23rd Shot: The First Shot of You
It's almost amazing how everything just went on smoothly–falling into its place and fitting perfectly. This could be one of their fastest projects to be done, all thanks to everyone's hard work and Francois's wise in culinary. Indeed, their newest addition for Kingdom of Science would lend them all tons of help in the matter of food along with its preservation. Just leave it to Francois and everything will be done perfectly.
And to that, now they had baking area precisely for producing numerous stollen they needed for their voyage. For now, the problems of rations were already handled with elegance and professionalism courtesy to Francois.
"It's nothing too difficult." They bowed. "As long as there is wheat, it's simple to make bread."
"And don't you think it's time for you to rest…?" Shinko questioned, smiling nervously as she witnessed the butler already moving on to make another batch of bread. They didn't even break a sweat from all the work it's almost supernatural.
"Nonsense, Lady Shinko", Francois commented, a bowl of flour already set on the table. "This task is nowhere near exhausting."
"I probably said this a hundredth times already, but," sighing in exasperation, Shinko still couldn't hold a smile. "Francois-san is outstanding. No wonder Ryusui-san insisted on reviving them."
"Well, they are the most-sought butler in the world," Ukyo remarked, standing close beside her–watching as the said butler preparing another set of ingredients, lining them up neatly on the table so they could reach it easier. "As Ryusui proclaimed."
"Even though Ryusui-san is incredibly greedy," And he's nowhere guilty at letting people know, Shinko couldn't help but added internally. "He has good judgement and eyes for people with amazing capabilities. Maybe in the future, we could find more people similar to Francois-san."
"As a part of conglomerate family, he's sure has great wide of connection." Ukyo hummed in agreement, the idea wouldn't be bad at all because they indeed have a grand ideal of unpetrified 3 billion population. To achieve that, capable human resources are necessary. "While we get to revive everyone, he can rope the people he knows has great ability."
"We mix the wheat flour with water. Ideally, at 30 degrees Celsius," Francois said as they poured some water into the bowl. "As it's now summer, this is just right. And leave it as it is for several days. In doing so, the mixture starts bubbling and fermenting on its own."
"We could ferment with just two ingredients?" Shinko blinked, quite surprise hearing the unfamiliar method being used.
"Is it really bread without adding that 'yeast' stuff?" Gen questioned.
"That's always floating around everywhere." Senku answered, hand moving to make circular gesture in the air. "It's just that wheat is perfect for it to sprout in."
"There is typically a great deal on skin of fruits," Francois added. "Adding some will also create a great aroma. If there's a lot of water, the bread will be very soft. However, it also spoils quickly. Therefore, a 1:1 flour-to-water ratio is probably the best."
Stepping closer to Ukyo, Shinko tugged onto his sleeve in a playful way–making the young man turned to face her. "Is this what they called food science?"
"Along that line?" in return for her teasing, he leaned in and dropped his weight almost fully upon her–catching the young woman off-guard and stumbled on her feet. Though, she did hold onto his shoulders to prevent him from really falling down. Shinko huffed and smacked his upper arm lightly, which only made him laughed.
"From this simple seed, we can make bread identical to that of modern civilization!" Francois concluded. To think in making a high-quality bread could be done without any sorts of modern ingredients such as yeast was amazing on its own. Maybe what's more amazing was how on earth Francois could know such ways.
Now from this, they don't have to go through trial and error and the possibility of annihilating their tastebuds along the process. Just leave it to Francois!
"Are you ready for another round of eating?" Ukyo asked, pointing to a mountain stack of freshly baked bread present on the table–still pipping hot from their place in the oven. Shinko couldn't help but giggling from how eager he looked in getting his hands on one of the delicacies.
"Maybe we could add something and make it a proper meal instead of snack?" she suggested. "How about toast and eggs? We still have a few eggs left from Kohaku-chan's egg hunt."
Ukyo's head perked up at the idea. "That would be great!"
