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Chapter Text

You were seven years old when you first met Senku Ishigami, and nothing would ever be the same again.

It was a crisp autumn morning, the kind where the air feels clean enough to bite into, and your mom had finally—finally—agreed to take you to the science museum after weeks of you screeching about it at random intervals throughout the day. Some might call it pestering, but you preferred to think of it as "strategic persistence."

"Remember what we talked about?" your mom said as she parallel parked with the precision of a NASA rover landing. "Inside voice. Walking feet. No licking the exhibits."

"That was ONE TIME," you protested, already unbuckling your seatbelt and vibrating with excitement. "And how was I supposed to know you couldn't taste a meteorite? It's literally from space! What if space tastes like cotton candy? We'll never know because of society's RULES."

Your mom sighed, the sound of a woman who had long since accepted her fate as the parent of a tiny chaos gremlin. "Just... try not to get us banned this time."

"No promises!" you chirped, already halfway out of the car.

The Tokyo Science Museum was EVERYTHING. Glass and steel and promises of knowledge that made your little heart race. You'd been obsessing over space lately—specifically stars and how they exploded and died dramatic deaths, which was metal as heck. Your room was plastered with glow-in-the-dark stars, and you'd named each one after various snacks you liked.

As your mom paid for tickets, you bounced on your toes, scanning the massive entrance hall with its hanging model planets and interactive displays. That's when you spotted him—a boy about your age with the most ridiculous hair you'd ever seen. It stuck straight up like he'd been electrocuted, white with green tips like some kind of human science experiment.

He was standing in front of an exhibit about the solar system, hands in his pockets, looking at it with an intensity that seemed way too serious for a kid. He wasn't even pressing the buttons! What kind of monster goes to a museum and doesn't press all the buttons?

Your mom was deep in conversation with the ticket person about upcoming exhibits, so naturally, you did what any reasonable child would do—you abandoned ship and made a beeline for Weird Hair Boy.

You slid to a stop beside him, nearly toppling over in your light-up sneakers.

"Your hair looks like a radish," you announced by way of greeting.

The boy didn't even flinch. He just turned slowly toward you, one eyebrow raising a fraction. "It's leek-shaped, actually."

You squinted at him. "Nope. Definitely radish. I'm right, you're wrong, and that's just science."

That got a reaction—the tiniest twitch of his lips. "That's not how science works at all."

"Uh, yeah it is. I'm wearing a shirt with a dinosaur on it, so I'm basically a scientist," you said, gesturing to your T-Rex shirt that read 'CLEVER GIRL' in sparkly letters. "What's your name, Radish Boy?"

"Senku. Senku Ishigami." He turned fully toward you now, assessing you like you were some kind of unusual specimen. "And you are?"

"I'm [Y/N]! Future astronaut, current professional bubble wrap popper, and I can fit sixteen grapes in my mouth at once." You stuck out your hand for a shake, the way adults did in movies.

Senku looked at your hand for a moment—which had a smudged galaxy you'd drawn on it earlier with markers—before giving it a quick, efficient shake. "That's not a particularly useful skill."

"Says you! What if NASA needs someone to eat grapes in space super efficiently? Then who'll be laughing? ME. I will be. In space. With my mouth full of grapes." You turned to the solar system exhibit. "So what are you doing here? Just standing? Menacingly?"

"I'm calculating the accuracy of their orbital representations," he said, like this was a completely normal thing for a seven-year-old to say. "They've simplified it for the public, but it's actually not bad. Ten billion points to them for effort."

You blinked. "Ten billion? That's a lot of points."

"It's my rating scale," he explained, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Cool! I rate things by how likely they'd be to survive the zombie apocalypse." You gestured to a nearby dinosaur skeleton. "Like, that guy? Negative five billion zombie survival points. Already dead once. Would definitely die again."

For the first time, something like actual amusement flickered across Senku's face. "That's... illogical but oddly consistent."

You beamed like he'd just paid you the highest compliment ever. "Thanks! I'm very committed to my craft."

Before Senku could respond, a tall man with dreadlocks and glasses approached, holding a small notebook.

"Senku, I found that information about the upcoming meteor shower we were—" He stopped when he noticed you. "Oh? Who's your new friend?"

"She's not my—" Senku began.

"I'M [Y/N]!" you interrupted, bouncing slightly. "Are you Radish Boy's dad? Your hair is WAY cooler. It's like if spaghetti learned karate."

The man laughed heartily. "I'm Byakuya Ishigami. And yes, I'm Senku's dad." He looked between you two with obvious delight. "Did you come to the museum together?"

"Nope!" you said cheerfully. "I saw him from across the room and decided we should be friends because his hair defies physics and that's pretty awesome."

"It doesn't defy physics," Senku muttered. "It's just—"

"A scientific marvel?" you suggested.

"Genetic," he finished, rolling his eyes.

Byakuya was still grinning. "Well, we're about to check out the space exhibition upstairs. Would you like to join us, [Y/N]? With your parents' permission, of course."

Your eyes went wide. "SPACE? Yes! My mom's over there by the tickets looking frazzled and wondering where I went probably!" You pointed toward the entrance where, indeed, your mother was scanning the crowd with increasing panic.

"MOM!" you hollered at top volume, causing several nearby patrons to jump. "I FOUND A RADISH BOY AND HIS SPAGHETTI DAD! CAN I GO SEE SPACE WITH THEM?"

Your mother's head whipped around, her expression cycling from relief to confusion to embarrassment in record time. She hurried over, already forming apologies.

"I am so sorry," she said immediately to Byakuya. "She's... enthusiastic."

"No harm done," Byakuya laughed. "Actually, I was just inviting your daughter to join us in the space exhibition. My son Senku is quite the astronomy buff."

While the adults exchanged pleasantries and parental credentials, you turned back to Senku.

"So, Radish Boy, what's your favorite space thing? Mine's black holes because they're basically cosmic vacuum cleaners and that's hilarious. The universe was like 'I need to tidy up' and invented the most terrifying cleaning appliance ever."

Senku, despite himself, seemed to be warming up to your peculiar brand of chaos. "Pulsars," he answered. "Rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation. They're the most precise timekeepers in the universe."

You nodded sagely, as if you understood all of those words. "So they're like space lighthouses for aliens?"

He opened his mouth, closed it, then conceded, "That's... not entirely inaccurate, actually."

"HA! I'm smart too, just in a feral way." You poked his shoulder. "You're smart in a 'might take over the world someday' way. We should team up. I could be your chaotic general."

"I don't plan on taking over the world," Senku said with a small smirk. "Just advancing science by ten billion percent."

"Same difference," you shrugged. "Ooh, can I help? I'm really good at making things explode. Usually accidentally, but still."

Before Senku could respond (probably to decline your generous offer of accidental explosions), the adults finished their conversation.

"All set!" your mom announced. "We can all go to the space exhibit together."

"YES!" you fist-pumped. "Space adventure with Radish Boy commences!"

"Stop calling me that," Senku muttered, but there was less annoyance in his tone than before.

"Make me," you challenged with a wide grin.

He just sighed, but you caught the ghost of a smile on his face.

As the four of you headed toward the elevators, you chattered non-stop, bouncing around Senku like an overexcited electron.

"Did you know that if you put Saturn in a giant bathtub it would float? I think that's hilarious. Like, imagine a planet just chilling in cosmic bubble bath. Do you think stars make a sound when they explode or is space just really awkward silence? I bet aliens have TikTok but way cooler. Do you have any pets? I have a goldfish named Hypothesis because when I got him I said 'I hypothesize he will live more than three days' and he did! He's still alive! It's been two weeks!"

Byakuya was clearly amused by your stream of consciousness, while your mother wore the thousand-yard stare of someone who endured this energy level 24/7.

Senku, surprisingly, didn't seem overwhelmed. He just kept pace beside you, occasionally correcting your scientific inaccuracies or adding a technical detail you'd completely botched.

"Stars do make something like a sound when they explode, but sound can't travel through the vacuum of space," he explained as you all stepped into the elevator. "And Saturn wouldn't exactly float in a bathtub. Its density is less than water's, but—"

"So I'm right!" you interrupted triumphantly.

"Technically, but—"

"The best kind of right!" You did a little victory dance that involved a lot of elbow movement.

The space exhibit was MAGNIFICENT. The ceiling was painted black with meticulous constellations that glowed under special lighting. Scale models of spacecraft hung from invisible wires, and interactive stations lined the walls. The centerpiece was a massive projection of the solar system, planets slowly orbiting a glowing sun in the middle of the room.

Your eyes were as wide as saucers. "This. Is. EPIC."

You immediately darted toward the nearest interactive display, which allowed visitors to create their own constellations. Senku followed at a more measured pace, hands still in his pockets like some kind of tiny professor.

"Look!" you exclaimed, connecting random stars on the screen. "I made a constellation that looks like a hot dog!"

Senku peered at your creation, head tilted. "That looks nothing like a hot dog. If anything, it's topologically closer to a giraffe with a top hat."

You gasped dramatically. "Even BETTER!" You promptly renamed your constellation from "Cosmic Hot Dog" to "Sir Giraffe of the Void."

For the next hour, you both explored the exhibit, with very different approaches. Senku read every plaque meticulously, absorbed information like a sponge, and occasionally took notes in a small notebook he pulled from his pocket. You, on the other hand, raced from exhibit to exhibit, pushed every button available, and created increasingly bizarre scenarios involving the displays.

"What if the Moon is actually made of cheese but it's really spicy cheese and that's why astronauts wear protective suits?" you proposed while standing in front of a lunar module.

"It's not," Senku said flatly. "We have literal samples of moon rock."

"Yeah, but what if the astronauts just grabbed the non-cheese parts? Strategic cheese avoidance!"

Despite his exasperation, you noticed Senku was sticking close to you. Maybe because you were entertaining, or maybe because he'd never met someone whose brain operated on such a completely different wavelength from his own.

When you reached the meteorite display, your excitement reached new heights.

"Look at this space rock!" you exclaimed, pressing your face against the glass (ignoring your mother's distant cry of "No face-smudging!"). "It's been places we'll never go! It's seen things! It probably has space secrets!"

Senku stepped up beside you, genuinely interested in the iron-nickel meteorite on display. "This one likely came from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The composition suggests—"

"I bet it knows alien gossip," you continued, unabated. "Like which planet is the drama queen of the solar system. It's Neptune, I bet. It's always the quiet ones."

Senku stared at you for a moment, then let out a short laugh—the first real laugh you'd gotten from him. "You're completely ridiculous."

You beamed at him. "Thank you! I try very hard."

"That wasn't exactly a compliment."

"I'm taking it as one anyway. I'm an optimist, Radish Boy."

"Stop calling me that," he said, but with less conviction than before.

You'd made it about three-quarters through the exhibit when you stumbled upon a display about the life cycles of stars. The centerpiece was a dramatic visualization of a supernova—a massive star exploding at the end of its life in a spectacular cosmic light show.

You stood transfixed as the video played on loop, showing a red giant star expanding, then collapsing, then erupting in a blinding explosion that scattered elements across space.

"Whoa," you breathed, uncharacteristically quiet.

Senku glanced at you, seeming surprised by your sudden focus.

"Did you know," he said, "that all the heavy elements in our bodies—like iron in our blood—were created in stars that exploded billions of years ago?"

You turned to him, eyes wide. "So we're made of star explosions?"

"Essentially, yes. Every atom of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and heavier elements was forged in stellar furnaces or during supernovae."

"That's the coolest thing I've ever heard!" Your voice had reached a pitch only dogs should be able to hear. "We're SPACE DUST! We're WALKING STAR GUTS!"

Several nearby museum patrons looked alarmed, but Senku just nodded, seeming pleased by your enthusiasm, if not your volume.

"The universe created the elements, the elements created us, and now we're studying the universe," he said. "It's a perfect scientific cycle."

You stood there, mind thoroughly blown, staring up at the supernova simulation with newfound appreciation. For once, you were silent, just taking it all in.

After several moments, you spoke again, your voice uncharacteristically thoughtful. "Hey, Senku?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm going to build a rocket someday and go see a star up close. Wanna come?"

He smirked. "You can't get close to a star without being incinerated. Even with our most advanced technology, we can barely send probes to study our own sun from a safe distance."

"Details, details," you waved dismissively. "I'll figure it out. I'll build a super-special spaceship with, like, super-cooling technology or something."

Instead of shooting down your idea again, Senku surprised you. "If anyone could figure out how to do the impossible through sheer stubborn determination, it might be you."

Your jaw dropped. "Was that... a compliment? From THE Radish Boy? Am I dying? Is this the afterlife?"

"Don't make me regret it," he muttered, turning back to the display.

"Too late! No take-backs! You think I'm awesome and now we're best friends forever!" You did a little dance that involved finger guns and hip wiggles.

"I never said any of that."

"It was heavily implied!"

Your banter was interrupted by Byakuya, who approached with your mother. "You two seem to be getting along well! There's a demonstration about rocket propulsion starting in five minutes in the workshop area. Interested?"

"ROCKETS?" you screeched, jumping up and down. "Yes! Yes! A million times yes!"

"They're probably just going to launch baking soda rockets," Senku said, but he looked interested nonetheless.

"Even baby rockets deserve our respect and admiration," you said solemnly, before grabbing his wrist. "Come on! If we get there first, we get the best seats!"

Before Senku could protest, you were dragging him across the exhibit, your mother calling after you, "Walking feet, [Y/N]! WALKING FEET!"

The rocket demonstration was indeed just baking soda and vinegar rockets, but the science educator conducting the demonstration made it engaging, explaining the chemical reaction and the principles of propulsion in kid-friendly terms.

You and Senku sat in the front row—well, you sat for approximately thirty seconds before you were kneeling on your chair, then standing beside it, then sitting cross-legged on the floor right at the edge of the demonstration area, shifting positions every minute like a tiny perpetual motion machine.

When the educator asked for volunteers, your hand shot up so fast you nearly dislocated your shoulder. "ME! PICK ME! I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE!"

The educator, a young woman with a patient smile, gestured for you to come forward. "Alright, enthusiastic volunteer, come on up!"

You scrambled to the front, vibrating with excitement.

"Now," the educator said, "we need one more volunteer to help. Someone who can follow directions carefully."

Senku raised his hand, and the educator nodded to him. "Perfect! Come on up and join your friend."

As Senku approached, you stage-whispered, "She called you my FRIEND. It's official now. No escaping."

"That's not how friendship works," he muttered.

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is too times infinity."

"That's not even—"

"Alright, team!" the educator interrupted your riveting debate. "Let's build a rocket together. I'm Ms. Nakamura, and you two are...?"

"I'm [Y/N] and this is my new best friend Senku who has radish hair and knows ALL about space and thinks I'm awesome!" you announced in one breath.

Ms. Nakamura blinked. "Well... wonderful! Let's get started."

She guided you both through the process of building a simple rocket using a film canister, baking soda, vinegar, and decorative elements. Senku followed each instruction with precise movements, while you... took creative liberties.

"The fins need to be aerodynamic," Senku advised as you attached star-shaped cutouts at odd angles.

"The fins need to be FABULOUS," you corrected, adding a piece of holographic paper you'd somehow produced from your pocket.

Ms. Nakamura showed remarkable restraint as she watched you embellish your rocket with every available craft supply, creating something that looked less like a rocket and more like a disco ball that had collided with a sticker factory.

Senku's rocket, by contrast, was a model of efficiency and aerodynamic design, with carefully angled fins and minimal decoration.

"Now," Ms. Nakamura explained, "when we combine the baking soda and vinegar inside the sealed canister, it creates carbon dioxide gas. The pressure builds until—POP!—the lid blasts off, propelling our rocket upward!"

"Just like a real chemical reaction propellant system, but much simpler," Senku added knowledgeably.

"Exactly right!" Ms. Nakamura seemed impressed.

"Mine's going to go to the MOON," you declared confidently, despite your rocket now having a paper crown and googly eyes.

When it came time for the launch, Senku's rocket performed exactly as designed, shooting straight up about fifteen feet before arcing gracefully back to the floor.

Your rocket, defying all laws of aerodynamics and possibly several laws of physics, spun in wild corkscrews, ricocheted off a display case, and finally landed on top of a tall bookshelf, where the googly eyes seemed to wink mockingly at the crowd.

There was a moment of silence before you threw your arms up triumphantly. "NEW RECORD! CHAOTIC TRAJECTORY FOR THE WIN!"

The audience broke into laughter and applause—some for Senku's technical prowess, but most for your sheer audacity and the entertainment value of your rogue rocket.

Ms. Nakamura, to her credit, used it as a teaching moment. "And that, everyone, demonstrates how even small variations in design can dramatically affect flight patterns! Thank you to our wonderful volunteers!"

As you returned to your seats, you nudged Senku with your elbow. "My rocket had more personality."

"Your rocket nearly took out someone's eye," he pointed out.

"Exactly! Memorable!"

After the demonstration concluded, the museum was nearing its closing time. As your group headed toward the exit, you felt a strange sense of disappointment. Your time with the fascinating Radish Boy was coming to an end.

In the main hall, as your mother chatted with Byakuya about the exhibit schedule, you turned to Senku with uncharacteristic seriousness.

"This was like, the best day ever at a museum. Usually I just get told to stop licking things."

Senku raised an eyebrow. "You have a concerning fixation with licking inanimate objects."

"How else am I supposed to know what they taste like? Science is about questioning everything, right?"

He sighed. "That's not—actually, in a very twisted way, I see your logic. It's completely unsanitary and potentially dangerous, but there is a kernel of empirical inquiry there."

You beamed. "See? I'm a scientist too! Just a more... hands-on one."

"Tongue-on, you mean."

"EXACTLY!" You pointed at him enthusiastically. "You get me, Radish Boy!"

Before he could correct you again on the nickname, your mother called over. "Time to go, honey! Say goodbye to your new friend."

A cloud passed over your face. "But... but what if I never see Radish Boy again? What if this is our only adventure together? What if the universe cruelly separates us forever and I have to spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been?"

Your mother and Byakuya exchanged amused glances.

"Actually," Byakuya said, "Senku and I come to the museum at least once a month. And we live in Kichijoji. Where are you folks?"

"Musashino," your mother replied. "We're practically neighbors!"

Your eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "We live NEAR each other? This is FATE! The STARS ALIGNED!" You grabbed Senku's shoulders. "Don't you see? The universe wants us to be science buddies!"

Senku carefully removed your hands from his shoulders. "The universe doesn't want anything. It's an unfeeling expanse of space and time."

"That's exactly what the universe would say through you if it was trying to be sneaky about its matchmaking plans," you countered with impeccable logic.

While Senku was processing that particular leap of reasoning, the adults exchanged contact information.

"Maybe we could arrange a playdate sometime," your mother suggested. "It seems like they get along well."

"That would be wonderful," Byakuya agreed. "Senku doesn't have many friends his age who share his interest in science."

"I don't share his interest in science," you objected. "I share his interest in COOL STUFF, which sometimes overlaps with science. Like explosions. And space. And robots."

"That's... science," Senku pointed out.

"No, that's AWESOME," you corrected. "Science is just how you explain the awesome."

Senku opened his mouth to argue, then closed it, seeming to reconsider. "That's... not entirely wrong."

As you all headed for the parking lot, you skipped backwards in front of Senku, unwilling to end the conversation.

"So, what's your favorite element on the periodic table? Mine's mercury because it's shiny and deadly, which is a power move."

"Tungsten," he replied without hesitation. "Highest melting point of any element. Extremely practical for high-temperature applications."

"Of course you'd pick a practical element," you laughed. "You're such a nerd."

"Says the girl who just spent ten minutes explaining her theory that black holes are actually cosmic recycling bins."

"AND YOU COULDN'T PROVE ME WRONG!" you crowed victoriously.

At the parking lot, it was finally time to say goodbye. You looked at Senku with dramatic sorrow.

"Farewell, Radish Boy. May the stars watch over you until we meet again."

He rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile on his lips. "Goodbye, [Y/N]. Try not to lick any electrical outlets before we next meet."

You gasped. "He made a JOKE! Mom! Did you hear that? I've corrupted him already!"

As you climbed into your car, you rolled down the window and called out, "Next time I'll bring my collection of weird rocks that might be from space but are probably just regular rocks I found in the playground!"

"They're definitely just regular rocks," Senku called back.

"PROVE IT!" you shouted as your mom started the car.

The last thing you saw as you pulled away was Senku standing beside his dad, that tiny smirk still on his face as he raised a hand in a casual farewell.

On the drive home, you couldn't stop talking about your new friend.

"—and he knows ALL about stars, Mom! Like, everything! And he has this weird hair but it's actually cool, and he didn't even get mad when my rocket almost hit that old lady, and he said I have 'stubborn determination' which I'm pretty sure means he thinks I'm awesome—"

Your mother smiled in the rearview mirror. "Sounds like you made a real connection."

"He's going to help me go to space someday," you declared with absolute certainty. "Well, first he told me all the reasons I can't go to space the way I want to, but THEN he basically said I might figure it out anyway because I'm stubborn! That's practically a blood oath in boy language."

"Is it now?" your mother chuckled.

"YES. And his dad was super nice too! Can we have that playdate? Please? I promise I won't try to make anything explode this time. Unless Senku wants to. Then all bets are off."

"We'll arrange something," your mother promised. "It's nice to see you so excited about meeting someone who encourages your interest in science."

"He's not encouraging me," you corrected. "He's challenging me. There's a difference. He thinks with his brain, and I think with my chaos. Together, we're UNSTOPPABLE."

That night, as you lay in bed staring up at your glow-in-the-dark stars (now all renamed after elements from the periodic table, with your favorite—the biggest one right above your bed—dubbed "Tungsten" in Senku's honor), you couldn't stop thinking about supernovas.

About how stars lived for billions of years, then died in spectacular explosions that scattered their elements across the universe. Elements that eventually formed planets and oceans and people and radish-haired boys who knew everything about space.

You pressed a hand against your chest, imagining the star stuff inside you—the calcium in your bones, the iron in your blood, the carbon in every cell—all of it born in the heart of a long-dead star.

"I'm made of stars," you whispered to yourself, a delighted grin spreading across your face. "And so is Senku."

It felt important somehow. Significant. Like the beginning of something massive, like your own personal big bang.

You fell asleep dreaming of rockets and supernovas and a boy with ridiculous hair who somehow made perfect sense to you, even when he was telling you that you made no sense at all.

Tomorrow, you decided drowsily as sleep claimed you, you would start planning your next adventure with Radish Boy. Something involving magnets, maybe. Or prisms. Or both!

The possibilities were as infinite as the universe itself.

In your dreams, you and Senku built a spaceship out of household items and flew it all the way to Alpha Centauri, arguing the entire way about whether or not aliens would be impressed by your ability to fit sixteen grapes in your mouth.

(He said no. You said definitely yes. The aliens, when you met them, sided with you. Even in your dreams, you were right and Senku was wrong, and that felt exactly as it should be.)

Chapter Text

Three days, fourteen hours, and twenty-seven minutes after your fateful meeting with Senku (not that you were counting or anything), the phone rang. Your mom answered it in the kitchen while you were busy conducting what you called a "very important experiment" and what any responsible adult would call "making a terrible mess with household ingredients."

You'd mixed together everything in the spice cabinet that was red or orange, added some dish soap, and were now documenting the results in a glitter-covered notebook. Your hypothesis, written in wobbly handwriting with three exclamation points, stated: "If I mix enough stuff together, something COOL will happen!!!"

So far, nothing cool had happened, but you remained optimistic.

"[Y/N]!" your mom called from the kitchen. "That was Mr. Ishigami on the phone. He's invited us over to their place this Saturday for that playdate with Senku. Would you like to go?"

You shot up so fast you knocked over your bowl of spice slurry, which immediately began seeping into the carpet.

"RADISH BOY?!" you shrieked, abandoning your failed science experiment and racing into the kitchen. "YES! YES! A MILLION TRILLION BILLION TIMES YES!"

Your mom winced at the volume but smiled at your enthusiasm. "I thought you might be excited. They live in an apartment not far from—" She suddenly noticed your orange-stained hands and the suspicious wet footprints you'd tracked across the floor. "What did you do to the carpet?"

"Nothing permanent!" you replied with the confidence of someone who had absolutely no idea if something was permanent. "It's for SCIENCE, Mom. Sacrifices must be made in the name of progress."

Your mom closed her eyes and took a deep breath, clearly counting to ten in her head. "We'll discuss your... progress... later. For now, let's talk about Saturday. Mr. Ishigami said Senku has a home laboratory setup. Isn't that cool?"

Your eyes widened to astronomical proportions. "A HOME LAB? Like a REAL scientist? Does he have chemicals and test tubes and things that go BOOM?"

"I certainly hope not that last part," your mom muttered. "But yes, apparently Senku is quite the little scientist. His father said he's even building some sort of rocket."

"A ROCKET?!" Your excitement could no longer be contained within your small body. You began running laps around the kitchen island, arms extended like airplane wings. "Rocket rocket rocket rocket rocket!"

"Indoor voice, please," your mom reminded you automatically, though her tone suggested she had long since accepted this was a losing battle.

"When is Saturday? Is it tomorrow? Why isn't it tomorrow? Can we make it tomorrow? Can we bend the space-time continuum?"

"It's three days away," your mom said, consulting the calendar on the fridge. "And no, we cannot bend the space-time continuum. Not even for playdates."

"Challenge accepted," you whispered ominously before dashing back to your spice experiment, leaving your mom to wonder, not for the first time, how she had produced such a little gremlin.

The next three days passed with excruciating slowness. You filled the time by preparing for your playdate in ways that seemed logical only to you. This included:

• Creating a detailed drawing of what you imagined Senku's lab to look like (featuring lots of green bubbling liquids and at least three friendly lab rats wearing tiny goggles)

• Practicing your "serious science face" in the mirror (which was just your regular face but with your eyebrows scrunched together and your lips pursed dramatically)

• Compiling a list of "Things That Would Be Cool To Explode" (mostly fruits and vegetables, nothing too concerning)

• Gathering your collection of "possibly space rocks but probably just regular rocks" into a special shoebox decorated with aluminum foil to make it look "science-y"

By the time Saturday finally arrived, you were vibrating with such intensity that your mom feared you might actually achieve liftoff.

"Please try to be on your best behavior," she pleaded as you stood in the elevator of Senku's apartment building. "No breaking things, no unauthorized experiments, and absolutely NO licking anything in their home."

"But what if there's something that really, really looks like it needs to be licked?" you asked with complete sincerity.

"Then you resist that urge with every fiber of your being," your mom said firmly.

"I don't think I have those kinds of fibers," you mumbled.

Before your mom could respond to that concerning statement, the elevator doors opened, and you bolted down the hallway, scanning door numbers.

"3-B, 3-B, where's 3-B?" you chanted, skipping along. "AHA!" You stopped in front of the door and immediately began pounding on it with both fists, creating a rhythm that sounded suspiciously like the chorus to "We Will Rock You."

Your mother hurried to catch up. "For goodness' sake, [Y/N], gentle knocking would—"

The door swung open, revealing Byakuya Ishigami's amused face. "I see Hurricane [Y/N] has made landfall," he chuckled. "Come in, come in! Senku's been preparing all morning."

You gasped. "HE HAS? FOR ME?"

"Well, he says he's been preparing an experiment he wants to show you, but between us—" Byakuya lowered his voice conspiratorially, "—I think he's excited to have a friend over. He doesn't do that often."

Your chest puffed up with pride. You were officially a Friend of Senku Ishigami, confirmed by his dad and everything. This was major.

The Ishigami apartment was modest but comfortable, with bookshelves lining almost every wall. But what immediately caught your attention were the science posters, star charts, and what appeared to be hand-drawn diagrams taped up in various places. It looked like the home of people who genuinely loved learning—especially about space.

"Whoa," you breathed, temporarily stunned into using an indoor voice. "Your house is like a library and a museum had a baby."

Byakuya laughed heartily. "What a way to put it! Senku's in his room—straight down the hall, door covered in periodic table stickers. You can't miss it."

"THANK YOU SPAGHETTI DAD!" you shouted, already racing down the hallway with your space rock shoebox clutched tightly to your chest.

Indeed, Senku's door was unmistakable—plastered with scientific posters, stickers, and a hand-drawn sign that read "LABORATORY: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY."

You ignored this clear warning and burst in without knocking. "RADISH BOY! YOUR BEST FRIEND HAS ARRIVED!"

Senku was sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by what looked like the dismantled parts of several household electronics. He looked up, only mildly startled by your dramatic entrance.

"You're not my best friend," he said matter-of-factly, but there was that tiny quirk at the corner of his mouth that you were beginning to recognize as his version of a smile. "And stop calling me Radish Boy."

"I will do neither of those things," you declared, flopping down on the floor across from him. "What are you building? Is it a doomsday device? A mind control ray? A LASER SWORD?"

"It's an electromagnetic projectile launcher," he replied, holding up what looked like a coil of copper wire wrapped around a tube.

You blinked. "So... a gun?"

"Not a gun," he corrected. "It uses electromagnetic force to propel small metal objects. It's based on Faraday's Law of Induction."

"Does it go pew-pew?"

Senku sighed. "No, it doesn't go 'pew-pew.' It makes more of a..." He considered for a moment. "A 'thunk' sound, I guess."

"Thunk is good too," you decided magnanimously. "Oh! I brought you something!" You thrust the foil-covered shoebox toward him with such enthusiasm that you nearly smacked him in the face with it.

Senku leaned back just in time to avoid a shoebox-related injury. "What is it?"

"My space rock collection! You said they were probably just regular rocks, and I said 'prove it,' remember? So here they are! For proving!"

Senku cautiously took the box and opened it, revealing your prized collection: about twenty ordinary-looking rocks of various shapes and sizes, each one labeled with a piece of masking tape bearing names like "Sparkly Dude," "Mr. Pointy," and "Sir Rockington III."

He picked up a particularly unremarkable gray stone labeled "Definitely From Jupiter."

"Where did you find this one?" he asked, examining it with more seriousness than your collection probably deserved.

"Playground. Near the swings. It was CALLING to me," you explained, widening your eyes dramatically. "With its space vibes."

"Space rocks don't emit 'vibes,'" Senku said, but he was still studying the rock. "This is just granite. Common igneous rock. Definitely not from Jupiter."

"Are you one hundred billion percent sure?" you challenged. "Because I was swinging REALLY high when I found it. Like, almost to space high."

"I'm ten billion percent sure," he countered. "Jupiter is a gas giant anyway. It doesn't have rocks like this."

You gasped in genuine shock. "Jupiter is MADE OF GAS? The whole thing? Like, planet-sized farts?"

That startled a real laugh out of Senku—short and almost surprised-sounding, like he wasn't expecting to find you funny. "Not that kind of gas. It's mostly hydrogen and helium. No solid surface like Earth."

"So if I tried to land on Jupiter, I'd just... keep going? Fall right through? That's WILD." Your mind was completely blown by this concept. "Are there any other prank planets I should know about? Is Mars actually made of nougat? Is Saturn's ring a hula hoop?"

"None of the planets are 'pranks,'" Senku said, but he was still smiling slightly. "They just have different compositions based on where they formed in the solar system and their mass."

He continued going through your rock collection, explaining why each one was definitely not from space. Most were common Earth rocks—granite, quartz, limestone—though he did admit that one particularly shiny black stone might be obsidian, which he said was "actually pretty cool" because it formed from rapidly cooled lava.

You accepted his scientific assessment with surprisingly good grace. "So NONE of them are from space? Not even a tiny bit?"

Senku considered this. "Well, technically, all matter on Earth originally came from space. Elements were formed in stars and supernovae, remember? So in the broadest sense, your rocks are 'space rocks' just like everything else on our planet."

Your face lit up like someone had flipped an internal switch. "YES! I KNEW IT! I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG!" You jumped to your feet and did a victory dance that involved a lot of spinning and finger-pointing. "IN YOUR FACE, SCIENCE BOY! MY SPACE ROCKS ARE SPACE ROCKS!"

"That's not—" Senku began, then just shook his head. "You know what? Fine. By that definition, you win."

"I always do," you said cheerfully, sitting back down. "So what's this thingy you're building again? The electromagnetic... thing."

"Electromagnetic projectile launcher," Senku repeated, seeming grateful for the return to scientific topics. "Want to help me finish it?"

Your eyes widened. "You're letting ME touch your science stuff? For real?"

"Just don't break anything," he warned. "And follow my instructions exactly."

"I will be PRECISION ITSELF," you promised, already reaching for a component.

Senku quickly intercepted your hand. "First, safety goggles." He handed you a pair of what looked like swimming goggles. "And gloves." He passed you some rubber dishwashing gloves that were comically large on your small hands.

"I look like a mutant frog scientist!" you declared, admiring your reflection in a small mirror on Senku's desk.

"Better than looking like someone who lost an eye from improper lab safety," he replied pragmatically.

For the next hour, you actually managed to focus reasonably well, following Senku's instructions as he guided you through helping him complete his project. He explained each step with surprising patience, and you found yourself genuinely interested in understanding how it worked.

"So the electricity makes a magnetic field," you repeated back to him as you helped wind copper wire around a plastic tube. "And the magnetic field makes the metal go zoom?"

"That's... an extremely simplified version, but yes," Senku nodded. "When we connect the power source, current flows through these coils, creating a magnetic field that propels the metal projectile through the tube."

"Like a super-fancy spit wad shooter," you observed.

Senku looked like he wanted to object to this characterization but then shrugged. "Functionally... yeah, kind of."

When you finished the final assembly, Senku carefully connected a battery pack. "Ready for the test?"

"I WAS BORN READY!" you exclaimed, bouncing on your knees. "What are we shooting? Please say watermelons. I really want to shoot a watermelon."

"We're starting with something small," Senku said, holding up a small steel ball bearing. "Less chance of property damage."

"Boring but sensible," you conceded. "Can we work our way up to watermelons eventually?"

"Let's see if it works at all first," Senku said, placing the ball bearing at one end of the tube. He aimed the device at a stack of pillows he'd arranged against his closet door. "Stand back a bit."

You scooted back, vibrating with excitement. "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" you shouted, covering your ears dramatically.

Senku pressed a button, and with a sound that was indeed very much like "thunk," the ball bearing shot out of the tube and hit the pillow stack with impressive force.

Your jaw dropped. "THAT WAS AWESOME! Again! Again!"

Senku was grinning now, clearly pleased with the successful test. "It worked perfectly! The magnetic field accelerated the ball bearing to approximately—"

"Less math, more shooting!" you interrupted, already scrambling to retrieve the ball bearing from the pillows.

You spent the next twenty minutes testing the electromagnetic launcher with various small metal objects: paper clips, washers, and even a small spoon (which didn't work very well but made a hilarious clattering sound as it wobbled out of the tube).

"This is the COOLEST thing I've ever seen," you declared, watching Senku make some adjustments to increase the power. "You're like a tiny evil genius, but not evil. Just genius-y."

"It's just basic electromagnetic principles," Senku said modestly, though you could tell he was pleased by your enthusiasm. "Anyone could build this with the right materials and understanding of the physics involved."

"Nu-uh," you disagreed. "My other friends can barely build Lego sets without eating the pieces. You're on a whole other level, Radish Boy."

Before Senku could object to the nickname for the dozenth time, there was a knock at the bedroom door.

"How's it going in there?" Byakuya called. "No explosions yet? All limbs intact?"

"We're fine, Dad," Senku called back. "The electromagnetic launcher is functioning with 87% efficiency."

"Only 87%?" Byakuya teased as he opened the door. "Slipping, aren't you?"

"We'll reach at least 92% after I adjust the coil spacing," Senku replied seriously.

Byakuya laughed. "Well, pause your experiments for now. Lunch is ready, and [Y/N]'s mom brought some delicious-looking cookies for dessert."

"COOKIES!" you shouted, lab safety immediately forgotten as you yanked off your goggles, leaving a perfect ring-shaped mark around your eyes. "What kind? Please say chocolate chip. PLEASE SAY CHOCOLATE CHIP!"

"Some are chocolate chip," Byakuya confirmed, "and some are—"

"DON'T CARE ABOUT THE OTHERS!" You were already halfway out the door. "CHOCOLATE CHIP SUPREMACY!"

You heard Senku sigh behind you, followed by his methodical removal of his own safety gear before following at a more reasonable pace.

Lunch was laid out on the living room coffee table—sandwiches, fruit, and vegetables arranged neatly on plates. Your mom was sitting on the couch, chatting with Byakuya about neighborhood parks.

"Mom! Mom! Mom!" You launched yourself onto the couch beside her. "Senku built an electromagnetic thing that shoots metal! It made a spoon go all wobbly through the air! It was MAGNIFICENT!"

Your mom raised an eyebrow at Byakuya. "Should I be concerned?"

"It's perfectly safe," Byakuya assured her. "Senku is very careful with his experiments. I make sure of it."

"It's just a simple application of Faraday's Law," Senku explained as he took a seat at the table. "Low voltage, minimal risk."

"I see," your mom said, clearly not seeing at all but trusting the adults in the room knew what they were doing. "Well, it sounds like you two are having fun."

"SO MUCH FUN!" you confirmed, grabbing a sandwich and taking an enormous bite. Through a mouthful of food, you continued, "Senku ish sho shmarf, Mom. He knew all my rocksh weren't from shpace."

"Don't talk with your mouth full, honey," your mom reminded you.

You made a great show of chewing and swallowing before continuing. "BUT! He also said that technically ALL rocks are space rocks because everything came from exploded stars, so I WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG!"

"That's not exactly—" Senku began.

"Shh!" you cut him off. "Let me have this victory, Radish Boy."

Byakuya chuckled. "You know, [Y/N], you're the only person I've ever seen get away with calling him that."

"It's because she doesn't listen when I tell her to stop," Senku grumbled, but without any real annoyance.

"It's because I'm PERSISTENT," you corrected proudly. "Mom says I'm like a force of nature. Right, Mom?"

"I believe my exact words were 'like trying to argue with a hurricane,'" your mom clarified with a smile.

Lunch continued with you chattering non-stop about everything from the electromagnetic launcher to your theory that squirrels were secretly organizing to overthrow the government ("They have the numbers, Senku! And the tactical advantage of height!"). Senku mostly ate quietly, occasionally correcting your wilder scientific inaccuracies or asking Byakuya to pass the fruit plate.

After devouring two chocolate chip cookies in record time (and one sugar cookie that you deemed "acceptable but inferior"), you turned to Byakuya with wide, pleading eyes.

"Mr. Spaghetti Dad, sir," you began formally, "Senku mentioned something about a rocket he's building? Could we possibly, maybe, pretty please with science on top, see it?"

