ENTROPY | SENKU ISHIGAMI

two.

| YOU MADE YOURSELF ACQUAINTED WITH GEN SINCE IT WAS EVIDENT YOUR EQUALLY QUICK-WITTED PERSONALITIES MADE A GREAT MATCH FOR EACH OTHER. Never a dull moment like they say. "So, for my mental clock and all, what's the exact date? I can't tell if it's December or January," you prodded Senku with Gen; to both of your dismay, he ignored you and spoke to Kaseki. "I've been bugging him for the date for ages. Rude bastard has been gatekeeping it," your new friend uttered under his breath, making you laugh. A petty act like that was expected from the ombre-haired male.

"We have to be careful with these lightbulbs," he said, causing a 'what' stunned reaction to appear on your face. He continued his explanation, "When it's lit up, it'll reach 2,000 degrees or so, and the gold wire will melt. We got to reinforce the glass with a tiny bit of adhesive."

"Is this seriously the stuff he's been doing since I've been out of action?" you whispered to Gen, and he could only shrug and weakly smile. "This is some delicate work, even for me." Kaseki huffed, trying to put the wire in place. "My old man hands keep shaking."

"Good thing we have two little moles with steady hands just watching! Gen, y/n, choose between one of you to sacrifice," Senku smiled, wearing a not so charming expression.

You looked at your new friend- WHO WAS A TOTAL FLAKE. "Wow! Seems like I hear Kohaku calling me! See you ater-lay!" Gen happily chirped with his lie as he quickly skipped away. It was no matter! Yeah, it wasn't a big deal! This would be your first time helping the kingdom of science! Everyone else was doing it, so now it's time for you to contribute!

"I'll be so meticulous, Kaseki, you can count on me!" you hummed, eagerly taking the glass and wire.

...

After accidentally breaking a bulb and crying, you perfectly did it with a different bulb under Kaseki's instructions. "YOU SEE THAT? FIRST TRY PART TWO FOR THE WIN," you exclaimed with pride. Kaseki smiled genuinely at you, "For sixty years, my life has been so easy. Though ever since Senku came, we've had the most unreal challenges... and so much fun. Everyone in the village definitely feels this way, and I can tell you'll be able to bring that spark of life here, too."

You weren't sure how to react although the joviality from the compliment was apparent on your face, but another thing was clear- you just found a father figure. "I'll make you proud, sir," you saluted with that same genuine smile he gave you.

Chrome interrupted the moment to ogle at the finished bulb and pressed a finger to his chin, "So we're talking about electricity here. The last time we tried it, it burnt out in a moment, right? How do we prevent that?"

Yeah... science wasn't your criteria. The question of an invention's birthday was something you could answer, but the function and its workings? Yeah, you were lost. You recalled spending your afterschool time in Senku's science club instead of student council; the council president would march into the clubroom whenever you missed a meeting, knowing that's exactly where you were. It couldn't be helped that you enjoyed Senku's lectures over trivial student body and school matters. Granted, you understood zilch of it, but rare occasion, the information would boomerang back to you in a relevant moment.

"What do you do when you want something to burn real good?" Senku asked, and Chrome, without missing a beat, responded, "Blow a ton of air at it with the huff-puff tool like how we're doing it with the water wheel." You arched an eyebrow and actually understood something! Senku's boomerang!

"So conversely, to stop it... you just take away the air," you said, making Senku smirk. "There you go! Let's get to it!"

They obtained the necessary items while you worked on several more bulbs, so it'd be ready once their vacuum pump was set. The scientist began to pour mercury into the innovation and was quick to reveal the details, "By taking advantage of mercury's ability to trap air. We can create a vacuum inside the light bulb."