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“Once you're all better… will you be my boyfriend?” Luna asks.
Lying on the makeshift operating table with a bullet still lodged in his body, Senku can't help but cringe.
Wasn't this the kind of thing doctors weren't supposed to do? Asking a patient out while they were injured, vulnerable, and dependent on their treatment was a blatant conflict of interest. Even if Luna wasn't a licensed doctor yet, she was still a medical student. There had to be at least a dozen ethical guidelines warning against this exact situation.
Then again, this was the Stone World.
Medical boards, professional boundaries, and ethics committees had all turned to stone thousands of years ago.
Besides, Senku didn't exactly have the luxury of refusing. He wasn't in any position to risk offending the only person around with enough medical knowledge to remove the bullet from his chest.
A relationship was already out of the question. He had civilization to rebuild, and dating ranked somewhere below ‘invent disposable chopsticks’ on his list of priorities.
Still, flatly rejecting Luna felt unnecessarily risky.
There was also the mentalist to consider.
If Gen came back and learned that Senku had carelessly turned down the person currently responsible for keeping him alive, he'd never hear the end of it. The lecture alone would probably last longer than the surgery.
Which left one obvious solution.
A lie. Gen would definitely approve of that.
"Senku?" Luna tilts her head, waiting for an answer.
"I'm sorry, but I can't," Senku replies without hesitation. "I'm already dating someone."
There.
Simple, believable, and final. A relationship was an easy boundary to understand, and it discouraged any expectation that his answer might change later.
"...Really?" Luna blinks in surprise before offering a small smile. "She must be a lucky girl."
"Uh... yeah."
"Anyway," Luna continues, sounding genuinely curious, "who is she?"
Senku immediately realizes the flaw in his plan.
If he named anyone on the Perseus, Luna could easily ask them about it later. The lie would collapse almost instantly, and he'd have an entirely different problem to deal with.
For some reason, Gen is the first person who comes to mind.
Right.
That actually solved everything.
"It's a guy," Senku says.
Luna's eyes widened.
"Oh!" Her cheeks flush bright red as she hurriedly waves her hands. "I didn't know. I'm so sorry if I made things awkward."
Senku isn't entirely sure what she's apologizing for. Was she embarrassed for assuming he liked girls, or simply mortified that she'd confessed without knowing he was supposedly taken?
Either way, her reaction makes one thing clear.
Luna is earnest. Maybe a little naïve, but genuinely kind.
A small smile tugs at Senku's lips. "It's fine."
Relief immediately washes over Luna's face.
"Right," she says, taking a steadying breath. "I think it's time for your surgery."
He'd almost forgotten he'd been shot.
Senku gives a small nod as Luna calls for Yuzuriha to assist.
With any luck, that conversation will stay buried along with the lie.
***
A lot happens after that.
The Kingdom of Science's attempt to stop Stanley ends with the shocking discovery that Charlotte is the one piloting the plane. Xeno is eventually captured, and before long, everyone reunites.
Somewhere amid the conflict, Senku completely forgets about the lie he tells Luna.
If she still remembers it, then hopefully she assumes his supposed boyfriend was left behind as a statue somewhere in the world. That explanation is convenient enough to satisfy anyone's curiosity.
Now, everyone crowds onto the small yacht.
Voices overlap as old friends greet one another and stories are exchanged. After everything they've endured, the atmosphere is unusually light.
"Senku-chan?"
Senku turns at the familiar voice, unsurprised to find Gen walking toward him.
What catches him off guard is the expression Gen wears.
Relief flashes openly across the mentalist's face, bright enough that Senku almost mistakes it for something else before Gen effortlessly smooths it away behind his usual easygoing smile.
The moment is so brief that Senku wonders if he imagined it.
"You did great out there, mentalist," Senku says, planting his hands on his hips with a confident smirk.
Gen smiles back.
The sight settles something restless in Senku's chest.
It is a strange sensation, like watching the final piece of a complicated machine click perfectly into place after running on unstable parts for far too long. The feeling is oddly satisfying, though he quickly dismisses it as simple relief.
Of course he's relieved.
Gen is here. Safe and alive.
"I eard-hay you got shot," Gen murmurs as he closes the distance between them.
Senku instinctively glances down.
Right. The thick bandages wrapped around his chest make it impossible to forget for long.
Before he can answer, Gen steps even closer.
A warm palm presses gently against the bandages covering Senku's chest.
For a brief moment, Senku's mind completely stalls.
He knows exactly what Gen is doing.
There is no practical reason for it. Senku is standing here, talking, breathing, and very much alive. Every observable fact already proves his heart is beating.
Even so, Senku understands.
Facts and reassurance are not always the same thing.
Gen needs to feel it for himself. Senku becomes acutely aware of the warmth resting against his chest.
The mentalist’s hand is separated from his heartbeat by nothing more than layers of cloth, yet the heat somehow seeps through every barrier. It spreads slowly, quietly, like sunlight spilling across the surface of still water. Gentle and weightless.
His pulse suddenly feels far louder than it has any scientific right to be.
Senku watches Gen.
The mentalist's gaze remains fixed on the spot beneath his hand, his expression soft with quiet fascination, as though listening for proof that something precious hasn't slipped away.
Without thinking, Senku speaks.
"Gen."
The sound of his name immediately pulls Gen back to reality.
His eyes widen ever so slightly before a restrained laugh escapes him.
"Oops." Gen begins to withdraw his hand with an embarrassed smile. "I'm sorry, Senku-chan. I don't know what came over—"
Before the sentence can finish, Senku catches Gen's hand.
His fingers close around Gen's almost on instinct.
The movement surprises both of them.
"Gen, I..."
The words refuse to come.
Gen stares back at him with wide, searching eyes, while Senku feels his breath catch somewhere between his lungs and his throat.
Neither of them looks away.
Senku continues holding Gen's hand without understanding why, suspended in a moment that feels as if the entire world has quietly stopped moving around them.
Then, Senku finds himself looking into Gen's eyes.
He has always known they are dark.
What catches him off guard is how the afternoon light reflects against them, turning the black into something closer to deep blue, like the ocean just before nightfall.
That is an embarrassingly poetic observation.
Since when does he compare people's eyes to the sea?
His thoughts screech to an abrupt halt.
What the hell is he about to say? What is he even doing?
Before he can force his brain back on track, another realization slips into the space he'd been trying to fill.
He misses Gen and not in the practical sense of losing a valuable ally during an infiltration mission.
Senku simply... misses him.
"Senku—Oh!"
The voice snaps the moment apart.
Gen quickly pulls his hand free and clears his throat, while Senku remains standing there, studying the mentalist with a thoughtful frown.
