"What...? It smells sweet... I wonder if this is heaven..." Senku saw a beautiful dark haired priestess looking down at him. "I...I'm hungry..."
"Ah, you're awake," she said. "Your stomach growled, science guy. Want something to eat? Maybe konpeito, since your such a space case."
"I...!?" Senku thought. "I was saved? You saved me?"
"It's good you weren't hit by that car," Kuri said. "But you did scrape your arm pretty bad." A cloth was tied around his arm, and it was cleaned up.
"Science guy..." Kuri said. "Eat up. You'll feel better."
"This person seems nice..." Senku thought as he ate, his strength indeed returning. "Who is she? And, where on earth am I? Why can't I get up? Was I hurt more than I thought!"
"Hey you're a scientist." Kuri leaned close, making him blush. "What do you think about the NASA Space Program! You know they only choose 100 people every year! So you think you'd qualify? I'm looking for an eager candidate!"
"Uh…are you being serious right now?" Senku asked suspiciously.
"Well yeah." Kuri said. "I'm Kuri Hikawa, professional member of the NASA Space Program. But we have an empty seat. How bout it?"
Senku just stared. Was this woman for real?
"…show me your badge."
Kuri handed it over, as well as a business card. "If you'd like to join up, give me a call. I can get you to the US ASAP! What's your name by the way?"
"Uh…Senku Ishigami."
Kuri leaned back, looking up at the moon through the skylight. "Aaah. Isn't it beautiful? Aren't you eager as hell to touch the sky, Senku?"
The woman was quiet and gentle, and after finishing his bandages she sat down in the chair and drifted off to sleep.
Senku watched her, flicking his a blanket over her for warmth. "She was up all night tending to me..."
Senku was more dazed by her than when he was hit by the car. As he headed home, all he could think about was how incredibly sad she sounded when she talked about space.
Xxx
That night, Senku listened as Chrome came into the house. He was still too injured to get up on his own and greet his friend.
"I heard you stayed up for the past three nights working on that snowscape painting of yours. Is it complete?" Senku asked.
"Yes it i—" Chrome doubled over and groaned.
Senku gasped. Is Chrome hurt?
Ruri entered the room. "Chrome you shouldn't push yourself. You're looking pale."
"I'll be fine after some rest, Miss Ruri," Chrome said.
"How did you do Chrome? On the final cut for your artwork to be featured in the museum." Kohaku said.
"I'm waiting for the results," Chrome said.. "After one week. I hope to become a real artist. I wanna show them what I was able to do through the power of science and the comet I discovered!"
"You'll be chosen," Senku said. "Soon you'll be the youngest contributing artist in Tokyo."
"Well I am younger than you, Senku." Chrome laughed.
He never told me...Senku thought.
"That snowscape..." Chrome said. "The lighting against the snow makes it come out in shades of blue, like sorrow. An intense longing..."
Senku was lost in thought. Chrome never mentioned the comet either...should I tell him about NASA…?
To Senku's shock, he unwrapped a package at the door filled with medical grade bandaging tools and a note from Kuri telling him to consider her offer.
The TV in the corner was on, and Minami was reporting.
"This is still top-secret, but several days ago, the comet Kaguya-Hime suddenly appeared. It's hard to believe, but this time it's been identified as having a collision course for Earth."
"What did he say!?" Senku thought, dropping the box.
"It has a diameter of 10 kilometers. Clearly, it was a comet the same size that wiped out the dinosaurs when it collided with Earth. An emergency meeting of every country is being called. Unless we can somehow stop it..."
They zoomed in on photos of the comet.
Senku gasped. "It looks just like Chrome's painting!"