Chapter 1

Ryusui and Ukyo were observing their comrades building the ship, Perseus, that they will be using for their exploration to America. After they came back from Treasure Island, they needed to repair and improvise some parts of their ship due to the damage they receive from their previous battles. Yes, another busy day has begun.

"It seems like they are doing well." Ukyo commented with his usual serene mien. "If we'll keep this pace then I think we can have our journey on the planned date."

Ryusui nodded in agreement and spread the blueprint before him and Ukyo then discussed about the parts they needed to improvise, add and remove in order to avoid accidents during their journey. While they were exchanging their opinions and suggestions to each other, they spotted Senku and Chrome carrying the lab materials they used from their previous experiments.

"Hey, Senku, Chrome" Ryusui called and Ukyo gestured a hand, beckoning them to come. The younger duo exchanged query looks to each other but complied. "I would like to call on a meeting tonight" the elder said. "There are parts of the ship we need to improve and add."

"I also want to discuss regarding the radar and sonar" Ukyo added. "And I think my suggestion can improvise its system."

"Sure, I was about to ask for the feedback regarding the sonar, anyway. I need the opinion of the professional" Senku replied with a grin. "Ah, Gen-" he called out after he saw the mentalist talking with Minami, the reporter and Mirai, Tsukasa's sister while drinking 'Senku's Cola'.

"Yes, yes, Senku-chan?" he prompted after excusing himself from the sisters. Surprised expression was seen in his face and covered his arms with his oversized purple sleeves when he realized the rest of the wise generals were gathering in circle. "What are you guys talking about without me, hmm?"

"We are planning to have meeting tonight. I think after dinner is good per-" before Senku could end his sentence, suddenly coughs struck his lungs which made him to cover his mouth.

"Hmm, Senku-chan, are you sick?" Gen cocked his head as he inquired. Senku released few coughs again before he managed to reply.

"Nope, I think I just inhaled some dust and irritated my throat."

"Hmm~" Gen hummed understandably as he squinted his eyes, suspicious about Senku's statement.

Chrome, who was standing beside him gently tapped his back in order to ease his coughing. "Anyway, I think it's fine to have a meeting after dinner." Senku said after recovering from his cough and returned the topic then gave his glance to Ryusui.

"Yup, I think that will be good" then turned his gaze to Gen who just entered their conversation. "We would like to discuss about the ship and our exploration so make sure you are free tonight!"

Gen smirked and shrugged. "I am always free, Ryusui-chan." With that, the wise generals all agreed to have meeting tonight. After exchanging few more words, they all went back to their respective responsibilities.

Before Gen could also go back to chat with Mirai and Minami, he was called out by Chrome. "By the way, Gen. Kaseki was asking for your help."

"Eh!?" Gen was stunned and halt his action. "Why me? I do not have any knowledge about crafting and smiths." He exclaimed, trying to persuade the younger. Chrome just shrugged his shoulders and replied.

"Well, I think he needs some help for small jobs like transferring glasses to stove and cooling it in water."

"Ehhh~" Gen internally struggled as his posture turn into slouch.

"Don't worry, I will help you guys as soon as I will leave this box in the lab tent." Chrome reassured the other and smiled while Senku, who was standing beside Chrome gave his mischievous grin to the mentalist and smirked.

"You got no choice, eigh?"

In the end, Gen did a defeated sigh and trudged towards the working area. "I guess I don't have a choice…"

"Old grumps Kaseki really love Gen to be around huh" the modern scientist commented as he and Chrome watched the mentalist becoming smaller and smaller from their view. Chrome chuckled and nodded in total agreement.

"I think he is treating him like his grandson."

As soon as Senku and Chrome arrived at the lab tent, they returned all the test tubes, flasks, beakers, magnifying glasses and the rest of the laboratory apparatuses they used. After that, they head towards the stock area where they store their minerals, rocks, herbs and other laboratory apparatuses.

"Shall we collect more tungsten? Probably we will be needing for our communication" Chrome suggested as he scrutinized the cabinets.

