Angel: Alright, season 2! I will say that when they acquire stuff, the text of it will start to slowly die out in the story. Mainly because I'm using a website and not Hulu like I did for season one. For some reason, the rest of the show isn't on there, maybe they're just waiting for the show to stop producing episodes. But then again, Spy x Family isn't doing this so I don't know what is going on there.
Some of the text comes up again in season 3 a few times, only because I used the sub for some episodes in order to spell some words out. Maybe I'll go back and add the text since it's in the subbed version, but that's a lot of rewatching that I'd rather save for another day.
Gen had a light in front of him to create an atmosphere, a grin on his face. "One day a very long time ago...there was a strange flash of light. It appeared suddenly out of nowhere, covering the entire world." Taiju and Yuzuriha were standing in front of the camphor tree from school. The green light started to engulf them as everyone could only stare. The entire Earth was engulfed with this light. "In the blink of an eye, that wave of light turned every man, woman, and child to stone. Afterwards, everything began to collapse. Buildings decayed into rubble, and over time, all traces of civilization disappeared." As the years went by, the animals began to flock, buildings crashed, and the dam collapsed. "What humanity had spent millennia building was gone forever. What a shame!" The skyscraper fell and the sun shone. "However...there were one man and woman who refused to give up." Both one eye opened, though one did so a few hours later. "Though they were both petrified, they never lost consciousness. Well, the woman did for periods of time, but she tried as hard as she could! They figured the date and time were far too important to lose track of. So they stayed awake, counting the seconds one by one. They're some ad-bay people. That man and that woman...you know them. It's our friends Senku and Sumire, or Sumi for short. I call her Mire-chan, she's Senku's girlfriend."
As the two were still petrified, the world around them changed. "And one summer day, thousands of years after human kind was petrified, Senku and Sumi woke up, all alone." Senku and Sumi broke out of their petrification. Both of them sat up from their spots. "They found themselves in an empty, primitive Earth. Now, I probably would've just died from shock right then and there." Sumi and Senku, once clothed, started gathering materials for survival. "But since both Senku and Sumi are both brilliant scientists with amazing minds, they figured out how to make food, clothing, and shelter. After finding each other back in their arms, of course." Once they poured the revival fluid on the swallow, the two and Taiju looked up in awe. "Eventually, they developed the miracle fluid that could undo the petrification!"
The village kids all gasped in awe, two people sitting behind them. "Senku and Sumi are so awesome!" A little boy smiled as they were amazed from the story.
"I wanna be just like them!" Another boy exclaimed as Gen smiled.
"Wow. You kids certainly do love them, don't you?" He had a fond look on his eyes. "I know," He looked up teasingly up ahead. "Let's hear a word from our antastic-fay leaders. They must have some wisdom to share, maybe even about their relationship~?" He grinned while gesturing to Senku and Sumi right behind the kids. Senku was drawing something while Sumi was gritting her teeth in embarrassment. Her hood was currently off since there was no reason to wear it inside. "Well, you two?"
Senku put down his paper. "What can I say? That was absolutely riveting," He looked over his shoulder, almost having the same look when Taiju came into the science lab that day. "I mean, how could we have hoped to top all of that? Your super stone world foundation story was epic. Just trying to hold back my tears. Also, enough with the girlfriend crap…" His blank look turned into annoyance.
"Not in front of the kids, Senku," Sumi gave him a warning look.
"But don't you want Sumi to be your girlfriend?" Shovel wondered and the black-haired woman closed her eyes in disbelief, looking up. She groaned to herself that this was still a conversation. "She's fun, sweet, caring, and pretty!"
"I agree!" Gen grinned at her. "That's our village sweetheart!"
"Mmm, I wouldn't agree with that last adjective," Sumi shook her head slowly and stood up. Senku glanced up as she patted Shovel on the head. "But thank you, that's very nice of you to say," She gave a small glare towards Gen. "You on the other hand, stop telling people that Senku and I are more than just friends. You'll give them the wrong idea."
"Whoopsie!" Gen shrugged innocently at her. "Slip of the tongue on my part."
"Sure," She remarked while shaking her head. Senku didn't comment as she sat back down next to him. She then pulled her hood up to cover her head, a pout on her face. The incoming war was hard enough, but now her relationship with Senku had changed a bit. He was definitely more…she didn't know the word, but when it came to feelings, he was certainly acting a bit different. And telling him her feelings was so far away a goal that she wasn't sure she could pull it off anymore…
They had definitely been closer but she had no idea what went on in his mind. Nowadays, the only reasons that she still hadn't come clean was that one, the war with Tsukasa. And two, she had no idea what he'd say compared to before petrification, since they had their more…interesting moments. But they both usually went to being science partners again not too long after.
Senku suddenly reached up and moved down her hood to her confusion. "Mm? What?" She turned to him curiously.
"Nothing. Just testing something," He replied smoothly while staring at her. He wanted to see if he liked it better with or without the hood, and he couldn't figure out the answer.
"Okay…" She whistled a bit nervously and got back to work. He then dragged his hand down his face. He'd usually ask himself what was wrong with him even though he knew the answer. The only thing that was really stopping him was her crush, and…he still didn't know who he was. He had to keep reminding himself that they were at war with Tsukasa, even if that meant it'd take a while to get a proper answer.
"So, Gen..." Gen flinched from his name being said by Senku. "Maybe you should quit running your mouth and put your hands to work."
"No more girlfriend stuff too," Sumi looked over her shoulder. "Don't forget that you need to step up more around here, okay?" She gave him a sweet smile before turning back around.
Gen flinched before giving a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Got me! I admit, I was procrastinating a bit." The two gave him a sideways skeptical glance and went back to work. Once their backs were turned, Gen chuckled and turned back to the children. "Anyway, before long, they used the miracle fluid to bring back this super tough guy named Tsukasa."
Tsukasa was on the beach, punching a statute head right off the body. It rolled to a stop in front of Senku. Sumi was nearby watching them, gasping sharply and covering her mouth. He approached the green-haired man as the sun was rising behind him. "We live in the stone world now. A paradise that hasn't been ruined by greed, that Sumi doesn't need to follow your orders. I think we should only revive the young and pure-hearted, and make sure we keep this world natural and not owned by anyone," He placed his hand on a statue. "This is our chance to purify humanity. To purify a woman of any pain so that she knows she's appreciated. The way I see it, science is the only thing that binds you together. And it would be beneficial for all of us if she became stronger...as my bride. Don't you agree with me...Senku?"
Sumi looked absolutely disgusted by his intentions. Tsukasa was about to destroy the statute as he raised his fist. Sumi came out of hiding to run towards them, only to stop when Senku grabbed his shoulder.
"No, I don't. Almost everything from that speech didn't move me one millimeter. From just being a team with Sumi, I know she wouldn't want anyone to protect her the way you want to," He then smirked confidently, Sumi staring with an opened mouth. "Sumire Maeda and I are going to use the awesome power of science to rescue every last person," He let out a chuckle as the two stared each other down.
"To put it lightly, this was an ajor-may disagreement. So while Tsukasa is all like 'let's build a new world' and revive the strongest people to join him, Senku and Sumi decided to build a Kingdom of Science, right here in this village in order to fight them," Gen finished the story and they were even more in awe from the tale.
Chrome, Kokuyo, Ruri, and Kohaku were all standing outside. "The Kingdom of Science rules!" A little boy screamed while Kinro, Ginro, and Magma approached the group with wood.
"Tsukasa stinks!"
