GREEDY, ryusui nanami- #chapter 1!
chapter 1, i will survive
𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠...
𝐈 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐕𝐄- gloria gaynor/glee ver
❝𝐆𝐨 𝐨𝐧, 𝐠𝐨, 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫
𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞
𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐛𝐲𝐞
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞?
𝐍𝐨, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐈, 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞
𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞,
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞
WAVES WERE CRASHING AGAINST THE SHORE, and a salty breeze rolled in with the setting sun. The sky burned gold and orange, reflecting off the sea as the sun set. A group walked along the coastline, their footsteps pressing into the damp sand, when a blonde woman, Minami, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Her eyes glistened as they settled on something. Then, she whispered, barely audible over the wind.
The others follow her gaze.
There, frozen in time, was your stone figure—perfectly poised in an elegant ballet arabesque. One leg extended high behind you, your other leg firmly grounded, your arms arched gracefully above your head. It's a pose full of strength and beauty. Every muscle and curve of your stone form exudes elegance, frozen in a moment of sheer perfection. Even in petrification, the delicate curve of your fingers and the serene expression on your face radiate elegance. Cracks run along your stone body, but they do nothing to diminish your ethereal figure. It's as if you were never meant to be disturbed, an art piece made of stone rather than flesh.
A beat of silence stretched between them.
Your presence was overwhelming no matter what form you took.
Gen let out a low whistle, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips. "Now that's a grand entrance."
Yuzuriha, standing next to him, breathed out slowly, her voice full of shock. "She... she looks like she was in the middle of a performance, as beautiful as ever."
Minami's voice came out softer than usual, reverence threading through her words. "She was always performing, always in front of an audience. It is- was her life." Her voice cracked slightly as she corrected herself.
Kohaku, ever the observer, stepped forward, her sharp eyes scanning every inch of your stone form. "She's holding that pose perfectly. Even petrified, her balance—her control—it's extraordinary."
She tilts her head, eyes narrowing in a mix of admiration and curiosity. "I don't know who she is... But I can tell, she must have been incredibly strong."
Minami looked at Kohaku and smiles faintly. "Her name is y/n. The Y/N. The actress. You don't know her, Kohaku, but she was a legend in the old world. Ballet, musical theater, film... She mastered them all."
Kohaku's eyes widened slightly, impressed but still unsure due to the unfamiliar words used. "A legend, huh?"
Taiju's face lit up with recognition, "Wait, that y/n? I loved her movies and shows, she was always on tv!"
"Wait, what's a tv?" Kohaku blinked in confusion.
Gen leaned back. "Oh, you have no idea, Kohaku. It's where we could watch legends like her shine. The way she could morph into any role—it was unreal. But now?" He chuckled, his voice tinged with a mix of admiration and disbelief. "She's frozen, a damn statue, I guess nobody's immune to petrification."
Behind them, Ryusui let out a booming laugh, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "HA HA! Lucky me, huh? I just got revived, and now I find myself staring at someone I've wanted for so long! I need her!"
"Chill out dude, I get that you want everything but this is y/n we're talking about."
Minami nodded her head, her gaze still fixed on your stone figure, her voice quiet, almost melancholy. "Exactly she isn't someone you can buy, Ryusui. She was unstoppable on her way to becoming the biggest star in history. But that was before the petrification." Her tone hardens, filled with a quiet sadness. "Now, who is she? This world... it's not meant for someone like her."
Senku, who's been silent until now, sticks a finger in his ear like usual, the wheels in his mind turning as he considers the situation. "I understand what you mean, Minami, but if she's as skilled as everyone says, someone like her could be incredibly valuable to us. Maybe she could still help us rebuild—who knows what talents she's hiding that could benefit the Kingdom."
Yuzuriha, arms crossed and studying your pose closely, smiles. "She wouldn't be the first person to adapt to this new world. People like her, driven by their craft, adapt faster than you think."
