In Theory [Senku x Reader]

0.1 | A Message Through Time

"Right," you replied, eyeing him skeptically.

Taiju piped up, "But... why New Year's?"

"Think about it!" His grin widened as he pointed skyward. "Midnight is a natural checkpoint! The perfect moment to send a message through time. Future me will zero in on this exact moment, lock onto the Skytree, and—"

You crossed your arms. "And send a message back through time?"

"Exactly!" He threw his arms up triumphantly, gesturing toward the radio like it was the grand culmination of scientific progress. "Right here!"

"Says who?" You raised a skeptical brow.

"So says I!" Senku declared, throwing his arms wide, as if that alone cemented his theory into the immutable laws of physics.

Taiju blinked, his expression pure bewilderment.

You didn't blame him.

Noticing Taiju's gears finally starting to turn, Senku decided to elaborate, his voice growing more animated in the way it only did when science was involved.

"Get it? I've decided this! If I ever manage to build a time machine, I'll make a point of sending a message back to my younger self!"

Then, as if unable to resist, he broke into an exaggerated, villainous chuckle, the type you would sometimes catch on T.V.

"Heh heh heh! Future me will be like—'The time machine's done! Now to send that message to my past self, just as planned!'"

Taiju's face lit up with sudden realization, and he slammed a fist into his palm.

"Whoa! I think I get it now! So if a message comes through—" He jabbed a finger at the radio. "—that means you really will build a time machine in the future!"

You sighed, half exasperated, half amused. "I feel like someone's tried this before."

Senku shrugged. "Probably. Which just means their future selves never made a time machine."

"Right."

Taiju, now bracing the base of the radio in case the wind decided to make things even more interesting, grinned. "This is so cool! We might get a message from the future!"

You scoffed, glancing over the edge of the Skytree, where the dizzying drop reminded you just how insane this whole plan was. "Or fall to our deaths. Both seem equally possible."

Senku smirked, utterly unfazed by your cynicism. "Then maybe future you should send back a warning."

You rolled your eyes but stayed put, settling near enough to see the radio's results yet far enough from the edge to not tempt fate.

Because...

You cast a glance at Senku's backlit figure, standing against the night, the city lights shifting like distant stars below.

And just for a second—just a little—you found yourself hoping the radio might crackle to life.

Because, honestly?

It was kinda cool.

Senku adjusted the controls on the compact console he'd pulled from his spare bag, fingers deftly flicking switches and fine-tuning dials. "The countdown should start any second now..."

And, as always, he was right.

Below, the city erupted into a collective chant, voices rising in perfect unison as the final seconds of the year slipped away.