Tsukasa unknowingly flinched when he heard you voice calling out for him. He didn't want to look you in the eyes but the enthusiasm that remained unchanged in your voice made him turn towards you. You were waving at him, smiling. Though he didn't understand why, he felt butterflies in his stomach.
'That smile though!' he thought.
"Sorry, did I kept you waiting?" you said once you were in front of him.
"Not at all, not at all." he cussed in his head for repeating himself. "Um, so...What did you talk about?"
"Well we just chatted about what happened, how it was crazy to run into each-other." you paused. "Oh yeah, they also told me about Senku."

Tsukasa became tense.
"You..." he sighed and looked away. "I'll understand if you want to go alone."
"Huh? Oh..." you scratched the back of your head. "Well, I wasn't that close to him. I just knew him as the school's smartass. I kinda had a feeling you were talking about him honestly." you smiled. "But I still want you to go with me."
"Really?"
The innocent look of hope he gave you made you squeal internally.
"Yeah. Come on, let's go."
He smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, let's."

As you walked to the tree houses, it became more difficult for you to walk with each steps. You felt like every little rock was stabbing your feet.
"Okay I can't." you finally said, stopping in your tracks and sitting down on the ground. "I feel like I'm gonna bleed if I take one more step."
"You're not used to walk without shoes I see."
"It's a nightmare." you let out.
Shit, was that too angry? Did you just blow it?
Nope. Tsukasa smiled.
"Do you want me to carry you?"
"That would be nice yes." you sighed of relief.

He picked you up, again, without any effort. But this time, he made you sit on his shoulder, letting a hand on your lap.
"W-wait!" you became red.
"What?"
'Don't give me that innocent look!'
Just now do you remember how flustered this kind of thing made you. Plus with his height, you were high off the ground. And you were pretty sure everybody could see you both, but you were too scared to check.
"I...You don't have to do it like that."
"I don't mind. That way I can use my other arm. Plus, isn't it more comfortable?"
"I mean I guess. But..." your voice died down, remembering that you must not argue with him. "Okay then."

He started to walk, but because you weren't prepared, you yelped and held his head tightly for support. He just laughed wholeheartedly.
By the way, his hair, though beautiful, were like an old dog's fur to the touch. God you couldn't wait for Senku to recreate shampoo!

Tsukasa explained to you where everything was and he helped set up your little space. Neither of you talked. You thought about how awkward it would've been if it wasn't for that conversation-interrogation you had. When two people opens their heart, they're bond to get closer.
'Well...I didn't really do that on my part...'
You felt pretty bad about it. But because it was justified, you didn't feel guilty.

While you were making your bed, you hummed a little tune. Something you often did when you were working.
"I've never heard this before." you looked up at Tsukasa. "Where...Where did you hear it?"
"It's...something my sister composed a long time ago."
He sighed, looking rather relieved for some reason.

"Your sister composes music?" he smiled. "She must be good if you're singing it."
"Yeah she's...she's great."
"Tell me about her." he smiled. "From what Hyouga told me, she sounds very active."
You paused in whatever you were doing and looked down.
"Yeah she's...She knows what do to, when to do it. She's strong, and she's got a real presence. People just know if she's here or not."
That fake sister may have turned into something more deep. Like the ideal-you you think is unreachable. Maybe.
"I wish I was as strong as her..."
A moment passed. Tsukasa hated the look on your face.

"(Y/n)," he leaned closer. "when I met you and I explained what happened, you faced the situation head on and accepted. You learned your sister is with the enemy without any explanation and you also accepted it and you didn't let it cloud the way you feel about her. You trust her but also your judgement. You staid conscious for thousands of years just by the power of your will." he paused, looking into your eyes. "To me, you're one of the strongest person I know."
'So please, don't look so sad!'

You heart skipped a beat at his genuine words.
'Okay now I feel guilty.'
"Aww~," you let out a whisper. "you're so sweet."

