Eternal Skies [Dr. Stone]

Chapter Nine: The Black Sheep

Not long after, Senku peaked from his tent noticing a fire was still going. A curious expression adorned his face when he saw Aria and stepped out. He approached the girl and saw she was knocked out cold. In front of her were several scribbled-out blueprints, his eyes widening realizing what they were for. After a moment his lips curled up into a smile and he scoffed slightly. Retreating for a moment, he returned with a blanket and set it over the girl's shoulders.

"You just don't change, do you?" he mumbled to himself.

━━━─── • ───━━━

Ba-Dum. Ba-Dum. Ba-Dum.

Their hearts raced to the beat of the drums that announced the coming of the outsiders. Senku and Aria walk side by side along the bridge, anticipation growing with each stride. It wasn't until they took that first step onto the islet of Ishigami Village, that they felt a sudden wave of accomplishment surge through them.

"Well, we're here..." The scientist muttered, smiling toward the sight of the village before him. Aria closed her eyes, her lips curling up as well. "Almost half a year, how crazy is that."

He scoffed in response and watched their friends make their way to finally welcome the two onto their home. Chrome, Kohaku, and Suika escorted them toward the board that would announce the round-robin of the Grand Bout. The looks the villagers were giving them were not pleasant, most wary. There were even a few whispers about the rumored demi-goddess, some even wondering if these two were with the man who burned their village.

The chatter shifted from suspicion to that of surprise. Behind them was a slim pale blonde girl who had similar facial traits to Kohaku. Her eyes were locked on the green-haired man with a look of wonder and curiosity, "So you-...you're Senku..?"

The said man glanced over his shoulder and seeing the resemblance between her and their lioness he smiled, "And you must be the priestess Ruri, right? Heh. We meet at last."

"There is something I must ask you," She said, her body starting to sweat and slightly shake. One could mistake it for nervousness but Aria's gut told her otherwise. "Senku, what is your surname?"

The air around Senku became tense and thick, "Sur..." One villager started, "-name..?" Another finished, having never heard of that word.

Ruri attempted to clarify, "I mean, you're family name. The one that's passed-"

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Senku cut her off, turning more toward her. He never recalled the villagers having any traditions of last names, so how would Ruri know?

Ruri's frame began to tremble more, Aria taking a step towards her in worry, "Could it be that you're...Ishi-" Her legs gave way, her body falling into a wet coughing fit on the ground. They ran to help her however Turquoise, one of the people who helped watch over Ruri, held her hand out. "Stop there! Don't come any closer outsiders!"

The villagers managed to carefully get the priestess onto a stretcher, carrying her back into the throne room. Senku hooked a thumb on his belt, feeling rather perplexed after what just unfolded before him.

"I've got about ten billion questions for her. She and I are going to have a nice long chat after this Grant Bout business is over," The scientist said, his interest in the girl piquing even further.

It took a few minutes for the crowd to calm down, Jasper soon getting their attention, "Alright, everyone participating in the Grand Bout, come forth and draw," He announced, holding a jar of painted bamboo sticks, the colored ends hidden within. The participants lined up, getting their randomized placements.

Senku received a red stick, Kohaku a green one, and so forth. "The pairings in the bracket are going to be important," Noted the latter.

"That's why we have the match-fixing plan," Senku said. Ginro slid next to him, snakes forming on his tongue, "And who cares if it's dishonorable, we're not in it to win! The goal's to beat Magma and save Ruri after all!"