The next day, Senku didn't waste any time. As soon as you stepped into the lab, he was already holding up a clipboard, his sharp eyes scanning you like you were just another data point in one of his experiments.
"Glad you're on time," he said without looking up. "Let's get started. I've prepared a few tests to measure your baseline responses."
You frowned, crossing your arms. "Baseline responses to what, exactly?"
Senku's smirk was infuriatingly smug. "Stimuli. Both physical and emotional. Don't worry, it's all in the name of science."
Before you could protest, he was already gesturing for you to sit on a stool near his workstation. His movements were efficient, bordering on impatient, as he set up a strange device that looked like a hybrid between a heart monitor and a lie detector.
"You're not going to electrocute me, are you?" you quipped, eyeing the contraption warily.
Senku snorted, clearly unimpressed by your sarcasm. "Please. If I wanted to fry your brain, you'd already smell smoke. This," he pointed to the device, "is to monitor your physiological reactions. Heart rate, breathing, skin conductivity-basic stuff."
Reluctantly, you let him attach the sensors to your fingertips and wrist. As his hands worked, you couldn't help but notice how steady they were, the precision in his touch contrasting sharply with his often-chaotic personality.
~~~ Test 1: Proximity ~~~
Senku stood a few feet away, clipboard in hand, watching the monitor. "Alright, let's start simple. I'm going to test your response to physical proximity."
You raised an eyebrow. "Proximity? That's your big experiment?"
"Trust me, it's more revealing than you think," he replied, stepping closer.
At first, the changes were subtle. He moved within arm's length, then within a few inches. You could feel the warmth radiating off him, his sharp gaze studying you as if he were cataloging every twitch, every flicker of discomfort.
Your heart rate spiked slightly, and Senku's smirk widened. "Interesting. Not bad, but let's up the stakes."
Without warning, he leaned in, close enough that you could see the individual flecks of gold in his crimson eyes. His voice dropped just slightly, almost teasing. "You're holding your breath. Did I make you nervous?"
You swallowed hard, determined not to give him the satisfaction of an answer.
~~~ Test 2: Emotional Stimuli ~~~
Senku handed you a stack of photographs, his expression neutral but with a glint of mischief in his crimson eyes. "Let's see how emotionally intelligent you are," he said.
You took the photos, flipping through them one by one. The first was a serene landscape: a sunlit meadow dotted with wildflowers.
"It's peaceful," you said, glancing up to see if he'd react. He didn't. His focus remained entirely on the monitor displaying your vitals, his pen poised above his clipboard.
The next photo was more intense: a child sitting in the rain, tears streaking their face. Your chest tightened slightly. "Sad," you murmured. "But also... hopeful? Like things will get better."
Senku's pen moved, scribbling notes quickly. "Go on," he urged, his tone giving nothing away.
You flipped to another image, this one a fiery explosion captured mid-blast. It felt chaotic, destructive. "Fear," you said. "And... awe."
But as you continued describing each image, you noticed something strange. Senku wasn't reacting to your answers, not even a smirk. His attention was fixed elsewhere-on you.

YOU ARE READING
The Science of Connection (Senku Ishigami x Reader)
FanfictionWhen two students with very different goals are brought together by the pursuit of knowledge. They embark on a journey that explores the complexities of trust, affection, and human connection. Senku Ishigami, the brilliant yet emotionally distant sc...