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Kohaku was confused as to why Senku requested her and Chrome’s return so soon, however, it wasn’t until they returned to the ship that they got an explanation of the situation.
The enemy’s leader had managed to contact them, which was the reason why they could no longer trust their communications to stay just between them in the first place. And apparently, said leader had gotten so frustrated by Senku’s lack of cooperation that he decided to send a spy instead.
“Wouldn't it be easier to take him hostage and question him?” Kohaku asked. She had seen Gen walking around the ship when she first arrived and to be honest, she was far from impressed.
“Yeah, even I can do it!” Ginro volunteered, ready to have another heroic moment.
Kohaku huffed. Of course he would offer to help with something as easy as that.
“Please, he’s like a small mean kitten at best–,” she began to say.
“I guess it takes one to know one, Lioness.”
“–even a twig like Senku could handle him,” she finished, laughing at the scientist’s offended look, even if he asked for it first.
“Oi!”
“I too agree with Kohaku-kun,” Hyoga said then, deciding to put their conversation back on track instead of continuing to waste time. “And I got ways of making him talk,” he added, causing goosebumps to more than one of those present in their current “strategy room”.
“No! Torturing is wrong!”
“No need to be so loud about it, big oaf,” Senku interrupted, “but he’s right, we won’t be torturing that mentalist.”
“So we’ll just let him lurk around and do whatever he wants?” Kohaku asked with an indignant huff.
“Nah, we’ll extract intel outta Xeno and his people. Cuz in a science battle, the greatest weapon is information!” Senku declared with an evil grin. “We just need to find what makes him tick so he decides to join our side instead. With his help, we’ll have no problem capturing their science leader.”
“¿Eh~? You sure sound confident, Senku-chan,” they all froze in their places, noticing only then how Gen was practically resting his chin on Senku’s shoulder while pouting slightly as if he was truly offended by what he was hearing. “I came all the way here to ask for your help and that’s how you treat me? So ude-ray!”
When did Gen arrive and how did he manage to get so close to Senku?
Tsukasa and Kohaku were the first to react, one pointing her dagger towards Gen’s throat, making him take a couple of steps back, while the other put a hand on his shoulder and calmly asked him to leave.
Gen slowly raised his hands, letting out an awkward laugh and apologizing for intruding. Seeing how easily he surrendered, Kohaku lowered her weapon, mumbling something about “cowardly snakes”.
It was only then that Gen put his hands on Tsukasa’s wrist and swiftly turned him over by kicking him in the knees while effortlessly dodging a punch from Tsukasa in retaliation. Before they knew it, Tsukasa was lying on his back while Gen sat comfortably on his torso with an amused smile on his face.
“You should have followed Kohaku-chan’s example, Tsukasa-chan. Although I admit, it was a cute attempt,” he said, leaning closely to whisper the last part while pressing his arm over his neck in a clear warning, all while completely ignoring the weapons that were soon leveled at him.
Senku cleared his throat.
Similarly to his comrades, he could feel the fear caused by that small display. Everyone knew that Tsukasa's strength bordered on inhuman, and even Hyoga and Kohaku needed their weapons to be able to deal with him. If Gen, who was just a spy sent by the American colony, was capable of handling him, he couldn't imagine what was in store for them.
However, that also made the situation all the more exciting. If they could get Gen to help them, they would be at a greater advantage than he had previously anticipated.
The problem was a third emotion he felt, more difficult to define. All he knew was that there was something about the way Gen leaned into Tsukasa to whisper in his ear that bothered him.
“That’s enough, you have made your point, Mentalist. Now break up before you actually damage something,” he said with pretended disinterest.
The note of irritation in his voice, however, was quite real, although perhaps for all the wrong reasons.
“Alrighty~,” Gen said, pulling away from Tsukasa and giving him a couple of pats on the cheek before standing up and offering him his hand, which Tsukasa, albeit hesitantly, accepted. “Now, let’s talk business. Shall we, science leader Senku?”
It’s been less than three hours since Gen had boarded the ship and he already knew exactly who his target was. There was no point in trying to deny it either. All the protection he received at that instant had probably confirmed what Gen had surely been suspecting the moment he arrived.
“Sure, let’s talk,” Senku replied, ignoring the worried looks from his friends.
He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his blood.
Perhaps, in part, because of how threatening their current enemy was, and definitely because of the challenge they were facing. And maybe, even if he wasn't willing to admit it, there was something about having Gen's undivided attention on him that excited him as well.