Sumi chuckled to herself from that one. "I'm sure he'd get a kick out of that one," She murmured quietly while Gen glanced back at the phone behind him.
"By the way, Senku, Mire-chan," Gen spoke up to them. "The reason we worked so quickly on the cell phone was so we could execute a preemptive strike on Tsukasa. We should get moving soon, right? Spring's around the corner, and they'll come knocking. So what are we making next?" He held up a green bag and Senku chuckled in response. Sumi hummed with a small smile.
"What's next?" The both of them then turned around. "Well, we gotta finish our ridiculously awesome science project and make this super item," He got onto his feet, the kids looking up at the duo.
"It's essential if we're gonna end this battle with the Tsukasa Empire," She placed a hand on her hip.
"And what is this super item?" Gen raised a brow in confusion.
"It's gonna take agility and speed to defeat the Tsukasa Empire," Senku had a wooden cup in his hand as he smirked. "That's why we'll need plenty of humanity's greatest survival science creation! We're whipping up some space food!"
Byukaya was floating in space, sipping on some nutrient jelly.
"Huh?" Suzu muttered while looking utterly confused.
"Space food?" Shovel turned to Suika, having the same feeling.
"What's that?" She whispered while Gen was utterly baffled. But then again, it wouldn't be the first time. His eyebrow twitched while looking at them.
Yup, here we go again! Senku and Mire-chan have got another craft that could never exist in the stone world! And Sumi sometimes is assuring with these plans of theirs, but I have to wonder what goes on in their minds!
"We are gonna be taking a break first, though...we have something else to do before we get started," Senku spoke up, confusing all of them. He walked past them, Sumi blinking as she had no idea what he was talking about. "Yo!" He called out to everyone outside, getting their attention. "Need you to listen," He climbed down, Gen, Suika, and Sumi following him. He glanced over his shoulder to the black-haired woman before anything else, though. "Sumi." She tilted her head curiously and he smirked. "Got a job for ya. I need you to make more manganese batteries for the second cell phone. Gonna need 800 of 'em like the last one!"
"I should've known," She sighed with an amused smile and he handed her the instructions. "Alright, I'm going. See you later!" She walked over to the lab, grabbing the materials she needed and walking off minutes later. Ruri stood behind her, watching her leave.
"We can help-"
"No," Senku interrupted and they were even more confused. "I actually need you guys for this," He chuckled a little, digging a pinky into his ear.
"Huh? For what?" Gen blinked at him, trying to figure out what was going on.
"There's something important we gotta do," Senku glanced back as Sumi headed for the village so that she wouldn't do it in the cold. "And it's gotta happen with the cotton candy machine," He turned back to them and they stared in confusion.
"Uhhhh..." They murmured while staring at him, having no idea what he was planning.
The cotton candy machine was brought out and Senku smiled, his arms crossed. Ginro then started spinning Kohaku's shield they took from the record player. "We'll need a lot, so keep spinning that thing until I say so," Senku told the blond with a smirk.
"Senku, why are we making all this cotton candy?" Chrome couldn't help but wonder as he looked up. "What's it for? Not to mention it's winter," He blinked in confusion on why Senku insisted on taking a break from their next project for this.
"And how come you're having Sumi making batteries for the cell phone if we need all this?" Suika asked the green-haired scientist curiously.
"You'll find out as we go along," Senku chuckled at them, hands on his hips. "It's essential, but we'll need some major craftsman work in a short amount of time," He bent down to Kaseki to whisper in his ear. Once he did, Kaseki's eyes shined and his clothes popped off, confusing everyone.
"Damn right I can! Oh, you got me all excited now!" Kaseki ran off to gather some materials.
"Can we know what's going on? This isn't like you," Kohaku raised a brow at him, and he chuckled in response, looking up at them.
"Did you guys really forget what day it is? I'd like to think it's something that wouldn't slip your minds."
They all stared before Ruri gasped in realization, smiling. Once Senku revealed the answer, they all got to work. Kaseki came back with his carving tools, and Chrome sped over to the shed. He revealed baskets full of granite, which was the same mineral Senku asked him to get beforehand when making the stoves. They then carried the wood they got to travel to somewhere in the forest, starting to build something there. Ginro hauled over the cotton candy machine tiredly, Suika, Kokuyo, and Magma carrying the rest. Senku guided them while looking at his blueprint.
He then glanced over his shoulder as the whole village arrived with smiles on their faces, carrying their own wood. Senku smirked at them and then guided Kaseki into what he was building. Ginro felt like he was going to drop dead with all of the cotton candy he was making, falling onto the ground. Magma then took over, going as fast as he could and producing a lot too fast. Senku gave a horrified look at this and stopped him, thankfully. They then started to shape the cotton candy, all of the villagers doing so as Senku tasked every single one with what they could build. Kaseki waved his arms proudly at the statue in front of him, Senku walking over and giving a nod of approval. He turned back to look at everything, a small smile on his face.
A bit later, Sumi stepped out of a hut, sighing heavily in exhaustion. "I need a break..." She wiped her forehead with her wrist. She then looked down, blinking in confusion to see a manganese battery on the snow. "Huh?" She looked up to see more of them, her eyes white as there were lots more of them. "How'd my batteries get out here?!"
Suika snuck in as a watermelon while Sumi was making batteries. She looked to a pile of them nearby and then grabbed as much as she could. Luckily, the woman's back was turned to her, so she didn't suspect anything. And also, Suika was really good at stealth.
"Ugh," She bent down to pick one up, putting them into a big pouch. "It's gonna take forever to collect all these if they're far out..." She grumbled while following the trail. "Oh well. I needed to get out of the hut anyway..."
The trail let her out to a field as she had about 25 batteries now. She looked a bit tired while picking them up, groaning. "How many of these are there?" She wondered while looking out to the snow. "And this area I haven't been to at all...at least I can just retrace my steps." Meanwhile, the Kingdom of Science were peeking out from several bushes and trees, except Senku. All of them had mischievous looks on their faces.
"Here she comes! Grab her!" Gen suddenly shouted and Kohaku rushed over, putting a blindfold over her nose and eyes. Magma picked her up over her shoulder and she yelped, protesting while swinging her arms around.
"Hey, what are you doing?! Put me down!" She protested as he ran off.
"Stop squirming or else you'll fall," Magma replied back in annoyance.
"That's not the point!" She growled while looking over her shoulder, even though she couldn't see. "I'm gonna drop all these batteries!" Suika was picking them up as they ran, but she didn't know that. They finally came to a stop and he put her down to face up ahead. "You know how much time it's gonna take to-" Kohaku removed the blindfold and she froze at what was in front of her. Senku was standing in front of a statue of her grandmother, surrounded by things made out of cotton candy.
"Heh," He smiled a little once seeing her face as they were standing in a shed.
On the walls were orbs of cotton candy to peel off. A path was made in white, with cotton candy stepping stones. Cotton candy aligned the pathway, and to her left was a small pond of cola, with a cotton candy lily pad and red cotton candy shaped like gummy bears. There were also pinwheels made out of the cotton candy, and some fake trees with cotton candy decorated on them. There was also a garden with strawberry-shaped cotton candy with edible dirt, and cotton-candy shaped carrots. There were also some cotton candy-shaped roses, some rocks nearby made out of, of course, cotton candy. There was even a tree made out of cotton candy on the right. Every villager was surrounding everything with smiles on their faces.
"What...what is all this?" She stepped up, looking around her. "Everything here...made out of cotton candy?"
