[Location: Dr. Stone – What Remains of Japan – Near Ishigami Village – Near Chrome's House.]
The sun was sinking toward the horizon, dyeing the sky a soft shade of orange, as a group of people—the crafting team—gathered around Chrome, who was eager to show his collection of materials to Senku Ishigami.
"These are the rocks I collected from several caves! There has to be something here that can withstand heat!" Chrome exclaimed, brimming with the usual energy of a passionate amateur scientist, though tinged with a hint of worry.
The group leaned in over the collection, inspecting the rocks and minerals with curiosity, even if to most of them they were nothing more than colorful stones.
"Wow, this looks like a jewel!" Ruby commented, holding up something shiny.
"It's a dead bug called Scutiphora pedicellata," Senku replied dryly.
"Kyaa!" Ruby screamed, dropping it immediately.
"And what about this stone? It's super light and black," Ginro asked, trying to draw attention.
"It's raccoon crap," Senku replied without batting an eye.
"Crap?!" Ginro instinctively crushed it underfoot.
Despite the group's efforts, none of the samples were what Senku needed.
The problem was clear: they needed a material capable of withstanding high temperatures to fabricate a functional vacuum tube. Bamboo filament simply wasn't strong enough.
But why go to such lengths? Wouldn't it be easier to just buy one? The answer was simple: they couldn't. There was nowhere to buy it.
More than 3,000 years ago, everything humanity had achieved was abandoned. This happened because all human beings were petrified, turned into stone.
As the millennia passed, the great structures, advancements, and technologies that had defined human civilization were eroded and destroyed by time itself.
However, not everything was completely erased. Some things endured—just as a few individuals, through sheer luck, managed to avoid petrification.
And then there was Senku.
After thousands of years trapped in stone, he finally regained his freedom.
With a brilliant mind and unshakable determination, he spent nearly two years rebuilding the essentials for survival. Using tools crafted from stone, wood, and iron, he succeeded in creating incandescent light bulbs, cotton candy, hydroelectric power, batteries, and even automated oxygen flow in a furnace to produce iron.
Impressive as these achievements were, they represented only a fraction of his endless list of innovations.
Yet now, he faced a new challenge: the need to create scientific weapons.
The reason was an inevitable confrontation with a powerful, charismatic, and dangerous man—someone slightly older than himself.
Thus arose the necessity to fabricate a vacuum tube; a crucial step toward his true objective: constructing a long-range communication device.
In other words—something like a telephone.
'Kukuku… Is this checkmate?' Senku suppressed an ironic smile. 'After coming this far…'
For the first time in a long while, a sense of helplessness washed over him. He had overcome countless obstacles up to this point, yet this one seemed insurmountable.
Giving up was not an option. All the work and sacrifices made so far would be rendered meaningless. And yet, for the first time, the thought of surrender fleetingly crossed his mind.
Ding!
[I suppose that's it. What a shame. It was really fun.]
A strange sound broke the silence, similar to a notification.
A holographic text window appeared before Senku, floating in midair and partially blocking his vision.
Senku froze, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed what he was seeing.
"Th–This is…?!" he murmured, his voice barely audible. His brain worked at full speed, yet he couldn't determine the origin of the phenomenon.
'Am I hallucinating?' he thought, rubbing his eyes. But the window remained. He reached out to touch it, yet his fingers passed straight through.
His analytical mind quickly formed a terrifying thought.
'Could this be related to the petrification?!'
Though his expression remained impassive, his thoughts were a violent storm.
If this hologram had any connection to the event that petrified the entire world, the implications were chilling.
Still, he swiftly cast aside irrational emotion and forced his mind to focus.
He scanned his surroundings, noticing that the voices around him had fallen silent. Turning his head, he saw shock and fear written clearly on everyone's faces.
"Isn't that…?"
"Magic! It's magic!"
"That's terrifying!"
"Senku, get away from it!"
"Huaaa! Magic is amazing!"
"Ahh, that's scary!"
"Woaa! What is that?! That's insane!"
"Calm down, it's just a hologram! There's no danger!" Gen said, trying to reassure the others. Though he maintained a calm façade, his mind was overflowing with questions.
Meanwhile, Senku confirmed it wasn't a personal hallucination. The others could see it too, ruling out at least that possibility. The pain in his self-inflicted arm wound was still there, proving he was fully conscious.
"Stop making so much noise. It's just a hologram," Senku said in his usual tone, helping settle the group.
Ding!
[So then. Do you want more materials?]
[Yes. / No.]
A new window appeared, overlapping the previous one. This time, the message was unmistakably clear.
The message hovered before Senku's eyes as he read it carefully, while the others watched the strange window in silence, unable to understand its contents.
The apparent calm on Senku's face concealed a mind processing countless possibilities per second.
'Materials? If this is real, it could solve the filament problem once and for all. But… at what cost?'
