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Having something to fill your time that didn’t depend on your survival was a welcomed change of pace, but homesickness bled into your everyday thoughts. The village was able to make ramen, but it wasn’t as good as your favorite corner shop. You had Senku back in your life, but he was busy helping set up projects or experimenting with something or other. Even at night, Senku was sometimes too tired to keep up a conversation before knocking out. As sweet as the villagers were, you couldn’t help but miss your home. Thus far, the only thing keeping your head on the ground was Ganko. He was your one constant. Always by your side and easy to find.
Your hand cramped sharply from twisting thin strands into wires. You winced, flexing your hand out a few times before shaking it out. Ganko snorted at you and headed to a bush. You patted his back before he waddled off.
“Do you need to take a break?” Ruri said.
“I might take a small one,” you said, leaning back on your hands. “Jeez, I thought helping Senku with his projects before was bad.”
“You’ve helped him with stuff like this before?” Suika said, curiously.
“Yep. He’d make me a part of his experiments, whether I wanted to or not.”
You glanced over as he inspected the progress of another group. It was still nice to see him up and about. He fit the role of a leader pretty comfortably. Selfishly, you just wanted to have more alone time with him. You shifted your eyes back to your hands and massaged them.
“You two seem very close,” Ruri said. “Closer than most.”
“I guess we are,” you supposed. “We’ve been friends for a long time.”
“Do you like him?” Suika asked.
Color flashed on your cheeks as you deflected. “He’s my friend, of course I like him. I wouldn’t help if I didn’t.”
“That’s not what I mean! I mean do you like like him?”
Of course you knew that. You raised your head up, quirking an eyebrow, as if in thought, then looked back down at Sukia’s melon helmet. “Nah, he’s too weird.”
“I think you’re lying.”
“What makes you think that?”
Ruri giggled. “Well, you do sleep next to him.”
“So? Chrome does too. That doesn’t mean anything.”
“But you like him,” Suika asserted. “I can tell.”
You rolled your eyes and patted the area next to your hip, expecting Ganko to be there, only to find the spot empty. He was usually a good distraction from these kinds of situations. Besides, Suika loved Ganko and you needed her to forget to interrogate you. You twisted your head to the nearby bushes, but couldn’t find the little piglet at any of his favorite snack spots. You glanced towards the other villagers and couldn’t find him being doted on. He seemed to have just left. Anxious thoughts surged in your head as you sprang up.
“Oi, don’t avoid it,” Suika pouted, grabbing your skirt with her little fist.
“No, it’s not that,” you said somewhat harshly. “I can’t see Ganko.”
Suika glanced around and gasped.
“He was just here a second ago,” Ruri said, looking around too. “He probably didn’t get very far.”
You took a deep breath. Ruri was right. Ganko was a loyal boar, he wouldn’t run off for no reason. “I’m gonna go find him,” you said, standing up. “I’ll be right back. He’s probably just napping under a tree again.”
“Do you need help?” Suika asked.
“No, I should be fine. Thanks though.”
You waved to them then started towards the forest. Senku watched your figure disappear into the trees. He noticed that Ganko wasn’t by you. You were probably off to collect the little piglet from one of its favorite napping places. Senku moved his attention back to the task at hand.
As the seconds ticked into minutes, minutes into an hour, one then two, Senku began to worry. You weren’t the type to slack off, even if you were dead tired. Then again, maybe you fell asleep next to your boar. Your sleep schedule was still a mess and you had been known to doze off for a few minutes. It wouldn’t hurt to check on you. He tapped Chrome on the shoulder. “I’ll be right back,” he said. “I gotta go check on something.”
Chrome nodded and continued his work with Kaseki.
Senku toured the forest, making estimates and logical guesses about your whereabouts. If you were looking for Ganko, you would check his napping spots. He passed by them. Empty. He checked deeper into the forest for similar bushes to those that Ganko loved to graze at. Nothing. Concern creased his brow. Were you ok? Was Ganko ok? Senku hurried further into the unknown. He’d be able to navigate his way back.
Step after step with you nowhere in sight, Senku’s mind began to play out horrible possibilities. He tried to quell his brain. There was a ten billion percent chance that you were just lost, following your pig out because you thought it was cute to see him waddle. Or you had come back to camp just as he stepped out, barely waking up from a long nap with Ganko under your arm. Still, without you there to console him, he was left to his own imagination.
Then he heard a quiet yell. He followed the noise carefully. The yell became more decipherable as he neared it. Out of the thicket of bushes and trees was you. You turned in a circle, eyes glazing over Senku as you rushed out in a random direction.