"Has the guest of honor forgotten?" Gen smiled, his hands in his sleeves as the others were standing behind her. "Tale 29," Sumi gasped sharply with her eyes wide as there was no way they would've forgotten that detail. "Otherwise known as February 9th."
"You know what today is, don't you?" Kohaku smiled as well, placing her hands on Sumi's shoulders. "It's your birthday. Flower Day!"
"So we made this place into two things you love: your grandma and cotton candy!" Suika beamed up at her.
"Well, the statue's not," Chrome rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Otherwise it'd be kinda weird. But check out how bad it is!" He gestured to it with a big grin. "We made it out of granite!"
"We all made this cotton candy while you were making those utal-bray batteries I did myself. Luckily, Senku recalled a picture of you and your grandmother from memory," Gen murmured with a small smile.
"This statue is one of my best! Unbreakable and everything!" Kaseki gestured to it proudly. "It got me fired up to make this for the occasion!"
Senku smirked while looking at her. "I know you don't do birthdays anymore, but I couldn't pass up the chance to not use science to make all of this, could I?" He gestured to everything around him. Sumi slowly walked up to the statue, silent. She then placed her hand on the base, shaking. "Eh?" Everyone blinked at her from her reaction.
"This is...this is...wow," She looked up with teary eyes, sniffing. "I can't even describe it," They weren't sad tears, far from it. "To celebrate my birthday after so long because of my father...I just can't help but cry," Everyone smiled sadly while looking at her. "But I'm not upset...the opposite, actually. All of you worked so hard, taking time away from Tsukasa, and..." She sniffed again with a joyful smile on her face. "I can't believe you all did this for me...!"
"After what you did for mine, I had to make it even, didn't I?" Senku grinned, placing his hand on her head. "Happy Birthday, Sumire." She sniffed, wiping her eyes while turning to everyone.
"All of you, thank you. Everyone dig in!" She smiled and they all cheered, immediately trying the cotton candy. Sumi continued to smile at everyone looking happy.
Ruri stepped up to Sumi and Senku, a smile on her face. "It's time to plant another violet flower at the graveyard."
"Let them have a few more minutes," Sumi looked to the gushing villagers from both admiring everything and eating.
Everyone left to go over the cemetery as a group. Ruri was holding the seed in her hands tight. "So..." Kohaku spoke up while looking at Sumi. "Birthdays for both of you are something that you don't bring up, huh?"
Sumi's eyes softened a little. "I never brought it up after she died. That's because I always spent it away from home...away from everyone. I'd just disappear for the day and come back late. Usually would go to places where no one would bother me. And Mom never celebrated it with me either. Guess she wanted to respect that. How'd you guys know?"
"I counted the total amount of days between when you'd disappear 2 years into being science partners," Senku spoke up, and she looked at him in shock. He gave a small smile towards the sky. "It was always the same one, once every year. Then I pieced it all together. You wouldn't disappear a day consistently every year unless you had a reason. Although Tale 29 was a good indicator too."
She blinked that he figured it out by noticing the exact date she would go silent, and never once said anything until now.
"Well, you did write down the date of when you were de-petrified, but it wasn't accurate. Thankfully, Senku had already given us a clue," Gen gave a small smile.
"Sumi...I hope that this is the start of you remembering your birthday from now on!" Suika told the woman.
"It'd be bad if we managed to top all of the other ones!" Chrome pumped a fist with a big smile.
"...Yeah...you guys did," Sumi smiled softly while looking towards the sky.
They finally stopped in front of the graveyard, Ruri stepping up to Sumi. She held out the seed to her. "Will you do us the honors of planting the flower?"
She smiled and took it. She stepped forward and bent down to plant it in front of them. Jasper walked up with a water cup and she poured it. "...Hey guys," She stood up, getting their attention. "I think we should keep this tradition alive, you know? So that this field of flowers...will keep growing. I think it's finally time I start embracing my birthday."
They all smiled and Senku gave a smirk. "As long as we're still here, there's no way we won't stop." She glanced back at them with a smile.
"Ho ho ho," Kaseki chuckled as they all made it back to the shed. He was excited for this space food project. Sumi pulled her hood back up, Senku giving her a small grunt. He had liked it better down, but he couldn't tell her that.
"So what is space? I was wondering," Suika spoke up curiously.
"Up there," Chrome pointed up to the sky. "It's that bad place way, way above the sky."
Kaseki cheered, steam coming from his nose. "I'm starting to get excited again! I can barely contain myself!"
"But it's just food though, right?" Kohaku blinked in confusion.
"Yes and no," Sumi smiled a little towards her.
"Kinda," Senku gave a small smirk. "But with an upgrade. We're making our favorite foxtail millet ramen battle ready!" He revealed to them and they all gasped.
"And thankfully, it actually tastes better," Sumi leaned in towards Senku a bit to whisper. She glanced up and turned away, coughing awkwardly. "W-winter gave me enough time to modify the recipe..."
"Yeah, now it tastes like it did 3,700 years ago..." Senku murmured and she blinked, smiling from the compliment. That was all she wanted when she had first made it for him...she didn't know if he was trying to make her feel better or what, but she appreciated him saying that.
Ginro raised his hand with a happy smile. "Ooh, me, me! I can help you, Senku, Sumi. I want ramen so bad right now! Really, like super bad!" He then started chuckling with an evil grin on his face. Kinro looked up ahead indifferently.
"Ginro, calm down...this is serious."
"Okay, but why do we need this uh, space ramen for the battle?" Kokuyo questioned in confusion as he didn't quite understand the purpose. "Is the plan of attack to launch lots of hot, steaming bowls of it at the enemy?"
"Good guess," Ruri gave him a small smile. Senku, Kohaku, and Sumi all stared at him in disbelief. "But I doubt it's that, Father." He gave a shout of shock.
"There isn't any gravity way up in space," Senku started to explain. "Not to mention any room or time to sit down for a meal. This stuff is quick to prepare and mega nutritious. It's also small, light, and ultra-portable." He could imagine himself and Sumi eating it in space. "I'm talking about the ridiculously well-thought out scientific delicacy that is space food."
"The matter of taste varies between astronauts," Sumi gave a small smile. "Some say it's bland, and others say they can't tell the difference. All kinds of food can be space food if it's packaged well, and drinks can be space food too!"
"I see..." Gen spoke up while rubbing his chin, Chrome, Sumi, and Senku looking at him. "Tsukasa won't attack in winter, partly because he wants more men. But that's not the only reason for him to wait."
"It's a pretty obvious problem," Senku said to him casually. "In this stone world, an ice cold, winter battlefield is a frozen version of hell," He then gave a small smirk. "But with us, that's just another hurdle we can clear by using science. Once we develop a warm, proper meal that we can prepare instantly, then we'll have a ten billion percent advantage. A winner battle's ultimate weapon."
"Mmhm," Sumi confirmed with a small nod. "And it'll help keep our bodies energized. To Tsukasa it's unnecessary, but to us, it's just another thing we'll need for the war! Not to mention practical when you really think about it."
She then started creating the road map. "Warm science food is gonna keep us powered up! It'll give our bodies and our spirits the boost we need!" Suika shouted in excitement.
"Space food sounds bad!" Chrome felt the same way as her.
"This is it, the final super item we need for our attack on the Tsukasa Empire!" Senku declared to them.
"Now let's get started!" He and Sumi said in unison.
"Ha!" Kohaku held up a determined first. "Leave it to us to make the ramen, guys!"
