The evening breeze drifted through the window, stirring the papers at the corner of the desk. The silence in the room weighed suffocatingly on their chests.
Li Xiang remained silent for a long time, offering no further argument.
Watching her lowered eyes, Senku was about to continue working through the backup plans for after the Moon Landing when she finally spoke, her voice having grown hoarse without his noticing.
"I don't want this... Senku."
Li Xiang slowly turned her head, a trace of bewilderment in her eyes.
"I'm not as smart as you. I can't build a rocket that can make the round trip. I'm not strong, either. I can't protect you."
"But I'm really... scared."
Her voice trembled slightly as she fought back the ache in her throat.
"I care about you so much. I really don't want you to die."
"What if every plan fails? What if even Xeno can't fix things in time? What if you're stranded on the moon forever?"
"If you're gone, what becomes of the goal we agreed on at the very beginning-to revive the world and rebuild civilization?"
"Yes, we have lots of companions now. We have the whole Science Kingdom. But all our hopes, everything... it's all because of you."
In the end, she swallowed the rest of her words, leaving them unsaid.
She gazed steadily into Senku's eyes.
She had always seen things so clearly... yet now her eyes were filled with sorrow and pleading?
Those were emotions Senku had never seen in her before.
"Just do it for me, okay? Senku Ishigami."
Her quiet plea faded into the evening breeze, gentle yet heavy, leaving an ache in his heart.
Before Senku could respond, Li Xiang suddenly looked away as though all her strength had drained out of her, her tone