Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a pleasant day. There were no dark clouds in the sky, the white clouds were like big fluffy patches in the vast blue, the sun was shining and it felt warm on the skin, which perfectly matched the light breeze that was blowing on Senku’s hair. No better day to be a third wheel.

Taiju and Yuzuriha were sitting side to side, she was showing something on the phone to her boyfriend. They were too close. Touching. Senku looked away, pretending to write his paper for university in his notebook, but it was impossible to think about something else when his best friends were cuddling right in front of him. It was pretty embarrassing. Senku was sweating, it was a hot day. Taiju had a tank top and shorts on, Yuzuriha was wearing a fresh pink shirt and a short skirt. Senku was starting to regret having called them over to study at his place.

Senku still remembers the day Taiju confessed his feelings for Yuzuriha at their school. He remembers her reaction, the bet he won. He even remembers the weather. Don't get it wrong, he loves his friends, of course, more than anything in the world. But getting in between them was weird. They were always touching so much, Taiju messed around with Yuzuriha’s hair for no reason, just to touch her face and get close. Senku remembers vaguely having found them kissing furiously in his bedroom one time.

Honestly, being in a trio of friends was pretty good, but hanging out with a couple while he was single was complicated. He felt guilty most of the time, like he was bothering their friends or something, so he often avoided going out with them when they called him, making up some excuse. He did want their company though, they were his friends after all. Maybe he was just jealous.

Senku felt alright. He had a loving father, good friends, a nice job, but there was still a kind of affection he hadn't yet experienced, and he was damn thirsty for this affection. He didn't want to feel this way, maybe it was pure envy. The scientist was never the most enthusiastic for love, actually he never cared about all of this, never really tried to get to know any girl, until now. When Taiju and Yuzuriha started dating in their teens, Senku told himself he was still young, and that relationships as a teenager are inconsistent and generally lead to traumas, so he didn't really need one, although he kinda wanted to know what it's like. But now it was different. He had turned 23 at the start of the year. It was already May, he still lived at his father's, he was in the last year of university and already had a stable job. He was one of the best at work, a well-respected scientist. But he was still him. The last time he tried to go out with a girl ended in tragedy, simply because he trashtalked one of her favorite artists and then was yelled at for 30 minutes. Another time, there was Kohaku, who ended up just turning into a good friend. So he simply stopped trying.

The worst problem of a relationship – at least for Senku – is the fact you can’t just choose a girl you think is pretty and smart and say “now we’re dating and we’re gonna be together forever”. You got to think she’s pretty and smart, but also you both have to match, you have to fall in love and all of those clichés, and the hardest part is: she also has to feel the same. And that’s not even counting all of the difficulties that come with having to maintain a relationship. All of this seemed like a ridiculously minimal possibility for Senku. He had already met many beautiful women, many intelligent women and lots of women who were a good match for him, but none of them were able to touch his heart like Yuzuriha touched Taiju’s. Senku was starting to consider that true love was not meant for him. He was inevitably frustrated, and he kept getting even more frustrated when he observed Yuzuriha and Taiju loving each other. Though, Senku considered that suffering from love was better than not feeling anything.

His friends left at nightfall. He didn’t know if they went back home or if they decided to keep the night going somewhere else. They’re adults, nothing’s holding them back. Senku was all alone now. Looking at his notebook and realizing he had only written two paragraphs of his research today, getting distracted by these silly feelings, he felt ridiculous. He turned off the device and laid down. He didn’t have anything else to do that day besides laying on his bed, listening to his favorite podcast while he watched his star-painted ceiling. He heard his dad coming in through the front door, turning on all of the lights to bright up the dark house. Senku also heard him calling for him. He didn’t answer, wasn’t feeling like it. His dad steps loudly on the floor as he goes over to the fridge to grab a drink.

– Senku, come here!

– Can’t! I’m busy! – Oh yeah, he was very busy listening to Dr Xeno talk about something he wasn’t even paying attention to. Very busy, looking at the ceiling.

Byakuya opens the bedroom door and turns on the lights. Senku covers his eyes like a vampire, pretending he’s getting a sunburn from the lamp light.

– What ya doing there in the dark?

– Just mourning. – Senku turned to face the wall.

– I thought you were already past adolescence! – Byakuya giggled. – Come on, I brought pizza. You like it, right?

Having dinner with his father was good. Byakuya went on about his day, telling Senku about his adventures as a college teacher, smiling all the way through. Byakuya usually talked about some topic that interested Senku so the conversation flowed normally. Even though they couldn’t have lunch together everyday, they did have dinner daily, like a ritual, to keep connected. Dinner was the moment that they talked about their feelings, vented and asked for advice. It was a soul-cleansing moment. Byakuya was the person Senku trusted most in the entire world.

—

It was another hot day, like every other day this week, as Senku fixed his tie. He was part of the JAXA’s Center of Education and Outreach. He loved working at JAXA, walking around with his white lab coat like a professional scientist. The problem is, he really hated the sector he worked in. All he had to do was keep the company’s website, revise and post articles he wished he had written, post pictures he wished he had taken, answer questions from curious children and also guide tours around the place when academics came to visit, like it was a museum. All of this was very boring.

The only friend he had at work was Chrome. Chrome is like Senku, a dreamy kid who believed someday he was going to be writing serious papers instead of only correcting them. The guy was also pretty smart and a fast learner. Senku was proud of him, like he was his mentor or something. Chrome was the only one Senku felt safe to talk about romantic topics with; months ago, the dark-haired guy managed to arrange a date for Senku with Kohaku. It obviously didn’t work out, but they did end up as friends so it wasn’t a total loss. Kohaku was Chrome’s sister-in-law. Yeah, even Chrome had a girlfriend. Senku really was desperate. Chrome was dating Ruri for a couple of months, she was an educator, two years older than him and they were childhood friends. That’s all Senku knew about her.

– Dude, check this out. – Chrome spent months researching the perfect shape for spacecrafts. He knew the answer would only come a few years down the road, but it was so nice to study about something he was passionate about. He showed his laptop with a couple of drawings of a futuristic starship. – Too bad I can’t test it to see if it actually works.

– You could make smaller projects though, right? – Senku moves his chair next to him.

– That’s illegal, isn’t it? You know, sending stuff to space without permission…

– Well, when I was younger I built a couple of prototypes and I didn’t get arrested, so…

They both laughed. Silence took over the place and they went back to work. Senku answered emails from a girl who had similar questions to him when he was a child, he smiled.

– Oh, by the way, how did it go with Nikki-san?

Senku laughed.

– No, actually it was terrible. I don’t think I’ve ever been so insulted.

– Damn, what the hell did you do to get yelled at by a girl?! – Chrome took the eyes out of the laptop to look curiously at his friend.

– I don’t know, I complained about the music that was playing in the restaurant and then she flipped out because apparently it was from her favorite singer.

– Let me guess, Senku, instead of only saying something like “oh, I don’t like this song” you gave her a very detailed description of why you didn’t like it?

– Uh, yeah? She has to know why I don’t like it. I only said the singer had a pretty voice, but that all of her songs were the same generic stuff and anyone could do the same.

– Oh you’re never gonna kiss a girl. – Chrome said in a playful tone.

– Honestly I don’t even wanna do that! Ever! I’m retiring from love! – Senku laid back on his chair. – Now I’m just gonna wait for a beautiful woman to approach me and say “Oh, dear Senku, can I sit down by your side?” – Senku imitated a feminine voice – and then wait for her to hit on me!

– You’re gonna die alone, dude.

Senku shrugged. He turned back to the computer, typing an informative message.