"Alright, Kohaku. Thanks," Sumi smiled at her gratefully.
"Now that everyone in the village has come together, we can be more efficient than ever before," Kohaku stated, some villagers preparing the ramen. Meanwhile, Magma and Carbo trapped a deer for meat.
"Yeah!" Chrome exclaimed while clenching his fists. "The maker team's gotta keep up with you guys! So we're gonna have to build some kind of machine to turn regular ramen into space ramen!"
Senku, Chrome, Kaseki, and Sumi were at the hydroelectric generator. Senku was looking at his blueprint. "How will that work, exactly? Looks like you both have a plan," He looked over Senku's shoulder.
"We're gonna vacuum the ramen," Senku answered simply with a small smirk. "Take all the air out. Just like before."
"Ahh," Kaseki said in understanding as the lightbulbs came to mind. "Like when we built the cell phone. Those vacuum tubes were a real pain in the neck."
"Well, don't worry," Sumi chuckled a little, hands on her knees while standing behind Senku. "This task won't be as grueling as that was."
"Wait," The craftsman recoiled back in shock from what Senku said. "Did you say vacuum the ramen? I'm lost." This earned a big grin from Senku and Sumi giggled in amusement. He leaned down to elaborate, and once Kaseki learned of it, he let out a force from tearing off his clothes. The trio yelled in alarm as they were sent flying onto the ground. Sumi whined while covering her eyes with her wrist, knowing what she'd see if she looked up...
Meanwhile, Kohaku and the others were finishing up the ramen. She was standing in front of the stand, ingredients next to her. She started stirring the broth, Suika walking up to her with three bowls in her hands. Ginro crept up next to Kohaku with a big mischievous grin on his face. Kohaku punched him on the head, and two large lumps were on his head. Suika stared at him while sweating a little while Kohaku had a smile on her face.
"Okay, this batch of ramen is done!" Kohaku revealed to the two, and they smiled at her.
"Now we just gotta put it in some bowls and soup's on!" Suika said happily to her.
"Not true," Senku walked up to them, Sumi next to him with her hands behind her back. He was digging his pinky into his ear. "That won't be necessary," He then came to a stop, looking at them with a big smile. "We're gonna be freezing it all solid!"
All three of them stared at the duo with wide eyes, and their jaws dropped. Sumi giggled from their expressions at them having to watch ramen turn frozen. "That's what space food is all about, after all!" She revealed while holding up a finger.
Later, Ginro and Kinro were storing the noodles into an igloo. "It's cold, so why do we have to freeze this delicious ramen?!" Ginro complained while putting more snow onto the igloo. He was the most upset about this.
"The rules are the rules," Kinro reminded him from inside. "Stop your whining and get to work, Ginro," He placed a cup of noodles onto a shelf, along with others. While they were freezing the ramen, the science team were making the machine to vacuum the ramen. They were at the generator again, hard at work at night.
The next morning, the frozen ramen was brought to the group in baskets. They all stared down at it in confusion, aside from Senku and Sumi. "So this is space ramen?" Kohaku looked down at it in puzzlement.
"Not quite, it's just frozen right now," Senku corrected the blond. "The goal is to lighten the hell out of this stuff so our troops can be super well-fed while on the go," He gave a small smile.
Sumi gave a sheepish smile. "Besides, even if you were to try this right now, it wouldn't taste good at all. And it could make you sick, so no one touch it to take a taste yet, okay?"
"You two want to lighten the ramen...?" Gen repeated and then it came to him. "You mean...!"
"Oh yeah," Senku confirmed with a grin. "You know it. We're making cup noodles. This will be the birth of freeze-dried food in the stone world!"
"Freeze-dried, huh?" The mentalist murmured while Suika and Kohaku were arranging it into a basket. "I mean, I've heard of it, of course, but how exactly are we supposed to do that?"
The two led the way down the path as they all carried it. "Just like it sounds. By literally freezing it and then drying it. That's really all there is to it," Senku explained, Sumi carrying her basket by her hip. "When you freeze food, the moisture inside turns to ice."
"Yeah, obviously I get that part, so then what?" Gen responded to him.
"Then, you put the frozen food in a vacuum. And the total lack of air in the environment will supplicate the ice. Poof! Turning it directly into vapor, thus completely drying out the food. Which makes it ultra tiny and lightweight," Senku finished for the mentalist.
Sumi glanced back at the others with a smile. "When you're in space, there's not much room to begin with, and there's requirements regarding weight. So that's why it has to be smaller. And when it's tiny and lightweight, it's then vacuum-packed in containers with a valve at the end. But you could also rip it open if it's not a drink."
"All this stuff is way too complicated for me," Suika commented while trying to understand, but couldn't.
"So how exactly do we pull off the poof part?" Kohaku asked Senku and Sumi from behind.
They both looked over their shoulders as they both chuckled. "Well, that's where the maker team comes in."
"And they should be done with it right about now," Sumi replied with a small smile. They continued walking until they reached the power plant.
"Ha ha!" Kaseki was proud of himself while pumping his fists. "Our team's done it again!"
"How is it that you don't get cold when you're like this?" Sumi couldn't help but wonder at the old man, since he didn't have his coat on.
Chrome gestured to their new invention with a big smile. "Yo, check this! We went through hell to make our wheel before, but we were able to use it here...to power our freeze-drying machine!" Next to him was a small dome-shaped machine with a wire in the middle of it. Everyone gasped in surprise at it.
"I'm impressed, Chrome and Kaseki! Way to go!" Senku was surprised as well, but obviously didn't show it.
"Yeah!" Sumi exclaimed with a small smile. "You guys have done it once again!"
Kohaku then stared at the power plant as she noticed something. "Everything we have...is made by using things we all made together with Senku and Sumi..."
"Yeah," Senku placed a cup of frozen ramen onto the machine. Sumi then placed the lid over it. "That's the same thing humanity did. Working away for thousands and thousands of years." They both watched as the ramen started to freeze-dry. "That's science."
"And that's what is gonna help us bring it all back and stop Tsukasa!" Sumi remarked, hands on her hips.
The Kingdom of Science members were gathered near the shed, waiting to see the space ramen. They all murmured amongst themselves before Senku and Sumi stepped up. He was holding a bowl of it. "Feast your eyes, everyone! Freeze-dried ramen acquired."
"So now, having this battle will be no problem," Sumi gestured to the cup.
Space food acquired!
"Hell yeah!" Chrome shouted in excitement, but then took it back while staring at the ramen. "Hold on, what is that stuff?"
"Well, it does look small and lightweight," Kinro spoke up, trailing off a little.
"But, uh," Ginro popped up next to him, also not excited. "It looks totally disgusting! Like it's all tough and spongey!"
"We're not eating it like this," Sumi chuckled while holding up a tea kettle of hot water. Senku chuckled as well, holding out the cup to her.
"Yeah, just watch," He said as she poured in the water into the cup. Kohaku, Suika, and Ruri gathered around to look. They then gave sounds of awe as it turned into piping hot foxtail millet ramen in the cup. It was like it had never been frozen.
"Can you actually eat that, though?" Kohaku looked at it skeptically, since she didn't know if it would be the same taste. They did just see it get frozen, after all...
"Fine, I'll be the guinea pig!" Chrome popped up with a fork in his hand. He then took the ramen from Senku. "Science users are naturally brave people," He stirred it with a brave look. "We're not afraid to try out new things."
