Chapter Text
It was a nice and calm day like any other average day, but then, the classroom door slammed open so hard that the sound of its impact vibrated through the room.
Heads turned to look at the intruder. It was a teenager in a school uniform, with sweat shining on his face, and his emotions radiating in a wave with so much determination, so much so that it was making even the most weak-willed of the science club puff up, even without him radiating, one only needed to know by looking into his eyes, they were burning with it. His short, spiky brown hair was slightly dishevelled, and his thick eyebrows only made his expression more intense.
Senku already knew who it would be; he didn’t even need to turn around.
Who else but Taiju, the big oaf himself, would dare to enter the Science club unprotected this suddenly, while the sign that his clubmates had made to signal when Senku was doing experiments, aka being himself, was up, and honestly, he can't even fault them.
There were quite a few incidents.
A lot of incidents.
Regardless, there was a 70% chance Taiju was gonna start projecting his emotions, he was always a rather uncomplicated person, so much so that his emotions were easily picked up by even just acquaintances, it is even stronger with friends not to mention childhood friends who grew up together, so Senku started building his mental shields, and ah, he was right, while he was slightly out of breath, his voice and his emotions boomed as their usual volume with his typical tone one of unwavering and one full of conviction.
"Listen up, Senku!"
Taiju shouted passionately, and his emotions bombarded the room.
Even with the mental shieldings, it still got through, and Senku cursed being his childhood friend as his brain automatically started cataloguing all of Taiju’s emotions and nuances, not that he regretted it per say, but he didn't need to know that Taiju was slightly hungry at this moment.
He is lucky that Taiju was not his soulmate not that he wasn’t a great guy, Senku was friends with him for a reason it's just that he can’t stand being able to hear his loud thoughts 24/7 he would go crazy and if he was to ever see his soulmate according to the science his soulmate should be able to keep up with him in his thought process, not to be egotistical, it just means they have to kinda be a genius, and Taiju was not at that level.
Since his shields were down, he started picking up on the signals that meant pain from the corner of his eyes. he noticed his club members were looking off he figured he should be a good club president.
“Oi, big Oaf, tone it down, you are blasting your emotions all around strongly with emphasis, seriously, you big oaf, look around you, you are giving everyone a migraine”, Senku reprimanded while managing to remain laser-focused on the project in front of him. He had known Taiju for basically most of his life; he had a feeling, he knew it was not very logical, but he was sure that if he bothered to try to glean Taiju’s surface thoughts, it would show the same conclusion.
Anyway, he knew what this was going to be about, and since he was almost done, he might as well make use of it. His hands remained steady regardless of the forming headache he could feel, but still, his mind was already five steps ahead. His lab coat collar was turned up, a habit he’d picked up while studying Ebola in Africa.
It was not for aesthetic reasons like his clubmates may claim, but it was just for ventilation; Africa was warm, to say the least.
The effect was immediate; what was once booming emotions was now just background noise, accompanied by a slightly embarrassed face.
A moment passed before even, it was gone, and he stepped into the room.
His voice boomed with unshakable determination, instantly drawing the attention of the club.
Shocked expressions flickered across their faces as they turned to stare, all but one.
Senku didn’t so much as glance up.
He didn't need to, thou only Taiju managed to feel the flicker of Senku’s interest puffing up slightly, he announced, "I have made up my mind! Today, I will confess these feelings I’ve had for the past five years to Yuzuriha!"
The sudden exclamation startled nearly every member in the room.
A chorus of groans and complaints filled the air as several covered their ears against the sound. At least they were no longer getting a headache from the emotions projected, the initial shock of Taiju’s entrance reigniting all over again.
Only one person remained unfazed.
In the middle of the room, Senku didn’t so much as flinch.
He moved only when he chose to, turning his head slowly toward his friend, his expression unreadable, his emotions under a tight lid.
He regarded the brown-haired boy with detached curiosity.
Then, in a purposeful, flat, dispassionate tone, he finally spoke. "Yeah? Well, that sure does sound interesting..."
Even though in truth it was really not Taiju and Yuzuriha who were what was commonly referred to as soulmates, in simple terms, they were compatible where it mattered.
He didn't understand how they could have gone five years without being together.
That was a lie; in truth, he knew they were just like that.
The big oaf probably worries about something lame like, Yuzuriha won't be his friend if it all goes wrong or something, and Yuzuriha is probably just giving him space to figure it out and something sappy like that.
