Chapter Text
Xeno should have expected it wouldn't take long for humanity to rebuild one of those overpriced theme parks. And, of course, all funded by the Nanami Conglomerate.
'At least the price of entry isn't as abysmal as the Old World’. Xeno thought to himself. And resigned to sacrificing his entire day to this noise populated spectacle. It was for Dr. Suika's birthday after all. He was just baffled she would insist on him and Stanley joining the trip.
Taiju shouted in excitement as he, Senku, Ryusui, Chrome, and Suika exited the re-created Millennium Force Coaster.
"WOW! THAT WAS INSANE! I DON'T REMEMBER THAT ONE FROM THE OLD TIMES!"
"Keep it down ya big oaf. We're off the ride, we can hear you just fine now." Senku said, picking at his ear.
Ryusui responded to Taiju's bellowing with his own extreme level of prideful bolstering. "HA HA!" He gave a snap before continuing. "That's because that coaster was only in the U.S! BUT NOT ANYMORE! I've had every classic ride re-created here in good ol' Japan! But we're going to expand Nanami Park to EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!"
“Heh, and give the middle finger to the bureaucrats crying about tourist attractions. I can get behind that.” Senku said with an evil smirk.
“I think it’s really cool you want to share all these rides with everyone else in the world. Not everyone can sail or fly to Japan. So this will make it so everyone can have fun.” Suika smiles patiently as Xeno is already behind her combing her hair back into its original shape.
“DO YOU HAVE TO BRUSH HER HAIR EVERYTIME WE GET OFF A RIDE?!” Chrome shouted, exasperated. “It’s just gonna get messy again on the next one!”
Xeno didn’t even bother dignifying Chrome’s outburst by looking up from what he was doing. “You all may be used to looking disheveled, but that doesn't mean Dr. Suika has to follow suit.” He moves on to straighten her leaf-like cowlicks. “As for your second argument, she will at least look presentable on our way to the next mechanical travesty you all use for cheap thrills.” He finishes Suika’s grooming and steps back to admire his work. Suika looked completely unphased by Xeno’s doting. “It's OK, Chrome. It reminds me of when Ruri used to brush my hair.”
Chrome pouted and muttered, “Senku was your ‘beloved’ pupil. Why don’t you go nuts over the rat’s nest on his head?”
Xeno lazily waved his hand in Senku’s direction. “I have long given up on trying to convince Dr. Senku to allow me to tame those unruly locks.”
Senku rolled his eyes before adding, “Yeah, I had to threaten to sabotage his hairgel to dye his dumbass pompadour neon green before he finally shut up about it.”
Ryusui snapped loudly, bringing attention back to him. “Well, you’re gonna have a harder time fixing your hair after this next ride.” He shouts boastfully leading the group to their next destination.
Xeno was hoping Stanley would’ve made it back with the others by now. They separated to visit the restroom and buy some beverages. Gen and Ukyo saw it as a good opportunity to help Stanley practice his Japanese and to get Kohaku to work on her reading. With the long lines and surprise lessons from Gen and Ukyo, it was looking unlikely that they would join back with the group until lunch. Xeno reached into his leather tote bag holding his research papers and blueprint ideas to take out his cell phone. While they have yet to reinvent the modern smart phone, they did manage to bring the mobile phones down to the size of the early Nokia models from the early 90’s. He sent Stanley updates on their location as they moved on.
Taiju slowed down a bit to walk closer to Xeno. “Hey, Dr. X?” Xeno didn’t look up. “Yes, Taiju? Something on your mind?” Taiju hesitated for a moment, almost looking nervous to bring up the topic. Taiju’s outgoing nature made him rarely hesitate to state or ask anything. With Xeno’s interest now slightly raised, he lifted his neutral gaze and raised an eyebrow at the normally loud young man walking beside him.
Taiju started back up,”I was just wondering, you haven’t gone on a single ride with us!”
‘Ah, so it begins. Well, I’m surprised I got away for this long without being questioned.’ Xeno braced himself for the incoming interrogation.
Taiju continues in a louder volume, “I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT’S NOT BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU’RE TOO OLD TO HAVE FUN!”
Xeno’s eye twitches from complete bafflement. Meanwhile, Senku burst out into a hysterical laughing fit.
