafted up whatever the hell this was. When he stopped on his heel, he found two men in black suits. The kind of men from movies that hunted people down, sunglasses with earpieces and all. With them Dr. Koizumi.
Bowing quickly in greeting, Minoru said, “Dr. Koizumi! It's an honor sir. I’m sure Administrator Hayate will be pleased to have you visit.”
“Dr.Gojo, we are not here for a visit,” Dr. Koizumi said softly.
At that moment Minoru realized exactly why they were there. The two men were foreigners, after all. The expression on Dr. Koizumi’s face said that he understood the sudden shock and near horror in Minoru’s veins at the understanding dawning.
“You have twenty-four hours to meet us at the New Tanegashima airport with your things.” said one of the foreigners in crisp English.
To reiterate. Minoru had not expected to be selected for Project Hail Mary. When he’d submitted the application he’d been aware that a thousand better engineers lived all over the world. He was just one person in Japan.
When he had told Ren of his plans to volunteer— well— Ren hadn’t taken it very well. But Minoru was doing it for him. What kind of man would he be if he had the power to help the world and held back? He had even told Ren that it was likely that all two (2) engineers would likely be chosen from either NASA or Roscosmos. Russians and Americans were kind of terrifying, and that was the kind of person that Hail Mary no doubt needed.
Minoru rode in the back of a sleek black government vehicle, all he could think about was the way Ren had cried when he’d arrived and said, “I’ve been selected for the secondary crew.”
There would be no phone calls until launch. No letters for security. Minoru had no idea where he was even going. When he asked, the two foreigners escorting him said nothing at all. It was the kind of scary that you only saw in movies. He supposed that's just how the government was— all of them.
Minoru ended up being thrown into flight gear, handed pills, and instructed, “Only take them if necessary, they’re to make you sleep on the way.”
He did not have to be told twice and downed the pills with the tiny water bottle they offered. Almost immediately he was tossed into the back of the jet. The entire time he slept, not waking until he was forced with a violent shake by the pilot.
“Look alive Doctor,” The pilot grinned, “You’re part of Project Hail Mary now.”
Climbing out of the cockpit, Minoru immediately found himself feeling out of place– lost— it wasn't that he hadn't worked with the military before. It was simply the way there were uniforms from Russia, China, and America rushing about all over what seemed to be a Chinese aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean. The roar of the water, machinery, the shouting of military personel— it was all overwhelming in a way that was brand new.
“Have the others arrived?” Minoru managed to ask as he wobbled to his feet, still a little sleepy from the pills he’d been given.
“Dr. Gojo, welcome to People's Liberation Army Navy Gansu,” a woman that everyone knew the face of arrived in a flourish. Eva Stratt, current lord and master of the known world. She was red headed, utilitarian and stoic in a way only Germans seemed capable of. Yet she offered her hand and Minoru took it as strongly as he could.
“Thank you for seeing me personally, Ms. Stratt,” Minoru nodded politely and released her hand once it was shaken. “This ship is clearly very busy.”
“Do not get used to it. Most of your time aboard you will be under the hand of Cmdr. Yao,” Stratt said coldly.
Minoru tried not to flinch at the words. He thought of Ren and once more steeled his resolve. He was not putting his life forth to die for Eva Stratt or some vague notion of the world. But for Ren to have a future. Even if it was one without him.
From there, she handed him off to a military man. Minoru felt like a child being escorted by the police for being lost as he was shuffled around. The first place he was tossed into was his new room in the Astronaut dormitory. Quickly they informed him that his actual clothes would arrive in a day, or so, then he was given four golden yellow flight suits. They bore his name in kanji, and thankfully they used the proper Jo and not the royal one. Other than that they boasted a proud JAXA patch and what was apparently a Project Hail Mary mission patch.
Once he’d changed into the clearly mandatory uniform, Minoru was escorted by a different military man through the ship until he finally wound up in what seemed like some sort of rec room. A large TV, one sofa, and a few other amenities.
“Ah! You must be my second fiddle!” a woman grinned brightly, she had brown hair and bright eyes. Offering her hand she introduced herself, “Olesya Ilyukhina. Materials Specialist and now best Engineer in world.”