It is the same expression he wears whenever he encounters an unsolved puzzle.
The more he looks at Gen, the more questions seem to appear. Unfortunately, he doesn't have the luxury of investigating them.
Stanley Snyder is still chasing them, and escaping him takes priority over whatever strange short circuit just occurred inside Senku's brain.
His attention shifts toward the person who interrupts them.
Luna stands a few steps away, her cheeks noticeably pink.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted something," she says with an awkward laugh. "I just wanted to check on Senku's wound."
"Don't orry-way, Luna-chan." Gen flashes his usual carefree smile. "Senku-chan is all yours."
Senku watches carefully.
The smile reaches Gen's lips, but not quite his eyes, as the mentalist also takes an almost imperceptible step backward, quietly placing more distance between himself and Senku.
Luna suddenly pales.
"It's not like that!" she blurts out, frantically waving her hands. "I—I mean... he's entirely yours! Truly!"
"Sure…?” Gen blinks, visible confusion crosses his face for a moment before he simply nods. “Anyway, I should get going. I need to talk to Ryusui-chan."
Before Luna can stumble through another explanation, Gen is already walking across the deck.
Luna watches him leave with an expression that somehow grows even more distressed. Senku, meanwhile, is thoroughly lost.
He scratches his ear before turning back toward Luna.
"So?" he asks. "Let's get this over with."
Instead of moving closer, Luna shakes her head.
"I'm sorry, Senku." She bites her lower lip, looking strangely guilty.
Senku furrows his brows. "...What are you talking about?"
"You don't have to reassure me," Luna says, lifting her head with newfound determination. "I'll fix this somehow!"
"...Good luck with…” Senku stares at her. “whatever that means." He waits a beat before adding, "Are you still checking my wound or not?"
Luna nods a little too enthusiastically. "Right! Of course!"
She quickly gets to work examining the bandages, though Senku notices she keeps stealing apologetic glances in Gen's direction whenever she thinks no one is looking.
Whatever conclusion Luna reaches, she never explains it.
Senku decides not to ask.
He has far more pressing problems to deal with than whatever mystery is unfolding inside Luna's head.
Stanley is still out there.
If they don't figure out a way to make this tiny yacht move faster, they'll all be caught long before they reach their destination.
***
"Good evening, Senku-chan."
The familiar voice catches Senku by surprise.
He turns to find Gen making his way across the deck, illuminated by little more than moonlight and the dim lantern hanging near the mast.
"Mentalist?" Senku raises an eyebrow. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be asleep?"
"Well," Gen says as he settles beside him, "Luna-chan insisted that I should be the one elping-hay you rewrap your wound."
He pauses, his expression turning mildly puzzled.
"Speaking of which, do you have any idea why Luna-chan keeps insisting that nothing is going on between the two of you? She also said she supports your relationship, whatever that means."
Senku almost winces.
Right. The lie.
He'd completely forgotten about telling Luna he already had a boyfriend. Apparently Luna hadn't.
Fortunately, Gen seems completely unaware of that particular conversation. Senku would very much like to keep it that way.
Outwardly, he merely blinks. "I've got no idea."
"Really?" Gen tilts his head before shrugging with an easy smile. "Well, in that case, take your shirt off so I can change your bandages."
Senku looks at him. "...Isn't that Luna's job?"
"It was." Gen chuckles. "But Luna-chan insisted I should andle-hay it from now on."
That only raises more questions.
Luna is the closest thing they have to a trained doctor. Having Gen take over such a simple task makes absolutely no sense.
Still, Senku decides it isn't worth arguing over.
He slips off his shirt and sets it beside him.
"It's a little cold out here," Gen remarks as he prepares the fresh bandages. "Are you sure you don't want to do this inside?"
"And wake everybody up?" Senku shakes his head. "Hell no."
Gen laughs softly. "Fair enough."
As Gen carefully begins replacing the old bandages, Senku's thoughts drift back to Luna.
Earlier, she thinks she's interrupting something between him and Gen.
Then she vows she'll fix it.
After that, she repeatedly insists she has no romantic interest in Senku, tells Gen she supports his relationship, and somehow decides Gen should be the one treating Senku's injuries instead.
One by one, the scattered observations line up inside his head.
His eyes widened slightly.
There is no way that—
"Senku-chan." Gen's voice pulls him back. "Try not to move too much."
Only then does Senku realize just how close Gen is.
The moonlight softens the sharp lines of his face, catching in pale strands of hair while shadows gather beneath his lashes. His expression is unusually focused, every movement slow and careful as if the bandages are something fragile rather than simple strips of cloth.
Gen's fingers brush lightly against Senku's skin.
The contact is brief.
It shouldn't matter.
Yet every accidental touch sends a tiny disturbance through him, like dropping a pebble into perfectly still water. The sensation spreads in widening circles beneath his ribs, subtle enough to ignore if it happened only once.
Unfortunately for Senku, it doesn't happen only once.
His heartbeat chooses this exact moment to become an unreliable source of data.
What is wrong with me...?
The question stays trapped inside his own head.
Luna suddenly comes to mind.
Senku looks away with a dry smile.
No wonder she reaches the conclusion she does.
A newcomer to the Kingdom of Science sees Gen pressing a hand against Senku's chest, Senku grabbing Gen's hand without thinking, the two of them staring at each other, and now Gen quietly tending to his injuries beneath the moonlight after Senku claims he's dating another man.
From an outside perspective… The conclusion is almost inevitable.
What troubles Senku isn't Luna's misunderstanding. It's the fact that imagining himself in that scenario doesn't bother him nor disgust him.
"What are you thinking so deeply about, Senku-chan?"
Senku looks back. Gen is smiling softly again, it’s the kind of smile Gen wears when there is no audience to fool.
"It looks like your brain's running at ten billion alculations-cay per second."
"We've got the world's most dangerous sniper chasing us," Senku replies. "I'd be slacking if it wasn't."
Gen hums. "Then let me carry one or two of those calculations."
"Oh?” Senku lets out a quiet laugh through his nose. “Since when did a mentalist become an engineer?"
"Oh, please." Gen places a hand dramatically over his chest. "I may not understand your equations, but I'm excellent at educing-ray scientist-related stress."
"I wasn't aware that it was an established field of study."
"It will be after I publish my research."
Senku snorts. "You'd fake half the data."
"I'd embellish the presentation," Gen corrects with mock offense. "Ompletely-cay different scientific methodology."
Despite himself, Senku laughs almost effortlessly.
Gen has always been like this.
Whenever everything becomes unbearably complicated, the mentalist somehow finds a way to make the burden feel lighter.
