My Carnation - Dr.Stone FanFiction - 1215

g o l d e n r o d

𝑔𝑜𝑜𝒹 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓊𝓃𝑒

-

Finally, the first stone age cell phone had been completed. Senku took his time rolling out the wire, and I stood silently waiting for his head of ridiculous hair to come into view from the window of the chief's place while the others chatted excitedly behind me.
"Exciting, isn't it?" Gen asked, and I turned to look to make sure he was talking to me,
"Yeah, I guess." I replied simply, fiddling with my fingers, "It's not very practical when you consider the weight and lack of mobility it has, though."
He chuckled, "I see you've been thinking about how we're going to use the phone during the war."
I frowned, "Well, isn't everyone? I'm confident in Senku... but I'm worried."
"What, or who exactly, are you really worried about?"
I didn't look back at him. First, that kid asked me if I really had the wandering sickness, making me start worrying about the fact that the whole village might be looking at me differently from everyone else. Second, the winter is slowly coming to an end and the war draws ever closer. One day, I might come face to face with Tsukasa again. Or even that boy who shot that arrow at me. After they've plowed through all the people I've come to care about, what would they say?
What would I say?

The cell phone was a success. So much of a success that Ruri connected it to one of the Hundred Tales stories that her village had passed down for generations, and Gen figured out the connection between the Bee, the cell phone and this 'speaker' that Ruri referred to.
I was actually really shocked when Gen put everything together within the span of a minute. I knew he was a mentalist but this idiot has the kind of straight up genius that is just what Senku lacks. Senku thinks of a specific, practical logic, while Gen can piece a logic out of anything.

Ah, I think it's happening again. For the first time, after everything I've been through, there's something pulling me - screaming at me to live. But what is it? Why is it telling me to live?

"Everyone gather around!" A villager called as I shared an apple with Suika as Senku and the others worked on uncovering whatever was inside Senku's fathers 'grave stone',
"We're going to hear the voices of the founders!"
I sighed as I stood, brushing off my clothes, I walked up and managed to squeeze in closer to the front, since I was smaller. But so many people kept pilling up that I ended up squished arm to arm with Gen. Luckily he didn't seem majorly uncomfortable, and I was forced to move my eyes from his side profile once again to the record player in front of me.
Wow. He pulled that together fast.
Senku's father spoke first. And then, like we were all at a concert, the music started abruptly. It was hard not to recognize the voice, Lillian - one of the most famous in America, and loved well by many in Japan as well. She was smart as hell, though, and was able to become an astronaut.
When I was little, an astronaut was what I wanted to be too. When I realized I couldn't do any type of math without getting a splitting headache, I thought about going into some kind of fancy arts. Well, who can blame me, every kid wants to be famous at least once in their lives.
As the music faded, I mumbled in a pathetic attempt to start conversation,  "I wanted to be a singer once."
Gen heard me, and took the opportunity without hesitation, "Really? You can sing?"
"I don't know actually." I stammered, blushing,"I've never sung in front of people-"
"You can sing for me!"
My gaze hardened, as I thought about how terrifying and embarrassing that would be,"No."
"Rina! You have such a blunt personality..." Gen breathed a laugh and I glanced up at him. Even though I wasn't easy to talk to, he still tried, and he always smiled.
So I smiled back, "Sorry. I'm probably never gonna sing for anyone."
"Eh? Come on, loosen up a little! We need more entertainment around here any ways!"
I shook my head and he sighed, "Guess I'll have to sing instead."
"Are you sure you're not tone deaf?"
He gasped dramatically and I quickly covered my mouth to stifle my laugh, and the man paused in his dramatic posing. I recovered myself and glanced at him, my smile fading slightly as he blinked at me,
"What?" I asked.
He shook his head, "You have a wonderful smile, Rina-chan."
I see. Was that what this feeling is?

"The final battle against the Tsukasa Empire, on our home turf... it's the stone wars." Senku began, holding up his fist in a thought of our future victory, holding his confidence up so he could see it, so everyone could see it, and we could all help it grow. To end this winter, our good fortune would spread through our world and melt the snow as we walked. We wouldn't lose against Tsukasa now.

"This is exhilarating."

Yes, this feeling. Isn't that what all those movies call love? Not just erotic, or platonic or romantic, but just... pure innocent will, upon opening your heart to life.
Or maybe, I really was just falling in love with Gen.