"You've said something like that before," Suika pointed out with an innocent look, being held by Kohaku.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure you just wanna eat the ramen before we do," Kohaku guessed correctly, Chrome flinching as he had been caught. Nevertheless, he still tried it and slurped the noodles into his mouth. His eyes widened, tears falling from them.
"SO GOOOOOOD!" He screamed with his eyes bulging out, having a similar look to when he tried ramen for the first time. Everyone looked at him in disbelief as he dug in. "So bad! I've never had it the best way possible! It's so steamy and delicious!"
Soon, everyone had cup ramen, Chrome serving it out. Sumi was pouring in the water so that it'd be ready to serve. Gen even had some cola with it. Senku approached Sumi while eating his, holding out a cup to her.
"Even the cook has to have some," He smirked a little and she stood up, taking it.
"I didn't technically make this freeze-dried on my own," She nudged him playfully. "But thanks," She had some as well and as they ate...they thought of all the days of going to the ramen shop with Byukaya. He slurped his ramen, Sumi sitting between the two. She glanced up and laughed at him, her driver waiting right outside. Senku had some as well, Byukaya asking them when they'd become a couple. Both of them flinched in shock and Senku gave a teasing grin, retorting back to him. Then Byukaya suggested something and they flinched again, grinning.
In Senku's room, they had the ingredients and equipment necessary to make space food. They both tried it, and were surprised by how good it was. Byukaya looked up at the two, grinning widely.
The two smiled fondly towards the sky, cherishing the memories together. "It's really rewarding to make things that remind you of the past, huh...?" Sumi said softly and he scoffed, waving it off.
"Ah...you're always so emotional, Sumi. We don't have time for that," He remarked and she smiled knowingly that he was thinking of the same thing she was. And him just stating it wasn't a big deal was normal for him.
Magma laughed as the sun was setting. "Can hardly believe I can fight with one hand and eat with the other!" He took a sip of his cup ramen.
"Oh yeah, it's arvelous-may," Gen gave a sheepish smile. "However, doing them each separately may be a good idea..."
"Course he'd say something like that..." Sumi had a big sweat drop. Ruri's face then turned sad as she looked away, knowing that this war...wasn't going to be easy. And given that it was Tsukasa, he could very well hurt one of her villagers...
"I really don't want anyone to get hurt..." Senku and Sumi looked up at her. "We can't avoid fighting anymore, can we...?"
"Nobody's going to die, if that's what you're worried about," Senku looked away with a smirk. Sumi nodded in determination, holding up a fist.
"We'll see to it that not a single life is lost."
"The condition for a Kingdom of Science victory is actually remarkably simple," Senku started off while looking at the blonde. "We just wanna capture the cave with the miracle fluid so we can revive everyone. By using our cell phone to connect with our friends on the other side, we can do it all without spilling a single drop of blood."
Ruri smiled in relief from their explanation. Sumi gave a smile of her own, a hand on her hip.
"Senku, Sumi," Kaseki walked up to the scientists, getting their attention. "Are you two positive these friends of yours are actually safe?"
"They've been imbedded with the enemy army the whole time," Kinro had his arms crossed. "Sounds dangerous to me."
"Relax," Senku stared up at the sky. Sumi looked up as well, both of them smiling a bit. "We don't have one millimeter of worry. They're fine, we're sure. There's no way Taiju and Yuzuriha would let themselves croak that easily."
"Besides, like we said before," Sumi gave a small one-armed shrug. "Tsukasa's got no real reason to kill them. I'm sure like us, they're being watched, but they know how to handle themselves. We've got complete faith in them."
Ginro gave a gasp of awe. "I wonder what they're like. They're Senku and Sumi's friends, after all. They're probably super smart, just like them!" He imagined them looking like models, almost. Senku and Sumi could somehow tell what he was thinking.
"Ummm...no," Sumi simply stated with her eyes in embarrassed shadow.
"Who the hell are those guys?! They look nothing like that! Taiju's a simpleton who handles all the brawny stuff!" Senku exclaimed at them, baffled.
"Huh?! You gotta be kidding me," Ginro commented in disbelief.
"Yuzuriha's a bit more like me, though toned down. And she's got awesome crafting skills," Sumi smiled, hugging herself. Kaseki's eyes shined up at the woman as he kinda wanted to meet Yuzuriha now and see what she could do.
They then heard Lillian's song not too far away. Senku and Sumi glanced back at the lab. Chrome smiled as he was playing it for the kids to listen to. Senku and Sumi peeked inside, the latter giving a small fond smile hearing it again. The fact that she dedicated the song to Sumi, who was now her daughter...it always made her happy knowing that in the past, Lillian wanted to be her family. She then started humming along to the song, surprising the others. She stepped out of hiding and eyed the record player, her eyes softened as she continued to hum along.
"That song's like the constant background music, huh?" Gen smiled while approaching. "Wow, who'd have thought? Dear Lillian's still the world's diva. Even in this age, everyone's in love."
"I could never get tired of a voice that was so full of beauty," Ruri smiled with her eyes closed, enjoying the song. Kohaku nodded silently in agreement.
"You must be proud to had have someone like that as your mother," Gen turned to Sumi, who snapped out of it. She turned back to them with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of her neck.
"Sorry...it's just that I get to hear her beautiful song whenever I want to now...makes me forget about everything," She gave a fond smile of remembering Lillian. "When I came into her care, she'd always have me come along to her weekend concerts."
"Come to think of it, wouldn't that mean you could sing this song?" Chrome wondered and she blinked. "Since you grew up with her? You sung for Senku on his birthday, after all."
"Ah ha..." She gave a nervous smile at him as the kids all gasped in realization, turning to her in unison. "I mean...I've heard this song a lot as she raised me, both at home and at her appearances, so I do know it...?"
"Please sing the song for us someday!" The kids started crowding her.
"And can we play music again with you?"
"You've done it now," Senku chuckled at Chrome.
"Alright, alright!" Sumi laughed while trying to calm them down. "Maybe I'll sing something else when we defeat Tsukasa, okay?" They then all cheered and she rubbed her neck, closing her eyes while looking flattered.
"I think Tsukasa's army...should get to hear her beautiful singing too," Suika said while crying from the tears of her eyes.
"It's so beautiful, it's making me cry!" Kaseki started sobbing and Sumi smiled, patting his back. "And maybe if they did hear it, they would decide to throw their weapons away!"
Gen gave a small smile at the thought. "Although I wish that were the case, the song is way too familiar to people from our age," He then shrugged towards them. "So I don't think that alone will be enough to bring them to their knees. Besides, with this audio quality-" He stopped talking as it hit him. "Wait...the audio quality..." He then started forming a plan, while everyone else was focused on the song.
That night, Chrome was asleep in the main floor of the observatory. Senku and Sumi weren't there, though. Instead, both of them were upstairs. Senku was looking through the telescope. Her hood was still up as she was standing behind him, looking towards outside. He pulled away to look towards her.
"Alright, Sumi, time to take a look," He gestured and she stepped up, sitting in front of him. He blinked by how close she was, almost enough to touch him. She gave a peek herself with a small smile.
"It's all so pretty…with the stars and the moon. Granted, it's got nothing on my cotton candy shed," She glanced back with a small smile and he got out of his stupor. He gave her a smirk while chuckling.
"Heh. Glad to know that I topped it for ya."
She then paused while looking back towards the telescope. She knew that he tended to not bring up his own, so the fact that he actually arranged that for her... "…You didn't have to do that for my birthday, you know. I never told anyone because it used to be just a regular day for me."