Gen, not missing a beat, adds with a smirk, "True, she did work in action films choreographing and doing her own stunts. Apparently she's an athlete too so she can survive in the wild, if I can live like this anyone can!"
Minami bit her lip, her expression conflicted. "You don't get it. She was a star—a global sensation. A life like that... can't just be replaced. This world is too harsh for someone who was made to be adored from a distance, not survive in the trenches."
Senku's tone is thoughtful, detached, as he considers it. "True, but if she was that good, she might have some skills that could be useful. And, Minami, we need all the help we can get. If she was a superstar, reviving her could give us the edge we need to rally more people."
Taiju looked at Senku with a nod of agreement. "I think we should give it a try. She could be an ally to help rebuild and I'm sure plenty of people will be happy to have her around! "
"Right it's not like someone like her will turn out to be like Tsukasa." Gen shrugged.
"Don't jinx it! But Gen does have a point, she's a harmless celebrity and everyone loves her." Taiju nodded again.
The group fell silent for a moment, each of them processing the situation. Finally, Ryusui smirked, eyes never leaving your figure. "HA HA! Look at her—what a beauty! No point in letting a star like this remain frozen. I say we revive her and see what happens. After all, I want everything, especially her!"
He reaches for the bottle of revival fluid but pauses when he feels a hand on his shoulder.
"Wait." Kohaku raised a brow. "She's going to wake up naked."
Gen hummed thoughtfully. "I do wonder how she'll take waking up naked in front of a bunch of strangers."
Minami shook her head. "She's in such a complicated pose that putting full clothes on her is impossible." She glanced at Yuzuriha.
Yuzuriha nodded, already unwrapping a cloth from her bag. "I'll cover her as best as I can." She moved carefully, draping the fabric over your body with precise, practiced hands.
Once satisfied, she stepped back. "Okay. That should do it."
Ryusui exhaled, gazing at your stone figure with a glint in his eyes. "HA HA! Finally!"
And after thousands of years...
You returned to the world.
Beating those slim odds and surviving.
THE WARMTH CREPT IN FIRST. The world coming back in an instant, an odd sensation flooding your body as the liquid works its magic. The stone that encased you feels distant, slipping away like a bad dream.
Your first breath felt like drowning backwards and as the rest of the stone cracked away you were alive again.
Your body moved before your mind caught up. Muscle memory. Legs extended from your frozen pose, arms falling out of arabesque. Graceful. Poised. Like nothing had happened.
The sky above was too different. The air smelled like salt and pine. You were barefoot on a beach that wasn't supposed to be there. Something twisted in your gut.
The weight of your surroundings hit you—the silence, the unfamiliarity. The cloth draped over your bare body.
People were watching. Strangers. Familiar only in species.
You didn't move. You studied them, even as your hands trembled at your sides.
You breathed in, slowly. Long enough to lock your mask into place. Whatever expression was on your face now — something calm, curious, maybe even amused — it wasn't real. You knew how to control your features. Had done it on stage, on set, in interviews, in arguments. You weren't about to fall apart in front of an audience.
'So I'm finally out of that stone prison, I've been stuck with my thoughts for too long so i have a gist of what's going on but I'll play along with whatever these lot say.' You thought to yourself.
You turned toward the man who poured the strange liquid over you—the one who revived you. His expression unreadable, his actions businesslike. He looked young, just like everyone else in the group. Most of them seemed in their late teens or early twenties and Japanese.
From just their appearances, expressions and body language you could deduce that some were from the same generation as you... meaning they probably knew you.
Since you were in Tokyo before all of this happened and some of these people looked Japanese it would be safe to speak it too.
The group of strangers stood before you. Wide-eyed. Silent.
A beat of stillness stretches between you.
"...Alright. Which one of you is behind this? Did I sign up for some insane method acting project and forgot about it? Or is this a prank?" Your voice is soft, but it carries a sharp edge. Your eyes scan the group for their reaction to your air headed demeanour.
