“Those parents will not get away with what their children did,” My mother growled as we continued to walk past the park.

Currently I was trying to hold in the tears, my once beautiful long hair was the victim of an attack by an older child. The older child took a pair of scissors, saying if I act like a boy, I should look like one. I’m only a kid, I didn’t think I acted like a boy.

My mother’s phone rang and angerly she answered it. She told me to sit on a nearby wall while she makes the call. I did as I was told, silently sobbing as I looked in front of me. There was a little boy, hair like a radish as he stared up at the moon. My tears started to ease up as I watched him trying to almost dupe the moon. “Why do you follow me ten billion percent of the time?” I laughed, he's silly but kind of cute. “I want to know about the world, I don’t have time for illogical feelings.”

Know about the world huh? That sounds fun.  “Emiria, we’re leaving!” My mother snatched my arm, taking me away from the park, though I kept looking back, watching the boy's antics.

--
“I’m going to space,” my eyes must have gone to the size of saucers as I realised the boy Infront of me saying this was the same boy from the other night. Ishigami Senku. “I’m going as soon as possible.”

That break time, I clutched my space book tightly in my arms. My grandfather had noticed how much I would stare out my window and thought this would be the perfect present.  Senku was mumbling to himself about only having a millimetre of knowledge. “Hi-hi,” I stuttered. He looked up at me confused. “I-I like space too. Can I come up with you?”

He hummed, putting a hand to his chin. “It is logical to take someone with me,” I smiled brightly. “I’ll need an assistant so you have the job.”

I jumped excitedly then placed my book under his face. “This is my space book. You have a lot to learn,” I giggled. “You can borrow it if you want.”

“Don't you need it?” I shook my head opening it up to a later chapter.

“I’m already this far!” I said smugly. “When you catch up, we’ll read it together.”

He nodded taking the book. I was so happy; I get to be helpful to someone so cool!

--
The years passed and I didn’t see Senku after that day. He still had my book, actually he probably threw it away by now. Not long after the incident, my mother and father moved us to England, to help my grandmother with my grandfather, the one who gave me my book, as grandfather’s health started to decline.

It was the day my grandfather died; I remember feeling the sharp sting of my mother’s palm against my cheek. “A young woman should show grace in the dark situations,” it felt like everything around me went black and I was alone.

Father started to work harder and my mother distant herself from me. I always knew she wants a son. She was the only girl born in her family and was always look down in comparison to her brothers' success. I know this because I've heard the stories many times, she always ends them with spite and I came to learn no matter how well I did academically, it wasn’t enough.

I gave up a lot of the things I loved to show I can be a success but she didn’t like this. One night I watched from the top of the stairs as she held a hand on her stomach, a smirk on her. “I don't need you anymore,” She said in husky tone. “You can keep the brat, I'm leaving.”

With that she was gone. The next few days were a blur, my dad didn’t seem upset by it. He almost looked relieved. One day, I came back from school and noticed a beautiful woman and a boy, who looked much like my dad sitting opposite him.

This boy is my half-brother Austin. It turned out, when we moved to England, mother found out about Austin and was furious over how dad already had a son and how dad still sent money to his ex, Cassidy, all these years. “Hey,” Austin was goofy and full of life. “Want to head to the arcade?”

That afternoon, we went for pizza and while waiting for the food Austin and I played in the Arcade area. I’m fifteen at this time and he’s 18 about ready to go to university which is why he wanted to get to know dad. I don’t blame him and every week, we did this as a family for three months. I turned sixteen during this time and we held a birthday party at home for me. Cake, tea and cards and presents by family. I was living a bit happier.

Then it happened. I remember one evening, the news on in the background about the latest space launch as my dad walked in. His face looking hurt. “Your mother, we’re moving back to Japan for her.” My mother had tried to commit suicide. After she left us, it turned out she was pregnant and ran back home to Japan for her son to be raised in the proper environment. However, she lost the child and she tried to commit suicide, terrified she would be disowned.

My dad being an honourable man, took us back to Japan. He and mother decided to try their relationship again and I would enrol into the local high school. That’s what I thought was going to happen. I became a carer to my mother while being home schooled but this is when she started to hit me for doing the simplest of things wrong.  For what should have been my first year in high school I felt more of a slave.

As the summer approached, dad convinced mother to allow me to enter the school and I was grateful beyond relief. I had some form of escapism. The night before, mother told me how she would be returning to work but also advised; “Your grandfather is arranging a marriage interview for you. You will marry a man of their choosing.” My heart dropped. Marriage? “This will be our way to get back into the family's good graces.” Why do I care? But I can't refuse, can I? I nodded, showing my understanding and she hugged me. I felt sick! All of my achievements and this is what makes her happy?

The next day I began my school life. Though it’s going to be short lived, I might as well enjoy it. My head was facing downwards for the most part, only looking up to check my seat assignment then I saw it. Ishigami Senku. I felt I could cry, that little boy was in my class again. I felt my heart swelling up in excitement as I quickly ran to take my seat. According to the chart he’ll be next to me and I was right. I looked up, seeing him walking my direction, clearly realising I've not been a part of this class before. “I don’t think I've seen you before.”

I smiled. Of course, he wouldn’t recognise me from being that little girl who gave him a book all those years ago. “I just moved here from England.”

---

I couldn’t believe after that, all the adventures I would have in the science club by being Senku’s lab assistant. I didn’t mind, I actually enjoyed it. He is the same little boy I saw that night looking at the moon and on the night of the festival, I was more grateful then ever Senku made my high school life so fun. I walked up to the roof, carry two cold drinks for us a smile on my face. This might be the last time I see him. After cooling his neck down then passing him the drink we got to talking. “Ria, stay with me until I finish the results of this experiment all right?” He asked with that typical Senku smile.

I blush, I think it’s in this moment I realised, I love him. I know he doesn’t care for love, telling Senku wouldn’t so any good but I really want to tell him. I played with the condensation on my cup. Deciding I can’t tell him, I would be nothing more than a distraction.
--
After the school festival, my dad went to work in the next town over, my mother taking the opportunity to keep me home for more “bridal training”. This Saturday, I'm going to be meeting up with the man I’ll be marrying. He’s the same man I saw mother out with when we went to the arcade, that’s why I freaked out.

Come Thursday, a mere three days until I’m due to meet him again, Yuzuriha and Taiju visited me. Passing me the homework I had missed. Mother being ever so kind to allow them in so I could assist Yuzuriha with some homework. When I looked at it, I knew this wasn’t the usual homework. It’s got too many Senku-isms on it. He’s asking me to send him a message. I went through the homework, filling in the blanks and hoping the message would get through the Senku.

I was surprised it did. My heart swelled up and tears started to fall as Senku held his hand out to me, in front of my grandfather and uncles, declaring he needed me. The moment I felt my mother’s grip loosen I walked forward to Senku, my future in front of me.

Then it happened, I felt a sharp pain in my back, falling into Senku’s chest.  Just as it was in front ogf me, my future was being taken away from me.  “Remember when we meet okay?”

---

Slowly my eyes started to open, my fingers twitched as I started to adjust to the overly bright room. “S-Senku?”