He stands next to Senku while impossible plans are made. Gen challenges those plans when necessary. He supports them when they matter.
Again and again, Gen chooses to stay, even when staying means gambling his own life on dreams no reasonable person would believe.
The realization settles quietly inside Senku.
He trusts Gen more than almost anyone, seeks Gen out without thinking and feels strangely calmer whenever Gen is nearby.
The observations are objective, the conclusion they seem to point toward, however… that part makes absolutely no sense.
Does Senku like—
The hypothesis is absurd.
Unfortunately, the evidence keeps accumulating.
Neither of them says anything after that.
They simply sit together beneath the stars.
Looking up at the night sky reminds Senku of the observatory hut back in Japan, where countless evenings disappear into conversations, inventions, and impossible ambitions.
Without thinking, he scratches his ear with his pinky. "...Damn."
Maybe Luna's assumption isn't as unfounded as he wants it to be.
The following morning, everyone gathers for breakfast as the yacht continues cutting across the water.
Across the deck, Senku catches Luna's eye. She flashes him a bright grin before giving him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
The expression on her face suggests she's incredibly proud of whatever mission she believes she's accomplished. Warmth unexpectedly creeps up Senku's neck.
He awkwardly returns a small nod.
More than anything else, he hopes nobody notices.
***
Before Senku can make sense of his own feelings, events refuse to give him the chance. There is rubber to manufacture, Stanley is still relentlessly pursuing them, they have to cross mountains, investigate the Medusas, uncover the secrets of Araxá, and somehow survive Stanley's assault without losing anyone along the way.
As if that isn't enough, seven years pass while everyone remains petrified.
Xeno ultimately agrees to cooperate with the Kingdom of Science in exchange for Stanley's safety. It is a logical arrangement.
Both sides gain something they want.
As for Gen...
Senku doesn't consider his feelings an urgent problem.
Gen is single.
They're both busy rebuilding civilization and there will be time for a confession later. Besides, somewhere along the way, Senku's brain quietly files the matter away as if it's already solved.
The feelings are real, still confession is simply pending like an unfinished experiment waiting for the right conditions. There is no reason to rush.
They still have countless inventions ahead of them, along with hundreds of soldiers to revive for the manpower they'll need.
Everything else can wait.
Or so Senku thinks.
His attention drifts across camp just in time to notice one of the newly revived soldiers approaching Gen.
The young man carries himself with an easy confidence, flashing a bright grin as he falls into step next to the mentalist. Whatever he says earns a soft laugh from Gen.
Then the soldier casually leans a little closer as he brushes imaginary dust from Gen's sleeve before gesturing animatedly as though they have already known each other for years.
Gen doesn't move away. Instead, he smiles politely and continues the conversation.
Something unpleasant twists inside Senku's chest.
It catches him completely off guard.
He watches the two of them talking as the soldier is unmistakably flirting, and even worse… Gen doesn't appear particularly bothered by it.
Senku's thoughts grind to a halt.
This… This variable never appears in his calculations.
At no point does he consider the possibility that someone else might confess to Gen first. Or that Gen might simply... choose someone else.
The realization crashes into him with startling force.
Before Senku can dwell on that uncomfortable discovery, another familiar figure steps into view.
Luna.
With an impossibly sweet smile, she slips between Gen and the soldier as naturally as flowing water.
"Oh, Gen!" she says brightly, looping both hands around his arm. "I was looking everywhere for you."
Without waiting for either man to respond, she gently but firmly steers Gen away. The soldier can only blink in confusion before awkwardly excusing himself.
As Luna leads Gen across camp, she briefly glances over her shoulder.
Her eyes meet Senku's.
For the briefest moment, her smile softens with quiet understanding.
Then she gives him the smallest nod before looking away, continuing to drag a thoroughly bewildered Gen toward whatever excuse she's already prepared.
Relief washes over Senku so suddenly that it almost embarrasses him.
No.
It absolutely embarrasses him.
He has just experienced genuine relief because Luna unknowingly rescues a relationship that doesn't even exist.
Senku exhales through his nose.
That is genuinely pathetic of him.
Later that day, after everyone finally settles down to rest, Luna finds Senku sitting alone beside the lake.
The moment she reaches him, she plants her hands on her hips.
"You have to make a move!"
Senku glances up at her.
Fortunately, the rest of the Kingdom of Science is busy enough that nobody notices Luna glaring at him as though he's committed a crime.
It is quite a change from the triumphant smile she wears earlier.
"I don't want to intrude." Senku merely shrugs.
Luna stares at him in disbelief. "You're his boyfriend, Senku."
Right.
She still believes the lie.
Somehow, what begins as a convenient excuse has snowballed into... whatever this is. Admitting the truth now would only create an entirely different mess.
Besides… A small, traitorous part of Senku does not dislike the idea as much as he probably should.
"Well," he mutters, looking out across the water, "he seems interested."
The words leave his mouth before he can stop them as his mind races again.
The soldier certainly catches Gen's attention. Gen smiles and laughs, his eyes brighten with that familiar spark of curiosity Senku has seen countless times before.
"Because he wanted you to step in." Luna lets out an exasperated sigh.
Senku looks back at her. "And what makes you so sure?"
Luna folds her arms as she ignores Senku’s question. "Do you know what people usually don't like in a relationship?"
He thinks for a moment. "...No."
"Neither do I," Luna admits with a sheepish cough, before clearing her throat, "but I've heard enough stories from my classmates."
She raises a finger as though delivering an important lecture.
"They always complained when their partner stayed passive instead of fighting for the relationship."
Senku blinks. "When exactly am I being passive?"
"Right now!" Luna points dramatically at him as she gestures toward the camp behind them. "You're sitting here alone while your boyfriend is talking to someone who's obviously flirting with him."
"I'm not sulking."
"You are absolutely sulking."
"I'm observing."
"From a corner."
"It's a strategic position."
Luna gives him a thoroughly unconvinced look. "Strategically sulking is still sulking."
"Besides," Senku clicks his tongue., "shouldn't you be on my side here? My boyfriend's the one entertaining someone else."
The sentence hangs in the air.
… Why does that sound so natural to say despite how much it’s a lie?
… Senku really likes Gen, doesn't he?
Luna only raises an eyebrow. "And who's been neglecting their boyfriend lately?"
That catches him off guard.
Between rebuilding civilization, negotiating with Xeno, reviving soldiers, and preparing for the next stage of humanity's future...
He has barely spoken to Gen outside of work.
Viewed through Luna's misunderstanding… She isn't entirely wrong.
"Oh," Senku says quietly.
