Lucky encounter

A week later

Something was off.

Kohaku couldn’t put her finger on it, but Yumi had been acting a little... different. Not in a huge way—she was still her usual bubbly, talkative self—but there were moments where she seemed distracted, almost lost in thought.

And then there was Chrome. Normally, he’d drop by the store at least once a day, either to buy something or just to chat. But lately? He was barely around. Kohaku hadn’t seen him for a week, and for someone as excitable as Chrome, that was unusual.

She leaned against the counter, tapping her fingers idly on the surface as she thought about it. Something was definitely up.

As she was lost in thought, the soft chime of the bell snapped me back to reality.

Mrs. Suzuki stepped inside, her usual warm smile in place as she made her way toward the counter. She was a regular—one of the friendliest people in town—and always had a kind word to share.

"Hello, Mrs. Suzuki," I greeted, straightening up.

She gave me a knowing look as she set her basket on the counter. 

"You seem a little distracted today, dear. Something on your mind?"

I hesitated for a moment before shaking my head. "Not really. Just... thinking.”

Mrs. Suzuki chuckled as she placed a few items on the counter. "Ah, youth. Always lost in thought about something."

I smiled faintly, scanning her groceries. "Not much to think about, really. Just the usual routine, nothing new"

"Oh, speaking of ‘new’," she said, her eyes twinkling, "my granddaughter is coming to visit me all the way from the Philippines! She’ll be staying here in Hoshikawa for a while."

That caught my attention. "Really? That’s nice. Have I met her before?"

Mrs. Suzuki shook her head. "No, no, this will be her first time here. She’s never been to Japan before, so I’m excited to show her around."

I nodded, handing her the bag of groceries. "Sounds like she’s in for a change of pace. Hoshikawa is a lot quieter than what she might be used to."

Mrs. Suzuki laughed. "That’s exactly why she’s coming! A break from the city life. You might see her around soon—maybe even in this store

"Oh, then I can't wait to meet her!" I said with a small smile. "What’s her name?"

Mrs. Suzuki’s expression softened with fondness. "Her name is Maria. She was named after the Virgin Mary, huhuhu. My husband chose it—he’s very Catholic, you know."

I nodded, amused by the way she chuckled at the mention of her husband. "Maria, huh? Sounds like a sweet name."

Mrs. Suzuki sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. "She’s a good girl, but I wonder how she’ll adjust to the quiet life here. She’s used to a much livelier place."

I shrugged. "She’ll fit in fine. People here are friendly, and besides, Hoshikawa has its own charm."

Mrs. Suzuki beamed. "That’s true. Maybe you could show her around a little when she arrives?”

“She’s the same age as you, you know,” Mrs. Suzuki added with a smile.

she raised an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? That’s interesting.”

It wasn’t every day that someone my age came to Hoshikawa—especially from another country. Most people here had either grown up in town or were much older.

Mrs. Suzuki chuckled. “Yes, I think you two might get along well. Maybe even become good friends.”

I gave a small shrug. “We’ll see. I’ll definitely say hi when she gets here.”

She patted my hand lightly, looking pleased. “That would make me very happy. She'll arrive tomorrow, so don’t be surprised if you see her wandering around town.”

Kohaku smiled. "Trust me, I won’t, hehehe."

Mrs. Suzuki chuckled, adjusting her bag. “Good, good. Well then, I should get going before the ice cream melts. It was nice chatting with you, dear.”

“Same here, Mrs. Suzuki. Take care on your way home,” I said as she waved and made her way out of the store.

As the bell chimed behind her, I leaned against the counter, thinking about what she had said. A girl my age, coming all the way from the Philippines… I just need to hope that she isn't like that crazy lettuce head asshole who acts all mighty.

I barely had time to dwell on the thought before the bell chimed again.

Chrome stepped inside, his movements sluggish, shoulders slightly slumped. He looked exhausted—more than usual. His hair was a little messier than normal, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes.

Without saying a word, he headed straight for the shelves, grabbing an energy bar and a bottled drink. He moved like he was on autopilot, his usual upbeat energy nowhere to be found.

I watched him for a moment before speaking. “Rough day?”

