The white basement room was quiet except for the humming of the ceiling fan and an occasional clicking sound. Keroro lay on his side, lazily browsing the space web with one hand; he used the other to scratch his behind. His computer screen was mounted on the trolley as usual, and slipped back when the half-asleep Keronian's face fell upon it.
"Why am I so tired..."
Keroro forced himself to sit up. He gave a loud yawn and rubbed his eyes. "It feels like I'm forgetting something."
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps quickly approaching his room caught his attention. Before Keroro had time to question who it was, the door was kicked down by an all too familiar foot.
"Bo-ke-Ka-e-ru...! You didn't wash the dishes again! How am I supposed to make dinner now?!" Natsumi shouted.
Keroro only yawned in response.
"What's the big deal... We can just buy takeout or something," the frog shrugged with his nose pointed in the air.
"Geez, sounding all lazy again. Go clean the dishes now! I already bought ingredients from the supermarket," the girl replied. Natsumi grabbed Keroro by the head and dragged him upstairs to the kitchen.
Tamama clutched a small paper bag as he approached the front door. He got on his tiptoes and rang the doorbell.
"...Hi."
"G-Gunsou-san! What happened? You look so worn out!" Tamama commented. He was right, of course. The platoon leader was in bad shape. Dark bags hung under his eyes, and his skin was oily as if he forgot to wash it. His green face seemed looser somehow, not like his usual attentive and energetic self.
Keroro stepped aside and let Tamama in.
"Have you been doing too much cleaning?"
"No, it's not that," Keroro said with a slight smile. He was still wearing his frilly pink apron from washing the dishes. "I think I haven't been sleeping well, that's all."
Tamama cocked his head to one side as in idea formed in his mind.
"Why don't you go down to your room and rest? I'll take care of the rest of your chores!"
"Gero? Really? I have such a good friend..." Keroro said sleepily as he gently pat Tamama on the head and walked past him down the hall. However, instead of going down to his room, the green Keronian staggered over to the couch and hopped onto it. Tamama looked at Keroro with a worried expression before making his way to the kitchen.
He's just tired...
Tamama left his bag on the dining table. He climbed onto a stool and looked curiously into the kitchen sink.
"Ugh!" he cried as he covered his nose. "How long has Gunsou-san not washed the dishes?"
Tamama looked around for some cleaning materials. He opened the wooden cupboards under the sink only to find nothing useful.
Why don't they just buy a dish washing machine...
Taking out his cell phone, Tamama dialed the Nishizawa bodyguard squad. "I need you to take these dishes and put them in the finest Nishizawa dish washer!"
"Roger that, Tamama-dono. We're on our way!"
There was a click as the call was ended. Tamama smiled proudly as he hopped off the stool.
Time for the laundry!
Giroro sat in the yard in his usual position. In his right hand he held a stick which was neatly poked through a sweet potato. Beneath the potato, there was his camp fire. In other words, he was just roasting sweet potatoes. The soldier perked up when he heard the window slide open.
"A-ah, Natsumi. Wanting a sweet potato at this time of day, too?" Giroro said nervously. He held out a roasted sweet potato behind him, expecting it to be taken. When nothing happened, Giroro turned around.
"What's wrong, Natsu-TAMAMA?!"
Giroro sank down in his seat, a crimson red forming on his face.
"Don't worry, I'm just here to take the laundry in," Tamama giggled with his hands to his face. He skipped over to the laundry line as Giroro's mind slipped into another one of his Natsumi daydreams.
"N-Natsumi..."
Tamama got on another stool and began to take clothes off the line. They were still a bit damp, but figuring they would dry later, he continued to take them down. Soon after the line was clear of clothes, Tamama began to sort them into piles.
"Na-chi's... Fu-ki's... Fu-ki's again... Fu-ki's again... Saburo-senpai's... Na-chi's... Wait a second," Tamama said, eying one of the piles of clothes. He squinted suspiciously at Saburo's shirt. "What the..."
Giroro, who had been listening to Tamama sorting the clothes, walked over.