In the silence, Tsukasa heard you. And this compliment resonated in his head. He blushed, you realized what happened and blushed too.
"Thank you..." he said.
"Uh, you're welcome." you turned away, cursing yourself and the stone world's silence.

"You're sweet too."
"What?!" you exclaimed, louder than you wanted.
Turning back around, you felt like dying when you saw Tsukasa's spark in his eyes, determined to compliment you.
"I said you were swee-."
"I-I heard you I heard you!" you waved your hands. "Thanks."

The next day, you joined Yuzuriha so she could make some clothes for you and everyone in general. You also said you'd help her make them, but you knew she could make them just like that. She said Senku gave her a really important secret mission and you wanted to see what it was.
The two of you went in a cave where she sewed a bunch of clothes, and she handed you a new dress, which you put on. She even made you shoes and you thanked her from the heart for that. She explained that everyone thinks it takes her a whole night to make them, when really she just spent almost all this time on her secret mission. She gestured to the bag when she said that, and you tried to figure out what was inside.

You then went to the nearby forest, where no one would see you, inside another cave. You momentarily stopped hen you saw the statues, one of them was incomplete. Yuzuriha opened the bag and took out pieces of stone. Using some kind of glue, she started to piece the statue together like a puzzle.
"Are those...?"
"They're Tsukasa's victims." she explained. "Senku said that they could still be revived if we reassemble them."

You were at a loss for words, that might be one of the craziest thing you heard so far.
'He really wants to save everyone.'
You smiled and sat beside her, helping her with her human puzzle.

At some point, you had to leave, because you weren't used to stay up all night doing puzzles, you were very tired. You walked back, planning on giving Tsukasa his lion coat back. The wind gently blew, the tree leaves gently moving along. You stopped. Something was wrong.
You didn't know if you were just being paranoid, but something about that rustling sound just wasn't natural. As if something, or someone, was moving just when the wind blew so that you couldn't hear them. You didn't want to look to panicked, so you readjusted your shoe to make it look like the reason why you stopped.

"I can tell you found me."
You flinched.
'Oh my god I was right!'
From the bushes, a young man with a bow on his back, wearing a hat, walked out. He looked at you with a little smile.
"I could hear your breathing suddenly becoming irregular." he said. "I see you also have a good hearing."

'It's that Ukyo guy Nikki talked about!' you thought, trying not to look too alarmed. 'Did he follow us?! He didn't saw everything, did he?!'
"I saw everything."
"Dammit!"
He chuckled. He looked too friendly and relaxed for your liking.

"Don't worry. I also don't want anyone to die." he gestured towards the way back. "Come on, I'll accompany you back. It's not safe at night."
Hesitant at first, you figured you didn't have much of a choice. You walked side by side.
"I'm Ukyo."
"Yeah I...I know."
"I guess you don't actually have a sister then." he said.
You slowly shook your head. He chuckled.
"Who could've thought that such a simple and cliché excuse would work."
You didn't say anything. That boy was so casual it was actually weirding you out.

"So what's your plan? I figured you being here wasn't part of it, given Yuzuriha and Taiju's reaction. So what are you doing here for?"
"..." you looked down. "I just, wish they could settle things without fighting."
"..." he looked forward. "That would be the best option, but if you ask me, I don't think they will. They're both stubborn. Senku didn't gave up on science even when his life was on the line. They both have strong beliefs." he glanced at you. "I don't think Tsukasa will listen, even if he warms up to you." he paused and smiled. "Though, I think he already did, with him carrying you on his shoulder."
"You saw that?" you covered your blushing face.
"I'm pretty sure everybody did." he chuckled.

Now back in the Empire, you were about to part ways.
"By the way," he smiled. "I like your dress."
"Huh? Uh...thanks."
He waved and walked back away.
'What the fuck! This guys is so casual!'

