"Senku! I..." Taiju said through tears, begging for his friend to wake up. "I'll believe in you and wait for as long as it takes. I'm hopeless without you! Come back, Senku!"

Thunder roared as lightning flashed and the rain fell harder, but there was still no response from the motionless body lying beneath you.

"Please...Wake up, Senku..." Cries of pleas fell from your lips over and over like a mantra, as though if you kept saying it, said person would really wake up.

As time passed, the rain slowly began to subside before it finally stopped pouring, dark clouds parting to reveal a clear blue sky as the sun shone down from above. Yet, you didn't even notice the difference, not when your attention was solely focused on Senku.

Taiju was the first to notice as he lifted his head, brown orbs rising towards the sky as he stood up and breathed out, saying, "It stopped raining."

From beside him, Yuzuriha's tears stopped flowing as she raised her head, her eyes travelling upwards to gaze at white clouds drifting through the sky and rose to her feet as well.

Your sobs died down to sniffles as you lifted your head from where it was lying on Senku's chest, your free hand wiping away any remaining tears. Even with the sun basking earth in its warm glow, you felt no warmth on the inside.

After all, there was no reason to celebrate when the one you loved was no more.

However, you spoke too soon. Suddenly, you felt a strong squeeze on the hand clutching onto Senku's bigger palm, causing your breath to hitch as long, slender fingers curled over your own before releasing your hand and rising to his feet.

You could feel the tears returning as the familiar sound of a gruff voice flowed into your ears, like a long-lost song you thought you had forgotten until now. "The thunderstorm that was keeping us camouflaged is gone. Don't raise your voices. If Tsukasa hears us, we'll be instantly screwed."

Both Yuzuriha and Taiju instantly glanced around their surroundings, their eyes and ears on alert as they scanned for said threat.

"You're right!" Taiju was quick to agree, followed by Yuzuriha. "He's not coming, is he?"

They blinked once, then twice in realization before glancing over their shoulders where their eyes widened in disbelief at the sight of Senku, alive and well, standing on his two feet. He let out a soft chuckle, holding the jar of revival fluid in one hand while the other touched the back of his neck where the remaining petrification had been.

"I'm impressed you noticed my neck." The scientist smirked, red eyes glowing with impressive pride. "I hardly gave you a speck of a hint. Taiju, Yuzuriha and (Name), you three get ten billion points."

"Sen.." Taiju started while Yuzuriha finished. "...ku."

"Senku..." You breathed out in his name in disbelief awe over what you were seeing with your own two eyes.

The scientist's expression softened as he reached a hand out towards where you were still seated on the ground, saying, "Come on, you're going to get your ass dirty if you continue sitting on the muddy ground."

Slowly, like the first blossoming of spring, the corners of your lips lifted into a watery smile as you accepted Senku's outstretched palm, his fingers intertwined with yours. He helped you onto your feet and with a quick tug, you were pulled into his arms.

One hand snaked around your waist while the other entangled itself within your (h/c) tresses, pushing your head gently against his chest until your ear was resting right above his beating heart.

Pressing his face to your hair, he breathed out, "Thank you for trusting in me, (Name). You did great."

A tear slipped down your cheek as you nuzzled your face against his chest, the sound of his heartbeat healing the cracks in your own heart. "You're alright, thank goodness."

For the new few seconds, the two of you stood there, in each other's arms as you savoured the feeling of being held by Senku who tucked your head under his chin, his hand running through your hair.

The tender moment between both of you didn't last for long as Taiju wanted in on a hug with Senku as well. Letting out a loud cry which broke the two apart, the brunette launched himself at his best friend.

You stumbled backwards but found your footing while Senku wasn't as fortunate as he was crushed to death by Taiju who embraced him tightly. You winced when you heard Senku's back cracking from the sheer force of the brunette's hug, releasing a sharp cry of pain.

Kicking off Taiju, he was gasping for air as he shouted, his eyes twitching in anger. "Never mind my cervical nerve, you just crushed my entire body! I'll kill you!"

A giggle escaped your lips as you patted his back in a comforting manner, happy to see the scientist so lively despite his near death experience.