“Ganko!” you called. “Please come home!”
Your voice sounded raspy. Your tone was somber, tired and yet panicked. He could hear your breath run ragged. Anxiety was taking hold of you. He ran to you, calling your name.
“Hey, hey,” he said as you gasped in the night air. “Breathe.”
Your breathing was still uneven. “No, I can’t. I-I can’t find him. He’s–He was fine before. God, what did I do?!”
“It’ll be ok,” Senku said. “Look, we’ll find him. Just relax and—”
“Don’t tell me to relax!” you snapped. “I’ve been on an alien version of earth for months and I feel like shit! I got turned to stone, lost all my family and friends, had to fight for my fucking life and now I can barely keep an eye on a pig! I’m doing everything I can to keep myself together but I’m still falling apart. I-I can’t be in this world anymore. I’m useless here, useless!”
You were shaking, hands out, knees buckling. Tears built up around your eyes, depressing you even further. “Senku,” you said softly, “what if… there was nothing I could do from the start? I… I really am helpless to everything.”
You were in shambles. You lost more than just a pet. You lost the one symbol of hope for your own future. Ganko helped you fight a lioness. Ganko gave you company in this stone world. He was your rock. Guilt played at Senku’s heart as he watched you internally berate yourself. You still didn't want to lean on him. You didn’t talk to Senku about any of these sensitive topics. He attributed your hesitation to his own uncertainty. His curt nature must have put you off. And he still hadn’t addressed those three glaring words you had spilled to him. He reached for you, taking your hands in his.
Senku said your name in a hoarse whisper, just loud enough to hear over your sniffles. “Let it out,” he said softly.
You gazed at him, astonished. Your lower lip quivered before you broke out into a sob, squeezing his hands firmly. Senku listened to your wails, your yearn for the familiar, your self-loathing. He waited for you to complete your thoughts, rubbing his thumbs over your knuckles tenderly. He offered you short answers to console you but still encouraged you to continue. He broke down the dam in your heart and helped you float over the inner thoughts that had once drowned you. Although he couldn’t help you through half of your problems, you seemed to ease up after talking about them. Once you had settled a bit, he spoke. “Better?”
You nodded. “I’m sorry,” you sniffled.
“Don’t be,” Senku said. “Now breathe with me.”
He guided you through calming breathing techniques. He moved two fingers onto your wrist, checking your heart rate as it gradually slowed to its regular pace. You took your hands back to wipe your face, rubbing your eyes.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you freak out this hard since you nearly missed a final,” he said lightly.
You laughed hollowly. “Yeah. I hate this stupid stone world.”
Your words were harsh, but somewhat empty. No passion laid beneath your resentful statement. Senku blew a bit of hair off his forehead.
“Why didn’t you come to me when you couldn’t find him?” he asked, folding his arms.
“I didn’t think I’d be out for this long,” you said. “I’m sorry. We should head back.”
“Nah, we gotta find your pig.”
“Ok, but how?”
Senku thought for a moment, carefully devising a plan. He recalled his observations on Ganko; what his favorite flowers were, the commands you had taught him, his personality, etc. You stepped closer to him, interrupting his thoughts.
“Hey,” you said quietly. “Do you think I could get a hug?”
You were so vulnerable at this moment. Eyes puffy, yet hopeful. Some of your hair obstructed your face as you held your chin down. His heart hummed in his chest. Senku sighed. He couldn’t say no.
“Ok,” he said through a dramatic sigh, “but don’t expect to be pampered all the time.”
You laughed with him, jumping into his arms, squeezing him to you tightly. Senku awkwardly set his arms around you. While he had touched you numerous times before, something about this moment was terrifying and yet electric; like you had given him your beating heart, clear evidence to your well-being and symbolic of your emotional state. He was careful about the way his arms draped over your body, wondering if it helped support you. Your hair draped over his hand, flowing freely. He curiously flicked his fingers between the threads.
You seemed to have no trouble in holding him. You never did, truth be told. You were like a pillow and blanket. No matter how you arrange them, the comfort and warmth was always evident and apparent. Senku began to relax into your arms, embracing you fully. You breathed in deeply and unwinded in his embrace. He felt somewhat accomplished.
“Senku?”
He pulled away, his hands still tentatively at your back. Your eyes lingered on his face, a red hue spread over your cheeks. His heart pumped violently in his chest as he continued to watch you curiously.
“What is it?” Senku said.
