Constant Variable (Senku x Reader)

9: Let There Be the Light of Science

The sound of a melodious tune could be heard echoing throughout the surrounding area as Suika blew her seashell, attracting the villagers' attention as all heads turned towards the village's main bridge where they could see a cart rolling up to.

"People have waged wars over pepper. That's how fundamental food is to civilization." Senku began as the villagers made their way towards where your group was. "I'm going to colonize this village with the scientific food that is ramen."

"You look like the villain." Kohaku sweat-dropped at the gleeful expression filled with maliciousness on the scientist's face while you just giggled, used to it by now.

As a crowd began to gather in front of the cart, Senku turned to you with his signature smirk – the corners of his lips quirked with confidence. "It's time to win these villagers over to the Kingdom of Science, my assistant."

(E/C) eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect of being able to cook for so many people, something you have always dreamed of. You returned your green-haired friend's grin with one of your own, stretched so wide that it reached the corners of your eyes.

"You can count on me, Senku!" You exclaimed and got to work.

Soon, a bunch of villagers was gathered around the cart and watched with eagerness as you prepared the noodles, the delicious aroma of the broth invading their noses, and making their mouths watered.

Meanwhile, a certain scientist was watching as you worked, his red eyes softening with fondness and pride at the sight of the big smile painting your lips. In a rare moment, he allowed the corners of his lips to curl into the barest hint of a gentle smile.

For once, he gave in to sentimentality and thought to himself, you were truly the best assistant that any scientist could ask for but deeper than that, he was glad that you stuck around the weird and nerdy science kid when no else would.

'With the gourmet dish of science...' You thought to yourself as you placed the last bowl of ramen besides the rest that you had prepared, raising a hand to wipe away the sweat dripping down the side of your face. 'We can find enough manpower to make steel.'

As a grin slowly crept its way up to your lips, you turned to the crowd of anticipated villagers with a bowl of ramen ready to serve its guests and exclaimed in a loud voice, "One foxtail millet ramen!"

"It's so chewy! This is amazing!" Garen cried around a mouthful of ramen and practically inhaled the noodles, wanting more of this delicious dish.

Spurred on by the glutton of their village, the rest of the villagers began to dig into their bowls of ramen, and soon, just like everyone else who already had a taste of this dish, they couldn't stop eating as the aroma of ramen danced on their taste buds and introduced them to a whole new world of food that they never knew before.

"Are you the one who made this tasty stuff? Your name's Senku-kun? What kind of girls do you like?"

Upon hearing that, your head whipped in the direction of the lilting voice which belonged to a dark-haired girl that had struck up a conversation with the scientist who had come to assist you.

Your mouth tugged down into a frown at the clear interest on her face, a light blush dusting the apples of her cheeks as she waited for the green-haired teen's reply. Meanwhile, Senku paid no mind to the girl and responded without so much as sparing her a glance. "A girl who can pump a tone of oxygen into the furnace."

Releasing a sigh of relief that you didn't realize you had been holding in, you turned your attention back to preparing more bowls of ramen while thanking the lucky stars that the scientist was a person of logic and not feelings.