—

Senku wasn’t really a fan of checking his phone at work because he thought he might get distracted, so he only checked it after his shift. So, at 6PM, he checked his messages. Only a couple of texts from the uni group chat, his dad sending him something not very important, Yuzuriha, and the office group chat. Chrome gave him a wave as he left. Senku grabbed his backpack, undid his tie and put away his lab coat. He opened Yuzuriha’s text:

Yuzuriha: hey senkuuuu do u remember the theater play i’m gonna be in?
Yuzuriha: i got tickets for you and taiju
Yuzuriha: the address and all the info are on the ticket, you know it’s tomorrow right?
Yuzuriha: i can’t give you the ticket tomorrow cuz ill be in the dressing room, can you stop by my place to get it?

Senku: Ok i will, just hold on a sec

Yuzuriha was so happy when, after several auditions, she finally got into the theater company she always wanted to join. She said it was one of the best in Japan and that it was a dream to perform with them, and after a year of practicing, her debut had finally come and she was extremely excited. Of course Senku was going, he could never miss something like this. Even though he didn’t care too much about theater plays and musicals, Yuzuriha was still his friend, his best friend, so he couldn’t just not go to see her on the stage doing what she loves. He was so proud of her. He got on the first subway, got off a couple of blocks away from her house and walked up to her front door. The doorbell rang and he was greeted by her mom, who smiled and invited him to come in.

– Yuzuriha, your friend is here!

Yuzuriha’s house was very pretty. It was covered in plants and very well kept. Senku headed straight to her room. He knocked on the door and was immediately pulled inside.

– Thanks a lot for coming! – She smiled. – Oh, here’s the ticket.

– Hmm… The Witch and the Princess, huh? – He read the name of the play.

– Yeah. Honestly, I think you’re not gonna like it. – She laughed nervously.

– Well, I’m going for you and not for the play.

Yuzuriha smiled.

– You wanna sit down? – The girl signed at the bed. – It’s been a while since we actually talked, right?

– Oh, sorry, I’m actually in a rush, you know how it is. I gotta get home before my dad today, he forgot his keys. – Senku didn’t know exactly what he was trying to run from. He was a terrible liar.

– Ah well, that’s ok. It sucks to be a grown-up, doesn’t it? – She smiled again.

The two said goodbye and Senku followed his way home. He had no idea what to say, how could he tell her he actually felt so hopelessly lonely and sad? How would he tell her he was jealous? He got home, turned on the lights. Quiet, as always. He tossed his bag on top of his bed, threw his tie on the ground, took off his shoes, walked barefoot to the bathroom, locked the door behind him, got undressed. It was only him. Maybe in the entire world. That night, he bathed in freezing cold water.

—

Senku was getting ready for the play. Taiju was overloading his phone with messages about the time and place so they both could go to the theater together, and Senku was already late. He was hurrying to button his white shirt while attempting to put on his shoes with no hands. He put on a colorful sweater on top, rushed to the bathroom, combed his hair back and tied a ponytail, leaving only two loose strands. He fixed his glasses, zipped his pants, tied his shoes, grabbed his backpack, answered Taiju’s messages as he ran across the street to the nearest station. He met his friend inside the subway, wearing a full suit and carrying a bouquet of flowers.

– You gonna get married? – Senku mocks him.

– Do you think I’m exaggerating? It’s her first time being on a stage since school, I’m so nervous.

– Yeah, you’re exaggerating, but I think she might like it.

The theater was really big and eye-catching. It had a modern architecture, white walls, huge pillars, the chairs were red and padded. There were no seats on the ticket, so Senku supposed he could choose any of them, although they didn’t have a lot of choices since the place was basically sold out. They sat at the back.

While the audience waited, soft music echoed from the stage and people chatted.

– Actually, I might. – Taiju confessed.

– What? – Senku stared, confused.

– Get married. – Taiju said, quickly and desperately. – I wanna propose to Yuzuriha today. But I don’t know if she’s gonna say yes.

– What?! – Senku’s eyes widened in surprise – Today?! Like, now?! – He tried to not seem shocked, with no success.

– Yeah. Today. After the play.

Senku looked at his friend, leaving behind every selfish thought about it. He realized his friend was shaking nervously, his throat seemed sore and he had the same look in his eyes as he did when he first asked Yuzuriha out. Senku gave him a smile.

– If you need advice, just be yourself. She loves you. You know I’m always here for you two.

Taiju nodded. Senku was a good friend after all. The lights dimmed and came on again, but this time only the stage was illuminated. A man walked in frame. Beautiful and elegant clothes.

– Good evening, ladies and gentleman. I’m the director of this play. We spent almost two whole years working on it, including the script. All of the actors gave the absolute best of them for this to be possible. Almost all of the soundtrack was also composed by us. This is our first night performing this one, but soon we’ll be traveling across all of Japan. We hope you all enjoy it! – He slowly left the stage.

Immediately, a short redhead boy came in. He seemed shy as he pushed a light piano with wheels, sat on a little stool Senku didn’t notice before and started playing the instrument. He played a tune never before heard. A woman walked in, singing and dancing. She was wearing a colorful fancy dress, holding two dolls in her arms. One of them was wearing a purple cloth, the other was wearing yellow. The girl moved perfectly in her high heels, which Senku thought was impossible. Suddenly, the music changes. Once calm and serene, it was now desperate and agonizing. It was horrible. Senku could feel his arm hairs standing up. In the same moment the music switched, a big group of people flooded the stage, all wearing gray robes. Senku could swear he saw Yuzuriha in the crowd, sprinting up and down the stage. When the storm of people finally stopped, the woman in the long dress was kneeling in the center of the stage, only holding the yellow doll, frantically crying for her lost purple-dressed baby.

In the following scene, a couple of people with simpler clothes arrived. They were singing something about daily work in the village, and then Yuzuriha came in, wearing a yellow dress and a small crown. Everybody bows down to her as she gently greets them. The song starts talking about the golden princess, and how she’s so gentle. Yuzuriha dances and everybody praises her as they sing about the Sweet Princess, which was apparently her name.

And out of nowhere, with a crash of thunder, a man runs in screaming:

– SHE’S COMING! THE EVIL WITCH IS COMING!

Everyone hurries to leave the stage, including the Sweet Princess.
And then, she entered the stage. Senku could feel his heart racing. Unlike the other girls who had been on the stage so far, she wasn’t wearing high heels. In fact, she was barefoot, and even so she was clearly a lot taller than the others. She had a purple dress on, darker than all of the others, it had loads of little silver and colorful trinkets. Her sleeves covered her hands, but when she moved, many rings could be seen in her fingers, not to mention her black nail polish. She was holding a wooden staff, also adorned with little accessories. She didn’t have any lipstick on, but she did wear a dark purple mascara on her grayish blue eyes along with a neat eyeliner. Her hair was different from anything Senku had ever seen; in addition to being two-toned, she also had an asymmetric cut, making the bleached side longer than the other. On top of her head, she sported a huge, pointed purple hat. She was clearly the witch from the name of the play. Senku struggled to catch his breath when she began to sing.

Maybe the story did continue after this scene, but Senku lost the plot. There was no longer anything for him other than that purple witch with an incredible charisma. She was unlike any other actor on that stage. Her movement was impeccable, her voice was so magnificent. She was fully immersed in her role. A full-blown professional. Senku had never before admired such a person before that moment. Senku remembers that at some point the Sweet Princess and the Evil Witch teamed up and fought some problem together, and in the end everybody applauded the Evil Witch, who was now good. Maybe the script didn’t go exactly like this, but it didn’t matter anymore. The only important thing was the way that actress smiled in the last scene. How she took her hat from over her face and looked at the audience. She was stunning.

