Senku pulled back just enough to look into Kuri's eyes, a soft smirk lifting the corner of his mouth as he murmured, "Your worry might just be what keeps me alive, you know."

Kuri's heart thudded, her grip tightening as if her arms alone could shield him from Tsukasa's ideals, his plans, his vision that seemed so uncompromisingly ruthless. "Senku, please… Tsukasa won't hesitate to go through anyone who stands in his way, statues or otherwise. He believes so deeply that he's doing this for the future—but he won't stop if you don't."

Senku's gaze didn't waver; his eyes sparkled with that familiar determination that Kuri both admired and feared. "And that's exactly why we'll stop him."

He took a step back, his mind already whirring, a plan likely forming. "If he's willing to destroy, then we'll have to create even faster," he mused, voice steady but with a hint of steel.

Kuri tilted her head, her fingers brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "What do you mean?"

Senku's smirk widened. "Alchemy, Kuri. If he's going to try to tear down civilization, we'll outpace him by advancing it." He gestured around the crude camp they'd set up, the fire casting flickering shadows. "With your abilities, combined with science, we can pull off the impossible. Imagine bypassing months of work in days—maybe even hours."

A flicker of pride and worry mingled in Kuri's expression. "Alchemy isn't limitless, Senku… but I'll push myself if it means protecting you."

A shadow of guilt crossed Senku's face for a moment, but he nodded resolutely. "Then let's prepare. If Tsukasa thinks he can control the future with sheer strength, we'll show him that true power lies in creation and knowledge."

As Kuri drew closer, Senku turned his attention to the fire, his mind already racing with calculations. But for just a moment, he leaned toward her, his voice barely above a whisper. "I trust you, Kuri. Let's change the world before he has the chance to destroy it."

The days that followed were a whirlwind of preparation, every moment brimming with anticipation and whispered plans. Together, Kuri and Senku began developing alchemical shortcuts and scientific breakthroughs, pushing their work to astonishing limits. Yet, Kuri couldn't shake the weight of dread that seemed to shadow every step they took. Tsukasa's eyes grew sharper, colder, the conviction in his beliefs hardening as Senku's advancements edged closer to reviving a world Tsukasa wanted left in the past.

One evening, under the faint glow of a crescent moon, Kuri and Senku worked side by side in silence, transmuting materials for their next invention. The camp was eerily quiet, the air thick with a tension they both tried to ignore.

Finally, Senku straightened, stretching his arms with a nonchalant smile. "With this, we're one step closer," he said, holding up a fragment of their creation, his eyes glinting with satisfaction.

Kuri forced a smile, but it faltered when she noticed a shadow moving through the trees behind him. Her heart sank as Tsukasa emerged, his face impassive, a grim resolve in his eyes.

"Senku," Tsukasa's voice was low, almost regretful, but unyielding. "I've watched you push forward despite my warnings. I cannot let this continue."

Senku raised an eyebrow, his usual confidence undaunted. "And what are you going to do, Tsukasa? Smash every fragment of progress we've made? The world isn't so simple that one man's strength alone can stop it from moving forward."

"Perhaps," Tsukasa replied, his hand tightening around the weapon at his side. "But I can prevent it from falling back into the hands of those who would destroy it." His gaze flicked to Kuri, a silent understanding passing between them. She was loyal to Senku, and he knew that meant she wouldn't step aside.

Kuri instinctively stepped closer to Senku, reaching for his hand as if that simple touch could protect him. "Senku," she whispered, "don't—"

But Senku merely glanced at her with that calm, unbreakable smile. "It's alright, Kuri. We both knew this might happen."

"Senku…" Her voice broke, and she felt the sting of tears. She tightened her grip, trying to convey everything she couldn't say aloud.

Senku didn't flinch. "So, the 'World's Strongest Primate' has finally decided to show his hand," he muttered, his tone as calm as ever. He turned to Kuri, his expression slightly teasing. "Guess you're not the only one throwing surprises my way tonight."

Kuri shot him a look, her heart pounding as she reached for his hand, her fingers lacing with his in an instinctive act of protection. "Stay close," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Senku's gaze flickered with surprise, but he tightened his grip, grounding her.

