Chapter Text
KRACK!
Light poured into Wil’s vision as they sucked in the sharp breath. Stone cracked and crumbled off their skin. The sudden flood of light was enough to make them cover their eyes with a quiet hiss.
“What the fuck…” they muttered. This had to be one of the weirdest ways they’d ever been woken up. They took a deep breath, inhaling fresh, salty air. Where…
Oh, right. The trip to Japan, for the boat launching with–
“Ryusui…?” Wil muttered under their breath. Finally bringing their arm down to adjust to the sunlight. There were a few people standing around them, many of them averting their eyes, but their eyes quickly locked onto– “Francois?”
“Wil-sama,” Francois said with a polite smile. “I believe you may want these.” They offered a pile of clothes in Wil’s direction, who quickly turned bright red.
“Y-yes, thank you,” Wil stuttered, suddenly understanding why everyone was politely looking away. They quickly stumbled into the pants, tying the long string around the waist tightly before nodding to Francois, silently thanking them again. A moment passed in silence as they adjusted the shirt they had been given, so they decided to ask. “So… what’s going on?”
One of the strangers from behind Francois took that as his cue, stepping forward with his hands folded into the sleeves of his haori. “You’ve been petrified for 3700 years. It’s April, in 5740.”
“5740?” Wil’s eyes widened. That’s right– there had been that green light, and then nothing until their mind faded out of consciousness. Behind the other 2 strangers, they can see a few statues laid out across the ground near the beach. No… those were people, weren’t they? They had been made of stone just like them only a few minutes ago, and the fragments of stone still laying at their feet were proof of that.
“How… why ?” They ask, unsure of where to start to get the answers they need.
“We don’t know,” the guy says, frowning. “But we’re going to find out, with science. We’re building a ship.”
“A ship?” Wil snaps to attention with a small grin. That’s why they were depetrified. “I can help. I’m studying naval architecture.”
The stranger grins back at them. “That’s just what we were hoping to hear!” He cheers. “The Kingdom of Science would appreciate any skills you have to offer!”
Wil nods. “I’d be happy to help,” they say earnestly. “I’m Wil, by the way.”
“Ah! And I’m Gen Asagiri,” the guy finally introduces himself, giving a friendly smile. “This is Taiju and Nikki,” he motions to the two other strangers behind him, “and you know Francois, of course.”
Wil blinks. “Yeah… I do. Where’s–” Anxiety settles in their stomach like a rock. “Where’s Ryu?” They look around, trying to find anyone else standing around, but it’s still just the 5 of them.
“Ryusui-sama is doing well,” Francois replies swiftly. “He is back at the shipyard, beginning work on a 1/48th scale model for our ship with our scientists. He has entrusted your care to me until our return.”
The anxiety eases, but still sits heavy in the pit of Wil’s stomach. They let out a breath they hadn’t realized they were holding. “Good. I’m in good hands, then,” they say with a grateful smile. “Is it far to the shipyard?”
“It’s about 15 minutes by speedboat,” Gen answers, pointing down towards the beach where there is, in fact, a speedboat pulled up onto the shore.
“Wh– A speedboat?” Wil stutters incredulously. They take a few steps forward, mouth agape. “With an engine?”
Gen chuckles, bringing a sleeve up to cover his smile. “Yes, it runs on gasoline!” He says, laughing again when they choke on air in shock. “Let’s go see it, then! We should be heading back, anyway.”
The group makes their way down to the beach, and Taiju and Nikki help everyone climb into the boat. Gen sits behind the wheel, and pats the seat next to him invitingly.
“You can sit up front with me, Wil-chan! The noise of the engine is just orrible-hay.”
Wil smiles, climbing into the seat and accepting a life jacket from Francois. Taiju and Nikki push the boat down the sand and into the lapping waves before jumping aboard. The engine roars, and the boat takes off at surprising speed away from the shore. Despite having just complained about the volume of the engine, Gen seems insistent on making small talk.
“So how do you know Ryusui-chan? Did you go to Nanami Academy?” He asks after a few moments on the open water.
“Oh, no. I’m from America,” Wil says. “I went to university in San Francisco.”
“REALLY!?” Taiju shouts. Despite being closer to the motor than everyone else, he’s very easy to hear. “I’ve always wanted to go to California! We’ll probably stop there on our way to revive the whole world, right?”
“I’m sure, Taiju-chan,” Gen assures him before turning his sharp eyes back to Wil. “But what about Ryusui-chan ! How do you meet?”
“How’d we meet?” Wil repeats, their ears turning pink at the memory of–
—
They were sitting alone in a quiet cafe booth, staring out at the Bay while sipping from a cup of water. Their sketchbook and laptop were both open, strewn across the table and promptly ignored when they had spotted her– the large, navy blue yawl bobbing on the waves where she was docked at the harbour a ways away.
They watched for several minutes as a couple of people scurried around the deck carrying food, drinks, and several shopping bags into the inside cabin. Some rich old guy’s ship, probably. That’s lame. They had been hoping that they could get a closer look, but people with that much money were hardly kind enough to let some barely-legal adult snoop around their fancy boat.
The bell on the cafe door jingled, and Wil turned to see as two people stepped inside. The shorter one immediately approached the counter to order, while the other– a young man, probably around their age– seemed to meander his way around the cafe, as if searching for the best seat. As Wil turned their attention back to the ship outside, he passed their booth, his eyes scanning over their opened sketchbook page– a messy draft of a brig , barely a concept.
“A Brig!! Now that’s something I desire! ” He said as he walked past, seemingly to himself– it’s not as if he could have known Wil spoke Japanese afterall. He turned to his companion at the counter, snapping his fingers. “ Francois! Get this lovely lady whatever drink they so desire!”
