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Honestly, Gen was probably Ukyo's best friend in the stone world. He might've even been the best friend he's ever had. Even counting the ones before the petrification, not that he had very many.
He had a few during his time in service, but they were more friends of circumstance. He wasn't sure he would've gotten along with them if they weren't all literally stuck in a submarine together. But he liked to think that even if he had met Gen before the petrification, that they would've still been friends.
He knew Gen didn't have many back then, the fame at such a young age isolating him from his peers. And while he was sure that Senku was Gen's first true friend, Ukyo thought that Gen's feelings for the man forced him to view their relationship as something a bit past the stage of friendship, leaving him in the spot of best friend. But that was just fine with him. It was a spot he was honored to be in.
They honestly had a lot in common. They were both smart, mature, and had a similar sense of humor. And for all Gen's talk of being shallow and selfish, he was actually very kind and thoughtful behind his devious facade. Ukyo was honestly very fond of him. His hearing and perceptiveness helped him to see a side of Gen that not many others had the chance to view. The sweet, almost bashful side Gen liked to pretend didn't exist. The kindness that made Ukyo hang around him in the first place. There was little Ukyo wouldn't do for Gen, even without any of his manipulation tactics.
That was why, when the mentalist showed up yesterday proposing a plan to help them both with the other thing they had in common, Ukyo trusted his friend enough to go through with it.
He was starting to regret that now though, because even if they did have similar tastes in skilled, ambitious, horribly oblivious men, they might've underestimated just how idiotic their beloved prodigies could be when provoked.
“Ukyo-chan is so capable!” Gen fawned, hanging off of Ukyo's arm like some sort of crazed fan. Ukyo personally thought he was milking it a bit, but Gen was the expert mentalist here, so he endured it and played along.
With his signature soft smile he replied, “Well, hunting is a bit easier with archery. And even though I don't like hurting animals much, we need to eat.” He replied, bashfully.
It was precisely because Gen was his best friend that he was struggling so much to execute this plan properly. It was simple enough on paper. Flirt with each other to make the objects of their affection jealous enough to finally notice them.
Even without being a mentalist, Ukyo understood the idea. But Ukyo looked at Gen and saw Gen. His best friend. The silly flower picking magician who loved to perform. The man who still practiced his tricks, if only to show them to the village children in hopes of brightening their day. The man whose entire career was based on the premise of making others happy. The man who had, just a few days ago, spent hours pinning and whining to him about how much he dreamed of even holding hands with his beloved Senku-chan.
And while Ukyo definitely felt fondness, and even love for his friend, it certainly wasn't of the romantic variety. Trying to flirt with Gen felt like how he imagined it'd be to try and flirt with a puppy. They were certainly cute, sure. But why would anyone ever do that?
Still though, Gen being the excellent actor he was, seemed to have no such trouble flirting with his best friend as he continued his barrage of compliments, “So noble, Ukyo-chan! Always putting aside your feelings for us! It's not air-fay! No one appreciates you enough!”
You could say that again. Gen better be grateful he was going along with this plan. He tried to keep the grimace off his face as the younger man rubbed his cheek against his neck, hands wrapped around his arm in some strange, one sided version of a hug.
This was his own fault, he just had to go and fall in love with a greedy, selfish, charming idiot like Ryusui. The same greedy selfish charming idiot who was finally noticing what was going on, if the stutter in his breathing was any indication… and what was with that look on his face?
Huh. Maybe Gen was actually onto something. And why did that feel so good? Maybe he could do this. If only out of sheer spite for the idiot he actually had fallen in love with. He channelled his inner actor and replied.
“Well you're one to talk, Gen.” At the sharp look in Senku's eye, he steeled his nerves. He tried to suppress his smirk as he slipped his arm around the mentalist's waist. Ah, there it was, now they had both of their idiot crushes' attention.
“If anyone's underappreciated here, it's you.” He continued with what he hoped was his most lovestruck smile. “The others may not notice it, but I do. I hear how hard you work, Gen, and I want you to know ...I appreciate you. Honestly, I think you're incredible.” Wow. Maybe he had a shot in acting after all. Well, it's not like what he was saying wasn't true, but to say it in such a lovestruck tone, was he a natural or what?
But of course Gen had to show him up, bringing tears to his eyes and a wobble to his voice– okay now he was really overdoing it, as he replied, “Oh, Ukyo-chan. I don't think anyone's ever told me that before! And coming from someone I admire so much… W–What is this feeling I'm feeling in my heart?” And of course Gen, the scoundrel that he was, had somehow actually found a way to make his own heart race as he said it. Why would he need to do that? The only person that could tell was him? He internally rolled his eyes at the sheer levels of dramaticness displayed by his friend. Honestly Gen, we get it, you're a mentalist. I already know you're the best, you don't need to show off. He thought to himself, wryly.
He had to admit, though, Gen's theatrics were getting results. He could hear Senku's heartbeat skyrocketing to a mile a minute, and Ryusui wasn't faring much better.
He pulled his cap down over his face. He couldn't exactly blush on command like Gen apparently could, but he figured he'd use a little mental trick of his own and make the others think he was hiding his non-existent blush.
It was only because he was this close, that he could see Gen smile wickedly when he caught onto Ukyo's trick. He could tell his friend was proud.
