The ship sailed steadily along its course across the azure sea.
Everyone had their own work to keep them busy.
Senku and Xeno continued their usual discussions of scientific problems, spouting a stream of technical jargon ordinary people could not understand at all.
Over time, everyone aboard had long since stopped finding it strange and grown used to their unique way of communicating. Whenever the two gathered for a quiet discussion, everyone instinctively gave them space rather than interrupting.
Everyone aboard had a job to do. Not a single person was idle.
[Except Li Xiang.]
Tsukasa, Hyoga, and Maguma handled the heavy labor, hauling the building materials stored aboard back and forth.
Ryusui handled navigation.
Grandpa Fossil and Chrome worked together to maintain the hull, inspecting the gaps between the planks and the waterproof coating underneath to ensure the ship remained sturdy and safe throughout the voyage.
Kohaku quietly made handicrafts with the crafting team.
Even Watermelon, the youngest, stayed busy, obediently following everyone around and helping pass them things whenever he could.
Everyone aboard was busy.
Only Gen stood in a corner of the deck, watching everyone work as an inexplicable sense of emptiness and loneliness welled up inside him.
He slowly wandered below deck.
Was he really just a burden?
The more he dwelled on it, the lower his spirits sank, until his dejection became plain to see.
In the kitchen below deck, Francois was methodically preparing the ingredients for lunch.
Spotting Gen approaching slowly with a troubled expression, Francois took the initiative to greet him warmly.
Gen came back to his senses and nodded politely in response.
Seeing how listless he looked, Francois asked softly, "Why the long face, Mr. Gen?"
Gen waved a hand helplessly, his tone self-deprecating. "It's nothing. Everyone has something to keep them