The silence hangs heavy, and you exhale.
'Well now they just look like they're in shock... AREN'T I THE ONE SUPPOSED TO BE THE ONE IN SHOCK?!' You thought again, mind blowing up with all the questions you wished you could ask.
The man who'd poured the liquid over you — scrawny, sharp features, impossible hair — stepped forward. "You were petrified. For thousands of years. The world ended. But we're rebuilding."
You laughed, a dry, brittle sound. "Petrified. Right. Okay." You glanced around. "Where's the hidden camera?"
He didn't blink. "3,755 years."
The number landed in your chest like a hammer. It was more time than you'd expected, but it made sense when looking at your surroundings. You felt something crack deep inside you — and buried it. Not now. Not here.
"Cute prank," you murmured. "Little extreme, though. You could've at least warned me. Or dressed me."
Acting like a silly airhead had at least gotten you some information and they didn't seem hostile, still you needed more info before talking to them normally since anything you say could harm you too.
Scanning your surroundings again, this time focusing your gaze on every individual, there were seven of them 3 females, 4 males and a few faces were kind of familiar but you couldn't recall where you'd seen them before— you never forgot a face and could remember if you'd seen someone before even for a brief moment.
However, the more you looked at one of the girls the more you realised that you'd met before. From what you could recall Minami was her name and you were interviewed by her and a few other reporters the last time you were in Japan. That aside, she was still a stranger so you couldn't rely on her but this 100% confirmed that they knew you so you weren't wrong to act like a dumb celebrity.
The blonde had realised you were staring and became a bit flustered. "Hi, I hope you remember me. I know how scary this situation is trust me we've all been there too."
"Minami, right? Don't worry I'm more confused than scared," you reassured her with a smile then turned back to the one who poured the liquid on you. "What did you mean by rebuilding? And if you were planning to rebuild couldn't certain people like me been left to be brought back after that was done? Why was I chosen I'm not some great scientist or genius? Also who are you people, especially you?"
The leek haired guy seemed taken aback by the intensity of your questions, but what shook him the most was how calculated these questions were. How did you know to ask questions that would expose so much of his plan and how did you realise that scientists would be the most important. The scariest thing of them all was the assumption that him and his crew would know about you and your status, the confidence it takes to assume something like that was insane. But you were one of the biggest celebrities, so it was probably a coincidence... or at least he hoped it was.
You had the poor guys mind racing because just when he thought he could read you he couldn't.
However, he decided to respond anyways since he didn't care enough to continue overthinking it. "First off I'm Senku I was just a normal high school kid before all this. And isn't it obvious why you were revived, you're a top celebrity?"
Bull fucking shit. His whole answer was a pile of BS, you could tell that the only fully honest thing he said was his name.
"Makes sense but you seem smart enough to know bringing a celeb into a world like this is risky." You said slowly, observing the faces of his group of friends aswell as his.
"I'm not good with mind games unlike our mentalist so I'll just give it to you straight. You're a talented individual with skills we can exploit, people love you, you're athletic and intelligent, you'll be able to find your place in our kingdom easily." He responded flatly.
The unbothered look in his eyes somehow bothered you, but you appreciated that he was being real with you.
On the contrary, it seemed like his friends didn't appreciate Senkus realness.
"I GET THAT YOU SUCK AT SOCIALISING BUT YOU JUST STRAIGHT UP THREATENED HER?!" Minami yelled not that shocked by his actions but still disappointed.
"Senku's no mentalist, but I am, so allow me to apologise. He probably meant that it would be a pleasure to work with one of the best public figures, nobody intends to exploit you, and the names Gen by the way!" A strange looking man with black and white hair smiled at you.
He was one of the people whose face you'd recognised but you don't know where you recognise it from. Gen seemed to be a smooth talker but had a sly side to him which irritated you.
"I appreciate the reassurances Gen and Minami, but I don't mind helping you rebuild the world." You lied through your teeth because you definitely did mind. You couldn't even imagine how one could turn the stone world back to 21st century bliss. "After all, it's my world too, ha ha!"
