With Tsukasa by their side, the four teens were able to finally fill their bellies to the point that they did not want to eat. Especially Ayane.
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"You're not going to eat, Saki?" Tsukasa asked as he noticed Ayane just looking at the fish before her.
"Oh, sorry. Just thinking about a lot of things." Looking back at the fish, she smiled embarrassingly. "Continuously having my mind think, has helped in a several ways. So, you could say that it's a way to keep myself from going crazy." Taking in her words, Tsukasa just stared at her.
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2 hours later…
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Giving Taiju and Yuzuriha time for themselves, Ayane sent them off. But not before telling them something.
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"Taiju, Yuzuriha." The couple looked back at Ayane. "Around Tsukasa, just call me Saki, alright?"
"I've been meaning to ask about that. Why Saki?" Yuzuriha questioned why Ayane chose such a name.
"I've used it once before. With Senku…when we were younger." Hoping that answer was sufficient for the two teens, she noticed smiles on their face and nodded before they left.
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Walking back, Ayane noticed Tsukasa staring at her. Confused by that, and once she was in earshot, she asked.
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"What's up?" Ayane asked as she slid her hand under her hair to move it out of her sight.
"Oh, I was just wondering why you let those two go off? We could've used their help." Tsukasa questioned Ayane's actions as she let the two important people go.
"Just allowing them some needed time. Afterall, what I heard from Senku is that they've both been madly in love with each other since they met in middle school." Walking up to the shore of the beach, Ayane allowed the salty water run to her feet. As she looked down, she smiled sweetly. "I don't like tearing people apart. I want them to stay as close together as possible."
"What do you feel for Senku?" Tsukasa asked.
"If you're asking if I'm in love with him…well part of me wants to say I am, but my emotions for him are that of admiration." Ayane answered as she rubbed her right hand on her left arm. "So, to answer your question…No, no I'm not." Ayane smiled calmly as she turned to the primate.
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Standing in silence, Ayane turned her attention towards the ocean before her, before picking up a seashell and smiling at it.
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"I could've used this to prevent myself from ever doing what I did." Tsukasa heard Ayane whisper something, but the sound of the ocean crashing blocked out what Ayane said. Just as he was about to speak up, Senku popped up.
"What's with all the doom and gloom?" As he spoke, Tsukasa noticed Ayane toss the seashell she had in her hand before turning around and walking towards Senku.
"So, Teach, what are we doing today?" Despite trying to put the conversation behind her, Tsukasa was not one to let go.
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Later that night…
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Approaching Ayane, Tsukasa sat beside her as the young girl continued chipping away at the block.
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"Saki." Tsukasa spoke.
"What?" Ayane asked.
"You seemed to be the only opened-minded person in the group, so I wanted to ask…" Then before Tsukasa could ask his question, a robotic voice spoke up.
"Good evening." Looking around, Tsukasa tried to find the owner of the voice, only for Ayane to get up casually and place her hand on a white bulge in a hollow trunk.
"Hey there, Rei. How's your battery?" Ayane asked as she looked down at the robot in the trunk. But looking closely, Tsukasa noticed Ayane move her lips without saying anything.
"I'm fine, Saki." Rei answered. "My battery is a 50%, I should be able to have full power by next week."
"Is that so?" Turning around, Ayane smiled sweetly. "Sorry to startle you like that. This here is Rei, humanity's last gift to us."
"Hello, I am REI 37." Looking angrily at Rei, Tsukasa controlled his anger and spoke.
"Hello there, I'm Shishio Tsukasa." Tsukasa introduced himself to the robot before him. How long have you been in there?"
"For nearly a year. I was awoken around the same time Miss Saki was awoken." Rei answered.
"Is that so?" Then turning his attention back to Ayane, Tsukasa spoke. "Like I was trying to say: Do you believe what Senku is trying to do is right?"
"No, I don't." Ayane answered quickly. "Believe me when I say that I've tried to convince him to stop, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. Go ahead and try yourself, you're not going to get anywhere." Turning her sight to the shadows of the tree, she noticed a figure scurry away as quietly as they could, before sighing. "But that's just my opinion."
"And what do you think is the right way to go at this?" Tsukasa questioned once more, as he was seeing a similarity in both himself and Ayane.
"I believe we should just start over." Ayane answered as she began to rub her left arm.
"Start over?" Tsukasa repeated.
"Like the story of Adam and Eve." Ayane clarified. "Start off with two people and just expand from there. No need to revive anyone."
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Tsukasa opened his eyes as he looked at Ayane with shock. Never before had he met a teen like her. Despite being young, she was strong and willing to take on any risk. Then, standing up to meet her, he walked up close and smiled.
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"What I wanted is to only revive the young and pure-hearted. But I see as though our wishes actually intertwine."
"So, it would seem." Ayane replied.
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After her conversation with Tsukasa…
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Ayane walked towards the ocean and just stared off into the distance. Exhaling deeply, she began to shiver, but as quick as she was to shiver, the shivering stopped as she looked back to see the person she wanted.
