Chapter Text
[ For a moment, Senku just stared puzzled at him before a smirk made its way to his face, radiating joy he was sure Taiju would catch. He shouted, patting Taiju on his back, “Not bad at all! You great big oaf!!” ]
Taiju had left without so much as a goodbye the moment Senku praised him.
He couldn't help but let out a fond chuckle as he went to the house searching for a bowl.
He has an idea where Taiju had gone too.
I might get started; time waits for no one.
As the sun started to set, casting a shadow across Senku’s figure, he was kneeling on the soft ground in front of the laboratory, squeezing each individual grape between his fingers, letting the juice drip into a bowl drop by drop.
Progress was slow but steady, requiring little to no mental effort, so he had let his mind drift off, revisiting the series of plans he had made throughout all the years he was trapped in stone.
He knows he would have to take steps to transform the grape juice into alcohol; the only question now is what would be the fastest way within their means right now.
I can go for efficiency once the theory is proven; we just don't have the time or resources to chase after a disproven theory. Switching gears and researching more is more important.
Time passed second by second. Senku had been at this for a while now.
The bowl was half-filled; he could feel the excited aura approaching long before he could hear the thudding of footsteps on the forest floor as Taiju strode towards him.
He was finally back with a huge basket of grapes on his back, smiling like the sun and humming a little tune as he dropped it in front of Senku before strolling away with a spring in his step.
Staring at the pile of grapes higher than his sitting position, Senku couldn't help but grin as he thought.
At least we will have enough for trial and error… and while the grapes 10 billion per cent would not taste good, it will be more calories in our diet and some vitamin C and K, which we will need, winter is coming.
He came hauling the colossal clay tub that Senku had frankly spent too much time making sure it wouldn't fall apart when making, before filling it to the brim with grapes.
“RRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!” With a yell, he jumped inside the tub and started stomping on the grapes, instantly overtaking Senku’s hour of work.
Looking at that, he slowly dragged his gaze back to his attempt…Pauising for a while, he couldn't help but feel amused.
Different strokes for different folks, I guess.
He decided to voice his revelation, “Ahh… Yeah… I’ll leave all the manual labour to you and your cheat mode endurance.”
Nodding to himself, he couldn't help but mutter, “Yeah… That would be the most logical,”
Shaking his head and sending Taiju waves of amazement, he walked to the lab, preparing the next few items they would need.
Soon, all the grapes had been processed into a pulpy liquid mess. Senku emerged from the lab with a few new items: a jar and a stick that he carved into a spatula.
As he started setting down the jar, he added to Taiju, “You see, making wine from grapes is easy, so easy in fact, historically it has constantly happened by accident.”
“Oh really?” all to happily and curious at that statement to know how they were doing it, Taiju stood up from where he was resting and dragged the clay tub over.
“Yep, I was not very big on history, but it was theorised that it was discovered by accident with the first evidence of such in 10,000BC,” Senku couldn't help but continue in joy.
Ahh… It's been so long since I got to speak to someone else…
“Oh, that's so cool!!!” Taiju couldn't help but exclaim, and Senku couldn't help but smile, sensing Taiju’s very loud but positive emotions.
“I know, right? So the first step is we put it in a clean jar,” Seku continued as Taiju started doing just that.
“As we can't bottle it to seal, as we don't have the equipment to deal with the gas buildup, but that's fine, it's done, we just have to mix once in a while, and there is enough natural yeast in the air anyway.” Taiju nodded at that, grabbing the spatula that Senku was passing to him.
He started to stir the juice enthusiastically, his movements almost too forceful, but Senku simply smirked and let him work.
He turned away, already calculating the next steps.
If this worked, there were a few other things he’d need.
Mainly, they need an initial test subject after the bird, who knows if what worked for the bird would work–
Never mind, I will get to it when I get to it… There’s no point in stressing about it now, it’s illogical… Still, it's what I would have to do… Taiju would not be able to stand it, but I can… I have too… I bet my soulmate would also feel repulsed by this… It's fine, only I need to bear this.
