~~~ 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."
Senku's sharp eyes narrowed, his expression neutral, though his curiosity was piqued. "You're not one to stick around just to cheer me on. What's your angle this time?"
Gen chuckled softly, leaning in conspiratorially. "Well, let's just say I've been... observing Tsukasa's camp. And I couldn't help but notice an interesting revival candidate in the mix. Someone who might catch even your attention."
Senku arched an eyebrow, his hands sliding into his coat pockets. "Is that so? Enlighten me."
Gen's grin widened, enjoying the game. "Oh, you know me—I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. But let's just say this person seems quite... inquisitive. Bright-eyed, full of questions, and unexpectedly spirited, even in a rather precarious situation."
"Spirited?" Senku echoed, his voice flat but his mind racing. The vague description was maddening, yet Gen's words were never idle.
Gen tilted his head, watching for any flicker of reaction. "Of course, they're in Tsukasa's care for now. A pity, isn't it? Such potential, tangled up in the wrong ideology."
Senku leaned against a tree, keeping his tone casual. "If you're trying to bait me, you'll have to do better than that. Everyone Tsukasa revives has 'potential.'"
Gen gave a knowing hum, stepping away before turning back over his shoulder. "True, true. But this one's an animal scientist. A rare find, don't you think?"
For a moment, the world seemed to pause. Animal scientist. Senku's hand froze mid-motion, the nonchalance in his expression faltering for the briefest second. His mind worked at lightning speed, piecing together the puzzle.
An animal scientist. Bright-eyed. Spirited.
His throat felt tight as an image surfaced—one he hadn't dared to think about in ages. Memories of debates, experiments, and shared curiosity flooded his mind, along with a single name.
Gen didn't miss the flicker of recognition that flashed through Senku's eyes before he masked it with a sharp, calculated smirk.
"Interesting," Senku said at last, his tone neutral but his gaze laser-focused on the mental picture forming in his mind. "You're playing quite the game, Gen."
Gen chuckled, stepping back into the crowd. "A game? Oh no, Senku. I'm just a messenger. What you do with the information is entirely up to you."
As Gen disappeared, Senku turned back toward the village, his mind no longer on the celebration or his victory. Instead, it was laser-focused on one question.
Was it really her?
~~~(Y/N) POV~~~
Your time with the hunting party went better than expected. Despite the tension simmering under your skin every time Tsukasa's name was mentioned—or every time you caught sight of him observing from the distance—you focused on what you knew best. Tracking, studying animal patterns, and finding the most sustainable spots to hunt.
When the party returned laden with game, you couldn't ignore the flicker of approval in Tsukasa's usually stoic expression.
"You've proven yourself useful," he said in that clipped, commanding tone. "We'll speak again soon about your next contribution to the empire."
Useful. The word churned in your stomach, but you swallowed the discomfort and nodded, masking your feelings behind a neutral expression.
Over the following weeks, you found yourself spending more time with Gen. It wasn't entirely by choice—he had a knack for appearing out of nowhere, his playful demeanor somehow both comforting and maddening.
"You've got that look again," he said one evening, plopping down beside you near a quiet corner of the camp.
You raised an eyebrow. "What look?"
"The one that says, 'I'm trying very hard not to punch someone in the face,'" Gen replied, grinning. "Very noble of you, by the way. But a little advice—don't bottle it up too much. Makes you unpredictable, and unpredictability is bad for survival."
"Noted," you muttered, though his words lingered longer than you cared to admit.
Little by little, Gen's charm began to wear down your walls. Whether it was his genuine curiosity about your scientific background or the way he seemed to notice when you needed a moment of levity, you found yourself confiding in him more than you expected.
One evening, as the camp settled down for the night, Gen approached you. The air between you and Gen was thick with unspoken truths as the two of you sat by the fire, the light flickering against his ever-calculating eyes. You'd grown used to his playful banter, but tonight his tone was different—weighted with something heavier than the usual jokes or sly remarks.
"You've been quiet," he said, breaking the silence.
You shot him a side glance. "I've had a lot to think about."
"Understandable," Gen replied with a shrug, leaning back on his hands. "Big decisions ahead. Life and death stakes. The usual."
You rolled your eyes, but before you could respond, Gen leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"How would you feel about leaving all this behind?"
You blinked, startled by the sudden shift. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," he said, his lips curling into a small, mischievous smile, "how would you feel about seeing Senku again?"
The name hit you like a lightning bolt, a rush of emotions surging through you all at once—relief, excitement, confusion, and anger. You tried to mask it, but Gen's sharp eyes caught everything.
"What makes you think I'd want to see him?" you said, feigning indifference, though your voice betrayed you with a slight tremor.
Gen's grin widened. "Oh, don't play coy with me. I've seen the way your expression changes whenever someone mentions his name. You can't fool me."
You crossed your arms, glaring at him. "And what if I do want to see him? What's your angle, Gen?"
"No angle," he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Just an offer. I know where he is. And if you come with me, I can take you to him."
Your heart pounded in your chest. The thought of seeing Senku again filled you with both anticipation and frustration. You'd missed him—his sharp wit, his unshakable determination—but you couldn't ignore the anger bubbling under the surface. He'd let you be taken by Tsukasa's people, left you to fend for yourself in a world you didn't understand.
You narrowed your eyes at Gen. "Why now? Why tell me this?"
Gen tilted his head, his expression softening slightly. "Because you deserve the truth. And because... well, let's just say I have a vested interest in getting you out of Tsukasa's clutches before things get worse."
"Worse?"
Gen hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Tsukasa has plans to destroy a certain village. He believes it's a potential threat to his 'perfect society.' But what he doesn't know is that Senku is already there, hiding, planning."
You froze, the pieces clicking into place. "So, this village..."
"Is where we're going," Gen finished. "But if Tsukasa finds out about it, he'll raze it to the ground. We need to move quickly."
The trek through the wilderness was a blur of tense silence and hurried steps. Gen, surprisingly adept at navigating the terrain, led the way with a mix of confidence and caution.
"You're awfully quiet," he said at one point, glancing back at you.
"Just thinking," you replied curtly, your mind racing with thoughts of Senku, the village, and what awaited you there.
"Ah, yes. Thinking. Always dangerous in times like these," Gen quipped, though his usual humor lacked its usual bite.
You didn't respond, your focus fixed on the path ahead. The thought of seeing Senku again filled you with conflicting emotions. How would he react? What would he say?
More importantly, what would you say?
As the sun began to rise, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, the outlines of a village came into view. It was nestled in a clearing, smoke rising from a few scattered fires and figures moving about in the distance.
"There it is," Gen said, gesturing toward the village. "Ishigami Village. Home sweet home for our dear scientist."
You stared at the scene, your heart pounding. This was it—the moment you'd been waiting for since your revival.
Gen turned to you, his expression unreadable for once. "Before we go in, a word of advice. Don't be too hard on him."
You frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you'll see," Gen said cryptically, his grin returning. "Let's just say Senku has a way of making things... complicated."
With that, he started toward the village, leaving you to follow, your emotions swirling as you prepared for the reunion you'd both longed for and dreaded.