The Science of Connection (Senku Ishigami x Reader)

The battle came and went like a storm.

You weren't on the front lines—Senku had made that clear. "This isn't your fight to take hits in," he'd said, not unkindly. "We've got people for that. You? You're staying alive so we can win the long game."

The battle ended without blood.

Not a single life lost—just as Ukyo had demanded.

The paper tank had roared, the cannon had boomed, and the illusion of advanced firepower (thanks to Gen's flawless trickery) shattered the Tsukasa Empire's morale. One by one, soldiers laid down their weapons, glancing at each other as if to say, Maybe... science really is stronger.

The Kingdom of Science claimed the miracle cave by sundown.

And Senku, ever the strategist, didn't waste time. He approached Tsukasa with a simple offer: no war, no more tricks—just one request in return for peace.

"We'll revive your little sister," Senku said, arms crossed, eyes unwavering. "You have my word. That's science's promise."

~~~

You hadn't been on the frontlines—but you were there when the search team set out.

Senku, Kohaku, Gen, Chrome, a handful from the Kingdom of Science, and a few former Tsukasa Empire allies.

And Tsukasa.

Bruised but proud, he walked beside Senku in silence. The truce between them wasn't just words anymore. Tsukasa had handed over the one thing he had guarded above all else—his little sister, Mirai.

You walked a little ahead, studying the charcoal map Tsukasa had drawn from memory. He had kept it hidden all this time. A mark on faded parchment, pinpointing where a hospital once stood. A place frozen in time. A place that might hold a miracle.

The dense forest eventually gave way to a quiet glade, bathed in soft spring light. Whatever building had once stood here was long gone—swallowed by earth and overgrowth. But this was the place.

Time to dig.

The hours blurred. You dug until your arms ached, until the light faded and your breath came in clouds. Then, at last, someone called out.

There she was.

A young girl, perfectly preserved in stone. Peaceful. Untouched. As though the world's collapse had paused, just for her.

Everyone fell silent.

Senku began prepping the revival fluid.

While Senku focused, you moved to Tsukasa's side. His usual stern presence was quieter now—still like a mountain, but with a tremor of something deeper.

"She's beautiful," you said gently, watching the way his eyes locked on his sister's face.

"She was in a coma before the world turned to stone," he said quietly, voice distant. "I thought... I thought I'd lost her forever."

You nodded slowly. "You brought me back too, remember?"

Tsukasa looked over at you, a flicker of recognition softening his expression. "You were different. Capable. You helped us hunt. You survived."

"I didn't realize, at the time, that you were keeping so much pain inside," you admitted, voice soft. "But I see it now."

He looked back toward Mirai, the tension in his shoulders finally releasing, just a little.

"I only wanted a world where she could smile again," he said. "And I was willing to burn everything to make that world."

You hesitated, then added, "Now you're trusting Senku to build it instead."