A brunette girl approaches you with a giant smile. "Oh my- I'm so glad you're willing to help us! By the way I'm Yuzuriha."
'YOU'RE CUTE BUT HELL NO IM NOT REBUILDING SHIT,' was what your thoughts said but your actions said otherwise.
You shook her hand with a soft smile. "Of course, though it might be hard for me to adjust at first bear with me! Also I'm Y/N if you don't know already!"
Senku stuck a finger in his ear and stepped backwards. "I thought you were going to start complaining, but you're surprisingly civil."
"If you want me to complain I can but I chose not to since I don't know if you're cannibals yet." You attempt to crack a joke but it goes over Senkus head.
"We're not cannibals so complain all you want, if you're capable of it."
That guy seriously had no manners, pissing you off.
"Well here I go, the first thing you tell me when I wake up where you could see that I'm clearly confused and in disbelief is to throw information at me without any proper explanation then tell me the reason I'm here is to be exploited for skills that don't even matter here!"
"And the cherry on top is that you didn't need to revive me, you put me in this situation and I know you had no choice in being here either but a little empathy goes a long way. Put yourself in my shoes and imagine how scary it felt when reality settled in!"
...Is what you wanted to say but instead kept it bottled up in your mind.
Instead you put your face in your hands and mumbled, "this really sucks."
The group gets quiet, assuming you're breaking down which is completely valid given the circumstances.
A large hand reached toward you and tapped your shoulder.
"Hey," a blonde said, voice warm and deep, "you okay?"
You removed your hands from your face and stuck your tongue out. "SIKE! I'm honestly not that sad about it, just glad I don't have to wake up early to go to work tomorrow."
Gen snorted. "Oh, I love her already."
Minami lets out a breath, relief flickering across her face. "I'm glad you're not taking this badly."
"Knowing Senkus plans you might not be free from working yet..." Yuzuriha shuddered.
"It can't be that bad..." you muttered.
"Oh it is girl, get ready." Gen gave you a sympathetic look.
Now that you'd understood the situation and gotten a glimpse of the people you were dealing with, you could finally address something. "Why the hell am I naked?"
"You've just noticed now?"
You clicked your tongue. "No I've noticed. There were just more important things to ask. Although this is definitely not the weirdest situation I've ever woken up in, it's definitely up there."
The tall man who'd extended a hand to you earlier laughed loudly. "HA HA! I'd love to hear the other stories."
You rolled your eyes and hit him with a classic response. "Buy me a drink first."
"What could be weirder than waking up and finding out the world ended?" Yuzuriha shuddered.
You placed a hand on her head, patting it lightly making her blush. "Don't read into it too much, 'kay cutie!"
"Flirting being one of the first things you do is quite the bold tone to set." Gen smirked.
Minami chuckled. "Right? It's been five minutes. I expected it from that guy but not you."
"I'm not flirting, just making conversation," then you looked down at yourself—barely covered, and sighed dramatically. "Alright, but seriously—waking a girl up when she's naked is insane. You're lucky I'm not making a big deal out of this."
The blonde guy grinned widely. "HA HA! I, for one, have zero complaints."
This dude really didn't know when to quit. You rolled your eyes, but there's amusement in them. "Mmhmm, enjoy it while you can, perv. What's your name?"
'So I can avoid you,' you thought, already adding him to your hit list.
"Ryusui Nanami! I already know who you are y/n, a beauty like yourself has no need for introductions." He winked at you, a cocky smirk spreading across his face. "I was revived just a few hours before you."
'Now that changed everything, I guess I'll be keeping the blondie around,' but you weren't too excited about it.
You raised a brow. "And you got clothes."
"We weren't expecting to find you today, a pleasant surprise regardless. Plus it was pretty hard to dress you in that pose." Gen chimed in.
