The english translation of "Dua Singa Dalam Satu Hati" with slight modification. English is not my first language, so grammar shark is welcome. Tsukasa X Senku with slight Senku X Kohaku.
Summary :
"I don't have the slightest idea about love or marriage. My father never married!" Senku oppose the idea of marrying Kohaku to produce the superior offspring, because he has a crush on the strogest primate Shishio Tsukasa. But at the and of the day, Senku have to choose humanity over his heart…"
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Two Lions in One Heart
No matter how busy he was, Senku's old man always made time to spend the weekend with his son. They'd regularly dine on ramen or stroll around festivals. Senku clearly remembers how gently his hand was held and how cheerful his father's voice sounded.
Now, no matter how busy Senku gets in the lab, he always makes time to go out on weekend nights. But this time, instead of his father, Senku spends time with his friends. Sometimes Chrome and Ruri, Taiju and Yuzuriha, Kohaku, Gen, or Tsukasa. Sometimes all of them.
But now, Chrome-Ruri and Taiju-Yuzuriha have their married lives. Gen is busy with his diplomatic missions. Kohaku busy with village development. That leaves just one. The 6'5" strongest primate ever—his old buddy, Shishio Tsukasa.
After several weekends, they have a kind of permanent agenda. Every Friday and Saturday night, they two would meet in front of Senku's lab, and then stroll around to the bridge on the bay, watching the city under construction.
Sometimes, Tsukasa brings his little sister, Mirai. Senku never mind. He likes Mirai and her cheerful laugh. They usually tell random stories to each other, enjoying time together.
"Sorry i keep bringing Mirai," one time, Tsukasa said in his usual gentle voice.
"Heh, no need to apologize," Senku smiled, "I like spending time with you guys!"
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.
.
Tonight, he happened to come alone, walking slowly with both hands in his pockets. The hands were bandaged, still wounded from the New World's MMA regional tournament a day ago.
"Heh, you've got better-shaped hands after fighting a lion in stone age back then," Senku scoffed.
"At least I won the tournament," Tsukasa smiled, proud of the scars he wore like badges of honor.
"Poor guys. Just revived, and they had to fight you," Senku chuckled, glancing at the layers of bandages on Tsukasa's hands.
"They're fine," Tsukasa said, "So, want to grab a bite at Francois' place?"
"Yeah, let's go!"
The two men walked steadily side by side. They didn't talk much, but their hearts felt connected. When Senku shivered slightly from the wind off the bay, Tsukasa immediately moved to the side of the wind, shielding the smaller Senku. Senku smiled faintly, feeling warm knowing he was being protected.
They dined at Francois' restaurant. Tonight was Japan Night, a special evening featuring Japanese food. Senku and Tsukasa took a seat by the window and began chatting. Senku shared stories about his lab, and Tsukasa spoke about his new MMA career.
They spoke softly, laughed warmly, and smiled often.
Senku was fully aware that their relationship was unspoken, undefined—but he didn't care. All he knew was that he felt comfortable by his big buddy's side.
.
.
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Living creatures are meant to procreate, continuing their bloodlines, avoiding extinction. Senku knew it. But, still, he's all shock when Kokuyo—Kohaku's father—begs him to marry his youngest daughter.
"Senku, please marry Kohaku!" he bows down. Senku was stunned with his comical ugly face.
"I have already married your eldest daughter once, old man!" Senku protested, "Why the hell do you ask me to marry your other daughter?"
"Kohaku turns 27 this year, and you are 28. You know… humanity is still developed to reach the modern era. Humanity needs superior descendants! You and Kohaku are definitely the best pair. It isn't all my idea. There are a lot of people in the village who think the same! Even your modern-time buddies will agree!"
Senku is too speechless to talk back.
What? What descendant? Senku doesn't have a damn millimeter interest in romance, marriage and those kinds of things.
A shadow behind the wall made his heart sink almost instantly. Kohaku appears, wearing her modern-style black dress and knitted cardigan Yuzuhira made. Despite of indifferent and uncaring looks, Senku could sense that her big blue eyes were a little teary.
Senku had a billion excuses to refuse Kokuyo's ridiculous request, but all the excuses blocked his throat as his eyes landed on Kohaku's.
This girl has been accompanying him for years, since day one. Even before "step one". They have been through a billion hardships, from smoke-signalling to going to the moon together. It's not even exaggerating if Senku said, without Kohaku, Senku would never reach the point he stands now. Kohaku is a catalyst, just like a dash of platinum in nitric acid synthesis.
