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Chrome and Senku are in their dorm, getting ready to start a full day of wonderfully boring wizarding classes.
To the right, a bunk bed hugging the wall beside it that the two of them share, though one of them is an absolute mess and one looks like it was done by a professional housekeeper.
To the left, a combination potion lab, small table with two chairs and a curtain between. Senku managed to convince Chrome to let him set up a lab in exchange for answering any questions he had about what he was doing. It got tedious, but Senku deals.
The placement, however, was a whole different story.
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“The table is so we have somewhere to eat, right?”
Senku averted his gaze with guilt.
“yes…”
“So why would we put your chemicals in arm’s length of our food! I’m not accidentally eating your ascorbic acid again.”
Senku groaned, finger twisting in his ear.
“You were fine, you just threw up a little.”
“A little more than I wanted to!”
A silence filled the room, thick with emotions. Before Chrome takes a deep breath.
He walks over to their closet and steps inside. Rustling for a while with whatever garments of fashion or instruments of science may live there. He reappears and walks to Senku, and holds out,
“Here.”
Senku stares at the object being held out to him.
“A curtain?”
“Yeah,” Chrome points to the lab and chairs beside them. “So we can have a clear separator of the areas.”
“What? You would still inhale the fumes.”
“Hey! At least I’m trying to solve our problem!”
“It’s a curtain, the hell’d you think it do?”
“Well I thought we could cast a spell or something to make it work, I don’t know!”
They paused for a moment.
Because that was actually a great idea.
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After that they ended up casting a separation spell to have the curtain prevent any more cross contamination incidents.
Which brings us back to today, Senku and Chrome are getting ready for the day. Except Chrome’s has been ready for the past 23 minutes and is waiting for a certain potion loving scientist to follow suit.
Senku was up late working on homework he had put off when he thought that experimenting with transformation demeaned his attention more.
“Come on, Senku!” Chrome called from the table.
“Class starts in 7 minutes!”
“I know that Chrome!”
Senku was racing to get his robe on and rushed to the bathroom, his hair was a mess.
“I told you, you should’ve saved the experiment for after your homework.”
A scowl forms on his face.
“Chrome—not helpful!”
After messing with his hair for a couple minutes, he realised it wasn't going to get any better. So, he ran out to meet his companion who already had his belongings in hand.
“You’re so lucky I got Professor Kaseki to build us a personal fireplace. You’re late like everyday.”
Senku collected his things scattered around the room, and paused to catch his breath.
“Yeah,” He slowly straightened himself. “Ten billion points for favoritism."
Chrome stepped into the green flames.
“Yeah, whatever.”
Senku chuckled, before quickly catching up to his roommate, through the green fire they went.
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After it hits 12 o'clock, the Ravenclaw duo splits up temporarily. Senku to the open field out back, where the flight classes take place. It was a wide open grass meadow of sorts, that with the generous view of the sky always put them at ease.
And Chrome to the cafeteria. Senku never tagged along since he wasn’t too fond of the crowds. How could people get so angry over some food? He didn’t know nor did he care.
But rounding the corner now, was Chrome with the much needed fuel if they wanted to enjoy rather than survive the rest of the day.
Chrome approached and sat beside Senku, and leaned against the wall.
“Hey, Chrome.”
“Hmm?” His mouth was already filled to the brim with food.
“Why was your bed so neat this morning? You never had a millimeter of interest in keeping it mid-decent till recently.”
Chrome swallowed his food.
“Oh yeah! Ruri was telling me about how a clean bed helps you have a clearer mind. Since it helps with the clutter!”
“Ruri…that sounds familiar.” Senku said to himself.
“She even said that’s how she picked up flying so fast!”
“Oh—that Hufflepuff girl you like.”
Chrome’s face flushed as he gaped at Senku.
“I do not!”
Senku laughed.
“There’s a ten billion percent chance you do!”
Chrome grit his teeth, before realization flashed across his face.