The most beautiful lady in the world.

The audience got up and started a round of applause. The actors went back to the dressing room. Senku and Taiju were preparing to leave.

– Alright, now or never. – Taiju said as he walked through the door. Senku would have chosen a better moment to propose to someone, but he didn’t want to interrupt his friend.

Yuzuriha comes out of the theater, sweating, holding a heavy bag, probably with all of her clothes. She smiled as Senku pretended to check his phone and read something.

– Hey Yuzuriha! Congrats for the play! Hey, I won’t be able to leave with y’all, my dad is asking me to meet him near the supermarket. You know how it is, right? – Senku gave Taiju a wink, who surprisingly got the message.

He said farewell to his friends and walked his way back home. That was their moment. Only theirs. He felt Taiju’s nervousness, but he knew they would be fine. Deep down, he was just happy and proud. Things would change between them now, surely, and Senku wasn’t sure what to think about it, and frankly he didn’t want to.

The night was foggy, the clouds covered all evidence of any star in the skies. Grayish blue. Like those eyes. For the first time in the week, it wasn’t hot. Actually, Senku could feel rain coming. He desired to see that tall lady again. Maybe she was even taller than him. He wasn’t stupid or anything, he knew what that feeling was, but he assumed it wasn’t gonna go anywhere, so he just let his thoughts guide him.

He could ask Yuzuriha about her, but it was too embarrassing. She was so beautiful. She sang so beautifully, smiled so beautifully, so beautiful. His heart was racing, his face felt hotter. He was pathetic. He was in love with someone he doesn’t even know. He was so disoriented he didn’t even notice he was walking for over an hour instead of taking the subway until he got home. He wasn’t even tired.

And there was Senku, yet again, laying on his back in his room with the lights off, staring at the ceiling full of fluorescent little dots, his hand tightening his chest, afraid his racing heart would tear out through his flesh and run towards the tall lady with the two-colored hair from the theater play.

That night, the rain had finally reached him.

Chapter Text

It had been more than a month since the play. A month since the marriage proposal. And a month since Senku had seen the tall, purple witch lady with the two-toned hair. But for some damn reason, she wouldn't leave his head; every time he saw anything related to witches, her image came to mind. Or when he saw the color purple, or when he saw a tall woman, or when he saw someone with two-toned hair. He hadn't told anyone about her except Chrome. And honestly, he shouldn't have told him either.

– What you gonna do after work? Go see the little witch? Ever since he told Chrome, he'd been pestering him nonstop.

– Worse than that, I'm gonna see Kohaku. – Senku poked his ear.

Chrome looked disgusted.

– So what, are you gonna give the gorilla a chance after all these months? – he disapproved.

– Of course not, ten billion percent sure she doesn't like me. I just called her to help me assemble a bookshelf at my place, I've been needing something to store my books for ages. I'm piling up a bunch of them on the floor, I'm afraid I might end up getting buried alive. And, well, she's pretty strong, so…

– Hm. What about tonight? Like, around 10 pm or so, you free?

– Why? Are you planning something? – Senku added a comma to his text on the computer.

– I'm going to Stanley's tonight, have a drink. Ruri might come, not sure.

– Getting drunk on a Tuesday? Well that’s impressive.

– I'm a free man! Nobody can stop me!

Senku laughed. His friend was right. Maybe he should go too. He needed to relax.

– Yeah maybe, we'll see, it might not be worth it if we take too long to put the bookshelf together. I'll go if we manage to finish early. – Senku posted another article on the website.

– Great, now I've invited two people and neither of them knows if they're going or not. – He rolled his eyes.

––

Kohaku had recently cut her hair. She looked pretty with a short cut, Senku thought. Kohaku was a good friend. Insufferable and inconvenient, true, but a good friend.

A little over nine months ago, when Chrome found out that Senku was miserably single, he suggested a date with a childhood friend of his. Senku accepted, although considerably insecure. He and Kohaku didn't get along. They argued the entire date, and then when they decided to get it over with, they realized they had spent more than they should have. The result? Owing a huge amount to a fancy restaurant, they had to beg Senku's father to pay the bill for them. When the tense atmosphere dissipated, the two impressively began to get along – as friends – and decided to continue their friendship, so neither of them ever attempted any kind of romantic approach again. And although they forgot about each other and spoke at most 3 times after that, they still got along pretty well. Months ago, Senku asked her to go with him to buy a bookshelf and assemble it, but she only read the message now, about two months later, so they are trying to resolve this.

The two entered a furniture store.

– Holy shit, this place is huge – Kohaku said while touching some decorative plates.

– The biggest in the city – Senku replied.

The store was the size of a shopping mall; Senku assumed that every single object one could have in a house was there. The aisles were enormous, there were so many things everywhere, Senku could feel nauseous with so much to see. They walked down the aisle with several washing machines; Senku wanted to go directly to the shelf section, but Kohaku just had to take a look at everything. Now they were looking at chic bathtubs and jacuzzis. While they were at it, a blond man approached. He wore an expensive black suit, a red tie, nice shoes, several gold accessories, and for some reason, a pirate hat. In the middle of a furniture store. The man smiled at the two friends.

– Having fun? What do you think of the store? – The blond man's smile could have blinded Senku.

– It’s huge – Kohaku smiled at the tall pirate.

– A nice store. Actually, we're looking for a cabinet, more like a bookshelf actually, to store my books – Senku said.

The blond man smiled. More than they thought to be possible.

– Of course! It's this way, follow me!

The three walked through the store. Senku could sense that the young man might not know where the shelving section was; they passed the same kitchenware aisle more than once. The "guide" seemed confused, and when he found an employee, he whispered in his ear. The employee then pointed him down an aisle, and Senku overheard the pirate say something along the lines of "I knew it". They arrived at a place full of cabinets and shelves. The man seemed proud to have led them there.

Senku carefully examined each cabinet; there were all sizes. The blond man – now identified as Ryusui – explained about the lush and sturdy woods those cabinets were made of, always with a smile on his face. Kohaku called Senku over to see a solid wood bookcase that caught his eye. Next to it was a slightly smaller one; it was quite sturdy and would certainly hold all his books, but what specifically caught Senku's attention was the color: the bookcase was purple. Just like the tall lady. Senku felt his face grow slightly warm; he wanted that bookshelf only to preserve a good memory in his mind. He was pathetic. Is this what love does to people?

– I'll take this one. – Senku pointed to the purple shelf with a silly smile on his slightly flushed face.

– Great, then I'll call an employee! – Ryusui snapped his fingers, finally admitting that he wasn't an employee there. Senku wondered why some random guy was pretending to work at that place, and even serving customers.

But before running after an employee, Ryusui bumped into a dark-haired boy a little shorter than him.

– What the fuck are you even doing here, Ryusui? – He tried to sound quiet but couldn't.

– Sai! – He said the other's name excitedly – I'm serving customers, like a good employee! – He snapped his fingers again.

– Dad fired you last week! – Sai practically yelled angrily. Senku and Kohaku looked at each other uncomfortably at the whole situation. – You know, whatever. Asagiri's been calling you all afternoon, go make a call and get out of here before dad sees you!

Instead of leaving, Ryusui pulled his cell phone out of his jacket and started making a call right there, in front of the three of them. Sai rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

Senku and Kohaku decided to go find a real employee, but before they left, something stopped Senku. Ryusui started talking on the phone.

– Hey there, witchie!

