Senku was ten years old when he last remembered talking to his dad about something silly called love.
He thought it was a shallow reason to visit his son back home from the United States just to talk about something like that.
"What do you mean you don't like love?!" His dad childishly argued over dinner like a lovesick girl who was willing to defend the term against anything.
"It's just... dumb. It doesn't get me excited. Why think of that illogical nonsense when you can think of anything other than that?" He stubbornly refused the way his dad is trying to drill the term into his head. He knows about it, but that's all it was to him. "it's just a word."
"Now that's nonsense!" Byakuya carefully ate his food before continuing. "At some point in your life, you gotta learn to love, kid!"
"Then I'll be sure to skip over that point when it comes."
"C'mon now, don't you love me?"
"I see you as an inspiration."
Byakuya stops, recalling his son's words as the kid continues to eat his dinner and is seemingly unaware of the effect of his words on the older man. He was almost brought into tears.
"S-Senku! you really mean that?!" Scratch that, he was brought into tears. Who wouldn't when your never outwardly affectionate son started showing affection through simple words?
"Yeah. When you failed the astronaut candidate selection exam, it pushed me to do ten billion percent better." Byakuya's joy was replaced with despair at the sudden reminder.
"Anyways... back to the topic at hand," Senku silently pouts at this. "You know, it's not you who gets to choose whether or not you'll fall in love."
"I hate that." Senku mopes.
"It may seem silly to you now—"
"Falling is an accident. I don't like it." Surprisingly, Senku's words catch his dad unsuspected and confused. "I'd rather walk into it willingly."
His dad stays quiet at this. Maybe Senku hadn't understood his point and lost the ability to think it through. Senku's point would have only gotten a "duh" from Byakuya, followed by "that's what I've been trying to say", but he doesn't say it.
Because he understands that Senku grows baffled when handling anything that can change with no computed proof on why. Perhaps something like people's feelings. He'd rather not indulge in it.
Senku knows his dad is a romanticist (despite the fact that he is still single) and that maybe he only wanted a normal interaction between father and son, but all of these are devoid of logic. Devoid of something he is sworn and used to abide by.
"Yeah yeah, finish your food and be sure nothing dangerous is related with your latest experiment." His dad continued on, "Oh and go see Y/n, she's been asking how you've been through the telephone."
Oh right, Senku hasn't seen you in a week.
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With five years of friendship, Senku had grown to learn more about what you do and who you are—mostly.
He learned that you like poetry. Something sappy and sentimental, something he isn't really a fan of. And he confirms that when he tried reading poetry from the limited books in the local library or the one at school.
Nothing really sparked when it comes to him and anything related to literature. You reminded him that.
Senku also thought that you might just be a polymath.
He realized whenever you would join him when he's in the library gathering some information or doing his usual experimenting.
You always shared everything you know about a subject Senku isn't familiar with, you may not be as much of a Science enthusiast as him, but he likes it whenever you expand his understanding on something he isn't versed in.
Senku has grown to realize that he likes that feeling of not being alone when it comes to learning. Sharing and standing on the same grounds with another person his age makes him feel accompanied. You reminded him of that.
He also noted that you were handling a bunch of sports. At first, Senku wondered why.
You were already good with the brain, but why still bother with the brawn? He agrees that you need both in order to function and do things more proficiently, but he'd rather look for the other in another person rather than rely on that himself.
But you told him that your mother wanted you to excel in a lot of sports. The excuse being that "it's a backup if everything else goes downhill", which somehow scratches Senku's brain in the wrong ways possible.
He's always bothered by it whenever you would come to school with bandaids and bruises all over your exposed skin, somehow he knows that there are probably more underneath your clothes.
When he finally decided to ask about it, Senku found out you were trying out a defensive martial art. It explained why you were always bruised; no other sports are able to give such contusions after all—none that he knows of at least.
You described your time with martial arts as if it was a lighthearted experience, ironic as to how the art of Aikido is quite dangerous. Senku realized your words were honeyed, as if you're used to making them sound safe and assuring to avoid worry. You reminded him of that.
But then Senku soon learns that your reasoning on approaching things is rather shallow and unexpected.
When he asked why you wanted to try spear fighting when you grow up, you replied: "I want to fight in a cool samurai armor". And when he asked why you did track and field, you answered: "the wind feels nice", flat and brief.
Something tells Senku that you don't need a deep reasoning in order to do something, you reminded him of that.
