The sun had begun its descent when a figure emerged from the trees, his flamboyant smile and theatrical gestures immediately catching the group's attention. As he approached, the man's sharp eyes flicked to each person in turn, lingering on Senku before settling on Kuri.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the stranger said, his voice dripping with charm. "A band of sorcerers and scientists plotting something grand, no doubt. Allow me to introduce myself—I am Gen Asagiri, a mentalist by trade, and I'm very curious about what you're up to."

Kuri stepped forward, her silver eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. "You don't seem like someone who wandered here by accident."

Gen chuckled, spreading his arms wide. "Oh, you're perceptive. Yes, I've come on behalf of Tsukasa to learn if Senku is alive. And he looks very alive to me."

Kuri crossed her arms, her posture relaxed but her expression unreadable. "And what do you plan to do with this information?"

"Let's just say Tsukasa wants to know if you're a threat." Gen's smile was disarming, but his sharp gaze betrayed his calculating nature. "But you don't need to worry about that. I'm a man of persuasion, not violence."

Senku, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward, his tone sharp. "If you're here to spy for Tsukasa, you can turn around now. We don't have time for games."

Gen raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Oh, I see. Protective, aren't we? Especially of this one." He gestured toward Kuri, whose calm demeanor seemed to irritate him.

"Don't test me," Senku warned, stepping closer, his eyes burning with a rare intensity. "If you so much as—"

Kuri raised a hand, cutting him off. "It's fine, Senku. Let me handle this."

Her voice was calm, almost soothing, and Senku hesitated before stepping back, though his sharp gaze never left Gen.

Kuri turned her attention to the mentalist, her silver eyes gleaming with an ethereal light. "You're not here because of loyalty to Tsukasa," she said softly. "You're here because you're curious. You want to see what we're capable of."

Gen blinked, his smile faltering for the first time. "I… well, that's not entirely—"

"You don't believe in Tsukasa's vision," Kuri continued, her voice steady. "You're just trying to survive in a world that doesn't make sense anymore. You've always done what you needed to do to stay safe."

Gen swallowed, his confidence wavering as he felt the full weight of her empathy. It was as if she could see straight through him, into the parts of himself he tried to keep hidden.

"What if we offered you something better?" Kuri asked, her voice laced with quiet conviction. "A world where knowledge and progress can bring everyone back. A world where survival doesn't mean betrayal."

For a long moment, Gen stared at her, his mind racing. Then, as if a switch had flipped, his expression softened. "Alright," he said finally, his tone sincere. "You've convinced me. I'll help you."

Senku's eyes narrowed, his mind scrambling to understand the sudden shift. Gen had gone from adversary to ally in a matter of moments. As Kuri turned to him with a small, knowing smile, he realized she had used her empathy to sway Gen. Shocked, but aware of how fragile Gen's cooperation might be, Senku chose to remain silent, observing the exchange with quiet amazement.

Later that evening, Senku stood on the mountain, inspecting the setup for their next experiment. The goal was simple yet dangerous: magnetize the iron using a lightning strike.

The storm clouds above rumbled ominously, flashes of light illuminating the darkened sky. Kuri stood nearby, her gaze fixed on the lightning rod Senku had constructed.

"We only have one chance to get this right," Senku said, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "If the lightning misses, it's all over."

Kuri nodded, determination etched across her face. "Then we'll make sure it doesn't miss."

As the first bolt of lightning crackled across the sky, Kuri lunged forward, grabbing the lightning rod and positioning it perfectly below. The moment the lightning struck, the energy surged through the rod and into the iron sand, but the force also slammed into Kuri, throwing her to the ground.

"Kuri!" Senku's voice was raw with terror as he dropped everything and ran to her side. She lay motionless, her body limp and her breathing nonexistent.

"No, no, no," Senku muttered, panic rising as he knelt beside her. "This isn't happening."

He pressed his hands to her chest, performing CPR with frantic precision. "Come on, Kuri. Breathe!"

Minutes passed, but she didn't stir. Senku's hands trembled as he paused, staring down at her pale face. A cold realization gripped him. He had failed.

"No," he whispered, his voice cracking. "This isn't over."

Desperation clawed at him as he remembered Kuri's words. "You have magic too, Senku. It's inside you—you just have to find it."

Closing his eyes, Senku placed his hands over her heart, concentrating with everything he had. But nothing happened. His breath hitched, frustration and fear threatening to overwhelm him.

"Please…" he whispered, tears slipping down his cheeks. "Don't leave me. I need you, Kuri. You're the only one who…" His voice broke, and he clenched his fists. "Just wake up! Live!"

A sudden warmth spread through his hands, and a faint glow surrounded Kuri's body. Her chest rose with a sharp gasp as her eyes flew open, silver light shimmering within them.

"Kuri!" Senku's voice was filled with relief as he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "You're alive."

Kuri blinked, her gaze unfocused for a moment before settling on him. "Senku… what happened?"

"You got struck by lightning, you idiot," he said, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound stern. "Don't ever scare me like that again."

She smiled faintly, resting her head against his chest. "Guess I owe you one."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the storm raging around them as they clung to each other. Senku's mind whirled, but one thought stood out above the chaos: he wasn't going to let anything happen to her ever again.