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‘Finally! I can actually make some stuff for myself!’
Gaku was excited as he brought down a box full of materials he'd scavenged during the last several explorations. While normally they pooled their finds together, Gaku had tried to grab some things here and there for himself so he could finally make some things in the Gift-o-mattic. Not for anyone else of course, this was purely for him!
No sharing with siblings, finally stuff that was just his.
He still felt a little guilty thinking that way, but if he was trapped and drafted into some war he never agreed to joining, then he was going to at least make the best of it and make himself some sick swag!
‘Ugh, what rotten luck!’
As he descended the stairs to make his way to the Rec room, however, he completely missed a step with his foot.
“Crap!”
Gaku didn't have the hands to save himself, so he just went straight down like a sack of potatoes. Thankfully he didn't twist or hit his head, but it was still a hard impact as he landed straight on his butt, the shockwave going up his spine.
He just paused as he sat there, a little dazed as he tried to calm his beating heart.
Yeah he was going to be sore tomorrow.
He just took a few deep breaths as he slowly calmed down. He thankfully had only slipped down the last three stairs, so it could have been a lot worse. Granted if he had died he'd have just been brought back, but he still didn't like that thought.
Plus he really didn't want to explain to the others that he had died falling down the stairs. Talk about uncool.
And of course his rotten luck rubbed salt in the wound as Kurara came around the corner.
Just one look and she started to laugh, “Did you seriously fall down the stairs? You're such a moron.”
Gaku huffed as he carefully picked himself up and rescued his slipper that had come off, “Oh shut up. You probably trip all the time wearing that stupid mask.”
Whatever insults Kurara threw at him fell on deaf ears as he carefully turned around to head back to his room. The aches were already starting so making stuff would have to wait. He just made it back to his room, abounding his box among the rest of the mess before collapsing into his bed as he tried to rest.
“Owwwy…”
He really did have the worst luck.
Gaku was unceremoniously woken up when the alarm started to blare. God he hated how it made his head thump, but he just forced himself out of bed and towards the war room.
It was the usual debrief before they stabbed themselves with their infusers and jumped onto the battlefield. Gaku still hated every time how it felt when he stabbed himself in the chest, still he had little time to dwell on it as the battle began.
Thankfully he was used to using his minigun at this point. Still heavy, but he'd been used to carrying heavy loads at his various jobs so it was manageable. There was no commander so this would be a piece of cake.
Or so he thought… that was when the wave of nausea hit him.
Gaku covered his mouth with his gloved hand as his vision blurred a little, “W-what the hell…”
He tried to push the feeling down as he fired at more enemies, but the nausea didn't let up. In fact it got so bad that Gaku ended up doubling over.
He heard Takumi over comms then, “Maruko? You okay?”
Gaku tried to reply but he didn't have a chance. He ended up puking onto the floor.
There were a few calls over the comms and the battlefield, but Gaku just took a few breaths as he got up, “I'm okay… ugh…”
“Invaders on your left!”
Gaku was pretty sure it was Hiruko and just tried to focus. Yes his eyes were still a little blurry but he just did his best to find his target, ignoring how foggy his head felt. He just fired his gun, wiping out the group. The barrier was safe for now.
Gaku took a few breaths and the nausea seemed to pass.
“Maruko, you good?”
Gaku saw Tsubasa had driven over and Gaku just gave her a weak thumbs up, “Fine… actually could I have one of your sick bags to be safe?”
Tsubasa handed one over as Gaku sighed, “Thanks, hopefully I won't need it.”
Gaku however looked concerned, ‘What the hell, I'm not sick, so why am I nauseous… could I?.... No way, I didn't hit my head. There's no way I have a concussion.’
As the next wave approached, Gaku was fine for a while, until the nausea hit again. This time he was glad he had the sick bag as he threw up straight into it. Unfortunately some invaders got past him, but he was a bit busy puking his guts up to give them his full attention.
His head felt like it was full of fog, and he was struggling. He could hear his teammates screaming at him for letting the barrier get damaged, but again, Gaku kind of had other issues.
He tried to aim his gun but he couldn't concentrate, almost hitting Ima in the process. As Gaku leant on his gun, he felt the world spin once more.
The invaders hit him as well as he slumped down, groaning as he was attacked. However, they soon stopped. Gaku looked up and saw a blurry shape approaching. He could make out blue hair and an eye patch so he knew who his saviour was.
“... O… Omokage?”
Yugamu just carefully helped him up, “You doing okay there, cutie?”
But Gaku didn't have the mind to even look mad, he just swayed, but Yugamu kept him up, helping Gaku use his gun to lean on for stability. He used his other arm to stretch out his dagger to keep the enemies at bay.
Thankfully they cleared out all the invaders.
And that was when Kurara stormed over, “What on earth was that?! You better have a go-”
But Takumi cut over her, “Oosuzuki, calm down. I think this is serious.”
Gaku took another breath but the wave of nausea came back. He grabbed the bag again and threw up. Thankfully it was only bile, but it still wasn't great.
Kurara however just laughed, “He's hopeless! Today throwing up, and yesterday he fell down the stairs!”
As Kurara laughed however, Yugamu perked up, “Wait… he fell?”
Kurara nodded, “Yep, his slipper off his foot, and looking so pitiful!”
Yugamu just looked more concerned as he turned to Gaku, “Maruko-kun, what exactly happened.”
