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Senku, back from the moon, takes a moment before the big party welcoming them home to let go of several rules he had for himself. To get here, to finish the mission and save everyone he could, he needed those rules. Now it's over. It's really over. He did his part. He can take on big, mainline projects that are only for his curiosity, fun, or comfort instead of delegating them. No need to check if it will further the mission. No pressure, no race against time, no threat hanging over everyone, just whatever he wants to study or make.
His life was dedicated to saving the world, and they won.
He can have more personal time without feeling guilty about it. He'd made sure he had time off and didn't overwork himself, but he had restricted his personal time and activities to lighter things without any deep obligations. Stuff he could drop if anything important came up without consequence, like sketching or stargazing. He hadn't gotten into hobbies where it would be an issue if he canceled last minute like Sai's D&D group, and also he had told several people who were interested in him that he would not date anyone until the job was done.
The initial plan involved being stuck as a statue on the moon for however long it took to get him home, so he'd pulled away from some of his deeper friendships, too. He hadn't wanted to, but it hurt to think of them being so much older than him when he came home. Even after they switched to Chrome's plan, Senku had kept a little distance.
Luna would be at the party, and Kohaku of course. Ryusui made it clear that he'd be Senku's wingman for a casual hookup. He just had to decide if he wanted to dive in to all that or not, and if so what his type was. Standing in his bathroom checking his hair and suit, he isn't sure he wants any of it. He's gone without this long, and Ukyo asked if he wanted an aromantic pin to wear on his lapel a while back. Senku hadn't said yes, but he also hadn't been offended. He's almost sure he's going to turn Luna down, but he should give it a try first, shouldn't he? Basic science: test the hypothesis, then draw conclusions. He's been ignoring all of this for so long, he simply doesn't have enough data.
Out in the hallway Xeno is testing how much of his face can get covered in Stanley's purple lipstick without their tongues leaving the other's mouth. Yuck. Senku turns around to use the other stairway.
Honestly, he didn't even know what gender he prefers. Is that bad for someone in their mid twenties? Well if he doesn't have strong feelings about it, he's probably bi. He's definitely not ace, he just has self control. Similar to how people say he never gets angry, which is bullshit, the impression that he never gets horny is also wrong. He's just kept a lid on it. Mostly.
Now the lid is off.
Alright, start with observation: Self assessment is inherently biased, but he would like to get laid. The thought experiment of trying to imagine what he wanted returned "yes, please" but what he wanted was... vague. There were too many options, and the ones that came immediately to mind - Luna, that pastry chef that's been bringing him treats, the daughter of some bigshot who rebuilt Bayer Pharmaceuticals - were all so pushy.
Well, except Tsukasa, he wasn't exactly pushy he was just very forward. Tsukasa surprised him with an offer to join him in his room last night and... no. He didn't want someone like that, as vain and shallow as it seemed to consider Tsukasa's imposing appearance over their compatibility. Beyond that, and while they were good friends now, Senku had never really forgotten what it felt like when Tsukasa chased him down and attacked him. He didn't want to be naked and vulnerable with someone who could snap him in half.
Cute was much better. Senku liked cute things.
An hour later Senku decided that cute wasn't enough. Luna was cute, but he still wasn't into it. She was just so... her. They worked together fine, but he really didn't care about the new radio drama she was into. She was working as a nurse now and she had no ambition to advance her career, only her social status. The party had only officially begun ten minutes ago and he already wanted the circle of pretty women Luna was chatting with about vapid nonsense to shut up.
Senku considered how many people were smiling in his direction. He was a hero, he could use that and take just about any of them back to his room at the end of the night. He did want to give this an honest try, but the whole one night stand thing made him queasy. Not as bad as imagining Tsukasa or Hyoga leaning over him and his perfect memory superimposing the times they tried to skewer him over anything more gentle, but enough to wonder if maybe Ukyo had a point. If not ace, then ace-adjacent? There was a word for that but all his brain would spit out was a black triangle on the side of a gradient flag. Green? Purple? One of those.
Ryusui swept Senku away, which was easy since Luna was getting irritated with his inattention and upset that he didn't want her leaning on him. As they walked off, Ryusui whispered in his ear about a surprise. Senku thanked him for the excuse to leave Luna's side.
"She is a little clingy, but some people like all the attention a partner like that provides. Do you desire kids, like, immediately?" Ryusui asked.
"No," Senku replied, a little shaken by the idea. "I like my personal space, too."
"Well, she desires kids for certain, so if you aren't ready for that you probably won't last long as a couple."
"I already told her I was uncomfortable, but I agreed to give her a chance."