He was more surprised that Yuzuriha could wait this long, or the fact that Taiju hadn't picked up on the fact that Yuzuriha already knew, considering they were soulmates as long as they are together more often than not, privacy in your mind was non-existent and the fact he has seen the two of them had an entire conversation just by being in proximity, says either Taiju is very skilled in shielding his thoughts or he is just that oblivious.
It was not logical, but still, he should respond.
Changing his face to one of boredom, his red eyes utterly untroubled. As he tried projecting his sarcasm, he drawled, "I’ll be cheering for you so hard my vocal cords will snap. From right here in this science lab."
While he was conversing, not once did he stop his action; he clicked the vial into place on the complicated-looking machine in front of him. It was a hybrid of a mini distillery, with an in-built filtration system and a reaction chamber.
There were a lot of prototypes before he got to this final version, but it should work now; his focus never wavered.
Taiju didn't seem to pick up or react to his sarcasm; it was probably because that big Oaf could pick up the fondness hidden behind it all.
"OH, YOU WILL?! Thanks a ton, Senku!" Taiju practically launched himself toward the scientist with uncontainable enthusiasm. He skidded to a stop beside him, fists clenched, eyes shining.
Senku winced, slightly rubbing his ears to clear out the lingering echo of Taiju’s shouting and squinting his eyes, trying to shoo away from Taiju’s very loud thoughts.
He could see his clubmates doing the same.
His expression was pure annoyance, but his red eyes held something quieter beneath it, affection that only Taiju was able to pick up on.
But still, he grumbled, "Ugh, Be quiet already, stop projecting your emotions so loud, I know you are excited, you don't have to highlight it, or I won’t be cheering for you even one millimetre, you big oaf."
Taiju looked confused before shouting once again, “WHAT!” before slightly composing himself at Senku’s glare,
“Make up your mind, which is it?”
Senku only smirked, his brilliant mind already running through the calculations, crossing his arms. He teased, "Anyway, five years, and you still haven't said anything? Idiot. How illogical can you be?" He wasn't some expert on emotions, that's the soft science, but even he could see it.
Not to mention, both Taiju and Yuzuriha were soulmates; he tested it, sure, he isn't the most well-versed in this subject, but it's only been half a year since it was proven to be less fantasy and more grounded in science which means after checking the paper and doing his own research, mostly just testing Taiju and Yuzuriha and comparing the results with the study he can confidently say yeah the two were soulmates.
But still, maybe Taiju just needed a little extra push, and it also didn't hurt that he wanted to mess with his clubmates; they were annoying and gross.
Looking at his work desk, he smirked.
Looking around, he found a free flask. Fiddling with the mini distillery, he filled the flask with a kind of hidden glee, controlling his tone of voice, he spoke up, "I'll give you something so logical, it's to die for."
Before turning around and twisting his face to a devilish grin, he held up the flask, which contained a transparent liquid.
This time, his voice couldn't contain the mischievous edge, the same as his emotions, "A drug that will stimulate your pheromone output to the maximum, which will stimulate her to the extreme. In words you'll understand, it is a love drug."
He could feel the curiosity and desire all around him.
The moment he finished his words, he kinda expected it, but still, anyway.
All his focus was on his friend as he paused for a moment, considering before he continued, “Once you drink this, you’ll win her over with ten billion per cent certainty!”
He could hear the mental screech happening in Taiju’s brain, fighting back the grimace, he schooled his face back to that devilish grin.
For a moment looked like Taiju was considering it, but then his gaze hardened with determination.
His emotions were steady once again, and then, with a calm flick of his wrist, he turned the flask over above the sink, pouring the clear, transparent liquid down the drain, and Senku smiled inside.
In an instant, the emotions in the classroom were boiling over with regret and loss.
Senku was kinda praying his conclusion was wrong because if it was right, he would be both very disappointed and disgusted.
"Thank you, Senku! But sorry, I don’t want to depend on this kind of underhanded Trick!" Taiju declared, looking straight at Senku with unwavering determination, his emotions projected earnestness.
Then, without hesitation, he turned and strode out of the room, his steps firm, his purpose clear. The door slammed shut behind him.
For a moment, there was silence.
Then, as if on cue, every head in the room snapped toward Senku, and he resisted the urge to sigh; he hated how right he was right, right now.
