Life is Better (Togafuka)

...When I'm Not the Brattiest Child

[A/N] The next chapter will take place immediately after this one.  That one will pay a little more attention to Makoto. Anyways, I hope you enjoy!!

Makoto looks like fresh death. The bags under his eyes are dark and heavy, like he's been floating between rest and a desperate grip on consciousness for far too long. He's pressed up against the very corner of my couch, skin looking pallid and sickly under the glow of his laptop.

"Get behind me, for thou art a m-malignant spectre haunting my most h-humble abode! My heart quivers in fright!" I gasp exaggeratedly, patting his floofy hair.

"Oooooooooo," he responds half-heartedly in a stereotypical ghost voice. He gives the slightest wince. "My head feels fuzzy. I would play along better, but I just can't right now. Sorry Eiko."

"Dude, seriously, you look like a flower that's wilting in a drought! And I know you haven't been sleeping, cause I keep waking up to you bumping around in the middle of the night!" Komaru exclaims.

"Stop being so loud. I love you sis, but your volume can get really high and I just..." His protests devolve into incomprehensible murmurs. I just..." His protests devolve into incomprehensible murmurs. He takes a slow, lethargic sip of coffee.

"Why are you even still doing this then?! Get some sleep!"

"K-Komaru, you don't get it. It's Hope's Peak, right?" I ask, remembering how he told me he felt overworked.

"Yeah, yeah, you're right on the money there. I have a really important administrative meeting relating to funding in a week, but I also have to grade some really major projects. I need to have this done. The kids are relying on me."

"Fuck it, give me a minute," I insist, squishing you next to him and eliciting a warily confused expression in response. I steal his laptop despite his pitiful attempts to get it back and set up a video call with the rest of Class 78.

Kyoko hops on first. When she sees my face instead of Makoto's, her eyes briefly widen in surprise before she gives me a confident smile. "Thank you for taking care of him. I was planning on doing something like this, too. Show him to me," she requests. I turn the laptop. "Hello, darling. Do you understand what's happening?"

"I'm too tired to understand anything, love."

"Hi!" Hina greets. But then she gives a light squeal. "Makoto, are you okay?!"

Hiro pops on next. "Woaaah, dude! Are you dying? Is this to announce that you're dying?!"

"Oh God," Byakuya says immediately upon joining, "you look like death." I try not to laugh at the fact that he and I are on the same brainwave.

"I've heard that a lot recently. But I'm not dead, nor am I dying."

"O-Okay troops. This is the situation. Makoto has a ton of work and an important m-meeting in a w-week. But we're going to give him a c-couple days off to relax. I can t-take over his class for a few days and help him grade."

"I will assist you with the kids and attempt to handle some administrative work. If that sounds alright with you, Makoto," Byakuya offers

"You're probably the most qualified one to deal with that. But guys, you don't have to—"

"Yes we do! Obviously! And we won't let you say no! Okay, guys, the rest of us will focus on giving Makoto the best two days off possible!" Komaru chimes in.

"Aye-Aye! Let's split into different group chats. Team Make-Makoto-Relax can have one and Team Do-Makoto's-Work can have one!" Hina agrees excitedly. She immediately leaves the call, and I hear Komaru's phone go off a sliver of a second later.