You huffed, half-amused. "So I get a blanket, and he gets a full outfit with a hat? That doesn't seem fair, you should've taken some from him."
"Strip me," Ryusui said with a wink. "I'll give you any piece of clothing I have on."
You laughed lightly, shaking your head. It was ridiculous, really. But what wasn't ridiculous at this point?
Ignoring his previous words, you glanced at Ryusui again. "So, how'd you handle all this?"
Ryusui chuckled, his confidence unwavering. "Calmly. I'm a man with everything and the greatest captain ever. Nothing shakes me."
You narrowed your eyes. "Not even the world ending?"
That name and face seemed familiar, but you brushed it off. "I hope the rest of you aren't as crazy as this guy, what are your names and what are you good at?"
You added the last question in smoothly so they wouldn't get suspicious. It was good to know who the hunters and gatherers were so you could use them when the time comes.
A tall buff brunette man brightens. "Oh! I'm Taiju! I'm not crazy, but people say I'm crazy strong, so I help with manual labor!"
You nodded and shot him a smile. "Cool. Every production needs a stagehand."
Yuzuriha smiled. "You already know my name but I do a lot of crafting—sewing, weaving, that kind of thing."
"Costume designer. Got it."
A foreign looking woman raised a brow at you. "Is it just me, or is she a little too calm?"
Ryusui grinned. "Well, she's a professional actress so it could be an act."
The freak seemed more perceptive than you thought.
"Oh and I'm Kohaku, I'm not from the old world like you or the others!" The woman told you. She looked wasian with her bright blonde hair and blue eyes, but she spoke Japanese like the rest of the group.
Senku steps forward next, his demeanor calm but intense, his eyes focused. "I'm Senku," he says simply, adjusting his lab coat with an air of authority. "I'm a scientist. The one leading the charge to rebuild civilization, starting with science."
'He should've said that at the beginning.'
You take a moment to study him, his lean frame and piercing red eyes. The way he speaks, so matter-of-fact and confident, suggests he's not one to waste time with unnecessary pleasantries. You nod slowly, sizing him up. "A scientist, huh? So, what exactly does a scientist need with me? I don't really have any special skills like the others. I'm not sure how much you'll get out of someone who's only really good at... acting."
Senku looks unfazed, his expression blank but his voice carrying a note of conviction. "You'd be surprised. We need all kinds of people to help with the rebuilding. Your background in the arts, your ability to work under pressure, adapt, and influence others—that's not something science can replicate. We need more than just textbooks and formulas. We need people who can communicate, who can bring others together."
You blinked, taken aback by the logic. It's not something you had expected, but you appreciate the insight. "So, you're saying... I'm some kind of PR tool for you?"
Senku's eyes flash with an almost imperceptible glint of amusement. "In a way, yes. But we're all playing a part in this. If you want to rebuild the world, you'll need more than just raw intelligence. You'll need strategy, diplomacy, leadership. People need someone to look up to, and you already have that."
"Alright, Senku," you said, crossing your arms. "I can get behind that, I guess. But I'm not here to just smile and look pretty."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Senku gave you a smirk before turning to Gen signalling that he should properly introduce himself.
Gen grins widely, his mischievous eyes glinting under the sunlight. "Ah, me? I'm Gen Asagiri," he announces with a theatrical bow. "A sort of mentalist and master magician."
You look him up and down, intrigued. "A magician? Seriously?"
"You'll be surprised as to how much cheap tricks have saved my ass in this new world." Gen chuckled. "But I'm very good at reading people and situations, hence the mentalist part." He winked, clearly enjoying the mystery he's created.
'He's a problem,' you could instantly tell that he was going to be a pain when it came to them trying to figure out your true intentions. For now, you'll let things play out.
You can't help but smirk at his bravado. "So, you're the smooth talker of the group?"
"The kingdom of science needs a smooth talker so you could say that," Gen responded with a playful grin.
