My Own Science (Dr Stone Senku x reader)

"See you later..."

When you and Senku started to hang out, it was mostly you following him around, asking about every and any question that your ten-year-old brain could muster, or him following you around, making you go through all this musical experiment that you couldn't understand the purpose of most of the time. Well today, it was your turn to be annoying. It was on the way back from school, the two of you had a common path to take for a bit before separating. It was only 5pm, but since it was a winter day, the sun has already set. You liked walking with him. To ten-year-old him, it was just painful.
"Senku?"
After the seventeenth question, he just stopped answering. He focused on reading the book he was reading. He'd do that all the time, not even realizing you'd sometimes pull him away from lamp posts and people passing by before he could bump into them.
"How many stars are in the sky?" you asked, looking up at the night sky.
"I dunno." he mumbled.
You loudly gasped and went to stand in front of him. He bumped into you and glared at you, but you had a big smile on your face.

"Oh my gosh~!" you cover your mouth with one hand and pointed at him with the other. "You don't know something~! You're not a genius!"
"That doesn't mean anything!" he exclaimed, his child self getting offended. "Nobody accurately knows how many stars there are!"
"But you're supposed to be the smartest boy in the world! Come on~ i's easy!" you looked up and pointed. "You just go 'one, two, three' until you've counted 'em all."
"That'd take me thousands of years!"
"What are you saying? There aren't even that many!"
"That's because of the light pollution! There are like billions of stars!"
"But how much exactly?"
"I don't know!"
You huffed.
"Then you're not as smart as I thought you were." you walked away from him, your chin held up.
He scoffed.

"I'll do it!"
You stopped and looked back at him. He had a look of determination on his face.
"Once I grow up and I go to space, I'll tell you how many stars there are!"
You face lit up. You rushed back to him and held up your pinky finger.
"Promise?"
He blinked twice, he didn't expect this turn of event. He thought this would turn into a rivalry thing. Instead you were looking into his eyes with a smile. A bit hesitant, he wrapped his pinky around yours.
"Sure whatever." he mumbled.

"Awesome!" you beamed. "Then I'll help you any way I can to get you to space!"
"More manpower? Dope." he smiled.
"Dope!" you exclaimed, with a spark in your eyes.
'Two.' he started counting.
But started back to zero once he looked up. When you went you separate ways, he eventually bumped into a lamp post and put his counter on pause.

.
Another week passed by before the day of the launch. Everyone went to Treasure Island, while the whole thing was broadcasted around the world. You and the others gathered around this transparent tube, connecting the mission control center and the launch site, to watch the three astronauts walk to the rocket and to wish them a safe travel.
"Kohaku..." Ruri smiled. "Don't be reckless." she pressed her forehead on the tube. "Promise me you'll come home safely!"
"You bet I will." she pressed her forehead on hers.
"Don't tell me you're getting cold feet now, professor Senku!" Chrome smirked at him.
"Kukuku~!" he smiled. "Have you ever met me?"

Xeno, who was inside the tube, approached Stanley.
"At last, the fateful showdown with Why-man." he said. "We never planned for this, but my science and your battle prowess will once again combine to wage war."
Stanley smiled.
"Dunno about that. It ain't just the two of us anymore."
Xeno's eyes widen for a moment, then his expression softened. Despite the face mask he was wearing, you could tell he was smiling.
"How right you are. We are joined by Senku's people, no. By the entire world."
He turned away a bit and handed him a pack with his logo on it.
"No smoking allowed in space of course. But how about chewing tobacco shaped like cigarettes?"
Stanley let out a small 'heh'. He removed the cigarette he had in his mouth and took the pack.
"Haha!" Ryu snapped his fingers. "You stole my ride to space Stanley! So I expect you to do your job, beat Why-man, and make it back safely. Am I wrong?! Or rather..." he paused, his smiled more genuine as he looked into his eyes. "Can you do it?"
"Yeah." he said as they bumped fists and walked passed each-other. "I can."