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They did make toasts and eggs in the end. Using just a little bit of oil and two eggs for each bread, Shinko handled it without breaking a sweat. Fried eggs were an extremely basic cooking and with just a little bit of salt as seasoning, you would be presented a delicious simple meal without costing an arm or leg. While the others were devoruing their bread as it is, both Ukyo and Shinko munching on their toast and egg not far–savoring the flavor of modern brunch in the middle of stone world.
That and she really enjoyed how Ukyo's blissful look as he dived in for another bite. The young man was deprived from proper meals nearly more than a year, she couldn't judge him for being a little bit more emotional over good food.
Good food could lift up your spirits and brightened up your mood way faster than anything, that's why there's comfort food or such. That method also applied for Shinko from time to time–if she felt her mood somehow drop from how tiring archery practice was, her mom would always whip up her favorite warm meal or even pointing to the fridge, informing that some sweet or drink available for her.
Enjoying your meal and eating wholeheartedly isn't a sin–it's a simple thing everyone should be able to do it without being disturb by anything or anyone.
"Then!" a very familiar voice exclaimed–from the incredibly artificial tone, it definitely came from their phone. "Just who is the one to thank for making that incredible bread!?"
"Ah, it's Minami-chan," Shinko muttered between bites. Surely the reporter wanted to know the progress of her secret stash–was it well-used or not.
"Francois~" everyone simultaneously replied without hesitation–drowned in happiness from the perfect food they're eating currently.
"Francois and Shinko," Ukyo added, voice rather muffled with how he's in the middle chewing another bite.
Smiling nervously, the young woman replied, "I just made the eggs though."
"WRONG!" Minami shrieked. "Well, no. Not wrong. Francois should also be thanked. It's because I gave up my precious revival formula, you know!? And how dare you made toasts and eggs without me having to taste, Shinko-chan! This is utter betrayal!"
"I can make you one if you're here," the said young woman replied, trying to console her dear friend feeling frustrated over not being appreciated enough.
"Well, thank you for your consideration, sweetie," Minami remarked, before continuing on her rage. "You said 'we'll make it' as part of the trade! I still haven't forgotten that!"
"Did you promise something, Senku-san?" Shinko questioned–she didn't hear the complete version of the previous discussion being held, so she knew next to nothing. However, from how Minami was quite pissed because she believed it's a scam, maybe she requested something she longed for.
"No clue," the scientist replied. "I'm letting the mentalist took the wheel."
"And apparently, in the end, Gen resulted to promising something to Minami." Ukyo concluded. "What did she want?"
As if answering their question immediately, Minami spoke one word–which successfully made their eyes widened in disbelief, well both Ukyo and Shinko while Senku seemed to be extremely amused with another project appeared before him.
"Yeah~" humming in understanding, Senku then scoffed. "That mouth of yours is really too much, mentalist!"
"Well, I just got carried away and promised~" Gen replied, not once feeling apologetic about it–probably knowing Senku could make it regardless. "You can make it, right, Senku-chan?"
"We're going to need real delicate and complex craftwork." Shrugging his shoulders, Senku remarked. "I'll want master artisan, Kaseki."
Surely, in order to build sophisticated things where down to smallest details is required, then no other than Kaseki could handle it. He already built more than a few scientific things perfectly in just one try–nothing less from a person who has more than almost four decades of experience. That, and Kaseki is always excited for more upcoming projects. Still, there's one thing concerning.
"Would it be difficult for Kaseki-san to reach Ishigami Village by foot?" Shinko frowned in concern. Old age couldn't be fight, and taking a trip of two days by foot for an elder is extreme. "I mean, even for someone young it's really exhausting."
"Maybe he has a plan?" Ukyo questioned.
Well, he sure is. Not long after the conversation, rumbling of engine could be heard from the distance–surely it made Ukyo's head perked up. Parting the lining trees with its heavy body and steam trailing behind, Steam Gorilla appeared–and somehow looking even more refined than before. On it, of course, Kaseki and Minami, but this time Minami's the one who took the wheel.
"IT HAS DOUBLE PISTONS THAT CAN CARRY OVER SLOPES!" the look of pure disbelief was expected–especially when nearly everyone had the same expression. "THE STEAM GORILLA II!"