You tilted your head slightly, the words "Kingdom of Science" echoing in your mind. It sounds grand, almost idealistic. "So, it's a place where science is the king? Is it just about formulas and inventions?"
Gen leaned in, adding his flair. "More or less! But it's also about trust, collaboration, and rebuilding humanity in a way that doesn't repeat the same mistakes we made before. Senku is a genius, but even he knows it takes more than just one person to get things right."
Senku sighed, almost annoyed with the praise. "It's not about me being a genius," he muttered, looking at you. "It's about bringing back what we lost—everything from basic infrastructure to advanced technology."
"Too bad I suck at science, hearing all this stuff is making me think I'm back in high school and how I was failing." You groaned, lying through your teeth. The truth was that you'd been a top student your whole life, you had a decent amount of knowledge on science but you weren't going to let him know— perhaps it was just to mess with the proclaimed genius.
"I totally relate! But you'll get used to Senkus endless yapping about science soon enough." Yuzuriha gave you a smile.
As the group began walking toward the Kingdom of Science, the landscape slowly shifted around you—sand fading into dirt paths, the greenery growing denser. Trees towered on either side, casting dappled shadows as the sun began to lower. There was no trace of modern civilization, maybe it was better this way.
The forest stretched endlessly in every direction—untouched, wild, and eerily quiet aside from the crunch of footsteps against dirt and grass.
No hum of traffic. No buzzing neon signs. No distant murmur of people in cities. Just... wind. Trees. The occasional birdcall. It was nature in its purest, most unforgiving form.
You trailed behind the group, deliberately keeping some distance. The others seemed at ease, chatting amongst themselves like they'd known each other for years. In reality, most of them had only been awake for a year. But somehow, they moved like a unit. Like a new kind of family.
Yuzuriha glanced over her shoulder, smiling softly. "Are you sure you're okay walking barefoot? We can find you something more comfortable once we reach the village."
"I'm fine," you said quickly.
Minami, walking nearby, offered a warmer look. "We've all had a rough adjustment. No shame in needing a break."
You gave a small nod, polite but distant. It wasn't that you didn't appreciate their concern—you just didn't know what to do with kindness that didn't ask anything from you.
So instead, you let your eyes wander—taking in the forest, the shifting light between the branches, the way the air felt cleaner than anything you remembered. Almost too clean. Like the world had pressed reset. Which it had.
Beside you, footsteps matched your pace.
Ryusui Nanami walked with his hands behind his head, eyes fixed skyward like he was drinking in every inch of this new world. His expression was thoughtful, not nearly as smug as you remembered from earlier.
You studied him out of the corner of your eye.
He didn't say anything for a while, and neither did you.
Then, he spoke—quietly, but with that same self-assured tone. "It's strange, isn't it? Walking through a world like this. Like we fell asleep in one era and woke up in another."
You gave him a sideways glance. "You don't seem too shaken by it."
"I'm just good at adjusting," he said with a grin, then added more honestly, "But yeah. It's a lot. You?"
"I don't know yet," you admitted. "Still trying to figure out if this is real or just some nightmare."
He let out a short laugh. "If it's a dream, it's a pretty elaborate one."
Silence again. You let it settle between you.
Then curiosity crept in—quiet, cautious.
"So... when they mentioned you were revived the same day as me," you started, "was that true?"
"They revived me first around an hour or two ago," he said. "Then you, not long after. Guess it was a two-for-one special."
"Apparently, they need a captain," he answered, matter-of-fact.
You frowned, confused. "Captain? Of what?"
He looked genuinely amused. "Of a ship. They say they're building one. Which makes sense, actually. Gotta cross the ocean eventually."
You blinked, stopping for a second. "Wait—an actual ship? Like... sails and steering wheels and all that?"
"The whole package," Ryusui said, with a dramatic flourish of his hand. "You thought captains only existed in movies?"
He was wrong in assuming that you were just taken aback since it seemed impossible to build anything like that in this world. But then again, nothing seemed impossible after hearing everything that happened.
