The Science of Connection (Senku Ishigami x Reader)

Chapter 4- The Empire

Your eyes dart up to the figure standing before you. He's tall, his posture commanding, with sharp features and a gaze so intense it sends an involuntary chill down your spine. You don't know him, but you've heard the rumors- something about being the strongest high school primate or whatever.

He doesn't respond to your discomfort. If anything, he looks completely unfazed. His expression is neutral, almost cold as if your nakedness and confusion are trivial details unworthy of concern.

"You'll figure it out," he says flatly, his tone devoid of sympathy. "You can call me Tsukasa Shishio."

You arch an eyebrow, your irritation growing. "Great," you mutter under your breath, crossing your arms in an attempt to cover yourself. "Just what I needed."

Without a word, the man reaches up to the clasp removing his cloak. Its thick, rich fabric glints faintly in the sunlight, and you notice the unmistakable markings of a lion's fur. He tosses it towards you, the weight nearly knocking the wind out of you as you catch it.

"Put this on," he says, his voice as commanding as his presence. "Follow me to my Empire. I'll explain things there."

You glance down at the cloak in your hands, its coarse texture brushing against your fingers. This makes your stomach churn- the lion's skin, once belonging to a majestic living creature, now reduced to this. As someone who studies animals and their behavior, the thought of waring the pelt feels wrong. But you keep your thoughts to yourself. Judging by the man's demeanor, this isn't the time to argue.

Wrapping the cloak tightly around you, you try to ignore the unease it brings. The fabric is heavy, its weight pressing down on your shoulders, but at least it shields you from the elements- and the unsettling feeling of exposure. YOu take a steadying breath, trying to suppress the mixture of anger and confusion bubbling inside.

"Lead the way," you say, your voice steady despite the turmoil beneath.

The man nods curtly, then turns and starts walking. His steps are long and purposeful, giving a little time to dwell on your thoughts. You follow close behind, keeping your gaze sharp and focused on your surroundings. Everything feels foreign, from the jagged terrain to the eerie quiet of the land.

As you walk, your thoughts drift back to Senku- the experiment, his steady voice, and the strange connection you'd shared. That memory feels distant now, as though it belongs to a different life. There's no room to be sentimentality. Not in this strange world, where survival seems to hinge on every word, every choice.

You pull the cloak tighter around you, squaring your shoulders. Observation will be your weapon. Whatever this man wants, whatever he plans to explain at this so-called Empire, you'll figure it out. And you'll survive.

~~~

You followed Tsukasa in silence for a while, the sound of your bare feet crunching against twigs and leaves the only thing breaking the stillness. The lion-skin cloak felt rough against your skin, a far cry from the comfortable clothes you were used to.

Finally, you couldn't hold back your questions any longer.

"So... where are we going?"

"To a place where humanity can start anew," Tsukasa replied without turning around.

His answer, while vague, sent a chill down your spine. "Start anew? What does that mean?"

He glanced back briefly, his expression unreadable. "It means leaving behind the mistakes of the old world."

You frowned, picking up your pace to walk beside him. "And you get to decide what those mistakes were?"

Tsukasa didn't answer right away. Instead, he stopped at a stream, gesturing for you to drink. You hesitated but realized your parched throat wasn't going to wait for clearer answers.