Time passed; it was neither fast nor slow, but it was infinitely better than the months he spent alone.
They spent every day now besides gathering and hunting, preparing for winter.
On one such evening, as Taiju was taking his well-deserved break, he was the one who took the bulk of the gathering, while Senku was the one who planned and sorted their meals and preserved what was preservable.
Senu was making a weird clay tower. Taiju didn't understand what for, but for now, that was not important.
Taiju had a goal today; he had decided to bring up something that had been on his mind for a while now.
“Hey, Senku, you know that you can talk to me, right?” As cautiously as he could, he broached the subject, keeping his aura neutral
“...Yeah… why?” Senku could feel something was wrong.
Taiju was never this careful; even in his usual state, he still unintentionally leaked his thoughts.
This is commonly known as a person’s aura; it is the unintentional leaking of thoughts, as it is as natural as the way people are never still when relaxed or just living.
And the fact that Taiju’s aura was reading as blank was a red flag.
“How are you… feeling?” Senku honestly didn't know how to word it better.
Taiju was worried about Senku from his personal experience; being trapped and active for that long in the dark was not good, but he had already mentioned it once or twice with Senku, but Senku never mentioned or spoke about it.
What from that book Taiju vaguely remembered was not good; in fact, it was very bad. Taiju is not sure why, but Senku did mention even thou the book was crappy, the facts in it are researched and real.
Senku knows what Taiju is truly trying to ask; he had been catching the worried looks Taiju had been sending his way, but it was not something he wanted to talk about.
So playing dumb it is “...Why did you ask?”
“You know I was awake all that time too, right?” he tried once again, testing to see if Senku is ready.
Taiju may not know much, but even he knows enough that one shouldn’t hold everything inside; it's bad.
“Yeah, I do, it's the only reason that just nitric acid worked, what are you getting at?” Playing dumb harder, Senku really doesn't want to talk about this, not in 10 billion years.
With a sigh, Taiju answered back, “Never mind, it's nothing.”
Taiju couldn't help when his feelings started leaking.
Taiju knows it was one of detachment and disappointment, but he won't ever force Senku to do something he doesn't want to, but it is worrying how, even now, when Senku is deep in thought, he could hear him counting under his breath.
Time passed by the treehouse, which had grown taller slowly but steadily.
Bathed in bright afternoon light, the two boys were sitting on the wooden floor, they were carefully filtering the deep red liquid through a woven sieve.
Looking at the haul, Senku nodded in satisfaction. "It’s been 3 weeks. It should be about ready."
Senku was already holding a clay cup, shaped roughly like a wine glass, slowly eyeing Taiju as if he could predict the next series of actions.
Taiju, without hesitation, just as he finished straining the wine, took a cup and took a swig and instantly spit it out.
It was the most horrible thing Taiju had ever tasted so far.
Why did people drink this for fun?
Senku was watching as he slowly swirled his cup, waiting for a moment. He took a sip, noting the taste, and he hummed
It’s worse than anything in the 21st century, but that’s expected.
“Taiju, it actually came out way better than I’d expected. It's only about 10 billion times worse than what you’d find in the store,” Senku idly commented, as thoughts ran through his head.
It's fascinating that the grapes have de-domesticated themselves as if all the years humans once put to make it sweet have been reversed.
“Ohh, I see, but besides the actual taste… I had no idea that you could make wine this easily with just grapes?!” Taiju exclaimed as he started to put it away, thinking back to how often he had to mix it and wait.
Senku, on the other hand, was already putting away his cup.
Stretching slightly as he cracked his neck, Senku replied, “Yeah, it is, one step at a time down the path forward! We’re gonna have to break some bones to keep up from here on in! Let’s begin… wine distillation!! How to make brandy!”
Gathering the clay pot-like device with a sprot he had been working on the whole time the grapes were fermenting, he started to drag it out to the fire.
Taiju, following behind, could help but ask, “Did you say distillation?! Yeah, I don't know what that means at all.”
Senku couldn't help but pause at that unconuosly letting out a sound “Huh…” It was pure confusion; he couldn't help but question in his head.
