The Science of Connection (Senku Ishigami x Reader)

~~~ Fast forward, in Ishigami Village~~~

The village was alive with excitement, the air buzzing with the energy of the final match in the tournament. Villagers crowded around the makeshift arena, their cheers and laughter filling the forest air. Senku stood at the edge of the ring, his sharp eyes calmly studying his opponent—Ginro, who fidgeted nervously while trying to appear confident.

From the sidelines, Gen Asagiri leaned casually against a tree, his ever-present smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, what a thrilling showdown," he murmured with mock enthusiasm. "The great scientist versus the valiant... well, moderately brave guard."

Ginro shot him a look. "Hey, I'm plenty brave!" he protested, though his voice wavered slightly.

Gen chuckled, brushing off the comment. "Of course, of course. My mistake."

Senku's gaze didn't waver from Ginro, but Gen sidled closer, lowering his voice just enough for Senku to hear. "By the way, our dear friend Tsukasa has been busy choosing who gets a second chance at life. One particular revival... might interest you."

Senku's eyes flicked to Gen briefly, his expression calm but his mind now racing. He didn't respond, his focus shifting back to the match ahead.

Ginro, gripping his staff tightly, charged forward. "I won't lose to you, Senku!" he shouted, his voice a mix of determination and desperation.

Senku smirked, sidestepping the attack with ease. "Bold claim, Ginro," he said, his tone laced with amusement. "But science always has the upper hand."

He glanced down at the ground, his sharp mind quickly assessing his surroundings. Spotting Suika's discarded melon helmet nearby, Senku's lips curved into a sly grin. He darted to grab it, flipping it upside down and positioning it strategically in the dirt between him and Ginro.

"Just a little physics demonstration," he muttered to himself, jamming one end of his staff under the edge of the melon helmet. With a quick adjustment, he planted his foot firmly on the opposite end of the staff, creating a simple lever with the helmet as the fulcrum.

Ginro, oblivious to the setup, charged again, aiming to land a decisive blow. But before he could close the distance, Senku stomped down hard on the staff.

The other end of the lever shot up with force, the edge of the staff connecting perfectly with its intended target—Ginro's groin.

The crowd let out a collective gasp, followed by a wave of laughter and cheers as Ginro crumpled to the ground, clutching his middle and groaning in agony.

"Direct hit," Senku said, dusting off his hands and straightening up. He turned to the crowd with a smug grin. "Science: 1, brute force: 0."

The referee hesitated for a moment, then raised Senku's arm. "Winner—Senku!"

The villagers erupted into applause and cheers, while Ginro's brother, Kinro, winced from the sidelines, muttering, "That was brutal."

The villagers erupted into cheers as Senku stood victorious, his face betraying nothing but calm amusement. Ginro was still on the ground, groaning dramatically, while Kinro helped him limp off the field.

Amid the celebration, Gen meandered over, slow-clapping with his signature smirk. "Ah, Senku, masterful as always. Who needs brute strength when you have the laws of physics on your side?"

Senku glanced at him, brushing off his shirt. "Simple machines aren't complicated, Gen. Even you could've figured it out."

Gen placed a hand over his chest, feigning offense. "Oh, but that would ruin the fun of watching your brilliance unfold! Besides, I was paying attention to something... more intriguing."