As Tsukasa approached, Kuri shifted closer, her body pressed against Senku's as if to shield him. She met Tsukasa's gaze with a defiance he hadn't expected, her hand lingering on Senku's shoulder, her touch sending a shiver down his spine. Senku's mind raced—was this part of her strategy, or was something more going on?

"You don't need to do this, Tsukasa," Kuri said, her voice calm yet firm. "This isn't the way to create a better world."

Tsukasa's eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. "A better world is one without the corruption of the past, one that doesn't repeat humanity's mistakes. And I'll do whatever it takes to protect that future."

Senku rolled his eyes, muttering, "What's the point if we have to tear down everything to get there?"

Tsukasa's gaze shifted, and a flicker of doubt seemed to cross his face. But before he could respond, Kuri's hand moved to Senku's chest, her touch warm and steady. "Senku," she whispered, leaning closer. "If things get dangerous… I'll handle it."

She moved even closer, and before he could react, her lips brushed against his—a sudden, soft kiss that took him completely off guard. His eyes widened, his heart skipping a beat as he processed what had just happened. He opened his mouth to say something, but the words caught in his throat, replaced by an unfamiliar, thrilling sensation.

Kuri's eyes held a mischievous glint as she pulled back, her gaze meeting his for a lingering moment before she turned to face Tsukasa, her posture unyielding.

The distraction worked. Tsukasa, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected display, hesitated, his stance shifting as he took in the scene before him. Kuri seized the opportunity, using a swift gesture to summon a small burst of alchemical energy between them, a protective barrier that shimmered like a shield.

"Kuri, you're full of surprises tonight," Senku murmured, his mind racing as he realized the depth of her dedication. His gaze softened as he watched her face Tsukasa with unwavering determination, her eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness that left him both confused and captivated.

Tsukasa, however, recovered quickly, his resolve hardening as he raised his weapon. "If you won't stand aside, Kuri, then I'll do what I must."

Without hesitation, Kuri stepped forward, her hand slipping to Senku's arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm not going anywhere. You're going to have to go through both of us if you want to stop this."

A rare smile crossed Senku's face, a mixture of admiration and curiosity. "Ten billion percent, Kuri, I don't know what's going on in your head, but this is getting interesting."

They fought with everything they had, Senku's scientific tactics combining with Kuri's alchemical skills in an unpredictable dance of intellect and instinct. As the battle grew more intense, Kuri found herself closer to Senku than ever, her movements interwoven with his as they dodged, defended, and struck back.

At one point, as they narrowly evaded a crushing blow from Tsukasa, Kuri pulled Senku close, her breath warm against his ear. "You're going to get us both killed if you don't let me protect you," she murmured, her tone half teasing, half serious. Before he could respond, she pressed another quick kiss to his cheek, her eyes filled with a playful spark.

"Just stay focused," Senku replied, feeling an unexpected warmth spreading through him. For the first time, he was caught off balance, his usual sharp mind clouded by the flutter of emotions Kuri stirred in him. But he shook it off, the thrill of the fight taking over as he tightened his grip on her hand.

But just as they gained the upper hand, Tsukasa's expression changed, a look of grim determination overtaking him. He surged forward, his strength overwhelming as he closed the distance between them, his target clear.

With a final, devastating blow, Tsukasa struck, and Senku felt a blinding pain, his body crumpling as Kuri screamed his name. She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands trembling as she pressed them to his chest, trying desperately to stop the bleeding.

"Senku, no," she whispered, her voice breaking, her eyes wide with panic. She leaned down, pressing her forehead to his, her fingers brushing through his hair. "Don't leave me… please."

Senku's hand weakly reached up, resting against her cheek as he forced a smile, his voice barely a whisper. "Guess things really did… get interesting, didn't they?"

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she nodded, her heart shattering. "Senku… I…"

He silenced her with a faint squeeze of her hand. "Keep going, Kuri. Make that better world… I can't wait to be there to see it."

And with those final puzzling words, his eyes closed, leaving Kuri to clutch his lifeless body as the moonlight bathed them both, her heart breaking in the silence that followed.