Well, the name has changed to Steam Gorilla II now–a better version of its predecessor which didn't have double pistons so it couldn't climb over hills and slopes.
Shinko blinked a few times before laughing nervously. "What a grand entrance. Both the vehicle and the people on it."
She's not wrong–Kaseki was dressed in crisp all black suit from Yuzuriha's current catalogue back at the construction site, complete with accessories that glistened under the sun. And now black sunglasses included, him and Minami wore them–something Shinko didn't know how to make, probably Yuzuriha had her own way to manage it.
"YOUR CLOTHES!" Chrome gasped–so, Shinko's not the one who had her eyes on it as soon as the two jumped off the steam-engined vehicle.
"Pretty badass, huh?" Kaseki remarked. "I was thinkin' of rocking this style from now on. So then, what did you call me all the way out here for? What are we going to make?"
Senku went into action by bending down to match the elder's height and started whispering something they couldn't hear. However, they instantly knew it was something that could make a dedicated craftsman fired up–clearly seen from how his clothes were instantly shredded to pieces.
Shinko respectfully looked away.
"YOUR CLOTHES…!" same sentence courtesy to Chrome.
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When Senku arrived at his first ever science lab being built in the stone world, he was greeted with Shinko's figure–who placed the rectangle-shaped clay container he asked from Kaseki. To be honest, he didn't think she would stick around to help him more–especially when Ukyo's around. The two were practically attached to hip, inseparable, and became a package.
Wherever Ukyo is, Shinko should be with him and wherever Shinko is, you would find Ukyo not far away.
"The container's ready, Senku-san," she said, noticing his existence in the place.
Senku nodded in understanding, moving towards the table. "Could you get the Sodium Peroxide? Let Chrome gather the rest."
Then it was silence–not the uncomfortable nor tense one, it's more like 'I'm aware that you're breathing in the same room with me right now' type of silence. Ruby red eyes took a glance over Shinko, who's busy rummaging through the labeled Erlenmeyer lining up on the shelves–searching for the thing he needed.
"You're not with Ukyo?" the scientist found his mouth moving on its own without his consent.
"Hm?" Shinko hummed as she pulled out the right glass container. "Why? You don't like me here, Senku-san?"
"Just answer the damn question." The said scientist deadpanned, which induced series of cackles from the young woman.
"No. Besides, I'm still your unofficial assistant and I like it that way." Shinko remarked, approaching the table and putting the glass container on the surface. "It keeps me busy."
"People don't want to be busy," Senku rose an eyebrow from the absurd statement. "Is something wrong with your head?"
"I got the silver, sugar, and ammonia!" Chrome burst into the lab, carrying a tray of the list of ingredients he just yelled out loud–his loudness almost made the two's soul jumped to heavens. "What are we making today!?"
"Go to Kaseki's place," Senku sighed in the end, hands shooing away the only woman in the vicinity. "Made sure he has everything or at least help him."
Nodding in agreement, Shinko didn't waste any more time–immediately jogging to reach Kaseki's workplace faster. Senku watched as she kneeled beside the elder, quickly engaging conversation he couldn't comprehend from the distance that exists. Kaseki pointed out several things, which made Shinko nodded before standing up to fetch the things he needed.
"Did I come at the bad time?" Chrome muttered, noticing Senku's stare.
Meanwhile, the person he threw the question to just shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly. "Nah."
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"Good work."
"What kind of work? I do almost nothing."
Ukyo snorted in laughter, being entertained fully by Shinko's slight pout. But he fully understood what she meant–being bored in an area without technology is nightmare, the worst scenario to ever befallen, and God forbid they experienced it. In the past, they could laze around on the bed inside their bedroom with full-blasted AC in summer, playing whatever on their phone or just scrolled around.
Now? Even a book doesn't exist. Nothing you could possibly do to kill time.
"Well, you're helping Senku in the lab before," the young man replied.
"Only for a few minutes before he shooed away," Shinko muttered underneath her breath, pulling her legs even closer to her chest and chin rested upon her knees.
"What about Kaseki?"