Usually if someone spoke like that, Minoru would hate them, but clearly she was joking with the way her tone was practically full of laughter. So, he took her hand and shook it right back. Really taking her in, he realized he was right about one thing. Ilyukhina had a Roscosmos patch proudly displayed on her flight suit.
“Gojo Minoru,” Minoru said, and it was enough to let him loosen up. They shook hands.
“Good to meet,” Ilyukhina nodded and then said, “Don’t worry about dying. I am not coward who will back out.”
Minoru was so suddenly taken aback by her candidness he laughed. It was so morbid, but also assuring, he couldn't help but feel suddenly at ease with her. Clearly Ilyukhina was the most social one as she practically dragged Minoru to the two others who had already arrived.
“This is Martin Dubois, second best Scientist in world,” Ilyukhina said teasingly, as she gestured to a dark skinned man with an ESA patch. Dr. Dubois stood rigidly, but clearly wasn’t offended as he shook Minoru’s hand. Then, Ilyukhina gestured to the other woman in the room, “This is Annie Shapiro, third best Scientist.”
Dr. Shapiro laughed and rolled her blue eyes, then shook Minoru’s hand with an easiness that made sense with her NASA patch.
“Um.. I wasn’t told there would be a third string crew,” Minoru said, a bit confused.
“There isn’t one,” Shapiro said, shaking her head at Ilyukhina. The Russian woman shrugged non-chalantly.
It was Dubois who explained, “Dr. Grace is currently the world’s leading authority on Astrophage Biology, he is also the head of Research and Development within the Petrova Task Force. I believe Ilyukhina is referring to him as being number one.”
All the thoughts in Minoru’s head kind of froze as the words that Dubois had said registered. Suddenly he could feel his heart racing in his chest and his stomach flung up into his throat.
“Dr. Grace? As in the Dr. Grace who studied the Arclight samples and named Astrophage?" Minoru felt as if he was going to explode from excitement, “He’s here? On this boat?!”
Ilyukhina laughed and Minoru didn’t even care that she was making fun of him. Even Dubois seemed a little taken aback by the enthusiasm. Shapiro though— her eyes were glowing.
“Yes he’s on the boat!”
“Do you think we’ll get to meet him?!”
“Who do you think is going to teach us how to handle Astrophage?” Dubois asked, like he thought they were both overreacting. Minoru felt like he was going to faint.
When Cmdrs. Yao and Egorov arrived in their flight suits, Minoru was pleased to see they were both professional and clearly aware of the severity of their mission. Even if Egorov was on the secondary crew, it was clear he was approaching the task as if they would be the ones charged with it.
After a rest, the crew was collected by several men in uniform as well as Eva Stratt. Hair up and sternfaced she began their tour with efficiency. It was clear she was more interested in informing them where they were not allowed to go than actually making them feel at home within the ship.
Eventually she led them through the crammed research center. Make shift buildings filled what was obviously a cleared out storage hanger. It was a labyrinth that Minoru could only gawk at in amazement. Everyone was wearing lab safety gear, rushing around with urgency but purpose. There were people of every color from what seemed like every nation. Speaking fast and loud as they worked.
As they neared the center, Stratt approached one of the larger structures and knocked on the plastic film. The man inside looked up, glasses askew and some sort of red candy tucked behind his ear. Minoru felt himself buzzing as Stratt made the quick introduction.
“This is Dr. Ryland Grace, currently the world’s foremost authority in Astrophage.”
Dr. Grace shrugged as in what seemed like joking modesty, but there was a smile on his face. Shortly he joined them on the floor outside of what was probably his lab. He looked exactly like every other scientist Minoru had met. Hair messy from long hours, a print shirt, and lab coat thrown on to keep himself clean. Still, when he was in front of them, Grace closed his lab coat as if embarrassed by the silly print on it.
“Dr. Grace, these are the astronauts selected for the mission. Cmdr. Yao, Dubois, and Ilyukhina, as well as their back ups for redundancy.”
“It’s an honor to meet you all,” Grace nodded. Then he proceeded to show them the most horrifying demonstration of how dangerous Astrophage was. All with a smile on his face.
Minoru was sure the guy was insane.
