Lazy Strain
The days had dragged on since the new motive had been introduced—the despair disease. A virus that slowly consumed the body, bringing with it a variety of strange and troubling symptoms. Each day brought a new revelation, a new sign that the disease was taking hold, leaving everyone uneasy.
The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chatter, but something felt off. Kiyotaka Ishimaru, the ever-energetic, ever-disciplined "Ultimate Moral Compass," had been unusually absent for the past few hours. Normally, he would be the first to arrive for breakfast, rallying everyone to uphold the school’s rules with fervor and enthusiasm. But today, nothing.
Mondo Owada, leader of the Crazy Diamonds and a man of instinct, couldn't shake the growing knot in his stomach. His kyodai, Taka, was nowhere to be found, and it wasn’t like him to skip out on meals. Mondo had been keeping an eye out, but his usual tough demeanor was faltering in the face of this unsettling quiet.
By lunchtime, Mondo’s anxiety had shifted into something more frantic. His eyes scanned the cafeteria, and his worry intensified with every passing second. No Taka.
“Oi, you seen Taka anywhere?” Mondo snapped at one of the other students, his usual gruff tone making the request sound more demanding than it should have.
“Nope, haven’t seen him all day,” replied Hina as she shoved food into her mouth.
Mondo’s frustration boiled over, and before he even realized what he was doing, he was storming out of the cafeteria, heading straight for Taka’s room.
The worst-case scenario began to plague his thoughts. What if he was dead? Or worse, what if he had been infected with the despair disease?
He reached the door to Kiyotaka’s room and knocked loudly, his fist pounding against the wood in urgency.
“Taka! Hey, you in there?”
There was a pause, and Mondo's heart skipped a beat. When no immediate response came, he knocked again, this time more frantically.
“Taka! Open up! It’s me, Mondo!”
After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open slowly, and Kiyotaka appeared in the doorway—barely. His normally neat, pressed uniform was disheveled. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were half-lidded, struggling to stay open.
For a moment, Mondo stood there, stunned. Kiyotaka, the ever-determined and orderly force, looked completely drained—like he hadn’t had a decent rest in days.
“T-Taka... what the hell’s wrong with ya?” Mondo’s voice was softer than usual, concern creeping into his tone.
Kiyotaka didn’t respond right away. He seemed to sway slightly, leaning heavily against the doorframe, his body too tired to hold itself upright. His eyes blinked rapidly as though fighting sleep.
“T-Taka?” Mondo asked again, his worry deepening. He took a step forward, reaching out, and before he could stop it, Kiyotaka’s body collapsed into him with a soft thud. Mondo instinctively caught him, his arms wrapping around the slumped form.
“Hey! What the hell’s going on? You feelin’ sick or somethin’?” Mondo asked, trying to support his weight. Kiyotaka didn’t answer, simply letting out a tired sigh, his eyes closing as his body sagged against Mondo.
“Taka…?” Mondo repeated, his tone more frantic now.
Kiyotaka’s breathing was slow, steady, but heavy with exhaustion. He barely managed to mumble something, his voice thick with sleep. “Mondo... too tired... can’t keep... going…”
Mondo blinked in confusion before realizing what was happening. The despair disease—it must’ve been the lazy strain. The idea seemed absurd at first, but now, looking at Taka, it made perfect sense.
Normally, Kiyotaka was the last person to slack off, yet here he was—practically collapsing from exhaustion.
Mondo felt his chest tighten, a deep, protective urge rising within him. He held Kiyotaka closer, brushing his messy hair away from his forehead.
“Damn it, Taka... Ya really got hit by that shit, huh?” Mondo muttered, more to himself than to his friend.
Kiyotaka made a faint noise, barely registering the words before he finally succumbed completely to sleep, his head tucked into the crook of Mondo’s neck. His breath was warm and slow. Why did Mondo's cheeks suddenly felt so warm?
Mondo stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do next.
"Alright, look, you’re not gonna just sleep here on the floor," Mondo murmured, carefully maneuvering Kiyotaka into his arms. Mondo wasn’t about to let him stay slumped against the door. He stepped into the room, carefully shutting the door behind him.
The lazy strain of the despair disease had hit hard, but Mondo wasn't going to let his friend face it alone. Not when Kiyotaka was too tired to even open his eyes.
“Ya just rest up, Taka," Mondo whispered as he gently lowered his friend onto the bed. "I’m here, alright? I’ll make sure yer alright."
As Mondo sat beside him, watching over his exhausted friend, he couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh of relief. At least he wasn't dead.
..He should probably go warn the rest about this, tho.