"W-What's wrong? D-do you need help with the clothes?" Giroro eyed Natsumi's swimsuit.
Tamama shook his head.
"Look, Gochou-san. Isn't this Saburo-senpai's shirt? What's it doing here?"
The red Keronian grabbed the shirt. "Don't tell me... No way, it can't be like this..."
"Can't be like what...?" Tamama wondered. Tamama shrugged and continued sorting as Giroro ran into the house screaming something along the lines of 'NATSUMI, WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?!', then the surprised reply of the girl 'S-SABURO-SENPAI'S SHIRT?!', then the explanation of Fuyuki 'He lent it to me for gym class'.
Tamama giggled to himself.
When Tamama went back into the living room, he noticed Keroro was gone. Fuyuki was now sitting on the couch, can of soda in hand. The TV was broadcasting some occult mystery about the Nazca lines. Tamama waved his arms in the air.
"Hey, Fu-ki, where's Gunsou-san?"
"Gunsou? Mois just came by and brought him back to his room," the boy replied without taking his eyes off the screen. He sipped at his drink.
Tamama grit his teeth as his pupils shrank down.
T-that woman...!
"Here, Oji-sama," Mois said, handing Keroro a can of Gundam paint.
The Keronian and Angol sat around an open newspaper which served as a mat for assembling Gundam. Keroro's eyes fixated on the delicate GM Custom's arm as he applied a coat of crimson paint. He blew gently on the arm to make it dry faster. When he finished, he looked up and smiled.
"Gero! I'm almost done my second model today~"
"You could say, working in secrecy?" Mois said, pointing her finger in the air as usual. They both laughed.
Tamama glared through the open door, being sure to remain hidden in the shadows of the hall.
Shit! How many times does she have to do this?! No doubt that woman stole Gunsou-san away the second she had the chance!
A dark-purple aura radiated from Tamama's body as he felt a seething rage build in his stomach. He clamped his lips together tightly and brought his hands up to his mouth.
No! Not now! Not when Gunsou-san is around...!
It was no use. Tamama's eyes shot open. His body flexed back as the beam shot out. "TAMAMA IMPACTO...!"
Mois turned her head around in time to see the blast. "Oji-sama, watch out!"
She pushed Keroro out of the way as the Tamama Impact hit her, letting out a shrill scream as the GM Custom and nearby objects were obliterated. The smoke cleared, and a rough coughing could be heard.
"Mois-dono!" Keroro rushed to the burnt Angol's side. He knelt down and lifted the back of her head. Mois gave him a weak smile as she stared into his teary eyes.
"I-I'm glad you're okay..."
"Mois-dono!"
"Oji-sama!"
"Mois-dono!"
Tamama watched the scene he'd just created. He gave a deep growl and punched the wall next to him. Even when I use force this still happens...
"GUNSOU-SAN IS MINE!"
The crazed tadpole sprinted up to Keroro and Mois, ready to attack, but a hand slapped him back. Tamama got up, confused at what had just happened.
"What do you think you're doing? Why did you fire a Tamama Impact at Mois-dono?!"
Tamama rubbed his cheek and slowly looked down. Tears threatened to infiltrate his eyes. The rage he felt earlier had subsided.
"Well? Answer me!" Keroro demanded. He stepped closer and grabbed Tamama's shoulder. "Explain yourself!"
Tamama felt himself lose control at Keroro's touch. He squeezed his eyes shut as warm tears rolled down his cheeks. He quivered and sniffled. Mois lay on her back in a pile of burnt Gumdam parts and paper. Tamama let out a small whimper and looked away. Keroro was taken by surprise. His expression changed from angry to that of concern.
"W-why are you crying, Tamama-kun...?" Keroro placed his other hand on the Private's arm. Tamama brought his gaze to meet Keroro's.
The tadpole gasped for air before managing a reply.
"I... I just wanted to be with you!"
To be continued...
Please review, I appreciate it :D Also I don't mind if you criticize my writing, it will help me improve! Thanks for reading, next chapter coming soon!