Witchie? What witchie? Senku wanted to hear the conversation now, in fact he wanted to take the phone from the blond's hand and see who he was talking to. Witchie? But it couldn't be her, that’d be impossible, it's not uncommon to call someone a witchie, it wasn't like she was the only witch in the world. It wasn't her, it was just a coincidence. Ten billion percent sure it had nothing to do with it. Just a coincidence. Ryusui made a serious expression.

– Oh, today? At Stanley's? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I also think it's better to be in public. Do you want me to go? Okay. You sure? You can call me anytime. Okay. Good luck. Got it. – he hung up. – Alright, Sai, can I go back to work now?

Sai pulled his brother's arm forcefully.

– I'll ask an employee to come help you guys, okay? – He left with his brother.

– Wow, that was something – Kohaku said.

Senku didn't say anything. He was lost in thought. What if it was the same witch? Asagiri? Was it the same person? Could it be? Well, it was impossible, Japan was a big place after all. Why on earth would someone call another person a witchie? What was going on? Stanley's? Was the witch going there today? Probably not, it would be too much of a coincidence. Ten billion percent improbability. But what if there was a billionth of a percent chance? Senku felt his heart skip a beat.

Another employee finally came to them, served them, talked to them, and Senku finally bought a bookshelf to store his books. A purple bookshelf. He looked so stupid. Luckily, the store itself had a driver who offered to take the furniture, which came disassembled in a box, but was heavy nonetheless. They also offered to take the two of them to Senku's house. A little before leaving, they saw the two brothers arguing outside the store. The blond one, who previously looked so carefree and lively, now had a serious and shy look in his face.

– What's up with that guy? – Kohaku asked the driver, not expecting an answer.

The driver smiled slightly.

– Well, Ryusui is a good kid, really. But not everyone is lucky enough to be born into a good family, right? Please don't judge him, he's doing the best he can.

Kohaku and Senku silently agreed; it seemed like a delicate matter, so they decided not to talk about it anymore.

Soon they arrived at Senku’s house. They said goodbye to the kind driver and took the box inside together. The two started assembling the bookshelf as soon as they arrived, Kohaku holding the wooden boards while Senku screwed them together. And thankfully, they finished assembling it in just 30 minutes. When Kohaku left, it was 9 pm.

Under no circumstances would he go to the bar. Tomorrow he had to go to college, then to work; it was the middle of the week. But that possibility still existed, invisible, tiny, almost nonexistent, but it was still there. What if it was the same witch? Senku couldn’t stop thinking about it. Was there even the slightest chance that the girl he hadn't seen in a month, who he didn't even know, was going to the same bar as his work friend? On the same day? Ryusui seemed worried on the phone. What was she going to do there? Was it even her on the phone? Even if the chances were slim, even if Senku was probably crazy and paranoid, even if it was all in his head, Senku decided to go. If it was just paranoia, he'd have a fun night with a friend, but if it was real, well, he really wanted to see her again. He grabbed his phone.

Senku: I’m going.
Chrome: hellyeah dude

––

Senku didn't quite know what to wear. Should he dress formally? What kind of clothes would the girl like? Senku blushed at the thought. He opened his closet after getting out of the shower; there were a lot of clothing options. But every single one seemed unfeasible. He had already changed three times. He felt so ridiculous, so pathetic, so… small. When did he become this kind of person? With this thought, he grabbed a wrinkled white shirt, dark jeans, and some Converse sneakers to give it a casual look, and put on a loose tie. His insecurities kicked in, so he added a few more accessories: a nice belt, some bracelets, adjusted his rectangular glasses, and, just for the sake of it, put on some of his father's expensive cologne. He wasn't going to change again; he wasn't that kind of man, he couldn’t allow to be changed by any dumb feeling. He hadn't been this insecure since his teens, and he sure as hell didn't intend to be like this again right now. He took a deep breath and opened the door.

His father was reading a book in the living room, seated in his armchair, his legs crossed, a hot teacup resting on the armrest. Senku approached him and explained where he was going, leaving with a little kiss on the cheek.

––

Stanley's had a youthful aesthetic that Senku particularly hated. He wasn't a bitter young man or one who prided himself on good manners, but he didn't see much appeal in nightclubs. What irritated him most was the constantly changing colored lights. He wasn't interested in kissing anyone or doing anything crazy, so the place seemed boring. He decided to drink until he overcame all the sorrows of being lonely while watching his friend – who was already in another dimension – laughing until he cried with some guys he had just met. For a typical Tuesday, there were strangely too many people in the bar. Chrome, unlike Senku, was a lightweight, and by his second drink he had already forgotten that he was complaining about his girlfriend being so serious and responsible and not going out to get drunk in the middle of the week. Perhaps Senku was just as irresponsible as Chrome.

By his fourth drink, the scientist was beginning to silently lament the whole situation he'd gotten himself into. There was no sign of any witch. What if that hair was a wig? What if she'd only dyed it for the character? He'd certainly never see her again. After so many days without seeing her, he wasn't even sure what her voice sounded like, or how her face looked; he couldn't remember the shape of her nose, whether her lips were full or not, or if her smile had crooked or straight teeth. She was slowly evaporating from his mind, and all that remained was the feeling. He needed to see her; when he saw her, he would remember. But that wasn't going to happen. There was clearly no witch in sight, no tall lady drawing any attention – if there was, he would clearly notice – it was all obviously paranoia. Ryusui from the shop was clearly talking about someone else. Maybe he should just get the girl's number from Yuzuriha, like a normal person would. But he didn’t have the balls to tell his friend that he's interested in someone, it was too embarrassing.

On his sixth drink, the flashing lights in the place made him feel lost. He felt like he was spinning around like a roulette. A sharp headache hit him.

– Hey, tell Chrome I’m outside in case he needs anything – Senku told one of the guys he had just met.

Outside, it was weirdly silent; no cars passed by, no one was talking on the street, and the streetlamps barely illuminated the area. The lights no longer bothered him. The air was rather cold. It was a dark night, and some stars were shining beautifully in the sky. Senku sipped his drink, which he couldn't identify, while gazing at the stars. If he had stayed home, the end of his day would have been the same: him alone in silence, looking at the stars, whether they were real or stickers on his ceiling.

A conversation approached him. As if two people were about to explode but hadn't yet. Hurried footsteps. Senku began to understand the words he was hearing.

– Look, why didn't you call me to talk at your house? It would be so much better to settle this than here in front of a bunch of people. – It was a male voice.

– Why? So you can just blackmail me again? So you can manipulate me and make me crawl into bed with you again? You're never stepping a single foot in my house again, you hear me? Never again! You bastard! – It was another male voice, strangely familiar…

Although the voices were arguing, they spoke almost in a calm tone, as if they didn't want to make a scene. Two people left the bar. Senku hoped they wouldn't see him there. Before he could think about hiding or going back into the bar, he saw the two figures. A tall, muscular man with long dreadlocks and uninteresting clothes.

The other… Oh, the other, it was her.

Her hair was two-toned, she wore a black turtleneck sweater, dark wide-legged pants, cute purple Converse sneakers, and to match, a huge purple cardigan that reached her thighs. She had no makeup on. Her eyes were grayish-blue, unmistakable; it was her. But she was him.

It wasn't a tall, divine lady; it was an ordinary man of average height. He was handsome. His voice wasn't even feminine; it was a slightly sweet masculine voice. He didn't even slightly look like a woman. While arguing with the other, Senku could be sure it couldn't have been anyone else. The witch, who he had spent an entire month silently idolizing, was a guy.