He also picks up on the nickname that the students gave you at school.
Senku recalls the time you first saw him in the forest, the way you stared at him as if he had grown another head. Apparently, you learned how to use it to your advantage.
By that he meant intimidating other people to side with you. It's funny, he never thought that a girl like you would do something so threatening as that. All it takes is for you to widen your eyes and stare straight into the other person's soul to the point they'd freeze in place.
Maybe that's why the others always compare you to Medusa. A little girl, being compared to a mythological monster.
Senku thinks it's very, very dumb.
But he thinks it's amusing when you do it to the grown-ups to persuade them to let you and Senku use the school laboratory for a little longer.
But more than anything, you got along with anyone who was willing to get along with you.
Senku knows that when you and Taiju meet. Two of his first friends meeting and getting to know each other the same way they have with him. Having friends around made Senku feel occupied.
Anything that has nothing to do with alone. You remind him of that.
You've been reminding Senku a lot that he never thought he would be thinking about. He wonders if he reminds you of anything similarly close.
But you remind Senku that these aren't thoughts that a ten-year-old should be troubling about, nor are these the kind of thoughts that he should be troubling himself about.
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You weren't the first to realize that Senku isn't a normal kid.
Instead of being troubled with plastic toys and daisies, Senku troubles himself with the laws of physics and nature in general. You know that.
But he still gets troubled, albeit for a different reason than any other kid would.
When you finally visited Senku's place after being busy last Sunday, you noticed his behavior as he sat in front of his computer. He doesn't say anything, lost in thinking in that ingenious mind of his.
You resisted the urge to ask, feeling as if you'd ruin his focus if you utter a sound. So you give him time to solve things himself, to figure it out by himself.
When he gives in and leans back on the chair with his arms crossed and his brows furrowed, that's when you choose to intervene.
"You know, they say time solves most things." Senku turns to you as you speak, putting the tray of two cup noodles on the floor as you sit by it, away from any equipment as it bathes in hot water. "And what time can't solve, you'll have to solve yourself."
"This again? You really do speak in flowers." Senku sighs, but he doesn't stop you with his words. After a while, Senku hesitates to speak once again. "...what if you can't solve what time can't solve?"
You draw out a hum as you look out the window and at the passing clouds. "Then I guess it's time to look for people who can."
You look at Senku's face, blank and thinking. He follows where you looked before, out the window and at the passing clouds. Clouds alongside other clouds, perhaps denser and bigger.
Like him, and maybe other people like him.
And with the all too familiar glimmer in his cherry eyes and a grin that formed because of an idea, you realize that he understands your flowery gestures better than anyone. You watch him turn back around towards his computer, typing away something you could barely understand from that far.
So you stand up and make your way beside him, seeing him in... Public inquiries... NASA?!
"Aha... when I said that, I didn't think you would reach out to scientists from NASA, Senku." You drop a sweat, he seemed to be typing in a document about all of his questions and concerns regarding what left him stumped. When he reached a thousand characters did he realize that people working in NASA are mostly English speakers.
At first he thought that it didn't matter, he could just finish writing up his email and putting it in a translator before shoving it in the association's internet. But then Senku recalls a lot of people complaining about online translators' horrible way of interpretation.
He remembers watching a dumb episode of a Matchmaking TV show with you. The woman ended up choosing a man who doesn't speak the same language as her, Senku ridiculed the show and how the two needed a translator to even communicate.
It wasn't long until news broke out about the two's relationship failure.
A singular word is more accurate to translate using that engine. Unless he intends on putting every character he typed down one by one in the translator, then he'd better get a translator in the form of a person instead. He himself can only interpret so little English at his level.
So he turns to you, the bilingual girl whose English has since been leveling up as the years go by.
"Can you translate this?" He almost hesitates, and you wonder why.
You always feel a sense of accomplishment whenever Senku asks something of you. You smile, "Tell me when you're done."
You didn't give a specific answer yet Senku smiles and continues typing, this time assured and not limiting himself.
When he finishes typing his entry, you take his spot and switch the language to English and begin translating. Senku watches you while slurping on his cup of ramen, noticing that you don't type the same way he does.
It was a simple observation and seemingly unneeded, but you were smooth with it. Your fingers barely scratch the surface of the keyboard. In a way, he finds it a bit refreshing to watch.
There were moments when you would feel stumped at a word or two, Senku gives you all the time you need, you appreciate him for that. Doing this for him gives you a chance to read what he had typed down. You silently chuckle to see that he had also typed down some words of habit of his.