"Well, yeah," you said, going along with it. "I mean, I played one in a sci-fi show once, but I didn't think anyone actually needed one in real life."
"Well, they do now," he said, tone light but not mocking. "And you?"
You tilted your head. "What about me?"
"Why do you think they brought you back?" he asked, then quickly added, "Not that I'm complaining."
You looked away, jaw tightening. "Honestly? I don't know. Maybe they didn't think it through. They did seem like fans but I'm just an actress. That doesn't exactly help anyone survive in the wilderness."
From ahead, you heard Kohaku's voice call out to Senku, something about a shortcut. Gen, who had been walking quietly up front, turned just slightly, catching part of your conversation with an unreadable smile.
'That rat!' You insulted him in your head when you picked up on his sneaky actions.
Ryusui didn't rush to reply, and when he did, his voice had softened. "Maybe they didn't bring you back for what you do. Maybe it's for who you are."
"So they did do it because they are fans," you then shot him a look. "Also that was vague and suspiciously poetic."
"Can't help it. I'm a romantic," he said, smirking. "But seriously. People remember you. You moved them. That matters. They may be fans but that isn't necessarily a bad thing."
He'd clearly never dealt with stalkers in his life.
You crossed your arms. "So you're saying they need me to be some kind of motivation for them?"
"Couldn't hurt to try being that," he said, and when you didn't respond, he added more gently, "Hey. None of us really know why we're here. Or why this happened. But I figure... if we're stuck in this new world, we might as well figure it out together."
You didn't say anything at first, but your pace shifted slightly—closer to his. It brought you somewhat at ease knowing that someone was in a similar position.
Then, from ahead, Gen's voice rang out.
"I hope you two aren't plotting anything back there," he called, eyes gleaming mischievously.
Ryusui cupped a hand to his mouth. "Only world domination!"
"Start smaller," Kohaku muttered under her breath, though a smile tugged at her lips.
You rolled your eyes, but a small, reluctant smirk crept onto your face. "I think we could pull it off."
"Seriously," Ryusui said, nodding. "Don't give us ideas Gen."
The banter faded into the background as the village finally came into view—just past the edge of the trees.
You stepped out from the shade and into the golden light of late afternoon. The scene before you looked like something from a fantasy film set. Structures built from wood and metal beams stood tall in careful, deliberate designs. Rope bridges hung between tree trunks like spiderwebs. Smoke curled gently from large huts. People moved through the space with ease—working, talking, laughing. Living.
It wasn't anything like a city. But it wasn't ruins either.
You didn't know what you expected, but it wasn't this. Not something that looked so solid.
"Huh," Ryusui muttered beside you. "They've been busy."
You nodded slowly, still scanning the scene. "This is the Kingdom of Science?"
Senku glanced back at you. "What'd you expect, skyscrapers?"
"I didn't expect anything," you said. "Didn't think this far ahead."
Ryusui let out a low whistle. "It's not bad. Not bad at all."
He was right, it wasn't bad at all. But you hated this.
You hated how you had nowhere to go. You hated how you would have to eat disgusting food. You hated how you had to sleep in some tent surrounded by strangers. You hated how you were back to having nothing.
But you could deal with it right now. Or at least act like you could. All for your survival.
'I will survive this,' you repeated those words in your mind like a silent prayer because no matter what you had to survive this.
started writing 20/03/25, out on 11/8/25
𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐘, ryusui nanami x fem! reader by @smiskisworld and @-fischll on ao3 & wattpad!
uploading this at 5am after an all nighter AGAIN LOLL
didn’t respond to my man’s long ahh paragraph text bcs I was busy proof reading this be grateful
will lyk if we broke up bcs I love oversharing on the internet
please comment if you have any ideas or questions or anything to do with this book I'll always reply!!
full version will be out on wattpad on Tuesday!!
Chapters 2 and 3 will be out on Tuesday on tumblr and wattpad @-fischll!!
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