The young scientist knew that accepting something so mysterious and potentially advantageous without investigation would be irresponsible. Yet at the same time, he couldn't ignore the opportunity to advance toward his goal.
"Gen, what do you think?" Senku asked, turning to the mentalist, whose expression remained carefully neutral.
"Heh~… I'm glad you asked," Gen replied, bringing a finger to his lips as his mind analyzed the situation. "I'd say this is like an offer at a bazaar—too good to be true. As for whether we should take the risk… that depends on how much you're willing to lose, Senku-chan."
Senku let out a wry smile at the response. It was exactly what he expected: a surface-level analysis that placed the decision squarely in his hands.
The others began murmuring, but Senku ignored them. He looked back at the holographic window, his thoughts racing.
'If I accept, what does 'more materials' even mean? Will they appear out of thin air? Is this some kind of exchange? Or something more complex…?'
Meanwhile, Chrome, unable to understand what was happening, leaned toward Gen and whispered, "What does that thing say, Gen?"
"Hm? Oh! Something like 'Do you want more stuff to do science? Yes or no.' Fufufu," Gen replied in an exaggeratedly theatrical tone, hiding his unease from the others.
"That sounds amazing! Accept it, Senku!" Chrome exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
"It's not that simple, Chrome," Senku replied calmly. "We don't know what accepting entails, or who's behind this." Even as he spoke, his mind continued dissecting the implications. An offer this precise and useful to his situation couldn't be a coincidence.
'Kukuku… Fine. We don't really have many options anyway…' He shrugged, smiling ironically.
"If this thing can give us what we need to move forward, ignoring it would be foolish. But…"
Finally, with a resolute gaze, Senku reached out and selected "Yes."
"…Whoever you are, I'll make sure I remember you."
[Yes (Selected). / No.]
The group held their breath, waiting for something to happen.
[Great! Welcome to the 'Part-Time Workers Group'!][Before continuing, you may change clothes if you wish.]
Suddenly, a set of clothes appeared in midair, perfectly folded, before falling softly to the ground.
At first glance, it was a carefully designed school uniform: polished black shoes, immaculate black trousers, a neatly pressed white shirt, a simple black belt, and a red tie that added a splash of color. Over it all was a high-collared lab coat, giving the ensemble a distinctly scientific and dignified air.
Senku examined the uniform closely, his sharp gaze inspecting every detail.
There was no mistaking it—the design, texture, and even the peculiar fold of the red tie were exactly as he remembered from his life before petrification.
"Well, well…" he murmured with a faintly sarcastic smile. "Looks like someone's genuinely creepy."
"Eh?! What does this mean, Senku?" Chrome asked, staring at the uniform with wide eyes.
"Clothes?! This isn't some kind of transformation spell, right?!" Ginro exclaimed, stepping back.
"Fufufu, you're all so dramatic," Gen interjected, resting a hand on his chin as he examined the clothes with interest. "Who would've thought magic could be so… practical? Though I must say, that lab coat has a style that gives me chills—in a good way, of course."
Senku ignored the comments and crouched down to pick up the uniform. The fabric felt exactly as he remembered—authentic enough to send his scientific mind into overdrive.
'How the hell did they replicate this with such precision…? This shouldn't even be possible… But it's real. Too real…'
"Senku, what exactly is that?" Kohaku asked warily, her hand resting on the hilt of her katana.
"Something that defies logic," Senku replied without taking his eyes off the uniform.
"It's so strange… appearing out of nowhere. Is this… magic?" Suika asked, tilting her head.
"Magic, huh…" Senku chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint, Suika, but if something like this exists, then it has a scientific explanation. We just haven't found it yet."
Then, with a mocking grin, he added, "And if you think I'll accept something this convenient without figuring it out first, you're underestimating me."
As the group talked, Gen stepped forward with a forced smile. "Senku-chan, I have to say, this outfit is quite distinctive. If someone's offering clothes of this quality, why not take advantage of it? Might even make you seem more trustworthy to the villagers."
"Trustworthy, huh? Sounds more like a worker's uniform," Senku replied half-jokingly, catching the implication beneath Gen's words.
The phrase 'Part-Time Workers Group' echoed in his mind, reminding him this wasn't just about clothing.
Raising an eyebrow, he muttered, "Part-time workers? Who the hell comes up with this stuff?"
"Come on, Senku! This looks awesome!" Chrome exclaimed. "Maybe it's magic that'll help with the filament!"
"I already told you magic doesn't exist," Senku replied, eyes fixed on the message. "This is science—just extremely advanced. Anyone capable of generating holograms and materializing clothes out of thin air is working with technology that makes even the phone I mentioned look like a wooden toy."
He frowned slightly.
'A uniform, an ambiguous name, and a tempting offer. This has to be part of something bigger. Someone's playing with me—and I don't like being anyone's chess piece.'