"I can't get my hands on the right components, I'm not progressing even one millimeter here."
Finally, when the sun was starting to set, you finished typing all his words. You turn to your side to see that he had just returned from the kitchen, "I'm done." You say as you get off the chair to give Senku the space to see both of your work.
"Then I'll attach all of the files and research with results I've conducted and then—sent!" Senku celebrates, not only to the people of NASA but also a bunch of space associations from all over the world. It's only a matter of time, luck, and appreciation that someone sends a reply back.
You look at Senku in surprise when he raises both of his hands up towards you, his way of showing accomplishment. Your palms bump against his, it was a sweet gesture of a charming word called teamwork.
You hope that there's at least one other genius that is willing to help with Senku's roadblock.
"Oh yeah, your ramen got cold after a while. But I added some more hot water to it." Senku gestured towards the lone ramen that is placed on a table, a pair of disposable chopsticks on top of the lid as it still steams. "I also added some potassium chloride and calcium carbonate for the taste and texture of the ramen, so they don't feel lame."
Normally, a person would've coward away at the mention of minerals placed in their food. But then again, it was Senku. Plus those minerals he mentioned are safe for consumption.
But Senku notices you hesitate. Do you not trust his knowledge? No, surely that isn't it. He knows you would know these things. So what's stopping you from eating it?
"Senku, I have to go home." You lost track of time.
"Hm? Do you have lessons this late?"
"...Something like that." You sweat, packing up your things into your little bag, "See you tomorrow, Senku." You rush outside his room and into the entrance to slip your shoes back on.
You were about to leave through the door but he stopped you, "Eat this along the way." Senku gives you the steaming ramen, the chopsticks now placed inside as he wraps the container in a cold thick towel to avoid it burning your hands. "It's still a bit hot so be careful."
"Thank you," You smile, his gesture was precious. You could never refuse anything he says or does, so you take it from his warm hands.
"Thanks for your help. Get back home safely." He felt a bit awkward saying it, but it was needed.
And with that, another Sunday has passed by all so quickly.
Monday was tomorrow, he still gets to see you at school, but won't be able to talk to you as much taking into consideration your schedule. Monday... Mondays are usually scheduled for your art classes.
He felt the cold breeze sneaking in from the slightly opened door from where you left. It was cold outside. Hopefully that ramen is enough to keep you warm until you get home.
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The next day, Senku wakes up earlier and more excited than usual.
He can tell by the way he quickly slips into his uniform as if he's in a hurry. He hurries to the kitchen to grab a quick breakfast before he sets out to school with his bag. Why was he so excited?
A scientist from NASA immediately gave him a response from the entry he sent the previous night.
And he can't wait to tell you. Which was weird.
Normally he would only keep this to himself, only telling anyone if they ever bring up the topic to him. But he's never one to deliberately tell someone about something so important.
But isn't his excitement justified since you were the one who made it easy for him to type down everything into something coherent?
You were there to help him reach out to other scientists. Senku thinks that's more than enough excuse to want to tell you.
So he finds you, not in the classroom but in the art room. It was far too early and Senku knew better that you would waste your time just sitting around without doing anything.
As if to prove himself right, he sees you in the art room preparing a blank canvas.
"Y/n," You turn around to see him, and he can tell that you already know he was there, somehow. It's weird how you do it, he almost forgets that you're both just ten. "Someone from NASA replied."
Senku notices a rare glimmer in your eyes when you fully turn to him with a smile, "Really?!"
Almost as if you were infectious, he catches your smile. "Yeah, a scientist called Dr. X," Senku tells you more about this scientist, how he finished his reply with the phrase "science is elegant", which you and Senku appreciate.
"Dr. X? Sounds like a mad scientist villain." You muse and hear Senku stifle a laugh, perhaps agreeing to your statement.
Senku relays what the reply said, about some expensive equipment he needed in order to progress further with his experiment. Five hundred thousand yen. You can only think that Senku will have to snatch the thing he likes to call "the magic card" from his dad in order to get ahold of this machine.
Though you lose yourself in his musings, you can't help but feel glad that someone else was able to see Senku's brilliancy and decided to aid him.
You felt happy for him that someone was able to get him back on his feet and get him to look in another perspective.
Though you like to think that you were one of those people to him.
Since then, Senku always wakes up with more things to tell you.