"Exactly!" Luna immediately claps her hands together, sensing victory. Then she flashes him a bright grin. "So come on, Senku! This cool and capable girl is going to help you fix this before somebody else steals your boyfriend!"
***
Early the next morning, Luna seems far more determined to track down Senku than assist the rest of the Kingdom of Science.
After insisting he get a full night's sleep to ‘clear his head’ she now drags him away from camp before anyone can rope either of them into work.
The camp is only beginning to stir. A few people are already tending fires while others unload supplies from the ships, but the lakeshore remains quiet enough that no one pays the pair much attention.
Senku crosses his arms as Luna stops walking and turns to face him.
"What exactly do you want me to do?"
Luna gasps dramatically, as if the answer should be obvious. "Grab him and kiss him in front of everyone!" Her eyes practically sparkle. "It'd be so romantic! Then everyone would know he's taken!"
Senku pinches the bridge of his nose.
Technically… That plan only works if the two people involved are actually dating. Otherwise, it would qualify as assault.
"Try another idea." He waves a dismissive hand. "Besides, that's way too much public affection."
Luna pouts.
To Senku's relief, she doesn't argue. Which is quite curious.
Or maybe Luna also thinks it’s a bad idea.
Instead, she taps her chin thoughtfully before brightening again. "Then just announce that Gen is off-limits!" She points toward camp as if Gen is standing there. "Tell everyone he's yours!"
Senku physically recoils. Every instinct in his body rejects the suggestion.
Luna stares at him for a long moment before dramatically throwing both hands into the air.
"This is hopeless!" She groans loud enough to scare a nearby bird into flight. "Poor Gen!"
"Hey!"
"What?" Luna plants her hands on her hips. "From what I've seen, he's the one suffering here."
Senku opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.
"You know what? Leave everything to this cool and capable girl!"
Before Senku can ask what that terrifying declaration is supposed to mean, Luna marches back toward camp with the determination of a general heading into battle.
Senku watches her go.
A profound sense of dread settles over him.
Luna is undeniably competent as a doctor.
Unfortunately, she also possesses an alarming tendency to charge straight toward whatever conclusion she believes is correct, ignoring every contradictory detail along the way.
Senku sighs slowly.
"What are you and Luna-chan secretly alking-tay about?"
The voice comes so suddenly that Senku nearly jumps.
He spins around to find Gen standing only a few steps behind him, wearing his usual pleasant smile as if he hasn't just shaved several years off Senku's life.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to find you." Gen slips both hands into his sleeves. "Xeno-chan wants to see you."
His smile widens ever so slightly.
"But efore-bay that..." He leans forward just enough to make the question feel dangerously casual. "What were you and Luna-chan talking about?"
Senku's brain immediately begins searching for the safest possible answer.
Anything too vague will only invite more questions, but anything too detailed risks exposing the lie he'd told Luna months ago.
Lying to a mentalist is never an ideal strategy. Still, it beats telling the truth.
"We were talking about your love life."
Gen blinks. "My love life?"
"Apparently someone likes you." Senku keeps his tone deliberately flat. "Luna seemed... ten billionth percent invested in the situation."
"That does sound like Luna-chan." Gen hums thoughtfully before giving a helpless little shrug.
Senku watches him carefully. "So?"
"So?"
"Are you planning to do anything about the guy?"
Gen's eyes narrow with unmistakable amusement. "Are you asking for Luna-chan?"
Senku forces himself not to react.
He scratches idly at his ear instead, wearing what he hopes is an expression of complete indifference.
"Call it scientific curiosity."
"Scientific?"
"I'm gathering data."
Gen laughs. "What an oddly specific research topic."
"Answer the question." Senku crosses his arms. "Are you interested or not?"
"If he keeps approaching me..." Gen pretends to consider it. "... aybe-may."
Something inside Senku tightens. "Seriously?"
"Why not?"
"You don't even know him."
"That's what getting to know someone is for."
Senku clicks his tongue. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
Gen's grin turns positively mischievous.
"Oh?" Gen's voice comes out steadier than he feels. One slow step forward, and the distance between them shrinks. "Would a certain scientist like a demonstration?"
Before Senku can answer, Gen closes the remaining space between them.
The shift in the air is immediate—the cool morning replaced by the heat radiating from Gen's body. He moves with an ease that feels practiced, deliberate, as if every step has been calculated for maximum effect.
He reaches up, fingers brushing Senku's shoulder with the lightest touch.
It's barely there, almost impersonal, but Senku feels the contact like a spark jumping across dry kindling.
"So first..." Gen's voice drops—that smooth, honeyed tone he uses when he's reading people, peeling back their layers. "You invade their ersonal-pay space just enough to make them wonder whether it's intentional."
Senku stops breathing.
He doesn't mean to as his lungs simply forget their purpose.
Gen notices. The corner of his mouth curves upward, just slightly, like he's savoring a secret only he knows.
"Then..." His fingertips trail down Senku's sleeve—a slow, featherlight drag of fabric against fabric. Senku feels every millimeter of that touch mapped onto his skin. Gen's fingers linger at his wrist, just for a heartbeat, before continuing their path. "You keep the contact casual."
It's perfect. Innocent and entirely unbearable.
Senku's heartbeat becomes impossible to ignore. It pounds against his ribs, loud in his ears, as if the sound alone could betray him.
Gen leans in closer.
Close enough that Senku can catch the faint floral clinging to Gen's clothes, mixed with the clean, crisp smell of the morning air. Close enough that the warmth of Gen's breath ghosts across his cheek.
"And finally..." Gen meets his eyes.
Dark blue gaze catching the morning light—endless, unwavering, holding him in place like gravity.
"You don't look away first."
For one suspended moment, neither of them moves.
The world shrinks to this: the morning sunlight rising, the scent of the woods, the intensity of a gaze that refuses to release him. Senku feels as if he's standing at the edge of something vast and unknown, and Gen is waiting to see if he'll step forward or fall.
Then Gen chuckles with a soft, breathy sound, and steps back.
The absence of his warmth hits Senku like a wave of cold water.
"There." Gen folds his hands neatly into his sleeves, the picture of composure. "See?"
He tilts his head, amusement dancing in his eyes.
Senku opens his mouth and closes it. Words fail him entirely.
"You got completely tongue-tied." Gen laughs softly, the sound carrying a note of satisfaction. "If that works on you, it'll robably-pay work on the guy who's flirting with me too."
With that, Gen turns and begins walking back toward camp.
And Senku is left standing there, replaying the ghost of a touch on his shoulder, the warmth of breath too close, and wondering how someone so casual could leave him feeling so thoroughly undone.
