Scientists and mages were very different from each other.
One side was focused on seeking answers and developing the world. They used science and became the rising figures of the modern world. Meanwhile, the other was pushed to the shadows and, yet, they still performed miracles with their magic.
They clashed at times, but the peaceful moments between the two dominated the bad ones.
"What's that?" Senku asked as he saw his apprentice fiddling with a phone.
"I'm trying to see if I can make this phone store some really bad magic." Chrome huffed. "I think you need sealing magic for this, but I can't be so sure."
It was only about a month ago that Chrome decided to learn under him. Senku didn't believe that mages existed until the brown-haired boy showed his powers. The scientist became convinced right away after he couldn't find any concrete evidence of the little act.
Chrome wanted to find a way to merge science and magic. From that wish, Senku decided to build a group focused on this kind of study. He was also curious anyway. So, why not?
They started gathering data from both sides, but it was challenging. Chrome and Joel were the only ones who were studying both magic and science. While both boys were brilliant, they didn't possess a deeper understanding of sorcery. The lack of knowledgeable mages in the team was becoming a problem.
Acknowledging the issue at hand, Senku decided to add more people to the team. "Do you know any powerful mages that can help us?"
"I know a really bad gorilla."
Senku was slightly expecting a talking gorilla when Chrome said he knew a gorilla.
However, there was no talking gorilla. There was only an American looking girl frowning at him. Rather than a monkey, the scientist thought she looked more like a lioness because of her hair. Was it also magic? It seemed pretty odd.
"This is Kohaku. She's the gorilla I was telling you about!" Chrome introduced her.
"I'm not a gorilla!" She exclaimed as she hit him on the head several times.
"Ehhhh? She seems more like a lioness." Senku commented, sticking a pinky finger in his ear.
"I'm not a lioness either!" The girl protested once more. She approached and scrutinized him. "Chrome, he doesn't have magic."
"I'm only a normal human being." The scientist held out his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Kohaku. Your help will ten billion percent get us far in our research."
She blushed when she heard him utter her name. But instead of shaking his hand, she turned to Chrome. "The coven won't be happy with this. You'll lose your chance to be with Ruri at this rate!"
"But, what if we need to combine magic and science to save her? I had to take the risk!" The scientist's apprentice argued.
It was Senku's first time to hear the other boy's real intention. He knew he was desperate to merge the two subjects. He wasn't the type to pry. Chrome had his secrets to keep, but the lioness opened the topic that he couldn't help but feel curious.
"Fine." She said before she walked out.
That was the first time Senku met Kohaku.
After that incident, Chrome told him everything.
It turns out Kohaku's family was one of a kind. They were a long line of witches and warlocks whose blue eyes could clearly see the magic around them. That was the reason the girl knew he didn't possess any magic.
As the family had plenty of magic, they headed the coven Chrome belonged. The current head was Kohaku's sister, Ruri. She was powerful, but her body couldn't take the amount of magic she kept inside. It was killing her. The only solution they could find before was to transfer her magic into crystals. However, it wasn't enough.
Chrome's proposal was a peculiar idea - contain Ruri's magic using a science invention reinforced with fortifying spells.
The boy almost got kicked out of the coven because of the suggestion. Because of it, he started studying science and ancient spells in secret. He understood sorcery since he grew up in a magical family. It was then he knew he needed a science teacher.
Senku was up to date after that conversation.
The scientist knew they would need help from the coven. The issue was that they might not be willing to help. Another option was having an influential mage in the coven added to the team.
And the only one who matched the description was Kohaku.
"Senku." Chrome knocked on his door. He sidestepped to reveal the blonde.
"I'm sorry." She bowed her head. "Please let me help you save my sister."
With a smirk, Senku once again held out his hand. "Welcome to the team."
Kohaku shook hands with him this time.
It's been months since their team increased in size.
Their team consisted of elite scientists and two scientist-mages before Kohaku joined. One little witch and four warlocks from the coven became members soon after. It didn't seem much, but the researched quickly progressed because of it.
Chrome offered a fresh perspective on tackling both science and magic. Senku and Xeno worked mostly on science. Joel and Kaseki focused on crafting the container. Ginro, Kinro, and Suika provided information on different kinds of magic. Kohaku and Ukyo's abilities allowed them to check the results. And with their collective efforts, they were able to create a prototype.
They only had to go out and test it.
"Kohaku, is this place really okay? Shouldn't we go somewhere else?" Chrome asked as he looked around the forest.
"It's perfect. No one will come here, and it's a good magic hotspot." Kohaku answered. "Besides, Ukyo would know if someone is heading our way."
Ukyo nodded. "The magic here is compatible with Kohaku. I also cast an invisibility spell just in case."
"Let's start the experiment then," Senku announced, holding out the circular device to the witch. "Lioness."
"I'm not a lioness." She took the device and walked away from them. "You might all want to step back."
And, they did.
Kohaku recited a few spells, and, before anyone knew it, the wind picked up around her. The leaves were violently plucked from their branches due to the intensity. The water from the pond floated and created violent torrents around them. They even felt the tiny vibrations of the ground from where they were standing.
A disaster was possible if the girl wanted it.
However, the image immediately changed. A simple wave had calmed mother nature. A flick of Kohaku's wrist and the wind gently blew in the direction of the device. Even the water softly flowed like small streams.
It was during that time that the serene expression on Kohaku reflected her magic.
"Miss Kohaku is certainly elegant," Xeno commented from beside Senku.
Senku wasn't the type to let his feelings surface. He wasn't also one to express his emotions. Yet, he couldn't help but nod in agreement.
He never believed in fairies, but he thought he saw one today.
"Good work for today."
"We'll be taking our leave now."
"Good night, Senku, Kohaku."
"Take care on your way home!"
With that, Senku and Kohaku were left alone in the laboratory.
After finishing the device, they decided to have a drink in the laboratory. Everyone drank as a celebration of literally being a step closer to their goal. There were no more tests to run anymore, and the days of making a prototype were long gone. They didn't have to work late starting the day after.
The only thing left for tomorrow was to have Ruri use the device.
The scientist and the mage continued to sit in silence. Both were staring at their full wine glasses. They weren't sure how many bottles of wine entered their system. However, the amount still didn't feel enough.
It felt like something was missing.
"I wasn't expecting to work with a scientist," Kohaku said as she tried to dispel the silence.
Senku chuckled. "And, I wasn't expecting to work with a lioness."
She didn't dare to comment on her nickname this time. Instead, she raised her glass with a smile. "To scientists and mages."
"To scientists and mages." Both of them made a toast and sipped at the warming beverage.
Now that they're hours away from accomplishing their goal, the two opened themselves. There was so much tension between them in the past months. They always pushed it down that they weren't sure when it started. In a heartbeat, they closed the distance between them. Logic and thoughts flew right out of the window, and they let their bodies do the talking.
Needless to say, no one heard anything from Senku and Kohaku until the next day.
A/N: Lacie here~!
The theme for SenHaku Week 2021 Day 5 was First Time. Coming up with an idea was difficult at first. But, when I started writing it, I had some fun! I just had to include Xeno and Ukyo for this chapter. I thought that Xeno would help Senku with these things.
I have this headcanon for Ukyo that despite not being able to see magic like Kohaku and Ruri, he would be able to hear it.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it! Have a great day and see you tomorrow for the next chapter!
