look that your friend was sporting as he exclaimed, "I'm totally cool with that."

Then, he jumped out of the science shed and approached both Kohaku and Senku who were staring at the brunette with curious looks as he came to a stop in front of them.

"I can ask for nothing more than the cure-all science drug to save Ruri so she can live a good life." He told the other two, the corners of his lips lifting into a confident smirk and declared, "I'm the genius sciencer, after all."

Upon hearing that, Senku let out an amused chuckle as he smiled his trademark grin in response, "Job-changing from a sorcerer to a sciencer, huh?"

"Yeah." Chrome agreed, following after the scientist as both of them walked away. "I'm not calling myself a sorcerer anymore."

"Let's let the battle team deal with the Grand Bout while we, the science team, focus on making the sulfa drug," Senku said as he glanced at the brunette over his shoulders.

Grinning, Chrome exclaimed in an excited voice. "Heck yeah!"

Meanwhile, you had left the shed and joined Kohaku, the two of you watching as the pair walked off into the sunset. Turning to you, the blonde's lips were curled into a small smile as she said, "Thank you."

(E/C) met blue as you replied, "It's nothing much. Chrome just needed a little push in the right direction, that's all."

With that, you slid your gaze over to the duo in the fading distance and thought to yourself, 'These two are going to change the world and I'm glad I get to be a part of it.'

***

That night, all of you were gathered in the science shed and tending to Gen when Kohaku made an announcement out of the blue.

"I plan on participating in the Grand Bout." The blonde mumbled, her eyes fixated on the ground as she hugged her knees to her chest. "The Kingdom of Science team with Kinro, Ginro and me, will do whatever it takes to stop Magma's victory."

"Yeah," Chrome was quick to agree.

Suddenly, harsh breathing filled the room and you glanced down at the mentalist with worried eyes while Chrome asked, his voice tight with concern. "Hey, Gen, are you all right?"

"His recovery is going to take a long time at this rate," You frowned as you raked your eyes over said teen's battered body, brows furrowing deeper at the sight of his wounds.

Brown orbs snapped up to meet yours as he said, "Which means..."

"Yeah," Senku, who had been quiet all this while, spoke up. "We have a short time limit before Tsukasa comes to kill me."

All heads turned to the scientist with troubled expressions written on their faces and unbeknownst to them, Gen decided to open his eyes at that moment, having heard everything.

Time skipped

"I'm still sleepy!"

"Wake up, Ginro. You just agreed to do morning training until we rotate on our guard duty."

The following morning, Chrome woke up to the sound of the brothers' arrival at the science shed for their morning training with Kohaku. Letting out a tired yawn, he rubbed the remaining sleep out of his eyes before sweeping his gaze across the room when he noticed something or rather, someone was amiss.

"Oh, no!" The brunette yelled at the top of his lungs, startling both Ginro and Kinro as their heads snapped towards the science shed. "Gen's vanished!"

You, who was still snoozing peacefully away in one corner, was shaken awake by a panicking Chrome shouting into your ears. "(Name)! Wake up! WAKE UP!"

"I'm up, I'm up!" (E/C) eyes snapped open and you shot up to the brunette still shaking you by the shoulders. "Chrome, stop shaking me!"

Seeing that you were awake, said person stopped shaking the life out of you and hurried out of the shed with you following right on his heels.

"Yeah, I'm sure he went back to Tsukasa." Senku assumed, his face one of nonchalant as he picked at his ear.

"But why would he sneak out like that?" Chrome asked, stopping in his mid-way in descending down the ladder.

"That bad bastard better not intend to tell Tsukasa that Senku and (Name) are alive," Kohaku growled, her hands clenching into tight fists.

"This is bad, Senku, (Name)." Chrome frowned as he stared at the scientist with furrowed brows. "We have to go after him."

[30 minutes ago]

Meanwhile, the missing person in question had finally arrived at the cave where Tsukasa's empire was located. Gen paused to catch his breath after running all the way back here despite his injuries before raising his head to meet a pair of glinting brown eyes, his lips stretched into a menacing grin.

"Tsukasa-chan! I found a primitive village. I got in a fight with them and ended up just slightly injured. And Senku-chan was..."

[Back to present]

"We have to catch the bat bastard, quick," Kohaku exclaimed before running off into the direction of the forest where Gen had fled to.

However, she didn't make it very far when she was stopped by Senku who stepped in front of her, blocking off her path. "Hold it!"

Everyone watched with bated breath and wide eyes at the crashing sound as the scientist fell on his back, pinned to the ground by none other than Kohaku.