– Fuck you, Moz! Get the fuck out of here! Get in your fucking car and go home! – Senku didn't know when the argument turned into an actual argument.

– You talk like you're not a gold-digging little whore, don't you? What, you found a guy with more money than me, Gen? You're a fuckin’ failure. Your mother was right about you.

– Oh, you're going to fucking hell, Moz. I'm not afraid of you, I never have been! I’m not afraid of you or my mother, why don't you just go bang her and leave me the fuck alone!

Gen took a punch to the mouth and fell to the ground. Senku was an idiot. He couldn't just stand there watching the most beautiful woman – who was a man – he had ever seen get beaten up. Before he knew it, he was in the middle of the argument.

– Hey, look… you can’t fight here cause… – His voice trembled; he hadn’t even thought of a plan, he didn’t even know what he was saying. Luckily, he was interrupted.

– Ryusui! – The wizard got up from the ground and embraced Senku from behind, as if he knew him. – Just go with it, okay? – He whispered.

– Ryusui? Is it because of him you’re breaking up with me? – Senku had gotten himself into a problem bigger than him.

– Of course not, dude! You’re a jerk, Moz, I fucking hate you! Ryusui is helping me report you to the police! And now I have evidence AND a witness on your ass! – He pointed to the camera in front of the bar.

– You’re a failure, Gen. Your fucking loss.

Moz turned around and walked to his car. Gen and Senku remained silent as they watched him drive away. Senku finally realized what had happened. His ears turned slightly red.

– Shit, are you alright? He punched you pretty hard there… – He turned to look at the man.

– Meh, I'm fine, I've been through worse with him – He laughed – Thank you.

Their eyes finally met. He was much more handsome as a man than as a woman. This thought quickened the scientist's heart.

– No, you saved yourself, I literally didn't do anything. I didn't even think about what I was doing, by the way – Senku didn't understand why he was nervous; after all, there was no reason to be nervous with another man.

Senku walked slowly back to where he was.

– Going back to the bar? – Gen asked.

– I'm too drunk for that, those lights are giving me a terrible headache... – Senku scratched his ear.

– I see… so can I… – Gen made a confused expression. – I'm Gen. Asagiri Gen. And you’re?

– Ishigami Senku.

– So, can I sit down by your side, dear Senku?

Senku's heart beat faster than ever. He was pathetic. His whole face flushed. He just nodded, too afraid to say anything. His hands trembled like never before.

While the two were alone outside the bar, each lost in their own thoughts, Senku was able to observe the boy more closely. He was still the same person; his hair was still black and white, with a white streak that was longer on one side than the other. It was beautiful. He gently pushed the streak back with his fingers, and Senku noticed the earrings he wore. Gen was delicate, not as delicate as the witch, but he was delicate. He was different from his character; he wasn't as ornate as her, he didn't wear eyeshadow, he wasn't serious and frightening like the witch. He seemed small and defenseless, even though he clearly wasn't. Even though he had just defended himself from a madman who attacked him, Senku felt the urge to protect him. Gen looked at him, and Senku looked away.

– You know, I was scared shitless – he confessed – When you appeared out of nowhere, I felt so relieved. Thank you.

– No need to thank me. Ten billion percent sure it was just a coincidence. – He spoke as if he hadn't gone to the bar precisely to meet him.

– Maybe it's fate. – Gen winked. Senku laughed.

– Yeah right, fate really wants us to meet drunk in the middle of a violent breakup fight.

– The universe knows about things we don't, dear Senku. By the way, can I get your number?

– Not even gonna take me to dinner first, mentalist? – he teased.

– Mentalist?

– Yeah… – He felt silly. – You played that guy so effortlessly, I guess that's something a mentalist would do… – He was embarrassed for having nicknamed him without thinking.

– Well, actually, Mr. Ten Billion Percent – He perfectly imitated Senku's voice. – If I really need to go to the police to testify against Moz, I need you. Cuz I'm just an innocent victim and you're my brave savior… – Senku rolled his eyes.

They both laughed. Senku gave him his number. The atmosphere was comfortable, despite everything.

– So… what brings you to a bar all alone? And why are you out here?

– Well, actually I… – Senku was interrupted.

– Senku! Oh, thank God you're here – some guy Senku didn't remember meeting appeared. – Chrome’s not feeling okay.

Senku had forgotten about his friend.

– I'm coming! – He pulled his back away from the wall. – Oh well, he's my friend, I came with him, but he ended up making other friends and then I… – He explained, as if he had to justify himself to Gen. – I'll be right back…

Gen nodded and Senku went after his friend. He found him vomiting furiously in the bathroom, helped him clean his face while talking to the others who were there. Chrome was only partially conscious. He helped him stand up, supporting his arm on his shoulder. Luckily, Chrome lived about three blocks away, so they could walk. When he managed to leave the bar, he looked for the wizard with his eyes at the entrance. Gen was no longer there. He left without a trace. Senku didn't understand why, but he felt quite sad. He managed to get his friend home safely.

Senku walked home alone. That night, he couldn't sleep thinking about a smile, a laugh, a specific look. Senku wasn't gay, he wasn't. But Gen made him feel a certain way. He checked his cell phone several times to see if any messages from an unknown number had arrived.

He wasn't gay.

Chapter Text

Gen didn’t send any texts.

Even though Senku checked his phone several times a day, no messages appeared. He started getting up in the middle of work to check his phone. An empty hope filled his heart, he desperately wanted to see something there.

When Friday arrived and all his work was done, Chrome was talking nonsense to kill time. His feet pushed the office chair as he moved back and forth.

– But like, what if you were born wearing clothes, what would you have on?

– What?

In the corner of the lab, the dark-haired boy was talking to Chelsea, a coworker.

– Like, me for example, if I were born with clothes on, I'd be wearing overalls. It's like my spiritual clothing – Chelsea said with conviction.

Chrome thought for a bit.

– Ha! I would definitely be born wearing a JAXA lab coat. – She made a joke, as an ironic “I love my job”.

Senku was deliberately researching Asagiri Gen on his work computer. He was impressed to discover he was a minor celebrity. His name was plastered across several news portals, there were videos commenting on his performance as an artist, he was a great actor, one of the best in fact. But there was one main issue that almost all websites and small videos discussed: Gen refused any and all offers to star in films. Major producers had already called him to audition for important roles and he didn't even show up.

His research on Gen led him to another name: Asagiri Akami. Another big name in cinema, not only Japanese but also international. She was a famous screenwriter; her films had won many awards. She was Gen's mother. His mother. Chrome came over pushing the chair with his feet.

– Oh my, who is that?

She was a 57-year-old woman – according to the biography – with a slightly wrinkled face, her black hair reaching her shoulders, her expression serious, like a business lady. He felt a shiver.

– A famous screenwriter. – Senku poked his ear.

– She's terrifying…

– Typical face of a rich woman. – He scrolled down to see the huge list of films she'd been in.

Chrome quickly drifted off, returning to whatever he was doing so that he could kill some more time until 6PM. Senku stopped his investigations and turned to the work website. Reviewing it.

– Don't you ever get tired of working? It's Friday, man! I need to rest today so I can do countless unimaginable crazy things with Ruri tomorrow. – Chrome brought over some coffee. Senku's face contorted in disgust at his friend's wording.

– Tomorrow, because of you, I'll be here again. There's going to be a tour for the high school kids, don't you remember?

– It's not my fault, man, I'm traveling tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday night, there's no way I can go. And you agreed to cover for me.

Senku rolled his eyes and grabbed his phone – which wasn't in the locker this time – searching for a specific message.

There were some messages, but none were from him. But there was a message from Taiju.