His shoulder still remembers where Gen brushes away imaginary dust and his wrist still feels warm where slender fingers briefly rest.
Most of all… His mind refuses to let go of the way Gen looks at him from only inches away.
Then Gen's final words catch up to him.
He plans to do that… To someone else.
An unfamiliar pressure settles beneath Senku's ribs.
It isn't anger or fear.
Whatever it is, it squeezes tighter every time he imagines another man standing where he just stood, smiling the way Gen smiles at him, receiving that quiet attention so effortlessly.
The feeling is irrational.
It serves no practical purpose.
It offers no solution to any of their current problems. Yet no matter how thoroughly Senku examines it... He cannot make it disappear.
***
A few days later, while part of the Kingdom of Science works the nearby mine for more ore, Senku notices a familiar face lingering around the camp.
The soldier.
To be fair, the man has been surprisingly respectful.
Ever since Luna possibly somehow scares him off, Senku catches him stealing occasional glances toward Gen, only to stop himself from approaching. Every time that happens, Luna quietly watches from afar with an unmistakably smug expression.
Whatever she says to him apparently works.
For a while.
A few days later, however, the soldier finally gathers enough courage to try again.
Senku watches from a distance as the man approaches Gen with an easy smile.
He says something too quiet for Senku to hear. Whatever it is earns a bright laugh from Gen.
The mentalist smiles politely, responding with the effortless charm that seems to come as naturally as breathing. He tilts his head, asks a question of his own, and listens with genuine interest, giving the soldier his full attention.
From the outside… It looks dangerously close to flirting.
Then the soldier glances in Senku's direction.
A slow, victorious smirk spreads across his face.
Senku stares back.
The expression is so exaggerated it reminds him of those ridiculous cartoon villains Taiju insists on watching whenever they somehow manage to invent entertainment.
The whole thing is irritating. It is also deeply embarrassing.
Seriously, is that really the face he chooses to make?
A hand lands on Senku's shoulder.
"C'mon." Luna gives him an encouraging pat. "Do something."
Senku sighs. "And what exactly am I supposed to do?"
"Anything!" Luna lowers her voice into an urgent whisper. "I already did my part!" She gestures discreetly toward the soldier. "I kept him away from Gen for days, but then he noticed you weren't acting like Gen's boyfriend at all. Now he thinks he has a chance to steal him!"
Senku rolls his eyes. "I'm not going to—"
Luna doesn't let him finish.
With a frustrated groan, she grabs his wrist.
"Hey—"
Before Senku can protest further, she's already dragging him across camp.
"Luna—"
She completely ignores him.
That can only mean one thing. Luna has officially reached the limit of her patience.
Unfortunately for Senku, determination apparently grants the young doctor superhuman strength.
He can't pull free.
Years of scientific labor have made him many things.
Muscularity is not one of them.
Maybe… Just maybe… Not admitting the truth months ago is turning out to be a catastrophic mistake.
"Luna, seriously—"
Instead of answering, Luna abruptly lets go.
Or rather...
She swings his arm forward with enough momentum that Senku stumbles several steps ahead before barely catching himself.
He ends up stopping directly in front of Gen and the soldier.
"Senku-chan?"
Gen blinks in obvious confusion. The soldier looks equally startled.
Senku slowly turns his head.
Several meters away, Luna beams at him with an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Then she dramatically mimes blowing a kiss toward Gen before pointing insistently between the two of them.
Luna then gives him a teasing smile.
The message couldn't be clearer if she'd written it on a billboard.
Go flirt with your boyfriend.
Senku closes his eyes for the briefest moment. From Luna's perspective, she's simply helping one hopeless boyfriend stop neglecting the other.
She has no idea the relationship exists only because of a panicked lie Senku blurts out months ago.
When he looks back, Gen is still watching him.
Confusion lingers in the mentalist's expression, but behind it Senku catches something else.
Senku looks at Gen.
He has seen the mentalist countless times over the years.
Smirking after fooling an enemy, laughing until he has to wipe tears from his eyes, standing confidently before strangers while weaving one lie after another, sleeping through long nights of travel but none of those memories prepare him for this moment.
The afternoon sun catches pale strands of Gen's hair, giving them a soft silver sheen. His dark eyes, so often hidden beneath playful expressions, reflect streaks of blue whenever the light reaches them just right. Even the faint curl of amusement lingering at the corner of his lips somehow manages to look... fascinating.
Maybe… Luna has a point.
His attention never once drifts toward the soldier standing nearby. Instead, everything narrows until only Gen remains.
Maybe he should explain everything.
The lie.
Like Luna's misunderstanding.
Or the months of increasingly ridiculous situations that all begin with one impulsive excuse.
Then again… This is Gen.
If there is anyone capable of understanding what Senku fails to put into words, it is the mentalist standing in front of him.
Even after teasing him through every impossible situation imaginable. Especially after that.
Senku makes up his mind.
He reaches forward, gently taking Gen's hand before giving it a careful tug. The movement closes the remaining distance between them.
Then, before he can overthink himself into another delay...
Senku kisses him.
It lasts only an instant. Long enough for their lips to meet.
Short enough that he has enough presence of mind to angle himself just slightly, avoiding the awkward collision of teeth by instinct alone. Years of calculating trajectories apparently extend to disastrous first kisses.
The realization strikes almost immediately afterward.
...What have I just done?
His eyes widened.
He never asks—never gives Gen the chance to answer.
The thought sends a sharp pang of guilt through him.
He begins pulling away almost as quickly as he leans in.
"Gen, I—"
The apology never comes.
Gen is looking at him differently.
The usual teasing warmth is still there, but something deeper settles beneath it. A quiet intensity and steadiness that makes the air between them feel heavier.
His gaze holds Senku in place with deliberate intent.
Before Senku can process the expression, Gen gently catches the front of his shirt. The fabric bunches beneath his fingers, and the tug is soft—almost asking permission.
"This..." Gen's voice drops, quiet enough that only Senku can hear, meant only for him. "...is how you kiss someone, Senku-chan."
He gives Senku every opportunity to move away.
When Senku doesn't move, doesn't pull back, doesn't say a word—
Gen closes the distance himself.
The second kiss is slow.
It starts with the barest brush of lips, a question more than an answer. Gen's mouth is warm, deliberate, tasting of nothing but something achingly gentle. He doesn't rush.
Instead, Gen savors, as if memorizing the shape of Senku's lips against his own.
One hand comes to rest lightly against Senku's cheek, fingers splaying across his jaw. The touch is grounding, steadying. His thumb traces a single, unhurried arc along Senku's cheekbone as the other hand remains loosely around his wrist, holding him there without force.