"I thought you already did give her some chances?" Senku considered that, considered all the times Luna sought him out for a private chat and he hadn't responded the way she wanted. "At a certain point you're just leading her on."
"Oh." Senku didn't scratch at his ear because this was a formal event with lots of important people streaming in the door and Byakuya taught him better manners than that. "Do you think I've done that? I don't really go up to her, she comes to me."
"No, I think she knows you aren't into it, but she doesn't want to admit it to herself. Now, I do have some better options for you, and at this point that's probably the best way to resolve it. Have a good time with someone else, let her see that you aren't kidding about your lack of interest when you brush her off."
"Isn't that a little too ruthless?" Senku asked.
"I've heard you tell her you don't think of her romantically several times before the launch, and if you aren't blunt enough for her to get it I doubt a brick with 'no thanks' carved on the aide would work any better than seeing you be happy with someone else. At this point, it's not you that has the problem, and I'm hardly the only one who knows it. Now, the party's only just started, and I don't think it will effect the outcome if I say this from the start. In fact, I think it might help you loosen up, so here you go: I bet ten-thousand dragos that you are going to love what Yuzuriha came up with for a special order," Ryusui said with a wink.
"What kind of special order?"
"A very special outfit for the party, worn by someone I think you need to reconsider! They should be arriving any second now, I saw them arrive from the balcony, but there's a whole mess of people asking to shake hands and taking pictures all the way up the staircase. I really need to see your face when you first lay eyes on them. You're going to desire it, even if I'm wrong about you two hooking up after."
Senku chuckled at Ryusui's excitement. It did help, knowing his friends had his back, but he was also a little nervous. Was Yuzuriha in on setting him up with whoever Ryusui though was Senku’s best option? Someone he needed to reconsider, so he'd rejected this person at some point. If so, that was sweet but kind of unnecessary. He didn't want to date someone only because of their looks or obligation. He wanted a connection, someone who made him feel...
Yuzuriha and Taiju walked in, but the person just behind them laughing at whatever Yuzuriha just said captured all of Senku's attention. A blue and purple ballgown in all the most beautiful shades of a the sky faded from a soft pastel sky blue at the top into the dark purples and pearly beads of a twinkling night at the bottom. The dress swirled and sparkled with each step. Amethyst jewelry accented a long neck above a ruffled, modest neckline. It was topped off with a lavender headband that made the round face look even cuter despite the jagged painted-on petrification crack.
Gen looked hot as fuck.
Gen was definitely wearing eyeliner and that tricky stage makeup that made his face look softer and more feminine. Ryusui was laughing at Senku’s slack-jawed expression, but Senku didn’t care all that much even as he clicked his mouth shut and compsed himself. Yuzuriha deserved a medal for making that dress.
Ryusui put his hand on Senku's shoulder and gave him a gentle push. That was unnecessary, Senku was just waiting for Gen to get all the way into the room. It would be weird to rush up to him, though some of the other attendees clearly didn't have manners.
"Hello Senku-chan!" Gen greeted him brightly. It had to be the billionth time he'd heard those words in that tone, but it hit him a little different now. Familiar and comfortable, but also alluring and meaningful. Sure, Gen was older than him, and it had been enough of an age gap when they first met that -chan wasn't insulting, but now that they were older and after all Senku's accomplishments it should be improper. It was a private joke, full of affection and years of having each other's back.
"Yo, mentalist, you look good like this."
"You think so? Some people might think it's a bit much." The tone was teasing. Senku should make it into a joke. He should play into the game, keeping it light and platonic and say formal parties like this were always overstuffed. All the times they had done this dance layered on top of each other, going back to the observatory when Senku deflected the heavy emotions by agreeing that they were gross.
He could play along, but he didn't have to. The lid was off, and something fizzy was bubbling up and overflowing like a shaken soda.
"You're beautiful." Senku reached out to catch Gen's gloved hands. "You should dress up like this more often." Gen's confident smirk shifted. Not much, but it was a little less genuine.
"Well, there are only so many opportunities for an evening like this. I'm usually having a quiet night in if I'm not working through dinner these days."
"I've got so many people who want meetings with me, it'll be a good excuse for both of us. Besides, you don't need something this fancy to dress up nice. Come on, most of the original crew are over by the balcony." Senku let go of one of Gen's hands and turned to lead Gen over where Ukyo was handing Ryusui a fistfull of cash. Kohaku was just behind him, looking pleased. At least that wouldn't be a problem.
"Did you just ask me out?" Gen hissed in Senku's ear.
"Yeah."