What have you been learning in school? I am pretty sure I helped quiz you about this for your chemistry test… Does petrifaction cause brain damage? No, it can't be. I got unpetrified, and my brain is undamaged… maybe it was the method of preservation? I had logic while Taiju had emotions… untestable unless we find a group of people who all stayed aware, and the sample size of two is just too small anyway for any solid conclusion.
Titling his head slightly as he carefully placed the distiller on the clay grill he made, Senku answered, “It's by heating it up and cooling it down, and dripping it off.. We can extract the alcohol."
It’s fine… this is what happens when results are priorities, not understanding there were pros and cons, and Taiju won't need it now anyway since he has me… but yeah, I should start explaining what I do out loud if I want Taiju to follow along.
“This ain’t nothing!” Senku reassured Taiju as he started the fire, with a gleam in his eyes. He continued.
“Even the Mesopotamian civilisation of 3000 B.C…. Distilled alcohol using earthenware!” as some slight hissing started to emit from the monturosity that Senku created
“There’s nothing you can’t accomplish if you set your mind to it!” Senku was starting to emit joy, and he knew it as he stared at it as if it had when passed his mind already drafting what other things they could use alcohol for besides Nital.
Taiju looked engrossed and excited by Senku’s words
Unknown to him and Taiju small crack ran along the side of the jug.
“Now I'm getting excited–” the words had barely left his mouth before wine shot through the crack.
In the next instant, as if the universe was laughing at him, the entire structure collapsed in on itself.
While Taiju was only splashed slightly. Senku, on the other hand, was absolutely drenched; his entire front was soaked in deep reddish-purple.
Dripping in wine, Senku grinned, waving off Taiju’s concern as a scientist, he knew setbacks are not failures and failures are also not failures, as they are just information telling you what went wrong.
It was just a slight error; neither Taiju nor I was any good at craftwork anyway, it was to be expected that my first try would be like this.
Senku mentally ran through the failure, already recalculating.
Ah! I forgot to account for the sheer amount of steam buildup… that was why there was a hissing sound 3.4 seconds before it burst, as if there was even a defect, it would be a high stress point, making it easier to propagate til failure.
It was a simple skill issue, even if he could calculate it. It doesn't translate to real-life skill; there is a reason for the difference between a scientist and an engineer, but it was something he would have got eventually.
You are a scientist, error is just a part of life, and it is important, as it gives us information. Next time the jar would hold it, I would have to just try again and again if I have to.
Night had fallen, Senku and Taiju were around the fire, and they were doing very different things.
While Taiju was eating and resting, he had a full day ahead of him tomorrow, and he was sheepishly looking at Senku out of the corner of his eye.
Senku had long ditched his soaked clothes earlier when the explosion happened, and now they were hanging near the fire, long dried a few hours ago.
Senku was too focused to notice it anyway; his clothes would have become as streaked with drying clay as his upper body.
Right now, Senku was kneeling on the ground, his full attention as he worked on the base of a new clay distiller.
Taiju couldn't help but shake his head in exasperation as he added some more logs to the fire.
As he started cooking Senku’s dinner, none of the traps managed to catch anything, so it was only mushrooms now.
Hmm, even thou it was not winter yet, the nights were getting colder… Senku really needs to put on a shirt.
Senku was only in his wine-stained, vaguely boxy undergarments that clung to him as he shaped the clay with steady, precise hands, already preparing for round two.
Time passed, they joked, they lived, they prepared, and soon winter came.
The snow had started to patter down, as Senku dragged out distillation pot 3, Taiju had just finished cooking their meal, he knew he would have to go soon, but with the snow, Senku had asked him to stay inside.
Once Senku and he had their lunch, Taiju had not much: just some mushrooms, a few edible greens and some meat.
Senku poured the last of the wine in; this would be the last try before they would have to wait a few weeks for the next batch of wine to be done fermenting.
They stared at version 3 of the distillation pots, Senku was eyeing and trying to observe the outside for any viable cracks, a lump of clay at hand in the worst-case scenario.