Yuzuriha, on the other hand, had been rather quiet the entire time and wearing a troubled expression; unsure of what to say to the one she owed her life to.

Senku let out a small chuckle, the corners of his lips curling into an understanding smile as he spoke up. "I'm sure you know not to, but don't go thanking me for every little thing. I won't thank you, either."

Her eyes watered as she whispered, "Welcome back, Senku-kun."

The smile on your face could rival the sun as they brightened, (e/c) orbs glimmering with pure joy over the fact that everything was alright once more now that Senku was with all of you again.

Time skipped

You watched with curious eyes as Yuzuriha sliced the large back in half before holding up a cloth with weirdly misshapen stars coloured in green and a large rocket-like shape in the middle.

"Don't you think the shape on this hide kind of looks like a rocket?" Yuzuriha questioned, a small smile on her face.

"There are star-looking things, too!" Taiju added.

Senku, on the other hand, disagreed as he bluntly replied, "They don't look anything like it."

"Well, I think it's perfect." You grinned teasingly at the scientist. "It looks like a science flag. I bet it'll look good on Senku."

The green-haired teen clicked his tongue but said nothing since it was three against one and he would just be fighting a losing battle. With a defeated sigh, he stood there reluctantly as Yuzuriha tied the hide around his neck along with a long, thick branch to act as support after recent happening.

Grunting, Senku sweatdropped as the brunette finished it off with a tight knot. "Let's put it on his neck, just in case."

You giggled at his disgruntled expression while Taiju exclaimed in understanding. "Oh yeah!"

"It'll be even better with a splint. See?" Yuzuriha took a step back and admired her work, a satisfied smile shaping her lips.

"Yay!" You happily clapped your hands, a wide smile on your face. "It looks amazing as a scarf too!"

Senku finally had enough of his friends' meddling and tried to convince them he was fine and didn't need all this unnecessary stuff. "Uh, I really don't need this. I'm all better now. Professor Senku's self-sacrificing human experiment was a success."

Pouting, your cheeks puffed as you grumbled, recalling the emotional rollercoaster the scientist put you through with his so-called self-sacrificing human experiment. "Please don't ever do that again. I, for once, do not want to go through another experience like that ever again."

Senku ignored your complaint as he went on, tugging at the scarf tied around his neck. "The restorative effects of undoing petrification are too damn high."

Taiju let out a burst of boisterous laughter, saying, "The petrification that's given us so much grief is what cured you, too, huh? You said it when we made soap, too...But maybe this petrification is the stone of life that replaces doctors for us. It's Doctor Stone!"

The rest stared at their friend who was known for not being the brightest crayon in the box, yet his words filled them with a sense of awe as he changed their perspectives towards the petrification that transformed the world into what it was today.

Senku lowered his eyes which caught your attention and you glanced over with a questioning gaze when you noticed the furrow between his brows and you guessed he must be thinking of what Taiju said.

Walking over, you stood next to him with both hands clasped behind your back and raised your head towards the sky, your eyes squinting against the bright sunlight. Senku felt your presence yet said nothing as he, too, lifted his gaze heavenwards, his mind heavy with many questions but with no answers to them.

A heartbeat of silence passed before you finally spoke up, a hand reaching upwards to the sky and aiming for the sun. "I don't know how long it'll take, but I know you'll eventually find the answers you're looking for. There'll be times where you'll doubt yourself and feel like giving up, which is okay to do because I'll believe hard enough for two people."

When you turned to look at him, you were surprised to see that he was already looking at you; red gazing intently into (e/c). There was a pause as you stared back, your mouth becoming dry at the close proximity before you swallowed and finished what you wanted to say.

"I'm not smart like you, but as your lab assistant, it's the least I can do and I'm here with you every step of the way. So, don't stop searching until you've found your answer. After all, you're humanity's last hope, Senku."

The silence from before returned as neither of you said anything; a wide-eyed Senku struck speechless by your words overflowing with reassurance while you were drowning in those oceans of ruby red swirling with an unknown emotion.