"He just needs me to fetch several things. He can do the rest on his own."
"There, there," Ukyo decided to sit beside her, hand patted her back gently as Shinko continued to sulk away. The two currently resting under the cool shade of one of the lining trees surrounding Kingdom of Science's first headquarters–watching as Kaseki was totally immersed with his work.
"Why? Resting is important to maintain your beauty!" Ryusui proclaimed, and somehow already sitting on the empty space beside Shinko. Ukyo was wondering on how did he manage to maintain his energetic personality in the burning air around them instead.
"I don't have one."
"Nonsense! All women are beautiful!"
"Don't take it for granted," Ukyo reminded, slightly huffing from how Shinko dropped her head to his shoulder unannounced. His hand moved automatically–reaching out to caressed her hair. "We've been walking miles to look for the oil field. A day of rest is a good thing, we can't have ourselves worn out."
The young woman fell silent from the statement and Ukyo knew she took his words to heart. Finally, she sighed and muttered. "You're right."
"This is BAD!" Chrome's excited yells made their head turned–noticing the said brunette jogged to approach their place with earnest, in his grip was something rectangle-shaped. Without a doubt, it's something Senku created that made him excited. "We can see ourselves with this!"
"A mirror?" Shinko questioned, pushing herself to stood in front of Chrome.
"Is this what Minami wanted?" Ukyo questioned, confused about the invention–it was extremely simple, maybe he and Shinko was mistaken. The previous object they heard was more advance and complex.
"Maybe she's interested in looking at her face! And her beauty?" aside from that, Chrome was highly entertained by the object–constantly staring at his own reflection on it.
Ryusui cackled. "You really don't know a thing, don't you, Chrome? All women are beautiful! So, of course they'd be interested in something like that!"
"A mirror is important to," Minami pouted, instantly standing by Shinko's side and hugged her arm close to her chest. "But what I want is a tool of my trade! Tell him, Shinko-chan!"
"So, it's not the thing you're asking?" Ukyo watched as Minami shook her head and slumped herself over Shinko, who's already expecting the gesture since she usually draped herself over her. It somehow became a routine and he was glad Shinko was having a good relationship with the other girls around.
"No! Far from it!"
"Hold your horses, reporter," Senku stated, from the glint of his eyes everyone knew he wasn't finish. "This mirror is film!"
It was a wonderous thought from the people from modern civilization. When Senku mentioned film, there's only one thing that came up into their mind–that and the scientist successfully completed his part of trade. Both Ukyo and Shinko's thought was also spot on. "So then, does that mean-!"
"The machine Kaseki created is a container to put the mirror into," Senku explained as he inserted another mirror into the machine. "The body functions as a dark room. You then pour salt water into this hole. Then we dump it out and with that, the film is loaded."
Once all of the procedures were fulfilled, Senku extended his hand–his latest creation in his grip, waiting for Minami to take it over. "Daguerreotype. The first and older camera created in history of humanity!"
Minami wasn't someone who could easily succumbed to her emotion–her years working as a reporter had hammered a sense of professionalism in her mind. Sure, she cried over the fact Tsukasa was out of commission after he was severally injured, however this time it felt different–Ukyo and Shinko could see it and tell the difference.
The young man watched as how she held the camera close to her chest as she bawled, Shinko was quick to be by her side and patted her back gently. It wasn't the tears of agony, it felt more like a reunion and relief. Minami probably owned a camera of her own decades ago, she cherished it with all her might, and losing it crushed her.
Now, they obtained a camera! It will be the start of documentation in this new era.
"Yeah! Take lotsa pictures! We'll be taking them too from our hot air balloon!" Senku interrupted the touching moment by pushing a cart full of cameras–identical with the one Minami has in her possession.
"SO MANY!?" both her and Gen yelped.
"You need to know more about timing, Senku-san…" Ukyo could hear Shinko muttered in desperation, which made him snorted.
"I see! For our exploration from the skies," Ryusui snapped his finger in understanding. "Aerial Photography!"