You walked to tree house when you saw Hyouga leaning on the wall right beside the door. You suddenly became nervous. You praised Yuzuriha to have also made you a coat to hide the cracks on your arms.
"Uh..."
"You're back." he said. "How was your first day here?"
"Good, everyone was so nice." you smiled.
"Did you have fun with Tsukasa?"

You blinked twice. He was pressing his questions and you didn't like it. You noticed him looking down at the lion coat you were carrying.
"Yeah, Yuzuriha gave me new clothes so I'll give it back to him tomorro-."
"I can do it." he extended a hand.
"Huh?"
"No need for you to do it."
"Okay..."
You handed it over, he quickly took it. But he didn't leave and kept fixing his gaze on you. You felt more nervous with each passing second.

"When I saw your sister, I thought she was reckless, running across a battle without thinking."
"Yep. That's my sister alright."
"Are you reckless like her?"
"Uh...I, I hope not."
A moment of silence, that for you felt like forever passed. He quietly hummed.
"Good night (Y/n)." he said and walked away.
"G-Good night."

You waited to make sure he was gone, then you felt like you could finally breath.

You really wanted to have a few words with Chrome, maybe ask him if he needed anything. You only communicated with gestures and faces, and you think he told you that he was planning to break out of here.
Walking passed his cell to see how he was doing, he was...working out? He seemed intensely focused on it.
'Is he planning to get super buff so he can break it open?' you tried not to giggle.

Suddenly, the ground beneath you suddenly broke and you were just about to fall when a hand grabbed you and violently pulled you back. You fell backwards.
"God dammit! Not again!" the man who pulled you exclaimed, then glared at you. "Stupid woman! You wrecked the pitfall!"
'Traps?! That's why Chrome's cell is so on display! I thought it was to set an example to the rest of the population.'
"I'm sorry."

He looked at you up and down. A creepy smile formed on his face and he leaned closer.
"Now you have a dept to pay."
"What?!" your face twisted in disgust.
"Oh come on~! Don't be like that, I'm in the elite you know?"
"The elite?" you raised an eyebrow as you stood up, not believing anything that came out of this guy's mouth.

"Yeah! You'd assume the top three are Tsukasa, Hyouga and Ukyo."
'Sounds about right yeah.'
"But you're wrong! It's the four heavenly emperors, with me included!"
"That...doesn't sound right."
"What?! Don't you mock me!"

You flinched when he brandished his weapon.
"Now choose how to pay your debt!"
"It was an accident!"
"Doesn't matter what it is! Do you have any idea how much time we spent on making that pitfall?!"
"I'm sorry that's your problem though!"
"By the sound of it, maybe you did it on purpose!"
"Well maybe I did! How 'bout that?!"

His grip on his weapon tightened, shaking with anger. Then, a hand grabbed his shoulder from behind.
"Yo, calm down." Ukyo smiled at him. "It was just an accident."
"Ukyo!" Yo became tense. "Y-yeah! Yeah of course!" he bowed to you. "I'm sorry miss!"
'The four emperors huh?'
"It's okay."

You walked away, Ukyo walking along side you.
"Thanks." you scratched the back of your neck. "I think I got too heated there."
"You got a real temper huh (Y/n)?" he smiled.
"Well, he was being a dick!"
"Yo isn't that bad." he frowned. "Though...I get what you mean." he noticed the look on your face. "What?"
"That's his real name?! I thought you were saying yo like 'yo!'." you made a peace sign.
He laughed.

"Here." Hyouga handed the lion coat back to Tsukasa. "She told me to give it back to you."
"Really? I see..."
Tsukasa was sad that you turned to Hyouga when you could've come see him yourself. But he was fine with it, he was sure you were busy doing your own things. He put back his coat, welcoming its warmth with open arms. He was getting cold without it. Now that he had it on, he gasped.
"What?"
"Nothing. Nothing..."

He pulled the edge closer to his face.
'Smells like her.'
Hyouga noticed the look of happiness on his face and frowned.
"Tsukasa, please focus."
"Ah, sorry." his cheeks turned slightly pink in embarrassment.