The Science of Connection (Senku Ishigami x Reader)

Chapter 10- Lapis Lazuli

You gather the lapis lazuli stone you found a while back, feeling its cool surface beneath your fingers as you begin to shape it. Carefully, you chip away at it, carving the stone into a pendant. It's small but significant—a piece of the stars, something Senku can hold close to remind him of his childhood dreams and the people who care about him now.

~~~

The sun is beginning its descent, casting a warm golden glow across the village as the day comes to a close. The observatory, now complete, stands proudly in the center of the village, a testament to the hard work and care the villagers have put into it. Its frame rises against the fading light, its open structure an invitation to the stars above.

You stand back, your hands slightly sore from the day's work, but your heart feels light as you gaze at the observatory. It's everything Senku could have wanted—simple, functional, and built with purpose. It may not be a grand, modern structure like the ones from his childhood dreams, but it's something real. Something that honors those dreams and brings them a little closer to reality.

Your fingers brush over the rocket pendant hanging from a small leather cord around your neck—the lapis lazuli stone you've worked on all day, now smooth and polished, its surface glinting with tiny golden flecks that catch the last light of the day. You've finished it just in time.

The sound of footsteps reaches your ears, and you turn just as Senku's group returns. Chrome, Magma, and Senku emerge from the trees, their figures outlined against the warm glow of the setting sun. Senku's usual cool demeanor is still intact, but there's a certain satisfaction in his posture as he surveys the village.

"It's done," Chrome announces, his voice full of excitement. "We've got the tungsten, and the caves weren't as dangerous as we thought."

Senku gives a quick nod, his eyes scanning the village, finally settling on the observatory. His expression shifts from one of casual indifference to something more thoughtful. He steps forward, his eyes lingering on the structure as he approaches, a hint of awe behind his usual analytical gaze.

"Well, it looks like you've all been busy," he says, his voice a little softer than usual.

You watch him, your heart racing slightly as you step forward, offering him a smile. He glances at you, and for a moment, it feels like the world slows. The air between the two of you is different now—charged with the weight of the surprise you've prepared.

Senku's eyes flicker with surprise as he turns to fully take in the structure. He's quiet for a moment, then steps closer, his gaze moving over the frame, his hands clasped behind his back in that familiar, thoughtful pose.

Before you can respond, Gen sidles up beside you, his voice low. "It was all for you, Senku. A little birthday surprise."

Senku's gaze snaps toward Gen, and his eyes narrow slightly, though there's no malice in it—only a quiet surprise. "Birthday...?" He trails off, looking from the observatory to the setting sun, his brow furrowing in thought.

"Yeah," Gen adds with a grin. "Didn't think we'd forget, did you?"

Senku's eyes flicker back to you, his expression softening for just a moment. He doesn't say anything right away, but you can see that something has shifted. Something unspoken lingers between the two of you, and for once, it's not just the usual scientific focus in his gaze. There's a deeper recognition there.

As the group stands together, the golden light of the sunset bathing the village, you feel your heart pound. You reach up and pull the pendant from around your neck, the smooth stone cool against your skin. You step forward, offering it to Senku, your voice a little quieter than usual.

"I... I made you something too," you say, your hand slightly trembling as you extend the pendant. "Happy Birthday."

Senku looks down at the rocket pendant in your hand, his eyes flicking from the stone to your face. For a moment, his usual detached expression is gone, replaced by something more thoughtful and almost... surprised. He takes the pendant from you, turning it over in his hand, the lapis lazuli catching the light in a way that almost seems to make it shimmer with the last rays of the setting sun.

"This... this is..." he starts, then stops, looking at you with a new understanding in his gaze. "I 1 billion percent not expect this."

You smile softly, your heart racing. "I know. But I wanted you to have something that wasn't about science, Senku. Something that's just for you."

Senku stands there for a moment, his fingers wrapped around the pendant. His usual stoic expression softens as he looks at you, and for the first time, you see a small flicker of something more in his eyes—something beyond his love for science.

"Thank you," he says quietly, his voice low but sincere. "This... means a lot."

You smile back at him, a warmth spreading through you at the words you've longed to hear. And in that moment, beneath the fading glow of the sunset and the new observatory that now stands as a testament to Senku's past dreams, something between you and Senku feels... different. Something new has started to form, something both unspoken and deeply understood.

For the first time, you feel like you're both reaching for the same stars.

~~~ 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY SENKU!!!!