"A picture's worth a ten billion words when it comes to explaining things! That's why I made these cameras!" the scientist didn't even feel apologetic ruining the moment.
"Even though you said it was for Minami-chan's sake. Doesn't that make Minami-chan who was being so nice about everything, look like an idiot…?" Gen commented anxiously, worrying for Senku's sake because the said reporter was close to strangle his neck.
"A-At least let me take the first commemorative photo!" with tears in her eyes, Minami screamed in frustration before draping herself to sob onto Shinko's shoulder–who immediately stroked her hair to calm her down while smiling nervously. "Men are the worst, Shinko-chan! The worst!"
"That's reasonable," Ukyo and Gen said simultaneously–sometimes, even Ukyo has disliking towards his own population.
"HAHAHHH! Well then, I'll buy the rights to be the model for that picture!" Ryusui also didn't have any ounce of sympathy from how he threw a bunch of cash to Minami to the point it's almost raining of Dragos.
"Why is the world's very first photograph going to be of you!?" more time passed and Minami was getting more tired of everyone's heartlessness.
"What are you saying? It's to be a record of the start of scientific civilization!" the ex-conglomerate commented. "Which means it's got to be of Senku! Am I wrong?"
"HUH!?" Senku sure wasn't expecting this turn out event.
"That makes sense," Shinko agreed, smiling widely. "Since Senku-san's also the one who made it, Senku-san should have the honor of the first photograph!"
"See!"
The next moment was complete chaos–maybe in Senku's point of view. Ryusui was persistent about his wishes and he refused to let Senku marched into the balloon and start their aerial photograph. Soon, Francois proceeded to dressed him up in weird suits and costumes from Ryusui's wardrobe. In the end, Senku just straight up rejected everything.
"Forget it! These clothes are just going to get in the way of working the balloon anyways," the scientist shrugged off the clothing from his figure, and started climbed into the basket. "If you wanna take a picture, then just take it."
"I knew he would say that," Shinko snickered behind her palm.
"AT LEAST GIVE US A POSE!" Minami yelled. Beside her, the camera already being set up on a tripod for better photo-taking.
"Senku… posing!?" Kohaku gasped.
"My brain is melting just trying to imagine it…" Ukyo commented, sharing the same disbelief with the blonde. "Is he gonna like… smile and do a piece sign or something?"
"Well then, for your pose," Francois suggested. "How about the pose of the world's most famous scientist?"
"THAT'S THE ONE!" Minami immediately cheered.
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Chrome bid the excavation team goodbye and began to work right after. Gathering the necessity material and arranging it according to Senku's instruction, it was time to make the photograph visible. Minami and Kaseki also helped him with the process, of course after all of them wore basic protection.
"According to what Senku said, we heat the mercury and let the fumes pass over the film." Chrome explained. "Then he said something about washing it…? With the photographic fixing solution we made from sulfur…"
With the steps went accordingly, the result was something worth to wait.
"OHOHOH, Senku's is on the top of the board!" Kaseki laughed in satisfaction.
"But… what's up with this pose!?" Chrome laughed as soon as the photo cleared.
Minami giggled happily. "Fufufufu, you probably wouldn't know unless you were one of the people from modern era~ It's the pose of the world's most famous scientist!"
"Now, for the other photo!" the reporter announced, plucking out another film from the other camera she managed to snatch from Senku's cart. Of course, this caught both Chrome and Kaseki's attention.
"I thought we only have one photo?" the brunette questioned.
"I took the second without anyone knowing," Minami grinned in delight, feeling excitement bubbling in her chest for the second photo of humanity's new era. "I've always wanted this since forever!"
"Hohoho, let's see it, then!" Kaseki remarked.
Repeating the procedure the exact same way, it took no time for the second photograph to finished. The moment it was done and the picture plastered on the film, Minami squealed in glee–having the biggest smile of the day yet.
"No wonder you're excited about this," Chrome hummed in understanding.
"What a lovely photo indeed!" nodding in agreement of Minami's happiness, Kaseki smiled.
"Right, right!? Look how cute they are!" Minami skipped on her steps, swinging the photo before hugging it close to her chest.