Another failure would be a huge waste of time. We are running out of grapes, and the weather slows down the fermentation too much for it to be done now… this has to work; if not, we would have to stop until winter is over.
Senku was distracted by the joy radiating from Taiju as he dragged his eyes over he noticed clear liquid that started pouring out of the bamboo sprout.
A large grin had overtaken his face.
Now we just have to find the formula and survive this winter before we start reviving anyone. We simply don't have enough rations for a third now, even if we solve it soon.
Time passed.
As Senku was hard at work making cups and plates, Taiju was making a quick stop after collecting the nitric acid.
Taiju leaned over Yuzuriha’s statue, carefully brushing the snow off her shoulders, slowly looking at her, cupping a hand on her cheek, he leaned his head on her forehead and whispered deep in his mind, hoping she would catch it.
I miss you…
Ignoring the tears that had dripped down his face, he smiled lightly as another, more empowering thought hit him.
We will free you soon. Just be patient a little longer; we… Senku and I have been working very hard, and we will eventually get the answer.
He drew his head back with a large smile as he thought of Senku, his best friend, working so hard to revive Yuzuriha, their friend. Unconsciously in thought, he lifted a hand to his chin.
Only to freeze in surprise, feeling not skin but coarse hair, a beard…
By the time Taiju made it back to base, he had already worked himself up, crying slightly, radiating distress. Senku looked at him beady-eyed as Taiju explained in his weird love love-sick way.
“Yuzuriha… She’d hate me if she saw me like this!” Taiju was distressed! What would he do if his soulmate hates it so much she won't talk to him?
Looking at Taiju as he sprilled illogically, Senku decided to bring him out of it by adding on, “Well… you ought to do something about it anyway, if for nothing else, then for hygienic purposes. Getting sick = game over”
Nodding to himself, he started to walk off, as Taiju followed him
Now, both boys stood on the frozen beach. Senku was digging through the snow until he unearthed something.
With a smirk, he picked up a clamshell and mimicked plucking hairs from his chin before handing another to Taiju.
Without hesitation, Taiju got to work, mercilessly yanking out every last strand until his chin was as bare as a plucked chicken.
The results were immediate.
The lower half of his face flared an angry red, becoming swollen as his face doubled in size.
Senku couldn't take it and collapsed onto the ground, cackling, pointing at him between bouts of laughter, hands slapping against the earth in sheer amusement and joy.
The season came and went, and soon winter had ended.
The snow in the forest thinned, and blades of green grass started peaking through the melting snow.
Soon the snow was all gone as a field burst into bloom, its flowers stretching toward the sunlight, butterflies drifting lazily through the air.
Winter had finally left, and spring had come; a whole year had passed since they had woken up.
Inside the laboratory, Taiju and Senku had created nital, but nital was not a compound but a mixture. Each of the separate clay beakers had a different percentage of what was inside, and Senku and Taiju were pouring them over several stone swallows.
They waited, they stared, but nothing happened…
The petrified birds remained unchanged, unmoving, their rigid forms untouched by the fluid.
Taiju tensed, his gaze fixed on the unmoving statues, images of Yuzriha frozen in stone as he slowly aged and passed away at her feet, gritting his teeth, he kept silent.
Senku, jaw tight, in a moment of weakness, kicked a jar out of the doorway, sending it tumbling across the ground.
Who was it that said there was no such thing as failure?
Cracking his neck, he huffed a breath, calming down as he idly scanned the laboratory. His thoughts continued.
It is slower than I wanted… but still faster than I expected. Mostly thanks to Taiju, but yet… It’s frustrating, the lack of progress, maybe the answer is not–
Stopping his thoughts as he noticed something, there, lying in a small puddle from what he believes is jar number 15, was a single unpetrified feather, its tip still encased in stone.
He stared at it, unblinking, slowly staring at the faint cracks that were not there before, watching as the stone started to break away.
Gotcha.
A slow, unholy grin spread across his face.
Oh, this is getting exciting