Byakuya laughed at the nickname. "The rocket? Well, it's out on the balcony. I suppose if Senku wants to show you—"

"It's not finished," Senku interjected. "The fuel mixture still needs refinement, and the stabilizing fins aren't properly calibrated yet."

"I don't know what any of those words mean in that order, but I NEED to see this rocket," you declared, already bouncing in your seat. "Please? I promise I won't touch it without permission. Scout's honor!" You held up a hand sign that was definitely not the Scout's salute.

"You're not a Scout," Senku pointed out.

"My honor still counts!"

Senku looked at you skeptically for a moment, then sighed in resignation. "Fine. But seriously, don't touch anything without asking first."

"YESSSSS!" You punched the air victoriously. "Rocket time! Rocket time!"

The balcony was small but had enough room for a little table where Senku's rocket project sat. It was about two feet tall, made from what looked like PVC pipe with handcrafted fins attached to the bottom and a cone-shaped top. Various instruments and wires were connected to it, leading to a small control box.

"This. Is. EPIC." You circled the table slowly, taking in every detail of the rocket with wide-eyed wonder. "Did you build this ALL BY YOURSELF?"

"Dad helped with some of the power tools," Senku admitted. "But I designed it and assembled most of it."

"What does it do? How high can it go? Can it reach space? Can it carry passengers? Like, hamster-sized passengers? Or action figure passengers? Please tell me you're planning to send an action figure to space!"

Senku waited patiently for your barrage of questions to subside. "It's designed to reach approximately 300 meters height. No, it can't reach space—orbital velocity requires speeds of about 7.8 kilometers per second, which this small solid-fuel rocket can't possibly achieve. And no, I'm not wasting payload capacity on action figures."

"Not even tiny ones? Like, really really tiny ones?"

"The payload will be scientific instruments," Senku explained. "A small camera, atmospheric sensors, and a GPS tracker so we can recover it after landing."

You nodded sagely, as if this all made perfect sense to you. "So when do we launch it? Today? Right now? In the next five minutes?"

"Not today," Senku said. "Like I said, it's not finished. The fuel mixture needs more testing, and I'm still working on the recovery system."

"What's a recovery system?" you asked, genuinely curious.

"A parachute that deploys when the rocket reaches maximum altitude," Senku explained. "So it doesn't just crash into the ground at high speed."

"SMART," you acknowledged. "Very smart. I would have forgotten that part and ended up with rocket splinters everywhere."

The adults, who had followed you onto the balcony, looked amused by your conversation.

"Senku's been working on this project for months," Byakuya said proudly. "He's methodical—doesn't rush to the fun part until all the calculations check out."

"I'm the opposite!" you announced cheerfully. "I skip straight to the fun part and deal with the consequences later. That's why I have a scar shaped like Florida on my knee!" You pulled up your pant leg to proudly display said scar.

"Different approaches to problem-solving," your mom said diplomatically. "Both valid in their own way."

"Although one tends to result in fewer trips to the emergency room," Byakuya added with a wink.

You spent another fifteen minutes on the balcony, with Senku explaining various rocket components while you alternated between asking surprisingly insightful questions and completely off-the-wall ones ("If you painted flames on the side, would it go faster? That works for cars in movies!").

Eventually, you all returned inside, and Byakuya suggested playing a board game to round out the playdate.

"I have just the thing," he said, pulling a box from a shelf. "Cosmic Explorers—it's a space exploration strategy game."

"SPACE GAME!" you exclaimed, immediately on board. "I call the alien pieces!"

The game turned out to be fairly complex, involving resource management, exploration, and strategic planning—all set against the backdrop of interstellar travel. Your mom looked slightly intimidated by the rulebook's thickness, but you dove in without hesitation.

"So I can either mine asteroids for minerals or establish a colony on this pink planet?" you asked, studying the board intently.

"Yes, but colonies require more resources to maintain," Senku pointed out. "Asteroid mining is more efficient in the early game."

"Yes, but the pink planet is PINK," you countered, as if this was an irrefutable scientific argument. "Plus, I want to name it Planet Sparklebutt."

"That's not a strategic decision," Senku said with exasperation.

"It absolutely is! Morale is important in space exploration. Would YOU want to live on a planet with a boring name? No! You want to live on Planet Sparklebutt where every day is an adventure!"

To everyone's surprise—especially Senku's—your chaotic, seemingly random approach to the game actually worked fairly well. While Senku carefully calculated each move and your parents took measured risks, you made decisions based on criteria like "this spaceship looks like it would be better at doing loop-de-loops" or "I want my alien colony to be neighbors with Senku's humans because I ship them."

And yet, by the end of the game, you'd established a surprisingly successful interstellar empire, complete with trade routes, multiple colonies (all with increasingly ridiculous names), and a fleet of spaceships that you insisted were painted "cosmic purple with racing stripes."

Senku ultimately won the game, but you came in a surprisingly close second, with both parents trailing behind.

"HOW?" Senku demanded as the final scores were tallied. "You made zero logical decisions the entire game!"

"Theory, baby!" you crowed, doing a little seated victory dance. "Sometimes the universe rewards those who embrace the random!"

"That's... not what theory means," Senku muttered.

"Actually," Byakuya interjected thoughtfully, "[Y/N] made some intuitively good choices. Sometimes looking at problems from an unconventional angle yields surprising results."

You pointed at Byakuya triumphantly. "SEE? Spaghetti Dad gets it! My brain is just playing 4D chess while everyone else is playing checkers!"

"I'm pretty sure your brain is playing Candy Land while everyone else is playing chess," Senku retorted, but there was that tiny smile again.

As the afternoon wore on, it eventually came time for you and your mom to head home. You looked genuinely disappointed for the first time all day.

"Do we HAVE to go?" you whined. "We were just getting to the good part where Senku shows me more science stuff and I impress him with my chaotic brilliance!"

"I'm afraid so, honey," your mom said. "We promised Grandma we'd video call her tonight, remember?"

You sighed dramatically. "Fine. But can we come back? Soon? Like, tomorrow soon?"

The adults exchanged amused glances.

"I'm sure we can arrange another playdate soon," your mom said. "If it's okay with Mr. Ishigami and Senku, of course."

"You're welcome anytime," Byakuya assured you. "It's been... lively having you here."

You turned to Senku, who was putting away the game pieces with methodical precision. "Radish Boy? Was this acceptable human interaction? Will you permit my return to your laboratory?"

Senku rolled his eyes. "You're extremely annoying," he said, but then added, "but not boring. So... yeah, whatever. You can come back."

Coming from Senku, this was practically a heartfelt declaration of friendship. You beamed as if he'd just announced you were his favorite person on Earth.

"I KNEW IT! We're best friends now! It's official!" You flung your arms around him in a surprise hug that nearly knocked him over.

"Get—off—" Senku protested, awkwardly patting your back in what might have been an attempt at returning the hug, or might have been an effort to dislodge you. "Personal space exists for a reason!"

You released him but continued grinning. "Too late! Friendship hug complete! No take-backs!"

As you gathered your things—including your box of "technically space rocks"—you couldn't stop chattering about all the things you wanted to do next time.

"We should build a volcano! Or make slime that changes colors! Or design a robot that feeds your neighbor's cat when they're away! Or—"

"One step at a time," Senku interrupted. "Maybe we can start with something simple, like testing different chemical reactions."

Your eyes lit up. "YES! EXPLOSIONS!"

"I said reactions, not explosions," Senku corrected quickly. "Safe, controlled reactions."

"Potato, po-explosion," you shrugged. "Same difference!"

At the door, you turned back one last time. "Hey, Senku? When your rocket is ready... will you let me watch the launch?"

Something in your tone—the genuine excitement and hope—seemed to resonate with him. He nodded. "Yeah. You can watch. Just don't press any buttons or touch any controls."

"DEAL!" You thrust out your hand for a formal handshake, which he reluctantly accepted. "This is going to be EPIC! The first launch of the Senku-[Y/N] Space Program!"

"I never agreed to name it that," he protested.

"Too late! Already decided! No take-backs!"

As you and your mom headed down the hallway toward the elevator, you turned and waved dramatically. "Farewell, science comrade! May your electrons stay negatively charged until we meet again!"

"That's not how electrons—" Senku began, but you were already gone, your laughter echoing down the hallway.

In the elevator, your mom looked down at you with a raised eyebrow. "So, good day?"

"THE BEST," you declared. "Mom, Senku is so cool. He knows EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING. And he builds stuff! Real stuff that actually works! And he doesn't even get mad when I call him Radish Boy!"

"He seems like a nice kid," your mom agreed. "Very... focused."

"He's the smartest person I've ever met," you said with unusual sincerity. "And guess what? HE'S letting ME help with SCIENCE. Real science! Not just mixing random stuff together and seeing what happens!"

"Though I suspect you'll still be doing plenty of that," your mom noted dryly.

"Well, OBVIOUSLY. That's my signature move. But now I can do both! Science AND precise science! I'm expanding my repertoire!"

The entire ride home, you couldn't stop talking about everything you'd learned and all the plans you were making for future experiments. Your mom listened with a smile, occasionally nodding or asking questions, clearly happy to see you so excited about something educational—even if your approach to learning was, as always, somewhat unconventional.

That night, as you lay in bed beneath your glow-in-the-dark stars (which you'd rearranged to form what you insisted was a "scientifically accurate" constellation of Radish Boy), you thought about the day's adventures.

Senku was different from your other friends. He didn't just go along with your wild ideas—he challenged them, explained why they wouldn't work, and then sometimes, amazingly, helped you figure out how they could work. It was like he spoke a language that most kids your age didn't understand, and somehow, despite your vastly different personalities, you were starting to understand it too.

You reached over to your bedside table and picked up one of the rocks from your collection—the obsidian one that Senku had said was "actually pretty cool." You turned it over in your palm, its smooth black surface reflecting the soft green glow from your ceiling stars.

"Space rock," you whispered to yourself with a grin. Then, remembering Senku's explanation, you added more specifically, "Rock made from the same stuff as stars."

It sounded like magic, but it was science. And maybe that's what made science so amazing—it was like magic that actually made sense, if you knew how to look at it right.

Your eyelids grew heavy as you imagined future adventures with your new friend—rocket launches and chemistry experiments and maybe, just maybe, if you were persistent enough, some controlled explosions. Definitely controlled. Mostly controlled. Well, at least partially controlled.

As you drifted off to sleep, clutching your not-from-space-but-still-pretty-cool rock, your last conscious thought was a solemn promise to yourself: Tomorrow, you would start planning the most epic science project ever—something so amazing that even Senku "Radish Boy" Ishigami would be impressed.

Because that's what best friends did. They impressed each other, challenged each other, and made even ordinary rocks seem like they came from the stars.

You fell asleep smiling, dreaming of rockets soaring into the sky with you and Senku cheering them on from below—one of you calculating trajectories while the other simply basked in the wonder of it all.

Different approaches, but somehow, together, they worked perfectly.

Chapter Text

It had been exactly seventeen days since your last playdate with Senku (yes, you were counting, and yes, you had marked each day on your calendar with little atomic symbols that looked more like flowers with extra petals, but the intention was scientific). During that time, you'd exchanged three phone calls, had one brief but intense debate about whether dinosaurs would make good pets ("They absolutely would!" "They'd EAT you!" "Worth it!"), and conducted several "parallel experiments," where Senku gave you instructions over the phone and you attempted to follow them with varying degrees of success.

Today, however, was special. Today was the day of Senku's rocket launch.

"MOM!" you hollered from your bedroom, where you were frantically digging through your dresser. "WHERE'S MY SPACE SHIRT?"

"Which space shirt?" your mom called back. "The one with planets, the one with aliens, or the one with the astronaut sloth?"

"THE BEST ONE!" you clarified, as if this was completely obvious. "The one that says 'I Need More Space' with the grumpy stars!"

After much searching (it had somehow migrated to your stuffed animal basket, possibly through a wormhole), you were finally dressed in your lucky space shirt, your favorite shorts with reinforced knees (perfect for scientific field expeditions), and light-up sneakers (because fashion AND function).

Your mom drove you to the local park where Senku had arranged to conduct his rocket launch. You'd spent the entire car ride briefing her on the importance of this event.

"—and he's been working on it for AGES, Mom. Like, since before dinosaurs probably. And he said I could watch but I have to stand behind the 'safety perimeter' which is like a fancy science way of saying 'don't get too close or you might get exploded,' which is very responsible of him actually—"

"That's reassuring," your mom muttered as she parked the car.

"—and he said he used actual rocket fuel! Well, a safe version. Probably. I mean, I'm sure it's safe. Senku is very careful. Except when he's not, but then he's calculated the exact amount of danger and decided it's acceptable, so it's fine—"

"Honey," your mom interrupted as she turned off the engine, "take a breath, please."

You inhaled dramatically and exhaled with a "WHOOSH" sound effect.

"Better?" she asked.

"NOPE!" you exclaimed, already unbuckling your seatbelt. "TOO EXCITED FOR OXYGEN!"

The park was fairly empty on this cloudy Tuesday afternoon, perfect for amateur rocketry without too many witnesses (or potential casualties). You spotted Senku immediately, his distinctive hair visible from across the field as he knelt beside his rocket, making final adjustments.

But he wasn't alone.

Next to him stood a boy who was... well, enormous seemed like the appropriate word. Not fat, just BIG—tall and broad-shouldered like a middle schooler despite clearly being around your age. He had a square-ish face, spiky brown hair, and an expression of pure enthusiasm that rivaled even your own.

"SENKU!" you called, sprinting across the grass at top speed, arms flailing wildly like some sort of deranged windmill. "I'M HERE! SCIENCE IS HAPPENING! I DIDN'T MISS IT!"

Senku looked up from his rocket, that familiar tiny smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "You're exactly on time. The launch window opens in approximately twelve minutes."

"Launch window," you repeated reverently. "That sounds so official and NASA-y!"

The big boy beside Senku turned to look at you, his face lighting up with a grin so bright it could probably be seen from space. "HEY! You must be [Y/N]! Senku told me about you! I'm Taiju Oki! IT'S SUPER AWESOME TO MEET YOU!"

You blinked, momentarily stunned. His volume matched—possibly even exceeded—your own. It was like looking into a very loud mirror.

"HELLO GIANT CHILD!" you responded at equal volume, immediately feeling a kinship with this human megaphone. "I'M [Y/N] AND I LIKE YOUR SHOUTING! MOST PEOPLE TELL ME TO USE MY INSIDE VOICE BUT I CAN TELL YOU'RE A PERSON OF CULTURE!"

"THANK YOU!" Taiju boomed happily. "SENKU ALWAYS TELLS ME TO QUIET DOWN TOO BUT I GET EXCITED ABOUT THINGS!"

"ME TOO!" you squealed, bouncing on your toes. "EXCITEMENT IS BEST EXPERIENCED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME!"

Senku looked between the two of you with an expression of dawning horror. "Oh no," he muttered. "There's two of them now."

You turned to Senku, eyes wide with delight. "Radish Boy! You didn't tell me you had another friend! And he's ENORMOUS! And LOUD! He's like if a teddy bear could do sports!"

Taiju laughed heartily at this description. "I DO like sports! And lifting things! And helping old ladies cross the street! And CHEERING REALLY LOUD FOR MY FRIENDS!"

"He's also incapable of speaking at a normal volume," Senku added dryly, returning his attention to the rocket. "Taiju, pass me the screwdriver."

Taiju immediately complied, carefully selecting the correct tool from Senku's kit and handing it over with surprising gentleness for someone with such large hands.

"How do you guys know each other?" you asked, crouching down to watch Senku work, careful not to touch anything as promised.

"We're in the same class at school," Taiju explained, his volume finally dropping to merely "loud" rather than "air raid siren." "Senku's my BEST FRIEND! He's the smartest person ever!"

You gasped dramatically, clutching your chest as if mortally wounded. "BEST friend? But I thought I was Senku's best friend! BETRAYAL! TREACHERY! MY HEART! IT BREAKS!" You collapsed onto the grass in an exaggerated death scene, complete with twitching limbs and gurgling noises.

Senku didn't even look up from his work. "I never said either of you were my best friends."

"He's just shy about his feelings!" Taiju insisted, patting your shoulder sympathetically with a hand approximately the size of a dinner plate. "We can BOTH be his best friends! I'll be his best friend who carries heavy things, and you can be his best friend who..." He trailed off, clearly unsure what your specialty was.

"Who creates CHAOS!" you supplied helpfully, springing back to life. "I'm the coordinator of this friendship. Every scientific team needs one! Otherwise, how will you know what happens when you put Mentos in Senku's soda when he's not looking?"

"That was YOU?" Senku's head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "That experiment ruined my notebook!"

"IT WAS FOR SCIENCE!" you defended, looking not remotely apologetic. "And now you know to keep carbonated beverages away from me! Data collected! Hypothesis confirmed!"

Taiju's booming laugh interrupted the brewing argument. "You're FUNNY! I like you! Senku needs more people who make him laugh."

"I don't need people who destroy my property," Senku grumbled, but there was no real heat behind his words.

Your mom had finally caught up, carrying a small folding chair and a book. "Hello there," she greeted Senku. "Is your father here too?"

"He's parking the car," Senku replied, gesturing vaguely toward the parking lot. "He's bringing the recovery equipment."

"RECOVERY EQUIPMENT?" you repeated excitedly. "Like a helicopter? Or a submarine? Or a team of highly trained rocket-retrieving squirrels?"

"Like a ladder and a backpack," Senku corrected flatly.

"Oh." You considered this. "Less exciting, but practical. I respect that."

You turned your attention to Taiju, studying him with the intensity of a scientist discovering a new species. "So, Enormous Child, what's your deal? Are you into science too? Or are you just here to witness the GLORY OF ROCKETRY?"

"I'm not really smart like Senku," Taiju admitted without a hint of shame. "But I love helping him with his experiments! I'm good at lifting things and running errands and CHEERING REALLY LOUDLY when things work!"

"Those are CRITICAL scientific skills," you assured him solemnly. "I'm not smart like Senku either—"

"Understatement of the century," Senku muttered under his breath.

"—but I provide essential services like asking 'what if' questions that normal people are too sane to consider," you continued, ignoring Senku's comment. "Like, what if we filled water balloons with jello? What if ants could understand human speech but chose to ignore us? What if the moon is just following us around because it's lonely?"

Taiju's eyes widened with wonder. "Those are AMAZING questions! I never thought about any of that stuff!"

"RIGHT?" you exclaimed, delighted to find someone who appreciated your particular brand of inquiry. "Senku always says they're 'scientifically irrelevant' but I think he's just jealous he didn't think of them first."

"I'm definitely not," Senku interjected, still focused on his rocket.

"The moon one is really interesting," Taiju continued thoughtfully. "Maybe it IS lonely up there all by itself!"

"EXACTLY!" you nodded vigorously. "We should send it a friend! Like a giant stuffed bear! Or another, smaller moon!"

Senku finally looked up from his work, expression pained. "Please stop plotting to alter lunar orbit. The scientific inaccuracies are physically hurting me."

You and Taiju exchanged glances, a silent agreement forming between you instantly. This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship built on mutual enthusiasm, excessive volume, and the shared joy of watching Senku's eye twitch when you said something scientifically impossible.

"So what does your rocket do again?" you asked, refocusing on the main event. "How high will it go? Will it make a cool WHOOSH sound? Will there be flames? Please say there will be flames."

"It should reach approximately 400 meters," Senku explained, carefully checking the alignment of the stabilizing fins. "The solid fuel will produce visible exhaust, yes. Not exactly 'flames' but close enough for your purposes, I suspect."

"AWESOME!" you and Taiju exclaimed in perfect unison, then turned to grin at each other in delight.

Byakuya arrived shortly after, carrying a backpack and what looked like a fishing net attached to a long pole.

"Spaghetti Dad!" you greeted him cheerfully. "You brought a net! Smart! In case the rocket tries to escape!"

Byakuya chuckled. "Something like that. It's for retrieving the rocket if it lands in a tree. And hello to you too, [Y/N]. Still full of energy, I see."

"I DRANK CHOCOLATE MILK THIS MORNING!" you informed him, as if this explained everything. "WITH EXTRA CHOCOLATE!"

"That tracks," Byakuya nodded, turning to greet your mother, who was setting up her folding chair at a safe distance.

With all the adults occupied and Senku still making final adjustments, you took the opportunity to get to know Taiju better.

"So," you began, sitting cross-legged on the grass beside him, "what's your favorite dinosaur? This is very important information for our friendship moving forward."

"T-REX!" Taiju replied instantly. "Because it's BIG and STRONG!" He flexed his arms in what was presumably meant to be a T-Rex impression, but with his short limbs, looked more like a very muscular chicken.

"Excellent choice!" you approved. "Mine's the Ankylosaurus because it's basically a living tank with a club tail. If I were a dinosaur, I'd want built-in armor AND a weapon. Efficiency!"

"That's so smart!" Taiju looked genuinely impressed. "Senku would like that thinking!"

"Nah, Senku would point out that Ankylosaurus had a small brain and then compare it to me," you laughed.

"I CAN HEAR YOU," Senku called from his workstation. "And for the record, Ankylosaurus had a brain approximately the size of a walnut relative to its body mass, so the comparison would be scientifically accurate."

"SEE?" you gestured triumphantly at Senku. "He can't help himself!"

"He does that to me too," Taiju confided. "He says my brain is like a particularly dim light bulb. BUT THAT'S OKAY! Light bulbs are useful! They help people see in the dark!"

Your heart instantly melted at Taiju's pure-hearted optimism. "You are a TREASURE," you informed him seriously. "A giant, loud treasure. We are keeping you forever."

Senku finally stood up, dusting off his hands. "Pre-launch checks complete. The rocket is ready for ignition in approximately five minutes. Everyone needs to move behind the safety line."

"Where's the safety line?" you asked, looking around.

Senku pointed to a string he'd laid out on the grass about fifteen meters away from the launch site. "Beyond that point. No exceptions."

"Not even if I promise to dodge really fast if something goes wrong?" you bargained.

"Especially not then," Senku said firmly. "Your reaction time is approximately 250 milliseconds. The initial combustion occurs in under 50 milliseconds. You do the math."

"I'd rather not do the math, actually," you admitted. "But I accept your safety concerns as valid and will comply with rocket protocol." You gave him a serious salute before grabbing Taiju's hand. "Come on, Giant Friend! To the safety zone!"

You dragged Taiju behind the string, where your mom and Byakuya were already waiting. Senku followed more slowly, carrying what looked like a small electronic device with a big red button on top.

"Is that the launch controller?" you asked excitedly. "With an actual big red button? That's so stereotypical and PERFECT!"

"It's functional," Senku said with a small shrug. "No need for complex designs when a simple circuit will do."

Once everyone was safely positioned, Senku began the countdown procedure with far more seriousness than was probably necessary for a homemade rocket launch, but you appreciated the commitment to authentic space mission vibes.

"T-minus thirty seconds," he announced, checking his watch. "Systems nominal. Weather conditions acceptable. Recovery team on standby."

Byakuya nodded solemnly, holding up the net pole in acknowledgment of his "recovery team" status.

"T-minus twenty seconds. Ignition sequence commencing."

You were practically vibrating with excitement, clutching Taiju's arm so hard he might have bruised if he weren't apparently made of solid muscle.

"T-minus ten seconds. Nine... eight... seven..."

"SIX! FIVE! FOUR!" you and Taiju joined in, shouting the numbers with increasing volume.

"THREE! TWO! ONE!" Your voices reached a crescendo that probably violated local noise ordinances.

"IGNITION!" Senku pressed the button with dramatic flair.

For a terrifying second, nothing happened. Then, with a sound that was indeed very satisfyingly "WHOOSH"-like, the rocket's engine ignited in a burst of smoke and sparks. The small craft shot upward with surprising speed, leaving a trail of white smoke as it climbed higher and higher into the sky.

"IT'S FLYING!" you screamed, jumping up and down while still clinging to Taiju, who was also jumping and screaming, creating a strange two-person earthquake. "IT'S REALLY FLYING! SENKU YOU'RE A GENIUS!"

"AMAZING, SENKU!" Taiju hollered, his voice somehow even louder than yours. "YOU DID IT! YOU REALLY DID IT!"

The rocket continued its ascent, growing smaller against the cloudy backdrop, until it was just a tiny speck trailing smoke. Then, at what appeared to be the apex of its journey, there was a small but visible puff, and a bright green parachute deployed, catching the air and slowing the rocket's descent.

"Parachute deployment successful," Senku noted with obvious satisfaction, tracking the rocket's path with a small pair of binoculars. "Trajectory indicates landing approximately 150 meters northeast of launch site."

"Race you to it!" you challenged Taiju, already preparing to sprint in the direction Senku had indicated.

"WAIT!" Senku's command froze you mid-stride. "No recovery attempts until the rocket has fully landed. That's basic safety protocol."

"But—"

"No buts. Wait for my signal."

You huffed dramatically but complied, bouncing on your toes as you watched the green parachute drifting slowly back to earth.

"Is it always this slow?" you whined. "I could have evolved into a new species by now. I could have learned French. I could have—"

"It's been approximately forty-five seconds," Senku pointed out dryly.

"EXACTLY! An eternity!"

Finally, after what felt to you like several geological epochs but was in reality about two minutes, the rocket touched down in a grassy area near some trees.

"Recovery team, GO!" Senku announced.

You and Taiju took off like Olympic sprinters, racing across the field with wild abandon, while Byakuya followed at a more measured pace, recovery pole in hand.

"I'M GONNA GET THERE FIRST!" Taiju shouted, his longer legs giving him an advantage.

"NOT IF I USE MY SECRET TECHNIQUE!" you countered, and promptly threw yourself forward in a diving roll that was equal parts impressive and terrifying to behold. This unorthodox maneuver, while briefly effective at closing the gap, ultimately resulted in you tumbling wildly through the grass and coming to a stop with grass stains on every conceivable surface of your clothing.

Taiju reached the rocket first, but waited politely for you to catch up, grass-covered and panting, before approaching it.

"We should let Senku examine it first," he said responsibly. "Sometimes the components are still hot."

"Look at you being all safety-conscious," you teased, poking his arm. "But you're right. Let's wait for Radish Boy."

When Senku arrived, he knelt beside the rocket and began inspecting it carefully, checking for any damage from the landing.

"Structural integrity maintained," he reported. "Parachute deployed at optimal altitude. Flight time and height consistent with calculations." He looked up with that rare, genuine smile that made him seem like an actual child instead of a tiny professor. "It was a complete success."

"GROUP HUG FOR SCIENCE!" you declared, throwing your arms around both boys without warning.

Taiju enthusiastically returned the hug, his long arms easily enveloping both you and Senku, while Senku made his usual token protests about personal space, though he didn't actually try very hard to escape.

"We should celebrate!" Taiju suggested as the hug finally broke apart. "How about ice cream? My mom gave me money!"

"ICE CREAM? DID SOMEONE SAY ICE CREAM?" Your volume somehow increased to new, possibly dangerous levels. "YES! SUGAR TO COMMEMORATE SCIENCE! PERFECT PLAN!"

Senku was carefully packing his rocket into a carrying case. "I suppose a small celebration would be warranted, given the success metrics of the launch."

"He means 'yes,'" you translated for Taiju. "He just can't say it normally because he's allergic to admitting he wants fun things."

"I'm not allergic to anything except your particular brand of nonsense," Senku retorted, but he was still smiling slightly.

After getting permission from both sets of parents (who agreed to meet you at the ice cream shop in twenty minutes), you, Senku, and Taiju began walking toward the park exit, with you positioned between the two boys like the filling in a surprisingly functional sandwich.

"So was it everything you hoped it would be?" you asked Senku, skipping sideways to keep pace. "Did the rocket meet your expectations? Are you satisfied with its performance? Are you going to build a bigger one next? Can the next one have flames that are blue? I read somewhere that blue flames are hotter and therefore cooler, which is a paradox I enjoy very much."

"The performance exceeded my expectations by approximately 7%," Senku replied. "The altitude was higher than calculated, likely due to favorable wind conditions. And yes, I'm already planning the next iteration. It will have improved telemetry and possibly a camera for in-flight imaging."

"But no blue flames?" you pressed, pouting slightly.

"The color of the exhaust is determined by the chemical composition of the fuel," Senku explained. "I'm not optimizing for visual effects."

"BOOOO! Visual effects are at least 40% of the fun of science!"

"That statistic is entirely made up," Senku pointed out.

"87% of my statistics are made up," you replied cheerfully. "Including that one!"

Taiju laughed, the sound like a friendly thunderclap. "You guys are so funny together! Like a comedy duo!"

"More like a scientist and his test subject," Senku muttered.

"OOH! Can I be the test subject?" you asked eagerly. "What are you testing? My tolerance for electrical shocks? My ability to identify mysterious liquids by taste? My skill at dodging experimental lasers?"

"Your capacity to drive me insane with hypothetical scenarios," Senku replied.

"DATA POINT!" you exclaimed, miming taking notes. "Subject continues to deny enjoyment while facial micro-expressions indicate mild amusement. Further testing required."

Taiju looked between you two with a wide grin. "Senku never banters like this with anyone else at school. He usually just calls everyone idiots and walks away."

"REALLY?" You gasped dramatically, clutching your chest. "Radish Boy! Am I SPECIAL? Do you LIKE me? Is this FRIENDSHIP I detect?"

"It's tolerance at best," Senku claimed, though the slight pink tinge to his ears suggested otherwise.

"Nope, it's definitely friendship," Taiju insisted. "Senku talked about you all week before the rocket launch. He said you were 'intellectually deranged but occasionally insightful.'"

You stopped in your tracks, eyes widening to comical proportions. "He said WHAT? That's like... a COMPLIMENT! From SENKU! I need this engraved on something immediately! INTELLECTUALLY DERANGED! That's going on my business cards!"

"Why would you have business cards? You're seven," Senku asked, clearly trying to change the subject away from his apparent compliment.

"IRRELEVANT!" you declared, skipping ahead and then turning to walk backward so you could face both boys. "The point is, you LIKE me! You think I'm SMART! In a deranged way! HA! I KNEW IT!"

"I'm beginning to regret ever meeting either of you," Senku grumbled, but there was no bite to his words.

"No you're not," Taiju said cheerfully. "You told me having friends who think differently helps you see problems from new angles."

"TAIJU!" Senku hissed, looking mortified. "Stop revealing private conversations!"

"Sorry!" Taiju didn't look sorry at all. "But [Y/N] should know you think they're a good friend!"

You were practically glowing with delight. "Senku Ishigami, secret softie! Who would have thought?"

"I'm not—" Senku began.

"You LIKE us!" you sang, dancing around him in circles. "You think we're VALUABLE! You enjoy our COMPANY!"

"I'm reconsidering all of those assessments as we speak," Senku threatened, but his lips were twitching with suppressed amusement.

By the time you reached the ice cream shop, a small local place with handwritten flavor signs and colorful plastic spoons, you were still teasing Senku about his secret appreciation for his friends, while Taiju happily provided more ammunition in the form of other nice things Senku had apparently said when he thought no one was paying attention.

The three of you found a table by the window while waiting for your parents to arrive, studying the flavor board with the seriousness of scientists selecting crucial experimental variables.

"I'm getting chocolate," Taiju announced decisively. "THREE SCOOPS!"

"Bold and straightforward," you nodded approvingly. "I respect your clarity of purpose. I, however, am facing an existential flavor crisis." You stared at the board, brow furrowed in concentration. "How can I possibly choose between 'Cosmic Brownie Blast' and 'Strawberry Supernova'? Both are space-themed! Both contain chunks! This is the hardest decision of my LIFE!"

"Get both," Senku suggested practically. "One scoop of each."

You gasped as if he'd just revealed the secrets of the universe. "Senku! Your giant brain has saved the day again! Of COURSE! The solution was there all along!"

"What are you getting, Senku?" Taiju asked.

"Mint chocolate chip," Senku replied without hesitation. "Optimal ratio of refreshing mint to chocolate content, and the temperature contrast between mint sensation and actual ice cream temperature creates an interesting sensory experience."

"Only you would analyze ice cream flavors like a science experiment," you giggled.

"Everything is a potential data point," Senku replied with a shrug.

When your parents arrived and everyone ordered, you ended up with a towering cone of mismatched scoops that threatened to topple at any moment. Taiju's triple chocolate mountain looked equally precarious, while Senku's neat mint chocolate chip in a cup seemed almost boring by comparison.

"So, Taiju," your mom asked as everyone settled around the larger table, "how long have you known Senku?"

"Since first grade!" Taiju announced proudly. "I was having trouble with math, and Senku helped me even though he said I was 'hopelessly dense'! We've been best friends ever since!"

You snorted ice cream up your nose at his cheerful delivery of Senku's insult, requiring several napkins and a moment to recover.

"Senku has a unique way of expressing affection," Byakuya explained diplomatically to your mother.

"By 'unique' you mean 'borderline offensive yet somehow endearing'?" you suggested, once you could breathe again.

"Precisely," Byakuya agreed with a wink.

As the adults chatted, you, Senku, and Taiju huddled at the end of the table, plotting your next adventure between bites of ice cream.

"We should build something else," you suggested, gesturing with your cone and nearly sending a glob of Strawberry Supernova onto Senku's shirt. "Something even COOLER than a rocket."

"Like what?" Taiju asked eagerly.

"Hmm..." You tapped your chin thoughtfully, leaving a smear of ice cream behind. "What about a robot? Or a submarine? Or a ROBOT SUBMARINE?"

"Those are completely different engineering challenges," Senku pointed out. "A submarine would require waterproofing and pressure considerations, while robotics involves electronics and programming."

"So... both would be too hard?" you asked, slightly deflated.

"I didn't say that," Senku replied with that familiar smirk. "I said they're different challenges. Not impossible ones."

Your eyes widened. "Are you saying we COULD build a robot submarine? FOR REAL?"

"A small one, perhaps," Senku mused, clearly already calculating dimensions and materials in his head. "Would need to source the right waterproof servos, design a simple control system..."

"I COULD HELP CARRY STUFF!" Taiju volunteered enthusiastically. "And test it in my bathtub!"

"And I could..." you paused, trying to think of a useful contribution, "...name it something awesome! And decorate it with racing stripes! Because everyone knows racing stripes make things go faster, even underwater!"

"That's not—" Senku began his usual scientific correction, then stopped himself. "Actually, fine. You can handle the aesthetic elements."

You nearly choked on your ice cream. "Did you just... agree with me? Is this a parallel universe? Has the rocket launch torn a hole in reality?"

"I agreed that you could handle decorating," Senku clarified. "Not that racing stripes affect hydrodynamics. Learn to listen more carefully."

"Still counts as a win!" you declared, high-fiving Taiju.

By the time you finished your ice cream (most of it ending up in your mouth, some of it on your face, a small but significant amount on your shirt), plans for the robot submarine—tentatively named "S.S. AWESOME SCIENCE FRIENDS" despite Senku's objections to every word in that name—were well underway.

As the playdate came to an end and you prepared to head home with your mom, you felt that familiar pang of disappointment that always came when you had to leave your friends.

"This was the BEST DAY," you announced, giving Taiju an enthusiastic hug that he returned with equal fervor, nearly lifting you off the ground in the process. Then you turned to Senku, arms outstretched questioningly.

"Must we?" he sighed.

"We must," you confirmed solemnly. "It's tradition now. Successful experiment equals group hug."

"That's not a tradition in any scientific community," Senku protested, but he allowed you to hug him briefly anyway, his hands awkwardly patting your back twice before pushing you away.

"See you soon for submarine building!" you called as you followed your mom to the car. "I'll start collecting essential materials like glitter and googly eyes!"

"Those aren't—" Senku began.

"VERY IMPORTANT SUBMARINE COMPONENTS!" you finished for him, grinning mischievously. "Bye, Radish Boy! Bye, Giant Friend!"

As your mom drove home, you chattered non-stop about the rocket launch, your new friend Taiju, and the submarine plans, your words tumbling over each other in your excitement.

"—and Taiju is SO STRONG, Mom! He could probably lift our couch! And he's LOUD like me! Senku looked like he was having an aneurysm when we started talking to each other! It was HILARIOUS! And Senku said I'm 'intellectually deranged' which is basically him admitting I'm a GENIUS—"

Your mom smiled, nodding at appropriate intervals as she always did during your enthusiastic debriefs.

"It sounds like you've found a wonderful group of friends," she commented during a rare pause for breath.

"They're the BEST," you agreed fervently. "Senku is the brain, Taiju is the muscle, and I'm the..." you searched for the right word, "...the WILDCARD! Every team needs a wildcard! It's just science!"

You couldn't help but smile at the thought of your next adventure. What would it be? A submarine? A robot? A time machine? (Probably not that last one, even Senku had limits... probably.)

Whatever it was, you knew it would be amazing, because science was always amazing when you did it with friends. Even if one of those friends insisted on calculating the exact mathematical probability of disaster, and the other could potentially break anything he touched due to his enormous strength.

It was going to be EPIC.

Your last conscious thought before sleep claimed you was a mental note to ask your mom for more glitter. The submarine was definitely going to need glitter. For science, of course.

Senku would just have to deal with it.

Chapter Text

You stared intensely at your reflection in the bathroom mirror, conducting what you liked to call your "daily biological assessment." Most kids just got dressed in the morning. You, however, treated it like a scientific expedition into the wilderness of puberty.

"Day 743 of being a human," you whispered dramatically to your reflection. "The subject continues to experience concerning developments in the chest region. Hypothesis: I am turning into an alien. Alternative hypothesis: puberty is the WORST."

The problem had started about three months ago. At first, it was just some tenderness that made you yelp when you accidentally smacked yourself with your backpack strap (a frequent occurrence given your approach to... well, everything). But now, there were two unmistakable bumps appearing under your favorite science t-shirts, and they were getting harder to ignore.

Your mom had tried to have "the talk" with you last week, armed with pamphlets and an expression of grim determination. You'd listened for approximately seven minutes before interrupting with, "So basically, my body is betraying me by growing random lumps without my permission? RUDE."

Now, as you pulled on your shirt—the one with a cartoon of Schrödinger's cat that read "I'm ALIVE! (or am I?)"—you noticed it felt tighter than before.

"MOOOOOM!" you hollered down the hallway. "MY SHIRT IS SHRINKING! I THINK OUR WASHING MACHINE IS A PORTAL TO A DIMENSION THAT STEALS FABRIC!"

Your mom appeared in the doorway, coffee mug in hand and the patient expression of someone who had long ago accepted that normal conversations were not a thing in this household.

"Your shirts aren't shrinking, honey. You're growing."

"IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES!" you protested, gesturing dramatically at your chest. "Why couldn't I grow taller instead? Or grow a third arm? That would actually be USEFUL!"

Your mom sipped her coffee, hiding a smile. "A third arm would make buying shirts even harder, trust me."

"But Mom," you whined, "what if the boys notice? What if SENKU notices? He'll probably want to perform experiments! Or worse, explain the biological process IN DETAIL."

The thought made you want to crawl under your bed and never emerge. It had been bad enough last month when you'd tripped during lunch and scraped your knee, and Senku had launched into a comprehensive explanation of wound healing that included the phrase "epidermal migration." You'd shut him up by threatening to wipe your blood on his science notes.

"I doubt Senku will say anything," your mom reassured you. "And if he does, you have my permission to drop a science book on his foot."

You brightened considerably. "Violence as conflict resolution? I accept these terms!"

"I was joking," your mom clarified quickly. "No dropping books on anyone."

"Fiiiine," you sighed dramatically. "I'll just use my WORDS, like some kind of reasonable person."

Thirty minutes later, you were speed-walking to school, mentally rehearsing comebacks for any potential comments about your changing body. You'd even prepared scientific terminology to fight fire with fire if Senku got too clinical.

The great twist of fate that had occurred last month still felt like a dream: Senku and Taiju had transferred to your school! Senku's dad had gotten a new position at the local university, and by some miracle of the educational system, both boys had ended up in your class. The submarine project had evolved into daily adventures, and your reputation as the Three Science Musketeers (a name you'd chosen despite Senku's protests that musketeers had nothing to do with science) was solidifying.

As you approached the school gates, you spotted Taiju's distinctive spiky hair towering above the crowd. Even among fifth-graders, he was a giant.

"TAIJU!" you bellowed across the schoolyard, waving frantically as if he might somehow miss your wild gesticulations.

Taiju turned, his face lighting up with that thousand-watt smile. "HEY [Y/N]!" he shouted back with equal volume, causing several nearby students to wince. "I SAVED YOU A SPOT!"

You dashed over, narrowly avoiding a collision with the school's ancient janitor who had long ago learned to be on high alert whenever you were in the vicinity.

"Where's Radish Boy?" you asked, slinging your backpack down with enough force to create a small dust cloud.

"Laboratory duty," Taiju explained. "He volunteered to help Mrs. Miyazaki set up for the frog dissection."

Your eyes widened. "FROG DISSECTION? TODAY? Why didn't anyone TELL ME?" You clutched your chest in mock betrayal, then immediately regretted it when you felt the new sensitivity there. You quickly crossed your arms instead, trying to appear casual.

"Are you okay?" Taiju asked, his brow furrowing with genuine concern. "You look like you're hugging yourself. Are you cold? DO YOU NEED MY JACKET?"

Before you could respond, he was already removing his jacket, his face set with the determined expression of someone about to rescue a kitten from a tree.

"No! I'm fine!" you insisted, waving away his offer. "Just... practicing my new standing position. Very ergonomic. Spinal alignment and all that."

Taiju looked confused but accepted your explanation with his usual good-natured shrug. That was the wonderful thing about Taiju—he never questioned your weirdness. He just rolled with it like it was perfectly normal behavior.

"So about these frogs," you said, quickly changing the subject. "Are they alive? Dead? Zombie frogs? Please say zombie frogs."

"They're preserved in some kind of chemical," Taiju replied. "Senku explained it to me, but I forgot the name. Something that started with 'form' and smelled terrible."

"Formaldehyde," you nodded sagely. "It's for preventing decomposition. Basically, pickle juice for dead things."

"PICKLE JUICE FOR DEAD THINGS!" Taiju repeated with delight. "That's a great way to remember it!"

The bell rang, sending students scurrying toward their classrooms. You and Taiju joined the migration, heading for Ms. Honda's fifth-grade classroom. As you walked, you became increasingly aware of how your shirt felt against your chest. Was it obvious? Were people looking? You hunched your shoulders forward slightly, trying to minimize any... protrusions.

"Why are you walking like that?" Taiju asked innocently. "You look like a turtle."

"I'm NOT walking like anything," you hissed, immediately straightening up, then hunching again, caught in a loop of self-consciousness. "I'm just... conserving energy. Very efficient walking method. Senku would approve."

"I most certainly would not," came a familiar voice from behind you. "Your posture is terrible for spinal alignment, and the energy expenditure from muscle tension negates any theoretical efficiency gains."

You spun around, nearly losing your balance in the process. "RADISH BOY! How long have you been there? Were you EAVESDROPPING? Has science eliminated the need for social norms like ANNOUNCING YOUR PRESENCE?"

Senku smirked, that irritating half-smile that meant he was enjoying your discomfort. "I called your name twice. You were too busy impersonating a hunchback to notice."

Your cheeks burned. "I was NOT impersonating—wait, why do you smell like chemicals? Is that frog juice? Did you already start without us? BETRAYAL!"

"Relax," Senku rolled his eyes. "I was just setting up the lab stations. The actual dissection is during second period."

The three of you filed into the classroom, taking your usual seats at the back table that Ms. Honda had reluctantly assigned to you after the Great Volcano Incident of Last Month. (In your defense, the eruption would have been perfectly contained if Taiju hadn't gotten excited and knocked over the entire apparatus while shouting "IT'S WORKING!" at a volume that triggered the fire alarm.)

As you sat down, you nervously tugged at your shirt, trying to create more room in the front. Senku noticed the movement, his sharp eyes missing nothing as usual.

"Are you experiencing discomfort with your clothing?" he asked, far too loudly for your comfort. "The fabric appears to be constraining around your thoracic region."

You felt your face go approximately the temperature of the sun. "SHHHH! Can you NOT narrate my bodily changes to the entire class, Dr. Science?"

Senku's eyebrows shot up. "Bodily changes? Oh, you mean breast development. That's a normal part of female puberty, typically beginning between ages 8 and 13, with initial symptoms including—"

"FINISH THAT SENTENCE AND I WILL END YOU," you whispered fiercely, glancing around to make sure no one else was listening. Thankfully, the pre-class provided enough noise cover. "Not everything needs to be explained, catalogued, or ANNOUNCED!"

Taiju, bless his giant heart, looked utterly confused. "What are we talking about? Are you sick, [Y/N]?"

"No, she's not sick," Senku began helpfully. "She's just—"

You slapped your hand over his mouth with the speed and precision of a ninja. "I'm just GROWING. Like EVERYONE DOES. End of discussion or I'm licking your science notebook."

Senku's eyes widened in horror at the threat. Your reputation for following through on such threats was well-established after The Glitter Submarine Incident. (The submarine had eventually worked, but certain components had required extensive de-glittering.)

Before Senku could respond, Ms. Honda called the class to attention, and you reluctantly removed your hand from his mouth, giving him one final warning glare.

"Today we'll be starting with math," Ms. Honda announced, causing a collective groan from the class.

"Math is just applied logic," Senku muttered under his breath, already pulling out his notebook. "Nothing to complain about."

"Says the boy who does calculus FOR FUN," you whispered back.

"It's not for fun, it's for practical application in rocketry trajectory calculations," he corrected primly.

"Nerd," you coughed into your hand.

The morning passed in a blur of fractions and vocabulary words, all of which felt monumentally unimportant compared to the constant awareness of your changing body. Every time you reached for a pencil or raised your hand to answer a question (usually incorrectly, but with such conviction that Ms. Honda sometimes gave you partial credit for enthusiasm), you felt self-conscious.

Finally, second period arrived, and Ms. Honda led the class to the science lab. The excitement of frog dissection temporarily distracted you from your bodily concerns.

"I call dibs on using the scalpel!" you whispered to Senku and Taiju as you entered the lab.

"There's one scalpel per group," Senku pointed out. "And as the only one with steady hands, I should be the primary dissector."

"MY HANDS ARE PLENTY STEADY!" you protested, promptly knocking over a jar of wooden splints to prove your point. "That was... intentional. I was testing the acoustic properties of the lab."

"Sure you were," Senku smirked.

The class arranged themselves at the lab stations, three students per frog. You, Senku, and Taiju claimed a station at the back, where your inevitable exclamations would cause minimal disruption to the class.

Mrs. Miyazaki, the science teacher, began distributing trays containing formaldehyde-soaked frogs. The sharp chemical smell filled the room, causing several students to wrinkle their noses in disgust.

"It smells like my uncle's garage," complained a girl at the next table.

"It smells like SCIENCE!" you countered excitedly, leaning forward to get a better look at your group's frog. In your enthusiasm, you didn't notice how your movement pressed your chest against the edge of the table until a sudden twinge of pain made you yelp.

"Are you hurt?" Taiju asked immediately, concern written all over his face.

"No! Just... excited! About frogs! And their internal organs! Yay amphibian anatomy!" You gave him a thumbs-up that was about seven notches too enthusiastic to be believable.

Senku narrowed his eyes but said nothing, for which you were grateful.

Mrs. Miyazaki began explaining the dissection procedure, distributing worksheets and pointing out the major organs they'd be identifying. You were barely listening, too busy trying to find a comfortable way to stand at the table without anything... touching anything else.

"—and remember, these were once living creatures, so please show respect during the dissection process," Mrs. Miyazaki was saying.

"Our frog looks like his name was Herbert," you whispered to your lab partners. "He died doing what he loved—being pickled for science."

"Frogs don't have names," Senku muttered, preparing the dissection tools with methodical precision.

"EVERYTHING has a name if you love it enough," you insisted. "And I love Herbert enough for all of us."

"You can't love something you're about to cut open," Senku argued.

"Surgeons do it all the time!" you countered. "They just call it 'patient care' instead of 'love.'"

Once Mrs. Miyazaki finished her instructions, the class began working. Senku, true to his word, handled the scalpel with the confidence of someone who had definitely been practicing on inanimate objects at home. Taiju was in charge of pinning the frog's limbs to the dissection tray, his strong fingers easily pushing the pins into place, while you had been assigned the role of "organ identifier" based on your enthusiasm (and after Senku had quietly informed Mrs. Miyazaki that letting you handle sharp objects would violate several safety protocols).

"Okay, I'm making the initial incision," Senku announced, positioning the scalpel.

"Wait!" you exclaimed, suddenly overcome with a sense of ceremony. "We should say a few words for Herbert first."

"It's a preserved specimen that's been dead for months," Senku said flatly.

"Show some RESPECT!" you insisted. "Herbert gave his life for our education!"

"I think that's nice," Taiju nodded solemnly. "A moment of silence for Herbert."

Senku rolled his eyes but waited as you and Taiju bowed your heads briefly.

"Farewell, sweet prince of lily pads," you intoned solemnly. "May your sacrifice advance the cause of fifth-grade science."

"Are you quite finished?" Senku asked.

"Proceed with the amphibian autopsy, Dr. Ishigami," you said with exaggerated formality.

Senku made a neat incision along the frog's belly, and you all leaned in closer to observe the internal organs. In your fascination, you momentarily forgot your earlier self-consciousness, pressing against the table for a better view.

"Look at the GUTS!" you exclaimed, pointing at the tiny organs now visible within the frog's body cavity. "It's like a squishy treasure chest of biology!"

"Those are the intestines," Senku corrected, carefully moving organs aside with a probe. "And here's the stomach, liver, and—"

"The heart!" you interrupted excitedly, pointing at a small, dark structure. "Herbert had a heart after all! You were wrong, Senku!"

"I never said frogs don't have hearts," Senku sighed. "I said they don't have names."

"Same difference," you waved dismissively. "Can I touch it?"

"With the probe, not your finger," Senku cautioned, handing you the tool.

You reached forward, accidentally bumping Senku's arm in your excitement. The sudden movement caused Taiju, who had been leaning in from the other side, to lose his balance slightly. In typical Taiju fashion, his attempt to regain equilibrium involved a dramatic overcompensation that sent him stumbling into you, which created a domino effect ending with you falling forward toward the dissection tray.

Time seemed to slow down as you realized your trajectory. You were going to face-plant directly into poor Herbert.

With a shriek, you twisted sideways, managing to avoid the frog but instead crashing into Senku, who was not prepared for the impact. Both of you went down in a tangle of limbs and shouted accusations.

"WATCH IT!"

"YOU WATCH IT!"

"I WAS STANDING STILL!"

"GRAVITY IS A HARSH MISTRESS!"

You found yourself sprawled across Senku's chest, your face inches from his, both of you wide-eyed with the shock of sudden proximity.

And then you realized.

Your chest was pressed against his.

Your newly sensitive, slightly puffy chest.

Senku's eyes widened further, and you could see the exact moment his brilliant brain processed the situation, his pale cheeks turning a shade of red you'd previously only seen in volcanic eruption demonstrations.

You scrambled backward so fast you nearly dislocated something, just as Mrs. Miyazaki hurried over.

"What happened here?" she demanded, looking between you, a mortified Senku still on the floor, and a horrified Taiju frozen in a half-lunge like some kind of modern art sculpture.

"PHYSICS!" you blurted out. "We were... demonstrating... the principles of... momentum?"

"This is biology class," Mrs. Miyazaki pointed out dryly.

"Biology is just physics with squishy bits!" you argued, your voice at least seven decibels higher than normal.

Mrs. Miyazaki sighed the deep sigh of a teacher who had long ago accepted that having you in her class meant expecting the unexpected. "Just... try to keep your demonstrations contained to your workstation. And help Senku up, please."

You reluctantly extended a hand to Senku, who took it with visible reluctance, his face still flaming red. Once upright, he immediately put at least three feet of distance between you, busying himself with reorganizing the dissection tools that had scattered during the fall.

Taiju finally unfroze. "IS EVERYONE OKAY?" he asked at his usual volume, causing several neighboring groups to jump.

"Fine!" you squeaked. "Totally fine! Never better! Let's just go back to cutting up Herbert, shall we?"

For the remainder of the class, you and Senku performed an elaborate dance of avoiding eye contact, speaking only when necessary, and maintaining the maximum possible distance while still technically working as a group. Taiju, bless him, seemed oblivious to the tension, happily recording observations on your worksheet with his large, messy handwriting.

When the bell finally rang, you practically sprinted from the lab, mumbling something about needing the bathroom. Once safely locked in a stall, you pressed your hands to your flaming cheeks.

"This is the WORST," you groaned to no one in particular. "He FELT them. He KNOWS. He's probably already calculating their volume and density and making GRAPHS."

You stayed in the bathroom until the warning bell rang for the next class, then slunk reluctantly to your English lesson, where thankfully, you sat on the opposite side of the room from Senku.

Throughout the morning, you managed to avoid direct interaction with him, choosing to direct all your communication through Taiju, who seemed happy to relay messages between his friends without questioning why this was suddenly necessary.

When lunchtime arrived, you collected your bagged lunch from your cubby and headed to your usual spot under the large oak tree in the schoolyard. To your dismay, Senku was already there, sitting with his back against the trunk, a science book open on his lap and his lunch barely touched beside him.

You considered retreating, but your grumbling stomach and stubborn pride wouldn't allow it. This was YOUR tree too, darn it! You weren't going to let a little biological development and mortifying physical contact ruin your favorite lunch spot.

Approaching with as much dignity as you could muster, you dropped your lunch bag a respectable distance from Senku and sat down.

"Hello, fellow carbon-based lifeform," you greeted stiffly. "Pleasant atmospheric conditions today."

Senku looked up from his book, his expression unreadable. "The humidity is 78%, which is suboptimal for human comfort."

"Ah. Yes. Good point. Humidity. Bad." You nodded vigorously, as if this was the most fascinating observation you'd ever heard.

An awkward silence descended, broken only by the crinkling of your lunch bag as you extracted a slightly squashed sandwich.

Finally, Senku closed his book with a sigh. "This is ridiculous."

"What's ridiculous? Nothing's ridiculous. Everything is perfectly normal and not at all awkward," you said, speaking approximately three times faster than usual.

"Your thoracic development is causing you significant psychological distress, and now it's interfering with our routine interactions," Senku stated matter-of-factly. "It's inefficient."

You nearly choked on your sandwich. "Can you NOT refer to my... SITUATION... as 'thoracic development'? It sounds like I'm growing an extra head!"

"Would you prefer 'breast development'?" Senku asked, with such clinical detachment that it somehow made it worse.

"I'd prefer we never speak of it again!" you hissed, glancing around to make sure no one was within earshot. "Ever! For all eternity!"

Senku frowned, seemingly genuinely confused. "Why? It's a normal biological process. Approximately 50% of the human population experiences it."

"Because it's EMBARRASSING!" you whispered fiercely. "And PERSONAL! And you FELT THEM!"

The moment the words left your mouth, you wanted to crawl into a hole and never emerge. Senku's cheeks immediately reddened again, his usual composure cracking.

"That was... an accident," he managed, looking anywhere but at you. "And irrelevant to the scientific process."

"Well, good! Keep it that way!" you demanded, crossing your arms defensively across your chest. "No experiments! No observations! No data collection!"

"I wasn't planning—" Senku began, looking offended.

"WHERE ARE MY FAVORITE SCIENCE FRIENDS?" Taiju's booming voice interrupted as he bounded toward you, carrying a lunch box nearly as big as his head.

You had never been so grateful for Taiju's impeccable timing and complete lack of volume control.

"TAIJU!" you greeted with exaggerated enthusiasm. "SIT HERE! RIGHT HERE!" You patted the ground directly between you and Senku.

Taiju happily complied, apparently not noticing how you had positioned him as a human buffer zone. He immediately launched into a detailed account of how he'd helped the gym teacher move equipment during the previous period, and how he'd carried "like, SEVEN dodge balls at once!"

The tension gradually eased as Taiju's cheerful chatter filled the silence. By the time you'd finished your lunch, you were feeling almost normal again, even joining in to debate the important question of whether dodge balls would make effective projectiles in a zombie apocalypse.

"They're too soft," Senku argued. "The impact force would be insufficient to cause meaningful damage to moving targets."

"But if we FROZE them first?" you countered, warming to the hypothesis. "Sub-zero dodge balls of doom!"

"Where would you get freezing equipment during a zombie apocalypse?" Senku challenged.

"I'D PROTECT YOU BOTH!" Taiju declared, flexing his impressive-for-a-fifth-grader biceps. "No zombie would get past me!"

By the time the lunch bell rang, signaling a return to classes, the earlier awkwardness had mostly dissipated. As you gathered your trash, Senku cleared his throat.

"I acquired some data that might be relevant to your... situation," he said quietly.

Your eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What KIND of data?"

"My father purchased an educational book last year when he decided he should prepare for 'the changes ahead.' It contains information that might alleviate your concerns." He reached into his backpack and discreetly pulled out a slim volume titled "Growing Up: What's Happening to My Body?"

You stared at the book in horror. "You want me to read THAT? HERE? NOW?"

"Obviously not here," Senku rolled his eyes. "You can borrow it. The female development section starts on page 43."

"I don't need—" you began protesting, but curiosity was already getting the better of you. Reluctantly, you snatched the book and stuffed it into your backpack. "If anyone sees this, I'm telling them it's yours."

"It technically is mine," Senku pointed out.

"Details," you waved dismissively.

The afternoon classes passed uneventfully, though you were acutely aware of the book burning a hole in your backpack. During the final period, art class, you found yourself seated at a table with Senku and two other students, working on a project involving papier-mâché planets.

"Mars needs more red," Senku critiqued, eyeing your creation skeptically.

"Mars needs more PERSONALITY," you argued, adding a tiny smiley face to your increasingly inaccurate representation of the red planet. "Scientific accuracy is your department. I'm the creative visionary of this relationship."

"I wouldn't call that 'vision.' Perhaps 'hallucination' would be more accurate," Senku muttered, but with the familiar half-smile that told you things were returning to normal between you.

"Just for that, I'm naming my planet 'Mars Ishigami' after its grumpy, spiky appearance," you declared, adding more paper spikes to your creation.

After school, you, Senku, and Taiju gathered at the school gates as usual, discussing plans for the afternoon.

"We should work on our science fair project," Senku suggested. "The deadline is in three weeks, and we've barely started the experimental phase."

"Can't today," you sighed dramatically. "I have to go to the mall with my mom. For... stuff."

Both boys looked at you curiously, unused to you turning down science activities.

"What kind of stuff?" Taiju asked innocently.

"Just... girl stuff," you mumbled, suddenly fascinated by your shoelaces.

A look of understanding crossed Senku's face. "Ah. You're acquiring appropriate undergarments for your developing—"

"FINISH THAT SENTENCE AND I WILL LICK YOUR ENTIRE FACE," you threatened, glaring daggers at him.

Senku immediately shut his mouth, eyes wide with genuine alarm. Your threats involving licking were never idle—as he had learned the hard way during The Great Petri Dish Standoff, an incident that had resulted in you being banned from the science lab for a week and Senku disinfecting his calculator approximately 37 times.

"I don't get it," Taiju frowned, looking between you two in confusion.

"That's okay, Taiju," you patted his arm reassuringly. "Some mysteries of the universe are meant to remain unsolved."

"Like why girls go to the mall?" he asked.

"Exactly like that."

You spotted your mom's car pulling up to the curb. "Gotta go! See you tomorrow! Don't solve science without me!" You began jogging toward the car, then turned back briefly. "And Senku! I'll return your book tomorrow. Maybe. If I don't burn it first."

Senku rolled his eyes. "Burning educational material would be a waste of valuable resources."

"THAT'S WHY IT'S THE PERFECT THREAT!" you called back before hopping into your mom's car.

As predicted, the mall trip was for the exact purpose Senku had begun to announce. Your mom took you to a department store and led you to a section filled with what she called "training bras" but what you called "unnecessary torture devices." After much complaining, you agreed to try a few, eventually selecting the least objectionable options—one with tiny stars on it, and another with a subtle science-themed pattern that the salesperson assured was "very unique."

"This is still THE WORST," you informed your mom as you exited the store with your purchases hidden safely in an unmarked bag. "But at least the space one is kind of cool. If I HAVE to wear one, it might as well have stars on it."

"That's the spirit," your mom smiled, ruffling your hair. "Ice cream to celebrate this milestone?"

"ICE CREAM MAKES EVERYTHING BETTER!" you agreed enthusiastically. "Even biological betrayal!"

That evening, after dinner, you finally worked up the courage to peek at Senku's book. Despite your initial reluctance, you found yourself engrossed in the straightforward explanations and reassuring information. By the time you finished the relevant chapter, you felt significantly better about the whole situation. Not that you'd ever admit it to Senku, of course.

The next morning, you arrived at school wearing one of your new "training contraptions" under your favorite NASA t-shirt. It felt weird, but not as terrible as you'd feared. And more importantly, it helped reduce the sensitivity that had been causing you so much discomfort.

You spotted Senku at his locker and marched up to him with newfound confidence.

"Your book was actually useful," you admitted grudgingly, keeping your voice low as you slipped it back into his backpack. "But if you ever tell anyone you lent it to me, I'll tell everyone you still sleep with a stuffed chemistry set."

"I don't have a stuffed chemistry set," Senku pointed out.

"Yes, but they don't know that," you replied with a mischievous grin.

Senku shook his head, but that tiny smirk appeared again. "Your deviousness would be more impressive if it were applied to actual scientific endeavors instead of elaborate threats."

"Why choose? I contain multitudes," you declared grandly, striking a pose that sent a nearby sixth-grader scrambling to avoid collision with your wildly gesticulating arms.

As you headed to class together, you felt a weight lift from your shoulders. Yes, your body was changing in weird and occasionally uncomfortable ways. Yes, it was embarrassing sometimes. But you had good friends—one who would lend you educational materials without (much) teasing, and another who would happily remain oblivious to prevent additional awkwardness.

And most importantly, you still had science adventures ahead—frogs to dissect, planets to build, and experiments to conduct. Puberty might be inconvenient, but it wouldn't stop you from being the force of nature that kept Senku on his toes and made Taiju laugh so hard he occasionally snorted milk out his nose.

Just as you reached the classroom door, Taiju came barreling down the hallway, waving excitedly.

"GUYS! GUYS! GUESS WHAT? Mrs. Miyazaki said we can keep one of the preserved frogs for our science project if we want!"

You and Senku exchanged glances, a mischievous grin spreading across your face.

"Herbert lives again!" you declared dramatically. "ZOMBIE FROG PROJECT COMMENCE!"

"That's not scientifically—" Senku began.

"SHHH!" you pressed a finger to his lips. "Don't crush the dream with your 'facts' and 'reality'!"

As you removed your finger, Senku gave you a look that was half exasperation, half amusement—his standard expression when dealing with your antics.

"Fine," he conceded with a sigh. "We can call the project 'Herbert' if it means you'll actually focus on the real scientific principles involved."

"DEAL!" you exclaimed, grabbing both boys by their arms and dragging them into the classroom. "This is going to be the best science project ever! Herbert would be so proud!"

"He's dead," Senku reminded you flatly.

"Details!" you sang, skipping to your seat with renewed energy. "Just tiny, insignificant details!"

As you settled into your chair, you felt a new sense of confidence. Bodies changed, friendships evolved, and sometimes you accidentally crashed into your friends during frog dissections. But through it all, some things remained constant: Senku would always be exasperatingly smart, Taiju would always be enthusiastically supportive, and you would always be the one that kept their scientific adventures interesting.

And if anyone dared to comment on your changing body, well... you had licking threats prepared for every occasion. After all, you were a girl of many talents—science, creativity, and biological warfare through strategic saliva deployment.

Life was weird, but you wouldn't have it any other way.

Chapter Text

It started with a phone call.

"I can't make it to our science experiment today," you announced breathlessly into the receiver. "Something came up. VERY important business. Can't reschedule. Gotta go, BYE!"

Then came the click of disconnection, leaving Senku holding his home phone with a perplexed expression that rarely graced his features. He stared at the now-silent receiver as if it might explain your bizarre behavior.

This was the third time in two weeks you had canceled plans last minute. Under normal circumstances, wild horses couldn't drag you away from science activities—especially ones involving potentially explosive chemical reactions, which today's definitely did.

Something was very wrong in the universe.

Senku dialed Taiju's number, tapping his foot impatiently as he waited for his friend to pick up.

"HELLO? SENKU? IS THAT YOU?" Taiju's voice boomed through the receiver with enough volume to make Senku wince and hold the phone several inches from his ear.

"Yes, it's me. You don't need to shout into the phone, Taiju. The technology amplifies your voice automatically."

"OH! Sorry! I mean... sorry," Taiju adjusted his volume approximately two decibels lower. "Is [Y/N] there yet? I'm so excited about the explosion experiment!"

"That's why I'm calling. She canceled. Again."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, so uncharacteristic of Taiju that Senku briefly wondered if the connection had been lost.

"But... she LOVES explosions," Taiju finally said, sounding genuinely confused. "Remember when we made that baking soda volcano and she insisted on adding red food coloring so it looked like 'actual magma' and then she added way too much vinegar and it got all over Ms. Honda's shoes?"

"I remember the detention we all received very clearly," Senku replied dryly. "Which is why I find her absence statistically improbable. This is the third time in fourteen days she's canceled our plans at the last minute."

"Maybe she's sick?" Taiju suggested.

"She sounded breathless, not congested. And she specifically mentioned having 'important business' that couldn't be rescheduled."

Another unusual pause from Taiju. "Do you think... something's wrong?"

Senku frowned, mentally calculating the odds. "[Y/N] typically shares every detail of her life with excessive enthusiasm, often at inappropriate volumes and with wild hand gestures that endanger nearby objects. This secretive behavior represents a 97.8% deviation from her established pattern."

"So... something's definitely wrong," Taiju translated.

"It appears so."

"THEN WE HAVE TO HELP HER!" Taiju declared, his volume returning to its natural state of eardrum-threatening. "SHE'S OUR FRIEND!"

Senku sighed, already knowing resistance was futile when Taiju got like this. "What exactly do you propose? She's clearly avoiding us for some reason."

"WE'LL INVESTIGATE!" Taiju announced with the confidence of someone who had just discovered a brilliant solution. "Like DETECTIVES!"

"Detectives," Senku repeated flatly.

"Yes! We'll follow her and find out what's going on and then we can help her with whatever the problem is!"

Senku pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're suggesting we spy on our friend."

"Not spy! INVESTIGATE! It's different because our intentions are good!" Taiju insisted. "What if she's in trouble? What if she's being BLACKMAILED? What if ALIENS have replaced her with a clone that LOOKS like [Y/N] but doesn't like explosions???"

"The probability of extraterrestrial involvement is approximately zero," Senku pointed out.

"BUT NOT EXACTLY ZERO!" Taiju countered triumphantly. "So you admit it's possible!"

Senku realized he had walked directly into Taiju's peculiar brand of logic. "Fine. The alien clone hypothesis aside, I acknowledge that her behavior is concerning. What's your plan?"

"I'll be at your house in ten minutes! We're going on a STAKEOUT!"

Before Senku could object or point out that they had no idea where you actually were, Taiju had hung up. With another sigh, Senku returned the phone to its cradle and went to change out of his lab coat. He had a feeling this was going to be a long day.

Exactly nine minutes and forty-seven seconds later (Senku checked), Taiju was at his door, wearing what appeared to be his interpretation of detective attire: a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, a pair of his father's sunglasses that were comically large on his face, and a trench coat that dragged on the ground behind him.

"Where did you even get that coat?" Senku asked, deeply regretting his life choices.

"My uncle's closet!" Taiju beamed. "I brought you a disguise too!"

From beneath the voluminous coat, Taiju produced a deerstalker hat and a magnifying glass. Senku stared at the offerings with an expression of utter disdain.

"I'm not wearing that."

"But all the best detectives have hats! It's for the investigation!"

"No."

"PLEASE? For [Y/N]?"

Senku's resistance crumbled slightly at the genuine concern in Taiju's voice. With a grimace that could have curdled milk, he snatched the hat and reluctantly placed it on his head.

"The magnifying glass is at least scientifically functional," he muttered, taking it as well. "But I draw the line at the hat."

"You're already wearing it," Taiju pointed out helpfully.

"I'm HOLDING it. There's a difference," Senku argued, immediately removing the offending headwear.

"Fine," Taiju conceded. "But at least put it in your pocket in case we need emergency disguises!"

Rather than waste energy explaining why a deerstalker hat did not constitute an effective disguise, Senku shoved it into his jacket pocket. "Let's get this over with. Do you have any actual information on [Y/N]'s whereabouts, or is your plan to wander the city randomly until we happen upon her?"

"I have a LEAD!" Taiju announced proudly, pulling a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. "I called [Y/N]'s mom and told her we were working on a surprise for [Y/N] and needed to know where she was so we wouldn't accidentally run into her!"

Senku's eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise. "That's... actually clever."

"I KNOW!" Taiju beamed. "Her mom said she went to the mall to meet someone, and she'd be at the food court at 2 PM!"

Senku checked his watch. It was 1:30. "The mall is a fifteen-minute walk. If we leave now, we can arrive before her scheduled meeting and establish observation positions."

"OPERATION FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH [Y/N] IS GO!" Taiju pumped his fist in the air enthusiastically.

"We need a more efficient name," Senku muttered as he grabbed his house key.

"Operation... F.O.W.W.W.[Y/N]?" Taiju suggested, spelling out the acronym with great concentration.

"Let's just go."

The walk to the mall was filled with Taiju's increasingly wild theories about what might be causing your unusual behavior, ranging from "maybe she's training for a secret martial arts tournament" to "what if she accidentally discovered a dinosaur egg and has to keep it warm by sitting on it every day at exactly this time?" Senku responded to each hypothesis with a percentage indicating its probability, most of which hovered around 0.0001%.

When they arrived at the mall, Senku insisted on a methodical approach.

"The food court has three entrances," he explained, pointing to each one. "We need to position ourselves where we can observe [Y/N] without being detected."

"I'll hide behind that big plant!" Taiju pointed to a large decorative fern near one entrance.

"You're nearly six feet tall in a trench coat," Senku pointed out. "You'll look like a sentient plant monster."

"That's even BETTER cover! No one expects a plant monster!"

Senku closed his eyes briefly, summoning patience. "Let's compromise. We'll sit at this table near the bubble tea stand. It gives us a clear view of all three entrances while appearing to be normal mall patrons."

"Smart thinking!" Taiju nodded vigorously. "Should I take notes? Real detectives always take notes!"

"If it keeps you occupied," Senku agreed, steering Taiju toward their chosen observation post.

They sat down, Taiju's enormous coat pooling around the chair like a fabric tsunami. Senku positioned himself facing the main entrance, while Taiju pulled out a small notepad and pencil.

"Surveillance log, Day One," Taiju whispered dramatically as he wrote. "The suspects are nowhere in sight. Detective Ishigami appears grumpy but determined. Detective Big T remains handsome and vigilant."

"Are you narrating our current situation?" Senku asked, already feeling a headache forming.

"All good detectives keep detailed records!" Taiju explained. "I'm documenting our investigation for posterity!"

"Just keep your voice down. [Y/N] could arrive any—" Senku stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a familiar figure entering the food court.

It was you, but not as they typically saw you. Instead of your usual science t-shirt and comfortable pants, you were wearing a dress with a pattern of tiny planets and stars. Your hair was neatly styled instead of in its usual state of "recently electrocuted" that resulted from your enthusiastic approach to science experiments. Most shocking of all, you appeared to be wearing a small amount of makeup.

"Is that... lip gloss?" Senku muttered in disbelief.

"WHERE?" Taiju swiveled his head around so fast he nearly toppled the chair. "I DON'T— MMPH!"

Senku slapped a hand over Taiju's mouth, dragging them both down to crouch behind their table. "Volume control, remember? Stealth mission!"

Taiju nodded solemnly, eyes wide above Senku's restraining hand. When Senku cautiously removed it, Taiju whispered (which for him was the volume of a normal person's speaking voice), "That's [Y/N], but she looks... different."

"She's clearly dressed for a social occasion," Senku observed, cautiously peering over the edge of the table. "The question is: what kind of social occasion requires her to miss our experiment?"

They watched as you checked your watch, then scanned the food court with an expression of nervous anticipation. Your foot tapped rapidly against the floor, a tell-tale sign of your impatience.

"Who's she waiting for?" Taiju wondered aloud.

They didn't have to wait long for an answer. A boy approached your table—a boy neither of them recognized. He appeared to be slightly older, maybe around thirteen or fourteen, with neat dark hair and a confident smile. When you spotted him, your face lit up with an enthusiasm typically reserved for particularly volatile chemical reactions.

"[Y/N] KNOWS A MIDDLE SCHOOLER?" Taiju gasped, so shocked he forgot to whisper.

Senku yanked him back down before you could spot them. "Based on his height and developmental markers, I'd estimate he's in seventh grade," Senku confirmed, his eyes narrowing as he processed this new data.

"But... why would she be meeting an older boy in secret?" Taiju looked genuinely perplexed.

Senku's eyes widened as pieces of evidence clicked together in his mind: the cancellations, the secrecy, the dress, the makeup. "It's statistically probable that this is a... romantic encounter."

"A WHAT?" Taiju's volume control abandoned him entirely.

Several nearby shoppers turned to stare at the spectacle of a large boy in an oversized trench coat shouting while crouched behind a food court table. Senku grabbed Taiju's collar and dragged him beneath an adjacent empty table, seeking better cover.

"A date," Senku clarified in a harsh whisper. "She's on a date with that boy."

"But... but... [Y/N] doesn't date! She says boys are 'fascinating scientific specimens best observed from a safe distance'! I heard her tell Naomi that last month when Naomi asked if she thought Kento was cute!"

"Evidently, her hypothesis has evolved," Senku muttered, feeling an unexpected twinge of... something. Annoyance, perhaps? Scientific curiosity about this statistical anomaly? Whatever it was, he didn't care for it.

They peered out cautiously to see you laughing at something the boy said, your hands gesturing animatedly as you launched into what appeared to be one of your trademark enthusiastic stories. The boy was smiling, clearly entertained by whatever wild tale you were spinning.

"She canceled our EXPLOSION EXPERIMENT for a BOY?" Taiju looked genuinely wounded by this revelation. "Why wouldn't she tell us?"

A new, troubling thought occurred to Senku. "Does [Y/N]'s mother know about this boy?"

Taiju's eyes widened. "Her mom said she was meeting 'someone'... but she didn't say who!"

"And [Y/N] has been secretive," Senku added, the pieces falling into place. "It's logical to conclude that her parents are unaware of this... association."

"So she's SNEAKING AROUND?" Taiju gasped, scandalized. "That's... that's..."

"Developmentally typical but potentially concerning," Senku finished. "Particularly if this older boy is encouraging her to engage in deception."

Taiju's expression shifted from shock to determination. "We need to PROTECT her! What if this guy is a bad influence? What if he wants her to... to... SKIP SCHOOL or EAT CANDY BEFORE DINNER?"

Senku might have found Taiju's idea of rebellion amusing under different circumstances. As it was, he found himself nodding. "We need more data before drawing conclusions. Let's continue observation."

They watched as you and the mystery boy stood up from the table and began walking toward the exit near the arcade.

"They're on the move!" Taiju whisper-shouted. "We can't lose them!"

What followed was perhaps the least subtle surveillance operation in the history of detective work. Taiju's attempt at "casual walking" involved an exaggerated swinging of arms and an awkward side-step movement that made him look like he urgently needed a bathroom. Senku, for his part, maintained a more natural gait but couldn't prevent Taiju from occasionally diving behind trash cans or display mannequins whenever you glanced in their general direction.

They followed you and the boy to the mall arcade, where the two of you stopped in front of a particularly flashy game cabinet with pulsing lights and booming sound effects.

"Space Defenders Ultimate Showdown?" Senku read the title with mild surprise. "That's a notoriously difficult game."

"[Y/N] is TERRIBLE at video games," Taiju noted, remembering the disastrous afternoon when you had attempted to play racing games at his house and had somehow managed to drive your virtual car off the track, through a glitch in the wall, and into an endless void that required restarting the console.

Yet there you were, eyes bright with competitive fire as the boy inserted coins into the machine. As the game started, you grabbed the controls with surprising confidence, your fingers moving with precision Senku had only previously observed when you were adjusting bunsen burners to achieve the perfect flame.

"She's... good at this?" Taiju said in disbelief as your character on screen executed a perfect combo attack against an alien spacecraft.

"Statistically improbable," Senku agreed, watching as your score climbed rapidly. "Unless..."

"Unless what?" Taiju pressed.

"Unless she's been practicing. Secretly."

They exchanged meaningful glances, both reaching the same conclusion: you had been ditching science experiments to practice VIDEO GAMES with an OLDER BOY.

The situation was even more serious than they had initially calculated.