Your tongue flicked out over your lips. You gaped at him, trying to force a sentence or a word out of your throat. “Thank you,” you whispered.
Senku chuckled. “No problem.”
You leaned into him but stopped at his face, something held you back. It comforted him. You were scared too. Then you began to tuck your chin down, retreating. Senku couldn’t wait any longer.
He chased your mouth with his own and pressed his lips against yours. His lips stayed puckered on yours as he screwed his eyes shut to kiss you. Your lips were somewhat chapped, similar to his, but there was a plushness to them that he found enjoyable. It wasn’t unpleasant, but there was a surge of relief and awkwardness that plumed in the air. The tension he carried snapped in an instant and dissipated like vapor. Senku had finally addressed that nagging feeling that you managed to wring out of him. He slowly relaxed the muscles in his lips as he pressed his lips further against yours.
He soon pulled away and inspected your face. Your cheeks were a bright red, paired with wide eyes. Your jaw had slackened as you stared blankly at him. It was certainly amusing to make you speechless.
“Why… Why’d you do that?” you said quietly, frozen in place.
“Don’t play dumb,” Senku said in a teasing way. “I know you’ve wanted me to do that ten billion times.”
Your face morphed into an amused smirk as you rolled your eyes. Senku snickered as you shoved his shoulder.
“You’re pretty obvious,” Senku continued. “You did tell me that you love me. I might be busy but I’m not stupid.”
“You could have fooled me,” you said, somewhat pouty. “So, what did that kiss mean? Are you just experimenting or…”
You looked up at Senku, still hesitant to celebrate this showmanship of affection. Senku’s face fell. Did he have to spell it out for you?
“Yes, I put my mouth on yours because I decided a lip lock was a good experiment right now,” Senku deadpanned.
You were about to snap at him for his sass in such a vulnerable time but the scuff of something echoed in the distance. A rush of steps clambered straight for you. You got in front of Senku, pinpointing the direction of the noise, and stood your ground. You struggled to find the thing that approached as it seemed to pass right by you. Senku winced and toppled over on the floor. You turned and found Ganko squealing angrily, throwing a tantrum over Senku. Tears of relief rolled down your cheeks as you scooped up the little grumpy piglet, finally relieved of finding him.
“Ganko!” You crouched down and scooped up the little piglet. You kissed his wiry fur and spun a little. “My sweet baby! Never leave my side like that again.”
Senku glared at your affectionate nature with the creature that had knocked him over. “I should have known that little guy would spawn anywhere anyone else was too close to you,” he said.
You struggled to hold onto Ganko, cooing at him to calm him down. He still snorted and wriggled in your arms. You took extra time and care to calm him down, but he seemed pretty fired up. As you hushed him and tried to cradle him, you looked back to find that he had carried a huge branch of berries. Relief quelled some of your fears as you realized that he interpreted you flexing your hand out as the signal to hunt for berries. He must have gone farther out than usual to find a large bundle. You fed Ganko a handful of berries to calm him which worked slowly. His little temper tantrum lessened as you coddled him.
You began to frown at all the efforts you had made to train him. As much as you’ve taught him commands, he still didn’t always behave. Worry creased your brow as you stroked his fur. Senku slowly scooted towards you and elbowed you.
“What’s the face for?” he asked. “You got your pig back.”
“I know,” you huffed. “It’s just… What if he’s better off without me? He’s not some domesticated puppy. He’s a wild animal. What if it’s just cruel to keep him tethered to me? Maybe I should just let him go.”
Senku raised an eyebrow at you. “The stone world really messed you up, huh?”
You glanced at him, confused. He rolled his eyes and elaborated. “That wild boar still takes directions from you better than most dogs have in our old world. He’s bonded with you. It’d be a shame to throw that away cuz you’ve been down.”
You smiled softly and raised a hand, intending on touching Senku’s arm only to have Ganko wedge himself between you two and nuzzled into your palm. He snorted and hobbled over to bring you the thicket of berries he collected for you. You laughed and spoiled the little piglet with scratches and pets. You felt Senku’s eyes wander over your face, waiting for the perfect moment to say, ‘I told you so.’
A light blush dusted your cheeks. “Is Ganko the only one who’s kinda bonded to me?”
Senku rolled his eyes. “If I have to say it, you’re more dense than Taiju and Yuzuriha.”
You snorted and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Senku chuckled, the feeling of your lips against his cheek made his heart pound. He could get used to this. The two of you felt as though you were in bliss together. At least until Ganko began to squeal in a pout at your shared affection.