When the tour was said and done, Stratt left them all in the rec room, and informed them very sternly, “You have all been given laptops, the first time you log in you will be setting up your emails. Do that before the end of today.”
With that she left with her entourage of army men.
Minoru glanced over to his bed, the small wire framed cot-like structure that was positioned between Shapiro and Egorov’s. Sure enough, there was a laptop with the Hail Mary mission patch engraved on the front, underneath it was his name in Kanji as well. All of them, by unspoken agreement, spent the rest of the evening setting up their accounts with the Hail Mary Portal and checking their appointments calendar.
When he first opened his email though, Minoru was startled to see that the appointment spreadsheet for the week had been sent by [email protected] .
“All right, you’re all up!” Dr. Grace arrived in a pair of denim jeans, knit sweater and beanie that was clearly tailored to keep him warm. Both crews had gotten up, coordinated showers, had dressed, and waited less than a minute before Dr. Grace had arrived dead on time for their first appointment. “Breakfast time. Follow me and I’ll be taking you to the galley, from there we’re going to start with a curriculum breakdown.”
Minoru quickly launched himself out of his cot and while the others were more sedate, he couldn't help but do his best to show how appreciative he was.
“Dr. Grace, I know we’ve met, but I’m Dr. Gojo Minoru. I worked on the Amaterasu and Arclight probe.”
“Oh yeah?” Dr. Grace smiled, “I’ve gotta ask cause I’ve been wondering how you sealed the sample capsules for Arclight. Was it an actuated system?”
“Yes!” Minoru nodded enthusiastically, “It took ages to seal properly.”
“Let me tell you, it went all the way to Venus– back again, and it was still a pain to open. Do you know what it’s like trying to manually unseal fourteen latches that were sealed mechanically?” Grace laughed and Minoru couldn’t help his own in reply.
“They made you unseal it yourself?! They really got it to you the moment it landed.” Minoru wasn't able to contain the awe in his tone.
“You have no idea.”
Breakfast– from there– consisted of Minoru, Shapiro, Dubois, and Ilyukhina practically interviewing Dr. Grace about the process he went through to study Astrophage in those first days.
Minoru was enraptured as Grace kind of awkwardly confessed, “I actually bred them pretty early on. I just didn’t tell anyone for a week or so— just so I could figure out the intricacies of it.”
“Weren’t you worried someone else would figure it out and announce it before you?” Shapiro asked curiously— which– was valid. Minoru knew plenty of engineers who would figure a solution and announced it to take credit before really testing– retesting— and being sure their fix was stable.
“Nah, all two hundred or so of us could see each other working on the camera network, and everyone else was too busy trying to figure out the cell wall make up.” Grace laughed a bit and said, “There were a few people actually that made fun of me in the chat because I was building random nonsense.”
Minoru smiled— it was clear that Dr. Grace was incredibly smart. The kind of scientist that came only once a generation with how creative and brilliant he was at approaching research from his own angles.
“The fact they didn’t understand your ingenuity shows that you were the correct choice to be head of Research and Development, Dr. Grace,” Dubois said simply. Minoru was beginning to like the guy.
Dr. Grace waved him off and said something modest, but Minoru couldn’t help but agree with Dubois.
Professor Grace was a task master, but he was also extremely brilliant at breaking down concepts. That wasn’t to say Minoru was stupid, he was the secondary Engineer for a reason. The facts of the matter were this: Minoru was an Engineer. Only two members of the team were biologist. Even then, they weren’t Micro-Molecular biologists . They were primarily chemists with biology majors thrown on top. Even more dire was the case of the two Commanders who were flight engineers. Hence the fact they all began affectionately calling him Professor Grace.
Grace was very good at reading a room. If he even thought they might be lost he’d pause and ask, “Okay. Clearly there are questions. Who wants to go first?”
From there they’d raise their hands and hopefully work through whatever horrible thing Astrophage was capable of and learn how to prevent it.
Unlike most geniuses that Minoru had met, Dr. Grace never ever once attempted to make them feel stupid. He was clear that he was there as an aide. Ego cast aside, there was even a level of respect that Minoru hadn’t expected from the Second in Command of the entire task force.