Taiju: Senku, you free tomorrow morning?

–

Saturday morning. Senku stood in front of an old coffee shop. With red signs that flashed excessively. It was hard to understand this fascination with flashing lights that people had, maybe they didn't even have it, maybe someone thought it was a good idea, and it wasn't, but nobody dared to say anything. The establishment was very colorful, had a bad design, but it was Taiju's favorite place, and he was already inside with his new fiancée. Senku mustered his courage with a deep sigh and went in. As he opened the door, a clinking sound indicated he had come in.

Since the proposal, Senku had seen his friends maybe twice at most. He wasn't avoiding them, he was just too busy thinking about the witch girl, who was actually a guy. Yes, he was avoiding them. It wasn't out of envy, not at all, he just didn't want to think about things like: "my friends are already getting married and I still live at my dad's house."

His friends greeted him as he sat down at the table. It was almost cute to see them together, wearing matching outfits, close to each other, with a pair of shiny rings on their fingers, smiles and loving glances. Everything Senku lacked. He was miserable. Pathetic. Envious. But he had to let go of all those feelings. He was an adult. A functional adult. And those silly feelings should be repressed and excluded.

Senku assumed it was just a casual get-together between friends, since they hadn't said anything revealing so far; they were just happily eating their sweets and chatting about the mundane things of everyday life. Yuzuriha chewed on her carrot cake with chocolate frosting cheerfully, as if it were the most delicious thing she'd ever tasted. Senku stirred his coffee listlessly while listening to Taiju talk about an old accident at work, only to be interrupted by Yuzuriha.

– Senku, Taiju and I called you to talk about something important. You've always been with us all these years, always given us romantic advice, and gone from being a friend to a brother. You brought us together, Senku. And that's why it's obvious we want you as our best man. Will you accept?

There was no other answer. Senku could feel his heart warm with so much affection. He loved them. From the bottom of his heart. Despite everything. He smiled sincerely.

– You know you didn't need to ask, right? Ten billion percent yes.

Both of them sighed, relieved and happy with the answer. Taiju rests his arm on the table, making noise.

– Great! Now you need to find a partner! – Taiju said without thinking. Yuzuriha had a shy smile, almost desperate.

– Well... the groomsmen and bridesmaids will enter in pairs... – she said seriously, as if she feared something. – But that decision is entirely up to you, Senku. If there's a girl you'd like to invite... we want you to feel comfortable, even if we don't know her, we wouldn't mind inviting her, Senku...

Senku felt slightly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation took after that. His friends seemed desperate, as if they were touching on a sensitive subject – and they were – but the way they treated Senku as if he were fragile irritated him. He had to choose a young woman to be his companion at the wedding party. Not necessarily a spouse, but someone who would make him feel comfortable.

Honestly, there couldn't have been a worse way to start your weekend.

The wedding will happen next year. He has plenty of time to find a girl. But there was no way to be sure he'd find someone in time. Especially since the last person – and perhaps the only one – who had made his heart flutter was just a character played by a good actor. Senku was back to square one.

He leaves the cafeteria feeling somewhat excited.

–

Byakuya was grading some tests while watching from a distance as his son packed his backpack.

– Going to work on a Saturday? – his father asked sincerely.

Senku nodded.

– A class is coming to visit today. Honestly, I don't know why they still allow these visits. Especially on a Saturday.

– You complain, but when you were a kid, you were so excited to visit JAXA that you slept in your school uniform, shoes and backpack on top of that. – He laughed at the memory.

– I was just an autistic weird kid, old man. Nowadays kids don't even care about what I say. They're just desperate to get 2 points in physics. And they always seem desperate to have a picnic on the grass. – He rolled his eyes.

Byakuya smiled.

Senku changed slowly, putting on a white shirt, a red tie with spirals, black pants, and a pair of old Converse sneakers he owned.

– Do I look like a kindergarten teacher? – he asked his father.

– The lab coat’s missing.

– I left it at work, I'm not going to walk around in the street in my lab coat like an idiot.

Byakuya pretended his heart was aching.

– Ah! My lil baby Senku used to wear his old white lab coat everywhere he went! – He clutched his chest and teared up, feigning sentimentality.

– Shut up! I'm an adult, and you're an old man. My friends my age are already... – He interrupted himself. He looked seriously at Byakuya, who understood. Senku sat next to his father at the table with the paperwork. – Taiju and Yuzuriha are getting married next year.

– Oh! That's wonderful, isn't it? It's clear how much they love each other... – He looked at his son. – How are you feeling?

– Happy, honestly. But lonely. I want to be the cool friend who supports them as a couple, not the annoying friend who complains about being alone, but I do feel like I'm the latter.

Byakuya gazed gently at his son as their feet softly touched.

– Look son, you can't rush love. It’s gonna come eventually. Slowly and unpretentiously. You have your whole life for that, and if in the end love doesn't knock on your door, you'll always have your friends, and me, even if I die before you. As long as I'm alive, I'll be here for you.

– Oh, all this sentimentality! Well, I'm going. – He stood up. – Duty calls.

Senku looked at his father as if to say "thank you" and gave a small smile.

–

He adjusted his lab coat while waiting for the school bus to pull into the parking lot. The bus approached slowly. Senku put his phone away, but not before checking his messages for the thousandth time. He wasn't nervous; he'd done this countless times before. The bus finally stopped in the parking space.

He remembered being a child, remembered the feeling of entering that place for the first time in his life and the certainty that he would set foot there many more times. The certainty of everything he would do in life from that moment on. But in all those years giving tours with the children there, he had never met anyone like him. He had never met anyone who was as interested in the subject as he had been when he was 11 years old. And he would have thought about it for hours if it weren't for him. Senku thought he was hallucinating, took off his glasses and wiped them on his lab coat. But it was definitely Gen. Talking to the children who just got off the bus, as if he knew them, as if he was a teacher.

But was that possible? When they met at the bar, Senku had gone to him, had followed him, but not now. Now it was pure coincidence. Senku thought he would never see him again. But he was right in front of him. When their eyes met, Gen seemed confused, but soon smiled falsely. He took small, quick steps until he reached Senku.

– Do you work here? – He mocked.

– Good afternoon, Asagiri Gen, how are you? Yeah, I’m having a great weekend as well! And yes, I work here, and yes, I'll be guiding you today. – Gen thought it was ridiculous, and Senku gave him a mischievous smile.

– That's strange, my dear Senku. I was informed that a young man named Chrome would be guiding us today, not some arrogant Senku.

– And that would be true, but unfortunately Chrome decided to travel, and left the job for me. So, you'll have to deal with me today, mentalist.

– Funny, because I wasn't scheduled to be here either. Actually, the teacher who was supposed to be here with the students also went on a trip, and they called me to cover for him. You can deny it, dear Senku, but fate has orchestrated our reunion. – He winked. Senku looked away.

The students all gathered in front of the bus. Gen began to speak.

– My dears, this is my friend Senku, and he's going to guide us here today, alright? He's going to talk about a lot of important things, so please take notes. We don't know what the teacher will ask for in the assignment, do we? It's better to have everything written down than nothing at all.

All the students followed the scientist through the building. The class was strangely quiet for first-year high school students. And impressively, when the class got agitated, Gen could easily calm them down, as if he were made for it. He discovered that Gen wasn't a teacher. He worked at the school as a psychologist. Senku thought he was good at it; he was kind to the students and guided them well; he seemed like a true professional. If Senku had a son, he would trust Gen to advise him.