Kohaku still looks indifferent, almost like she doesn't expect anything from Senku.
.
"Listen," Senku tried his best to speak, "Romance and marriage is off the table. Not even a millimeter. It's pointless!"
"But, young man!" Kokuyo retorted, "You are the most logical man ever! Giving birth of genetically superior descendant is the most logical thing you can do to help the world rebuild the humanity!"
That shock wave shivers him faster than he could anticipate.
Kokuyo is right.
But Senku is too speecless to say anything. Kohaku's dejected face doesn't ease him at all.
.
.
Finally, Senku brings Kohaku go out, avoiding her father who grumbling around about Senku's rejection. Senku brings Kohaku to the brigde, watching the city constuction through fence.
"I don't just get to pick woman like an object!" Senku spoke, "I got no time for romance!"
"I knew," Kohaku answer. Her tone is flatter than usual, "You divorce your first wife in three minutes."
Senku chuckled, little bit guilty that Kohakul bring that up. Those really remind him to their reckless teenage days.
Senku gazed into Kohaku's azure eyes, a slight smirk playing on his lips. It was the same cunning but cool smirk that Kohaku had known for years. "Look," Senku said, scratching his head. "I don't have the slightest idea about love or marriage. My father never married, and I've never had a mother. So, I hope you can get your old man to shut his mouth about marriage stuffs."
The cheerful tomboy girl replied with a murmured voice, almost doesn't sound like her at all. "I will try."
Senku felt a dash of guilt in his heart.
Senku said, "Do you remember the first time I arrived at Ishigami Village? I asked Suika to figure out what the villagers wanted. I planned to grant their wishes with science."
It cracked Kohaku up a little. "Yeah! And the village girls want boyfriends! Of course, your science can't make boyfriends!"
Senku chuckled, feeling relieved that Kohaku could smile again. "Science can take you across the world, bring you to the literal moon, let you see the universe…" He paused for a moment before his voice cracked. "But science can't resolve the matter of heart."
The night air was getting cooler. Kohaku typically handles the cold well, but this time, she was shivering a bit. The air does get cooler at the beginning of autumn. Senku was a little confused, not knowing what he should do. Kohaku was two million times stronger than him, so trying to protect her like a gentleman would only make him look stupid.
"You know," Kohaku whispered in a melancholy voice, "I don't want to push you about the marriage, because what everyone really wants from us isn't the marriage..."
"So, what?"
Senku was shocked, realizing what Kohaku meant.
Yes, they didn't need marriage. All they needed was Senku's descendants.
"Heh," Senku chuckled, "Damn, your father is more cunning than i assume."
Senku was just about to walk away when Kohaku pecked his cheek. It lasted barely two seconds, but it struck him hard, like lightning. It was completely different from when she had kissed him theatrically as a decoy on Treasure Island. This light kiss was… real.
"You're brilliant," Kohaku's lioness-like voice dropped softly. "We all owe you."
Senku's garnet eyes met Kohaku's azure ones.
Those eyes are widened in unshed tears.
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Senku felt compelled to do something, but he couldn't figure out what. He placed his hand on Kohaku's shoulder, motioning for her to walk closer. Their faces weren't flushed, but the tension between them was clear as they walked in silence.
He hadn't planned anything like this, but he ended up taking Kohaku to an abandoned treehouse near the city. Senku leaned against a pillar, one leg resting and the other propped up in his usual cool pose. Kohaku sat beside him, leaning her body against his arm. They were so close, they could feel each other's warmth.
At some point, Senku couldn't resist the urge inside him as he saw Kohaku's head resting peacefully on his chest. Instinctively, he pulled her closer—much closer than he had initially planned.
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"Two lions in one heart—that's what appeared in Senku's mind. These two lions were his closest companions, who had protected him for years with their lives.
One was the immensely strong lioness with godlike vision. The other was the alpha lion, who lately spent a lot of time eating ramen with Senku on the weekends. Both lions were precious to him—more precious than anything else.
But at the end of the day, Senku had to choose. He always thought rationally, but this time, his usual logical mind was caught in an endless tug-of-war with his heart."
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At midnight, Kohaku lay beside Senku, her hair draping around her. Her cardigan was scattered somewhere, while Senku slowly buttoned his shirt. His eyes distant and blank.
"I—I'll take you home," he said, zipping up his pants.