The pride didn't last long though, as both of them were startled into stillness by the volume of Ryusui's demand.
The captain turned towards a slightly pale Senku, grabbed his shoulder in one hand and snapped with the other. “Haha! Senku! Tell your mentalist to stop seducing my beloved!”
Beloved!? One little ruse with Gen was all it took to be promoted from sonarman to beloved? So this is why they were best friends. He would never doubt the mentalist ever again.
“Seducing?!? If anyone's being seduced here it's Gen! Ukyo never acts like that.”
Ukyo was honestly a bit touched that Senku knew what his normal behavior was. The two didn't hang out often, and Senku wasn't exactly known for his emotional observantness. Maybe he underestimated their closeness. If he hadn't already approved of him for Gen before, he certainly did now.
“Ha! As if. My dear Ukyo knows Gen's heart belongs to another. He would never be so dishonorable as to try and steal him away.”
Okay so even Ryusui knew Gen had a thing for Senku? When did that happen? And what? He could see it in Gen but not in himself? How much more obvious did Ukyo need to be?
“And Gen would?”
Attaboy Senku, defend your man's honor. But also. …Was he not going to deny what Ryusui said at all? Who does he think Gen's heart belonged to? Seriously, why did they have to fall for the two densest idiots in the stone world?
“Well as endearing and lovable as our friend is, honorable isn't exactly one of the words I'd use to describe him.”
That wasn't very nice. Fighting for Ukyo's honor was one thing, but this was a step too far. Why did he fall in love with this idiot again?
“How dare you! Gen's just as honorable as any of us. He's put his life on the line for us plenty of times! He wouldn't betray anyone here!”
Oh man, Senku's heart was beating really fast. If those two didn't get it together soon, they might just have to pause this charade if only to break up the world's most tragically one-sided fight.
“That may be so, but then how do you explain that!” He gestured broadly at the display before them.
The display of Gen shamelessly pressed up against Ukyo's chest, arms hooked around his neck, staring at his lips deviously.
Huh. When did that happen? Okay maybe Ryusui had a point. Too far, Gen! Dial it back.
Ukyo gently pulled the mentalist a bit away, about to tell him it was probably time to call it off. But before he could open his mouth, he caught sight of Ryusui rushing towards them determinedly.
He had about two seconds to irrationally fear for Gen's life before the captain was in front of them and gently, thankfully, but also forcefully, grabbed Gen and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He then proceeded to carry him, like a cat who got caught in his neighbor's yard, back over to a dumbfounded Senku.
It looked like even the all knowing mentalist hadn't predicted that happening, as his only reaction was to go limp with a genuine startled yelp. Once he was back on the ground, it seemed their resident smooth talker for once, had no words. He simply stared at Ryusui with his usual innocent smile.
Ryusui patted him on the head like some sort of misbehaving pet, and turned towards Senku with a stern look and a grumbled, “Keep a better eye on him.” Not even acknowledging Gen! Was he seriously getting out of this scott free? How does he do this? At this point it went past the line of impressive and to the point of slightly terrifying. Honestly what had his life become?
Before he could blink, Ryusui was in front of him again and once again he was stunned by that firm, passionate gaze. “If you wanted to get my attention, you have. I admit it, I want you. Please be mine.”
It seemed somehow Gen's plan had partially worked, spurring Ryusui into a confession. He wasn't sure how to respond though, he honestly didn't think they'd get this far. Thus, with no words in his mind to say, he leaned up and gave the incredibly nervous looking man a gentle kiss, hoping that would be enough of an answer for him.
“Haha!” His captain replied, face almost as red as his outfit. “This calls for celebration! You wait here, I'm going to find some alcohol!” He exclaimed as he ran away. Sure alcohol could be nice, but Ukyo suspected he was just fleeing because he was flustered. Cute.
With the adrenaline of all of that stress finally leaving his body, Ukyo took a seat in the grass and listened to an interesting conversation quietly happening off to the side of him.
“Mentalist, what in the world were you doing?”
“Relax, Senku-chan, you know my heart only belongs to you~ Don't you trust me?”
“Well of course, but your little trick almost got me ten billion percent pummeled by Ryusui.”
“Well, I didn't expect you to defend my honor so diligently. Wasn't that ten billion ercent-pay illogical of you?”
“Tch” was the last he heard of the two as Senku grabbed Gen's hand and dragged him away.
Oh. Huh.
Were Gen and Senku already…? When did that happen? It had to have been incredibly recent. Gen was just whining about how single he was last week! And if they were already together, then what was the point of all this?! Had Gen really just done all of that for his sake? He was finally no longer single so he wouldn't allow his friend to be either?
Well, he guessed he couldn't be upset at his friend’s deceit, it had helped him out in the end. But did he have to be such a sneaky little brat about it? Surely there was an easier way?
Whatever, let him have his fun, it didn't really matter much now. Not when Ryusui was running back, alcohol and glasses in hand, face still faintly flushed.
And as he held Ryusui's hand in his, pulling his cap down with the other to hide the real blushing of his face, he found that he didn't really care about how they got here. Even if it did involve a frankly obscene amount of manipulation. Ukyo was really lucky to have such a tricky, “shallow” mentalist as a best friend.