Then Gen tilts his head as the kiss deepens.
There's no demand in it as his lips part, the slide of tongue against Senku's lower lip is featherlight, a coaxing pressure that asks Senku to open for him. Senku does, without thinking, without logic, without a single thread of rational thought left to cling to.
The kiss opens between them like something unfolding.
Gen's tongue meets his, slow and warm, tracing the inside of Senku's lip, the seam of his mouth, the roof of his tongue.
It's deliberate, patient, as if Gen is teaching him something with each careful stroke. The sensation sends a shiver cascading down the back of Senku's neck, spreading across his shoulders, settling deep in his chest.
Every carefully ordered calculation scatters like loose papers caught in the wind.
Senku has always believed the human brain functions through logic.
At this exact moment, he refuses to cooperate.
His thoughts dissolve into static, white noise filling every space where reason once lived. His knees feel suspiciously unsteady, his balance betraying him in a way no experiment ever has.
Senku's heartbeat abandons every predictable rhythm, pounding erratically against his ribs.
Most alarming of all—
He doesn't want the moment to end.
He doesn't want Gen to pull away. He doesn't want to think about why this is happening, what it means, where it leads.
Senku wants to stay here, suspended in the press of Gen's mouth against his, the warmth of Gen's palm on his cheek, the quiet intimacy of being seen so completely.
Only when Senku finally has to pull back for air does Gen let him go.
The separation is gradual—Gen's lips lingering for a heartbeat longer, his hand sliding from Senku's cheek with a reluctant slowness, his fingers releasing Senku's wrist one by one.
When the distance returns between them, the morning air rushes in to fill the space.
Senku is left breathing unevenly, lips parted, his entire body thrumming with an unfamiliar electric current.
Gen looks at him.
There's no smugness in his expression nor triumphant gleam, it's the same unreadable depth in his dark blue eyes.
"That," Gen says softly, "was a roper-pay kiss."
The mentalist's eyes are wide open, smiling with quiet satisfaction as though he'd just confirmed a theory he'd suspected all along.
Only after the kiss does Senku finally become aware of his surroundings again.
He blinks, looking around almost absentmindedly before realizing that the soldier has disappeared entirely. Whether the man leaves on his own or quietly retreats the moment the kiss happens, Senku doesn't know, nor does he particularly care.
A small, thoroughly undignified thought slips into his mind anyway.
Hah. Take that.
The fleeting satisfaction lasts all of three seconds before another realization crashes into him.
Luna.
Senku instinctively turns toward the spot where she's been enthusiastically spectating only moments ago, but the young doctor is already nowhere to be found. Whatever mission she believes she accomplishes appears to be complete, leaving behind nothing but an uncomfortable silence between Senku and Gen.
"Anyway, what was that, Senku-chan?"
Gen's voice is gentle, almost curious.
When Senku looks back, he finds the mentalist watching him with an expression he can't quite decipher. There is amusement lingering at the corners of Gen's lips, but beneath it rests something quieter, something steady enough that Senku can't bring himself to guess what it means.
For what feels like the first time in years, words completely abandon him.
His throat suddenly feels dry as his mind, capable of solving impossible scientific problems, stubbornly refuses to assemble a single coherent sentence.
This should be the perfect opportunity.
All he has to do is tell Gen the truth.
Instead, another thought forces its way to the front of his mind.
They still have humanity to save as the Medusas remain an unanswered mystery, and Why-Man is still somewhere beyond their reach.
There’s also the fact that civilization is only beginning to stand again.
And romance doesn't erase any of those responsibilities.
Perhaps this is exactly why Senku tells himself weeks ago that he'd confess someday in the future, after everything settles down.
At the time, he convinces himself it's simply a matter of priorities.
Now… He isn't so sure.
Maybe postponing everything isn't just practical. Maybe it's an excuse.
Senku slowly lifts his gaze. Gen is still waiting with a smile.
He doesn’t look impatient nor expectant, the mentalist is simply waiting.
"Can I..." Senku begins before letting out a slow breath. "Can I sort out my own thoughts first?" He rubs the back of his neck. "After that...let's talk."
His eyes meet Gen's once more, and Gen studies him for only a moment before giving a small nod.
There isn't even a trace of disappointment on his face.
"I can do that." His smile softens. "Take as long as you need."
Something warm settles inside Senku's chest.
This...
This is one of the countless things he likes about Gen.
The mentalist never rushes him. Gen somehow understands even the things Senku struggles to explain.
"Once you've igured-fay things out," Gen says as he turns to leave, "come find me."
With that, he walks back toward camp, leaving Senku alone beside the trees.
Senku sighs, dragging a hand down the length of his face.
Everything happens so quickly that he still isn't entirely sure what possessed him to kiss Gen in the first place.
At least… One problem has probably solved itself.
After witnessing that kiss, the soldier is almost certainly going to stop flirting with Gen.
Senku pauses. "...Hopefully."
For someone who prides himself on certainty, that answer feels remarkably unsatisfying.
***
Xeno takes one look at Senku that morning before dismissing him without so much as a discussion.
"You've got the day off."
Naturally, Senku protests.
There is still work to do, inventions to refine, and countless problems demanding solutions.
Xeno doesn't even entertain the argument.
Instead, he waves Senku away with the unmistakable air of someone who has already made up his mind.
For someone who prides himself on logic, Xeno possesses an almost unsettling ability to recognize when Senku's thoughts have wandered somewhere they don't belong.
Apparently, today is one of those days.
Before long, Senku finds himself alone on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea.
He eventually ends up near the shoreline, far enough from the bustle of the settlement that the voices fade into the background. The waves roll in with steady rhythm, washing over smooth stones before retreating again. A salty breeze drifts across the sea, carrying the scent of the ocean while the afternoon sun hangs comfortably overhead.
Normally, he'd use the quiet to think through scientific problems. Instead, he's thinking about Gen.
His original plan is simple.
Wait until humanity is completely saved and finish everything that needs to be done.
Only then will he tell Gen how he feels.
It sounds perfectly logical.
Unfortunately, logic doesn't account for the fact that there seem to be an endless number of cockroaches crawling out of the sea, all apparently interested in Gen. And cockroaches never crawl out of the sea unless they happen to fall into the sea, ugh.
The thought alone irritates him.
Even worse is imagining the future waiting for him after humanity is saved as he doesn't want to picture Gen standing beside someone else.
He especially doesn't want to imagine Gen smiling at another person the way he smiles at Senku.
And then there's the one-way rocket.
If Senku follows through with that plan… Would he even have the right to confess?
"Are you okay?"
Senku glances up.
