Eternal Skies [Dr. Stone]

Chapter Five: Ramen Revelations

Aria smiled, looking toward the boy. "We'll turn this stone world into a playground of technological marvels! We're going to bring all the fun stuff back into this world, I can promise you that."

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Chrome definitely liked the sound of that, the idea of getting to experience the things Senku talked about got him pumped. "Yeah! Oh, I'm Chrome by the way, one of the sorcerers in the Kingdom of Science." He held his hand out to Aria.

The brunette girl nodded, shaking his hand, "I'm Aria, an engineer from the old world. Or well...was working to be one. It's good to meet you."

Chrome then pointed to Kohaku and Suika with his thumb, "That's Kohaku the gorilla, and that's Suika, she's always trying to help people out. We're all part of Ishigami Village." The title for Kohaku though earned him a couple of bumps on the head, leading him to apologize to her.

Aria raised a brow hearing the village name, "Ishigami..?" She felt she recognized that surname and glanced at Senku briefly.

"Yeah, I'm curious too. Kohaku's sister Ruri, who happens to be the mistress, has stories about modern things like Momo-taro. But speaking to her has proven difficult considering the village won't let outsiders speak to her, so we're gonna make the cure-all and win her over," The latter said, explaining their situation to their new member.

"Cure-all? Is she sick?" Aria asked, furrowing her brows. It had to be something pretty bad for this world if Senku made the plan to go as far as making antibiotics.

Kohaku crossed her arms with a solemn look, "Yeah...she's been ill since she was young. Chrome and I have been doing our best to keep her going with hot baths and Chrome's herbs and plants. But she's getting worse."

Aria frowned, "I see..." She mumbled, putting a hand to her chin in thought wondering what could possibly make someone sick for that long. "If only we could get even a diagnosis, it would make things a lot easier. Though Antibiotics are likely going to be our best bet anyway."

Suika, having listened in, worried the moderners would think the village didn't like them just because they were strangers. She knew her village was filled with lots of nice and kind people, people she was sure would love the company of Senku and Aria and she didn't want the two to see her family in a bad light either.

"We probably would've been a little more open to outsiders, but about a week ago someone came asking where these specific stone statues were and was trying to convince our people to join him. He talked about all sorts of strange things, but no one left with him of course. Afterward, he stole resources and burned down a part of the village," Suika said, her hands nervously fiddling together. "Now that I think about it, the things he talked about sounded similar to the stuff you talk about Senku."

Both Senku's and Aria's backs tensed upon hearing this. 'Someone from the previous world?' They both thought. 'And it wasn't too long ago...they could still be in the area.' The former worried. 'Could they of been the ones I ran into back at that abandoned base?' The latter questioned.

"Do you know where they left to?" Aria asked, her voice laced with curiosity. "I didn't see any other base besides Tsukasa's when I was in the air yesterday."

Kohaku shook her head. "No. We lost track of them not long after they retreated. But we haven't seen any sign of them since."

"Then we definitely need to find them," The green-haired lad said. Aria raised a brow at this, "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"With a group of people with a modern leader, they could either be our allies or our enemies depending who finds them first." He reasoned.

"Ah, a race against Tsukasa, I see." Aria nodded, starting to understand. "But going as far as burning down the village, we'll have to hope they are negotiable."