Stupid With Love

Fearless

Notes:

Leaves this and runs.

🧮🧮🧮

'I promise I'll find a way to get back to everyone.'

That was what he had said, but... they would be soon returning to Japan and he still had nothing. He had no idea what he could do differently to ensure their return, if they even managed to emerge victorious from that encounter with Why-man, that is.

He had to remain optimistic in that regard, otherwise it opened the door to a thousand more problems that he couldn't deal with right now.

Also, as if all that wasn't enough, there was another problem.

A problem that definitely shouldn't be occupying his attention at the moment, but that was nevertheless impossible to ignore.

The talk with Gen and the hug they'd shared had been incredibly comforting and all, but it had left him with another unanswered question: what was their relationship now?

Once again, everything seemed to have returned to 'normal'. Gen was there to support him, whether it was by listening to his scientific chatter, explaining the situation to the newly revived, or lifting the others' spirits.

The reality was that Senku hadn't confessed and Gen hadn't made it clear whether his concern for him was that of a good friend or something else .

And now he allowed himself to admit that he wanted that something else.

However, he had also noticed how it seemed to be directed at someone else.

Because yes, Senku was no stranger to how Gen's eyes strayed towards Sai and lingered on him for longer than usual. He even recognized that look, having been on the receiving end of it for years without even realizing it.

That was why he said what he said: "You should tell him that you like him too."

"Huh?" Gen blinked, he had once again been distracted watching the mathematician as he marched with Suika and Chrome to who knew where (something he might need to dig deeper into, but between the rocket, coming up with an alternate return plan and his dilemma with Gen, he had no brain space to spare).

"To Sai. You should tell him that you like him," he repeated, in case he hadn't been clear the first time.

"You..." Now he had his full attention, although it was more because he was trying to analyze him in search for answers, "...would be okay with that?"

"He seems to be a good guy, although I admit I didn't really like him at first."

Gen raised an eyebrow at this, though he didn't seem entirely surprised, either. Well, Senku knew he hadn't been exactly subtle.

"And was that because you were afraid he would steal your spot as our resident genius?" Gen finally said. They both laughed at that, knowing pretty well that this wasn't something that would bother Senku.

Still, he felt compelled to be honest: "No, because I thought he would steal you."

However, the mentalist was really confused, Senku knew it and, after their talk, he felt compelled to be honest: "No, because I thought that he would... 'steal' you, so to speak," he said scratching the nape of his neck as he looked away. After all, it wasn't something he was proud of, quite the contrary.

"That sounds terribly cringey," Gen commented, agreeing with his thoughts.

"I know," he whispered, feeling warm on his face, as if Gen needed any more confirmation. But it didn't make it less true.