All this respect was the reason Minoru had no idea how to feel the first time he saw Professor Grace in a Hail Mary Crew flight suit.
Minoru and Ilyukhina’s jets had departed from the carrier first. They’d arrived in Hawaii in the time that only a fighter jet could boast, then the pair of them proceeded to run around the airport and buy the most American fast food they could get their hands on while waiting for the others to arrive. Not to be picky, but navel galley food was not exactly gourmet. And even though American fast food from an airport was also terrible, it was better than eating military rations.
So, Minoru and Ilyukhina were sharing a bag of McDonalds when Dubois and Shapiro arrived. A bag they promptly offered to the science crew. Shapiro had looked like she was about to cry. Which was probably an American thing.
Yao and Egorov were second to last, and when they arrived they glanced at the bag of grease and gave twin looks of judgement. Yao ended up with some sort of salad from only he knew where while Egorov had eventually rejoined them with a Subway sandwich. How that was better than hamburger only Egorov knew.
Last, definitely not least, was Professor Grace. He arrived with three security guards and what was clearly a breakfast McMuffin in his mouth. Still in one of his amusing print shirts, but this time he was dressed exactly like them. Golden flight suit half zipped, his name patched on with the NASA logo and the PHM mission patches.
There was an awkwardness that hit both crews at the sight of him. It wasn’t that Professor Grace wasn’t qualified. It was just— they had volunteered for a suicide mission and having someone else wear their uniform felt a bit— it made something in Minoru twist.
Pulling the breakfast sandwich from his mouth, Grace winced and said, “I know, I know— the flight suit. I’m really really sorry. I wouldn’t wear it if I didn’t have to— Stratt made them for me. I’m just testing equipment while you guys do press. Sorry if it's like— offensive. I’m nowhere near as amazing as you all. I really am just acting as a lab rat to be sure Mary doesn’t have anything faulty while you’re saving the world.”
“Ah, so you are the test crew,” Yao said sagely and immediately all tension fell away.
There was no shame in test crew suiting up. Grace would genuinely be doing some of the most frustrating work just to be sure they were focused on more important things. If anything, it was kind of an honor that the equipment would be tested by Dr. Ryland Grace. He was already so busy.
“Dr. Grace officially number one scientist in world!” Ilyukhina declared teasingly.
“I am not,” Grace said clearly awkward. Then he seemed to refuse to let them argue when he declared, “Moving on. Okay team. We’re going to be boarding and heading to America, first. I’ll be doing testing at JPL. You six have The Morning Show. We’ll be heading to NASA headquarters in Texas. From there we’ll head to Europe for ESA and some of their Press. This is our first press tour. Don’t go crazy. We’ll have another before Marys’ Sections begin launching.”
“When Dr. Grace is present, we are to rally to him,” Yao declared as their group walked through the private security section, “If he is not present, we are to maintain our two groups with myself and Egorov as the cores. Dr. Grace’s orders are law.”
“Uh… isn’t that overkill?” Grace asked.
“No, it is a simple task to keep us from separating. Since you are in charge, you are technically the only person who is never truly lost. After all, it is us who have no means to contact Stratt to arrange pick up.”
“Fair,” Grace replied and didn’t argue again.
Minoru had been packing up when Shapiro and Dubois died.
The launch was only a few days away, and while he’d had a whirlwind of nearly four years cramming mission knowledge in his head, he’d had to begin to settle into the fact that he would never use it. Ilyukhina had kept her word and never become a coward. She’d stayed healthy, and in three days she would be the one being sent off on Mary.
When the explosion rocked the Cosmodrome, he had frozen. Head darting up, Minoru could only watch the fire in the distance. Smoke and red burning on the skyline in the direction of the test lab. Minoru knew that Shapiro and Dubois' lessons with Professor Grace had ended roughly two hours ago.
Was it terrible of him that his first thought was to hope it wasn’t Ilyukhina. Maybe that was just human of him.
For a moment, he wondered if he should help, then realized he had no reason to. Others were train on containment, and he would only get in the way. For a small while he waited and waited. Finally, one of the officers knocked on his door and Minoru opened it.
The moment the officer laid eyes on him he spoke into his radio, “Eyes on Dr. Gojo. He’s in the dormitory.”