Luna stands a few steps away, her brows knitted together with concern.
Out of everyone in their group, she's probably the only person who has even the slightest idea of what he's struggling with.
Maybe he should just tell her.
"I wanted to tell Gen something." He hesitates before forcing the rest of the words out. "I wanted to tell him that I like him."
There. Now she'll probably ask why he's saying that when he and Gen are already dating.
He's already preparing himself to explain everything.
Instead, Luna simply nods. "He does need reassurance."
"...Huh?" Senku blinks.
"I know you two are keeping your relationship a secret," Luna says, completely missing his confusion. "But that doesn't mean you have to neglect Gen."
"That's..."
"So tell him, Senku." She smiles warmly. "Gen already knows where he stands because of everything you do for him, but hearing the words from his partner would still mean a lot."
Senku stares at her.
She's completely misunderstanding the situation.
He lets out a quiet sigh. Maybe it's better if he doesn't correct her.
"Anyway," Luna continues, pumping both fists into the air, "you're Senku! You've overcome impossible challenges before. Just tell him how you feel. Whatever happens after that, you two can figure it out together. Communication is the key."
Senku finds himself staring at her in silence.
She's right.
What the hell has he been doing?
This isn't like him.
When has uncertainty ever stopped him from pursuing something?
Then again… This is romance. An entirely different field from science. Even so, avoiding the problem isn't going to solve it.
Senku straightens his posture and lets out a slow breath.
"...Right." He adjusts the strap slung over his shoulder before turning toward the settlement. "I've gotta go."
Luna's face lights up. "Whatever happens, Senku, I've got your back!"
He nods before taking a few steps away.
Then he pauses. Looking back over his shoulder, he gives her a small, genuine smirk.
"...Thanks, Luna. I'm really grateful."
Her eyes widened in complete surprise, as if she'd never expected to hear those words from him.
Senku doesn't stay long enough to watch her recover.
He breaks into a brisk walk toward the village. Toward Gen.
Whatever comes next, they'll figure it out together.
***
Senku finds Gen standing just outside his hut, his gaze fixed on the night sky.
The village has quieted for the evening. A cool breeze rustles through the trees while countless stars stretch overhead, their light undimmed by the absence of modern civilization.
As Senku approaches, Gen lowers his gaze and smiles the moment he notices him.
"Oh?" Gen tilts his head, amusement already dancing in his eyes. "Are we finally going to have that onversation-cay?"
"I like you."
The words leave Senku's mouth without warning.
Gen freezes for a heartbeat.
His usual composure slips just enough for Senku to catch it. A faint blush creeps across his cheeks before he smooths his expression into his familiar smile.
"So that's what you're leading with, huh?" Gen lets out a quiet chuckle as he closes the distance between them. "What do you want to do from here on out?"
Senku furrows his brows. "Aren't you going to say it back? I thought that's how it works."
"Senku-chan." Gen laughs under his breath. "I kissed you in front of Jonathan—in public. Who do you think I am?"
Right. Gen has a point.
“Wait, who’s Jonathan?”
Gen stares at him before laughing. “The guy who was flirting with me.”
“Oh.” Senku shrugs his shoulders. “What a dumb name.”
“Senku-chan, that’s not nice.”
But Senku only shrugs his shoulders again, and Gen shakes his head with visible soft fondness.
"Besides," Gen continues, the teasing grin softening into something infinitely gentler, "I don't ant-way to overwhelm you."
He lifts a hand before lightly tapping Senku's chest.
"What I feel for you can't really be categorized as simply liking you romantically." His smile grows almost impossibly tender. "You hear what I'm not telling you, don't you, Senku-chan?"
Senku does. Gen isn't saying the words.
He's in love with Senku.
The realization settles over him with surprising weight.
Yeah. That is... kind of overwhelming.
Senku scratches his ear. "...I get it. Ten billionth percent."
"Good." Gen nods, looking relieved.
Then Senku meets the mentalist’s eyes without hesitation. "And what I want to do from here on out..." He takes one deliberate step closer. "...is to have you."
Gen's eyes widened.
For once, the master mentalist has no immediate reply. He turns his face away, his ears beginning to redden beneath the moonlight.
Senku can't help staring.
Asagiri Gen is fascinating.
Every tiny shift in his expression tells a story. The subtle twitch at the corner of his lips, the way his eyes soften when he lets his guard down, the faint flush spreading across his face whenever Senku catches him off balance—every reaction is another piece waiting to be understood.
The more Senku learns about Gen, the more he wants to keep observing him for the rest of his life.
After taking a steadying breath, Gen clears his throat.
"Well then..." A smile slowly returns to his face. "I happily accept."
Warmth blooms in Senku's chest before he even realizes he's moving.
He steps forward until only inches separate them, gently cups Gen's cheek, and closes the remaining distance.
This time, Senku kisses him first—and not just planting his lips to Gen's.
His palm settles against Gen's jaw, fingers threading into the soft hair at the nape of his neck. The touch is tentative at first and uncertain but grounded in the memory of their first kiss.
Senku remembers exactly how Gen kissed him earlier that day. The unhurried brush of their lips as the way Gen had given him all the time he needed to respond.
Senku imitates that same patience now.
He presses their lips together in a slow, careful kiss that lingers just long enough to say everything he still struggles to put into words. The pressure is soft, asking rather than taking. Warmth radiates from Gen's mouth, familiar and inviting.
Then Senku tilts his head, just as Gen had done, and parts his lips.
The kiss deepens with deliberate slowness. His tongue traces the seam of Gen's lower lip—featherlight, tentative, an offering of trust. When Gen opens for him, Senku meets him halfway, sliding his tongue against Gen's in a gentle, exploring stroke.
It's not perfect. There's a tremor in Senku's hand against Gen's cheek, a slight hesitation in the rhythm. But he's learning, mimicking the patience Gen had shown him, letting the kiss unfold at its own unhurried pace.
When they finally part, Senku stays close enough to feel Gen's warm breath against his face.
Neither speaks. The night air wraps around them, as Senku's thumb traces a soft through Gen's cheekbone before he pulls his hand away, slower than he intended.
His gaze lingers on Gen's lips for half a second longer than necessary.
"That," Senku says, his voice quieter than he expected, "was a proper copy."
Gen laughs. “I noticed.”
“Was it good?”
“Don't worry, Senku-chan, you're a genius at everything.”
“That doesn't answer anything, you damn mentalist.”
“It's a good kiss.” He pats Senku's cheeks. “Really.”
There's a moment of comfortable silence between them.
Then Gen's lips curve into a mischievous smile.
The sparkle returning to his eyes tells Senku exactly what kind of trouble is about to come out of his mouth.