Taiju carries on with his spiel despite Xeno’s obvious look of bewilderment. Somehow getting louder with every word. “YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO ENJOY A THEME PARK, DR. XENO!” Taiju grabs both of Xeno’s shoulders forcing him to face the now teary eyed Taiju. “SO, PLEASE, YOU DESERVE TO HAVE FUN TOO!” Taiju and Suika were now close to sobbing. Chrome was failing to hide his snickering. And Senku has long since fallen to the ground curling in on himself from his fit of laughter.
Ryusui is the only one to remain unfazed by Taiju’s sudden emotional outburst. “Well said Taiju! Nanami Park is meant to be enjoyed by people of all ages!”
Xeno.exe has stopped responding. Please reboot…
After Senku managed to catch his breath, he got back on his feet to speak up. “Heh heh heh, nah. Don't get me wrong, Doc's old as Hell, but the only reason he's staying grounded is ‘cause he's scared.” Senku's already smug look grew wider.
Reboot complete.
Xeno calmly but firmly removes Taiju’s grip on his shoulders. Looking away with ears slightly turning red. “First of all, I am no more than 10 years older than you.” He turns to glare directly at Senku. “And lastly, I see no reason to bring up my healthy aversion to roller coasters. I have no desire to endure any of these future disasters. And I am more than happy to get some work done instead.”
Chrome perked up, “Wait, so Senku’s right? You're afraid of roller coasters? Even after EVERYTHING we've all been through, coasters are where you draw the line?”
Xeno refrains from speaking, electing to keep glaring at the unconcerned man with green onions instead of hair. Senku doesn't return Xeno's stare and instead turns to Chrome.
“Nope, it's not veloxrotaphobia. If he had a specific fear of roller coasters he'd never step within 20 meters of a park entrance, let alone, get close to the rides.”
“AH HA!” Ryusui snaps, still leading the group to the next destination. He glanced over his shoulder at the group. “A fear of heights then!”
Xeno's patience was dwindling at an alarming rate. “If you all are going to talk about me, at least have the courtesy of waiting until I am not in range to hear every word!”
Senku picks ear clearly enjoying the guessing game he started. “If that was the case, he would've had a panic attack when we were crossing the Andes years ago by ropeway. So we can rule out acrophobia.”
Suika came in with her own guess, “Maybe he has a fear of going super fast.”
‘Is this how the dead feel? If ghosts did exist, I’ll be sure to ask them before harvesting their energy for a future powersource.’ Xeno makes a mental note to himself.
Senku smiled at Suika. “Good hypothesis but we run into the same problem with a different situation. He would've been way more freaked out when we were riding our makeshift motorcycles.” He crossed his arms “And now we know he wasn't just calm. He was lucid enough to blink morse code while tied to the back of a bike going over 80 kph. So, it's definitely not tachophobia.”
Xeno rolled his eyes and went back to texting Stanley their location. He knows that look in Senku’s mischievous eyes too well. He's trying to provoke him. From the sound of it, Senku has already deduced what his (very reasonable) fear is. And if not, he has a good idea on what it would be. Well, Xeno was not going to play Senku's childish game. His phobia has never interfered with his work or daily life, and he knows exactly how to avoid the triggers. It doesn't need to be confronted.
He looked around the area to give Stanley a recognizable landmark, he felt a chill run up his spine.
Senku's smile turned sinister when he saw Xeno staring at the man-made waterfall. Adding this piece of evidence to his working hypothesis. But he still needed more data.
Ryusui noticed Xeno’s stare as well. “I see you found our next stop! THAT’S RIGHT! WE REBUILT SPLASH MOUNTAIN!” He opened his arms in a grandiose gesture towards the famous Disneyland drop water coaster and a log full of people screamed in joy falling into the lower unseen river. Xeno’s eyes followed them down as he questioned why anyone with a sane mind would volunteer themselves to that torture.
Chrome ran up to the low fence railing to try and get a better look at the mountain. “It looks smaller than the last rides we’ve been on. Why even bother with this one?”
Ryusui gave a hearty laugh “HA HA! True, but this is part of a lot of people’s childhood memories. INCLUDING MINE! How could I not add this to our roster?” He looked at Senku sharing a knowing grin with him then turned towards the shaky scientist. “In fact, since it’s smaller than the other coasters we’ve passed, it seems like a great first ride for the doc here!”
Xeno jerked his head in the eccentric billionaire’s direction, aghast by his suggestion.
"Relax old man." Senku smirked while side-eyeing the trembling older scientist, "It's only a 16 meter drop. Or 52 ft and 5 inches in freedom units."