As they watched, the boy leaned closer to you, pointing at something on the screen. You nodded enthusiastically, adjusting your strategy accordingly. Your shoulder brushed against his, and neither of you flinched away from the contact.

"That's level 17," Senku noted with reluctant admiration. "Most players never get past level 9."

"How do you know so much about this game?" Taiju asked.

"I studied its algorithmic patterns while developing a theoretical model for predictive gaming responses," Senku replied automatically, which was his way of saying he'd gone through an intense Space Defenders phase the previous summer but would rather die than admit it.

The game finally ended when your ship was overwhelmed by a swarm of pixel aliens, your character dissolving in a shower of colorful explosions. The "GAME OVER" screen flashed, displaying an impressive high score.

You turned to the boy with a triumphant expression, executing what appeared to be a victorious dance that involved much arm-flailing and hip-wiggling, nearly knocking over a nearby preteen in the process. The boy laughed, clearly amused by your antics rather than embarrassed.

"He's not running away," Taiju observed with surprise. "When you did that dance at the science fair last year, three judges took a step back."

"It was four judges," Senku corrected. "And the principal."

They continued their surveillance as you and the boy moved from game to game, eventually stopping at a crane machine filled with plush toys. The boy inserted a coin and took control of the claw, maneuvering it carefully over a particularly fuzzy-looking stuffed creature.

"He's going for the octopus," Senku noted. "Statistically the most difficult prize to secure due to its irregular shape and the weakness of the machine's gripping mechanism."

To their shock, the boy successfully captured the plush octopus, the claw maintaining its grip all the way to the drop chute. You bounced with excitement as he retrieved the prize and presented it to you with a flourish.

Your reaction was explosive—literally. You jumped so enthusiastically that you knocked over a nearby garbage can, causing a cascade of empty soda cups and popcorn containers to clatter across the arcade floor. The boy didn't seem fazed by this; instead, he laughed and helped you right the trash can while you clutched the plush octopus like it was a precious scientific artifact.

"She looks... happy," Taiju said softly, an unusual note of thoughtfulness in his voice.

Senku didn't respond, too busy analyzing the unfamiliar sensation in his chest. It was scientifically fascinating, this strange mixture of concern, confusion, and something else he couldn't quite catalog. For analysis purposes only, of course.

Their observation was interrupted when you and the boy headed toward the exit that led to the mall's east wing. Scrambling to follow without being spotted, Taiju's foot caught on his trailing coat, sending him tumbling forward into a display of keychains. The entire rack collapsed with a spectacular crash, colorful keychains flying in all directions like shrapnel from an explosion.

The commotion drew the attention of everyone in the vicinity—including you. Your head whipped around, eyes widening as you spotted your two friends: Senku frozen mid-step, and Taiju sprawled dramatically amid a sea of cartoon character keychains, his oversized trench coat tangled around his legs.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as you stared at each other across the arcade. Then your expression shifted from shock to outrage, your cheeks flushing with color.

"YOU TWO!" you shrieked, pointing an accusatory finger. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

Several arcade patrons looked up in alarm at your volume, which had managed to penetrate even the cacophony of game sounds. The boy beside you looked confused, glancing between you and your friends with raised eyebrows.

"WE CAN EXPLAIN!" Taiju called back, attempting to extricate himself from the keychain disaster. "WE WERE JUST—"

"SPYING ON ME?" you interrupted, marching toward them with the righteous fury of someone whose privacy had been thoroughly violated. "FOLLOWING ME? WEARING RIDICULOUS DISGUISES?" You gestured wildly at Taiju's coat, which he was still trying to untangle from around his ankles.

"Not spying," Senku corrected calmly, despite the growing awareness that this situation was rapidly deteriorating. "Conducting observational research regarding your atypical behavioral patterns."

"OH, WELL THAT MAKES IT COMPLETELY FINE THEN!" you shot back, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Totally normal to STALK YOUR FRIEND instead of, I don't know, ASKING THEM WHAT'S GOING ON?"

"We did ask!" Taiju protested, finally upright but still surrounded by fallen keychains. "You kept canceling plans and making excuses! We were WORRIED!"

"So worried that you decided to follow me to the mall and hide behind plants like CREEPY WEIRDOS?" You crossed your arms, the plush octopus dangling from your grip like a soft, fuzzy witness to this confrontation.

The boy who had been silently observing this exchange finally spoke up. "Uh, [Y/N]? Are these your friends?"

"ALLEGEDLY!" you snapped, still glaring at Senku and Taiju. "Although FRIENDS don't typically engage in SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS!"

"To be fair," Senku pointed out, "friends don't typically engage in systematic deception either."

That was evidently the wrong thing to say. Your eyes narrowed dangerously, a look Senku recognized as the precursor to one of your more spectacular outbursts.

"I'M the one being deceptive?" you sputtered. "That's rich coming from someone LITERALLY HIDING BEHIND A FAKE PLANT FIVE MINUTES AGO!"

"It was a real plant, actually," Taiju corrected helpfully. "Well-maintained too. I think it's a type of ficus—"

"NOT THE POINT, TAIJU!" you cut him off.

The mall security guard was now eyeing all of you with growing suspicion, particularly Taiju in his detective coat surrounded by scattered merchandise. Recognizing the need for de-escalation, Senku made a strategic decision.

"Perhaps we should continue this discussion elsewhere," he suggested, nodding meaningfully toward the approaching guard.

You followed his gaze and grimaced. "Fine. But this isn't over. Not by a LONG shot." You turned to the boy, your expression softening. "Hiroki, I'm really sorry, but I need to deal with... this." You gestured vaguely at your friends.

The boy—Hiroki, apparently—smiled understandingly. "It's okay. I should head home anyway. My mom wants me back by four." He glanced at Senku and Taiju with undisguised curiosity. "Your friends seem... interesting."

"'Interesting' is one word for it," you muttered. "'Soon-to-be-deceased' is another possibility."

Hiroki laughed and handed you a small piece of paper. "Same time next week? I can show you the level 18 strategy."

"Definitely!" you nodded eagerly, tucking the paper into your pocket. "I'll practice the combo moves."

With a final wave, Hiroki departed, leaving you alone with your amateur detective friends and a very annoyed security guard who was now demanding that Taiju clean up the keychain catastrophe.

After a tense ten minutes of keychain retrieval (during which you pointedly refused to help, instead standing with arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently), the three of you exited the mall. The moment you were clear of the building, you rounded on them.

"EXPLAIN. NOW."

Taiju and Senku exchanged glances, silently negotiating who would speak first. Taiju lost.

"WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" he blurted out. "You kept canceling plans and acting weird and Senku said it was a 97.8% deviation from your normal behavior and I thought maybe aliens had replaced you with a clone but Senku said that was statistically improbable but still not COMPLETELY impossible and—"

"Breathe, Taiju," you interrupted, your anger visibly deflating in the face of his genuine concern. "So you were worried. That's... kind of nice, I guess. But it doesn't explain why you didn't just ASK ME what was going on."

"We did," Senku pointed out. "You provided evasive non-answers and terminated conversations prematurely."

"I did not!" you protested, then paused, replaying recent interactions in your mind. "Okay, FINE, maybe I was a little evasive. But that doesn't give you the right to SPY on me!"

"In our defense," Senku said, "your secretive behavior and association with an unknown older male raised legitimate concerns."

You stared at him blankly for a moment, then understanding dawned on your face, followed by an expression of utter disbelief. "Wait... did you think... Oh my god, did you think Hiroki was my BOYFRIEND?"

The way you emphasized the word, like it was simultaneously the most ridiculous and hilarious concept imaginable, made both boys shift uncomfortably.

"The evidence suggested a romantic engagement," Senku stated, his tone clinical despite the slight pink tinge appearing on his cheeks. "The dress, the makeup, the secrecy—"

You burst into laughter so explosive that a passing pigeon took flight in alarm. "You thought—" you wheezed between fits of giggles, "—that I was secretly DATING someone? That I was missing SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS for ROMANCE?"

"It was a logical conclusion based on available data!" Senku defended, increasingly annoyed by your amusement at his hypothesis.

"Oh, this is TOO GOOD," you gasped, wiping tears of laughter from your eyes. "I can't believe the great Senku Ishigami, master of deduction, thought I was having some secret mall romance!"

"If he's not your boyfriend," Taiju asked, clearly confused, "then who is he? And why all the secrets?"

You sighed, your laughter finally subsiding. "Hiroki is my VIDEO GAME TUTOR, you absolute doofuses."

Blank stares met this declaration.

"My video game tutor," you repeated slowly, as if explaining a complex concept to particularly dense students. "The person who is teaching me how to not totally suck at Space Defenders."

"But... why?" Taiju asked, genuinely perplexed. "You always said video games were 'a waste of perfectly good finger dexterity that could be used for mixing volatile chemicals instead.'"

"Well, YEAH, but that was before the Science Olympiad announced this year's special event," you explained, as if this should have been obvious.

Senku's eyes widened with sudden understanding. "The Reflex Challenge."

"EXACTLY!" you exclaimed, pointing at Senku triumphantly. "This year's special event is testing hand-eye coordination and reaction time through video game-like challenges! And I'm TERRIBLE at that stuff! Remember when I tried to play that racing game at Taiju's house and somehow glitched my car into another dimension?"

"We had to buy a new memory card," Taiju nodded solemnly.

"So I knew I needed to practice, but I didn't want anyone to know because it's EMBARRASSING, okay? Me, asking for help! Learning something from scratch! Being BAD at something science-adjacent!" You shuddered dramatically. "I have a REPUTATION to maintain!"

"But why Hiroki?" Senku asked, still fitting pieces together. "And why the secrecy from your parents?"

"Hiroki holds the regional high score in Space Defenders," you explained. "His reaction time is INSANE. I met him at the arcade last month when I was doing reconnaissance on the game, and he offered to teach me."

"And your parents?" Taiju prompted.

You looked slightly sheepish. "My mom thinks video games are a waste of time. She doesn't want me 'rotting my brain with mindless entertainment' when I could be reading or doing experiments." You sighed. "I knew she wouldn't understand that this was for SCIENCE, so I just told her I was meeting friends at the mall. Not technically a lie!"

The pieces had finally come together. Your secret meetings, the cancellations, the dress (which you had borrowed from your cousin for picture day and repurposed because "it has SPACE on it, perfect for Space Defenders!"), the makeup ("Hiroki's sister works at the cosmetics counter and gave me a free sample when I was waiting for him last week; I was just trying it out!")—it all made sense now.

"So let me get this straight," Senku summarized, looking both relieved and annoyed at having miscalculated so thoroughly. "You've been ditching our science experiments to secretly train for the Science Olympiad special event, under the tutelage of a middle school video game champion, while hiding it from both us and your parents because you were embarrassed about needing help?"

"When you say it like that, it sounds ridiculous," you admitted.

"IT IS RIDICULOUS!" Taiju exclaimed. "We could have HELPED you! I'm pretty good at Space Defenders!"

"Level 5 is not 'pretty good,' Taiju," you pointed out. "Hiroki reaches level 20 regularly."

"Why the dress?" Senku asked, still trying to reconcile all the evidence.

"Oh, that," you shrugged. "Today's actually Hiroki's birthday. I wanted to look nice since we were celebrating with ice cream after practice. The dress has planets on it! Space theme for Space Defenders! I'm not completely fashion-illiterate!"

A moment of silence fell as both boys processed this information, realizing how spectacularly wrong their investigation had been.

"I can't believe you thought I had a BOYFRIEND," you repeated, starting to giggle again. "A secret boyfriend I was hiding from my mom! What am I, the protagonist in some teen drama?"

"The evidence was compelling," Senku muttered defensively.

"Wait," Taiju said slowly, a new thought occurring to him. "If you were just getting video game lessons... why did he give you a stuffed octopus?"

"Because it's AWESOME?" you replied, holding up the plush creature. "Look at its little tentacles! Besides, it was a fair trade. I helped him with his science project last week when he mentioned he was struggling with it. Turns out seventh-grade biology is WAY easier than fifth-grade science experiments when Senku sets the difficulty level to 'borderline illegal.'"

"My experiments are perfectly legal," Senku protested. "Just occasionally... ethically ambiguous."

You rolled your eyes. "Anyway, the octopus was just a thank-you for helping him get an A on his project. No romance, no secret dating, just good old-fashioned academic quid pro quo."

As the truth settled around them, you couldn't help but feel a mixture of annoyance and affection for your ridiculous friends. They had been worried enough about you to engage in a spectacularly poorly executed surveillance operation, all because they cared.

"You know," you said, softening slightly, "if you were that concerned, you could have just cornered me after class and demanded answers like NORMAL friends."

"We considered that approach," Senku admitted, "but Taiju was convinced you'd been replaced by an alien clone."

"ONLY BRIEFLY!" Taiju defended himself. "And I wasn't TOTALLY wrong! You WERE acting weird and secretive!"

You sighed dramatically. "Fine. I should have just told you what was going on. But you have to admit, it's a little embarrassing to say 'Hey guys, I need to skip our awesome explosion experiment because I'm taking VIDEO GAME LESSONS from a seventh-grader.'"

"It is pretty funny," Taiju agreed with a smile.

"So," you said, shifting your weight and looking slightly hopeful, "is the explosion experiment still an option for today? Or did you guys waste all your detective time following me around the mall?"

Senku checked his watch. "My father won't be home for another three hours. The experimental setup is still prepared."

"EXPLOSIONS ARE BACK ON THE MENU!" you cheered, pumping your fist in the air and accidentally bopping yourself in the face with the plush octopus. "OW! Note to self: excessive celebration with tentacled objects is a safety hazard."

As the three of you began walking toward Senku's house, you couldn't resist one more jab. "So... did you guys really think I'd ditch science for a BOY? ME? The girl who once said dating was 'just primitive mammalian bonding rituals with extra steps'?"

"You also once said you'd never voluntarily play video games, yet here we are," Senku pointed out.

"That's DIFFERENT. Video games are now a SCIENCE TOOL. Like a digital bunsen burner. Or an electronic microscope."

"I don't think that comparison is scientifically valid."

"YOUR FACE isn't scientifically valid," you retorted automatically.

"That doesn't even make sense as an insult," Senku sighed.

"YOUR FACE doesn't make sense as an insult!"

Taiju beamed as he walked beside his bickering friends, relieved that the natural order of the universe had been restored. No alien clones, no secret boyfriends, just his best friends arguing about nonsense on the way to create potentially hazardous chemical reactions. All was right with the world.

"Next time you need help with anything," Taiju said, interrupting your increasingly nonsensical face-based insult exchange with Senku, "just tell us! We're your friends! We won't judge you!"

You gave him a skeptical look. "Senku judges everyone. It's his default setting."

"I don't judge," Senku protested with a dismissive wave. "I merely evaluate based on observable evidence and statistical probability."

"That's literally the definition of judging," you pointed out, clutching your plush octopus to your chest.

"ANYWAY," Taiju interjected, throwing his arms around both your shoulders and nearly toppling all three of you in the process, "the important thing is that [Y/N] isn't dating anyone, isn't replaced by an alien clone, and we still get to do our explosion experiment!"

"Your priorities are admirably straightforward," Senku remarked, ducking out from under Taiju's arm before he could be crushed.

You grinned, falling into step beside your friends. "So, did you guys learn anything valuable from your super-secret detective mission today?"

"I learned that surveillance is exhausting," Senku admitted. "And that Taiju is possibly the least stealthy human being on the planet."

"HEY! I was doing my BEST detective work!" Taiju protested.

"Your 'best detective work' involved hiding behind a plant that was approximately half your size and wearing a trench coat in the middle of spring," you reminded him. "You looked like you were either selling counterfeit watches or about to flash someone."

Taiju's face flushed red. "I WAS COMMITTED TO THE ROLE!"

"The role of 'suspicious mall creeper'?" you teased.

"The role of CONCERNED FRIEND," Taiju corrected, his earnestness impossible to mock.

You softened, unable to stay annoyed in the face of such genuine care. "Well, despite your terrible surveillance skills, I guess it's kind of nice that you guys were worried about me."

"Of course we were worried," Senku said matter-of-factly. "Your behavior deviated significantly from established patterns. It was scientifically interesting."

You rolled your eyes. "Wow, Senku. That's almost sweet, in a completely robotic way."

"I'm merely stating facts."

"What I want to know," Taiju interrupted, "is why you didn't ask us for help with the video game training? I'm pretty good at games!"

"You already said that, and I already told you—level 5 is not 'pretty good,'" you reminded him.

"And what level have you reached now?" Senku asked, a hint of competitive curiosity in his voice.

You puffed your chest out proudly. "Level 15 as of today! And Hiroki says I have 'natural talent once I stop button-mashing like a caffeinated squirrel.'"

"Impressive," Senku acknowledged. "The exponential difficulty curve between levels 12 and 15 is particularly challenging."

You stopped walking and stared at him. "Wait a minute. How do YOU know so much about Space Defenders?"

A flicker of something that might have been embarrassment crossed Senku's face so quickly you almost missed it. "As I explained to Taiju earlier, I studied its algorithmic patterns while developing a theoretical model for—"

"Oh my god," you interrupted, your eyes widening with delight. "You're a SECRET GAMER! The great Senku Ishigami, who once told me video games were 'a primitive distraction for minds incapable of appreciating real scientific challenge,' has been GAMING!"

"I wouldn't classify systematic analysis of game mechanics as 'gaming' in the traditional sense," Senku argued, a defensive edge to his voice.

"What level did you reach?" you demanded, skipping ahead to walk backward in front of him, your eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"That's irrelevant to—"

"WHAT. LEVEL."

Senku sighed. "Twenty-one."

Your jaw dropped. "TWENTY-ONE? The regional record is twenty!"

"Twenty-two, actually," Senku corrected. "Set last month by someone with the initials S.I."

You stopped so abruptly that Taiju nearly crashed into you. "YOU hold the regional record for Space Defenders? YOU? And you didn't tell me when I was freaking out about the Reflex Challenge?"

"I didn't know that's what you were doing," Senku pointed out reasonably. "You were being secretive, remember?"

"BUT STILL!" you sputtered, waving your arms so wildly that your plush octopus went flying, only to be caught by Taiju's quick reflexes. "I've been spending weeks training with Hiroki when I could have been learning from the REGIONAL CHAMPION?"

"To be fair," Taiju chimed in, handing back your octopus, "you probably wouldn't have believed Senku if he told you. You did call video games 'mind-numbing finger exercises for people who can't handle real science.'"

"That doesn't sound like me," you protested weakly.

"You said it last February when I invited you both to play at my house," Taiju reminded you. "Right before you said you'd rather dissect a frog with a spoon."

"Oh," you mumbled, having the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "I might have said something like that."

"You definitely did," Senku confirmed. "Which is why I didn't mention my... familiarity with the game."

The three of you resumed walking, your mind racing with this new information. "So all this time, I've been sneaking around, lying to my mother, and getting tutored by a middle schooler, when I could have just asked YOU for help?"

"It appears so," Senku agreed, looking far too amused by your distress.

"This is the WORST," you groaned, dramatically draping yourself over Taiju's shoulder like a particularly theatrical scarf. "My reputation is RUINED! I'm supposed to be the one who knows what she's doing! The confident one! The one who doesn't need help!"

"Since when?" Senku asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Since ALWAYS!" you insisted. "I'm the one who corrected Ms. Honda about the melting point of gallium!"

"After I whispered it to you," Senku pointed out.

"I'm the one who built that model volcano that erupted actual smoke and ash!"

"With materials I provided," Senku added.

"I'M THE ONE WHO—"

"[Y/N]," Taiju interrupted gently, "we ALL help each other. That's what friends DO."

You lifted your head from his shoulder, considering this. "I guess... I just didn't want to look stupid. Especially in front of you guys."

"Wanting to improve a skill isn't stupid," Senku said, his tone unusually gentle. "It's scientifically sound methodology. Identify a weakness, develop a training regimen, measure progress. That's basic scientific principle."

"I suppose," you conceded reluctantly.

"Besides," Taiju added cheerfully, "now you can learn from BOTH Hiroki AND Senku! Double the training!"

Your eyes widened as the possibilities dawned on you. "You're right! I can get tips from the regional champion AND continue my training with Hiroki! I'll be UNSTOPPABLE at the Reflex Challenge!"

"If you're interested," Senku said casually, "I could develop a more efficient training program based on the specific parameters of the Olympiad challenge."

You stared at him. "You'd do that? Even after I ditched your experiments and made you wear a stupid detective hat?"

"I never actually wore the hat," Senku pointed out. "And yes, I would. The Science Olympiad is a worthy endeavor, and your victory would reflect positively on our school's scientific reputation."

You narrowed your eyes suspiciously. "Is that the only reason?"

Senku hesitated just long enough for you to notice. "I also find your determination to master an unfamiliar skill... admirable. From a purely objective standpoint, of course."

"Of course," you agreed, hiding a smile. "From a purely objective standpoint."

"AND we're friends!" Taiju added, apparently feeling this obvious point was being overlooked. "Friends help each other!"

"Right," you laughed, bumping your shoulder against his. "That too."

As Senku's house came into view, you felt a wave of relief wash over you. No more secrets, no more missing out on experiments, no more hiding your video game struggles. And best of all, your friends didn't think any less of you for needing help—they just wanted to be the ones to provide it.

"So," you said, skipping ahead and turning to face them with a mischievous grin, "about that explosion experiment... I've been thinking we could enhance the reaction by adding just a TINY bit more potassium permanganate to the mix."

Senku's eyes widened in alarm. "Absolutely not. The current ratio is calibrated for optimal reaction without exceeding safety parameters."

"But imagine how much BIGGER the explosion would be!" you argued, your eyes gleaming with that familiar mad-scientist enthusiasm that had been missing during your recent cancellations.

"The goal isn't to create the biggest possible explosion," Senku argued. "It's to demonstrate controlled chemical reactions with predictable outcomes."

"BORING! Science is about pushing boundaries!"

"Science is about methodical exploration within ethical and safety guidelines!"

As Senku unlocked his front door, still lecturing you on the importance of precise measurements, you caught Taiju's eye and winked. You both knew that despite Senku's protests, the experiment would end up at least 15% more explosive than originally planned. It always did.

After all, what was science without a little fun?

-

Later that evening, as you walked home clutching your slightly singed plush octopus (casualties were to be expected in the pursuit of scientific discovery), you couldn't help but smile at the day's events. Your friends had cared enough to launch a ridiculous investigation when they thought something was wrong. Senku had offered to help you train for the Reflex Challenge. And the explosion experiment had been, in your professional opinion, "TOTALLY AWESOME!"

Your phone buzzed with a text from Hiroki:

"Same time next week for more Space Defenders practice? My sister says she can show you how to use eyeliner too if you want."

You grinned and typed back:

"Definitely! And I'm bringing reinforcements. Turns out my friend is the regional champion! Time to LEVEL UP this training!"

As you tucked your phone away, you made a mental note to come clean to your mother about the video game practice. After all, it was for SCIENCE. And maybe, just maybe, you'd wear the planet dress again for the next training session.

Not because anyone had complimented how it brought out the color of your eyes or anything silly like that.

Purely because it was thematically appropriate for Space Defenders.

Obviously.

Chapter Text

Your middle school journal entry from September 14th:

HYPOTHESIS: Middle school is actually a social experiment designed by evil scientists to see how much awkwardness humans can endure before spontaneously combusting.

EVIDENCE:

• 1. Everyone keeps getting taller at different rates (Taiju is now basically a skyscraper)

• 2. Random voice cracks (hilarious but scientifically fascinating)

• 3. The mysterious appearance of FEELINGS and CRUSHES (disgusting but intriguing)

• 4. Teachers who expect us to care about algebra when there are ACTUAL SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES happening somewhere in the world RIGHT NOW

CONCLUSION: Will update when I have more data or when I finally combust, whichever comes first.

You slammed your journal shut as Senku approached your lunch table, his tray loaded with the mysterious substance the cafeteria claimed was "beef stew" but looked more like something you might find in one of his less successful experiments.

"What nonsense are you writing now?" he asked, sliding onto the bench across from you.

"EXCUSE YOU," you huffed, clutching the journal to your chest. "This is my Documentation of Middle School Horrors. Very important research. Future generations will thank me for my insights."

Senku raised an eyebrow. "Your 'research' last week concluded that the math teacher was secretly a robot because, and I quote, 'no human could possibly care that much about the distributive property.'"

"AND I STAND BY THAT," you declared, pointing your milk carton at him accusingly. "Have you seen her blink? Like, ever? SUSPICIOUS."

Three years of friendship had done little to temper your enthusiasm or volume, much to Senku's continued exasperation and secret amusement. If anything, entering middle school had only amplified your chaotic tendencies. New environment, new scientific possibilities, new victims for your particular brand of mayhem.

The biggest change wasn't the new school, though—it was the fact that you and your two best friends were now navigating the treacherous waters of early adolescence. Taiju had shot up like a particularly enthusiastic redwood tree, gaining both height and even more muscle. Senku had grown too, though more modestly, his ridiculous hair somehow defying even more laws of physics than before. You remained stubbornly average in height but had developed what your mom called "personality for days," which you were pretty sure was code for "talks even more than she used to, if that's possible."

"WHERE'S OUR GENTLE GIANT?" you asked, craning your neck to look for Taiju in the crowded cafeteria. "He's late. That's weird. Taiju is never late for food. Food is like, his third favorite thing after friendship and yelling."

"He said something about joining a club," Senku replied, poking skeptically at his stew with a fork. "Not sure which one managed to catch his interest when all he ever talks about is—"

"GUYS! GUYS! GUYS!" Taiju's familiar booming voice cut through the cafeteria din as he barreled toward your table, moving with the unstoppable momentum of an excited freight train. Several smaller students dove out of his path, clearly having learned from experience.

"—that," Senku finished with a sigh.

Taiju skidded to a stop at your table, somehow managing not to flip it despite his enthusiasm. His face was flushed, his eyes wide with excitement, and he was breathing heavily as if he'd just run a marathon.

"YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED!" he announced at a volume that made the lunch ladies glare in your direction.

"You discovered you're actually part foghorn?" you suggested. "You won the lottery? You found out chocolate milk comes from brown cows? WHAT? THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME SLOWLY!"

"I MET THE MOST AMAZING PERSON EVER!" Taiju declared, slamming his hands down on the table hard enough to make your milk carton jump.

You gasped dramatically. "EXCUSE ME? The most amazing person ever is sitting RIGHT HERE." You pointed at yourself, then quickly added, "Or there," pointing at Senku, "depending on whether we're measuring by awesomeness or actual brain cells."

"No, I mean—" Taiju lowered his voice to what he probably thought was a whisper but was actually just regular human speaking volume, "—a girl."

You and Senku exchanged glances.

"A... girl," you repeated slowly. "Taiju, buddy, pal, best friend, light of my life—girls make up approximately half the population of this school. You've met many girls. I, myself, am technically a girl, though I prefer the term 'agent of chaos' on official documents."

"Not just ANY girl," Taiju insisted, leaning forward conspiratorially. "She's in the crafts club. She was making this amazing doll thing with, like, tiny little stitches, and her hands moved so fast they were BLURRY, and she has this really pretty hair, and when she smiled it was like—like—" He struggled for words, making vague expansive gestures with his hands.

"Like a chemical reaction?" Senku supplied dryly.

"Like SUNSHINE!" Taiju corrected passionately. "And RAINBOWS! And PUPPIES!"

"That's scientifically impossible," Senku pointed out. "A human smile cannot physically manifest meteorological phenomena or small domesticated canines."

"SENKU!" you chided, smacking his arm. "Can't you see our boy is experiencing FEELINGS? This is a critical moment in his development! We must nurture this emotional growth!" You turned to Taiju, eyes wide with excitement. "Tell us EVERYTHING. Name? Grade? Blood type? Favorite dinosaur? Has she been screened for being a potential supervillain?"

"Her name is Yuzuriha Ogawa," Taiju said, his expression softening to something you'd never seen on his face before. "She's in our grade but different class. She's the president of the crafts club even though she's a first-year because she's THAT good. And she's so nice! She offered to help this seventh grader who kept messing up their project even though she was working on her own thing!"

"Fascinating," Senku muttered, clearly not finding it fascinating at all. "So you're experiencing the typical early-adolescent hormonal surge that triggers mate-seeking behaviors. Perfectly normal biological response."

"DON'T MAKE IT WEIRD, SENKU," you complained, throwing a tater tot at his head, which he dodged with practiced ease. Years of being your friend had given him surprisingly good reflexes. "This is Taiju's first crush! It's ADORABLE!"

"It's NOT a crush!" Taiju protested, his face turning the approximate color of a fire truck. "I just think she's neat! And pretty! And amazing at everything! And I want to talk to her every day for the rest of my life!"

"Right, totally not a crush," you agreed solemnly, then immediately ruined it by making exaggerated kissing noises. "Taiju and Yuzuriha, sitting in a tree, doing what? PHOTOSYNTHESIS!" You cackled at your own joke.

"That's not how the rhyme goes," Senku pointed out.

"I IMPROVED IT," you insisted. "Made it more educational."

Taiju groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I don't know what to do! I've never felt like this before! My stomach feels weird and my hands get all sweaty when I think about talking to her!"

"Sounds like a mild case of food poisoning," Senku suggested helpfully. "Or anxiety."

"SOUNDS LIKE LOVE!" you corrected dramatically. "Fear not, gentle giant! As your self-appointed love guru, I shall guide you through this perilous journey of the heart!"

Both boys turned to stare at you with identical expressions of horror.

"YOU?" Senku asked incredulously. "As a love guru? Based on what expertise, exactly?"

"I'll have you know I've watched SEVENTEEN romantic comedies and read FOUR teen magazines I found in the dentist's waiting room," you informed him haughtily. "I am practically an expert on matters of the heart. Plus, I'm a girl, so I automatically know how girls think." You paused. "Usually. Sometimes. Occasionally. When the moon is full and Mercury is in retrograde."

"That's astrology, not psychology," Senku muttered.

"The POINT IS," you continued, ignoring him completely, "we need a PLAN. Make Yuzuriha Fall Madly In Love With Our Beautiful Boy Taiju."

"That's a terrible operation name," Senku criticized.

"Y.F.M.I.L.W.O.B.B.T.?" you suggested.

"Even worse."

"What about just 'Operation Cupid'?" Taiju offered timidly.

You considered this. "Less creative but more practical. I approve." You leaned forward, lowering your voice to what counted as a whisper for you (which was still audible three tables away). "Step one: reconnaissance. We need to know more about this Yuzuriha person. Favorite foods? Hobbies? Stance on important issues like whether cereal is soup?"

"She's in the crafts club," Taiju supplied. "She likes making dolls and sewing stuff. And she has this really cute keychain on her bag that looks like a little bunny."

"EXCELLENT INTEL," you nodded approvingly. "Step two: we need to create opportunities for interaction that don't seem forced or creepy."

"I could join the crafts club?" Taiju suggested hopefully.

You and Senku exchanged another glance.

"Taiju," Senku began gently, which was unusual enough that you both stared at him, "you once tore a textbook in half just trying to turn the page. Do you really think a club focused on delicate handwork is the right environment for you?"

Taiju's face fell. "I didn't think about that."

"BUT!" you interjected quickly, "that doesn't mean you can't hang around NEAR the crafts club! You could... um... start a weight-lifting club that meets in a nearby room! Or become the crafts club's official heavy-lifter! 'Need shelves installed? Tables moved? Call Taiju!'"

Taiju's expression brightened. "That could work! I am good at lifting things!"

"The best lifter!" you agreed enthusiastically. "No one lifts like you lift!"

Senku rolled his eyes so hard you were briefly concerned they might get stuck that way. "If you two are done with this ridiculous plotting, I'd like to remind you that we have an actual project due next week. You know, for school? The educational institution we're currently sitting in?"

"OH YEAH," you smacked your forehead. "The thing with the plants and the lights and the other stuff."

"That's an incredibly accurate and detailed description," Senku deadpanned.

"THANK YOU!" you beamed, completely missing his sarcasm. "But don't worry, we can multitask! Science project AND Operation Cupid! We'll kill two birds with one stone! Not that I would ever kill birds. Unless they were evil birds. Are there evil birds, Senku?"

"Focus, [Y/N]," Senku sighed.

"Right, right. So after school today, we'll go scout out this Yuzuriha person and then work on our project. PERFECT PLAN."

-

Your "perfect plan" hit its first snag when you realized that "scouting" sounded a lot like "stalking" when described to a third party.

"We're not STALKING her," you explained to Senku as the three of you peered around a corner at the crafts club room after school. "We're conducting anthropological research! It's for SCIENCE!"

"This has nothing to do with science," Senku muttered. "This is juvenile romantic nonsense."

"HUMAN ATTRACTION IS BIOCHEMISTRY!" you shot back. "Therefore, science! Checkmate!"

Senku opened his mouth to argue further but was silenced by Taiju's sudden intake of breath.

"There she is," he whispered reverently.

You followed his gaze to see a pretty girl with long brown hair. She was sitting by the window, sunlight illuminating her gentle features as she worked on what appeared to be an intricate embroidery project. Her movements were precise and delicate, her expression one of peaceful concentration.

"Oh wow," you murmured. "She's like a Disney princess or something. I can actually see little cartoon birds wanting to land on her shoulders."

"Right?!" Taiju agreed fervently. "Isn't she amazing?"

Even Senku was studying her with mild interest, though you suspected it was more about analyzing Taiju's reaction than any appreciation for Yuzuriha herself.

"Okay, new plan," you announced. "I'm going in."

"WHAT?" both boys hissed simultaneously.

"I'll join the crafts club!" you declared. "As a double agent! I'll befriend her, learn her secrets, and subtly plant the seeds of Taiju appreciation!"

"That's... actually not the worst idea you've had," Senku admitted reluctantly.

"I KNOW, RIGHT?" you grinned. "Plus, I've always wanted to learn how to stab fabric repeatedly with tiny daggers!"

"They're called needles," Senku corrected.

"Tiny. Daggers," you repeated firmly. "Wish me luck, boys! I'm going in!"

Before either could stop you, you marched boldly into the crafts room, approaching Yuzuriha with the confidence of someone who definitely hadn't been spying on her moments before.

"HI THERE!" you announced at your usual volume, causing several crafts club members to jab themselves with their tiny daggers in surprise. "I'M [Y/N]! I LIKE YOUR FACE AND YOUR SEWING SKILLS AND I WANT TO JOIN THIS CLUB IMMEDIATELY!"

Yuzuriha looked up, startled but not alarmed, which spoke volumes about her character. "Oh! Hello! Are you interested in crafting?"

"ABSOLUTELY!" you declared. "I am EXTREMELY interested in..." you glanced around the room, "...all of these... cloth... situations."

Yuzuriha laughed, a sound like tinkling bells that immediately made you understand Taiju's infatuation. It was impossible not to like someone who laughed so genuinely.

"Well, you're welcome to join us! We're working on embroidery projects today, but we do all sorts of crafts. Do you have any experience?"

"I once stapled my science project together so thoroughly that the teacher needed pliers to get it apart," you offered proudly. "And I can tie my shoes! Most days! When Mercury isn't in retrograde!"

Rather than being put off by your oddness, Yuzuriha just smiled warmly. "That's okay! Everyone starts somewhere. Here, you can sit next to me, and I'll show you the basics."

From the doorway, you caught a glimpse of Taiju's face peering around the corner, his expression a mixture of awe and terror. You gave him a subtle thumbs-up before sitting down next to Yuzuriha.

"So," you began casually as she showed you how to thread a needle (a process that, for you, was apparently comparable to performing brain surgery while blindfolded), "do you know Taiju Oki? Big guy, loud voice, heart of gold, could bench-press a small car?"

"I don't think so," Yuzuriha replied, gently correcting your grip on the needle. "Is he in our grade?"

"YEP! He's only the GREATEST PERSON EVER!" you exclaimed. "Well, tied with Senku Ishigami for greatest. It's a close competition. Senku has more brain cells, but Taiju has more biceps. Anyway, Taiju is AMAZING! He once carried me AND Senku AND our project when a random dog chased us! Like a HERO!"

"He sounds very nice," Yuzuriha said with a polite smile, clearly a bit confused by your intensity but too kind to say so.

"He IS nice! The nicest! And strong! And loyal! And he definitely doesn't have a crush on you that he was too nervous to tell you about himself so he sent his friend to infiltrate your club as a spy—OOPS I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO SAY THAT PART OUT LOUD."

You heard a thud from the hallway that was almost certainly Taiju fainting or Senku facepalming hard enough to concuss himself.

Yuzuriha blinked, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "Oh! Um..."

"IGNORE THAT LAST PART!" you backpedaled frantically. "What I MEANT to say was... um... oh look, I stabbed myself!" You held up your finger, which had indeed fallen victim to your tiny dagger. "BLOOD! MY PRECIOUS LIFE FLUID! ESCAPING!"

"Oh dear!" Yuzuriha immediately switched to caretaker mode, producing a small first aid kit from her bag. "Here, let me help. It's just a small prick, but we should clean it."

As she carefully tended to your minor wound, you became aware of whispered arguing from the doorway.

"Go in there!" (Senku)

"I can't now! She knows I like her!" (Taiju)

"She'll know it was us spying if we don't do something!" (Senku)

"BUT WHAT DO I SAY?" (Taiju)

You needed to create a distraction, and fast. Looking around desperately, your eyes landed on a ball of yarn. Perfect.

"HEY, WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO THIS?" you asked loudly, grabbing the yarn and tossing it in the air. Your plan was to create a minor commotion that would divert attention from the doorway.

What actually happened was that the yarn caught on a ceiling fan, unraveled spectacularly, and created an impromptu spider's web across half the room, tangling several projects and at least two students.

"SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY!" you announced to the stunned room. "Yarn plus ceiling fan equals THIS! I'll be accepting my Nobel Prize in physics now, thank you."

In the ensuing commotion, you noticed Senku practically shoving Taiju into the room, the larger boy stumbling forward with all the grace of a newborn giraffe.

"Oh! Um, excuse me!" Taiju stammered as all eyes turned to him. "I was just... looking for... science! Yes! Science things! In this... not science room!"

"Real smooth," Senku muttered from the doorway.

Yuzuriha, who was helping untangle a girl from your yarn disaster, looked up and smiled. "Hello! Are you looking to join the crafts club too?"

"ME? NO! I MEAN, MAYBE? I DON'T KNOW!" Taiju's voice cracked spectacularly on the last word, causing him to turn an even deeper shade of red.

"This is the friend I was telling you about!" you announced cheerfully, waving your bandaged finger. "Taiju! The strong one! With the biceps and the heart of gold and definitely no secret crush that I mentioned accidentally because I don't have a filter between my brain and my mouth!"