This wasn't the first time the scientist experienced your words of comfort because ever since he developed a friendship with you back in the first year of middle school, you had always been there for him with the right words he didn't know but needed to hear in every experiment he did be it a failure or success.

However, this time around, it was different as his heart pounded away with a deafening roar in his ears as butterflies fluttered in his stomach (which later on he learnt was nervousness). Confusion filled Senku's mind over why he was feeling this way when it never happened before in the past, back before the petrification happened.

However, since you had woken up in the stone world, he had been experiencing all these weird feelings and he didn't know how to go about it. So, Senku did what he always does best and filed away all these new information to analyse them later when he was alone and had free time on his hands to do so.

Now wasn't a good time, especially with the possibility of Tsukasa still out there looking for them.

Clearing his throat which broke you out of whatever daze you were in, the corners of his lips lifted into a small, albeit awkward, smile as he finally responded. "You know me, I'll never give up and will always find another alternative if the first doesn't work out. However, I can't do this without my trusty lab assistant. So, are you up for the challenges awaiting us?"

(E/C) eyes sparkled under the streams of sunlight peeking through the forest foliage, creating shifting shadows and lights as they burnt brightly with purpose and it filled Senku with a sense of joyful pride as you answered with a resounding, "I won't let you down, Senku!"

The scientist knew the journey awaiting ahead for him wouldn't be one of smooth sailing, but with your constant presence by his side, assurance and hope bloomed within his heart that he could go above and beyond in his goal to save all of humanity.

***

While Taiju was packing the group's belongings and Senku was covering up their tracks so that Tsukasa wouldn't know that the group had been here if he chose to look within the area, Yuzuriha was kneeling in front of a statue with a broken arm whereas you just observed silently; wondering what was she up to.

Holding the decapitated arm in her hands, she said, "If it can fix Senku-kun's neck, maybe if we piece together the shattered statues and pour revival fluid on them, it'll put people back together."

The corners of your lips lifted into a sad smile as you replied, staring at the unfortunate statue lying in front of the both of you. "Senku tried that right at the beginning. They just went back to being a shattered corpse."

Senku, who overheard the conversation, added on in an afterthought. "Why wouldn't it work if it's so regenerative?"

"O-Oh, I see," Yuzuriha answered and placed the arm next to its owner before clasping her hands and bowing her head, sending a quick prayer to heaven when Senku called her name.

"Yuzuriha..." She raised her head and glanced over her shoulders to see said person approaching her, a serious frown on his face. "Taiju's ten billion percent too crude for this. You're our ultra-skilful crafts club member. It'll be a gruelling mission. Can you do it?"

Tilting your head to one side, you watched with curiosity as your brown-haired friend rose to her feet and Senku, who stopped beside her, leaned forward so that he could whisper his request into her ears.

A wide-eyed Yuzuriha stood there with her mouth gaping slightly as she processed his words and once it sank in, cold sweat broke out on her face as she turned to Senku with a troubled expression. "That really is really gruelling. But I'll do it!"

The grin on Senku's face widened as he let out a satisfied chuckle, saying, "That was quick."

"Craft is all about perseverance!" Yuzuriha reasoned although it seemed like she was trying to convince herself.

Your brows furrowed further in confusion as your eyes jumped back and forth between your friends, curiosity getting the better of you as you asked, "What are y'all talking about? I wanna know too!"

The scientist didn't reply, red orbs glinting mischievously instead which earned a pout coming from you. Taiju, on the other hand, bounced over and inserted himself into the conversation, also wanting to be let in on the secret between the pair. "Are you sharing secrets? No fair! Let me in on it!"

Yuzuriha hesitated for a second before plastering on an uncertain smile as she turned to address the teen, slightly stumbling over her words. "I, um...was saying maybe we should go see Tsukasa-kun."

"Oh, yeah?" His lips were stretched into a wide grin reaching the corners of his eyes, Yuzuriha's words not quite fully registered in his mind yet. "Tsukasa's place, huh?"

There was a moment of silence as no one said anything and a breeze blew through the clearing, the leaves rustling in its gentle caress.

