The shuttle soared through the upper atmosphere, shimmering heatwaves coiling off its hull as it slipped into the void between Earth and the stars. Byakuya sat at the console, checking the navigational data, only to notice a small blinking anomaly in the course trajectory.

"Senku," he called, his tone sharp, "did you touch the piloting system?"

Senku didn't even bother hiding his grin. "Yup!"

Byakuya's eyes widened. "You rerouted us to the Moon?!"

"Technically, optimized our trajectory for a lunar landing." Senku tapped his tablet smugly. "Do you know how inefficient the standard route is? Besides, we've got bigger problems than protocol."

Byakuya could only sigh. There was no stopping his son once a plan had taken root in that brilliant head of his.

XXX

The shuttle touched down in the shimmering gardens of the Moon Kingdom—luminescent crystal towers gleaming against the black velvet sky, silver flora rustling in the gentle artificial breeze. The pearlescent city was serene, elegant, ethereal… and in Senku's mind, terribly complacent.

He barely waited for the docking ramp to lower before bolting out.

XXX

Inside the Radiant Hall, Queen Serenity sat in quiet conversation with her court when the doors were flung open with a bang. The startled guards barely had time to react before a panting, wild-haired boy came racing down the white marble corridor.

"Your Majesty!" Senku gasped, dropping to his knees with a dramatic flourish only he could make sound scientific. "I have urgent data to report. A dark, sentient metallurgic energy creature struck Terra from the solar perimeter. I believe it ricocheted past the sun and crash-landed on Earth. Its structure appears mineral-based, but its behavior is consistent with chaos entity behavior, and—most importantly—Beryl has made a pact with it!"

The court murmured in alarm. Queen Serenity, however, remained composed.

"You say this creature came from the Sun?" she asked softly.

Senku nodded emphatically. "Its trajectory and heat residue imply it passed near the solar corona before impact."

The Queen's smile was faint, almost pitying.

"No… If such a creature were real, it would not come from the Sun." Her voice grew slightly more guarded. "There are other places in this galaxy far more capable of birthing such entities. But your data is incomplete."

Senku's face twisted in disbelief. "Incomplete?! Your Majesty, you don't understand—this thing isn't just dangerous—it's malevolent! It's intelligent, it whispered to me, it offered dominion over the world! You can't ignore that!"

But the Queen merely raised a delicate hand.

"Terra is abundant with mineral-based lifeforms. Not all are benevolent. Some may be corrupted. But they are weak, easily dealt with. If there is one such rogue entity, it does not concern me." Her gaze turned distant. "We have larger concerns among the stars."

Senku's heart sank. "You're not listening to me…"

He turned, storming from the throne room with clenched fists and eyes stinging—not just with tears, but frustration. His voice cracked as he muttered under his breath, "No one ever listens when it actually matters…"

XXX

Byakuya entered the Radiant Hall moments later, bowing apologetically. "Forgive him, Your Majesty. He's… passionate."

Queen Serenity's expression softened. "Your son is remarkable. His mind burns brighter than many in this court. But he obsesses too much with Terra. He should focus on the stars—there is greater knowledge in the heavens than in the dirt of that world."

Byakuya smiled politely, nodding. "Of course, Your Majesty."

But deep in his heart, he disagreed. Senku's mind should never be limited by anyone—not even a queen.

XXX

Senku didn't stop running until he reached the gardens, a crystalline courtyard bathed in moonlight. He collapsed under a silver-leaved tree, breathing hard, tears finally breaking free.

"What's the point," he muttered, "if no one wants the truth?"

"Are you alright?"

The voice was gentle, melodic. He looked up, startled, to see Princess Kaguya, the Moon's radiant heir, stepping softly through the flowers. Her hair glimmered like black silk in the starlight, trailing in twin pigtails behind her.

She knelt beside him, her golden and black gown flowing like liquid shadow over the marble. "You ran from the palace… what happened?"

Senku's throat tightened. But somehow, under her gaze, he spilled everything—his discovery of Metallia, her offer, his refusal, the Queen's dismissal.

When he reached the part about rejecting Metallia's offer of world domination, Kaguya's eyes widened. "You… refused?"

"Of course I did," he snapped, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "Who wants to rule people? It's boring. I just wanted to understand her energy composition!"

But to his surprise, Kaguya's lips curled into a warm smile. Her cheeks flushed the softest pink.

"I'm glad you did," she said gently. "You didn't just resist her—you defied her. That's… incredible."

Senku looked up, startled. "You really think so?"

Kaguya nodded, then laughed softly. "And don't be so frustrated with my mother. She may not listen clearly, but she did give you a hint."

"A hint?"

"She said it wasn't from the Sun, didn't she?" Her eyes sparkled. "So… where was it from?"

Senku's eyes lit up. "Wait—she was deflecting. Not denying it came from somewhere—just not the Sun." He sprang up, nearly knocking over his notes. "If I re-map the trajectory based on deep space acceleration rather than solar ejection, maybe—!"

Kaguya stood and took his hands gently in hers. "Then don't stop. Find the truth. Prove it."

The touch shocked him more than any alien discovery. He flushed, uncertain, until she leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.

"Never give up, Senku."

He stared at her, speechless for once in his life.

Byakuya's voice echoed from behind the garden gate. "Senku! Time to head home!"

Senku turned slowly, glancing once more at the beautiful princess whose words had sparked a fire deeper than science ever had.

And as they boarded the shuttle once more, the boy scientist's thoughts were no longer just equations and trajectories.

They were filled with silver eyes, moonlit gardens… and the beginning of something far greater than he'd ever calculated.