"[Y/N]!" Taiju hissed in panic.

Yuzuriha giggled again, and you could practically see Taiju's heart melting into a puddle at the sound.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Taiju," she said warmly. "We could actually use some help. That shelf over there has been wobbly for weeks, and none of us can fix it. Would you mind taking a look?"

Taiju straightened immediately, puffing out his chest. "OF COURSE! I'M GREAT AT FIXING THINGS!"

"You broke our microwave trying to 'fix' it last month," Senku reminded him, finally entering the room fully.

"THAT WAS A FLUKE!" Taiju insisted. "And we learned a lot about how microwaves work! Specifically, how they don't work after being dropped!"

"A valuable lesson," you agreed solemnly.

Yuzuriha looked between the three of you with growing amusement. "You all must be really good friends."

"THE BEST!" you confirmed. "We're like the Three Musketeers, except instead of 'all for one and one for all,' our motto is 'Senku thinks of something dangerous, Taiju provides the muscle, and I make it ten times more worse than it needed to be!'"

"That's... alarmingly accurate," Senku admitted.

As Taiju went to work on the shelf (with excessive enthusiasm that threatened the structural integrity of the entire wall), you made introductions between Yuzuriha and Senku.

"Senku is a GENIUS," you explained. "Like, actual genius. Not 'good at tests' genius, but 'could probably take over the world if he wanted to but doesn't because paperwork would be boring' genius."

"That's quite a recommendation," Yuzuriha smiled.

"I'm primarily interested in science and engineering," Senku explained more practically. "This one's exaggerating, as usual."

"AM NOT!" you protested. "Remember when you calculated the exact trajectory needed to launch water balloons from the roof of your house onto specific targets in your yard? That was EVIL GENIUS LEVEL STUFF!"

"That was basic physics," Senku countered.

"YOU MADE A TARGETING SYSTEM OUT OF CARDBOARD AND RUBBER BANDS!"

"Simple materials, simple concepts."

"YOU CALLED IT 'OPERATION AQUATIC DOOM'!"

"...I never claimed the naming conventions were scientific."

Yuzuriha was laughing openly now, her eyes twinkling. "You three are so interesting! The crafts club meetings are usually much quieter."

"Everything is quieter without us," you agreed cheerfully. "We've been banned from the library three times! A personal record!"

"FIXED IT!" Taiju announced triumphantly from across the room, giving the now-stable shelf a pat that nearly knocked it off the wall again.

"Thank you so much!" Yuzuriha said, her smile causing Taiju to freeze like a deer in headlights. "We've been asking the maintenance staff for weeks."

"ANY TIME!" Taiju boomed, then immediately lowered his voice. "I mean, any time. I'm happy to help. With shelves. Or anything. I'm strong. As you can see. From the shelf. That I fixed. With my muscles. Which I have." He flexed awkwardly.

You buried your face in your hands. This was going both better and worse than you'd anticipated.

-

By the time you all left the crafts club room an hour later, several important developments had occurred:

• You had somehow managed to tangle yourself in thread so thoroughly that Yuzuriha had to cut you free with scissors

• Taiju had fixed not only the shelf but also a wobbly table, a stuck window, and a dented storage cabinet

• Senku had become distracted by the chemical properties of the fabric dyes and was now deep in conversation with the club advisor about potentially creating new color combinations

• Yuzuriha had officially invited all three of you to come back any time, but especially Taiju, who "was so helpful!"

"SHE LIKES YOU!" you squealed as you walked home together. "Did you hear her? 'Especially Taiju'! That's practically a marriage proposal in middle school terms!"

"It is statistically unlikely that she has developed romantic feelings based on watching him repair furniture for an hour," Senku pointed out. "More likely she just appreciates having access to his physical capabilities for club maintenance."

"YOU'RE NO FUN," you complained, punching his arm lightly. "Can't you see the ROMANCE blooming before your very eyes? The way she smiled at him? The way she GIGGLED? That was a romantic giggle if I've ever heard one!"

"And how many 'romantic giggles' have you cataloged in your extensive career?" Senku asked dryly.

"MANY!" you insisted, holding up your fingers and counting. "There was that time in that movie with the people, and that other time in that show with the stuff, and—"

"So none in actual real life," Senku translated.

"Do you guys think she really likes me?" Taiju interrupted, his expression hopeful and anxious in equal measure. "Like, as a person? Not just as a shelf-fixer?"

You threw an arm around his massive shoulders (or tried to—you could really only reach about halfway across his back). "OF COURSE SHE DOES! You were charming and helpful and only knocked over ONE thing the entire time! That's a personal best!"

"I need a strategy," Taiju decided, his face setting into determined lines. "A plan to win her heart."

"Now you're talking!" you cheered. "Operation Cupid is moving to phase two: ROMANTIC GESTURES!"

"Oh no," Senku muttered.

"Oh YES!" you corrected. "Taiju needs to do something sweet and memorable that shows Yuzuriha how special she is! Like flowers! Or chocolates! Or a accurate model of her circulatory system!"

"Maybe not that last one," Taiju said uncertainly.

"You're right, too obvious," you agreed. "What about a handmade gift? Girls like handmade stuff, right? It shows effort and thoughtfulness!"

"That's... actually not terrible reasoning," Senku admitted. "Though your sample size for 'what girls like' remains questionable, given that you are a outlier who once asked for a jar of preserved frogs for your birthday."

"THEY WERE ADORABLE AND EDUCATIONAL!" you defended. "But yes, handmade gift! Taiju can make something for Yuzuriha!"

Taiju's face fell. "But I'm not good at making things. I break things, remember?"

"That's where WE come in!" you declared, gesturing between yourself and Senku. "I'll provide the creativity, Senku will provide the know-how, and you'll provide the... enthusiastic assistance!"

"Why am I being dragged into this?" Senku complained.

"BECAUSE YOU LOVE US," you stated matter-of-factly, slinging your other arm around his shoulders and pulling both boys into an awkward walking hug. "And because if left unsupervised, Taiju and I might accidentally burn down the lab trying to make whatever gift we come up with."

"A fair point," Senku conceded with a sigh.

-

The next day after school found the three of you in Senku's garage, which had long ago been converted into his personal laboratory. Scattered across the workbench were various craft supplies you'd pilfered from the art room, along with more scientific equipment than most high schools possessed.

"Okay, so what are we making?" Taiju asked, looking eagerly at the assembled materials.

"Something that combines creativity and crafting," you mused, tapping your chin thoughtfully. "To show that you appreciate her interests but also bring something unique to the table."

"What about a kaleidoscope?" Senku suggested. "Simple optics, but with crafted exterior elements."

"PERFECT!" you exclaimed. "Taiju can decorate the outside with, I don't know, pretty nature stuff that Yuzuriha might like, and you can handle the mirror-science-magic parts!"

"It's not magic, it's basic reflective principles and—" Senku began.

"MIRROR SCIENCE MAGIC!" you insisted.

For the next hour, you worked together in what could generously be called "organized." Senku precisely calculated and cut the mirrors for the interior mechanism, you enthusiastically gathered decorative materials and colored beads for the viewing chamber, and Taiju... well, Taiju tried his best not to crush anything delicate while following Senku's increasingly exasperated instructions.

"No, don't hold it like—"

"OOPS! Sorry!"

"Just put it down gently—"

"I AM BEING GENTLE!"

"Your version of gentle and the laws of physics have very different definitions!"

You, meanwhile, were entertaining yourself by testing various colored objects in the kaleidoscope viewing chamber.

"Senku! Look at this one! It makes a pattern like a nuclear explosion but PRETTY!"

"That's not what nuclear explosions look like."

"Have YOU ever seen one in person?"

"Obviously not, and neither have you."

"Then how do you know they're not pretty and colorful like this? CHECKMATE, BOY!"

Senku pinched the bridge of his nose. "Can we please focus on—"

"AAAAAAH!" Taiju's sudden yell interrupted as he accidentally squeezed the tube of glue too hard, sending a jet of adhesive across the workbench and directly onto the front of Senku's shirt.

There was a moment of horrified silence before you burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" Taiju wailed. "I RUINED SENKU'S SHIRT!"

"It's hilarious and you know it," you gasped between fits of giggles. "Look at his FACE! He's doing the eye-twitchy thing again!"

Senku looked down at the substantial glob of glue decorating his chest. "This was predictable. Working with you two always results in property damage of some kind."

"I'M SO SORRY!" Taiju looked close to tears.

"Relax, big guy," Senku sighed. "It's just a shirt. I'll change it." He headed toward the door that connected the garage to the house. "Try not to destroy my lab in the three minutes I'll be gone."

"NO PROMISES!" you called after him cheerfully.

The moment Senku was out of earshot, you turned to Taiju. "So how are you going to give this to Yuzuriha? We need A SCRIPT. You can't just hand it to her and run away screaming, though admittedly that would be memorable."

"I don't know what to say!" Taiju fretted. "My brain stops working when she looks at me!"

"Just be honest!" you advised. "Tell her you made it because you thought she might like it! Simple! Direct! Taiju-like!"

"But what if she doesn't like it? What if she thinks it's stupid? What if—"

"What if the moon crashes into the earth tomorrow? What if squirrels develop opposable thumbs and take over the government? What if—"

"I get it, I get it," Taiju laughed, his anxiety breaking slightly. "I'm overthinking."

"EXACTLY!" you nodded vigorously. "Just be yourself! Your big, loud, wonderful self! Any girl would be lucky to—"

You were interrupted by the return of Senku, who had changed into a clean shirt. Something about the way he walked back into the room made you pause mid-sentence. Was it your imagination, or was Senku standing a little straighter than usual? His hair looked slightly different too, as if he'd quickly run his fingers through it.

"Did you... fix your hair?" you asked suspiciously.

"No," Senku replied too quickly. "I changed my shirt, as stated."

"Hmmmm," you narrowed your eyes, studying him. "You look different. MORE SCIENCE-Y SOMEHOW." You approached him with the intensity of a detective examining a crime scene, circling him slowly. "Did you get taller in the last three minutes? Is that even possible? ARE YOU EXPERIMENTING ON YOURSELF AGAIN?"

"That was ONE TIME," Senku protested, "and the growth formula wasn't meant for human consumption. I was seven and curious."

"ARE YOU WEARING COLOGNE?" you suddenly asked, leaning in close enough to sniff him suspiciously.

Senku took a quick step back, his cheeks coloring slightly. "Don't be ridiculous. Why would I be wearing cologne in my own lab?"

"I DON'T KNOW! That's why I'm asking! You smell... clean. SUSPICIOUSLY CLEAN!"

"It's called soap. You should try it sometime."

"HEY! I bathe regularly! Every Tuesday whether I need it or not!"

"That explains so much."

Taiju looked between the two of you, his head tilted in confusion. "Are you guys fighting or playing? I can never tell."

"PLAYING!" you exclaimed just as Senku said, "Tolerating."

You reached out and poked Senku's cheek. "He loves our banter. It keeps his giant brain from getting bored."

"Stop touching my face," Senku complained, though he made no real effort to move away.

"BUT IT'S SO POKEABLE!" To demonstrate, you poked his other cheek, then his forehead for good measure. "Boop! Boop! Boops!"

"Are you quite finished?" Senku asked, an odd expression crossing his face that you couldn't quite identify.

"NEVER!" you declared, throwing your arms around him in a quick, enthusiastic hug. "Affection attacks are part of our friendship contract! It's in the fine print!"

"We don't have a friendship contract," Senku pointed out, his body going oddly rigid in your embrace.

"It's IMPLIED!" you insisted, finally releasing him and stepping back. "Right, Taiju?"

But Taiju wasn't looking at either of you. He was staring at the kaleidoscope, which had somehow transformed during your brief distraction. The colored beads were now arranged in a perfect pattern, the exterior decorated with delicate drawings of flowers and leaves that definitely hadn't been there before.

"WHOA!" you gasped, rushing over to examine it. "DID THE KALEIDOSCOPE GAIN SENTIENCE AND DECORATE ITSELF? IS THIS THE ROBOT UPRISING? SHOULD I WELCOME OUR NEW KALEIDOSCOPE OVERLORDS?"

"Someone's been here," Senku said, examining the workbench. "Look." He pointed to a small bottle of fine-tipped markers that definitely hadn't been part of your supplies.

"BUT WHO?" you asked dramatically, looking around as if expecting to find a ninja crafting expert hiding in the corners of the garage. "THE CRAFTING FAIRY? THE DECORATION GHOST? THE SPIRIT OF MIDDLE SCHOOL ROMANCE PAST?"

"My dad," Senku said simply, pointing to a small note tucked under the edge of the workbench that read: "Saw you kids working. Thought I'd help a bit. Good luck with your project! - Byakuya"

"YOUR DAD IS THE BEST!" Taiju exclaimed, carefully picking up the kaleidoscope to examine it. "Look at these tiny drawings! They're perfect!"

"He does have steady hands," Senku admitted. "Comes with the astronaut training."

"THIS IS EVEN BETTER!" you declared, bouncing on your toes with excitement. "Now the kaleidoscope is SUPER PERFECT! Yuzuriha will DEFINITELY fall madly in love with you when you give her this, Taiju!"

"You think so?" Taiju asked hopefully.

"I KNOW SO!" you assured him. "When are you going to give it to her? Tomorrow? Today? RIGHT NOW? I vote for right now! The suspense is KILLING ME!"

"We can't go right now," Senku pointed out. "Crafts club ended an hour ago. She's probably gone home."

"DETAILS, DETAILS," you waved dismissively. "Minor obstacles in the path of true love!"

"I think... tomorrow," Taiju decided, his expression set with determination. "During lunch. That way if she hates it, I can just... you know... jump out the nearest window and run away forever."

"That's the spirit!" you encouraged, slapping him on the back. "Though maybe avoid the window-jumping. Remember when you tried that in elementary school and got stuck because your shoulders were too big for the frame?"

"The fire department was very nice about it," Taiju recalled fondly.

"And think how much BIGGER your shoulders are now!" you added. "You'd need at least a double-wide window. Maybe a loading dock."

"Focus," Senku sighed. "We need to finish this thing first." He took the kaleidoscope from Taiju and made a few final adjustments to the optical mechanism. "There. Now turn it toward the light and look through it."

Taiju did as instructed, and his entire face lit up with wonder. "WHOA! IT'S AMAZING! Like thousands of tiny stars exploding into flowers!"

"Let me see! Let me see!" you demanded, making grabby hands until he passed it over. You pressed it to your eye and gasped dramatically. "HOLY FRACTALS, BATMAN! This is the coolest thing EVER! Senku, you're a genius! An actual, legitimate genius!"

"It's just basic optics," Senku muttered, but you could see the small, pleased smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"YOU'RE TOO HUMBLE!" you insisted, spinning in a circle with the kaleidoscope still pressed to your eye. "WHEEEE! THE WORLD IS SPARKLY AND SPINNNNYYYYY!"

"Stop that before you—"

"OOF!" You collided with a shelf, sending several beakers teetering dangerously.

"—crash into something," Senku finished with a sigh as he lunged forward to stabilize the glassware.

"MY BAD!" you apologized cheerfully, handing the kaleidoscope back to Taiju. "But seriously, this is perfect. Operation Cupid is proceeding exactly according to plan!"

"We didn't actually have a plan," Senku pointed out.

"THE PLAN IS TO HAVE NO PLAN!" you declared confidently. "That way we can't fail!"

"That's... not how logic works."

"IT'S HOW [Y/N] LOGIC WORKS!" You tapped your temple knowingly. "Trust the process!"

-

The next day at school, you could practically feel the nervous energy radiating off Taiju. He had been unusually quiet all morning, clutching his backpack (which contained the carefully wrapped kaleidoscope) like it might explode if he set it down.

"You're going to crush it if you keep squeezing your bag like that," Senku observed as you walked to your next class together.

"I'M NERVOUS!" Taiju whispered, which for him was approximately normal speaking volume for most humans.

"DON'T BE!" you encouraged, bouncing alongside him. "You're TAIJU OKI! The man who once ate THIRTEEN hot dogs on a dare! The legend who carried the entire class hamster habitat up three flights of stairs without breaking a sweat! The hero who—"

"None of those things are relevant to giving a gift to a girl he likes," Senku interrupted.

"THEY SHOW CHARACTER!" you insisted. "And character is what wins hearts! Not that YOU would understand, Mr. Science-Is-My-Only-Love!"

Senku made a noncommittal noise and looked away, focusing intently on a poster about the upcoming science fair.

"What are you going to say when you give it to her?" you asked Taiju.

"I've been practicing!" he replied earnestly. "I'm going to say, 'Yuzuriha, I made this for you because I think you're amazing and I really like spending time with you and I hope you like looking through it as much as I like looking at—'" He broke off, face turning red.

"LOOKING AT HER!" you finished gleefully. "AWWW! That's so sweet I might get DIABETES! Senku, isn't that sweet?"

"Biologically speaking, emotional sentiments can't actually raise blood glucose levels," Senku replied dryly.

"STOP BEING A SCIENCE ROBOT FOR FIVE MINUTES!" you complained, flicking his ear. "Our boy is having a MOMENT! Be supportive!"

"I am being supportive," Senku protested. "I helped make the kaleidoscope, didn't I?"

"Yes, and we appreciate your begrudging participation in matters of the heart," you said solemnly, patting his head as if he were a small child. "One day, when you finally discover your own feelings—"

"I have feelings," Senku interrupted. "They're just not usually as loud as yours."

"THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYTHING ABOUT ME IS LOUD!" you proclaimed proudly. "INCLUDING MY EMOTIONS! ESPECIALLY MY EMOTIONS!"

"We've noticed," Senku muttered.

The bell rang, signaling the start of your next class, which unfortunately none of you shared with Yuzuriha.

"Meet at lunch?" Taiju asked anxiously. "For... you know... moral support?"

"WE WOULDN'T MISS IT!" you assured him. "I'll bring popcorn!"

"Please don't," Senku sighed.

"METAPHORICAL POPCORN!"

-

By the time lunch rolled around, Taiju looked like he might either pass out or bench press the entire cafeteria in his nervous state. You and Senku flanked him like bodyguards as you made your way through the lunch line, with you providing continuous encouragement and Senku offering occasional practical advice.

"Remember to breathe," you instructed. "Oxygen is important for not dying before you can confess your feelings!"

"And don't crush the kaleidoscope when you take it out," Senku added. "The optical alignment is precise."

"AND SMILE! BUT NOT TOO MUCH! YOU DON'T WANT TO LOOK MANIACAL!"

"Speak clearly but not too loudly. The cafeteria already has poor acoustics."

"AND COMPLIMENT HER HAIR! GIRLS LIKE THAT! I READ IT IN A MAGAZINE!"

"Don't invade her personal space. Maintain approximately 60 centimeters distance."

"AND IF SHE REJECTS YOU, REMEMBER THAT I WILL PERSONALLY FIGHT THE SUN IN YOUR HONOR!"

"That's physically impossible and unhelpful."

"MY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS VERY HELPFUL!" you protested. "Right, Taiju?"

But Taiju wasn't listening anymore. His gaze was fixed across the cafeteria where Yuzuriha had just entered with a friend. The world seemed to slow down around him, the cacophony of the lunch room fading into the background as he watched her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, laughing at something her friend said.

"She's here," he whispered, his lunch tray trembling slightly in his massive hands.

"YES! IT'S GO TIME!" you exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement. "Operation Cupid, final phase! Launch the love rocket!"

"That metaphor got weird," Senku observed.

"ALL MY METAPHORS GET WEIRD! IT'S MY CHARM!" You gave Taiju a gentle (for you) shove forward. "Go get her, tiger! We'll be right here, watching your every move and judging—I MEAN SUPPORTING! VERY SUPPORTIVELY!"

Taiju took a deep breath, squared his shoulders like he was preparing to run into a burning building to save a box of kittens, and began walking toward Yuzuriha's table with the determination of someone heading toward their own execution.

"Should we really be watching this?" Senku asked as you dragged him to a nearby table with a good view of the impending romantic scene. "It feels invasive."

"WE'RE HIS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HUMANS!" you insisted. "What if he needs emergency backup? What if he faints? What if he accidentally eats the kaleidoscope instead of giving it to her because his brain short-circuits from nerves?"

"That seems unlikely."

"HAVE YOU MET TAIJU?"

"...Fair point."

You both watched as Taiju approached Yuzuriha's table, standing awkwardly beside it until she noticed him. Even from a distance, you could see her face light up with recognition.

"She's smiling!" you whispered excitedly, clutching Senku's arm. "THAT'S A GOOD SIGN!"

"You're cutting off my circulation," Senku noted calmly.

"SHHH! I'M TRYING TO READ LIPS!" You squinted dramatically. "I think he just said... 'Hello Yuzuriha I have a thing for you'—oh wait, that might be 'I have a thing TO GIVE you.' Very different! Much less forward!"

"You can't actually read lips, can you?"

"NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT!" you admitted cheerfully. "But the power of friendship gives me psychic abilities!"

"It absolutely does not."

You both fell silent as you watched Taiju reach into his backpack with shaking hands and pull out the small, carefully wrapped package. Yuzuriha's expression was one of surprise as she accepted it, saying something that made Taiju rub the back of his neck nervously.

"THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!" you hissed, now practically cutting off circulation in both of Senku's arms as you gripped him in excitement. "WHAT'S HAPPENING? IS SHE OPENING IT? IS SHE CRYING WITH JOY? IS SHE PROPOSING MARRIAGE?"

"She's literally just unwrapping it," Senku observed, making no real effort to free himself from your death grip. "And you can see that perfectly well yourself."

"YES BUT NARRATING MAKES IT MORE DRAMATIC!"

You both watched as Yuzuriha finally removed the wrapping paper, revealing the kaleidoscope. Her expression shifted from curiosity to wonder as Taiju apparently explained what it was. When she held it up to her eye and looked through it, her entire face lit up with delight.

"SHE LOVES IT!" you squealed, shaking Senku back and forth. "LOOK AT HER FACE! SHE'S SMILING! SHE'S SAYING SOMETHING! SHE'S—oh my god, did she just HUG HIM?!"

Indeed, Yuzuriha had stood up and thrown her arms around Taiju's middle (being too short to reach his shoulders comfortably), causing the big guy to freeze like a statue, his face turning the approximate color of a fire engine.

"VICTORY!" you shrieked, jumping up from your seat and doing an impromptu dance that nearly knocked over your lunch tray. "OPERATION CUPID IS A SUCCESS! WE ARE LOVE GENIUSES!"

Several nearby students turned to stare at you, but you were too excited to care. Senku, however, looked faintly embarrassed, sliding down slightly in his seat.

"Please stop dancing on the cafeteria table," he requested quietly.

"I'M NOT ON THE—" you looked down to discover that in your excitement, you had indeed climbed onto the table. "OH! WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?"

"Approximately four seconds ago, when you shouted 'victory' and used my shoulder as a stepping stool."

"MY BAD!" You hopped down, nearly landing in someone's lunch in the process. "BUT CAN YOU BLAME ME? LOOK HOW CUTE THEY ARE!"

Across the cafeteria, Taiju and Yuzuriha were now sitting together, heads bent close as she continued to examine the kaleidoscope with obvious delight. Even from a distance, you could see Taiju's expression of pure adoration as he watched her.

"They do seem... compatible," Senku admitted grudgingly.

"COMPATIBLE?" you echoed incredulously. "They're PERFECT together! She's all gentle and crafty and sweet, and he's all strong and enthusiastic and sweet! It's like watching a butterfly make friends with a really friendly bear!"

"That metaphor almost made sense," Senku observed, sounding mildly impressed.

"I HAVE MY MOMENTS!" you grinned, finally sitting back down and turning your attention to your neglected lunch. "So... Operation Cupid is a success! What's our next mission? Should we start a band? Build a rocket? Overthrow the school administration and establish a science-based dictatorship?"

"Let's start with eating lunch," Senku suggested dryly. "Then maybe focus on the science project that's due in two days that we haven't finished because we've been playing matchmaker."

"OH YEAH!" you smacked your forehead. "The thing with the plants and the lights! I completely forgot! What's our hypothesis again?"

"That different colored lights affect plant growth rates differently," Senku reminded you with a sigh. "We've been over this three times."

"RIGHT! Science! Important! Not as immediately gratifying as middle school romance, but probably more useful in the long run!" You took a huge bite of your sandwich, talking through it inelegantly. "Y'know, you're gonna have to find your own love interest now, Senku. Can't have Taiju getting ahead in the romance department!"

Senku choked slightly on his drink. "What?"

"YOU NEED A GIRLFRIEND! Or boyfriend! Or non-binary partner! I don't judge! Someone who appreciates your big brain and your weird hair and your dry sense of humor!" You waved your sandwich expressively, sending lettuce flying. "Someone who gets excited about science stuff! Someone who can keep up with your genius but still reminds you to, y'know, experience HUMAN EMOTIONS occasionally!"

"I experience emotions," Senku muttered. "They're just regulated by rational thought, unlike some people I could mention."

"EMOTIONS AREN'T MEANT TO BE REGULATED!" you proclaimed. "They're meant to be experienced! INTENSELY! LOUDLY! WITH MANY EXCLAMATION POINTS!"

"That explains so much about you."

"EXACTLY! See, you understand me! That's why we're friends!" You suddenly gasped, a thought striking you. "OH MY GOD! What if WE dated?"

Senku's drink sprayed across the table as he inhaled at exactly the wrong moment. He coughed violently, his face turning an unusual shade of red.

"I mean, think about it!" you continued, completely oblivious to his distress. "We already hang out all the time! You're super smart, I'm super enthusiastic! You make cool science stuff, I make people laugh! You're calm, WE'D BE PERFECT!"

"We're thirteen," Senku finally managed to choke out, dabbing at the drink he'd spilled with a napkin. "And you're insane."

"AGE IS JUST A NUMBER! And insanity is just a social construct!" You paused, considering. "Wait, that's not right. Age is definitely important in this context. BUT MY POINT STANDS! Someday, when we're older and you've realized that FEELINGS are just as important as FACTS, you'll remember this conversation and think, 'Wow, [Y/N] was right all along! What a visionary!'"

"I highly doubt that."

"YOU DOUBT MY PSYCHIC ABILITIES? After I just successfully predicted that Yuzuriha would love the kaleidoscope?"

"That wasn't a psychic prediction. That was a logical assumption based on the quality of the gift and her known interests."

"POTATO, PO-TAH-TO!" You waved dismissively. "The point is, I'm ALWAYS RIGHT about matters of the heart!"

"You once told Taiju that the lunch lady was flirting with him because she gave him an extra milk carton."

"SHE WAS! That was a milk-based love language!"

"She felt sorry for him because he had tripped and dropped his first milk."

"DETAILS, DETAILS!" You pointed your spoon at him accusingly. "You're changing the subject! We were talking about YOUR future romance!"

"No, YOU were talking about it. I was trying to eat lunch."

"SAME THING!" You leaned forward conspiratorially. "So what's your type? Smart? Funny? Science-obsessed? Someone who can recite the periodic table while juggling test tubes?"

Senku focused intently on his food, not meeting your eyes. "I don't have a 'type.' I'm focusing on science, not relationships."

"EVERYONE has a type! Even robots like you!" You tapped your chin thoughtfully. "Let me guess... you'd like someone who challenges you intellectually, right? Someone who doesn't just agree with everything you say? Someone who makes your life more... unexpected?"

"Like I don't get enough 'unexpected' with you and Taiju around," Senku muttered, but there was something in his expression that made you pause. A slight tenseness around his eyes, a barely perceptible tightening of his jaw.

"WAIT A MINUTE!" you gasped dramatically. "DO YOU ACTUALLY LIKE SOMEONE? YOU DO, DON'T YOU? I CAN TELL! YOUR FACE IS DOING THAT THING!"

"What thing?" Senku asked, too quickly.

"THAT THING! The slightly-less-smug-than-usual thing! The I'm-hiding-something thing!" You leaned even closer, eyes narrowed. "WHO IS IT? TELL ME IMMEDIATELY! I MUST KNOW! FOR SCIENCE!"

"This has nothing to do with science," Senku pointed out, leaning away from your intense scrutiny.

"EVERYTHING has to do with science! Especially love! It's all nonsense and hormones and stuff, right? That's what you always say!"

Before Senku could respond, your interrogation was interrupted by the arrival of Taiju, who practically floated to your table, his expression dreamy and dazed.

"SHE LIKED IT!" he announced, collapsing onto the bench beside you. "She really, really liked it! She said it was the most thoughtful gift anyone's ever given her! And she wants me to sit with her at the crafts club meeting after school today to help with a new project they're starting!"

"YES! VICTORY!" you cheered, temporarily forgetting your Senku investigation in the face of Taiju's romantic success. "Did you tell her Senku designed the optics? Did you claim appropriate credit? DETAILS, MAN!"

"I told her it was a team effort," Taiju said earnestly. "That you helped with the idea and the colors, and Senku did the science parts, and I... well, I mostly tried not to break anything."

"You were the HEART of the operation!" you insisted. "The emotional core! The romantic visionary!"

"I just really like her," Taiju said simply, a goofy smile spreading across his face.

"AND SHE CLEARLY LIKES YOU BACK!" you squealed. "This is the beginning of a beautiful middle school romance! Songs will be written! Poems will be composed! Love notes will be passed!"

"I just want to talk to her more," Taiju admitted. "She's so interesting! Did you know she can sew a full costume for the drama club in just two days? And she knows how to make paper from scratch! And she has a pet turtle named Einstein!"

"A turtle named Einstein?" Senku repeated, raising an eyebrow. "That's... actually somewhat endearing."

"I KNEW IT!" you exclaimed triumphantly. "You DO have emotions! You find turtles named after scientists ENDEARING! This is GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH!"

"I never claimed not to have emotions," Senku said with exaggerated patience. "I simply don't feel the need to broadcast them at maximum volume like some people."

"YOUR VOLUME CONTROL IS BROKEN!" you informed him cheerfully. "And that's why you love me!"

"Tolerate," Senku corrected, but there was that odd expression again, the one that made you wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was something he wasn't telling you.

But before you could resume your interrogation, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch period.

"SAVED BY THE BELL!" you announced, gathering your trash. "But this investigation isn't over, Senku Ishigami! I WILL discover your secrets! Your emotional depths! Your hidden feelings!"

"Good luck with that," Senku replied dryly, standing up to throw away his trash.

"HE'S CHALLENGING ME!" you gasped to Taiju. "HE KNOWS I CAN'T RESIST A CHALLENGE!"

"Are you two fighting again?" Taiju asked, confused.

"NOT FIGHTING! INVESTIGATING!" you clarified. "I've discovered that our Senku might have a CRUSH! A HEART! ROMANTIC FEELINGS!"

"I don't," Senku called over his shoulder as he walked away.

"DENIAL! THE FIRST SIGN OF LOVE!" you yelled after him, causing several students to turn and stare.

"Maybe you should let him tell you if he's ready," Taiju suggested gently as you both followed Senku at a distance. "Not everyone likes to talk about feelings right away."

You stopped walking, turning to stare at Taiju in shock. "WHEN DID YOU GET SO WISE ABOUT EMOTIONS?"

Taiju shrugged, his cheeks coloring slightly. "I've been thinking about feelings a lot lately."

"CLEARLY!" you marveled. "Look at you, all emotionally mature and stuff! Yuzuriha is already having a positive influence on you!"

"You think so?" Taiju asked hopefully.

"ABSOLUTELY! You're growing as a person! Right before my eyes! I'm so proud I might actually cry!" You pretended to wipe away a tear. "My little Taiju, all grown up and dispensing wisdom!"

"Stop it," Taiju laughed, giving you a gentle nudge that still nearly sent you flying into a locker.

"NEVER!" you declared, regaining your balance. "Now come on, we have to get to class. And then after school, we have SCIENCE PROJECT TIME! Followed by SPYING ON YOUR CRAFTS CLUB DATE!"

"It's not a date," Taiju protested weakly.

"IT'S TOTALLY A DATE!" you insisted. "And I, as your official love guru, must observe and document this crucial early stage in your blossoming relationship! For posterity!"

"For your entertainment," Senku added, having stopped to wait for you both.

"THAT TOO!" you agreed shamelessly. "Middle school romance is better than any reality TV show!"

As the three of you continued to your next classes, you couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. Operation Cupid had been a success. Taiju was happy. Yuzuriha seemed wonderful. And you had a new mystery to solve—the enigma of Senku's possible crush.

Middle school might be a nightmare of awkwardness and changing voices and mysterious feelings, but at least you were facing it with your two best friends. And really, what more could a budding scientist/agent ask for?

Your research continued...

HYPOTHESIS UPDATE: Middle school is actually a social experiment designed by evil scientists, BUT with the right friends, the spontaneous combustion can be delayed indefinitely.

EVIDENCE:

• 1. Taiju found love and didn't explode

• 2. Senku might have actual feelings beneath his science robot exterior

• 3. I'm still here, causing trouble and taking names

CONCLUSION: Friendship makes even the weirdest scientific experiments bearable. Will update when I finally discover who Senku likes, or when I finally combust. THE RACE IS ON.

Chapter Text

"ATTENTION, FELLOW EDUCATION PRISONERS!" Ms. Himura announced, clapping her hands together with the enthusiasm of someone who clearly hadn't had enough coffee that morning. "Today, I bring news that will either thrill or horrify you, depending on your personal tolerance for public embarrassment!"

The entire class immediately tensed. In middle school, any sentence containing the words "public" and "embarrassment" was basically a five-alarm emergency.

"The school board, in their infinite wisdom—" Ms. Himura continued, making air quotes around "infinite wisdom" with her fingers, "—has decided that our class will perform this year's cultural festival play!"

A collective groan rippled through the classroom. You, however, perked up like a prairie dog spotting a hawk—with equal parts interest and terror.

"WHAT KIND OF PLAY?" you stage-whispered to Senku, who was sitting next to you, already looking like he was calculating the exact probability of escaping through the second-story window without major injury.

"The kind I won't be participating in," he muttered, furiously scribbling something in his notebook that looked suspiciously like blueprints for an invisibility device.

Ms. Himura grinned wickedly. "Before anyone gets any ideas about sudden mysterious illnesses or spontaneous family vacations to distant countries—" her eyes locked directly on Senku, who froze mid-calculation, "—participation is mandatory and will count for thirty percent of your final grade."

"THIRTY PERCENT?" someone yelped from the back.

"That's right!" Ms. Himura nodded cheerfully. "Nothing motivates artistic expression quite like academic blackmail!"

You turned to Senku, whose face had gone through the five stages of grief in approximately three seconds and settled on a look of grim resignation.

"Maybe it won't be that bad," you offered optimistically. "Maybe it's like, I don't know, a play about famous scientists? 'Einstein: The Musical'? 'Newton and the Amazing Technicolor Lab Coat'?"

Ms. Himura cleared her throat dramatically. "The play will be... 'Sleeping Beauty: A Modern Retelling'!"

Taiju, sitting behind you, let out an excited gasp. "I LOVE THAT STORY!"

"Of course you do," Senku sighed. "It has true love's kiss and all that nonsense."

You snickered. "I bet they'll cast you as a tree, Senku. You know, since you're already so wooden."

"I'll have you know that trees are essential to the ecosystem," Senku replied without missing a beat. "Unlike princes in fairy tales, who contribute nothing but unrealistic relationship expectations."

Ms. Himura continued over the buzz of excited and horrified whispers. "Rather than simply assigning roles based on my personal whims—though that would be entertaining—we'll be holding democratic elections for the main parts!"

"ELECTIONS?" you whispered to Senku. "Like with campaign speeches and everything?"

"God, I hope not," Senku muttered.

"And yes, there will be campaign speeches!" Ms. Himura announced gleefully, as if reading Senku's mind and deliberately contradicting it. "Anyone interested in a role must prepare a one-minute speech explaining why they're perfect for the part. Voting happens tomorrow!"

The bell rang, signaling the end of homeroom, and the classroom erupted into shouts. Some students were already forming campaign alliances, while others looked like they were planning to fake their own deaths before tomorrow.

"This is COMPLETE MADNESS," you declared as you, Senku, and Taiju gathered in the hallway. "Who in their right mind would voluntarily subject themselves to public scrutiny like that?"

"I might try out for one of those knight roles," Taiju mused thoughtfully. "I'm good at looking strong and standing in the background!"

"You'd make a great knight," you agreed, patting his arm. "Very knightly biceps."

"What about you guys?" Taiju asked, looking between you and Senku.

"Pass," Senku said immediately. "I'll take the minimum required role with the fewest lines. Preferably something that can be accomplished while remaining stationary and silent."

"Same," you nodded vigorously. "I'll be Tree Number Three or Villager With No Lines or maybe even just a rock. I could be a fantastic rock. I've been practicing my rock impression for years." You immediately demonstrated by freezing in place with a completely blank expression.

"That's just your thinking face," Senku pointed out.

"RUDE BUT ACCURATE," you conceded.

-

The next day, the campaign speeches were even more chaotic than expected. Kazuki, the class clown, promised to add "sick skateboard tricks" to the prince's role. Mei, the class president, presented a PowerPoint on her qualifications to play the princess, including a pie chart measuring "princess-like qualities" she possessed.

"Next up," Ms. Himura announced, checking her list, "nominations for the role of Aurora, our sleeping beauty!"

You were barely paying attention, busily sketching what you considered an excellent design for a dragon costume in your notebook (mostly because you figured no one would recognize you inside a dragon suit).

"I nominate [Y/N]!" a voice called out.

Your head snapped up so quickly you nearly gave yourself whiplash. "WHAT?"

The entire class turned to look at you, and you realized with horror that the voice belonged to Taiju, who was beaming at you with the proud expression of someone who thought they'd just done you a huge favor.

"TAIJU," you hissed, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"Being a supportive friend!" he whispered back enthusiastically. "You'd be perfect!"

"I would NOT be perfect! I would be PERFECTLY TERRIBLE!"

Ms. Himura smiled wickedly. "Any other nominations for Aurora?"

The classroom was silent. Suspiciously silent.

"No other nominations? Well then, [Y/N], please come up and give your campaign speech!"

"But I didn't prepare anything!" you protested.

"Improvisation is an important skill," Ms. Himura replied, unmoved. "One minute on the clock. Starting now."

With the dignity of someone walking to their own execution, you slouched to the front of the classroom. Twenty-five pairs of eyes stared at you expectantly.

"Um," you began eloquently. "So. I guess I'm supposed to tell you why I should be Aurora. The truth is, I shouldn't. I am literally the WORST possible choice. I talk too loud, I move too much, and I once fell asleep standing up during the national anthem at a baseball game, which I feel is the opposite energy of a sleeping princess."