Gaku swayed, “... I didn't even hit my head… I just slipped… I went…”
Gaku stumbled again however, but Yugamu caught him. Yugamu looked really worried now.
Kurara laughed more, “He's such an idiot! Completely useless in that batt-”
“Kurara-chan… Maruko-kun has a concussion.”
Yugamu said it so matter of factly that it stunned Kurara into silence.
Everyone gasped then. Tsubasa looked confused, “Wait, but didn't Maruko just say he didn't hit his head though?”
But Yugamu didn't answer as he just offered Gaku his arm, “Maruko-kun, it's okay. We should head to the bio lab so I can check you out properly. Make sure this isn't serious.”
Gaku seemed to jolt, but he seemed too dizzy to fully care that he was following an assassin into a confined area when he was helpless. He just took Yugamu's arm as the assassin carefully helped him move. He didn't say anything as Yugamu held his arm and carefully led him back towards the school.
“We'll go at your pace. It's just important that we look you over.”
So Gaku just set the speed, leaving the rest of the SDU to look on in confusion and worry.
Once they arrived, Yugamu got Gaku to sit down on a chair. He dismissed his class armour and turned, “Maruko-kun, could you dismiss your class armour? Your boosted Cryptoglobin running through your veins is probably making the headache worse.”
Gaku did so and sighed. It did make the headache a little better and the nausea less intense, but he still felt dizzy. He didn't look great.
Yugamu observed as he grabbed a light and checked Gaku's pupils. Gaku did his best to stay still and Yugamu saw his pupils still dilated like normal.
“Okay, good. Your eyes are reacting like normal to light so it's minor,” Still, Yugamu wanted more information.
“Tell me, what exactly happened on the stairs yesterday.”
Gaku did his best to focus, but still looked confused, “I didn't hit my head though, how is this happening? Ugh, what rotten luck.”
Yugamu hummed softly, “The force of the fall could have done it. Even if you don't hit your head the whiplash can make your brain smack into your skull. That alone could have caused a concussion.”
He looked concerned, “How many stairs did you fall down?”
Gaku tried to recall as he rubbed his head, “... Three… I just completely missed the step and went straight down, landing on my ass. I was holding a box so I couldn't save myself.”
Yugamu nodded in understanding, “That would definitely cause a minor concussion.”
He thought to himself, “And then the battle today and using your Cryptoglobin just made it worse, that's my theory anyway… you definitely need to rest. I dread to think how bad it would have been if you'd had a serious concussion.”
Gaku's brain however wasn't working as he looked up, tears in his eyes, “Are… are you going to chop me up to get a look at my brain?”
Yugamu just laughed softly as he just gave Gaku a grin, “Not at all. With you like this, it wouldn't have any love. You're clearly suffering.”
Yugamu just leaned into Gaku's personal space as he licked his lips, “I want you to give me beautiful expressions when I touch your insides.”
Gaku blinked before he just nodded, gripping his head soon after, realising his mistake, “Dammit!”
“Oh I know your brain isn't working, cutie,” Yugamu chuckled as he booped Gaku's nose, “You just agreed with me to cutting you up.”
Gaku just mumbled, his cheeks going red as he just pouted in annoyance.
The assassin did however have a serious thought, “... We could just kill you and have the Revive-O-Mattic fix you? But I really don't want to do that if I can help it. As much as it would be romantic to watch the light drain for your eyes, it feels too close to work for my liking.”
Gaku however just looked freaked out, “No thank you… even if it would help.”
“Understood, for now, we should get you to your room. Unfortunately there's no real medication I can give you to fix this, so it's the long game of waiting for your body to naturally heal.”
When Yugamu offered his arm again, Gaku grabbed it. Yugamu did however use his stretchy arms as he grabbed a metal bucket from across the room and brought it over, “In case you need to throw up again.”
Gaku took it and sighed, “Thanks… you're actually being pretty nice about this, man.”
As they went to exit, Yugamu grabbed some painkillers on the way past, “If you're careful you should be fine in a week or so. Hopefully we won't have a battle until then.”
Gaku groaned as they walked carefully, pausing when he felt dizzy, “Just… don't let Sirei kill me to fix this. I'm… still pretty scared to die.”
Yugamu just purred in his ear, “Don't worry my sweet, only I get to kill you that way, and with you begging me to cut into your supple flesh.”
Gaku knew he should have been freaked, but all he could manage was a chuckle with his foggy brain, “You are weird dude, but thanks.”
Yugamu just smiled as they carefully made it to Gaku's room. Gaku carefully flopped down as Yugamu smiled, “Remember, you shouldn't just cocoon yourself up in here either, if you want to recover you still want to move, just carefully. Minimal exercise and nothing that uses too much cognitive brain function.”
Gaku just gave a thumbs up, “I can assure you I can handle that! I ain't getting paid anyway so I plan to lounge around and stuff my face.”
Yugamu chuckled, “I'll still check in on you, and should you need anything I'll be your private nurse! Oh! I should make myself a uniform for the occasion, maybe a PVC one too!”
Yugamu started to drool, “Oh I'm already getting excited!”
Gaku just snorted, his brain still not fully comprehending Yugamu, but he was too tired to care, “Dude, come on.”
“I know you'd love it really.” Yugamu batted his lashes before smiling.
“Okay, I'll actually let you rest now. Pleasant dreams, cutie.”
Gaku just waved him off. He didn't make any comments, just tried his best to relax. He was very grateful for Yugamu's help after all.
‘At least someone took me seriously… Omokage isn't all bad.’