"Yeah, I think we need to make some spares just in case when the telephone breaks. We can ask the farming group and weaving group to collect their own materials too. The autumn season is approaching" Senku replied. "And I think we need to prepare some medicines too. We don't know what might happen during our exploration. Plus, our population here in Science Kingdom increased. We should maintain our body as healthy as possible."

"Then if that's the case, I can go back to Ishigami village to ask some of their herbs. Our grandpas and grandmas are professional when it comes to that field. I can also collect some of the herbs I know after collecting minerals." Chrome said and gave thumbs up to the other.

"Hey, that's a great help" Senku remarked and smirked. "Then let's ask Magma to come with us again. Oh, let's invite Kinro and Ginro too and use their strengths so that we can collect other minerals like manganese, copper pyrite and sphalerite in that cave!" Senku exclaimed and both of them got excited.

"All right, as soon as I finish helping Kaseki, let's go for our 2nd Tunnel Dungeon tour!" Chrome said and dashed outside heading towards the working site of Kaseki.

"""""

An hour has past, Senku was busy drawing diagrams of new machines he thought that he can build together with the craftsman team in preparation of autumn and upcoming winter season but as time passes by, his cough won't stop coming out which eventually distracts him from doing his work.

"Did I catch some cold? But why and when?" he asked himself, gradually getting annoyed with his coughs. He held his chin to trace the cause of his cough by recalling his past activities but before he could do that, Gen entered the tent while holding a rolled blueprint.

"Senku-chan~" Gen drawled as he opened the door flaps in an exaggerating manner which made the scientist to jerked in surprise.

"Can you at least enter in a normal way?" Senku said in exasperating manner and leaned his body against the nearby table while crossing his arms against his chest. "Anyway, what's the matter?"

"Kaseki is asking the number of lab materials we need to aboard in Perseus. It seemed like you also forgot to give its revise measurements." And rolled out the blueprint before him. "See?"

Senku arched his eyebrow in dazed and checked the blueprint. Just like what Gen mentioned, he did not write the measurement and the amount of materials. "My bad, let me write it right away" Senku said as he released few coughs from his mouth. He usually did not make this kind of simple mistake so he himself was surprised to himself.

Senku then placed the blueprint on the table and took out a pencil from one of his pouches he hangs around his waist. But when he tried to write, all of a sudden, though it was only a brief moment his vision went blurry which surprised the scientist and pause his action then another moment later, a piercing pain struck his head. Senku winced and unconsciously held the pencil stronger. Gen didn't miss to witness the other's odd behavior and glanced him with concern.

"Senku-chan?"

"The measurement and its amount, isn't it?" Senku immediately replied as he tried to appear nonchalant and wrote the measurement on the blueprint. "Here and take-cough cough- this to Kaseki old man" he said after he rolled the blueprint for the mentalist.

The other squinted his eyes as he scrutinized the scientist with his thin gaze, analyzing him from head to toe which cringed the younger.

"W-what?" the scientist inquired, internally nervous what he is about to say.

"Senku-chan, are you sure you are not sick?" Gen finally asked which jerked the other, but somehow Senku barely appeared to be nonchalant.

"Why do you say so? Just like what I've said earlier, the dust just entere-" again, before the scientist could even finish his sentence, few coughs disturbed him which made him cringe as he covered his mouth with his hands. After a moment or two, his coughs ceased and did an impassive face towards Gen, who was already giving his dubious look to him.

Senku inserted his finger into his ear and twisted it as he released a sigh. "I'll take back my word, I think I catch some cold." He said frankly then released his finger from his ear.

"I think you need some rest, Senku-chan. You are pushing yourself too hard these days." Gen tried to persuade. "I know you might be feeling some pressure for the next exploration but it is also important to take care of your health."

Senku crossed his arms against his chest and smirked. "Ha, I am not pushing myself, rather I love what I am doing." Senku replied. "As long as I will drink some herb and take a nap then I think I will be fine. Besides I work less than the field and combat team."