“Speaking of flying, who was that guy you were with the other day?”
Senku’s smirk lessened as his gaze shifted upward to think.
“Oh that was just Gen.”
“Gen..?”
“Yeah, we met yesterday.”
Chrome side-eyed Senku.
“So, am I gonna get some context or what?”
Senku looked back toward him and gave a small sigh. It wasn’t like he didn’t see this coming, but it was still an awkward story.
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“Welcome to intro to Flying,” said the professor.
“This is a self paced class, so i will show you the steps before you go on your own to try. Pay attention, now.”
Senku directed his attention to the front. He usually didn’t care to pay attention in classes, since he could always figure it out on his own.
The professor waved their hand over the broom on the ground to their right.
“Up!”
The broom was quickly sent directly to the professor's hand.
But he also knew Flying was different from other subjects.
They shift their grip to grab it with both hands before placing beneath them, “Finally, after you’ve done this, you simply just push off.”
It required some amount of physical strength.
They pound their feet to the ground simultaneously, sending them off into the air. They direct their broom back down towards the ground to seamlessly descend from the air.
Which Senku,
“That’s all you have to do. Now, if you enjoy flying, you can consider taking flying basics next semester. This class is more to get a feel for how you like flying."
…did not possess.
“And if you have any questions,” they gesture to the two students on either side.
“You can ask my three student helpers: Tsukasa, Kohaku, and Gen. I’m off.”
They pushed off the ground to take flight once more, to head off to who knows where. But in their absence left confusion among students, there were only two students they had gestured too. But everyone went on their way to practice regardless, Senku included.
He took a moment to take in his surroundings, before his eyes caught a nearby shaded area hidden within some of the forest’s trees.
Perfect, he thought, I don’t need anyone watching me while I’m still figuring things out.
He made his way over the tree with haste, not wanting anyone to get there before him. He was slightly out of breath when he got there.
“Get excited. But now, to give it a shot.”
He placed his broom down on the ground beside him.
“Up!”
The broom whooshed into his hand, all according to plan so far.
Senku took it in both hands, and placed it under him.
“Now to push,” he mentally prepared.
He pounded his feet into the ground.
…
Nothing.
He tried again, with more force this time.
Still, nothing.
Senku took a deep breath and—colasped onto the floor.
Damn it! He thought, I should’ve taken the oaf’s offer of going to the gym with him. I’m ten billion percent too weak for this.
He just sat for a moment, defeated, before he groaned.
Senku willed himself to stand and brushed himself off.
“No point in whining about it now,”
He walked over to his broom.
“Up!”
It returned to his hand with ease, he had the magic part down at least.
Broom back under him, he took a slow, controlled deep breath.
This time for sure, he thought.
He pounded his legs into the ground and up he went!
“Woah,”
He soared far above the trees that once encased him in their shade, he could see the sun on horizon. He’d have to take a picture to show Byakuya, this was breathtaking.
“This is exhilarating”
Senku absolutely was absolutely mesmerized by the sight before him. So distracted, that he forgot to keep controlling the broom that took him there.
Sudden;y, the broom began to plummet downwards, fast. And it was taking Senku along with it.
“Shit!”
He tried to regain control, and he did…partially.
He crashed butt first into the top of a tree, nearby to where he had started originally. Falling down the holes within it, quite painfully, before coming to a stop thanks to the branches.
“Oww…”
He rubbed his head, before coming to his senses and checking his body for injuries. Thankfully, just some bruises. But his uniform had leaves and dirt all over.
Senku glanced around to find that had a pretty good vantage point of the spot he had practiced before he took off, ironically enough.
He tried to calm his breathing, as well as his racing mind.
Senku took some time and calculated that his original trajectory probably would have landed him in the opening through the trees where he was practicing at first.
So, although he was a little worse for wear, it could’ve ended worse.
“Hey!” a voice called.