Some moron decided to open his mouth, “So… Senku about that love drug?” he dragged on the end as if to make him talk, while a few students glanced toward the sink where the liquid had been poured, their expressions filled with obvious longing.
Senku resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose.
Rolling his eyes, he grabbed a match and tossed it onto the drain as a huge column of fire emerged from behind him.
Unable to hide his irritation, he unconsciously made a sound, “Tsk”
Using his impressive self-control he stated as flatly as possible “As if that exists, or I even have the equipment or motivation to make them,” He was so disappointed that he decided to make the point across, pulling his emotions, to the surface he started projecting disappointment in an instant, a wave of sheepishness was received back, but he might as well explain.
“What I had was just regular old gasoline that I refined from plastic bottle caps, if you remember, the molecular structure of polyethene, morons. It's just a long gasoline molecule with a few hydrocarbons chopped off."
The other students murmured in confusion; their confusion was practically gas at this point, but then silence before the murmuring started up once again.
“No, we can’t,” someone murmured as a wave of agreement sounded out “Not in the least,” another protested, looking at Senku like he was the weird one, not that he cared.
He wasn't the one to miss what was essentially a date rape drug, sure, one that was more advanced, but in essence, it was still that.
A boy with glasses spoke up hesitantly, "Wait... does that mean if he drank it, Taiju would have died?"
Senku turned to respond with a relaxed grin and another shrug. "There was a ten billion per cent chance he wouldn’t drink it. That straight-laced idiot? He would never."
But still, there was another reason why he gave Taiju that, he had seen the statistics that most cases that happened were from someone the victim knew, and most importantly, besides the fact even if he didn’t know the other, he would still put a stop to it.
Yuzuriha was also his friend, and he wanted to prove that he wasn't choosing his friends wrong, letting a soft smile grace his face as he relaxed, updating his internal list of important events.
His friends are finally gonna stop pinning it was getting annoying at this point, he mused fondly, rolling his eyes.
The scenery changed to sunlight filtered through the tree leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground below.
Beneath a fractured branch stood a beautiful teenage girl, her long hazel hair cascading down her back, matching the warmth of her brown eyes; her emotions radiated peace and calm, and Taiju could feel it all.
Before he even saw her, he could feel her; he could sense the anticipation, the inquiry she was projecting to him.
Up until now, he had always avoided her gaze, the subject of what they are to each other.
He knows he looks confident in everything he does, but in truth, he has his doubts, who wouldn't when your best friend was a genius beyond his comprehension, not that he faults Senku.
But not today, he was going to do it, and then he finally saw her, and as always, she took his breath away.
She was dressed in her school uniform, a yellow vest over her blouse, and a red ribbon neatly tied in a bow at her collar.
A distinctive white hairband, resembling headphones, held her hair in place.
“Yes, what is it, Taiju? What did you want to talk about? I could have felt you throughout the school from here,” she noticed she was blushing, but so was he, they had been dancing around the subject for a while now, and oh she had been so patient waiting for him to be ready and in turn he had also waited for when she had been ready, oh snap she was getting flustered now, she should say something.
“Aww, you know what this is just like? It’s totally like a love confession or something” Why did she say that? She could start to hear Taiju's internal panic, trying not to giggle.
She looked at him and started sending targeted waves of calm.
Taiju gulped, trying to wet his suddenly dry throat and to calm his face down.
He could feel the waves of calm Yuzuriha was sending him he appreciated it he do but he is also pretty sure he was ripe as a tomato now and trying to keep a tight lid on his thoughts he didn't want Yuzuriha to find out before he could say it what kind of man would he be if he let Yuzuriha do everything the least he could do was be the one who confessed.
From an open window above the courtyard, three teenage boys leaned over the edge, watching the unfolding scene with undisguised relish and a bit of dark amusement.
"Hehe, I’ve got a hundred yen on him getting full-on dumped," one of them muttered.
"Three hundred yen says he gets rejected hard," another chimed in.
"Five hundred yen for me," the last said with glee
They snickered, already anticipating the moment. But then, to their shock, another voice joined in from behind them.
Senku was one who never engaged in such trivial bets, but the ones he did well, let's say, he already calculated the odds, with a smirk, he stated in a voice full of restrained glee.
"I’ll put ten thousand yen on him unexpectedly not getting rejected," and he will be a good friend and split the cash with Taiju and Yuzuriha, it's partially thanks to them being so awkward that nobody connected that they were soulmates yet.