Someone in the back snickered.

"ALSO!" you continued, warming to your topic, "Sleeping Beauty just LIES THERE for most of the story! That's so BORING! If I were Sleeping Beauty, I'd probably sleepwalk and accidentally set the castle on fire or something. And then there's the whole kissing thing—"

You caught sight of Senku in the back row, who had his face buried in his hands.

"—which is just, you know, WHATEVER. So in conclusion, please vote for literally anyone else. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk."

You gave an awkward bow and shuffled back to your seat amid scattered applause and confused murmurs.

"That was... unique," Ms. Himura said, looking both amused and perplexed. "Now, nominations for the role of the Prince!"

To everyone's shock, three girls immediately shot their hands up and simultaneously shouted, "I nominate Senku Ishigami!"

Senku, who had been in the middle of taking a sip of water, choked spectacularly.

"EXCUSE ME?" he sputtered, eyes watering.

"Excellent!" Ms. Himura clapped her hands. "Senku, your turn for a campaign speech!"

Senku stood up slowly, his expression suggesting he was mentally calculating how many laws he would break if he set fire to the school right now.

"I decline the nomination," he said flatly.

"Not an option," Ms. Himura sang. "One minute on the clock!"

Senku's eye twitched as he made his way to the front. "The role of the prince requires someone who can convincingly portray emotions such as 'love' and 'chivalry.' I find both concepts to be irrational social constructs with no basis. Additionally, I have better things to do with my time than prance around in medieval costume pretending to kiss someone."

You winced at the bluntness, but several girls in the class sighed dreamily, apparently interpreting his cold rationality as mysterious and attractive.

"If elected, I will make it my mission to rewrite the script to include at least three explanations for why the princess fell into a coma, preferably involving detailed discussions of neurochemistry. In conclusion, if you vote for me, you're voting for a play that will be educational rather than entertaining, which I assume is not what most of you want."

He sat down to surprisingly enthusiastic applause.

"That was... informative," Ms. Himura said, looking like she was trying not to laugh. "Alright, let's move on to the other roles..."

-

After all nominations and speeches were complete, Ms. Himura distributed small slips of paper for voting. You scribbled "ANYONE BUT ME" on yours in large letters, while Senku meticulously wrote what appeared to be a complex mathematical formula that somehow equaled "no."

The next morning, Ms. Himura entered the classroom with a manila envelope and a worryingly gleeful expression.

"The results are in!" she announced. "And I must say, you've made some... interesting choices."

She pulled out a sheet of paper with a flourish. "For the role of the King: Kazuki Tanaka!"

Kazuki pumped his fist. "Royal skateboard, here I come!"

"For the Queen: Mei Watanabe!"

Mei nodded primly, as if she'd expected nothing less.

"For the role of the Evil Fairy: Akio Nakamura!"

A quiet boy with thick glasses looked up in horror. "But... I didn't even get nominated!"

"Write-in candidate," Ms. Himura explained with a shrug. "Very popular choice."

You were beginning to sweat. Your name hadn't been called yet, which meant...

"For the role of Prince Phillip: Senku Ishigami!"

"WHAT?" Senku shot up from his seat. "That's impossible! I deliberately tanked my speech!"

"Apparently, your interpretation of the role was quite popular," Ms. Himura replied, barely containing her laughter. "Something about your 'passionate dedication to science' being 'dreamy.'"

You couldn't help it—you burst out laughing so hard you nearly fell out of your chair. Senku glared at you with the heat of a thousand suns.

"And finally," Ms. Himura continued, "for the role of Princess Aurora, our Sleeping Beauty: [Y/N]!"

Your laughter cut off abruptly, replaced by a strangled noise of pure horror. "BUT I SPECIFICALLY TOLD PEOPLE NOT TO VOTE FOR ME!"

"Reverse psychology is a powerful thing," Ms. Himura said cheerfully. "Plus, I think your classmates appreciated your... authentic approach."

You turned to stare accusingly at the sea of grinning faces. "TRAITORS! ALL OF YOU!"

"Congratulations to our leads and all other cast members!" Ms. Himura continued, immune to your distress. "Scripts will be distributed this afternoon, and our first rehearsal is tomorrow after school. Oh, and one more thing—our costume designer will be a student from Class 2-B who volunteered her services: Yuzuriha Ogawa!"

Taiju, who had been sympathetically patting your shoulder after your casting news, suddenly perked up like a dog hearing the word "treat."

"YUZURIHA?" he gasped, loud enough to make several nearby students jump.

"Yes, apparently she's quite skilled with a needle and thread," Ms. Himura nodded. "Which is fortunate, because our budget for this production is approximately... nothing."

As the bell rang and students began filing out, you, Senku, and Taiju huddled in a corner of the classroom, all in various states of panic.

"This is a DISASTER of EPIC PROPORTIONS," you wailed. "I can't be a princess! I trip over air! I have the grace of a newborn giraffe on roller skates!"

"At least you don't have to kiss anyone," Senku muttered darkly. "Did none of you actually READ Sleeping Beauty? The prince kisses the princess to wake her up!"

Your eyes widened in horror as this fact sank in. "OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. OH MY ACTUAL GOD."

"Guys, it's not that bad!" Taiju offered optimistically. "Plus, Yuzuriha will be there! That's good, right?"

"Taiju, focus!" you snapped, grabbing his shirt. "Senku and I have to KISS. ON STAGE. IN FRONT OF PEOPLE. THIS IS WORSE THAN THAT TIME I ACCIDENTALLY SET THE LAB ON FIRE!"

"That happened last week," Senku pointed out.

"EXACTLY! THE TRAUMA IS STILL FRESH!"

Senku pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let's all take a deep breath and approach this rationally. There must be a solution to this problem."

"Like what?" you demanded. "A stunt double? A hologram? WITNESS PROTECTION?"

"No," Senku's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "But I think I have an idea..."

-

The next few weeks were a blur of after-school rehearsals, during which you discovered several important things:

• Memorizing lines was actually harder than memorizing the periodic table (which you'd done for fun last summer, much to Senku's grudging approval).

• Walking in a princess dress without tripping required more coordination than you possessed.

• Senku was surprisingly not terrible at acting when he actually tried, which was both impressive and infuriating.

• Yuzuriha had officially joined your friend group, partly because of the play and partly because Taiju had finally worked up the courage to invite her to lunch.

In fact, it was during one of the costume fittings that Yuzuriha officially became the fourth member of your trio.

"Stand STILL," Yuzuriha pleaded, pins held carefully between her lips as she attempted to hem your dress.

"I AM STANDING STILL," you protested. "My body just naturally vibrates at a higher frequency than normal humans!"

"Like a hummingbird," Senku observed from where he was sitting, supposedly studying his lines but actually working on some mysterious project in a small notebook.

"EXACTLY!" you agreed. "Wait, was that a compliment or an insult?"

"Merely a observation," Senku replied without looking up.

Yuzuriha giggled, removing the pins from her mouth. "You guys are so funny together. I see why Taiju likes hanging out with you so much."

"We're an acquired taste," you admitted. "Like extremely spicy food or that weird cheese with maggots in it."

"That's... not a flattering comparison," Senku pointed out.

"Oh! Speaking of Taiju," Yuzuriha said, suddenly looking shy. "Is he coming to rehearsal today?"

You and Senku exchanged a knowing look.

"ABSOLUTELY," you answered, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. "He wouldn't miss it! He's very committed to his role as... what is he again?"

"Royal Guard Number Three," Senku supplied.

"RIGHT! Very prestigious position. Only the STRONGEST, HANDSOMEST guards get to be number three."

Yuzuriha blushed slightly. "He's been helping me carry the costume materials. He's so nice."

"And strong!" you added helpfully. "Have you seen him bench press? It's like watching a human forklift!"

"[Y/N]," Senku warned, shooting you a "tone it down" look.

"What? I'm just stating FACTS!" you defended. "Taiju IS strong! Last week he accidentally ripped a locker door off its hinges because he was excited about pizza day!"

Yuzuriha laughed again, and you decided right then and there that you approved of her for Taiju. Anyone who could genuinely laugh at your jokes was good people.

"Okay, I think this dress is almost done," Yuzuriha said, standing back to admire her work. "Just need to add some ribbons and beadwork. Want to see how it looks?"

She gestured toward a full-length mirror in the corner of the drama room. With the careful movements of someone transporting nuclear waste, you made your way over and looked at your reflection.

For a moment, you didn't recognize yourself.

The dress was a soft shade of c/c that somehow made your eyes look brighter and your skin glow. The bodice fit perfectly, and the skirt flowed elegantly to the floor without being poofy or ridiculous. You looked... pretty. Really pretty.

"Oh," you said softly, uncharacteristically speechless.

"Do you like it?" Yuzuriha asked anxiously.

"I LOVE IT!" you suddenly yelled, recovering your volume. "YUZURIHA, YOU'RE A GENIUS! A WIZARD! THE MICHELANGELO OF MIDDLE SCHOOL COSTUMING!"

Yuzuriha beamed. "I'm so glad! I wanted to make something that felt like you, but also like the character."

"It's perfect," you said sincerely, doing a careful twirl. "I might actually not completely embarrass myself in this!"

"Unlikely, but the dress does improve your chances," Senku commented, finally looking up from his notebook. For a brief moment, something flickered across his face—surprise, maybe—before he quickly returned to his work.

"WAS THAT ALMOST A COMPLIMENT, SENKU ISHIGAMI?" you gasped dramatically. "Quick, Yuzuriha, mark the calendar! This moment must be documented for posterity!"

The door to the drama room burst open, and Taiju bounded in, carrying what appeared to be an entire bolt of fabric over one shoulder like it weighed nothing.

"YUZURIHA! I GOT THE BACKDROP MATERIAL YOU ASKED FOR!" he announced. Then he caught sight of you in the dress and skidded to a halt. "WHOA! [Y/N], YOU LOOK LIKE A REAL PRINCESS!"

"I KNOW, RIGHT?" you twirled again, more exuberantly this time, nearly toppling over in the process. "YUZURIHA IS A MIRACLE WORKER!"

"She really is," Taiju agreed, gazing at Yuzuriha with such naked adoration that you had to bite your lip to keep from making kissy noises.

Ms. Himura poked her head into the room. "Ah, good, you're all here. We're running the awakening scene in five minutes. Senku, [Y/N], places please!"

Your stomach immediately tied itself into knots. The awakening scene. The KISS scene. The scene you and Senku had been avoiding practicing for the past three weeks.

"Senku," you whispered urgently as you made your way to the stage. "WHAT'S THE PLAN? PLEASE TELL ME YOU HAVE A PLAN!"

"Calm down," Senku muttered. "I've been working on a solution. Just follow my lead."

"That is NOT reassuring!" you hissed back.

The stage had been set up with a simple bed (actually just a table with pillows on it) where you were supposed to be "sleeping" until Senku's character woke you with true love's kiss. You lay down, heart pounding like a jackhammer, as Ms. Himura positioned everyone else.

"Alright, from the top!" Ms. Himura called. "Evil fairy's curse, princess falls asleep, prince fights through thorns, then the awakening!"

Akio, embracing his unexpected role as the evil fairy with surprising enthusiasm, delivered his curse with appropriately villainous cackles. You pretended to prick your finger on a spinning wheel (actually just a pencil) and swooned dramatically onto the bed.

"Remember, [Y/N], you're in a deep sleep!" Ms. Himura directed. "No twitching, no peeking, no humming the Jaws theme like last time!"

"THAT WAS ONE TIME!" you protested before assuming your "sleeping" position, hands folded peacefully across your stomach.

The scenes progressed around you as you lay motionless, fighting your natural urge to fidget. Finally, you heard Senku's footsteps approaching.

"At last," Senku recited flatly, "I have reached the princess. Only true love's kiss can break this curse."

You kept your eyes closed but mentally prepared yourself for... whatever was about to happen. You'd both been so busy avoiding this moment that you hadn't actually discussed how to handle it.

"Prince Phillip," Ms. Himura interrupted, "perhaps with a bit more emotion? You're about to kiss the love of your life, not order a hamburger."

"Right," Senku cleared his throat. "At LAST, I have REACHED the PRINCESS. ONLY true LOVE'S kiss can BREAK this CURSE."

You had to bite your lip to keep from laughing. Senku's attempt at "emotion" sounded like a malfunctioning text-to-speech program.

"Better?" Senku asked.

"We'll... work on it," Ms. Himura sighed. "Continue!"

You sensed Senku leaning over you. Your heart rate accelerated to what you were pretty sure were medically concerning levels.

"With this kiss," Senku continued, "I shall awaken—WAIT!"

Your eyes flew open in surprise. This wasn't in the script.

Senku had jumped back dramatically, staring at you with an expression of curiosity. "I just remembered! In my kingdom's ancient medical texts, there's mention of a rare condition where direct oral contact could be fatal if the subject is under a magical curse!"

The entire room went silent. Ms. Himura's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

"What?" she finally managed.

"It's a very specific pathology," Senku continued confidently. "The combination of magical particles and human saliva creates a toxic reaction. Instead, the antidote must be administered... from a distance!"

With that, he pulled something from his pocket—a small spray bottle that looked suspiciously like a repurposed cologne atomizer.

"I, uh, brought this potion! Made from... love... flowers?" Senku improvised, looking pained at his own words. "It contains the same properties as a kiss but can be safely administered as an aerosol."

Before Ms. Himura could object, Senku spritzed the contents of the bottle in your general direction. You caught a whiff of what smelled suspiciously like lemon-scented hand sanitizer.

Taking your cue, you gasped dramatically and sat up, fluttering your eyelashes. "I'm awake! The curse is broken! Thank you, brave prince, for saving me with your... innovation!"

Dead silence fell across the drama room. Then...

"I LOVE IT!" Ms. Himura exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "A modern twist! Science saving the day! It's perfect for a contemporary retelling!"

Senku looked as shocked as you felt. "You're... not making us do the original version?"

"Absolutely not! This is inspired! It's creative! It's exactly the kind of originality I was hoping for in this production!" Ms. Himura was practically bouncing with excitement. "In fact, let's rework some of the other scenes to incorporate more!"

As Ms. Himura rushed off to make script changes, you turned to Senku with an expression of awe.

"You did it," you whispered. "YOU ACTUALLY DID IT! YOU SCIENCE'D OUR WAY OUT OF KISSING!"

"Was there ever any doubt?" Senku replied, though you could see relief written all over his face. "I wasn't about to subject either of us to unnecessary physical contact for the sake of outdated fairy tale conventions."

"MY HERO," you declared, only half-joking. "I take back at least 12% of the mean things I've ever said about you."

"Generous," Senku said dryly.

-

The night of the play arrived with the typical disarray of any middle school production. Backstage was a whirlwind of forgotten lines, costume malfunctions, and at least one case of stress-induced hiccups (poor Akio couldn't get through his evil fairy monologue without hiccupping after every third word).

Yuzuriha flitted between cast members, making last-minute adjustments to costumes with the precision of a surgeon. Taiju was lifting anything that needed lifting, including at one point an entire set piece that had started to collapse.

You were in a small dressing room, staring at yourself in the mirror with a mixture of disbelief and panic. Yuzuriha had insisted on doing your hair and makeup, and the result was... transformative.

"I DON'T RECOGNIZE MYSELF," you announced to no one in particular. "I LOOK LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HUMAN. IS THIS WHAT BEING PRETTY FEELS LIKE? IT'S WEIRD. MY FACE FEELS HEAVY."

There was a knock at the door, and Senku's voice called, "Five minutes until places. Are you decent?"

"DEFINE 'DECENT'!" you called back. "PHYSICALLY, YES. MENTALLY, DEBATABLE!"

The door creaked open, and Senku poked his head in. He was dressed in his prince costume—a surprisingly elegant blue tunic with silver accents, also made by Yuzuriha—and his hair had been... well, "tamed" would be an exaggeration, but someone had clearly made an attempt to style it.

You turned to face him, suddenly feeling uncharacteristically self-conscious. "Well? Do I look sufficiently princess-like, or do I still look like someone who once tried to prove that raw eggs could bounce if you froze them first?"

Senku stared at you for a beat longer than normal, then cleared his throat. "The transformation is... significant. Yuzuriha's skills are impressive."

"IS THAT SENKU-SPEAK FOR 'YOU LOOK NICE'?" you pressed, grinning.

"It's Senku-speak for 'we're going to be late if you don't stop fishing for compliments,'" he retorted, but there was no real heat in his words. "Come on, the auditorium's packed."

"PACKED?" you squeaked, your momentary confidence evaporating. "Like, with PEOPLE? Human people with EYES who will WATCH ME?"

"That's generally what an audience consists of, yes."

"I think I'm going to be sick," you admitted, suddenly pale beneath your makeup.

Something in Senku's expression softened slightly. "You'll be fine. You've memorized all your lines, and if you forget something, just improvise. You're good at making things up on the spot."

"Was that... an actual compliment?" you asked suspiciously.

"It was a factual observation," Senku corrected. "Now come on. Taiju and Yuzuriha are saving seats for us in the front row for after our scenes are done."

Taking a deep breath, you followed Senku to the wings of the stage. The curtain was still closed, but you could hear the murmur of the audience on the other side.

"Hey, Senku," you whispered as you took your places. "Thanks for the whole spray bottle thing. I know expressions of gratitude make you break out in hives, but seriously. That was genius."

"It was the logical solution," Senku replied simply. "Just a practical application of problem-solving."

"Still," you insisted. "It was nice. YOU were nice."

Before Senku could protest this characterization, the lights dimmed and Ms. Himura stepped out in front of the curtain to introduce the play.

"Ladies and gentlemen, parents and teachers, welcome to Class 2-A's production of 'Sleeping Beauty: A Scientific Retelling'! Please note that the original title has been updated to reflect our unique interpretation of this classic tale..."

As the curtain rose and the play began, you found yourself caught up in the magic of it all—not the fairy tale magic, but the real magic of creating something with your friends, of facing your fears, of discovering new sides to yourself.

And when it came time for your awakening scene, with Senku earnestly explaining the principles behind his "kiss potion" (which he had somehow expanded into a two-minute lecture on aerosol-based curse removal).

-

"THAT WAS AMAZING!" Taiju bellowed as you and Senku joined him and Yuzuriha in the audience after your final scenes. "YOU GUYS WERE SO GOOD!"

"I didn't fall down ONCE!" you pointed out proudly. "That's a personal record!"

"The dress looked perfect on stage," Yuzuriha said happily. "And Senku, that potion explanation was so convincing! You almost made me believe curses could actually be broken by aerosolized compounds!"

"Basic chemistry," Senku shrugged, but you caught the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

As the play continued with the scenes you weren't in, you leaned back in your seat, feeling a strange sense of accomplishment. You were still wearing your princess dress, your face still felt weird with makeup on it, and several people had actually complimented you without seeming sarcastic or concerned for your mental health.

"Hey," you whispered to Senku while Kazuki was delivering the King's final monologue (which he had somehow worked a skateboard reference into despite Ms. Himura's best efforts to prevent it). "Do you think middle school is actually getting less terrible?"

"The evidence would suggest a slight improvement in conditions," Senku conceded. "Though I maintain it's still mostly a waste of time that could be spent on actual advancement."

"But?"

"But," Senku continued reluctantly, "I suppose the social aspects aren't entirely without merit."

You grinned. "SENKU ISHIGAMI! Did you just admit that FRIENDSHIP is VALUABLE? Quick, someone check if hell has frozen over!"

"Keep your voice down," Senku hissed as several audience members turned to glare at you.

"Sorry," you whispered, not feeling sorry at all. "But seriously, I'm counting this as a major breakthrough. 'Local Genius Admits Humans Aren't Completely Terrible.' Front page news!"

Senku rolled his eyes, but didn't argue the point. On your other side, you noticed Taiju's hand slowly inching closer to Yuzuriha's on the armrest between them. Your heart gave a little squeeze of happiness for your friend.

As the final scene played out and the audience erupted in applause, you looked around at your little group—Taiju, enthusiastically clapping and shouting "BRAVO!" despite the dirty looks he was getting; Yuzuriha, smiling proudly at the costumes she had created; and Senku, analyzing the aspects of the lighting design even during the curtain call.

That was definitely worth documenting in your journal.

Chapter Text

Senku bolted upright in bed, his normally perfect gravity-defying hair somehow even more defying than usual. His heart was pounding like he'd just sprinted through the entire periodic table in alphabetical order.

"What the actual—" he muttered, glancing at his clock. 3:17 AM. Perfect. Just the time for existential crises and bizarre dream sequences.

He grabbed his phone and fired off a group text.

Senku: Anyone else just have the weirdest dream about meeting another [Y/N]?

He didn't expect an immediate response. Normal humans were typically unconscious at this hour. But within seconds, his phone lit up.

[Y/N]: OH MY GOD YES!!!! IT WAS HORRIFYING!!!! DREAM ME WAS SO CRINGE I WANTED TO CRAWL INTO A BLACK HOLE AND GET SPAGHETTIFIED!!!!!! WHY ARE YOU AWAKE???? WHY AM I AWAKE???? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING????

Taiju: GUYS I HAD IT TOO!!! THE OTHER [Y/N] KEPT BATTING HER EYELASHES AT YOU SENKU!!! IT WAS SO WEIRD!!!

Yuzuriha: Um... this is a little unsettling. I had the exact same dream?

Senku stared at his phone screen. Four people having identical dreams simultaneously was statistically improbable to the point of impossibility. Unless...

Senku: Meet at the usual spot before school. 7 AM sharp. We need to discuss this anomaly.

[Y/N]: ROGER THAT CAPTAIN!!! I'LL BRING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SNACKS!!! THIS CALLS FOR EMERGENCY CHOCOLATE!!!

Taiju: I'LL BE THERE!!!

Yuzuriha: See you all then! ♥

Senku set his phone down and lay back, staring at the glow-in-the-dark constellation stickers on his ceiling. There had to be a logical explanation for this. Maybe they all ate something weird at lunch yesterday. Maybe there was a gas leak in the school. Maybe this was just middle school getting even weirder than it already was.

But he couldn't shake the image of that other [Y/N] from his mind—a bizarre, eyelash-batting, hair-flipping caricature who had somehow invaded their day like a particularly aggressive parasitic entity.

Sleep was clearly no longer an option.

-

The previous afternoon...

"AND THEN I SAID, 'THAT'S NOT A BEAKER, THAT'S MY LUNCH!'" [Y/N] delivered the punchline with characteristic volume, slapping her knee and cackling at her own joke.

The classroom was mostly empty after school, just the four of them working on their semester project—a spectacularly overcomplicated light-responsive plant hydration system that Senku had somehow convinced their teacher was grade-appropriate.

"Can you pass the wire cutters?" Senku asked, not looking up from the circuit board he was soldering.

"THE WIRE CUTTERS? OH, YOU MEAN THE SNIPPY-SNIPPY ELECTRICITY SCISSORS! COMING RIGHT UP, BOY!"

"That's not what they're called," Senku muttered, but accepted the tool without further complaint.

Taiju was carefully (or as carefully as Taiju could manage, which wasn't very) repotting some seedlings, while Yuzuriha precisely measured and cut lengths of tubing for the irrigation system. It was their typical after-school scene—Senku directing, [Y/N] providing commentary, Taiju supplying enthusiasm and muscle, and Yuzuriha adding a necessary touch of artistry.

"Does anyone else feel weird today?" Yuzuriha suddenly asked, setting down her scissors.

"WEIRD HOW? LIKE 'I FORGOT TO WEAR SOCKS' WEIRD OR 'EXISTENTIAL DREAD ABOUT THE MEANINGLESSNESS OF MIDDLE SCHOOL HIERARCHIES' WEIRD?" [Y/N] tilted her head.

"More like... I don't know. Like something's off." Yuzuriha frowned. "Like someone's watching us."

"OOOOOH, SPOOKY!" [Y/N] wiggled her fingers. "MAYBE IT'S THE GHOST OF THE MATH TEACHER WHO SUPPOSEDLY DIED GRADING POP QUIZZES IN THIS VERY ROOM!"

"That never happened," Senku said flatly. "Mr. Yakota just transferred to another school."

"THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO THINK!"

A knock on the classroom door interrupted [Y/N]'s conspiracy theory. All four heads turned to see a girl standing in the doorway.

And not just any girl.

She had [H/C] hair that somehow caught the fluorescent classroom lighting perfectly, creating what appeared to be a natural halo effect. Her [E/C] eyes were approximately 40% larger than anatomically possible, and when she blinked, her eyelashes made a tiny audible swooshing sound. Her uniform was the standard school outfit, yet somehow it looked runway-ready on her willowy frame.

"Um, excuse me," she said in a voice that sounded like what would happen if liquid honey could speak. "Is this where the science club meets?"

There was a moment of profound silence. Even [Y/N] seemed momentarily struck speechless, which had previously been thought impossible.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE ME BUT MAKE-UP-IFIED?" [Y/N] finally blurted, pointing an accusatory finger at the newcomer.

The girl blinked those improbable eyelashes again. "Oh my goodness! We do look alike! How kawaii! My name is [Y/N] [L/N]!"

The four friends exchanged glances.

"That's... also my name," [Y/N] said slowly, for once not shouting.

The new girl giggled—an actual, literal sound effect that seemed to manifest tiny sparkles in the air. "What a coincidence! Maybe we're long-lost twins or something super dramatic like that!"

Senku narrowed his eyes, clearly running mental calculations on the probability of this encounter. "That's not how genetics works."

New [Y/N]—henceforth to be known as Y/N 2.0—glided into the room with the grace of someone who had spent years practicing how to walk dramatically through doorways. "I just transferred here today. I used to live in America, but then my parents died in a tragic accident involving a runaway carousel horse and a vat of cotton candy, so I came to live with my mysterious uncle in Japan who never talks about his past but has a scar shaped like a dragon on his face."

"I... what?" Regular [Y/N] blinked rapidly.

"Oh, don't worry about me!" Y/N 2.0 waved a delicate hand. "I've learned to be strong despite my tragic backstory! Each tear I cry makes me stronger!" She demonstrated by producing a single, perfect tear that rolled artistically down her cheek before disappearing.

"That's physically impossible," Senku muttered.

Y/N 2.0 suddenly noticed him and froze, her impossible eyes widening even further. "Oh. My. Gosh." She floated toward him like a wisp of perfumed fog. "You're like, so totally gorgeous! Is your hair natural? Can I touch it? Are you single? What's your blood type? Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?"

Senku actually took a step back, looking genuinely alarmed for perhaps the first time in his life. "[Y/N]," he said quietly to the original article, "I think your doppelgänger is malfunctioning."

The real [Y/N] was watching this display with an expression that suggested she was considering either spontaneous combustion or immediate relocation to Antarctica.

"I have many special talents," Y/N 2.0 continued, somehow now perched on a desk despite no one seeing her move there. "I can sing like an angel, I'm a black belt in seventeen martial arts, I speak twelve languages including dolphin, I can bake cookies that literally heal emotional wounds, and for some reason all animals love me. A bird pooped on everyone in my last class EXCEPT me!"

"Is that... supposed to be impressive?" the real [Y/N] asked weakly.

Y/N 2.0 didn't seem to hear her. She was too busy gazing at Senku with the intensity of a million dying stars. "Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are like crimson pools of knowledge that I could drown in forever?"

"No," Senku replied flatly. "Because that's not a thing actual humans say."

"I think I'm going to be sick," the real [Y/N] muttered, clutching her stomach.

Taiju, who had been watching this exchange with his mouth open, finally found his voice. "ARE YOU A ROBOT?" he boomed. "OR AN ALIEN? OR A ROBOT ALIEN?"

Y/N 2.0 laughed melodically. "Oh, you're so funny! I'm just a totally normal middle school girl who happens to be exceptionally talented, uniquely beautiful, and mysteriously alluring!" She twirled, causing her hair to fan out in slow motion. "Though I do have one small quirk! Sometimes when I get nervous or excited, I accidentally use my telekinesis! Oopsie!"

As if on cue, a beaker floated off the shelf and shattered on the floor.

"WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK?!" the real [Y/N] shrieked, jumping onto a chair.

Yuzuriha, who had been silently observing this entire bizarre encounter, stepped forward. "I'm sorry, but I think there's been a misunderstanding. We're not the science club. We're just working on a class project."

"Oh!" Y/N 2.0 pouted prettily. "Well, that's okay! I can still help! I got perfect scores in all my science classes back in America, even though I never studied because I was too busy saving orphaned raccoons and teaching underprivileged children to read!"

The real [Y/N] made a strangled noise. "This isn't happening. This cannot be happening. Senku, please tell me you slipped some hallucinogenic compound into the air and this is all a mass delusion."

"If only," Senku muttered, looking genuinely disturbed. "This defies all rational explanation."

Y/N 2.0 suddenly gasped and clutched her chest dramatically. "Oh no! My secret powers are sensing danger! There must be a villain nearby!" She struck a pose that appeared to be copied from an anime. "Fear not, I shall protect you all with my magical girl transformation!"

The real [Y/N] watched in horror as her doppelgänger began spinning around, making her own sound effects. "No. No no no. This is NOT happening in MY classroom with MY friends. This is where I draw the line!"

She marched up to Y/N 2.0 and poked her firmly in the shoulder. "HEY! BOOTLEG VERSION OF ME! THIS ISN'T AN ANIME! THIS IS MIDDLE SCHOOL! WE DON'T HAVE MAGICAL TRANSFORMATIONS OR TELEKINESIS OR PERFECT HAIR! WE HAVE ACNE AND AWKWARDNESS AND MATH HOMEWORK!"

Y/N 2.0 stopped spinning and blinked those impossible eyelashes. "But... my special powers..."

"THE ONLY SPECIAL POWER MIDDLE SCHOOLERS HAVE IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE EVERYTHING AWKWARD!" [Y/N] continued, now in full rant mode. "WE DON'T HAVE TRAGIC BACKSTORIES, WE HAVE EMBARRASSING CHILDHOOD PHOTOS OUR PARENTS THREATEN TO SHOW AT GRADUATION! WE DON'T SPEAK DOLPHIN, WE BARELY SPEAK COHERENT HUMAN MOST DAYS!"

Something strange began happening to Y/N 2.0. She seemed to flicker, like a television with poor reception.

"And another thing!" [Y/N] continued, jabbing her finger with each point. "REAL PEOPLE DON'T HAVE PERPETUAL WIND MACHINES FOLLOWING THEM AROUND FOR DRAMATIC HAIR MOVEMENT! REAL HAIR GETS FRIZZY AND WEIRD AND SOMETIMES HAS RANDOM COWLICKS THAT DEFY THE LAWS OF PHYSICS!" She gestured wildly at Senku. "WELL, EXCEPT HIS, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE HE'S PROBABLY PART PLANT OR SOMETHING!"

"I am not part plant," Senku interjected, but no one was listening.

Y/N 2.0 was definitely flickering now, her perfect form becoming increasingly transparent. "But... but... my eyelashes..." she whimpered.

"AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THOSE FAKE EYELASHES!" [Y/N] roared. "IF MY EYELASHES WERE THAT LONG, I'D CONSTANTLY BE PICKING DUST OUT OF MY EYEBALLS! THEY'D GET TANGLED WHEN I BLINK! THEY'D PROBABLY CAUSE SOME SORT OF WIND DISTURBANCE!"

With each word, Y/N 2.0 became more and more transparent, her perfect features distorting.

"I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THERE'S A VERSION OF ME OUT THERE WHO THINKS BATTING HER EYELASHES IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR ACTUAL PERSONALITY! MY PERSONALITY IS LOUD AND SOMETIMES ANNOYING BUT IT'S REAL! I DON'T NEED PERFECT HAIR OR MAGICAL POWERS OR A TRAGIC BACKSTORY! I HAVE SCIENCE AND FRIENDS AND AN UNHEALTHY OBSESSION WITH CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT OUR MATH TEACHER!"

With a final, melodramatic gasp, Y/N 2.0 dissolved into a cloud of glitter that hung in the air for a moment before falling to the floor.

The four friends stared at the pile of sparkles in stunned silence.

"Did I... did I just destroy a person?" [Y/N] whispered, suddenly horrified.

"I don't think she was a person," Senku said slowly, crouching down to examine the glitter. He poked at it with a pencil. "This appears to be actual cosmetic-grade glitter. Which raises significantly more questions than it answers."

"I feel weird," Yuzuriha said, swaying slightly. "Like... really weird."

"ME TOO," Taiju agreed, his voice uncharacteristically quiet. "LIKE SOMEONE POURED SLEEPY JUICE IN MY BRAIN."

[Y/N] turned to look at her friends, but they seemed to be fading, their outlines becoming blurry. "Guys? What's happening? Why does everyone look like they're being erased?"

"Fascinating," Senku murmured, his voice sounding distant despite being right next to her. "It seems we're experiencing some sort of collective..."

The world went black.

-

Present time, 7:00 AM

"AND THAT'S WHEN I WOKE UP SCREAMING INTO MY PILLOW!" [Y/N] concluded, having just recounted her version of the dream to the group. They were huddled at their usual meeting spot—a bench under an oak tree in the park across from school.

"I had the exact same dream," Yuzuriha confirmed, looking troubled. "Every detail."

"ME TOO!" Taiju nodded vigorously. "THE OTHER [Y/N] KEPT DOING THAT WEIRD THING WITH HER EYES!"

"You mean blinking?" Senku asked dryly.

"NO, THE FLUTTERY THING! LIKE HER EYELIDS WERE HAVING TINY SEIZURES!"

"It's called batting your eyelashes," Yuzuriha explained gently. "It's supposed to be... flirtatious."

"IT LOOKED LIKE SHE HAD SOMETHING STUCK IN HER EYE!"

[Y/N] buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe my subconscious created a version of me that's a walking, talking cliché! What does that say about my psyche? AM I SECRETLY HARBORING DESIRES TO HAVE 'EYES LIKE POOLS OF LIQUID STARLIGHT' OR WHATEVER GARBAGE SHE WAS SPOUTING?"

"I doubt it," Senku said. "Your typical descriptors for your eyes are more along the lines of 'those things I use to see stuff' and 'face holes.'"

"THANK YOU! Very reassuring!"

"But why would we all have the exact same dream?" Yuzuriha wondered, twisting a strand of hair around her finger. "It doesn't make sense."

"Maybe we've been spending too much time together?" Taiju suggested. "MY MOM SAYS SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY CLOSE START TO THINK ALIKE!"

"That's not how dreams work," Senku replied, though he sounded less certain than usual. "Dreams are the brain processing information and experiences, consolidating memories. They're individual neurological events."

"THEN EXPLAIN THE SHARED SPARKLE EXPLOSION!" [Y/N] challenged. "EXPLAIN THE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING ME RANT A FICTIONAL VERSION OF MYSELF INTO OBLIVION!"

Senku frowned. "I can't. Yet."

The group fell silent, contemplating the implications.

"Maybe it was the cafeteria meat surprise from yesterday?" Yuzuriha suggested hesitantly. "We all ate it."

"FOOD POISONING DOESN'T CAUSE TELEPATHIC DREAM SHARING," [Y/N] pointed out. "Though I'm pretty sure it did cause the weird noises my stomach was making during math class."

"What if—" Taiju began, then stopped, looking uncertain.

"What?" Senku prompted.

"WHAT IF IT WASN'T A DREAM?" Taiju blurted. "WHAT IF IT REALLY HAPPENED AND THEN SOMETHING MADE US FORGET IT HAPPENED EXCEPT IN OUR DREAMS?"

They all stared at him.

"That's... actually not a terrible theory," Senku admitted reluctantly.

"OH MY GOD!" [Y/N] jumped up, eyes wide. "WHAT IF THERE ARE PARALLEL UNIVERSES, AND YESTERDAY THERE WAS SOME KIND OF HICCUP THAT MADE A TEAR IN THE SPACE-TIME CONTINUUM, AND ALTERNATE-UNIVERSE ME SLIPPED THROUGH THE CRACK?"

"Now you're just being ridiculous," Senku sighed.

"Says the boy whose hair defies all known laws of gravity," [Y/N] retorted. "SERIOUSLY, HOW DO YOU GET IT TO DO THAT? IS IT SENTIENT? DOES IT HAVE ITS OWN BRAIN? DOES IT DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?"

"It's just hair."

"IT'S A SCIENTIFIC MIRACLE IS WHAT IT IS."

Yuzuriha cleared her throat. "Um, guys? I hate to interrupt this fascinating discussion of Senku's hair biology, but... there's something on the ground where the other [Y/N] disappeared in our dream."

They all looked down. There, on the grass beneath the bench, was a tiny pile of glitter.

The four friends stared at it in stunned silence.

"That's... probably just regular glitter," [Y/N] said weakly. "From, you know, a craft project or something."

"I don't recall any recent craft projects involving glitter at this exact location," Senku replied, crouching down to examine it.

"DON'T TOUCH IT!" Taiju warned. "WHAT IF IT'S CONTAGIOUS? WHAT IF WE ALL TURN INTO SPARKLY VERSIONS OF OURSELVES?"

"I think I'd prefer not to sparkle, thank you very much," [Y/N] said, taking a step back. "One identity crisis per week is my limit."

Senku pulled a small vial from his bag, carefully scooped some of the glitter into it, and sealed it. "I'll analyze this later. For science."

"FOR SANITY!" [Y/N] corrected. "I need to know I'm not losing my mind! OR WORSE, THAT THERE'S ACTUALLY A VERSION OF ME OUT THERE WHO THINKS HAIR-FLIPPING IS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT!"

The warning bell rang in the distance, signaling that they had ten minutes to get to class.

"We should go," Yuzuriha said, gathering her bag. "But we're meeting after school to figure this out, right?"

"ABSOLUTELY!" [Y/N] nodded vigorously. "To Figure Out Why We're Having Collective Hallucinations About Sparkly Doppelgängers is officially underway!"

"We are NOT calling it that," Senku groaned.

"O.F.O.W.W.H.C.H.A.S.D.?" [Y/N] suggested.

"Even worse."

"What about 'Operation Glitter Girl'?" Yuzuriha offered.

They considered this.

"Simple. Accurate. Not a ridiculous acronym," Senku nodded. "Acceptable."

"YOU'RE NO FUN," [Y/N] pouted. "But fine. Operation Glitter Girl it is. If anyone needs me before the meeting, I'll be in class, quietly having an existential crisis about whether any of us are real or just figments of someone else's imagination!"

"Drama queen," Senku muttered as they gathered their things.

"CHAOS AGENT," [Y/N] corrected with a grin. "Get it right, Boy."