"Well, of course they are more in physical not mental." Gen said with a nervous chuckle. "But anyway, if you'll promise that you'll take some medicine and REST, then I won't say any further." Gen emphasized the word 'rest' which flinched the other and chuckled. "Anyway, I need to go back show this blueprint to Kaseki, so I will take my leave."

"Ah, Gen-" Senku called his name before the mentalist could even step out from the tent. "Since the fruits and mushrooms are running out of stock, I, Kohaku and Suika will be collecting them later in the afternoon. Do you want to come? We need more manpower."

The word 'manpower' never failed to drain at least half of the energy of the mentalist for he has a trauma when he was helping out the Science Kingdom before the electricity and cellphone was invented. "Why don't you ask the power team? They are more helpful than me." he said, trying to let Senku to choose someone other than him.

"Well, I thought of them too but their hands were full with their responsibilities. The combat team were also busy with their training. So, in the end, you are the only man who is capable and free for this collecting job." Senku said and gave his mischievous grin.

"But what about Kohaku-chan? Isn't she a member of combat team too?"

"Ahh, about that she said that she is worried that maybe we can't carry the heavy baggage when will return so she insisted me to let her accompany us. Well, I admit that probably I won't last long during the trip with those hefty baskets."

"I completely agree with that" Gen agreed and chuckled for he too could imagine himself getting exhausted along the way. Both already could picture out in their mind that Kohaku is carrying four baskets full of fruits and mushrooms without any difficulty.

"Suika seemed to have already explored the forest so she can be our guide." The scientist added. Gen just released a defeated sigh and nodded in agreement.

"Are you sure you can go with your health condition? You might probably faint along the way." The mentalist said with concern. Senku just returned his smirk and answered.

"It is only just few hours. I can last and I promise I will take some rest after our trip since even a slight sickness is deadly here in the Stone World."

"""""

After Senku confirmed that Gen left, he released a deep sigh and sat on the nearby log chair.

"That was close…" Senku mumbled as he massaged his left temple. It has been awhile since he received a headache so he wasn't able to hid his expression well. Fortunately for him, Gen didn't seem notice about his headache.

When Senku reflected his activities for the past few weeks, he realized that he spent lots of sleepless nights for he was organizing and checking the blueprint of the ship, thinking of the possible routes they can take for their exploration, amount of food and clothes they will be needing, technology he and his craftsman team need to develop and many more.

"I guess I am lack of sleep, huh" he said and looked pensive for a while before he started scanning around the room to search for possible herb he can drink to stop his headache and prevent him from getting sick.

He then spotted small pots that contains different kinds of herbs. Senku inspected them one by one, smelling and touching the plants until he found the right herb he was looking for. "Probably this will help me somehow to ease my headache." He muttered and grinned.

He took his cray cup from his study table and was about to go out to head towards the kitchen to get some hot water, but then halt his action when he heard someone's footsteps approaching to his direction. Hastily, he hid the cup behind the tall pile of papers and grabbed a random blueprint and feigned studying.

"Yo, Senku!" Ryusui exclaimed as Francois opened the door flaps for him and followed after his master few steps behind his back. "I want to request you if you can inspect the ship and ask for your opinion. Are you free right now?"

Senku rolled the blueprint and placed it on the table. "Sure, why not. Though I think it will be unnecessary for me to give comments if you are the one who did the overall designing of Perseus, Ryusui." And gave his grin.

After that, they head towards the Perseus then Ryusui spent around thirty minutes explaining the system and the structure of the ship. Senku listened to him attentively, analyzing and asking some parts he wasn't knowledgeable about so that he can be aware about its parts. Their conversation prolonged not until Kohaku called out the scientist for they needed to head out for collecting fruits and mushrooms.

"I guess I need to go. I will leave the rest to you, Ryusui" Senku said, realizing that it was already time for him to go for his collecting job with his team. "We'll be back before dinner" and left the duo.

"Master Senku is indeed a busy person" Francois commented after giving his small towards the scientist to show his respect.

"Yes, he is." His master replied. "I wonder if he is having a good sleep or not."