"SERIOUSLY?!"
The trio turned in unison, eyes wide as they erupted in disbelief; their voices were a mix of shock and frustration at the sheer confidence in his words.
They had known Senku for a while now; he never does anything without certainty, so it was unexpected and worrying when he said that, so they started fretting over losing their pocket money.
Senku leaned with his back against the window beside theirs, the picture of casual confidence. He smirked as he calmly cracked open an energy drink, the sharp hiss of carbonation filling the air. Lifting the can to his lips, he watched his friends out of the corner of his eye.
Feeling at peace and satisfaction that his closest friends could finally start the next chapter of their lives-
Taiju’s gaze dropped, uncertainty clouding his expression.
His mouth closed, shoulders tense. His thoughts racing, he had spent all this time afraid that by telling her how he felt, she wouldn’t even be his friend anymore…
Regardless of what Senku said about the soulmate, brainwaves thingy science.
He was still afraid, even after his parents, who had long passed on now, gave him such a fine name like Ooki Taiju; he had been a coward all this time
A moment passed, and it was enough; he looked up.
Determination surged through him, pushing past the fear that had held him back for all these years.
He stepped forward, his voice unwavering.
"Hear me out, Yuzuriha!"
Yuzuriha flinched slightly at the sudden intensity of his words, the raging emotions she could feel as his thoughts and words synced into one, her eyes widening.
She blinked, a blush dusting her cheeks.
She didn't know Taiju could be this sincere and intense as he closed the distance between them.
"For the past five years, I have…"
Senku, mid-sip of his drink, suddenly startled.
Lowering the can slightly, his gaze flicked toward the horizon.
A rapid luminescence, a huge green dome-like wave rippled across the sky.
Crisis mode activated, his brain started churning immediately.
Measuring and hypothesising, Waveform propagation. The small ripples or capillary waves are observed first. Hmm, no, that's for oceanic waves, thou this could apply, thou this was more dense.
How about propagation wave speed, that is, frequency times the length of the wave, no equipment to measure? Simplify it: speed = Distance over Time. The distance between the two buildings is about 2 meters, and the relative velocity is…
Taiju stopped. He hadn’t moved, but his gaze had shifted; it was no longer focused on Yuzuriha, but staring past her, unblinking. Intense green luminescence washed over the city, casting an eerie, ominous glow across every surface.
The light stretched from beyond the horizon, its source unknown, unstoppable. In what took less than a finger snap, everything stopped; humanity stopped. Everything was on pause.
Taiju didn't know what it was, he did not care as an eerie gust swept through the school grounds and as everything was slowly being bathed in a green glow, Yuzuriha finally noticed, turning around she gasped in fear her fingers were pressing at the camphor tree as if to ground her, and all of that fear she was radiating Taiju could feel, in that moment he didn't think he acted he spirited passed her, his forehead was filled with sweat he was filling in dread as the impossible glow surged closer but still, he shouted.
"Yuzuriha! Hold onto the camphor tree!" and then, without hesitation, he planted himself in front of her, arms outstretched as though he alone could shield her from the world from whatever was coming, because, regardless, even if this was the end, he wanted her to feel safe.
Just in time as the wave struck. A flash of green engulfed him.
Taiju’s face remained unchanged, unshaken, unwavering; he had made his peace. His eyes blazed with determination as he glared at the light, his body locked in defiance in protection against the unknown.
Then, one moment he was flesh, the next, he was stone.
Within the school, the luminous wave seeped through the walls, its ominous glow swallowed everything in its path. The once-bustling corridors fell silent, lined with stone figures.
The students and the teachers were frozen mid-movement.
What should have been an average day turned into something else, a living nightmare.
They were frozen, they were blinded, they could feel nothing, they could hear nothing, but their thoughts and inside their minds, chaos raged.
"What's going on? It's so dark…"
"I can't move."
"I can't speak… Mom… help me!”
Beyond the school, an entire city bathed in green.
The once bustling city was now silent, unmoving figures, the men, women and children now stone, their last moments preserved in silent horror.
As planes crashed down from high altitudes and Vehicles lay scattered across the road, crumpled and piled atop one another with no one to stop or control them, broken statues littered the highway, and for the first time in 300,000 years, there wasn't a single human on the abandoned world.