He blinked, as if just realizing I was there, then gave a tired chuckle. “You could say that.”

I raised an eyebrow as he placed the items on the counter. “Let me guess—Senku?”

Chrome sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. The guy barely sleeps, and when he does, it’s like a power nap before he’s back at it again. I don’t even know if he remembers to eat half the time.”

I scanned his items, handing them back. “And you’re his supplier now?”

“More like his babysitter,” 

he muttered, stuffing the energy bar into his pocket. “If I don’t bring him something, he’ll probably run on caffeine and stubbornness alone.”

I smirked. “Sounds about right.”

Chrome exhaled, grabbing the drink. “Anyway, I should get back before he starts trying to extract energy from the air or something.”

I rolled my eyes. “Tell him to at least act human once in a while.”

“No promises,” Chrome said with a tired grin before heading back out.

As the door shut behind him, I shook my head. Senku is really something when he's busy huh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night at Chrome's home, the group gathered once again, carefully finalizing their plans while making sure to keep things low-key. The room hummed with the buzz of a virtual meeting, where Ryusui, Tsukasa, Hyoga, and Chelsea appeared on the screen. The stakes were high, and the urgency was palpable. Senku and Chrome meticulously reviewed the strategy.

Ryusui, always confident, leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his face.

“Alright, here’s the good news. I’ve got a team of professional cave miners ready to go. These guys know their stuff—safe, efficient, and most importantly, discreet.”

Senku’s sharp gaze flicked toward the screen. He was impressed but not surprised.

“I knew you’d have it handled, Ryusui. I’ll leave the logistics to you. Just make sure things don’t get too flashy.”

Ryusui chuckled, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Flashy? Me? Not a chance.” He paused, clearly enjoying the moment. “But if you want, I could always add a few extra surprises. Maybe a helicopter?”

Senku’s expression remained unwavering as he quickly shut the idea down.

“No helicopters. We need minimal movement. If we draw too much attention, the plan is over before it even begins.”

Tsukasa and Hyoga exchanged a glance, still processing the details of the mission. Tsukasa, ever the strategist, was the first to speak.

“You’re sure we can handle the terrain? The cave’s not going to be easy.”

Senku leaned back, thinking for a moment. “The mineral deposits are deep inside, and according to Chelsea’s analysis, the route’s going to be difficult. We’ll need ropes, climbing gear, and possibly specialized tools. Ryusui’s team will handle the mining, but the key is to extract everything cleanly and quickly.”

Hyoga crossed his arms, the weight of the mission settling in. “I’ll stay on guard, just in case something goes wrong.”

“Good,” Senku nodded. 

“But we’re hoping nothing will go wrong. The key is to get in, extract the minerals, and get out before Dr. Xeno even knows we were there. That means no loud explosions, no distractions.”

Tsukasa’s voice came through, firm. “I’ll make sure the miners stay under the radar. But how are you planning to handle Xeno? If he finds out, we’re done.”

Senku’s gaze narrowed, and his voice became more serious. 

“That’s the part we need to be careful about. Xeno doesn’t just want control of the operation—he’ll stop at nothing to seize those resources for himself. If he gets involved, it won’t just be a scientific rivalry. We’ll be facing full-blown sabotage.”

Tsukasa shifted, his tone sharp. “So we need to move fast and keep Xeno out of the loop. Got it. But what about the people of Hoshikawa? How do we keep things quiet here?”

“Lucky for us,” Senku continued, his focus still on the plans displayed on his tablet, 

“the cave’s a little far from Hoshikawa. But we’ll still need to keep things under wraps. No one can know about this operation—not even the locals.”

Ryusui nodded. “Understood. I’ll keep things quiet on my end. Everything will be coordinated from the shadows—no one will suspect a thing.”

Tsukasa raised an eyebrow. “What about the miners? They’re professionals, right? Will they be okay with keeping this a secret?”

Senku smirked. “They’ll have no choice. Ryusui’s paying top-notch, and these guys have worked on high-stakes, discreet jobs before. As long as they know the importance of keeping quiet, they’ll follow orders.”

Hyoga leaned in, his expression hard. “And if one of them gets curious? If they want to talk?”