"Why are you stopping me, Senku?" The blonde demanded as she glared at the green-haired teen, her lips curled into an angry frown. "We have to catch the bat bastard!"

Then, all of a sudden, Senku let out a smirk and Kohaku was taken aback by the sight of it. Red orbs were glinting with mischief as he replied, "We can leave him be."

Upon hearing that, the teen furrowed her brows in confusion but didn't say anything and instead, she raised her height, both arms folded across her chest and stared at the scientist with questioning eyes, waiting for an explanation.

Dusting himself off as he got up from the ground, Senku began to explain. "If Gen really didn't have a millimeter of interest in science, he never would have cooperated to begin with. He'd already made up his mind on whose side he was on when I made electricity. But as a superficial man, he has his superficial ways of saving face."

After hearing that, Kohaku had nothing much to say and instead, she responded with a small shrug. "Men are such a pain in the ass, in any era."

"This is making me thirsty for a drink. Like, say, cola."

The corners of your lips stretched into a knowing smile as you flashbacked to the day where both you and Senku met Gen for the first time which then, led to the conversation that happened last night between the three of you while everyone else was sound asleep.

"Can you make it in this stone world, Senku-chan?" Gen whispered through his pain; his lips curled into a sad smile. "Can you make a bottle of cola?"

For a heartbeat or two, there was nothing but silence except for the sound of the mentalist's laboured breath as Senku mulled over the other's question while you remained seated next to his bed and stared up at your green-haired friend with curiosity.

Then, Senku's lips lifted into a small smile as he glanced at Gen over his shoulders with soft, red eyes and said, "Yeah, I can. Even if no one else can."

Hearing that, your face split into a wide grin as you piped in, (e/c) eyes shining with determination. "And I'll do whatever I can to help Senku!"

For the first time since Gen woke up in this stone world, he showed a true smile – one that was filled with simple joy.

[Gen]

"Senku-chan and (Name)-chan...were gone without a trace." The bi-coloured teen finished his sentence.

Snapping his finger, he grinned playfully. "They're dead, without a doubt."

[Back to present]

"So, Gen's joining the Kingdom of Science?" Chrome questioned; brown eyes wide with anticipation.

Grinning, you replied, "Yeah. I'm sure he'll wander back like nothing happened."

Kohaku let out a scoff but even she was smiling from ear to ear as she said, "Looks like the first battle between the Tsukasa Empire and the Kingdom of Science, the fight for Asagiri Gen, ends in victory for the Kingdom of Science."

"Gen is a good person after all!" Suika exclaimed while Chrome pumped an excited fist into the air, grinning, "Yeah!"

'It's the world's flimsiest alliance, bound by a single bottle of cola.' You thought to yourself, giggling with amusement at how absurd the whole thing was.

Nonetheless, you were happy that Gen decided to join Senku's side in the end.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the forest, on a random boulder sat Gen with a small smirk on his lips, his face tilted to the morning sun as he said to himself. "Man, this really isn't worth it. All for a single bottle of cola...I hope it's super well-cooled, at least."

***

"All right, damn it." Senku sighed in defeat before glancing over to you. "I'll have to apply science to make Gen a ridiculously chilled bottle of cola in time for when he gets back but I can't do that without the help of your amazing cooking skills, (Name)."

Hearing how your friend was doubting his ability, your lips curled into a disapproved frown as you let out a small sound of protest. "Senku! Don't underestimate yourself! I'm sure you can make the cola without even my help. In fact, you can probably do it with your eyes closed!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Senku argued, red eyes narrowing in irritation. "If it wasn't for your cooking skills, we won't have been able to require manpower to make the iron!"

"T-That's true!" You faltered when you realized the scientist did have a point, but you weren't one to back down that easily. "B-But if it wasn't for your smart thinking, we won't have thought of using food as a means to get the villagers' help! All I did was just carry out your plan and besides, I didn't do the cooking alone, you helped too!"

Senku stared at you with an exasperated expression, exclaiming, "Are you even hearing yourself? Your reasonings are not making any sense!"

You opened your mouth, ready to fight back when the green-haired teen let out a deep sigh and rubbed his head where he could feel an oncoming headache, saying, "You know what, instead of wasting our time with this senseless argument, let's just get to work."

"My logic makes sense, thank you very much." You grumbled, crossing your arms as the bottom of your lips stuck out into a pout but at Senku's pointed glare, you pasted a wide smile on your face and saluted, "Yes, sir! Right away, sir!"

Senku rolled his eyes at your childish antics, but even he couldn't help the small, fond smile forming on his lips.