Underdoctor - 3

 Location: Dojo

Souma: Kiryuu-dono, please excuse us!

My goodness?! W-what an incredible amount of costumes...

Kuro: Huh? ...Kanzaki, Hasumi, ‘s that you? Wha’s the matter?

Keito: O-oi, Kiryuu. You look terrible. Are you alright? I had heard that you were working yourself quite a substantial amount making costumes, but…

Kuro: Huh~? This ‘s nothin’. What’s the deal, didja hear that ‘n start worryin’ enough to come all the way out here to see me? Ya worrywart.

Keito: You don’t seem okay at all. Your eyes are bloodshot, not to mention you’re slurring your words.

Souma: Your complexion is worse than even that of the many “zombis” who lurch about our school grounds at this very moment… Kiryuu-dono, are you truly beyond even the slightest shadow of doubt that you may be overworking yourself?

...Kiryuu-dono?

Kuro: ……

Keito: Oi.

Kuro: Hah…! That was bad, I almost passed out for a second there…

Keito: You did pass out just now, I have no doubt about that. Your eyes rolled back in your head.

Souma: Hmm. It is quite rare for you to be in a state of such extreme exhaustion, Kiryuu-dono…

Kuro: What are you on about? I’m fine.

C’mon, I haven’t forgotten to make Akatsuki’s costumes, so don’t worry.

Keito: You idiot, that’s not what we’re worried about. We’re more worried about your health.

Souma: Kiryuu-dono. While I am certainly very much aware of the fact that you are the sort of personage who vows to bring every one of your commitments to fruition…

Would you not consider lessening the amount of said commitments… or at least allowing yourself a small break?

If you continue on at this rate, you shall die, Kiryuu-dono.

Kuro: You’re exaggerating. You should know that I’m not that fragile, okay? Have some faith in my strength.

Keito: This no longer concerns your strength, nor anything else akin to it. You’re completely over capacity.

It’s just like Kanzaki said— How about you try lessening the amount of commitments you take on? This is a difficult situation, and no one will place the blame on you should you fall through.

Souma: Precisely! If by any chance you were to be met with reproach or mockery, Kiryuu-dono, I would deal swift punishment to all those responsible! 

Keito: Oi. I won’t stand for that.

Kuro: Haha, you sure are hot-blooded.

I guess I should thank you two for worrying about my health, but… Well, maybe just keep an eye on me for a bit.

Just a little while longer, and then I’ll have finished all the costumes. So let me see this through to the end.

Keito: Why are you going to such an extent? I understand there aren’t enough workers around for this sort of thing, but…

In the worst case scenario that you fail to meet the deadline, Eichi would have some sort of last resort to fall back on. In fact, Eichi could even use his authority to outsource more workers if needed.

Kuro: That wouldn’t mean anything in the end, though.

Keito: ?

Kuro: Look, costumes are pretty expensive, yeah? A good amount of the people who come to me aren’t exactly from the most well-off of units.

If they come to me, I can allow for some flexibility, maybe put a new twist on some of their old costumes to cut the costs and stuff like that.

If I turned guys like that down, they’d be screwed.

Souma: Hmm. While I believe that such a mindset is quite splendid in itself… If you were to become incapacitated from overwork, Kiryuu-dono, it would all be for naught, would it not?

Kuro: Yeah, my bad, especially since you’ve all been so kind as to worry about me so much. I’ll be fine. I’ve just got a few more, and then I should be done.

Keito: Sigh… You truly are incorrigible.

Well, I understand. The two of us will help you as much as we’re able to. 

We may not be able to sew, but we can take care of any other chores that need handling so that you can focus solely on sewing.

Souma: Ooh! What a splendid proposal indeed! I should very much like to extend my hand to you in assistance, Kiryuu-dono, at the very least!

Kuro: Thanks, you two. Well, guess I should brace myself for just a little longer, huh?

<One hour later>

Kuro: Finish sewing this inner part here, and… Sweet, done and done.

Souma: Ooh! You never fail to impress me, Kiryuu-dono! You have seen this task through successfully, with utter grace nonetheless!

Keito: Thanks for your hard work. You are quite unsteady on your feet at the moment, but—  Kiryuu? Are you alright?

Kuro: Yaaawn… Now ‘ve gotta… take… thi…

Souma: H-he collapsed!? Kiryuu-donooo!? Kiryuu-donooooo!?

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