"Yeah, for me, maybe. But not for you," He touched the top of her head and she tilted it backwards to look up at him. "You're not gonna up and disappear on me now that we're not gonna pretend like it is, are you?"
She gave him a small smile and put her head down, chuckling. "Wouldn't look good if I suddenly stopped appreciating the effort next year. Besides, it'll be ten billion percent exciting while waiting for next time!"
He blinked and then grinned. "You bet it will. You just wait, Sumi." The both of them then flinched as a whiff caught Sumi's nose. The two of them both could sense that someone wanted to come up to them. "Just come up already. Tell us what you want." Footsteps were heard and then the door opened. Gen popped up in front of the telescope.
"Hey-ya!" He greeted them with a casual smile. "Should've known that you two would be star-gazing together alone."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Senku deadpanned in utter annoyance as a chibi head.
"You know, if you wanted me to call you my best friend so badly, things like this don't help…" Sumi murmured as a chibi, a big sweat drop near her hood.
"Sorry, but I didn't want the innocent, pure-hearted ones to hear this. Kinro and Kokuyo wouldn't approve," He ignored their remarks and then blinked at Sumi in realization. "Mire-chan might not either, now that I think about it..."
Senku just chuckled while Sumi raised a brow in confusion. "I can sense an underhanded scheme cooking here..."
"And I'm not entirely pure-hearted if how we met is anything to go by. So whatever it is, I can handle what you're gonna tell us," Sumi crossed her arms, a bit offended that Gen thought she wouldn't take it well.
"Well, you guys know me," Gen gave them a small smile, his eyes closed. And then he opened them. "All we need is the record and our pair of cell phones. With my plan, we can defeat the Tsukasa Empire and save 7 billion people with a bloodless siege. But if God really is watching us...then surely Ishigami Senku, Sumire Weinberg, and Asagiri Gen will be keeping each other company in hell forever. Or he could spare Mire-chan since her soul is way too good for that," He had a dark expression on his face.
"I highly doubt it," She deadpanned with a blank look. Senku stood up, as this caught his attention.
"I'm not worried," He spoke up and she looked up at him. "God hasn't been part of the world of science for practically ten billion years," He looked over his shoulder to Gen while mirroring the mentalist's expression. "So what you got, eh mentalist?"
Chrome was still snoring in the first floor. "Sorry, I didn't want the innocent, pure-hearted ones to hear this," This woke the brunet up. "Kinro and Kokuyo wouldn't approve. Mire-chan might not either, now that I think about it..."
Chrome pressed his ear to the ceiling in confusion, using a bot to stand. "I can sense an underhanded scheme brewing here..."
"And I'm not entirely pure-hearted if our first meeting was anything to go by..." Sumi trailed off because Chrome was talking to himself.
"It sounds like Senku, Sumi, and Gen...are meeting in secret?" He murmured to himself.
"Quiz time!" Gen held up a finger with a playful smile. "Can you name the secret to the Tsukasa Empire? Which of the following three options is the unifying force that holds the people within it together? A, food. B, hot chicks! C, Tsukasa himself."
Senku let out a small chuckle. "C, obviously," He and Sumi answered in unison.
"I doubt he cares about option b if he has romantic intentions with the village chieftess," Sumi gave a sheepish smile.
"Bingo! Ten billion points for the both of you! Tsukasa himself. He was already a charismatic, popular celebrity. Thanks to his strongest primate high schooler title," He had a wide grin on his face as he placed two fingers on his Adam's apple. "So what I think...is that in order to break them apart, we simply need to enlist a celebrity of our own. Someone who's as famous and popular as Tsukasa." He then had the face of Lillian herself while impersonating her. "Hey! I'm Lillian Weinberg, y'all!"
Senku spat in shock while Sumi had blue lines on the top of her forehead with white eyes. Chrome blinked in shock from hearing it. A woman's voice? From that record! Sumi's mom!
Gen then let out a few coughs, returning to his normal voice. "Not bad, eh? I can fake it somewhat, far from perfect, though..."
"You know, that was close," Senku gave him a small smirk. "Very close, actually. Though obviously, I'm not the one who lived with her for a few years."
"Not entirely close, but I did believe it for just a few seconds," Sumi gave a nervous laugh towards the mentalist. "Although for my sake, please don't attempt this on a regular basis. Otherwise it'd be really weird..."
"Even so, it's still ten billion obvious that you're a dude, so that's a problem," Senku commented with his eyes closed.
"Yes, it is~!" Gen gave a sheepish smile before his face turned serious. "However...hearing it over a phone with poor sound quality like ours?"
The two scientists both gasped at him. "And with the voice on the record as authentication..." He trailed off.
"No one would tell the difference..." Sumi blinked slowly, finishing for him.
"Bingo! A hundred billion points!" Gen cheered at the two.
What are they talking about? Chrome was very confused.
"They'll hear the raw power of Lillian's live singing over the phone," Gen held up the record. "A voice so unmistakably ovely-lay, it could only belong to her."
"Well, yeah, it does belong to her," Senku said with a small smirk.
"Not like there are any other Lillian Weinbergs..." Sumi sweated a little.
"They won't have a choice," Gen sneered a little. "They'll have to believe Lillian's alive on the other side of the line."
"From America, this is Lillian Weinberg. People of Japan, please listen. The world hasn't really collapsed. In fact, the United States have already recovered. Help is on the way to Japan, so please stand by!"
"I see," Senku had another dark look on his face. "You'll deceive everyone on the other side with false hope, offered by a zombie Lillian created to tell a big fat lie," He chuckled as he could see why Gen didn't want anyone else to hear. "Oh, yeah, we're definitely gonna wind up in hell for this," He then had a nonchalant look while picking his ear. "Okay, got it. We'll settle the details later. Let's go with that plan."
"That quick?!" Gen exclaimed with wide eyes, Sumi looking at him in disbelief. "No way!"
"Why am I not surprised?" Sumi mumbled with a sweat drop near her head.
"You know, considering we have Lillian's technically adopted daughter in our side...what does she have to say about all this, I wonder?" Gen gave a sly look towards Sumi. "Not to mention facing Tsukasa again after he cut her pretty face?"
"Mm," Senku and Sumi looked away, for different reasons. Because this was something they could never escape from, Senku especially. At some point, they would see Tsukasa again after all that time, and they'd have to deal with what he did to Sumi's face.
Sumi sighed while closing her eyes, a hand on her hip. "I don't know if there's a better option out there to sway them. The song is the only thing left of my mom that I have now..." She glanced towards outside. "As for Tsukasa...it's gonna be hard facing him," She opened her eyes again while looking out towards the stars.
"She survived him, that's all that matters," Senku muttered and she turned around in confusion.
"Huh?" She murmured as they couldn't read his expression since he had a shadow over his eyes. She then sighed, turning away. "Well...I don't like the detail of letting them believe America's back in action, but...if this is what we have to do to defeat Tsukasa...then I'm willing to test my limits on this," She then glanced over her shoulder with a blank look. "But just please don't try and use me as leverage in this plan at any point all because I'm a Weinberg."
"No promises!" Senku and Gen grinned at her, earning a groan.
"Why do you guys have to be like this...?"
Suddenly, grunts came from underneath them, and Chrome burst through the floor, knocking the three back. "GOT IT, HUH?! WELL, I DON'T GET IT AT ALL!"
Senku started hammering the hole Chrome made into the ground. Chrome was pouting while holding the plank, Sumi holding the nails. "I think you're gonna need to spell out the plan from the top, mentalist, real slow," He grumbled a bit.