“I’m not too sure which lady you could possibly be referring to, seeing as I’m the only one over here, ” Wil said, turning back to face the man, who’s expression quickly morphed into one of shock and embarrassment, “ but if you’re paying, a latte would be lovely.”
He quickly recovered from his embarrassment, grinning sharply. “Of course, my apologies ,” he said, before sliding into the seat on the empty side of the booth. He reached across the table, sliding the sketchbook toward himself for another look as Wil stuttered on a protest. “ Yes! A lovely ship! ” He said, before they could argue. “ Did you design this?”
Wil nodded awkwardly. Nobody had ever shown real interest in their designs. “It’s just a first draft… barely a concept. ” They waved a hand dismissively. “ It’s just a hobby of mine, right now. I don’t know anything about engineering yet.”
“Yet? Hahaa! So you’re a student! ” The man snapped his fingers again, the sound echoing through the cafe. “ That simply means I’ll wait until you graduate. Then, I’ll get my Brig!”
“ Your Brig?” Wil couldn’t hold back an incredulous snort, grabbing at their sketchbook in his hands. “ I just told you, it’s hardly a concept. Not to mention that nobody sails brigs casually anymore. It’s just… ridiculous.” They frowned, looking at the upside-down drawing now in their hands.
“I’d hardly say so! ” He stood abruptly, looming over the table with his eyebrows furrowed. “ I’ll sail your brig! I’ll take it across the Pacific, all the way back to Tokyo! I desire it, afterall!” He smiled broadly, and Wil couldn’t look away from how his eyes sparkled, burning with an endless passion. They had only just met him– they didn’t even know his name– but they couldn’t help but to believe that he would do just that.
The soft sound of ceramic being set on the table snapped them out of their trance, and they jumped at the sight of the man’s companion– Francois, Wil thinks– appearing next to their table. They had set a drink in front of each of them, bowing shallowly. “A vanilla latte. I hope it is to your tastes,” they said, giving them a friendly smile.
“Oh, yes. Thank you very much,” Wil replied, returning the grin. Across the table, they had set an iced drink, and Wil could see various drizzles and syrups smeared on the inside of the glass as the man stirred it.
“Excellent work, Francois! ” He said, picking up his glass. “ A classic drink, I’ll take one of those to go before we head back to the ship!”
Wil blinked. “The ship?”
He blinked in return, before nodding in some sort of agreement. “You’re right! We’ll get lattes to go for the whole crew!”
Wil ignored this decision, still fixated on the ship . “ You don’t mean– ” It was their turn to jump to their feet, eyes wide. “ Is that yours ?” They pointed at the yawl out in the harbour.
“She is!” The man confirmed with a look of great pride.
“Like… Like yours yours?” Wil repeated, eyes still wide.
He nodded. “I’m the captain!”
Wil sputtered, falling back into their seat. “B-but! But you’re my age! You’re like… a teenager!”
“I am! I’ve certainly never let it stop me! ” He said, looking quite smug. “ Believe me now? I desire that brig of yours!”
Wil huffed out a small laugh, grinning in awe. If they hadn’t already entirely believed him without any sort of evidence, they certainly did now.
“I didn’t even get your name,” Wil replied after a moment, at a bit of a loss for what else to say.
“I’m Nanami Ryusui! You can just call me Ryusui, ” he finally introduced himself. “ Though, I don’t believe I got your name either! How rude of me!”
Wil chuckled, holding out their hand for Ryusui to shake. “I’m Wil Stern.”
—
“We met at a cafe in San Francisco, at the start of my freshman year,” Wil says after a moment, averting their eyes from Gen’s curious gaze. “He saw some sketches I had mixed in with my homework, and we started talking. He had to leave pretty soon after, but I got to see his ship, and we exchanged contacts. We’ve just… stayed in pretty good contact since.” Understatement of the century, to be honest. They usually called at least once a day, unless he was swamped with work. “And we’ve met up a few times before this, as well.”
“Internet besties, then? How cute!” Gen coos, grinning like he knew as much.
“I guess…” Wil shrugs, face turning pink again.
Taiju eagerly jumps back into the conversation, enthusiastically suggesting a game of 20 questions to get to know Wil. He, Nikki and Gen take turns asking Wil some basic questions, usually accompanied by their own opinion on the matter.
“Do you have a favorite flower, Wil-chan?” Gen asks curiously.
“Probably lily of the valley, but I love asphodel, too. They have such a sad meaning, though…” Wil pouts, but Gen lights up.
“Floriography! I know quite a bit, myself. And black nightshade has always been my favorite.”
“What about Lillian Weinberg?” Nikki asks, when the topic came around music.
“Hmm… she’s not really my usual sound, but she’s pretty good! She’s really talented.” This seemed to be an appropriate answer.
“Favorite food?!”
“Well, I’m actually kind of a picky eater–” The others grimace, “-- but Francois always knows how to make something I’ll eat.” They all sigh in relief, and Wil laughs. “Guess I’m super lucky, then. My favorite though, is probably… garlic bread.” Everyone in the boat sighs again, this time much more wistfully.
“That does sound good…” Taiju agrees, nodding eagerly. “I’m really hoping we can plant some rice soon, but Senku says it’s not a good idea yet.”
“Ah! There it is!” Gen says before Nikki can ask her next question. “I see the radio tower!”
Wil can see it too, towering above the surrounding trees and rocks. The structure it sits on top of is clearly man made as well, and as the shore grows closer Wil can see dozens of people moving about, carrying lumber and tools across the yard. There’s rows and rows of tents, and is that a fucking car?
“Oh, wow…” Wil says quietly, and Gen chuckles.
“Welcome to the Kingdom of Science!”