Senku’s tone turned cold. “We keep it tight. No one gets the full scope of the mission. I’ll give them just enough information to do their job, but no more. No leaks.”

Chelsea’s voice interrupted again, a note of concern creeping in. “If something does go wrong, you’ll need an escape plan. I don’t like the idea of being stranded in the middle of nowhere with no way out if things get heated.”

Senku nodded, his mind already calculating. “I’ve thought about that. We’ll have a secondary extraction route, just in case. Ryusui, you’ll handle that, right?”

Ryusui gave a thumbs-up. “Of course. The backup plan is solid. But let’s hope we won’t need it.”

Senku’s gaze turned back to the satellite images of the cave. His finger traced the mineral deposits, each one a crucial resource for rebuilding the world. His voice dropped, becoming more focused. 

“Remember, the success of this mission isn’t just about the minerals. It’s what those minerals will allow us to do. We need to move fast, extract everything we can, and get out. No distractions.”

The room fell silent as the weight of Senku’s words settled over them. Every decision mattered. Time was running out, and the stakes were higher than ever.

Tsukasa spoke again, his voice firm. “We can handle the security. But what about you, Senku? You’re leading this operation. Keeping it a secret from Xeno—your mentor?”

‘Again with this conversation?’

Senku’s eyes hardened. “I know what you’re thinking, Tsukasa. Xeno was my mentor. He taught me a lot, but he also has his own agenda. If he finds out about this—about what we’re doing—it won’t just be about minerals. He’ll try to take control, and I can’t let that happen.”

Tsukasa’s brow furrowed. “You really believe he’d go that far? You think he’d sabotage your work for his own gain?”

Senku’s gaze never wavered from the screen. “Xeno’s brilliant, but he’s always been about control. He’s used to calling the shots. If I give him any chance to take over, he’ll manipulate the situation until it’s too late. And he won’t see what we’re doing as part of a larger goal. He’ll only see it as a threat to his own power.”

A tense silence filled the room as everyone absorbed Senku’s words.

Hyoga’s voice broke through, calm but direct. “So, we’re taking this risk because you think Xeno won’t let you move forward unless he’s in charge?”

Senku nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the map. “Exactly. I trust him as a scientist, but not as a partner. If we’re going to move the world forward, I need to make the decisions, and I can’t let him stop me.”

Ryusui, usually the optimistic one, spoke with unusual seriousness. “You’re putting a lot on the line, Senku. If Xeno finds out, he won’t just be angry. He’ll see it as betrayal.”

Senku’s expression softened, but there was no hesitation in his voice. “I’ve known him long enough to understand how he thinks. If he sees that we’re taking steps he can’t control, he’ll try to step in. And that’s when things will get dangerous.”

Chelsea’s voice came through again, thoughtful. “So, we’re doing this without Xeno knowing, even if it risks everything we’ve built? Senku, you’ve worked with him for years. Aren’t you worried about what’ll happen if he finds out?”

Senku’s eyes flicked over to the screen, his thoughts weighing heavily. 

“I am worried. But we don’t have a choice. If we wait for Xeno to make his move, we’ll lose everything. The time to act is now. This is our chance to push the world forward, and I’m not letting anyone—especially him—stop that.”

Tsukasa took a deep breath, clearly processing the situation. “I understand, Senku. But just be ready. Xeno’s not someone you can leave behind without consequences.”

Senku nodded slowly. “I know. But this isn’t about leaving him behind. It’s about making sure we can actually get things done. If he finds out, we’ll deal with it then. Right now, the mission comes first.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of their decisions hanging heavily in the air. The plan was set. It was risky, dangerous, and there was no turning back.

Finally, Ryusui broke the silence, his usual enthusiasm tempered by the gravity of the situation. 

“Alright, then. We’re all on the same page. No more delays. Let’s keep this low-key, get in and get out, and then deal with whatever happens next.”

Chelsea spoke up, her tone confident. "Yup! Once the preparations are finalized, I'll head over there to make sure the minerals are good to go!"

Senku’s eyes flicked to the group, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “good. Let’s make sure this mission goes off without a hitch. GET EXCITED!”

END OF CHAPTER.