"""""

It was already dusk. The sky had turned from azure sky to a mixture of gentle orange and flaming red which gave a warm vibe in the atmosphere. People who were especially working outdoors begun to finish their duty for today and prepared themselves to go back to their tents. Some who were already on their way heading back to the base, caught a whiff of delicious pumpkin soup from afar, which instantly drools their mouth and growls their stomach in hunger.

"I am really glad that we revived Francois" Yo said as he sniffed his nose while wiping the tears from the corner of his eyes.

"I completely agreed with that" Nikki, who was walking beside him said and had also the same expression as Yo. They can't help but be grateful for they were struggling with their daily food before Francois was petrified.

"I don't know why you guys are so emotional but thanks to that small guy…gal? Whatever, we can eat tasty meals every day! I was already tired of eating grilled fishes." Magma remarked as he placed the hoe he used on his shoulder.

"""""

"Senku, are you here? I came to return the blueprint of the sonar- oh, he isn't around, huh" Ukyo's words trailed away when he entered the lab tent and realized that Senku wasn't around. He then just placed the blueprint to its original place and scanned the surroundings.

"I wonder how his brain is working? Is he really a high school student before the petrification?" and smirked as he studied the area. Piles of papers were being stuck on the tables and corners of the tent, some were being hanged on the walls while the shelves and cabinets at both sides were filled with laboratory apparatuses and rocks and minerals that Chrome had collected. There were also crumpled papers scattered in the ground, but it wasn't just few pieces but a lot. If Ukyo will estimate its number, probably it will go nearly thirty.

"I wonder if he is a prodigy or devoted scientist… or maybe both" and chuckled.

"Hey, Senku, Kaseki had already made one third of the lab materials" Ukyo turned back and saw Chrome entering the tent while carrying a box full of lab apparatuses. He immediately went for an aid but Chrome humbly rejected his offer since he will just place it on the table anyway.

"Senku isn't around?" Chrome inquired after checking his surroundings.

"Yes, probably he went somewhere? Though I don't know where he went" the other replied. Chrome nodded understandably and when he pushed the box further towards the center of the table, he accidentally toppled the pile of blueprint and strewn the papers on the floor.

"Uh oh. My bad" Chrome mumbled an apology and knelt on the floor to pick up the papers. Ukyo also helped his friend and begun to compile the scattered papers on the table until when he saw a toppled cray cup and a certain herb on the table.

"Hmm?" Ukyo took the herb with wonder while standing the cup with his other hand. He sniffed the plant and immediately recognized its kind.

"What is that?" Chrome inquired after he stood up and placed the papers on the table.

"Peppermint. It is a herb that is good for easing headaches and pain." Ukyo replied. "But why it is here? Did Senku tried to drink this?"

Chrome widened his eyes and held his chin then pondered. Noticing his behavior, Ukyo inquired him.

"What's the matter?"

"Actually, Senku was weird today." Chrome said and placed his hands on his waist. "I noticed him coughing often this morning while we were washing the lab apparatuses. Actually, he also forgot to provide the measurement and amount of materials we needed to make this afternoon." Then shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, that's rare. He isn't type of person who will make those minor mistakes." Ukyo commented as he shifted his cap while looking pensive. "Perhaps he is tired? I can hear him working even in the late midnight. Sometimes it bothers me about his health. Ah—" as if he remembered something, his eyes widened for a brief moment before his face turned dark.

"By the way, the peppermint also gives an effect to reduce stress and kills off bad bacteria inside the body, particularly around nose and throat area." And pause for few moments. "Maybe he is sick?"

There was silence between the two as uneasiness started to arouse within them.

"I guess he is pushing himself." Chrome finally spoke. "He seemed appears to be cool outside but inside he is caring and worrisome guy. I guess he is always planning and thinking different stuffs in order to make our life easier, most especially we are also going to travel to America."

Ukyo nodded in agreement. "He is also concern about the people who will be left behind in Japan. Let's search for Senku. He needs some rest and I feel bad for him that I didn't notice his concern."

"Yeah, me too."