Together - A Senku Ishigami Love Story (Dr.Stone)

Chapter 42

The sparkling dew carpeted across the earth the next morning did little to dampen Tachi and Suika's spirits, the two chattering brightly as they awaited Chrome and Senku finishing up their breakfast. With all that had happened over the last few months, it felt to them both as though it had been an eternity since they had gone exploring together, their excitement fluttering through the Kingdom of Science and lifting the moods of the others.

"Do you know where to get the mushrooms we need?"

Tachi nodded, gesturing towards the forest path that lead towards the mountains and the valley below. Although she knew a better location, near where she and Senku had built their camp together after her own had been washed out, it was far too dangerous to visit. Tsukasa's Kingdom of Might wasn't that far off from there. She would hesitate to go there on her own knowing the risks, but with the others coming along, it was entirely out of the question. Her hand fell atop Suika's watermelon, the girl grinning up at her enthusiastically, the lenses in front of her eyes catching the dim sunlight and shining softly.

"Yup! Do you remember where we went to pick the lavender the day your mother had a sore head? Just a little way from there. It won't take us too long to get there, but since Chrome and Senku are slithering out of their lab to join us, let's take the long way and make them regret it."

The pair shared a mischievous smile and rather menichal cackle as Chrome and Senku approached them, each carrying a small basket with them in hopes that they could pick up something useful on the excursion. 

Over an hour or so into their miniature adventure the only thing Senku had gained was a leg cramp. He trudged forward unenthusiastically, the empty basket on his back thudding against his tailbone with each strained step, thighs protesting in agony at the constant incline of their chosen pathway, crimson eyes narrowed into a jealous glare as Tachi and Suika walked with ease ahead of him. Chrome walked to his right, fairing much better than he was. The brunette snickered under his breath as he side glanced at Senku, the scientist redirecting his glare accordingly.

"I thought you said you could keep up with Tachi."

His bottom lip jutted out in response.

"I can. On flat terrain. I'm 1000% sure they're doing this on purpose."

There wasn't an inch of doubt in his mind that Tachi had known he would struggle if they took this path, heck he wouldn't be stained to believe she had chosen this path because she knew that. While the woman was, at her core, kind and helpful, it was often buried deep down below an impish and somewhat sadistic nature. She knew he was suffering, and she thought it was funny. 

Chrome clicked his tongue loudly and readjusted his own basket, dark eyes returning to roaming over the surrounding land, watching keenly for anything that could be of use to them. His gaze occasionally running over the blondes walking ahead of them, his smile stretching wider as Tachi's laughter drifted past him, Suika gesturing wildly at whatever words were being exchanged between them. The moment they first met ran through his mind briefly, when they had been crammed into a cage in the outsiders village and Tachi's not so grand master plan had saved their asses, just barely, but saved they were. He got a glimpse that day of just how far she was willing to go, of how brave she was and of how tough she was. It was only after that though that he got to know the best parts of her, parts she had scolded him for blabbing to Ruri about a short while ago. He chuckled as he remembered her angry, embarrassed flush as she complained to him loudly that he had woven such a delicate, loving picture of her to the village priestess.

Senku quirked a curious eyebrow at the brunette as the amused sound left his lips before following the mans eyes to land on Tachi and Suika, Chalk yapping loudly as he bounded around their feet. He watched the way her pleated hair swayed behind her as she stepped, feet kicking into a light skip which Suika mimicked, arms swaying by her side childishly as she grinned down at the laughing girl. She jumped in surprise as Chalk ran beneath her feet, ensuring she didn't step on the dog or trip over him, shouting loudly in protest which only seemed to excite the animal further, seeing him jump with more enthusiasm and vigor than before, enough to stop Tachi in her tracks for worry of trampling him. She watched the small animal in mock annoyance as he raced back towards Senku and Chrome, his tongue hanging from his mouth and eyes flapping with the movement. Senku watched the animal with a small smile, eyes raising up to capture pale viridian hues watching him with a puckish glimmer. His breath faltered and he pulled his gaze away, immediately cursing the shivers of flushed embarrassment that rushed through his body, pulling an innocent flush to the surface of his cheeks.