He showed the students the classrooms, the labs, demonstrated his computer, talked about his work, the other departments, his college course, and explained JAXA's upcoming projects. Although he talked a lot, Gen was still there, watching him and paying attention to everything. Sometimes he even asked questions, as if he were a student. Senku couldn't help but find it adorable. Gen completed his lesson perfectly.

After about an hour, he finally finished the explanation and the tour of the place. Now the students were preparing for the much-anticipated picnic, which the scientist had heard people talk about several times before. At this point, Senku was going to gather his things and wait for the children to leave. But this time, for some reason, he was there, standing on the grass, watching the children arranging the blankets on the ground, along with Gen. It seemed impossible to ignore him.

– Shall we enjoy the grass too, dear Senku? – He pulled a tablecloth from the reusable bag he had been holding all this time.

The guy acted as if he knew Senku, as if they were close friends. Senku had helped him through a difficult situation a few days ago, but that was all. They weren't friends because of that, not even acquaintances. They were just people who had crossed paths a few times.
Of all the things Senku could have done, he only did one: he sat down next to the boy on the towel spread out on the ground.

– By the way, very personal question, but did that guy ever try to bother you again? – Senku tried to start a conversation.

– Oh, no. I'm fine. You know, we always think other people are stronger than us, but it's a lie. Even if it takes us a while to realize it. Actually, I still don't understand how I got myself into that relationship. I think we're all susceptible to becoming victims at some point. – Gen bent his legs.

– You sounded like an actual professional psychologist just now. – Senku tried to avoid looking the other in the eye.

– I am a professional, – he smiled. – And you say that as if you haven't just been talking like a scientist for hours on end. You gotta love your job, I suppose.

– Are you surprised to find out I'm not just some alcoholic who goes to the bar in the middle of the week? – Their eyes finally met. Red, fixed eyes.

– Nah, I know what kind of man you are, dear Senku. – He winked provocatively.

– Then tell me, mentalist.

Gen looked away.

– Well, you're obsessed with your job, but you don't like the area you're in. I noticed how much you hated giving us the tour today. You don't have time for dating, since you don't have a ring and girls your age would be insistent on that subject. You don't even have a recent fling because if you did, you wouldn't be alone in a bar like Stanley's. But you're a good friend, if you weren't, you wouldn't be here doing your friend's job on a Saturday like this.

– Is that what you learned in psychology school? – He scoffed.

– Actually, I'm great at reading people. But it would probably be more accurate if I did that with tarot cards. I'm a good reader, by the way.

Gen was about to begin telling him about his marvelous connection with the universe and about the astral plane. But then a little girl approached them. She seemed shy. She was holding a notebook and a pencil. She shrank back involuntarily. Her hair was short and blonde. She wore round glasses. School uniform.

– Suika, darling, did something happen?

– Yes, actually…– She gripped the notebook tighter. – I wanted to ask Dr. Senku a question…

– Dr. Senku. – Gen whispered mockingly and nudged his “friend” with his elbow.

– Oh sure! What do you want to ask, Miss Suika? – Senku ignored Gen.

– So… I've been sending questions to JAXA for quite a while now, and at first you were the one answering them. But lately other people have been answering my questions and I'm not understanding them very well, I think it's not very clear, and I wanted to clear up some points with you…

– Of course, of course, go ahead. – Senku said, as he sat a little closer to Gen to give the girl some room.

Senku and Gen's knees touched.

A slight jolt ran through Senku's body. He looked directly at Gen, who looked back at him.

Five seconds of intense eye contact. Then they looked away.

Gen was beautiful. Senku scolded himself. He shouldn't think about that. He tried to convince himself that it was actually normal. Of course. The first time he saw him, he was fooled by the dress and the heavy makeup; it was common for his brain to still associate Gen with that majestic witch. It was normal. It had to be. Senku wasn't like that. He definitely wasn't gay.

The girl sat down on the towel with the two of them and began asking questions. There were many. It started to turn into a real lecture. Senku saw himself in her. She was like him. Curious. Trying to learn everything, wanting to know everything. It couldn't be more adorable than that. There came a point when Gen was so confused that you could see it in the expression on his face. It started with quantum physics and ended with conspiracy theories.

After a while, all the students started packing their things and getting ready to leave. Suika says goodbye to Senku, and Senku gives her his personal email address, in case she has any further questions. The students board the bus, ready to go. Gen doesn't get on the bus.

– Are you going to do something now? – Gen said, almost shyly.

– I'm going home, I guess. – Senku shrugged.

Gen tucked the longest strand of hair behind her ear.

– Look, I gotta take the kids back to school, but I'm free after that, and you know, I still have to make it up to you one last time…

Senku blushed. Although he thought it didn't make sense. Senku hadn't done practically anything. Maybe Gen just wanted to come up with an excuse to go out with Senku. But was that possible? Senku wasn't very interesting; he was just a space-obsessed nerd. He definitely wasn't Gen's type. It couldn't be. Gen was so amazing, kind, good with children, and handsome on top of everything else. Senku shouldn't be thinking about this.

– What do you mean? – He already knew.

– If you'd like, dear Senku, we can go out. I'll take the children, but I'll be right back, in less than an hour. We can meet right here... if you're able and willing, of course. And if it's okay if you wait.

– Well, actually I still have some things to do at work, so I won't have a problem waiting for you... – He lied. – See you soon then?

Gen nodded. He said a brief goodbye and left on the school bus with the students.

–

Forty minutes had passed when Senku found Gen arguing with a security guard. He was trying to enter without authorization. When Senku pulled him out of the situation, the mentalist still had the audacity to say that he would manage to trick him into letting him in. Senku found the situation amusing.

The two walked away from the place. Gen was wearing the same clothes he wore when he was with the children; he wasn't gonna bother going home to change. Senku had only taken off his lab coat. The mentalist was wearing a blue sweater with a giant yellow moon print that covered half of the oversized sweater. He always – at least every time Senku saw him – wore clothes much larger than his size. He rolled up the sleeves more than once. He was also wearing baggy pants, which the scientist found ridiculously ugly, but strangely matched the rest of his outfit. He wore Converse sneakers, like Senku. Senku's heart felt warm; it was as if they were wearing matching shoes.

Gen guided the scientist through the streets. The route was the same one Senku used when he went home. He assumed they were going to the subway. Maybe they were going too far. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and texted his father.

Senku: going out with a friend.
Senku: I don't know when I'll be back.

Father Byakuya: Okay!!
Father Byakuya: Take care, I love you, kisses!!
Father Byakuya: ^⁠_⁠^ <3 <3

He rolled his eyes.

– Do you remember Ryusui? – Gen asked, standing a little ahead.

– Oh yeah, the guy you pretended was me. – He pretended not to know him from somewhere else. He put her phone back in his pocket. – What, is he your boyfriend now?

Senku involuntarily hoped the answer would be no. If asked, he would say he didn't care and that it had nothing to do with him.

He knew Gen was gay, of course; a straight guy wouldn't agree to dress as a woman and perform for the whole of Japan. At least, that's what he thought. And also, when they met, Gen was ending a relationship with another man right in front of him. There was no point in pretending he didn't know.
Gen grinned.

– Only if I were crazy. Ryusui isn't a one-woman type of guy, and I'm not interested in having that.

Senku felt a fleeting sense of relief.

Five minutes later, the psychologist stopped. The scientist did too. They were in front of an establishment clearly undergoing renovations. It had no sign, the windows were bare and covered with pieces of wood, and the door was newly installed.

– You know, a few months ago, Ryusui and a friend of his decided to open a bakery together because of some family issues. – Senku remembered the fight at the furniture store. – We could be their first customers.