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"So, did you hear all of that, Senku?" Ayane asked as the leek haired boy walked up.
"Yeah, but are you sure?" Senku asked as he approached his young assistant.
"Sure about what?" Ayane repeated.
"Going along with Tsukasa. I mean if he were to find out…" But Ayane placed a finger over Senku's mouth to stop him from talking.
"I've already told you…I've got this handled. Afterall, you said you trusted me, no?" Ayane responded by placing her hand on Senku's cheek.
"You're right, I did say I trusted you." Then turning around, Senku spoke over his shoulder. "What next?" Looking back fully, he noticed Ayane removing a belt sash she had wrapped around her waist.
"You asked what had happened to my dog, right?" Ayane repeated a questioned Senku asked nearly 2 years ago. "You'll find out after I have Taiju revive you."
"Huh?" Just seeing Ayane smile at him was enough to get Senku on edge as he did not understand what she meant, but he will soon come to realize what she meant.
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The Next Day…
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Pouring in the nitric acid, Senku began to look confused as the acid began to slide down.
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"Huh? That's weird." Senku spoke out loudly to grab the primate's attention. "Hey, big oaf? There's not enough in here."
"Huh? Is that so? I guess I pull it out early. Oh well, I'll just go back to the cave and grab another." But just Taiju was about to run off, Tsukasa grabbed him and spoke.
"If it's speed you want, then the best choice will be for me to go." Tsukasa replied as he smiled.
"Yeah, he's right." Ayane answered as she cracked her neck. "What you want to do, is follow the river for a quarter of a mile, then turn as soon as you see a large tree, then the Cave of Miracle's will be right in front of you." As she tossed him a clay cup, Tsukasa grabbed it and bolted off like lighting.
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As soon as he was out of sight, both Ayane, Senku and Yuzuriha went straight to work.
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"Hey, what's going on?!" Taiju asked confused as to why the three were in overdrive.
"Taiju grab two baskets, you're going to carry everything Senku needs." Ayane ordered as she tossed him two baskets.
"But what about him?" Taiju asked as he pointed towards a stone man that just stood against the tree that held their home.
"I don't know him." I just acted like I did so we'd have a reason to create the fluid." Ayane answered.
"But I thought Senku didn't know how to create it?" Taiju yelled over his shoulder as he began to place everything Senku needed, while Ayane rushed to create another revival fluid.
"He doesn't." Was all Ayane said as she tied a vine to the log that held Rei. "Now come on, that big brute will be coming back any minute." As she began to speed mix the formula, Ayane managed to finish just 2 seconds before the one person she feared came back.
"What's with all the rush?" Freezing upon hearing his voice, Senku rushed in front of Ayane to hide her from Tsukasa's sight.
"Thanks." Ayane thanked Senku as she slipped the revival fluid into a sack he had hanging on his waist and ducked under the table.
"There's only three of you…Where's Saki?" Tsukasa asked as he looked with a murderous intent.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Senku answered, trying to buy time for Ayane. "But if there's something you want to know about Saki, it's this…She'll never give up, even if you break her."
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Upon hearing that, Tsukasa looked up only to see an arrow just an inch away from his face, but using his insane speed, Tsukasa dodged it, and grabbed it. And at the same time, he jammed it into the ground.
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"Is that the best you got, Saki?" Tsukasa looked up to see Ayane standing tall on a branch.
"When doing archery, it's all about getting the arrow where you want it. But I like to play a game called misdirection." Hearing her speak her words, Tsukasa looked down only for him to regret it as something sprayed in his eyes causing him to go blind for several seconds. "Let's go!" Ayane yelled as she jumped down from the branch and pulled along Senku.
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Rushing off away from the camp…
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The four teens ran with all their might, hoping that Tsukasa does not regain his sight for another few seconds.
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"Hey, Tsukasa's fast, so what's to say he won't catch up with us?!" Yuzuriha questioned between breaths as she ran behind Ayane, who was carrying Senku due to him being exhausted, and Taiju.
"What he punctured was an airtight bag with pepper inside!" Was all Ayane yelled back as she continued to run.
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Back at the camp…
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Feeling his way, Tsukasa's eyes burned to the point it felt like he was holding it above fire. Then feeling a cup and shook it around, he heard something liquid. Smelling its contents, he realized what it was.
Splashing the liquid on his eyes, he rubbed it off and opened them. Looking down at the cup he realized that the substance was river water. Crushing the cup, he smiled.
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"You had to play as their friend. Smart move, Saki. Smart move." Then looking around with his limited vision, he saw something he thought he would never see. "An arrow?" As he approached the arrow that stuck out like a sore thumb, it finally clicked as to why Ayane spoke to him like that. "So, that's what she meant. It's all about misdirection." Then looking at the small path that the trees left, he knew which direction the group went. "I'll leave them for a bit. Saki will slow them down just enough for me to catch up. And when I do, I'll force Senku to give up the formula."
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Walking at a mediocre pace, Tsukasa smiled knowing he had someone he could trust to slow down the man who could end his entire dream.