After the Science Kingdom acquired a telephone, the immediate problem was how to get it safely to Taiju.
Tsukasa's faction surely had guards at every checkpoint. Sneaking in unnoticed would be far too difficult.
Hmm... time to put their heads together.
"Ha! Why not just fight our way in?" Kohaku planted a foot on a stool, her tone indignant. "Is that guy Tsukasa really that strong? Even if he is, his companions can't all be as strong as him, can they?"
"Oh, come on, Kohaku. There's no way that plan would work..." Gen said helplessly. "Tsukasa's faction has plenty of capable fighters. We can't just rush in."
Li Xiang said, "Hmm, I could sneak upstream of where they get their drinking and cooking water and add a little something."
"Huh?"
Anyone who had seen how ruthless this doctor could be could guess... she was definitely up to no good...
"Kukuku, I'll leave it to you, then, Li Xiang." Senku picked at his ear.
That evening, with the Milky Way stretching across a swath of sky, Senku went to find Ruri.
The evening breeze swept through the mountain woods, carrying a crisp chill, yet it could not dispel the lingering warmth in their hearts.
The village had fallen silent. Clear and brilliant, the starry river spread quietly over the land, gently enveloping the sleeping mountains and village.
Ruri's fingertips slowly stroked a small, carefully sewn pouch of coarse cloth in her palm, its stitches fine and close.
Soft footsteps sounded behind her. Senku stood quietly in the night, the evening breeze stirring his green and pale white hair.
His crimson eyes looked especially clear beneath the starlight, with something weighing on him deep within them.
After a moment's silence, he spoke softly. "Ruri, do you have a minute? I'd like to