Senku raises an eyebrow. "What?"
Gen smiles innocently. "Aren't you going to tell me that you told Luna-chan we were already ating-day a few years ago?"
"Does that even matter? We are dating now..." Senku pauses as the rest of Gen's words register. "Wait. You knew? Did Luna tell you?"
"She didn't have to.” Gen shakes his head. “It was obvious from the way she started acting. I'm a mentalist, remember?"
Senku watches him for a long moment. "So you knew from the beginning."
"Uh-huh." Gen nods.
The memories begin lining themselves up one after another.
Luna somehow becomes convinced that he and Gen are secretly dating.
Her insistence that Gen is only trying to make Senku jealous because he's insecure about their ‘relationship.’ The way she always seems to take Gen's side whenever the subject comes up.
Everything suddenly clicks into place.
Senku narrows his eyes. "You know... I remember thinking Luna was acting strangely after she became convinced you were insecure about our 'relationship.' I figured she was just jumping to conclusions."
"Really weird, wasn't she?" Gen's smile grows wider.
"Mentalist."
Gen places a hand over his chest in mock innocence. "I may or may not have nudged Luna in that direction."
"Mentalist."
"And I may or may not have been oping-hay you'd make your move tonight."
"Mentalist."
"Don't worry, though." Gen chuckles. "That soldier really does have a crush on me. I simply... welcomed the flirting."
A grin spreads across Senku's face before he can stop it. "You son of a bitch."
Instead of feeling irritated, exhilaration bubbles up inside him.
Of course.
Of course the mentalist has been orchestrating things from the background this entire time.
"And then you tell me you don't want to overwhelm me," Senku says, shaking his head with an amused laugh.
Gen presses a hand dramatically against his chest. "Hey, you're the one who likes me."
"I do."
The answer comes so naturally that both of them pause.
Gen's ears redden. Senku only grins wider.
Years ago, he probably would've been annoyed at the thought of someone manipulating him into making a move.
Now… he simply trusts Gen.
This is who Gen is. A mentalist who quietly nudges people in the direction he believes will make them happiest. Senku knows, with complete certainty, that Gen would never use those talents to hurt him.
That's why Senku doesn't mind being guided every once in a while. He trusts Gen with his life.
Somehow, trusting him with his heart comes just as easily.
Still, one question lingers in his mind.
"So why go through all that trouble in the first place?"
The playful atmosphere quietly fades. Gen's smile softens before disappearing altogether as his shoulders lower ever so slightly as his gaze drifts toward the ground.
When he finally speaks, his voice is calm, but somber.
"I have a feeling you're planning to build a one-way rocket to the moon."
Senku's breath catches.
So that's what all of this has been about.
"I wanted you to make your move," Gen admits. "I wanted to know that you chose me... that you anted-way me."
His fingers tighten ever so slightly at his sides.
"And..." Gen lets out a shaky breath. "I just wanted more time with you before our days together run out." He finally looks back up. "Not just as your friend."
"Gen..."
Before Senku can say anything else, Gen gently reaches for both of his hands. His grip is warm and steady.
"Promise me something, Senku-chan."
Senku intertwines their fingers without hesitation.
"If you find another way... any other way that doesn't require a one-way trip..." Gen says, his voice barely above a whisper, "choose that one. Please."
Senku looks directly into his eyes.
"...All right." He squeezes Gen's hands. "I promise."
Relief washes across Gen's face, followed by the brightest smile Senku has seen all day.
"Thank you."
He steps forward carefully before wrapping both arms around Senku.
Senku immediately returns the embrace.
Gen fits naturally against him, warm and reassuring, carrying the familiar floral scent that always seems to linger around him.
***
Luna is a cool and capable girl.
She knows it, and she's proud of it. And she also happens to be a hopeless romantic.
She dreams of having a love story of her own someday, but until then, she's more than happy to cheer for other people's romances. Watching couples quietly exist in their own little world, exchanging glances only they understand or sharing small moments that speak louder than words, never fails to make her smile. Love is beautiful, and Luna firmly believes it deserves someone rooting for it.
Then she meets Senku.
He's exactly her type.
Senku’s brilliant, dependable, confident, and ridiculously handsome.
Naturally, she develops a crush on him. Unfortunately, Senku casually tells her that he's already dating someone.
Luna’s disappointed, of course.
Then again, a guy like Senku not being single honestly makes perfect sense, so she accepts it surprisingly quickly.
What she doesn't expect is finding out that Senku's partner is another guy.
That catches her completely off guard.
Not that she minds. Love is love, and Luna proudly considers herself an ally.
A cool and capable girl supports every happy couple equally.
Years pass.
Seven years later, Luna has witnessed thoroughly of Senku and Gen's relationship without the fear of danger, and she comes to one unavoidable conclusion.
Senku is a terrible boyfriend.
Not because he doesn't care, quite the opposite.
He's simply so consumed by saving humanity that he accidentally neglects the person waiting for him.
Luna understands why.
She really does. Saving humanity is a pretty important job.
Still… It isn't an excuse to neglect your partner.
To make matters worse, their relationship is apparently a secret, leaving Gen to quietly shoulder his worries without anyone else noticing.
So when Gen confides in her, Luna listens.
That's what cool and capable girls do.
She offers advice and encouragement. Little by little, she helps repair what she believes is a struggling relationship.
Now, standing a short distance away, Luna watches the results of all her hard work.
Senku is holding Gen's hands without the slightest hesitation.
His crimson eyes soften every time they meet Gen's gaze, and the unmistakable smile tugging at his lips makes it obvious to anyone paying attention just how much he adores him.
For the first time, Senku doesn't seem interested in hiding it from the rest of the world.
Gen, meanwhile, looks delightfully flustered.
The master mentalist keeps trying to recover his usual composure, only for another faint blush to creep across his face every time Senku looks at him.
He's happy. Undeniably, wonderfully happy.
Luna can't help smiling. It seems like their relationship is not a secret anymore.
Her attention briefly shifts to the young soldier—Jonathan—who had been flirting with Gen. He's standing farther away now, looking every bit as heartbroken as she expected.
She sighs before rolling her eyes.
Honestly.
She warned him that Gen already had someone.
He simply refused to believe her. That's hardly her fault.
Looking back at the couple, Luna crosses her arms with unmistakable satisfaction.
Mission accomplished.
She has officially saved a relationship.
This cool and capable girl couldn't be happier to have played her part.
Even if neither of them ever realizes just how much ‘help’ she unknowingly provided, Luna decides that's perfectly fine.
After all, seeing the two of them smiling at each other is more than enough of a reward.