Xeno was well aware that Senku was mocking his failed attempts to move the U.S. to the metric system. It didn't make that comment any less demoralizing. Although, he'd rather endure 100 more meetings with the stubborn bureaucracy of the U.S. than to go on that death trap of a ride. Xeno took a moment to compose himself.
"As I have stated before, I have no desire to experience these ridiculous attractions. You all can go enjoy yourselves and get soaked.” Xeno gestures gracefully with his hand to the burger diner next door to the exit of the ride. "I will secure us a table at the restaurant nearby for when you return. Stanley and the others should be back by the time you join me at the table."
Xeno turned in the direction of the restaurant ready to do just as he promised when Ryusui grabbed him by the shoulder from behind, stopping Xeno in his tracks.
"No way you're skipping out on us again! You're missing out on some unforgettable thrills!"
"Yeah! You're missing so much! It feels like you're floating off your seat a bit when you go down!" Chrome added, "It's so BAD!"
Xeno tries to fight back a shiver from the image Chrome described.
"DON'T WORRY! YOU'RE NEVER TOO OLD TO ENJOY A ROLLER COASTER!" Taiju optimistically stated.
After ignoring the, admittedly wellmeaning, statement involving his age, Xeno was ready to correct Taiju by informing him there is, in fact, an upper age limit for rides like these to avoid health risks. His train of thought was derailed by Senku's contribution to the conversation.
"And, hey, if the worst happens, we can always get Why-Man to fix any broken bones later."
'How reassuring' Xeno thought sardonically to himself.
"Plus, Suika was looking forward to going on at least one ride with everyone with her. Do you really wanna disappoint Suika on her birthday?" Senku feigned a sorrowful look directed at Xeno.
Xeno returned Senku's guilt provoking act with disdain. 'That is cheating, Ishigami' he squinted his eyes and furrowed his brows at the young smug scientist. Giving an unspoken promise of retribution.
Xeno feels two gentle hands grasping his hand. He looks down to see Suika looking up at him with sincerity.
"Please, Dr. Xeno?" She pleads with a hopeful smile and big wet eyes. "Ryusui told me there's a camera on this ride. I'd love to have a picture of all of us having fun together."
Xeno was internally screaming.
He reluctantly looked back up at the artificial waterfall. An eye twitched. He watched in horror as another log filled with screaming victims fell to the unseen water below. Every molecule in his body was shrieking at him to run as he desperately clung to the math telling him the fall will only last 2.6 seconds. 'Why was it getting harder to stand?' He wondered. He was not the small child like he was before. He’s an ex-NASA scientist, started wars, been kidnapped, traveled the world, faced the threat of a species of powerful alien parasite, and in the mists of assisting in building a time machine! Surely, he has the maturity and mental fortitude to withstand a simple fear.
Xeno closed his eyes and took a deep breath in before looking back at the group.
"Very well."
Chrome and Taiju's smiles grew ear to ear looking at each other with glee. Senku crossed his arms and tilted his head and gave Xeno a look of approval. And Suika was giddy, hopping up and down while she clapped her hands cheering for the decision. Before Xeno could release his breath, Ryusui pulled him into a side hug. His arm tightly wrapped around Xeno's shoulder.
"HA HA! I KNEW YOU HAD IT IN YOU! Francois, take the good doctor's bag!"
Francois seemingly appeared out of nowhere with a polite bow.
"With great pride Lord Ryusui."
Francois reached their hands to Xeno ready to watch over Xeno's important belongings. Xeno tentatively lifted the tote bag to Francois. The exchange would've been complete if it wasn't for Xeno's death grip on the handles. Eventually, Francois won the tug-of-war, their gracious smile never flinching.
"I will look after your belongings with great care." Francois said while giving a half bow.
Xeno looked longing at his last anchor to the ground as it was ripped away from him.
"P-perhaps we should wait for Stanley and the other to join-"
But Xeno couldn't finish his sentence as he was being pulled towards the entrance of Slash Mountain by Ryusui's vice grip around his arm. Ryusui released a loud snap with his free hand and spoke.
"There's no time to waste! If we wait any longer the line will be over an hour long!"
Senku walked beside them, casually picking his ear.
"Heh, plus the ride can only fit 6 of us." Senku freed his ear and gave a half hearted shrug. "So, even if we waited, the staff wouldn't be able to fit all of us on a single log".
And just like that, Xeno's last hope for stability was incinerated before his eyes as he was dragged to the gates of his own personal hell.
Notes:
I'm sure it's going to be fine :)