Gen clicked his tongue softly, and Espeon spun on her paws, psychic energy flaring in a clean, controlled beam before snapping neatly back into place. “That’s it, gorgeous, nice and precise.” He said, giving her an approving clap. She trotted back to him, tail swaying with quiet confidence, and Gen crouched to rest his forehead briefly against the smooth gem on hers.

Training like this was grounding in a way he didn’t often admit— no lies, no tricks, just mutual understanding. Still, the light of day was starting to fade, and Gen straightened with a theatrical sigh. “Alas, duty calls. If I don’t check in on a certain mad scientist soon, he’ll forget things like eating. Tragic, really.” He sighed, petting her ears and kissing her forehead. “Let’s go see Senku-chan.”

He strolled back toward the lab with Espeon padding along at his side, occasionally running ahead before waiting patiently for her trainer. Gen let her show off, smiling to himself as the familiar hum of the lab grew louder. When he pushed the labs ‘door’ open, the air was thick with chemicals and heat, and Senku was exactly where Gen expected him to be— focused, hands moving with relentless precision.

Gen leaned against the doorframe, watching for a moment before speaking. “You know,” He drawled. “Most people take breaks. Very fashionable concept. Highly recommended.” He wandered closer, careful not to disturb anything important, Espeon hopping up onto a nearby surface and fixing Senku with an unblinking stare.

Gen tilted his head, studying the cluttered notes, the half-finished experiment, the way Senku barely acknowledged anything beyond his work. His expression softened despite the teasing curve of his smile. “I trained with Mirage today..” He added lightly, as if it were casual, as if he weren’t always looking for excuses to share pieces of his day.

He reached out, brushing his fingers briefly against Senku’s cheek before pulling back, knowing better than to interfere for long. “I’ll stay out of your way.. mostly.” Gen murmured, voice quieter now, fondness bleeding through despite himself. Espeon flicked her ears faintly as Gen settled nearby, content simply to be there with Senku.