She sat up, her eyes watery. A drop of sweat still clung to the edge of her nose. "Yeah," she replied quietly.
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Tsukasa met Senku, as he did every weekend. This time, he didn't bring his little sister.
"You're quiet today," Tsukasa remarked. Usually, Senku would comment on his wounds or recall the MMA scores from his previous tournament. But now, he just stood there, staring blankly into Tsukasa's eyes up there.
Senku smiled faintly, unsure of how to respond. The wind from the bay blew his spiky hair, and, as always, Tsukasa shielded him.
"Tsukasa," Senku paused, "Do you ever think about marrying someone?"
"Eh?" Tsukasa wondered. "Married? Like Taiju and Yuzuriha, or like you and your ex-wife?"
Senku noticed the humor in Tsukasa's voice but was too drained to play along. Instead, he almost whispered, "Kokuyo asked me to marry Kohaku…"
Tsukasa's eyes widened in shock.
"I refused!" Senku quickly added. "But I... I spent the night with her. That's all that old man wanted. My descendant."
Senku couldn't see Tsukasa's face, but he could sense the tension in him, like he was holding back an emotion.
"So, you and Kohaku…" Tsukasa tried to speak calmly, but the disappointment clearly seeping into his tone.
Being stabbed by the sharpest spear in combat felt better than hearing that tone of disappointment.
"Well, Senku, that's actually incredible," Tsukasa's voice trembled slightly, as if he was struggling to keep calm. "If you had a kid, you could take them to your usual ramen place, just like you and your father…"
No, this wasn't what Senku wanted to hear from Tsukasa.
But Senku could only respond in a heavy voice, "Yeah… sure…".
.
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The two men couldn't speak their minds directly. So, that night, they ate ramen in silence. Francois' ramen was as warm as usual, and the ambiance of the restaurant was cozy as always. But Senku's knuckles felt cold. His heart felt cold.
After finishing their ramen, Senku and Tsukasa took another walk. They heard there was a fireworks show at the town square for the New World Academy building's inauguration. The square was packed with people, so Senku and Tsukasa decided to sit on a small hill across from it. They sit quietly under the dim light of Senku's simple battery-powered lamp.
They had to wait for the fireworks to start, so they sat side by side in silence.
"So, you're bored of small talk with me, huh?" Tsukasa asked.
Senku smiled faintly, "Not even a millimeter."
"Still thinking about Kohaku?"
"Not even a micrometer," Senku replied, staring ahead blankly. A moment later, he added, "I'm thinking about us."
"Us?" Tsukasa echoed. The word "us" rang in his ears like something beautiful, and his face flushed slightly.
"Us," Senku repeated. "I didn't experience much romance growing up. I only connected romance to chemical reactions in the brain," Senku whispered. "And you're the one who gave me that reaction. I hypothesized that Kohaku might give me the same feeling, but spending the night with her made me realize... no. Not even Kohaku. It's only you. It's only us."
His chest sank.
"But I have to do the right thing," Senku continued. "Kokuyo's right about the descendant. I have to at least have one child. I hope you're okay with that..."
Tsukasa paused. "If it's for humanity, Senku, i'm totally okay. I promise, there's nothing changed between us," Tsukasa said gently, as gentle as Senku remembered. "We're still... us."
The fireworks erupted, bursting into bright, colorful pieces that lit up the sky. The explosion of colors formed a giant orb, nine feet across, painting the night with its brilliance. Senku felt Tsukasa's enormous, bandaged hand holding his under the rainbow glow of the fireworks.
There were a million reasons Senku could come up with to explain why Tsukasa held his hand like this. But he couldn't think of a single reason to oppose it.
Senku and Tsukasa's silhouettes were framed by the rainbow lights, sitting so close, closer than they ever had before. Close enough to feel each other's heartbeat.
.
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"Let's head back to my place," Tsukasa whispered, smiling.
"Okay," Senku replied softly. "But I have to remind you, I don't do butt stuff."
Tsukasa could barely contain his laugh.
He pulled Senku into a tight hug, a little too tight, making Senku groan slightly. Senku laughed, too, feeling Tsukasa's massive, muscular hand in his neck. Those hands felt like a soft blanket on a rainy morning. So gentle and comfortable.
"Me neither!" Tsukasa replied, grinning. "But I can hold you like this all the time. Sai developed a new game. We can play until morning."
"Let's go!"
And so, the two men walked down the hill, arms around each other's shoulders, feeling a sense of relief.