“What happened?” Minoru asked, unable to contain his worry.
“Can’t say.” the officer replied, “Stay in the building. We’re on lockdown. Probably until launch.”
As if he wasn’t important at all, the officer took off back down the hall. Rushing to go confirm other lives, no doubt.
Minoru immediately grew restless at the thought of being on lockdown. That someone had died and he had no idea who it was. The first place he rushed to was Grace’s office. After all, if the astronauts needed to talk to anyone with actual authority, it had been ingrained in them to go to Grace first. Roughly two hours after the explosion, Minoru found himself in Grace’s office, the man himself wasn’t there though.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait too long. With the kind of urgency of a man with hell on his heels, Professor Grace rushed into his small office and began digging through his paper work.
“Professor Grace, what’s going on?” Minoru asked with as much urgency and worry that was pounding in his ribs.
“We don’t know yet, we’re about to confer with our data,” Grace said urgently, “Has anyone told you to stay put, Gojo?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
“Sir, please tell me. Was it Ilyukhina?”
Grace was a man who was always in motion. Always busy, never sleeping, and had somewhere to be. In that moment though? Professor Grace was like stone as his head whipped up and he stared at Minoru with his uncanny blue eyes.
“What?”
“It’s just—”
“No no, I get it its just—” Grace shook his head, “Sorry, I just— you all are so brave all the time.”
“I’m not scared,” Minoru said. Because he wasn’t— if anything he would just be disappointed. It was so close to the launch.
“Right,” Grace smiled, “But we don’t know yet. The only life I know that’s been confirmed is you and Cmdr. Yao.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, but Steve’s been good. He’ll tell me the moment everyone else is confirmed. I’ll make sure you're the first to know if you’re up for launch.”
“Thank you.” Minoru nodded and Grace offered him a smile that was soft. Almost paternal in a way Minoru hadn’t got since he was actually in school and his teacher had been comforting him over getting an A that was too low.
It was an hour later he was informed Ilyukhina was alive and well. That it was Dubois and Shapiro experimenting without Grace’s supervision that had been lost.
It was three hours later he was informed that Dr. Grace would be taking their place on Mary.
It was the most logical choice. Professor Grace was the number one Astrophage scientist on Earth, and test crew besides that. He probably knew Mary better than Cmdr. Yao.
At that moment Minoru wished he was a scientist. That he could take Professor Grace’s place. Professor Grace had never been meant to… He was always too important. He had so much knowledge that needed to be shared once it was declassified—
Who was going to finish Project Hail Mary when the probes returned? Stratt would likely be in prison. Only Dr. Grace had knowledge of the whole mission.
Minoru sat in his dormitory and cried.
He felt less pathetic when Ilyukhina joined him and they both got wasted.
Arriving home was like walking out of a dream. Mary had launched, all his friends from the past three years were just gone. Dead or in space– sleeping until they would die in eleven years.
Minoru rode in the back of his last sleek government car. At least— until he was retrieved to help with Professor Grace and Rocky’s Taumeoba farm design. That would be for future him to deal with. At the moment, he was a stranger in his own country.
Walking quietly, he approached the home he had lived in for so long with Ren and Sakura. The last month he’d been in Baikonur, he'd finally been allowed to contact Ren. Brave as he was, Minoru never had. He’d watched Yao face time with his wife and children, and Ilyukhina spent long nights speaking lightning fast Russian with her sister.
Slipping the keys in the lock, Minoru turned them.
There, standing in the kitchen, was Ren. He was just like Minoru remembered. Dark hair short, that corporate style. He was even dressed like he’d gotten off a long shift at the office. Sakura was laying in the middle of everything.
Whipping around, Ren saw him. They rushed towards each other and the moment they wrapped their arms around each other everything in Minoru broke.
“You’re back! You came back to me! I was so scared!” Ren sobbed and Minoru held him close. Feeling his warmth.
“From now on, I’ll always come back to you.”
Minoru would sometimes wonder who it was that Professor Grace had focused on to steel himself for the mission ahead. He wished he’d known Grace better. That he hadn’t let his awe interfere with any friendship they might have had.
In the end, all Minoru could do was finish his work when the beetles arrived.