Gen opened the door and entered the store as if it were his. Senku followed, somewhat hesitant.

The place was still under renovation, but inside there were already many things. There were some chic tables with upholstered chairs. It had a pleasant atmosphere. The walls had just been painted dark blue, decorated with various retro pictures. The floor was checkered in black and white, illuminated by a warm, yellowish light.

– Breaking and entering, right?

A short, blonde person spoke. Senku recognized him. He was the driver from the other day. Or was she a girl? He wasn't quite sure, actually. They were wearing a white apron.

– François! How are you? It's been a while since I've seen you, actually. – The two greeted each other. – Ah, and this is~ – He placed one hand on Senku's shoulder, but quickly removed it. He was interrupted.

– The young man from the bookshelf, oh I know him.
Gen looked at Senku.

– I bought a bookshelf the other day – Senku began to explain to Gen, as if he needed to. – François was the store's driver.

– I still am, but I'll soon be quitting my job and focusing entirely on this bakery with Ryusui.

François was at the counter. They went back to cleaning it with a damp cloth. The counter was covered in flour. The counter was nice; it didn't have any cakes, bread, or anything yet, mainly because they weren't open. Many things were still missing; they didn't have plates or glasses, but the bakery was doing well, apparently.

– We're using the counter here because we don't have a table in the kitchen yet, and we urgently need one for kneading bread and other stuff – François started to walk towards the kitchen, inviting them in. The two followed.

The kitchen was all white. Right at the entrance a small electric oven could be seen, and a little further to the right, a huge wood-fired oven that reached the ceiling. Inside this oven, something was baking in a small pan. The kitchen had a pleasant smell that permeated everything; it was good, and even though he was away from home, in a place he had never set foot in before, where he barely knew the people there, Senku felt comfortable. He relaxed his shoulder, which he hadn't even realized was tense.

– Is Ryusui not here? – Gen asked.

– Oh, he's fixing a sink in the bathroom. We made it just one bathroom. A unisex one. The pinnacle of wokeness, right? – They laughed. – Actually, when we bought this store, it only had one bathroom, and honestly, we're not interested in renovating everything.

François took the baking pan out of the oven, the aroma intensifying in the room. It was a beautiful focaccia with olive oil and olives. Ryusui entered through the same door as the other three.

– Little witch! And who is this…? – Ryusui really did call Gen by that nickname, an absurd coincidence. – Ah, the guy from the bookshelf.

– Do you two seriously remember me as the guy from the bookshelf?

– Ryusui, you owe me an afternoon coffee, and Senku too, since I brought him along. – Gen shrugged.

– Say what? – Ryusui didn't seem convinced.

– I beat you at poker last month. – He crossed his arms.

– You cheated!

François cut a piece of focaccia and offered it to Senku, who took it and began to eat.

– Are you really accusing me of that? I'm so innocent and pure, Ryusui! I would never do that to you. You're being so rude to me. – Gen's tone changed. – I thought we were friends!

– I'll trade some bread for a tarot reading. – Ryusui proposed.

– Oh, that I can think about.

– How about I cook some new recipes I'm testing for you to evaluate? – François chimed in.

– Perfect! – Ryusui snapped his fingers. – Let's talk in the hall!

Ryusui walked out of the kitchen.

– Look, he's nice, I swear. – Gen said to Senku. Senku laughed. The two of them left the kitchen as well, leaving François cooking alone.

Senku, Ryusui, and Gen were sitting at one of the tables in the bakery. Gen was fiddling with his cell phone.

– I didn't know you two knew each other. – Ryusui said, drinking coffee.

– He's the guy who helped me with Moz, you know? I told you about him. – Gen put his phone away. Gen had talked about Senku to his friends, which the scientist thought was cute.

– It was pure coincidence. I was drunk and Stanley's had a flashing light that had driven me crazy, so I decided to go outside. And Gen was there too, so...

– So, Stanley's... fun fact, I know the owner! – Ryusui threw himself back. – We had a little fling a few years ago. He's gorgeous. Unfortunately, he's married now. Off the scene. But if they want someone to complete the couple, I'm in. Honestly, there's no way I could refuse an offer like that.

– You're the worst. – Gen rolled his eyes. – Well, if you want to know, dear Senku, we're childhood friends, something like that. We went to high school together. Dark times.

Senku imagined Gen in a school uniform. Cute.
Senku and Gen were sitting side by side, while Ryusui sat across the table. It was silly because Senku usually sat alone on the other side, while his friends sat together. Now he was finally sitting next to someone. Gen was so close. A week ago, Senku had forgotten his face. Now he was sitting next to him, close together.

– Gen was like the “gay guy” at school. – Ryusui puts his arms on the table.

– And you were the “trans guy” in school, Ryusui. We were the same, we were bullied in the same way.

– Ah, the good old days. And you, Senku? Were you the big shot at your school? – Ryusui seemed genuinely interested.

– Nah, I'm not that cool. I was probably the nerd. Luckily, I was never bullied. Only when I was a kid, some jerks would break my things, but it wasn't really bullying, they just wanted to break some things and I was there so… – Senku didn't really seem resentful.

– Gen was so small and silly, people were always breaking his things.

– Are you going to ridicule me in front of my dear Senku?

My dear Senku.

– But it is true though. Senku, Gen went years without going to the school bathroom because he had to use the boys' bathroom and I couldn't go with him. The principal was a jerk and only let me use the girls' bathroom. Gen was terrified those idiots would jump him in there. – Ryusui blushed, but Senku sensed it was a sensitive subject.

– It was terrible, okay? I was terrified someone would shove my face into a urinal full of piss or something! – Gen threw his hands up slightly.

– You know, sometimes we think other people are stronger than us, don't we? – Senku said, looking at Gen, who looked at him in surprise. Senku liked being watched by Gen.

François arrived, carrying a tray, just like a waiter would. They placed it on the table. The tray was filled with bread, cakes, sweets, and other things whose names Senku didn't know. Ryusui moved slightly to the side, making room for François, who sat down.
The four of them stayed there. Talking and eating. Evaluating and rating the recipes. It was good.
When it was 9PM, they started packing their things. Gen and Senku would go together to catch the subway. Ryusui and François would stay a little longer, doing who knows what.

– Are you gonna see your mom, Gen? – François asked, just before Gen went outside.

– What? – Senku could see how Gen looked at the butler/baker/driver. He seemed uncomfortable.

– Oh, you didn't hear about it? She came back to Japan. Last week. I read about it in some news outlets. I thought she was going to talk to you.

– Perhaps in another life. Good night, François.

Gen and Senku left the bakery. The atmosphere didn’t feel pleasant. Gen was almost shaken. Senku couldn't say anything.

It was cold. The mentalist retreated; his clothes weren't very warm. If Senku had his lab coat, he would have handed it to his friend. Friend. That's what they were now, right? They had spent the day together. They worked together. They talked together. They laughed together. They were leaving together. They ate together. They sat together. And Gen had even introduced his other friends to him. Maybe Senku should introduce Taiju and Yuzuriha to him. Ah. He already knew Yuzuriha.

Senku’s subway arrived.

– I saw you on the stage. – Gen immediately looked at Senku, his grey-blue eyes wide with surprise. – At the first performance of the play. My friend invited me to watch. Her name is Yuzuriha. I don’t want to sound strange. You’re a very good actor. The best. When I saw you at the bar, I don’t even know what went through my head, I couldn’t watch the ‘good witch’ get beaten up.

The subway was still there.

– I told you it's fate.

Senku got on the subway.

That night, Gen sent a text.