As they headed toward school, [Y/N] couldn't help glancing back at the pile of glitter, now sparkling innocuously in the morning sunlight. Just a coincidence, she told herself firmly. Definitely not evidence that they'd collectively banished a parallel universe version of herself.

Definitely not.

Probably not.

Maybe not?

She quickened her pace to catch up with her friends, making a mental note to check all reflective surfaces for signs of eyelash-batting doppelgängers. Just in case.

-

In the science classroom after school, the four friends gathered around a microscope, where Senku had placed a sample of the mysterious glitter.

"Well?" [Y/N] asked, bouncing impatiently on her toes. "Is it regular craft glitter or INTERDIMENSIONAL TRAVEL RESIDUE?"

"It's glitter," Senku confirmed, adjusting the focus. "Common polyethylene terephthalate with aluminum coating."

"So... not magic sparkle remains of my annoying alternate self?"

"No definitive evidence of paranormal origin, no."

[Y/N] slumped with relief. "Oh thank goodness. I was genuinely concerned there was a universe where I'm a walking anime trope."

"I still don't understand how we all had the same dream," Yuzuriha said, perched on a nearby stool. "It can't just be coincidence."

"MAYBE WE'RE ALL PSYCHIC!" Taiju suggested excitedly. "MAYBE WE'VE DEVELOPED POWERS FROM HANGING OUT WITH SENKU AND ALL HIS WEIRD CHEMICALS!"

"That's not how psychic abilities work," Senku replied automatically, then caught himself. "I mean, psychic abilities don't work because they don't exist."

"Then how do you explain this?" [Y/N] challenged, gesturing vaguely around the room. "Four people having identical dreams about a version of me who dissolved into actual, physical glitter that we found in real life?"

Senku was quiet for a moment, a rare occurrence that made them all stare at him in surprise.

"I can't," he finally admitted. "Yet."

The classroom door suddenly slammed open, making them all jump.

"GUYS!" a familiar voice bellowed. "YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED!"

They turned to see... [Y/N]. Another [Y/N]. But not the sparkly, perfect one from their dream. This one was just as loud, but definitely real—wearing a different school uniform, her hair a mess, and clutching what appeared to be a half-eaten sandwich.

The four friends froze in perfect unison.

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHY DO YOU LOOK LIKE ME?!" both [Y/N]s shrieked simultaneously, pointing at each other.

"Oh no," Senku muttered. "Not again."

"THIS IS GETTING RIDICULOUS!" the original [Y/N] yelled. "IS THE UNIVERSE JUST CREATING COPIES OF ME NOW? IS THERE A SALE ON [Y/N]s I WASN'T AWARE OF?"

The new [Y/N] looked equally confused. "I WAS JUST EATING LUNCH AT MY SCHOOL AND SUDDENLY EVERYTHING WENT WEIRD AND SPARKLY AND NOW I'M HERE AND YOU LOOK LIKE ME BUT WITH DIFFERENT HAIR AND—" She stopped abruptly, staring at Senku. "WHY DOES HE HAVE LEEK-SHAPED HAIR?!"

"IT'S NOT LEEK-SHAPED!" original [Y/N] defended automatically. "IT'S MORE LIKE... ACTUALLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE BUT IT'S COOL, OKAY?"

New [Y/N] took a step forward, examining them all with wide eyes. "Wait a minute. You look like... no way. NO WAY. You look like those people from that manga my little brother reads! The one with the stone thing and the science guy!"

The room went silent.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'MANGA'?" Taiju finally asked.

New [Y/N] looked increasingly distressed. "Oh my god. Oh my god. This isn't happening. I've finally lost it. I've gone full mental breakdown. Mom said too much caffeine would rot my brain and SHE WAS RIGHT!"

"You're not crazy," Senku said slowly. "At least, no more than [Y/N] typically is."

"HEY!" both [Y/N]s protested in unison.

"This is getting confusing," Yuzuriha said gently. "Maybe we should call you something different?" she suggested to the new arrival.

"BUT I'M [Y/N]!" new [Y/N] insisted. "I'VE ALWAYS BEEN [Y/N]! I HAVE THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND EMBARRASSING BABY PHOTOS TO PROVE IT!"

"SO DO I!" original [Y/N] countered.

They glared at each other.

"Fine," new [Y/N] relented. "Call me... I don't know... Reader? Since apparently I've fallen into some kind of weird fiction world where manga characters are real?"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'FICTION WORLD'?" Taiju boomed. "WE'RE REAL! SEE?" He pinched his own arm. "OUCH! DEFINITELY REAL!"

Reader ( New [Y/N] ) looked around the classroom with growing horror. "This is not happening. I was just having lunch, complaining about math homework, and now I'm in a Japanese middle school talking to characters from Dr. Stone? WHAT KIND OF JOKE IS THIS?"

Original [Y/N] froze. "Did you say 'Dr. Stone'? WHAT IS THAT? IS IT ABOUT ME? AM I FAMOUS IN YOUR DIMENSION?"

"It's not about you," Reader replied, looking increasingly distressed. "It's about him!" She pointed at Senku. "He's the guy who memorizes the seconds while everyone's turned to stone and then revives humanity with science! It's a whole thing! There are bad guys and inventions and—" She slapped her hand over her mouth. "Oh god, I'm spoiling a manga for the actual characters IN the manga. This is peak weirdness."

The four friends stared at her.

"I think," Senku said very carefully, "we need to sit down and discuss this calmly and rationally."

"CALMLY?!" both [Y/N]s shrieked simultaneously. "HOW CAN WE BE CALM WHEN THE FABRIC OF REALITY IS UNRAVELING?!"

They looked at each other in surprise, then burst into identical maniacal laughter.

"At least we still think alike," original [Y/N] said between giggles.

"This is so weird," Reader agreed, wiping tears from her eyes. "But also kind of awesome? I mean, how many people get to meet fictional characters?"

"WE'RE NOT FICTIONAL!" Taiju insisted.

"From your perspective, no," Reader nodded. "From mine... well, I've read about you guys. Senku with his crazy knowledge, Taiju with his endless stamina, Yuzuriha with her crafting skills..." She looked at original [Y/N]. "But I don't remember you from the manga."

Original [Y/N] looked offended. "WHAT? I'M NOT IN THE STORY? AFTER ALL MY CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE? This is OUTRAGEOUS!"

"Maybe you're from a different timeline?" Reader suggested. "Or maybe you're like me—someone who got pulled into this world somehow?"

The five of them looked at each other in bewildered silence.

"This is fascinating," Senku finally said. "The implications for multiverse theory are—"

"WE'RE NOT DISCUSSING THEORETICAL PHYSICS RIGHT NOW!" original [Y/N] cut him off.

The room began to shimmer around them, the edges of reality seeming to blur.

"Uh oh," Reader said, looking around nervously. "This is what happened right before I got zapped here. I think whatever glitch brought me here is about to reverse."

"Wait!" original [Y/N] grabbed her doppelgänger's arm. "QUICK! TELL ME SOMETHING ABOUT MY FUTURE!"

"I told you, you're not in the manga I read!" Reader replied, her form starting to flicker. "But if you want some general advice—don't eat the cafeteria mystery meat next Tuesday, and maybe tell that science nerd how you really feel before some petrification apocalypse happens!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HOW I FEEL? I FEEL HUNGRY MOST OF THE TIME AND OCCASIONALLY SLEEPY!"

Reader winked as she began to fade. "Sure, that's totally what I meant. Good luck, alternate me! Try not to destroy the universe!" Her voice echoed as she disappeared entirely, leaving behind nothing but a few specks of glitter and the lingering scent of cafeteria sandwich.

The four friends stood in stunned silence.

"Did that just happen?" Yuzuriha finally asked.

"I... think so?" [Y/N] replied, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. "Unless we're all having the same hallucination again."

"The glitter suggests otherwise," Senku said, pointing to the fresh sparkles on the floor.

"WHAT DID SHE MEAN ABOUT PETRIFICATION?" Taiju asked, looking worried. "THAT SOUNDS BAD!"

"Probably nothing," [Y/N] said quickly. "Alternate dimension nonsense. Wouldn't worry about it." But she cast a sidelong glance at Senku, remembering Reader's parting words.

"THIS IS TOO WEIRD!" she declared, returning to her usual volume. "FIRST WE ALL SHARE A DREAM ABOUT A PERFECT VERSION OF ME, AND NOW WE MEET AN ALTERNATE DIMENSION VERSION WHO CLAIMS WE'RE ALL MANGA CHARACTERS? I CAN'T HANDLE THIS ON A SCHOOL NIGHT!"

"It is rather distressing," Yuzuriha agreed quietly.

Senku was unusually quiet, staring at the spot where Reader had disappeared. Finally, he looked up at them. "I'm going to need to run some tests. On all of us. And that glitter."

"YOU THINK SCIENCE CAN EXPLAIN THIS?" [Y/N] asked skeptically.

"Science can explain everything," Senku replied with his usual confidence, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. "Eventually."

"Well, until then," [Y/N] announced, clapping her hands together, "I propose we never speak of this again and pretend everything is completely normal! WHO'S WITH ME?"

"AGREED!" Taiju nodded vigorously.

"I'm okay with that," Yuzuriha said, looking relieved.

Senku sighed. "Fine. But I'm still keeping the samples."

"OF COURSE YOU ARE, YOU ABSOLUTE NERD." [Y/N] grinned, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "Now, who wants to get ice cream and pretend the universe isn't possibly a fictional construct?"

As they left the classroom, [Y/N] couldn't help but wonder about Reader's parting words. Tell that science nerd how you really feel? What was that supposed to mean? She felt lots of things—hunger, occasional respect for Senku's brain, constant exasperation at his attitude, rare moments of what might be termed 'affection' if she was being extremely generous...

She shook her head. Nope. Not going there. Especially not based on the advice of an alternate dimension doppelgänger who thought they were all characters in a manga.

Chapter Text

You stared deeply into the eyes of your opponent, unblinking. This was a battle of wills. A test of endurance. A—

"Are you having a staring contest with a squirrel?" Senku's voice cut through your intense concentration.

"SHHH!" you hissed without breaking eye contact with the small, fuzzy creature perched on a nearby tree branch. "We're locked in psychological warfare! This bushy-tailed menace thinks it can intimidate ME? HA!"

The squirrel twitched its nose, clearly unimpressed by your declaration.

"You realize we're supposed to be taking notes on the local ecosystem, right?" Senku pointed at the clipboard you'd abandoned on the ground in favor of your impromptu squirrel showdown. "Not challenging the wildlife to duels?"

"I AM taking notes!" you protested. "Mental notes! Like: 'Tiny forest creature possesses surprising amount of attitude.'"

Somewhere behind you, the science teacher's voice rang out across the nature preserve: "Remember, students! Stay with your assigned groups and don't wander off the marked trails!"

The class field trip to Hakone National Park was supposed to be educational—something about biodiversity and forest ecosystems and other words that had blurred together during the pre-trip lecture because you were too busy doodling what you imagined Senku would look like if he were actually a mad scientist with lightning powers. (The answer: exactly the same, just with more maniacal laughter and possibly a cape.)

Your assigned group consisted of you, Senku, Taiju, and—much to Taiju's simultaneous delight and terror—Yuzuriha, who had been partnered with your group when her original teammates both called in sick. You'd waggled your eyebrows so aggressively at Taiju when this was announced that he'd turned bright red and walked directly into a door.

"I think that squirrel is planning something," you whispered, narrowing your eyes. "It has that look. You know the one. The 'I'm-about-to-cause-problems-on-purpose' look."

"You mean the look you have right before you do something that gets us all detention?" Senku asked dryly.

"EXACTLY!" you exclaimed, pointing at him triumphantly and inadvertently breaking your staring contest. The squirrel seized its opportunity and darted away. "HEY! Get back here, you coward! This isn't over!"

"[Y/N], please focus," Yuzuriha said gently, somehow making the request sound kind rather than exasperated. She had the patience of a saint, which was a necessary quality for anyone spending time with your trio. "We're supposed to be collecting samples for the biodiversity worksheet."

"Right, right," you nodded, snatching your clipboard from the ground. "Samples. Very important stuff. Got it." You looked down at your worksheet, which was currently decorated with elaborate doodles of what appeared to be dinosaurs wearing party hats rather than any actual observations.

"Have you recorded anything at all?" Senku peered over your shoulder with the expression of someone who expected disappointment and yet was somehow still disappointed.

"OF COURSE I HAVE!" You flipped to a different page with a flourish. "Look! I've documented exactly fourteen varieties of... uh... things that are probably plants!"

The page contained several smudged leaf rubbings and what might generously be described as abstract interpretations of local flora, labeled with names like "Pointy Green Dude" and "This One Looks Like Principal Kurosawa's Hairpiece."

Senku pinched the bridge of his nose. "Those aren't even remotely—"

"Hey, where's Taiju?" Yuzuriha interrupted, looking around with concern.

You all glanced around, suddenly realizing that your fourth group member was nowhere to be seen.

"He said something about looking for the perfect leaf specimen," you recalled, tapping your chin thoughtfully. "Which I assumed was code for 'I need a moment to compose myself because Yuzuriha smiled at me and now my brain is short-circuiting.'"

Yuzuriha blushed slightly, but before she could respond, the distinctive sound of Taiju's enthusiastic shouting echoed from somewhere deeper in the forest.

"GUYS! YOU GOTTA SEE THIS! IT'S THE BIGGEST MUSHROOM EVER!"

"That boy has two volume settings," Senku muttered. "Loud and air horn."

You cupped your hands around your mouth. "WE CAN'T FOLLOW YOUR VOICE IF YOU STOP YELLING, TAIJU! KEEP MAKING NOISE!"

"OKAY!" came the distant reply. "I'M OVER BY THE—WHOA!"

His exclamation was followed by a concerning series of crashes, thuds, and one very distinct "AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

The three of you exchanged alarmed glances.

"That can't be good," you concluded, already sprinting in the direction of the noise, Senku and Yuzuriha close behind.

You burst through some bushes into a small clearing just in time to see Taiju, covered in leaves and dirt, sitting at the bottom of what appeared to be a small ravine.

"I found the mushroom!" he called up cheerfully, seemingly unbothered by his impromptu descent, as he proudly held up a truly enormous fungi specimen.

"Taiju, are you hurt?" Yuzuriha called down, genuine concern lacing her voice.

"Nope! Just landed on my butt! And this really soft patch of moss!"

"Typical," Senku murmured, though you caught the slight relief in his voice. "His ridiculous durability strikes again."

You leaned over the edge of the ravine, which was steep but not terribly deep. "Need help getting up, big guy?"

"I think so," Taiju admitted, standing and brushing himself off. "It's kind of slippery."

"We should get a teacher," Yuzuriha suggested sensibly.

"OR," you countered with the gleam in your eye that Senku had learned to fear, "we could form a HUMAN CHAIN! Like in those wilderness survival shows!"

"That's a terrible idea," Senku stated flatly.

Twenty seconds later, you were all forming a human chain.

"For the record," Senku grunted as he anchored the chain by holding onto a tree with one hand and Yuzuriha's wrist with the other, "I want it noted that I explicitly said this was a terrible idea."

"NOTED!" you chirped cheerfully from your position as the bottom link of the chain, stretching your hand down toward Taiju. "Almost... got... you!"

Your fingers brushed against Taiju's outstretched hand, not quite connecting.

"Just a little more!" Taiju called up.

You stretched further, leaning precariously over the edge. "Almost—"

The ground beneath your feet, which had already been questionable at best, chose that precise moment to crumble away.

"Well, that's inconvenient," you observed calmly in the split second before gravity took hold.

Then you were tumbling, dirt and leaves flying past as you rolled down the side of the ravine, somehow managing to miss Taiju entirely and continuing beyond him, through a gap in the rocks, and down a much steeper incline that had been hidden from view.

Your impromptu descent ended with you sprawled on your back, staring up at a canopy of trees that seemed much too far away, the sounds of your friends calling your name already strangely distant.

"GUYS?" you shouted, scrambling to your feet. "I APPEAR TO HAVE DISCOVERED A BONUS LEVEL OF THIS RAVINE!"

No response.

"HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, YELL SOMETHING!"

Still nothing.

You brushed dirt from your uniform and assessed your situation with all the calm rationality of someone who had not yet realized they were actually in trouble.

"Okay, so I'm temporarily misplaced in a national park," you concluded. "No big deal. I am basically a wilderness survival expert. I've watched, like, at least two nature documentaries." You patted your pockets. "Let's see... I have a half-eaten candy bar, a mechanical pencil with no lead, three hair ties, and—AHA!"

You triumphantly pulled out your phone, only to find it had no signal.

"Of course," you sighed, shoving it back into your pocket. "Because why would modern technology work when I actually need it? That would be TOO CONVENIENT."

You squinted up at where you'd fallen from, but the ravine walls were too steep for climbing back the way you came, especially with your limited (read: nonexistent) rock-climbing experience.

"Guess I'll have to find another way around," you decided, picking a direction that seemed vaguely uphill. "They'll definitely notice I'm missing soon. Probably. Maybe. Eventually."

As you started walking, you contemplated your situation with what you considered impressive philosophical depth.

"If a student gets lost in a forest and there's no one around to hear them complain about it, are they still going to be in massive trouble when they're found?"

-

Meanwhile, back at the top of the ravine, panic was setting in.

"WHERE DID SHE GO?" Taiju boomed, having finally made it back up thanks to a more stable route Senku had spotted.

"She fell through there," Senku pointed at the gap in the rocks, his expression tense. "The ravine must branch off."

"We need to find a teacher," Yuzuriha insisted, already starting back toward where the rest of the class should be.

"That'll take too long," Senku countered, rapidly assessing the terrain. "Knowing [Y/N], she's already wandering off in some random direction, probably talking to herself and getting even more lost."

"I VOLUNTEER AS SEARCH PARTY!" Taiju declared, chest puffed out heroically.

"We need to be strategic about this," Senku said, pulling out the park map they'd been given. "If we split up, we'll just end up with more lost people."

"[Y/N]! CAAAAAN YOOOOU HEAAAAAR MEEEE?" Taiju bellowed at a volume that likely caused several woodland creatures to reconsider their life choices.

No response came back except for the distant scolding of an irritated bird.

"This is bad," Yuzuriha murmured, twisting her hands together anxiously. "Really bad. The park is huge, and if she wandered off the trails..."

Senku's brow furrowed as he studied the map. "There's a maintenance path that loops around this section. If we follow it, we should be able to intercept her, assuming she's moving in any logical direction." He paused, grimacing slightly. "Which, given that it's [Y/N], is a pretty big assumption."

"WE'LL FIND HER!" Taiju proclaimed with unwavering confidence. "SHE'S PROBABLY ALREADY MAKING FRIENDS WITH WOODLAND CREATURES AND NAMING THEM AFTER SCIENTISTS!"

Senku's mouth twitched into what might have been the ghost of a smile. "That's... disturbingly accurate."

"Let's go then," Yuzuriha said with newfound determination. "Before she gets any further away."

The trio set off along the maintenance path, calling your name periodically, each privately wondering what kind of trouble you were getting yourself into now.

-

"—and THAT'S why I think raccoons are nature's con artists," you concluded your TED talk to absolutely no one as you trudged through the underbrush. "Thank you for coming to my presentation."

You'd been walking for what felt like hours but was probably closer to twenty minutes, occasionally shouting for your friends and receiving no response except for the increasingly judgmental calls of local birds.

"I should have paid more attention during the buddy system lecture," you admitted to a particularly sympathetic-looking tree. "But in my defense, I was busy trying to balance a pencil on my nose, which is a VITAL LIFE SKILL."

The tree, unsurprisingly, offered no comment.

You paused to take stock of your surroundings, which all looked frustratingly similar—trees, bushes, more trees, the occasional rock that you'd developed a habit of naming (you'd passed Henderson, Dwayne, and Sir Pebbles III in the last few minutes alone).

"I should leave a trail," you decided, suddenly remembering a fairy tale you'd read as a child. "Like Hansel and Gretel! Except I don't have bread crumbs." You rummaged through your pockets again and pulled out the candy bar wrapper. "I have... garbage! PERFECT!"

You began dropping small pieces of wrapper every few steps, feeling enormously proud of your wilderness survival instincts.

"Look at me, all resourceful! Senku would be impressed. Well, not impressed. Marginally less disappointed, maybe."

As you rounded a large boulder (immediately dubbed "The Rock Johnson"), you came face to face with what your brain initially registered as a mythological forest deity.

The boy standing on the path before you was tall—impossibly tall for a middle schooler—with long hair and the kind of facial features that belonged on magazine covers or ancient Greek statues. He wore the uniform of a nearby public school and carried what appeared to be a fishing rod.

Your brain temporarily short-circuited.

"Uhhhhhhh," you said eloquently, staring up at him with your mouth slightly open.

The boy regarded you with mild surprise. "Are you lost?" he asked, his voice unexpectedly gentle for someone who looked like he could bench-press a small car.

Your normal verbal avalanche had been dammed by the sudden appearance of what could only be described as a middle school Adonis. All you managed was a nod.

"The school groups are gathered near the main pavilion," he said, pointing in a direction that meant absolutely nothing to your hopelessly turned-around sense of navigation. "That's about half a kilometer that way."

Your brain finally rebooted enough for words. "You're really pretty," you blurted out, then immediately slapped a hand over your mouth in horror.

To your surprise, the boy's expression softened slightly. "Thank you," he said, seeming genuinely unbothered by your outburst. "I'm Tsukasa Shishio."

"I'm [Y/N]," you managed, still staring. "And I am DEFINITELY not supposed to be here. Wherever here is. Which is... where, exactly?"

"The eastern ridge trail," Tsukasa replied. "It's not usually open to school groups."

"Ah. That explains the distinct lack of middle schoolers and exasperated teachers." You were starting to recover your verbal footing. "I sort of... fell. Down a ravine. And then another ravine. It was very dramatic. There was tumbling. Possibly some flailing. Definitely some screaming."

Tsukasa nodded as if this was a perfectly reasonable explanation. "Are you hurt?"

You did a quick mental inventory. "Physically? Just some bruises and wounded pride. Emotionally? I'm oscillating between 'thrilling adventure' and 'impending doom.' So, you know, the usual Tuesday."

The corner of Tsukasa's mouth twitched in what might have been amusement. "I can show you back to the main area."

"MY HERO!" you exclaimed, clutching your hands to your chest dramatically. "Rescuing the damsel in distress! Though I should clarify that I'm less 'damsel' and more 'walking disaster,' according to my friends." You paused. "Who are probably freaking out right now. Or plotting my murder for wandering off. Or both, honestly."

"Let's go, then," Tsukasa said, turning to lead the way.

As you fell into step beside him—well, slightly behind him, given that his legs were approximately twice the length of yours—you found your verbal dam had completely broken.

"So what brings you to these woods, O Tall One? Wait, that sounded weird. I just meant you're really tall. Like, REALLY tall. How tall are you? No, that's rude. Sorry. I talk when I'm nervous. Or happy. Or breathing, really."

"I'm here for the fishing competition," Tsukasa answered, seemingly unperturbed by your verbal torrent. "My school is hosting it."

"Fishing competition?" you repeated, jogging a little to keep up with his long strides. "Like, who can catch the most fish? Or the biggest fish? Or the fishiest fish? Is 'fishiest' a word? It should be if it's not."

"The biggest," Tsukasa clarified. "Though your 'fishiest' category might be interesting."

"RIGHT?" you agreed enthusiastically. "Like, which fish is the MOST exemplary example of fish-hood? The fish that makes other fish go, 'Now THAT'S a fish!'"

You could have sworn you saw a smile flicker across his face, but it was gone so quickly you might have imagined it.

"So are you winning?" you asked. "The competition, I mean. You look like you'd be good at... well, everything, honestly. It's the whole—" you gestured vaguely at his entire person, "—vibe you've got going on."

"I've caught the largest one so far," he said without a hint of boasting, just stating a fact.

"Of COURSE you have," you nodded sagely. "That tracks."

You continued chattering as you walked, your initial awe at his appearance giving way to your natural tendency to treat everyone as a potential new friend/victim of your conversational style. Tsukasa responded with short but not unfriendly answers, occasionally guiding you around obstacles with a gentle "Watch your step" or "This way."

"—and that's when I realized you can't actually make a volcano with just baking soda, vinegar, AND an actual fire source," you were explaining as you crossed a small stream. "The science teacher was NOT happy. Neither were the fire marshals, come to think of it. But in my defense, the experiment WAS successful. Too successful, really."

"You remind me of my sister," Tsukasa commented unexpectedly. "She's always full of energy too."

"Is she also a menace to laboratory safety?" you asked hopefully.

"She's younger, but... she has her moments," he replied, and this time his smile was definite, if small.

"A kindred spirit! I should meet her sometime. We could form a club. A sister club, since I'm an only child but have always wanted siblings. Though I guess I have Senku and Taiju, who are BASICALLY my brothers at this point—annoying, judgmental, and inexplicably fond of me despite my many crimes against common sense."

You were so engrossed in your monologue that you didn't notice Tsukasa had stopped walking until you bumped into his back.

"Oof! Sorry! I wasn't watching where—" You peered around him to see what had caused the sudden halt.

A wild boar stood on the path ahead, regarding you both with what appeared to be moderate irritation at having its day interrupted by humans.

"Um," you whispered, eyes wide. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Don't make any sudden movements," Tsukasa instructed quietly, slowly shifting to place himself more directly between you and the animal.

"Wasn't planning on it," you assured him, frozen in place. "My sudden movement days are Thursdays and every other Sunday."

The boar snorted, pawing at the ground in a way that seemed distinctly unfriendly.

"We're going to back away slowly," Tsukasa murmured. "Stay behind me."

"Great plan. Excellent plan. Gold star for that plan," you babbled in a nervous whisper. "Question: how fast can boars run? Actually, never mind, I don't want to know the answer if it's 'faster than terrified middle schoolers.'"

As you began to retreat, your foot found a twig, which snapped with what seemed like unnecessary volume in the tense silence.

The boar's head jerked up.

"That wasn't me," you whispered automatically. "It was the forest ghost."

The boar apparently took offense to either the noise or your poor attempt at deflecting blame, because it lowered its head and charged.

Many things happened in very quick succession:

Tsukasa yelled "Run!" and pushed you behind him.

You, in a stunning display of coordination that would have impressed absolutely no one, stumbled backwards, arms windmilling wildly.

Tsukasa faced the charging boar with a calm that was frankly ridiculous given the circumstances.

And then, in a move that your brain struggled to process in real-time, Tsukasa sidestepped the charging animal at the last possible second while simultaneously delivering what appeared to be some kind of precision strike to its neck.

The boar staggered, changed direction mid-charge, and trotted away into the undergrowth, apparently deciding that whatever it was doing before was much more important than dealing with humans.

You gaped at Tsukasa, who didn't even look winded.

"WHAT," you finally managed, "THE ACTUAL HECK WAS THAT?"

"Just a pressure point technique," Tsukasa said casually, as if he hadn't just ninja-moved a wild animal. "Are you alright?"

"Am I—? YES, I'm alright! You just— With the—" You made a series of incomprehensible gestures that vaguely mimicked his movements. "That was AMAZING! You're like some kind of superhero! Wild Boar Man! Wait, no, that's a terrible superhero name. The Primal Hunter? Beast Master? We'll workshop it."

The corner of Tsukasa's mouth twitched again. "I'm a martial artist. I compete professionally."

Your jaw dropped even further. "Of COURSE you do. Because being impossibly pretty and good at fishing wasn't enough. You had to add 'can karate chop wild animals' to your resume."

"It wasn't a karate chop," he corrected mildly.

"THAT'S the part you're focusing on?" you asked incredulously, then burst into laughter. "You're funny! I didn't expect that! The whole—" you gestured at his stoic expression, "—vibe suggested otherwise."

Before Tsukasa could respond, a familiar voice echoed through the trees.

"[Y/N]! WHERE ARE YOUUUU?"

"TAIJU!" you gasped. "That's my friend! The one who yells! I mean, I also yell, but he yells professionally!" You cupped your hands around your mouth. "I'M OVER HERE! WITH A SUPERHERO WHO FIGHTS BOARS!"

A crashing sound that could only be Taiju running through underbrush grew steadily louder, and moments later, your three friends burst into view from between the trees.

"[Y/N]!" Taiju bellowed, rushing forward and sweeping you into a bone-crushing hug that lifted you off your feet. "WE FOUND YOU!"

"Can't... breathe..." you wheezed, patting his arm. "Crushing... vital... organs..."

"Put her down before you break something," Senku ordered, though the relief in his voice was evident. When Taiju released you, Senku glared at you with an intensity that would have been more intimidating if you hadn't caught the flash of genuine worry in his eyes. "Do you have ANY idea how much trouble you're in?"

"LOTS?" you guessed cheerfully.

"The teachers have called park rangers," Yuzuriha explained, her gentle tone belied by her anxious expression. "Everyone's looking for you."

"Whoops," you grimaced. "In my defense, gravity started it."

"Who's this?" Senku asked abruptly, finally acknowledging Tsukasa's presence with a suspicious look.

"This is Tsukasa! My savior! My guide! My boar-defeating champion!" you announced grandly, gesturing to the tall boy with a flourish. "He was showing me back to civilization when we were ATTACKED by a WILD BEAST, and he fought it off with his BARE HANDS!"

"It was just a small boar," Tsukasa corrected modestly. "And I didn't fight it. I redirected it."

"WITH HIS MIND," you added dramatically, then caught yourself. "Okay, not with his mind. With his hands. Which are apparently registered as lethal weapons or something."

Taiju's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "WHOA! THAT'S SO COOL!"

"Wait," Yuzuriha said slowly, studying Tsukasa with growing recognition. "Aren't you Tsukasa Shishio? The junior martial arts champion? I've seen you in magazines!"

"YOU'RE FAMOUS?" you squawked, whirling back to face him. "And you didn't LEAD with that when I was rambling?"

Tsukasa shrugged slightly. "It didn't seem relevant."

"Not relevant? NOT RELEVANT? I spent fifteen minutes explaining why I think squirrels are planning a coup, and you're a CELEBRITY?" You clutched your head in mock horror. "The EMBARRASSMENT. The SHAME. The WASTED OPPORTUNITY to ask for an autograph!"

"You're... Shishio?" Senku said, eyes narrowing slightly. "The 'Strongest Primate High-Schooler'?"

"That's what they call me," Tsukasa confirmed, his expression revealing nothing.

"Wait, HIGH-SCHOOLER?" you exclaimed. "I thought you were just a really tall middle schooler! You're in HIGH SCHOOL?"

"First year," Tsukasa nodded.

You turned to your friends with wide eyes. "Did you hear that? I was rescued by a high school celebrity! This is the best getting-lost story EVER!"

Senku was still studying Tsukasa with an unreadable expression. "Thanks for helping our friend," he said finally, though his tone lacked its usual bite. "She has a talent for finding trouble."

"I prefer to think trouble has a talent for finding ME," you corrected. "It's a mutual attraction."

"We should get back," Yuzuriha suggested gently. "Everyone's really worried."

"Right!" you nodded, then turned to Tsukasa with a dramatic bow. "Thank you, O Mighty Boar Vanquisher, for your assistance in my time of need! May your fishing competition yield many impressively sized aquatic creatures!"

Tsukasa actually smiled this time—a small one, but definitely there. "It was interesting meeting you, [Y/N]."

"INTERESTING! Did you hear that?" you stage-whispered to your friends. "That's high praise from someone who probably hangs out with actual cool people!"

"Goodbye, Tsukasa!" Taiju boomed, waving enthusiastically. "THANKS FOR SAVING OUR FRIEND!"

As your group started to walk away, you suddenly spun around and jogged back to Tsukasa. "Wait! One last thing!" You fumbled in your pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled piece of paper, scribbling something on it. "This is my email. In case you ever need someone to, I don't know, talk about boar-fighting techniques or listen to rants."

Tsukasa accepted the paper with a bemused expression. "I'll keep that in mind."

You beamed, then scampered back to your waiting friends, who had varied expressions ranging from amusement (Taiju) to exasperation (Senku) to gentle understanding (Yuzuriha).

"You gave him your email address?" Senku asked as you walked away.

"Yes! Because we're FRIENDS now," you declared. "That's how friendship works, Senku. Sometimes you fall down a ravine and meet a martial arts champion who saves you from wildlife, and boom! Instant connection!"

"He was really nice," Yuzuriha commented.

"AND SO PRETTY," you sighed dramatically. "Did you SEE his face? It's like someone took all the attractive genes and put them in one person. It's actually inconsiderate to the rest of us average-looking plebeians."

"You think he's... pretty?" Senku asked, his tone oddly flat.

"OBVIOUSLY! I have EYES, Senku!" you retorted. "Even YOU must have noticed. It's just a fact."

"I THOUGHT HE WAS AWESOME!" Taiju contributed helpfully. "DID YOU REALLY SEE HIM FIGHT A BOAR?"

"Well, not so much 'fight' as 'touch it in one specific spot and make it change its mind about attacking us,'" you clarified. "But it was still INCREDIBLE! Like something out of a movie!"

As you recounted the adventure with increasingly elaborate embellishments ("The boar was THIS BIG! No, wait, THIS BIG!"), you failed to notice the slight frown that had settled on Senku's face.

By the time you reached the main pavilion, where worried teachers and actual park rangers were gathered, your tale had evolved to the point where Tsukasa had fought off an entire herd of wild boars while reciting poetry.

"—and then he said something profound about nature and harmony while doing a perfect roundhouse kick," you were explaining to a fascinated Taiju and an amused Yuzuriha.

"That's not what happened," Senku muttered.

"It's called ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION, Senku," you sniffed. "You wouldn't understand because you're constrained by boring concepts like 'facts' and 'reality.'"

Before he could retort, you were spotted by your science teacher, whose face cycled through relief, anger, and resignation with impressive speed.

"[Y/N]! Where have you BEEN? We've had rangers searching for over an hour!"

"I WENT ON AN ADVENTURE!" you announced, then, catching the teacher's expression, quickly adjusted your tone. "I mean, I accidentally fell down a ravine and became temporarily disoriented in the park's extensive natural environment while attempting to implement navigation techniques based on available resources?"

The teacher sighed deeply—the kind of sigh that suggested this wasn't the first time you'd caused them to question their career choices. "Are you hurt?"

"Only my dignity," you assured them. "And that was already on life support, so no great loss."

As the teacher launched into what promised to be an extensive lecture about safety protocols and the buddy system, you caught Senku still watching you with that strange expression.

"What?" you whispered. "Why are you looking at me like I just claimed the earth is flat? Which I would NEVER do because I respect your sensibilities too much."

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head slightly. "Just glad you didn't get eaten by wildlife."

"AWWW!" you cooed, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "You were WORRIED about me! That's so sweet! Your cold, scientific heart DOES have feelings!"

"Get off," he grumbled, but didn't actually push you away.

"Admit it," you persisted, poking his cheek. "You'd be sad if I got lost forever in the wilderness and had to be raised by squirrels."

"I'd be concerned about the psychological damage to the squirrels," he retorted, but there was no real bite to it.

As you were herded back toward the school bus with promises of detention in your future, you spotted Tsukasa in the distance, standing with a group of other students in the public school uniform. He caught your eye and gave a small nod, which you returned with an enthusiastic wave that nearly took out a nearby teacher's eye.

"My first high school friend," you said proudly. "And he's FAMOUS."

"Great," Senku muttered. "Just what your ego needed."

"Jealous that he's prettier than you?" you teased.

"That's objectively impossible," Senku replied automatically, then immediately looked like he regretted speaking.

You gasped dramatically, clutching your chest. "Did you just— Did Senku Ishigami just imply he's PRETTY?"

"Shut up," he grumbled, a faint pink tinge appearing on his cheeks.

"NEVER!" you declared cheerfully, throwing your arms wide and nearly hitting Taiju in the face. "The universe has blessed me with TOO MANY pretty friends! It's an embarrassment of riches! A plethora of pulchritude! A bounty of beauty!"

"You're going to be insufferable about this, aren't you?" Senku sighed.

"ABSOLUTELY," you confirmed with a grin so wide it hurt your cheeks. "For AT LEAST the next two weeks. Possibly longer if you keep reacting like this."

As you boarded the bus, still chattering excitedly about your adventure, you caught Senku watching you with an expression that couldn't decide if it was annoyed or fond. Probably both, you decided. That was his default setting around you anyway.

"Hey," you said, suddenly serious as you slid into the seat next to him. "Thanks for coming to find me."

"Of course we came to find you," he replied, as if the alternative had never even occurred to him. "You'd do the same for us."

"I would," you agreed solemnly. "I'd fight through ARMIES of wild boars for you guys."

"You'd probably try to recruit the boars into your personal army," he corrected.

"That's... actually a much better plan," you admitted. "See? This is why we work well together."

Before Senku could respond, your science teacher stood at the front of the bus with a clipboard.

"Attention, students! Due to today's... incident," they paused to give you a pointed look, which you responded to with an innocent smile, "we'll be implementing a stricter buddy system for all future field trips. I'm assigning permanent partners who will be RESPONSIBLE for each other's whereabouts at all times."

A collective groan rose from the class.

"Hey, don't blame me for this," you whispered to Senku. "Blame gravity. And ravines. And the squirrel that distracted me in the first place."

"The teacher started reading off pairs of names. "Ogawa and Koyama... Fujita and Wakamiya... Ishigami and [Y/N]..."

You pumped your fist in victory. "YES! We're buddies! Officially! By decree of authority!"

"This is my punishment for something, isn't it?" Senku muttered, though you caught the slight upward tilt at the corner of his mouth.

"Don't pretend you're not THRILLED," you said, poking him in the shoulder. "Now you get to experience my observations up close and personal! Like how I've been conducting a very important experiment on how many times you sigh per hour when I'm around. The current record is twenty-three."

"I'm not surprised."

"AND," you continued, "as my official buddy, you're now contractually obligated to listen to all my theories!"

"I already do that," Senku pointed out.

"Yes, but now it's MANDATORY," you grinned. "No escaping!"

The teacher continued reading names, finally pairing Taiju with another boy from your class.

"Wait!" you called out, raising your hand so frantically it was practically vibrating. "Teacher! I think there's been a TERRIBLE MISTAKE!"

The teacher's expression suggested they were seriously reconsidering their career choices. "What now, [Y/N]?"

"Taiju can't possibly be paired with anyone except Yuzuriha!" you declared with absolute conviction. "It's a matter of NECESSITY!"

Beside you, Senku covered his face with his hand.