Then, Taiju grabbed Yuzuriha by the waist and shook her back and forth numerous times while trying to make her see reason over her crazy suggestion. "What?! Why?! He's the dangerous man that killed Senku! I mean, he's not dead and he was a good guy, but...At the very least, he thought he'd killed Senku!"

Senku let out a low chuckle which drew everyone's attention onto him as he held up a finger to make a point. "That's exactly what we accomplished in that fight. Tsukasa thinks I'm in the afterlife now. Meanwhile, I can always know where Tsukasa is. We'll have a giant advantage in this battle if Yuzuriha and Taiju can infiltrate the Tsukasa Empire as spies."

Both yours and Taiju's eyes widened, finally hearing the plan the scientist had whispered to Yuzuriha not too long ago.

"I gave Yuzuriha the details about the mission." The scientist continued as the four of you finally decided to make a move with him leading in the front while the rest of you followed behind and made your way down a slope. "Taiju, you protect Yuzuriha. Blockheads like you are better off not knowing everything."

"All right, I got it." Taiju clenched a fist in determination. "I'll do it."

'Then what about me? Do I have a role like Yuzuriha and Taiju since I didn't hear my name when Senku revealed his plan to everyone?' The furrow between your brows deepened as you frowned in thought, almost missing Senku's explanation on his reasons for having said plan.

You cleared your mind with a quick shake of your head and tuned in once more, figuring you could worry over the minor details later.

"Tsukasa intends to use the miracle water, revival fluid, to amass an army of young people to make a new world ruled by military might," Senku explained. "In order to defeat the Tsukasa Empire and stop the mass destruction that is the purification of humanity...We'll have to make a revolutionary army that can combat them using science."

"But how are you going to do that on your own?" Yuzuriha questioned, the fact that the scientist didn't mention your name in his plan for them slipping her mind.

"Yeah." Taiju was quick to agree, a concerned frown on his face. "If Tsukasa has the miracle water, the nitric acid, you can't make gunpowder, and you can't grow your manpower."

Senku came to a sudden stop, causing everyone to halt as well as he turned around to inform the pair of his role in this grand plan. "The answer is obvious. (Name) and I are going to find the mystery people who fired the smoke signals and get them on our side."

(E/C) eyes widened when the green-haired teen's gaze slid over to yours, a knowing smirk on his face. You felt your cheeks heating up in embarrassment and ducked your head, wanting to slap yourself for being so stupid.

The answer to your worried thoughts of not having a role in the scientist's plan had all along been under your nose, you just didn't look hard enough. It was so painfully obvious you would be the one to help Senku, especially since you were his lab assistant and even more so after making that inspiring speech of yours to the green-haired teen.

An amused chuckle escaped Senku's lips at your internal conflict, having guessed what was on your mind when he saw the troubled expression on your face. However, his expression changed as he went back to the topic at hand, red eyes darkening with displeasure. "The problem is that they might encounter Tsukasa first. I'll just have to bet on the chance that they haven't."

"So, going forward, the two of us will be spies in the Tsukasa Empire. Meanwhile, (Name) and you'll be finding allies for a scientific revolutionary army. And we'll each be fighting our own battles." Taiju summarised, brown eyes fixing onto his friend for confirmation.

"That's the idea," Senku responded with a firm nod.

The two stared at each other and held a silent conversation with their eyes before grinning at each other, having come to an understanding between each other. Without so much as a goodbye, the two best friends turned their backs on one another and began to head off in the opposite direction – not once looking behind their backs as they set off on their individual path towards the journey awaiting ahead for them.

On the other hand, the girls had a much more emotional departure as both you and Yuzuriha closed the remaining space and embraced each other in a tight hug, exchanging last words of encouragement and promise.

"I know it's gonna not be easy, but if Senku has faith in you, so do I." You squeezed the brunette once more before taking a step back and giving her a watery smile. "This isn't a goodbye, but rather a 'see you later' even if it's gonna take months before we see each other again, alright?"

Yuzuriha nodded her head, brown eyes glassy with unshed tears as she clasped both hands around