When the World Turned to Stone

After the meal, a sense of contentment settled over the group. The crackling of the fire and the satisfied hums of full stomachs filled the air, but even in the midst of this brief peaceful moment, Senku was already moving onto the next task. He cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the comfortable silence.

"Alright, now that we've had our fill, let's focus on the next step toward rebuilding civilization," Senku said, his sharp eyes focused ahead, his mind already calculating the next steps. He didn't waste time resting—his mind was constantly racing, thinking of what they needed to do.

"The first thing we need is calcium carbonate," he continued, reaching down to pick up a small stone and rolling it between his fingers. "We're going to collect shells and smash them to pieces."

Hanako blinked, her thoughts momentarily distracted by the mention of shells. "Wait, we're going to the beach?"

Senku nodded, his lips curling into a brief, satisfied smile. 

"Yes. Shells are a natural source of calcium carbonate. We'll need a good supply to make some basic materials like lime."

The conversation quickly shifted to plans as Tsukasa gave a small nod of approval, standing up and dusting his hands off. "Then we should head out now."

Hanako, who had been walking alongside Tsukasa, felt a small sense of relief. She had been concerned she'd be left behind, especially since her crutches slowed her down. The thought of being carried by Tsukasa yet again made her cringe. 

She had already been helped three times before, and it was beginning to wear on her. While she appreciated the help when she truly needed it, being carried made her feel like a burden. It was a difficult feeling to shake.

But today was different. Today, she was walking on her own—albeit with crutches—and that fact brought a sense of pride and relief. Tsukasa wouldn't need to carry her this time.

She stole a glance at him, her lips curving slightly as she mustered the courage to speak. 

"I'm okay, Tsukasa," Hanako said, her voice soft but firm. 

"I can manage, besides, it'll be good exercise," she added with a small, reassuring smile. "But thank you, though."

Tsukasa paused for a moment, still watching her, before offering a small but kind smile of his own. 

"If you're sure," he said, his tone carrying just a hint of concern, though he didn't push further.

Hanako nodded, relieved, and Tsukasa continued walking beside her, his steady presence making the journey easier despite the slight strain of her crutches. She was thankful for that—thankful for the calm and unspoken support that Tsukasa provided without asking for anything in return.

As they continued, Senku, clearly irked by the interaction between the two, passed them by. He didn't look at either of them directly, but his voice rang out with a pointed remark, "Don't overexert yourself."

Hanako blinked, slightly startled, but Tsukasa didn't seem affected by Senku's words. He just gave Hanako one last look of silent encouragement before moving forward, his calm presence lingering in her thoughts.

Behind them, Taiju was walking with a basket, his voice carrying through the air in a constant chant of  "Labor! Labor!" It was both amusing and a little surreal. Hanako couldn't help but shake her head, chuckling lightly to herself.

"I've never known anyone so excited about physical labor," Hanako said to herself under her breath, a smile creeping onto her face as she watched Taiju bounce ahead. His enthusiasm was contagious in its own way, even if it made no sense to her.