"Step by step then," Gen held up a finger. "One, get the phone to Taiju and Yuzuriha. Two, they show it to Tsukasa's army. And three, we play them Lillian's song. Then, the trick," He then impersonated Lillian again. "Howdy! Calling from America! The world hasn't actually collapsed, y'all!"
"Whoa, okay," Sumi turned away while holding up her hands. "I didn't need to hear it twice in one day."
Senku gave a small laugh while sitting down. "They think the old world's been destroyed, and that every country wiped out. That's the only reason they're following their great leader, Tsukasa."
"Well, to be fair, it was destroyed," Gen pointed out as snow started to fall inside of the observatory. Sumi held out a hand while looking at it.
"But if they think that America's back in action and help is on the way...then that'll change their entire calculus!" Senku continued off with a small smile. "Once the bulk of Tsukasa's army has switched from his side to ours, we coordinate using our cell phones. And conquer them in one swift move without spilling a drop of blood."
Chrome gave a look of awe from this and then looked at them in shock. "Wait, won't they figure out you lied at that point?!"
"Yeah, but who cares?" Gen gave a sneer while shrugging. "With Tsukasa and Hyoga down, we can worry about sorting the rest of the mess out later!"
"Leave it to the mentalist to come up with a ten billion percent underhanded plan like that! So exciting!" Senku chimed in and Sumi backed away from the two of them. The black-haired scientist gave them a deadpanned look.
"I'm very concerned about how you two think alike," Sumi spoke up wearily, but they ignored it.
"Naturally, everyone in the Tsukasa Empire is gonna hate our guts for playing such a cruel trick on them..." Gen looked towards outside with a grave tone. "There's no helping it, though..." He gave a small smile.
"Keep this a secret from the rest of the villagers, okay?" Senku asked of Chrome. "I don't think we need any villains besides the two of us old-worlders. Sumi's too much of a kid to be classified as one."
"Mmm," Sumi looked annoyed but didn't protest. There was silence now in the room as Chrome narrowed his eyes in determination.
"Sure, great idea...except now that you've told me, I'm an accomplice," He pointed out to them.
"Hey, you were the one who barged in on our private conversation!" Senku reminded him in a flat tone.
"Quite literally," Gen gave a sheepish smile.
"Well, he's got a point...so what do you suggest, Chrome?" Sumi's eyes softened a little. Chrome clenched his fist tight and then pointed to himself.
"Well, I'll be the one carrying out the plan anyway! You'll need a technician on hand to set up that giant-ass cell phone, won't you?" He stepped forward and offered his fist. "They'll recognize you, not me." They stared at him, a smile on the brunet's face. Gen gave one of his own, and then Senku and Sumi had the same expression. "We'll go to hell together, the three of us. But in exchange, we'll save 7 billion people."
Gen and Senku glanced to Sumi, since this could get personal for her. She blinked and let out a small sigh, crossing her arms.
"As skeptical as I am, I'm all for saving the world. But I'm going with Chrome too."
"No way!" Gen shouted with white eyes as he, Chrome, and Senku towered over her. She recoiled back in alarm from the intense looks they were giving her.
"I'm with Gen on this one!" Chrome crossed his arms, looking like a protective older brother almost.
"Absolutely not!" Senku exclaimed and then dropped his expression. "Did you forget that Tsukasa is after you just so you can marry him?" He grunted while crossing his arms. "Once he sees you're there, he'll stop at nothing to take away your freedom from you. And you barely kept with Hyoga twice!"
"I haven't forgotten!" She gestured to herself with a deep frown. "If I'm there, I can set the record straight with Tsukasa once and for all! Plus, I'm the only one with significant medical experience. What if something bad happens and I'm not there to recover them?" She pointed out and they stood in silence for a few seconds. If there was the off chance Homura caught on, she could either hurt them or break the cell phone.
"She does make a good point..." Gen glanced at Senku with a small frown. "And she's the only one out of the four of us with fighting abilities if Tsukasa does something to Chrome."
"I'm not having a debate on this," Senku sighed with his hand over his face. He then looked at Sumi with a fierce look in his eyes. She may be able to fight, though he couldn't take the chance of what would happen should she lose to Tsukasa. "You're staying here. That's not how this is gonna work."
"Senku...I have to talk to him," She placed a hand on her heart, her eyes softening. "He still thinks that there's something sinister going on between us, and I can't let him continue believing it. I mean, come on, if he already cut my face just to prove a point, what else could he do once he sees you?"
"So what? I'd rather have him believe a lie than to have you go see him! And besides, you already tried to tell him, and look what happened," He gestured to her lips, biting his own from the memory. He clenched a fist and then turned away. "...Another attempt would just set him off."
"That doesn't mean that I have to give up!" She protested at the green-haired scientist. "I survived—you said that's all that matters," She pointed an accusing finger at him. "So just let me go."
Senku looked up towards the sky, grunting again. He stayed silent and she frowned at him. It was dead silence in the group now and Chrome flinched, feeling awkward. They had to do something to help the situation...
"Well...if everything you've said is true, then he has no reason to hurt her this time, right?" Chrome spoke up quietly, which Senku didn't respond to.
"And if he really does care about her, he wouldn't let Hyoga lay a hand on her or do it himself. He's too fixated on the illusion of them being married that I don't believe he'd do anything to her this time," Gen added with his hands in his sleeves.
"He did hurt her," Senku glared towards outside and they blinked from his frustrated tone. "What's stopping him from doing it again...?"
Sumi's eyes saddened at the reminder. True, Tsukasa could do the same thing all over again to her. But she had to tell him the truth, because she wasn't the type of person to let someone believe a lie. Of course she knew the risks, but she had to chance it on the fact that Tsukasa might rethink his actions a little if he heard it from her directly. As for Senku...of course he knew how Tsukasa felt for Sumi. He was always direct when it came to the woman. Maybe he wouldn't do anything to Sumi like last time, he wouldn't know. But sending her back to him just made him feel sick to his stomach.
"True...but don't you trust Mire-chan?" Gen walked up to her side. "We've all seen her fight. Nothing will happen to our village's local sweetheart. Not if she has anything to say about it."
"Look, I know you guys are worried, and I appreciate it, but you guys know that this could be my only chance. Senku...if you don't let me go..." Sumi gulped a little. "Then I won't give permission to use Lillian's voice. And we all know how much we need this work," She gave a determined look.
"N-Now let's not go that far!" Gen stammered while waving his hands, sweat coming from him.
"Heh. We have the record, I don't need your approval," Senku smirked while still looking towards outside.
"Do you really?" He flinched, turning around to see her holding it up for him to see.
"How'd you snag it without anyone seeing?!" Chrome exclaimed and lunged to grab it from her. She moved her hand away and he landed in front of her, groaning.
"I'd rather keep my body intact..." Gen murmured nervously, since she still had her whip and he was terrified to steal it without her looking.
"I'll repeat myself," She spoke up bravely as she stared into Senku's eyes. "Please let me go to Tsukasa. I need to tell him the truth. I can't keep leading him on like this...I know I'm asking for a lot, but...I have to take the risk," Her eyes softened as she had a pleading look in her eyes. "Please, Senku..."
"Tch..." Senku pinched his nose, as he couldn't believe he was agreeing to this. "Damn it, why do you have to be stubborn?"
"Cause," She remarked simply to him.
"Fine..." He sighed in defeat as he walked up and she handed him the record in relief. "You can go."
"Thank you, Senku..." She smiled gratefully to Senku.