Senku snapped his head around left and right, to find the voice coming from a tree 30m to his left. It was shaded over there so he couldn’t quite make out their face.
The figure leaped from its tree without fear, since they were—riding on a broom.
Contrary to how the teacher had taught, this student rode the broom side saddle, with both legs on one side. Their posture was relaxed, as though it came easy to them.
The mysterious flyer rode slowly out of the shade and into the sun to approach Senku’s tree.
Oh no. This cannot be happening. Senku thought helplessly.
A boy of small stature, a green hood, and a smirk that could–and has–captured many is revealed by the skylight.
It would have to be him of all people…
The wizard came to a halt just short of the tree. He gazed up to meet Senku’s eyes as he took off his hood to reveal the two toned hair beneath.
Asagiri Gen.
“You look like you could use a and-hay.”
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“Wait, Asagiri Gen?” Chrome asked curiously, food in hand.
“That Gen? Isn’t he the one you have a crush on?”
Senku shot a death glare towards his dear listener.
“Wow. Way to rub salt in the wound.”
Chrome’s face began to scrunch.
“Why would you rub salt in a wound? That would make it hurt a lot worse, would it not?”
Senku’s previously anger filled glare, softened into one of pity. He leaned back against the wall and twisted his finger in his ear.
“That’s ten billion percent the point, Chrome.”
Senku clicked his tongue sarcastically.
“Sometimes I wonder why you’re a Ravenclaw.”
“Wow. Rude.”
Chrome finished his bread, forgotten in his hand to the story being told.
“Anyway, keep going!”
Senku looked at Chrome for a second, before giving an over the top groan even that mentalist would only do jokingly. Letting him know he was never telling this story again.
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“Yeah, and that’s an understatement.” Senku responded.
Gen chuckled, with his hand in a fist by his mouth.
“One tree rescue coming up!”
He pulled his wand from the right pocket of his robe before casting,
“Leviosa!”
Slowly, Senku and his broom began to float from the branches. They glided smoothly towards the caster before landing safely on solid ground.
Senku stands up and looks in front of him to find a hand extended his way. He reaches out with his own to take it, before it pulls out of reach.
Which leads Senku to trip and face plant the ground.
“Oh orry-say!”
Gen crouches down in front of him, malicious smirk in tow.
“Any idiot could tell that wasn’t an accident.”
Senku pushes himself to stand once more. Gen follows suit, hands together behind his back.
“Awww~, couldn’t fool you?” Gen leans forward.
“Not with acting as bad as that, no.”
A smirk tugs at Senku’s lips, finger twisting in his ear.
“You’d be surprised what a ittle-lay psychology can get you!”
“Oh, so you’re a manipulating con artist then?”
Gen’s face was wide with a grin.
“Rude! I prefer the term ‘mentalist.’”
His lips form a fake pout., which amuses Senku, making him let out a small laugh.
“Alright, mentalist.”
Gen’s forgone smirk returns to his lips.
“So what’s your ame-nay?”
Senku extended his hand.
“Senku. Ishigami Senku, second year.”
A look of feigned shock flashed across Gen’s face.
“That explains why you’re so bad at flying!”
“Hah?”
Senku’s eyes narrowed into an irritated glare.
“Nothing, nothing–”
He’s pretty young, Gen thought to himself. And pretty cute too.
“Asagiri Gen, fourth year.”
Gen attempts to take Senku’s outstretched hand, before that very same hand disappears from where it once was.
“Ah!”
Gen stumbles past Senku as he tries to steady himself. Once steady, he promptly shoots Senku a well deserved glare before his signature face of faux innocence.
“Pleased to meet you.” Senku says triumph evident on his face.
“How uel-cray,” Gen’s smirk slithers back to the edge of his lips.
“Senku-chan.”
Senku…chan? Senku thinks internally. He can feel warmth climbing up his neck to his ears. He whips away from Gen.
My overall body temperature has risen 4.327°, my heart rate is increasing, and—, Senku admits to himself, I keep replaying his voice in my head.