Gen smiled faintly and leaned closer. "Fufufu… So what'll it be, Senku-chan? Feels like one of those offers you can't refuse. And as a mentalist, trust me—there's always a trick."
Senku let out a short laugh. "Of course there's a trick, Gen. But the key isn't avoiding traps—it's using them to your advantage."
Setting the uniform aside, Senku sighed and spoke aloud, as if addressing whoever was behind it all.
"Fine. I'll play your game for now." He glanced at the clothes. "If this uniform has something special, there's only one way to find out."
With a smooth motion, he began changing right in front of everyone.
Several girls shrieked and covered their eyes, while Kohaku turned away, torn between irritation and embarrassment.
"Senku, at least have some decency!" Chrome shouted.
"Decency? Please. It's just clothes," Senku replied without a shred of shame.
Once dressed, he adjusted the lab coat and crossed his arms in his usual stance.
"Well? How do I look?"
"Fufufu! Incredible as always," Gen commented with a smile.
"You look like… a supreme wizard," Ginro muttered in awe.
"You look fine—but that doesn't change how strange this is," Kohaku added seriously.
Before anyone could say anything else—
Ding!
[Excellent. Now let us begin.]
The moment Senku finished reading, everything turned white.
To everyone else, Senku simply vanished.
The group froze, processing what had just happened.
"SENKU?!" they cried out in unison.
Kohaku drew her blade, while Gen frowned deeply.
"Fuf~… This just made things a whole lot more complicated…" Gen whispered, his mind processing scenarios one after another.
_____
[Location: White World – Waiting Room.]
Senku surveyed the scene with a barely concealed mix of surprise and fascination. It was a setting that defied all logic, yet rather than feeling frustrated, his mind was already processing theories—discarding them, reformulating them—in a frenetic cycle.
In front of him, a black glass table held an assortment of snacks, surrounded by armchairs where three young men watched his arrival. Each maintained a relaxed posture, yet their eyes betrayed the fact that they were evaluating him with the same scrutiny he was applying to them.
The first to speak was Light Yagami. His tone was calm, though the assessing gaze behind it made it clear he was already forming an opinion of the newcomer.
"Certainly a striking hairstyle. I get the impression you're not an ordinary student. Am I mistaken?" Light asked, wearing a polite smile as he interlaced his fingers and rested his arms on his knees.
Senku raised an eyebrow, slipping his hands into the pockets of his lab coat as he approached at an unhurried pace.
"The same could be said of you. It's not every day I run into three strangers in a place that violates every known law of physics. But sure—my hair's the most interesting thing here, right?" he replied with dry sarcasm.
Lelouch Lamperouge, seated in the armchair opposite Senku, allowed a faint smile to form. The scientist's response intrigued him.
"Curious. Someone with an analytical mindset might find this place an interesting testing ground. Yet instead of seeking answers, you seem more focused on responding to superficial remarks. Is that a defense mechanism—or a distraction?" Lelouch asked, his tone tinged with mild disdain, but unmistakable interest.
Senku dropped into the only empty armchair, directly across from Lelouch, resting one arm along the backrest.
"Priorities, I suppose. There's no point philosophizing about the inexplicable before understanding the basics. Though judging by your expressions, I'd say no one here is actually planning to enjoy the snacks. Am I wrong?"
Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, who had remained silent until now, sat leaning lightly against the armrest of his chair.
"A pragmatic answer. Still, I'd say your initial reaction isn't far removed from someone hiding uncertainty behind a façade of confidence," Kiyotaka remarked in a neutral voice, testing the waters.
Senku met his gaze for a moment, then smirked slightly before crossing his arms.
"Interesting observation. But if we're going to analyze personalities, I'd say you're the type who prefers to observe from the shadows until the perfect moment to intervene presents itself. Am I right?"
Silence settled over the room. Each of them measuring the others, searching for weaknesses or patterns.
At last, Lelouch leaned forward slightly, breaking the tension.
"It's clear none of us fit into anything resembling 'conventional.' If we've all been brought here together, there must be a reason. Perhaps it would be more productive to focus on that, don't you think?" His voice, imbued with authority, left little room for argument.
Light nodded slowly.
"I agree. To begin with, perhaps we should introduce ourselves. I'm Light Yagami. As you can see, I'm a student—though I doubt that information is particularly useful in a place like this."
Senku nodded in return.
"Senku Ishigami. Scientist. Probably doesn't matter much here either, but it's always good to know who you're talking to."
Kiyotaka and Lelouch exchanged a brief glance before following suit.
"Kiyotaka Ayanokouji," the former said, offering nothing more.
"Lelouch Lamperouge," the latter stated, accompanying his words with a slight nod.
Before the conversation could deepen, something else drew their attention: new figures appeared several meters away. Each of them looked just as disoriented as they themselves had been moments earlier.