You and Senku had spent the afternoon by the lake, collecting iron—what some in the village still called “black powder.” The work had been steady until you nearly lost your footing and splashed water in his direction.

Senku froze, water dripping down his sleeve, and gave you that unimpressed smirk.

“Oh, so that’s how it is?”

Before you could defend yourself, he flicked a handful of water back at you. One splash became two, and soon the steady rhythm of work dissolved into a playful back-and-forth.

It ended abruptly when Senku stepped wrong on the slick bank and toppled backward with a loud splash. He surfaced with his trademark spikes plastered flat against his face, his hair falling heavy and straight for once.

“Ugh… that’s embarrassing.”

His tone carried more humor than shame, though the faint pout on his lips said otherwise. You tried to swallow down your laughter, but the look on your face gave you away.

Senku dragged a hand through his dripping hair and narrowed his eyes at you, a light flush creeping across his cheeks.

“I get it, I get it. Stop laughing. It’s like—ten billion times more annoying than usual.”