Gen watches from the back peculiarly as the boy in front of him is spiraling about the nickname he gave him. A small, genuine smile tugged on his lips. This boy was just too adorable.
“Senku-chan!”
Senku turns his head before fully facing him, ears still a slight shade of lasting pink.
Gen pulled out four items from his cloak: his wand, a quill, ink and a piece of paper.
Where did he pull those from…? Senku pondered.
“Leivosa.” Gen said as he pointed his wand at the container of ink.
Senku watched quizzically as Gen dipped his quill into the now floating ink jar and began to write on the paper in his hand.
“I’m not usually one to judge,”
Says the literal mentalist, thought Senku.
“But I think your flying skills need a little ork-way.”
Senku averted his gaze, he wasn’t entirely wrong—but he didn’t have to call him out on it.
“So,”
Gen took a couple steps back. He folded his piece of paper into expertise, and sent it to the curious boy beyond him.
“Why don’t we do a little bit of tutoring on Friday?”
Senku watched the airplane as it approached and plucked it from the air. He unfolded it, but before he got to read its contents, the mentalist continued. So, he redirected his attention upwards.
Gen winked as he put his finger to his lips.
“Just you and me.”
The bell rings, which startles both boys hidden amongst the trees. Gen walks over to his broom while Senku can only watch, still processing what was happening, as it was happening.
“Well, that’s the bell. Up!”
Gen’s broom returns to his hand with practiced ease.
“Until next time, Senku-chan~”
Gen mounts the broom with a foot on either side, before soaring into the skies above with grace. Not being able to afford being late to his next class.
Senku stands in the closing, now alone, trying to think through what the hell just happened. He has to consciously close his gaping mouth.
…
“Did he really just do that?”
Senku looks down at the paper left in his hand.
It reads. ‘Don’t miss me too much! But, in case you do… XXX-XXX-XXX
Call me ♥️’
…
Senku, just got Gen’s number.
He could feel his face warming again, curse these bodily reactions.
Senku’s gaze slowly drifts to the sky, that green hood and entertaining smirk well out of view. He can’t stop the smile that creeps onto his face.
“That damn mentalist.”
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“So, wait, let me get this straight,” Chrome started.
“You sucked at flying,”
“Yep.”
“So your crush decided to ask you on a date?”
“It’s not a date!”
Senku smirked, finger twisting in his ear yet again.
“It’s a tutoring session.”
“Right, right, right. But you said your ‘tutoring session’ is after school today, right?”
Senku eyed Chrome a bit before answering.
“Yeah. Which reminded me just how long school really is.”
Senku glanced at the sky above, thinking of a certain two toned mentalist who had sailed across the very same sky just a few days before.
The lunch bell rings, which prompts Chrome and Senku to rise to their feet.
“How many classes do you have left anyway?” Chrome asks as they walk back towards the school buildings.
“Just two more left.”
Chrome looks at Senku to catch the gleam in his eye when mentioning his lack of classes left. It’s obvious why.
“You excited to see your boyfriend?”
The gleam fades into something more sinister and is directed right at Chrome.
“He’s not my boyfriend!”
Senku throws a punch just to be fully denied by Chrome's forearms. Chrome starts to chuckle.
“Yeah, yeah.”
His eyes look at the fork in the halls they’ve encountered.
“Listen, I’ve got to head right for my Potions class. But, I'll catch you later!”
Chrome starts running down the right hall, halfway turned and waving Senku goodbye.
Senku waves back as Chrome disappears from view, and turns to the left to head to his own Creating Magical Items class. Professor Kaseki wasn’t gonna let him be late again.
His walking slows, as he reaches into his robe pocket and pulls out a familiar creased piece of paper. He looks down at it with pure joy, as if it were his own successful experiment.
“I’m coming, mentalist.”
He brought the paper to his lips, and tapped a light kiss upon it. He smirked to himself.
“Wait for me.”