"Yeah, yeah..." He waved off and Chrome held out his fist.
"Then it's settled. The four of us will go to hell together," He stated and Gen put his fist in first. Senku followed with two cricked fingers. Sumi put her fist against Chrome and Gen's. The green-haired scientist felt the need to touch her hand and didn't fight it. Sumi blinked as she looked up at him, as he still felt something could happen...but he knew at this point, he couldn't stop her. Gen and Chrome gave knowing smiles at the two.
"Just promise me this, Sumire...that you'll come back without a scratch on you," He spoke up quietly while trying not to look worried. She gave him a small smile, a blush on her face.
"Of course!"
Tsukasa was looking down at a petrified little girl with her parent. His eyes softened as it reminded him of his own family...he brushed the snow off the top of the head. He turned around to the snowy ground, and then walked away. He had a deep frown on his face, as he knew the anticipated attack from the Kingdom of Science was upon him...but he'd be ready for Senku, and to take back Sumi...
The next morning, everyone gathered around to explain the plan. "Alright," Senku spoke up to them. "Mission team's set and ready to go. Four people with four jobs," He held up four fingers. "Chrome, the engineer. Magma, the hauler. Gen, the guide. And finally our own Sumi as the bodyguard!" All four had their gear ready for the trip.
"Heh. Seems like there's a problem you're forgetting," Kohaku pointed out while glancing towards the forest. "The Tsukasa army scout, Homura. From the lack of snow on the branches, I think it's safe to assume she's been keeping track from that hill over there."
"You can see that?!" Ginro exclaimed in disbelief.
"How's that possible?" Kinro muttered, also just as shocked.
"Smart place to watch from," Senku commented with his arms crossed. "It's right on the path between here and the Tsukasa Empire."
"If they find out we're planning a preemptive strike, or even worse learned that we've managed to create a cell phone, it's all over..." Kohaku murmured in concern and Ginro gasped as he came with an idea.
"What if we have the team set out in the middle of the night?"
"We're carrying vacuum tubes, though. If we trip in the dark, then they'll break," Chrome reminded the blond.
"And we don't have the time to come back and repair them if that happens. We wanna get there before spring, remember?" Sumi told him with a small sigh. "Not to mention Senku wouldn't be happy if I mess up my stamina just for this mission."
"Think you and Sumi could out-run her?" Kohaku turned to Magma.
"Hauling all of this stuff? No way!" He retorted back, since her speed would put them at a major disadvantage if she saw them.
"And Homura is rather ast-fay," Gen added in to her.
"An easy fix," Senku gave a small smirk. "We're gonna lure the Empire scout away from her position with the help of a super science gadget. While she's distracted, the mission team moves."
"Came up with it last night. Though, we will need a few things first," Sumi smiled with a hand on her hip.
Magma and Kinro hauled away a deer. "And what exactly is this super science gadget?" Chrome asked them curiously as Homura watched the two leave.
"If you run electricity through water, it sends hydrogen and oxygen bubbling out. The mixed gas you get is called a detonator gas. Use it to inflate a deer bladder like a balloon, and you've got yourself a weapon that'll make a wimpy explosion." That night, a bunny sniffed the inflated deer bladder in the ground. "But a ridiculously loud noise. In other words, a sonic bomb."
"And it won't hurt anyone, either. Its only purpose is to get Homura's attention, so we'll need a few of these if we wanna throw her off," Sumi stated as Ginro and Senku were hiding in the snow with blankets over them. They had several bombs placed around them. Once they were done, they looked towards the switch the bombs were connected to.
"Alright, here we go," He grinned towards Ginro. "Time for our preemptive strike."
"Detonate...sonic bombs!" Ginro said eagerly while activating them. After a few seconds, they detonated, and Homura looked up in shock.
"Move, now!" Senku shouted towards the team. "The other side!"
"Go!" Chrome shouted as he, Gen, Sumi, and Magma took off. The explosions soon stopped afterwards. Sumi looked up ahead towards the sky.
"I know you'll be waiting eagerly for us, Tsukasa...get ready, because we're coming for ya," She spoke up as her eyes hardened.
"We're bringing the battle to the Tsukasa Empire," Amidst the smoke, Senku gave a grin. "The epic Stone Wars are about to begin..." His grin then turned into a smirk. "This is exhilarating. Get excited!"
Senku and Sumi stood in front of the sunset. Both of their fur danced in the wind, along with their bangs. Tsukasa then replaced them, his fur reacting the same way. But he was standing with his back to the sunset instead of facing it. He and Senku stood in opposite directions while Sumi was standing over them, her eyes closed as her hair flowed to the side. Her hands were clasped in front of her.
In front of the sunset, stones flew around to form 'Dr. Stone: Stone Wars.' Tsukasa's statues stood at his Empire, and there were dozens of them. Sumi opened up her right eye on the left, Senku doing the same with his left eye, a split screen between.
(Going right or going left, which way, which way?)
Gen looked up while crouching, Kohaku in the same position next to him. Chrome, Kinro, and Ginro were surrounding them.
(If your decision is different from mine, it's good bye)
Ginro placed his hand in front of his forehead.
(This honey, that honey, I am sick of it)
Ruri, Suika, Kaseki, and Magma were surrounding the Steam Gorilla tank. Ruri had her hands clasped, Kaseki was standing, and Magma was leaning against a tire. Suika slid down from the tank.
(There's no time to sample them)
Suika landed safely, swinging her body back and forth.
(Hurry ahead to the unseen paradise)
Chrome held out his fist, followed by Gen, Senku, and Sumi. The Earth was shown before someone put down his mask, revealing petrification scars. Then a lathe appeared, followed by a paper airplane and a stone body being revived. Senku and Sumi smashed stone into their hands.
(An instinct of passion, it's right here)
Kohaku flipped around with her swords in her hands, falling towards the ground. Kinro and Ginro spun their spears around before smoke appeared and they took stances.
(If you want it, reach your arm and grab it)
Out of the smoke, the Steam Gorilla tank appeared. Senku and Sumi smirked as they were wearing protective masks, at the top of it. They were approaching Tsukasa, who opened an intimidating eye towards them.
(If you are going to stay here where it's deserted)
Gen, Magma, Sumi, and Chrome were running away wearing gear. Several explosions went off behind the four. Taiju turned up front, followed by Yuzuriha as they were in front of Senku's grave.
(I'll show my fangs even if it's you)
Tsukasa and Hyoga stood on top of many destroyed statues. Gen was then singing along into the speaker.
(Get tangled and re-tangled)
Nikki listened to him, nodding her head along while sitting on a fence.
(Jump over the distorted world)
Ukyo was listening in on his sonar equipment.
(End and begin)
Yo crossed his legs over the desk wearing a suit.
(Crawl up to the era you hoped for)
Homura did a slow-motion backflip while wearing her gymnast clothing.
(Get tangled and re-tangled)
The sun started to rise while Yuzuriha held onto a statue's hand.
(Jump over the distorted world)
Byukaya was leaning against a tree at night, hands behind his back. Lillian was standing next to him. Both of them turned to look out towards the sky with smiles.
(End and begin)
Senku clenched a fist, Sumi's hand twitching a bit. Their heads faced the ground. They then slowly looked up, as both of them were out of their winter clothing.
(Crawl up to the era you hoped for)
They both looked towards the sun in the clouds, and the sparkling waves up ahead from a cliff. Sumi had her hand on Senku's shoulder, the other on her hip as their hair flew around.