"... Necessity," the teacher repeated flatly.

"ABSOLUTELY!" you nodded vigorously. "They have complementary skills! Taiju has the upper body strength of a small bulldozer, and Yuzuriha has the fine motor control of a brain surgeon! TOGETHER they form one fully functional human being! It's basic biology!"

The entire bus had gone silent, all eyes swiveling between you, the increasingly exasperated teacher, and Taiju and Yuzuriha, the latter pair turning increasingly interesting shades of red.

"[Y/N]," the teacher said with forced calm, "the partner assignments are final."

"But—"

"FINAL."

"Could I perhaps submit a formal petition? With charts? And possibly interpretive dance?"

"No."

"What about—"

"If you say one more word," the teacher warned, "you'll have detention for the rest of the month instead of just this week."

You mimed zipping your lips, though the effect was somewhat ruined by your inability to keep a straight face.

As the bus rumbled to life and began the journey back to school, you leaned closer to Senku.

"Operation Cupid has encountered an obstacle," you whispered conspirationally. "We may need to adjust our strategy."

"Our strategy," Senku reminded you, "was your vague hand-waving and saying 'love will find a way.'"

"EXACTLY," you nodded solemnly. "And now we need MORE hand-waving. Possibly jazz hands. Jazz hands solve most problems."

Senku shook his head, but you could tell he was fighting a smile. "You're impossible."

"But ENTERTAINING," you countered. "Admit it, your life would be ten billion percent more boring without me."

"It would certainly be quieter."

"BORING," you repeated, poking him in the arm. "This field trip would've just been looking at plants and filling out worksheets if I hadn't provided the dramatic subplot of 'student goes missing, meets martial arts champion, almost gets gored by wild boar.'"

"Yes, thank you so much for the heart attack," Senku said dryly.

"You were WORRIED," you sang in a teasing voice. "You CARE about me. We're FRIENDS FOREVER."

"I was concerned about the paperwork involved if you got eaten by wildlife," he retorted, but there was no heat in it.

As the bus wound its way back toward civilization, you stared out the window at the passing trees, a grin still plastered across your face.

"Hey Senku?"

"What now?"

"This was the best field trip ever."

"You got lost, almost fell off a cliff, nearly got attacked by a wild animal, and earned yourself a week of detention."

"EXACTLY," you beamed. "Best. Field trip. EVER."

Senku sighed—sigh number twenty-four of the hour, you noted mentally—but you didn't miss the small smile he couldn't quite suppress.

The bus hit a pothole, jolting you against Senku's shoulder. Instead of immediately shoving you away as he might have once done, he simply shifted slightly to give you more room.

Progress indeed, you thought, though not the kind Operation Cupid was designed for. But that was an observation—and possibly an experiment—for another day.

For now, you were content to watch the forest recede into the distance, wondering if somewhere among those trees, a certain martial arts champion was catching a record-breaking fish and fending off wild animals without breaking a sweat.

"I wonder if Tsukasa ever gets detention," you mused aloud.

"I seriously doubt it," Senku replied.

"Yeah," you agreed. "He's probably never fallen down a ravine in his life. Some people have all the luck."

"Only you would consider 'not falling down ravines' as luck rather than basic coordination."

"SPEAKING of coordination," you said, abruptly changing topics in the way that always gave Senku conversational whiplash, "do you think they'll let me join the gymnastics team if I tell them about my ravine-tumbling experience? I've clearly demonstrated advanced falling skills."

"I think they typically look for people who can avoid falling," Senku pointed out.

"Details, details," you waved dismissively. "My point is, I've proven I'm unkillable, which is a valuable life skill."

"That's not a life skill, that's just dumb luck."

"I prefer to think of it as my superpower," you declared. "While you got the brain cells, and Taiju got the muscles, I got indestructibility and charm."

"Is that what we're calling it now?"

You grinned, unfazed by his sarcasm. "Yep! And you LOVE it."

Senku didn't argue, which in your book counted as a resounding victory.

As the bus pulled into the school parking lot, you spotted your teacher already filling out what were undoubtedly detention slips with your name on them. Somehow, even that couldn't dampen your spirits.

"Worth it," you decided firmly. "Totally worth it."

And as Senku shook his head in that familiar mix of exasperation and reluctant amusement, as Taiju boomed something encouraging from across the aisle, as Yuzuriha offered you a small smile of solidarity, you knew with absolute certainty that no amount of detention could possibly outweigh the day's adventure.

After all, it wasn't every day you fell down a ravine and emerged with a story this good—and possibly a new friend who fought boars in his spare time.

Chapter Text

There was something wrong with the laws of physics today. Or at least, that's how you'd explain it later. Because surely nothing but a fundamental breakdown in the natural order could explain how a pencil—a perfectly innocent, number two pencil—could possibly sound as loud as a jackhammer when it hit the classroom floor.

tap tap tap tap

You stared at your foot, which was apparently conducting an impromptu percussion solo against the linoleum without your permission. When had THAT started? You tried to force it still, but the rebellious appendage simply shifted to a different rhythm.

tap tap-tap, tap tap-tap

"—and thus the Meiji Restoration represents a pivotal moment in Japan's—"

Japan's what? You had no idea. The history teacher's voice had somehow transformed into the adult-speak from those old Peanuts cartoons: "Wah wah wah-wah-wah."

The classroom was simultaneously too hot and too cold. Your uniform collar itched like it had been lined with fiberglass. And there was a growing, twisting sensation in your lower abdomen that felt like someone had released a very angry octopus in there.

Across the room, Yuzuriha shifted uncomfortably in her seat, wincing slightly as she pressed a hand against her stomach. Your eyes met briefly, and something like recognition passed between you before she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing.

"Psst," you whispered to Senku, who was sitting next to you, meticulously color-coding his notes in a way that seemed frankly excessive for history class. "Is it hot in here?"

"No," he replied without looking up.

"Are you sure? Because I'm melting. Like, actual liquefaction. I might be a puddle by lunch."

"Temperature's the same as always," he said dismissively, still focused on whatever complex note-taking system he was employing. "You're just restless."

"I am NOT restless," you hissed, immediately contradicting yourself by shifting position for the seventeenth time in as many minutes. "I'm DYING. There's a difference."

Senku finally glanced up, his crimson eyes scanning you critically. "You do look flushed," he admitted, his curiosity momentarily outweighing his desire to ignore your dramatics.

"SEE?" you stage-whispered triumphantly. "I TOLD YOU—"

"Is there something you'd like to share with the class, [Y/N]?" the history teacher asked, making you jump.

"YES!" you blurted before you could stop yourself. "I was just saying how FASCINATING the Meiji Restoration is! All that... restoring. And Meiji-ing. Changed history forever. Which I guess is the point of being in a history book. Otherwise it would just be called 'Some Things That Happened That Nobody Cared About.' Not very catchy."

The teacher stared at you. The class stared at you. Even the class hamster seemed to be judging you from its cage in the corner.

"...See me after class," the teacher said finally.

"Yep! Looking forward to it!" you chirped with a cheerfulness you definitely did not feel, slumping back in your seat as soon as the teacher turned back to the board.

The angry octopus in your abdomen gave a particularly violent twist, and you bit back a groan. Something was definitely wrong. Maybe you were dying. Or turning into a werewolf. Could you be turning into a werewolf? You mentally checked the lunar calendar—nope, wrong phase. So probably just dying then.

When the bell finally rang, you practically leapt from your seat, only to be hit by a wave of dizziness that had you grabbing the edge of your desk.

"Whoa," you mumbled, waiting for the room to stop its impromptu carousel impression.

"[Y/N]?" Senku's voice came from beside you, tinged with something that almost sounded like concern. "You okay?"

"Never better!" you declared with forced brightness. "Just thought I'd try seeing the world from a tilted perspective. Very avant-garde of me."

Across the classroom, you saw Yuzuriha pick up her bag with unusual slowness, her normally graceful movements stiff and careful. She caught your eye again, and this time her expression was definitely one of shared suffering.

"I need to go to the bathroom," you announced to no one in particular, abandoning your usual post-class banter in favor of making a beeline for the door.

You made it halfway down the hallway before your gut performed what felt like an interpretive dance routine, and you stumbled, one hand flying to the wall for support.

"[Y/N]!" Taiju's concerned voice boomed from behind you, causing several nearby students to wince. "ARE YOU SICK? YOU LOOK REALLY PALE!"

"Indoor voice, Taiju," you mumbled, though honestly, you weren't sure you had room to talk about appropriate volume levels on a normal day.

"Sorry," he stage-whispered, which for Taiju was still at conversational volume for most people. "But are you okay? You don't look good."

"Thanks for the confidence boost," you grumbled, then immediately felt bad when his face fell. "No, I'm fine! Just... experiencing some internal rearrangement. Possibly growing an extra organ."

"That sounds serious!" Taiju exclaimed, his volume creeping back up. "Should we take you to the nurse?"

"Nah, I just need to—" You broke off as a particularly sharp pain lanced through your abdomen. "On second thought, maybe—"

"I can carry you!" Taiju offered immediately, already positioning himself to scoop you up.

"NO!" you yelped, backing away so quickly you bumped into someone behind you.

That someone turned out to be Senku, who steadied you with a hand on your shoulder. "What's going on?"

"[Y/N] IS GROWING AN EXTRA ORGAN!" Taiju reported dutifully.

Senku's eyebrows shot up. "I'm ten billion percent sure that's not what's happening."

"You don't know that," you muttered petulantly. "I could be evolving. Becoming the next stage in human development. In a million years, all humans might have whatever this is, and they'll name it after me. The [Y/N] Organ. It'll be in textbooks."

Before Senku could respond to this perfectly reasonable theory, Yuzuriha appeared beside your impromptu hallway gathering, looking as uncomfortable as you felt.

"[Y/N]," she said quietly, an unusual urgency in her gentle voice. "Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?"

"YES," you agreed immediately, latching onto her arm like a lifeline. "Boys, you're dismissed. Go... do boy things. Build something. Break something. Whatever it is you do when I'm not supervising."

"But—" Taiju began.

"We're FINE," you insisted. "Girl stuff. Top secret. National security. You understand."

You didn't wait for a response, already dragging Yuzuriha down the hallway toward the girls' bathroom as another wave of discomfort hit you. You pushed through the door with perhaps more force than necessary, relieved to find the bathroom blissfully empty.

"Something is WRONG with me," you declared, leaning against the sink. "I think I'm dying. Or possessed. Or both. Can you be both? Possessed while dying seems inefficient for the possessing entity."

Yuzuriha's expression was a mix of sympathy and something else—was that embarrassment? "I don't think you're dying," she said gently. "I think... I think we're both experiencing the same thing."

"A synchronized internal organ rebellion? I KNEW IT. It's spreading. It's contagious. We should quarantine ourselves. Or at least get ice cream. Quarantine with ice cream."

Yuzuriha took a deep breath. "I think we're getting our periods," she said quietly, her cheeks flushing pink.

You stared at her blankly for a moment. "Our... OH."

The realization hit you like a truck. All the signs were there—the cramps, the mood swings, the feeling like your skin didn't quite fit right. You'd sat through the awkward health class presentations. You'd read the pamphlets with their cheerful cartoons explaining "your changing body." But somehow, you'd never connected those clinical descriptions to the actual sensation of feeling like your internal organs were attempting a jailbreak.

"But I'm not ready!" you protested, as if your body had failed to consult your schedule before embarking on this biological milestone. "I didn't prepare a speech or anything! There should be confetti! Or at least a warning!"

Despite her own discomfort, Yuzuriha managed a small smile. "I don't think it works like that."

"Well, it SHOULD," you insisted, then groaned as another cramp hit. "Is it supposed to feel like I'm being stabbed by a tiny samurai?"

"I don't think so," Yuzuriha said, looking worried. "Mine's uncomfortable, but not that bad. Maybe yours is... more intense?"

"Story of my life," you muttered. "Even my period has to be dramatic."

Yuzuriha hesitated, then reached into her school bag. "I... I have some supplies," she admitted. "My mom packed them for me a few months ago, just in case. I can share."

Your eyes widened. "YUZURIHA. You beautiful, prepared angel! While the rest of us are floundering through life, you're out here with CONTINGENCY PLANS."

She smiled shyly, pulling out a small cosmetic bag. "It's nothing special. Just some pads and—"

"It's EVERYTHING," you declared solemnly. "You are officially my hero. They should give you a medal. Or a parade. A MENSTRUATION PARADE. With floats shaped like—"

"[Y/N]!" Yuzuriha interrupted, her face now approaching the color of a tomato.

"Right, sorry. Indoor voice. Bathroom voice. Whatever." You accepted the pad she offered with exaggerated reverence. "I shall cherish this gift of wisdom."

As you both took turns in the stalls, you found yourself unusually quiet, processing this new development in your life. When you emerged, Yuzuriha was standing by the sink, her expression suggesting she was experiencing the same mix of emotions.

"So," you said finally, washing your hands. "We're women now. Official. With documentation and everything."

Yuzuriha giggled despite herself. "I don't think there's documentation."

"There SHOULD be," you insisted. "Certificates. Trophies. One of those ceremonial keys to the city." You dried your hands and turned to face her. "But seriously... thanks. For helping me. For being prepared when I was just being... well, me."

Yuzuriha's smile was gentle. "That's what friends are for."

The moment was interrupted by another wave of cramps that had you clutching the sink, your knuckles whitening. "Ugh, is this normal? It feels like someone's wringing out my organs like a wet dishrag."

"I don't think it should be that bad," Yuzuriha said, concerned. "Maybe we should go to the nurse?"

"And admit weakness? NEVER!" you declared, then immediately undermined your dramatic stance by wincing. "Okay, maybe. But first—I need food. All the food. Specifically chocolate. I suddenly understand every period joke I've ever heard. THE CRAVINGS ARE REAL."

"There's still twenty minutes left in lunch period," Yuzuriha pointed out. "We could get something from the cafeteria."

"You're a genius. This is why we keep you around." You straightened up with determination. "Alright, If I pass out from pain or hunger, just drag me by my ankles. Leave no woman behind."

The two of you made your way back to the cafeteria, where Senku and Taiju were already seated at your usual table. Taiju spotted you first, waving enthusiastically.

"ARE YOU OKAY?" he called out, causing several nearby students to jump.

"Define 'okay,'" you muttered as you approached the table, sinking into a seat with considerably less of your usual flair. "If 'okay' means 'experiencing internal warfare,' then yes, I'm fantastic."

Senku studied you with narrowed eyes. "You look worse."

"WOW. Has anyone ever told you that you have the bedside manner of a particularly grumpy cactus?" you snapped, then immediately felt guilty. "Sorry. That was mean. My brain-to-mouth filter appears to be malfunctioning even more than usual today."

Yuzuriha placed a gentle hand on your arm. "[Y/N] isn't feeling well," she explained diplomatically. "And neither am I, actually. It's just... just girl stuff."

You watched with fascination as the cogs visibly turned in Taiju's brain, his expression cycling through confusion, dawning comprehension, and finally embarrassed panic.

"OH!" he exclaimed, his face turning an impressive shade of red. "THAT'S—I MEAN—THAT MUST BE—I'LL GET FOOD!" He practically leapt from his seat, nearly knocking over the table in his haste to escape the conversation.

You couldn't help but laugh, despite the discomfort. "I think we broke Taiju."

"He'll be fine," Senku said dismissively, though his own posture had become noticeably stiffer. "So you two are... synchronized?"

"Apparently our uteruses are telepathically connected," you confirmed cheerfully, taking a small measure of revenge in watching him squirm slightly at the word 'uterus.' "WHY are you backing away? I'm not CONTAGIOUS."

"I'm not backing away," Senku protested, despite having definitely shifted his chair a few centimeters further from you. "I'm just giving you... space."

"Uh-huh. Very convincing." You narrowed your eyes at him. "You're not squeamish about this, are you? The great Senku Ishigami, future extraordinaire, afraid of a little biological process?"

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed, though his ears had gone suspiciously pink. "It's just a perfectly normal physiological function involving the shedding of the endometrial lining approximately every 28 days due to fluctuating hormone levels, primarily estrogen and—"

"OH MY GOD, stop reciting the textbook at me," you groaned, dropping your head onto the table with a thud. "I know what it IS. I just didn't know it was going to feel like my internal organs were staging a coup."

Yuzuriha winced in sympathy. "Maybe you should take something for the pain?"

"YES. ALL THE THINGS. ALL THE PAIN RELIEVERS. Inject them directly into my eyeballs if necessary."

"That would be extremely dangerous and completely ineffective," Senku pointed out.

You lifted your head just enough to glare at him. "It was HYPERBOLE, Mr. Literal. Exaggeration for dramatic effect. A rhetorical device employed by those of us who occasionally speak in something other than scientific equations."

Before Senku could respond, Taiju returned, his arms loaded with an impressive assortment of food items that he deposited on the table with the air of a knight presenting tribute.

"I WASN'T SURE WHAT YOU WANTED SO I GOT EVERYTHING!" he announced, looking immensely pleased with himself.

"Taiju, you magnificent creature," you breathed, surveying the bounty before you. "You've saved me from certain death by starvation." You immediately grabbed a chocolate pudding cup, peeling off the lid with the reverence typically reserved for ancient artifacts.

"I got medicine too!" Taiju added proudly, producing a small packet from his pocket. "From the nurse! I told her it was an emergency!"

You accepted the painkillers with genuine gratitude. "I hereby promote you from 'best friend' to 'guardian angel.' That's a significant rank increase. There's a ceremony and everything. We'll schedule it for next week."

As you swallowed the pills with a gulp of milk, you caught Senku watching you with an odd expression. "What? Do I have pudding on my face already? That would be a new record, even for me."

"No," he said, seeming unusually hesitant. "You just look... different."

"DIFFERENT HOW?" you demanded, suddenly self-conscious. "Different bad? Different weird?"

"Just different," he insisted, looking away quickly. "Forget I said anything."

You narrowed your eyes suspiciously but were distracted by another cramp that had you sucking in a sharp breath.

"Are the pills not working?" Yuzuriha asked worriedly.

"They need at least 15-20 minutes to take effect," Senku answered automatically.

"So helpful. So informative. A walking pharmaceutical pamphlet," you muttered through gritted teeth. "Meanwhile, I'll just be over here DYING."

"You're not dying," Senku said with exaggerated patience.

"How would YOU know?" you snapped, jabbing a finger in his direction. "Are YOU currently experiencing what feels like a tiny chromosome playing the bongos on your internal organs? No? THEN ZIP IT."

Taiju looked between you and Senku nervously, clearly sensing the escalating tension. "MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE?" he suggested loudly. "LIKE THE PROJECT DUE NEXT WEEK?"

"Oh god, the project," you groaned, momentarily distracted from your pain. "I haven't even started. I'm going to fail. I'll be held back. I'll have to repeat middle school forever, like some horrific time loop punishment."

"We're working on it together, remember?" Senku reminded you. "And I've already completed the preliminary research and experimental design."

"Of course you have," you sighed. "While the rest of us mere mortals were doing trivial things like 'sleeping' and 'having social lives.'"

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch period, and you let out a noise that was half groan, half whimper. "I don't wanna move. Can I just live here now? Under this table? I'll tell riddles to students who want the good desserts."

"As entertaining as that would be," Senku said dryly, standing up, "I don't think the school administration would approve."

"They never approve of my best ideas," you lamented, reluctantly gathering your things. "Remember when I suggested replacing all the water fountains with chocolate milk dispensers? VISIONARY."

"Unsanitary and impractical," Senku corrected.

"VISIONARY," you insisted, then winced as you stood up too quickly. "Ugh, stupid body with its stupid biological imperatives."

Yuzuriha touched your arm gently. "We have math next. Do you want me to tell the teacher you're not feeling well?"

"And miss the opportunity to learn about polynomials while feeling like I'm being stabbed from the inside? How could I possibly pass that up?" The sarcasm was thick enough to spread on toast, but you sighed and relented. "No, I'll be fine. The painkillers should kick in soon, right?"

"Right," Senku nodded. "Assuming standard absorption rates and—"

"That was RHETORICAL," you groaned. "Not everything is an invitation for a lecture."

"Says the girl who once asked me how toasters work and then fell asleep fifteen seconds into my explanation," Senku retorted.

"Because you started with the HISTORY OF ELECTRICITY! Just tell me why bread go hot! That's all I wanted to know!"

As your group made its way to the math classroom, you found yourself walking slightly behind, each step requiring more concentration than you'd like to admit. Senku dropped back to match your pace, his hands shoved in his pockets in his usual nonchalant pose.

"You're really in pain, aren't you?" he asked quietly, his tone lacking its usual sarcasm.

"What gave it away?" you asked weakly. "The fact that I'm walking like I smuggled a porcupine in my uniform? Or the cold sweat? The cold sweat is a nice touch, I think."

"You don't have to pretend it doesn't hurt," he said, surprisingly gentle.

"Says who? Faking it till you make it is my entire life philosophy. It's gotten me this far." You attempted a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. "Besides, what's the alternative? Curl up in a ball and admit defeat? Not my style."

Senku studied you for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "The intensity of menstrual cramps varies significantly between individuals," he said finally. "It's not a reflection of weakness or strength."

You blinked at him in surprise. "Is that... are you trying to make me feel better?"

"Is it working?"

"Weirdly, yes? A little?" You shook your head in amazement. "You're an enigma wrapped in a mystery covered in hair gel, Senku."

The corner of his mouth twitched upward. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"As you should."

By the time you reached the classroom, the painkillers were finally starting to take effect, dulling the sharp edges of the cramps to a more manageable ache. You slid into your seat with a relieved sigh, actually feeling capable of focusing on something other than your rebellious reproductive system for the first time in hours.

That focus lasted approximately seven minutes before your eyelids started to feel unusually heavy. The teacher's voice faded in and out as you struggled to stay awake, your head occasionally dipping forward before you jerked it back up.

"—and so the polynomial function can be expressed as—"

Your pencil slipped from your suddenly limp fingers, clattering to the floor. You stared at it, trying to remember how arms worked. Why was the room spinning? Had the math classroom always been on a carousel?

"[Y/N]?" Senku's voice sounded strangely distant. "Hey, [Y/N]?"

You turned to look at him, which took approximately seven years to accomplish. "Mmm?"

"You look like you're about to pass out," he observed, actual concern evident in his voice.

"Pass out? Me? Ridiculous. I'm just... resting my consciousness. Briefly. While sitting upright. It's a new meditation technique I'm—" The room tilted sharply. "Okay, maybe I am going to pass out a little bit."

Senku was saying something to the teacher, but his voice seemed to be coming from underwater. You felt a hand on your arm—his hand—and then you were somehow standing, though your legs apparently had all the structural integrity of overcooked noodles.

"M'fine," you mumbled as he guided you toward the door, the teacher waving you out with a concerned expression. "Jus' need... air..."

The hallway was mercifully cooler than the classroom, but the fluorescent lights seemed to be pulsing in time with the throbbing in your head. You leaned heavily against Senku, who for once didn't complain about the invasion of his personal space.

"We're going to the nurse," he informed you, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Bossy," you mumbled, but couldn't muster the energy for a proper comeback.

"It's called 'being responsible,' something you might want to try sometime."

"Too much effort. I'd rather be spontaneous. More fun that way."

"More dangerous too," he muttered.

"Aww, you worry about me," you teased weakly. "That's sweet. In a grumpy, pretending-not-to-care kind of way."

"I worry about the property damage you might cause if left unsupervised."

"Lies. You like me. You'd be sad if I died from period-related complications. Which I might, by the way. This could be it. These could be my last words. And you're spending them ARGUING with me."

"You're not dying," Senku said firmly, though his grip on your arm tightened slightly. "You're likely experiencing vasovagal syncope due to the pain, combined with possible low blood sugar and dehydration."

"See? Even when you're being nice, you're still a walking textbook," you laughed, then immediately regretted it as a wave of dizziness hit you. "Whoa. Bad idea. Laughing is now canceled."

You were so focused on keeping the hallway from spinning that you didn't notice the approaching footsteps until a booming voice made both you and Senku jump.

"[Y/N]! SENKU! WHY AREN'T YOU IN CLASS?" Taiju appeared around the corner, his expression shifting instantly from confusion to alarm when he saw you. "WHAT'S WRONG? IS [Y/N] OKAY?"

"Indoor voice, Taiju," Senku hissed. "[Y/N]'s not feeling well. I'm taking her to the nurse."

"IS SHE DYING?" Taiju asked in what he probably thought was a whisper but still echoed through the empty hallway.

"YES," you declared dramatically, at the exact same time Senku firmly stated, "No."

"I CAN CARRY HER!" Taiju volunteered enthusiastically.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT," you yelped, suddenly finding the energy to stand more upright. "No offense, Taiju, but the last time you carried someone, you accidentally knocked them into a door frame. TWICE."

"That was ONE TIME," Taiju protested.

"Once is enough when concussions are involved," you countered.

Before the argument could progress further, another particularly vicious cramp hit you, making you double over with a gasp. Your vision tunneled alarmingly, and you reached out blindly, your hand connecting with what you thought was Senku's shoulder.

It wasn't his shoulder.

"WHY IS YOUR FACE WHERE YOUR SHOULDER SHOULD BE?" you demanded as your palm made contact with Senku's cheek with considerably more force than intended.

There was a moment of startled silence, followed by the unmistakable sound of a body hitting the floor.

You blinked your vision clear to find Senku sprawled on the hallway tiles, out cold, with Taiju staring in open-mouthed shock.

"YOU KNOCKED OUT SENKU!" Taiju bellowed, his volume control completely abandoned in the face of this unprecedented event.

"I didn't MEAN to!" you protested, panic momentarily overriding your own discomfort. "It was an ACCIDENT! Oh my god, I killed Senku. I killed him with my HAND. This is it. This is how I go to juvenile detention. Death by accidental face-slap. They'll write case studies about me!"

"He's not dead," Taiju assured you, kneeling beside his fallen friend. "He's breathing! See?" He pointed at Senku's chest, which was indeed rising and falling.

"Oh thank god," you breathed, then slumped against the wall, torn between relief and the return of your own dizziness. "I can't believe I knocked him out. ME. The person who failed the strength test in gym so badly that the teacher checked if the equipment was broken."

"YOU'RE STRONGER THAN YOU LOOK!" Taiju said admiringly.

"Or Senku's weaker than HE looks," you countered, then giggled despite yourself. "This is terrible. I shouldn't be laughing. Why am I laughing? Oh god, I think I'm hysterical. Is this hysteria? Am I having a hysteria moment? Can you even HAVE hysteria moments anymore or is that just an outdated medical concept used to oppress women? Senku would know. But I KNOCKED HIM OUT so he can't tell me!"

"[Y/N]?" Yuzuriha's concerned voice came from down the hallway as she hurried toward you. "What happened? The teacher sent me to check on—" She stopped short at the sight of Senku unconscious on the floor. "What did you DO?"

"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" you wailed. "I didn't MEAN to assault him with my palm! My hand-eye coordination betrayed me! Et tu, reflexes?"

As if on cue, Senku groaned and stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He blinked in confusion, staring up at the faces hovering over him. "What...?"

"OH THANK SCIENCE," you exclaimed, dropping to your knees beside him. "You're alive! I didn't commit manslaughter! I won't have to change my name and flee the country!"

"Why am I on the floor?" Senku asked groggily, pushing himself up on his elbows.

"[Y/N] KNOCKED YOU OUT!" Taiju supplied helpfully.

"I said I was SORRY!" you protested, then realized you hadn't actually apologized yet. "Wait, no I didn't. But I AM sorry! It was an accident! I was aiming for your shoulder but everything was spinning and your face got in the way!"

Senku stared at you with an expression you couldn't quite decipher. "You... knocked me out?"

"Apparently I contain multitudes. And possibly a knockout punch. Who knew?" You offered him a weak smile. "If it helps, I feel terrible about it. Both emotionally AND physically."

To your complete astonishment, Senku started laughing. Not his usual smirk or contained chuckle, but actual, genuine laughter that made his shoulders shake.

You exchanged bewildered glances with Taiju and Yuzuriha. "Uh, should we be concerned? Did I give him brain damage? Is this what a concussion looks like?"

"I'm fine," Senku managed, still grinning as he sat up fully. "Just... didn't see that coming. Literally."

"... is that a JOKE? Now I KNOW I gave you a concussion." You pressed the back of your hand to his forehead in mock concern. "No fever. But the personality transplant is concerning."

He batted your hand away, but the gesture lacked his usual annoyance. "You look like you're about to pass out yourself," he observed, his eyes apparently recovering faster than the rest of him.

"I'm fine," you insisted, even as the hallway started to tilt alarmingly again. "Just... need to sit down for a... minute..."

The last thing you saw before darkness claimed you was Senku's face, eyes widening in alarm, hand reaching out to catch you as you toppled forward.

-

Consciousness returned slowly, like wading through syrup. The first thing you became aware of was the scratchy texture of a standard-issue school infirmary blanket. The second was the low murmur of voices nearby.

"—never seen dysmenorrhea this severe in someone so young—"

"—vasovagal response to the pain—"

"—recommend she see a doctor if—"

You cracked one eye open, wincing at the brightness of the room. The school nurse was speaking quietly to Yuzuriha at the foot of the bed, while Senku and Taiju hovered awkwardly by the door.

"Look who's back in the land of the living," Senku commented, noticing your movement first.

"Bold of you to assume I ever left," you croaked, your voice raspy. "I could have been astral projecting. Having an out-of-body experience. Visiting the spiritual realm."

"Or just unconscious due to pain and low blood pressure," the nurse suggested dryly, moving to your side. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been run over by a freight train. Twice. With spikes." You pushed yourself up on your elbows, relieved to find the worst of the dizziness had passed. "Did I miss anything exciting?"

"Taiju called your parents," Yuzuriha informed you gently. "They're on their way to pick you up."

"Great. So not only did I pass out in school, but now I get to explain to my parents that it's because my uterus decided today was the perfect day for its grand debut." You flopped back against the pillow with a groan. "This is not how I pictured this milestone going."

"If it helps, I called my mom too," Yuzuriha offered. "She's bringing me some... supplies. Extra ones for you too."

"Yuzuriha, you continuous saving grace," you sighed gratefully.

The nurse handed you a small paper cup of water and two pills. "These should help with the cramps. And I'd recommend seeing your doctor if the pain continues to be this severe."

"Yes ma'am," you agreed meekly, swallowing the medication. "Though if this is what I have to look forward to every month, I might have to invest in one of those Victorian fainting couches. Make it fashionable again."

The nurse smiled despite herself. "Rest here until your parents arrive. You three," she addressed your friends, "should get back to class."

"But—" Taiju began to protest.

"It's fine," you assured them, waving a dismissive hand. "I'm just going to lie here and contemplate the betrayal of my own body."

"That sounds... creative," Yuzuriha said diplomatically.

"We'll check on you after school," Taiju promised, his voice mercifully lowered to something approaching a normal volume.

"Bring homework," you requested, then made a face. "Did those words actually just come out of my mouth? The pain must be affecting my brain. Ignore that. Bring snacks instead."

Senku, who had been unusually quiet, stepped forward. "Actually, I need two minutes," he said to the nurse, who sighed but nodded reluctantly.

"Two minutes," she agreed, ushering Taiju and Yuzuriha out. "Then back to class."

As the door closed behind them, an awkward silence fell. You fidgeted with the edge of the blanket, suddenly unsure what to say. It wasn't like Senku to request private conversations.

"So," you began, aiming for casual and probably missing by a mile. "Sorry about the whole knocking-you-unconscious thing. Not my finest moment. Though, to be fair, it's kind of impressive."

"It's fine," Senku dismissed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I've experienced worse in the lab."

"Of course you have," you snorted.

He approached the bed, his expression unusually serious. "Look, about your... situation."

"My 'situation'?" you repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You can say 'period,' Senku. It won't summon a blood demon or anything. Though after today's experience, I'm not entirely convinced it doesn't."

"Your dysmenorrhea," he corrected, using the medical term with typical Senku precision. "The severity isn't normal."

"Wow, thanks for the newsflash. I hadn't noticed while I was busy PASSING OUT FROM PAIN."

"Would you be serious for ten seconds?" He ran a hand through his spiky hair in frustration. "What I'm trying to say is, there might be underlying conditions causing it. Endometriosis. Adenomyosis. Uterine fibroids."

You blinked at him in surprise. "Have you been... researching this?"

"I research everything," he said dismissively, though there was a hint of color in his cheeks that hadn't been there before. "It's just science."

"Uh-huh. Just science." You couldn't help the small smile that tugged at your lips. "And this has nothing to do with your friend passing out in the hallway after slapping you into unconsciousness?"

"That was an unfortunate coincidence," he said stiffly.

"Admit it. You were worried about me." You pointed an accusing finger at him.

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed, but didn't quite meet your eyes. "I'm merely pointing out a potential medical issue that requires attention."

"You CARE," you sing-songed, then winced as the movement triggered a duller version of the earlier cramps. "Ow. Okay, no teasing anymore."

Something that might have been concern flickered across his face. "Just... talk to your doctor," he said, more quietly. "The pain shouldn't be that severe."

"I will," you promised, momentarily serious. "And... thanks. For the research. And for catching me when I fainted. And for not being too mad about the face-slap."

"Your form was terrible," he commented, a hint of his usual smirk returning. "If you're going to knock someone out, at least use proper technique."

"I'll schedule boxing lessons immediately. Right after 'How to Handle Your First Period Without Creating a School-Wide Spectacle.' It's going to be a busy semester."

The nurse poked her head back in. "Time's up," she informed Senku. "Back to class."

He nodded, heading for the door, but paused with his hand on the handle. "Oh, and [Y/N]?"

"Hmm?"

"I'll bring the homework AND the snacks." With a final smirk that somehow managed to be both annoying and reassuring, he was gone.

You settled back against the pillows, the pain medication finally starting to take effect. Today had been a disaster of proportions—you'd gotten your first period, passed out in school, assaulted your friend with an accidental slap... and yet, somehow, it hadn't been ALL bad.

Your friends had rallied around you. Yuzuriha had shared her supplies. Taiju had fetched you food and medicine. And Senku... Senku had researched medical conditions just because he was worried about you, even if he'd rather drink one of his failed chemical experiments than admit it.

Maybe this whole "growing up" thing wasn't going to be completely terrible after all.

Your phone buzzed with a text, and you fished it out of your pocket to find a message from Senku:

"By the way, the odds of both you and Yuzuriha starting your menstrual cycles on the same day are approximately 1 in 28,900. Either an incredible statistical anomaly or evidence that the McClintock Effect might have some validity despite recent studies questioning it. Fascinating data point."

You snorted, typing back: "Only you would see my reproductive suffering as a 'fascinating data point.' I hate you."

The reply came almost immediately: "No you don't."

You smiled despite yourself. "No, I don't," you murmured, setting the phone aside as you heard your parents' voices in the hallway.

Things could definitely be worse.

Chapter Text

The world was quiet at four in the morning. That's what you loved about it—the stillness, the absence of human noise, the way everything seemed suspended in time like a droplet of water frozen mid-fall. It was in these moments, sitting atop the lookout tower as the first hints of dawn crept across the horizon, that you could pretend the world hadn't ended and been rebuilt around you.

That you could pretend your heart hadn't done the same.

"You're up early," a voice called from below, shattering your solitude with all the subtlety of a hammer on glass.

You didn't need to look down to know who it was. That voice had haunted your dreams for months now—clinical, precise, always faintly amused at some private joke the rest of you weren't evolved enough to understand.

"Couldn't sleep," you replied, keeping your eyes fixed on the horizon. Maybe if you didn't look at him, he'd take the hint and leave.

He didn't, of course. Senku had never been one to take hints.

The wooden structure creaked as he climbed the ladder, each sound a countdown to the end of your peace. When he finally appeared, hoisting himself onto the platform with considerably less grace than his brilliance might suggest, you made a point of scooting farther to the edge.

"Careful," he said, settling beside you despite your obvious attempt at distance. "One strong breeze and you'll be testing gravity's effects on the human body. Though I'd be ten billion percent certain of the outcome."

"Is there something you needed, Senku?" You tried to keep your voice neutral, but even you could hear the frost around the edges.

He was quiet for a moment, and you made the mistake of glancing over. Bad move. Even in the dim pre-dawn light, his crimson eyes caught what little illumination existed, gleaming like embers. His hair was messier than usual, if such a thing were possible, suggesting he hadn't slept either.

Not that you cared.

"The new telescope's finished," he said finally. "Thought you might want to know."

"And this couldn't wait until a reasonable hour?"

"Define 'reasonable.'" You could hear the smirk in his voice. "Besides, you're already awake."

"Maybe I was enjoying being alone."

"Were you?"

The question hung between you, deceptively simple yet loaded with meaning. Were you enjoying being alone? Or had you been sitting up here for hours, watching stars fade and listening to the sounds of the forest, because being alone with your thoughts was still preferable to being in the same room as him?

"The telescope works fine," he continued when you didn't answer. "Chrome and I tested it last night. Mars is particularly visible this time of year."

"Fascinating," you muttered, drawing your knees up to your chest.

"It actually is," he said, either missing or ignoring your sarcasm. "The optical clarity exceeds my initial calculations. We should be able to observe Jupiter's bands by next week."

You felt a treacherous tug of interest. Before... everything... you would have been the first in line to look through a new telescope. Astronomy had been your shared passion, one of the few areas where your enthusiasm matched his knowledge perfectly.

Now, the thought of standing next to him in the dark, looking up at the same stars, made your chest ache in a way that had nothing to do with science.

"I'm sure Gen will be thrilled," you said instead.

Senku chuckled, but it sounded hollow. "Gen couldn't tell Jupiter from a particularly bright airplane. Besides, he's too busy with the diplomacy preparations for the upcoming meeting with the American colony."

"Oh." You'd forgotten about that. Time had become strangely slippery lately, days blending together in a haze of work and avoidance strategies.

Silence fell between you, filled only by the distant sounds of the forest awakening. A bird began to sing somewhere, its melody plaintive and echoing.

"You've been avoiding me," Senku said finally, the bluntness of the statement so typical that it almost made you smile. Almost.

"I've been busy."

"With what, exactly?"

"Things. Important things."

"Ah yes, 'things.' Very scientific description." His tone was light, but you knew him well enough to detect the edge underneath.

"Not everything needs to be scientific, Senku."

"No," he agreed quietly. "But some things need to be acknowledged."

You tensed, fingers digging into your arms where they wrapped around your knees. This was exactly the conversation you'd been avoiding for weeks, slipping away whenever he approached, volunteering for any task that would take you far from the laboratory and his too-perceptive gaze.