Prompt: How about a drabble where Mako or Gama turns into a kid?
"What the actual fuck is going on?" Nonon exclaimed, looking at Satsuki with such a bewildered expression. The rest of the Elite, including Iori, were still shell-shocked in their seats. No one had any clue what had happened and how it happened, and no one knew how to fix it. Satsuki had jumped to the cause when Sanageyama had found out about it, and now had it calmed down in her lap.
They did not expect to find a younger Gamagoori this morning. Or ever, really.
It seems somehow, by some force, Gamagoori had shrunk from nineteen to approximately around the ages of six to eight, and had no memory of any of them. He was back to where he was when he was that age; scared, alone and already scarred by bullies. He nearly fainted from fear when Sanageyama had to chase him around the room just to make sure the young Gamagoori didn't do something he shouldn't. After bouts of crying because he had no clue where he was and everyone was big and scary and yelling at him, and calling him names, he found comfort in Satsuki's soft spoken words and gentle grasp and slept in her lap.
"It seems something has made our Disciplinary Chairmen more than ten years younger" Inumuta answered, entering in observations into his current log for this event. "Somehow during the night, Gamagoori returned to a younger age, estimated between five and nine, though strongly leaning into age seven. He has no recollection of any of us in any form, but he seemed to easily warm up to Lady Satsuki without trouble. I still don't have enough data to figure out how to turn him or how to give back his memories so we don't have to worry about spooking him again"
"Geez! Who knew the Toad had such a painful past?" Nonon exclaimed. Satsuki started to run her hands through Gamagoori's hair as he slept, keeping him under the unconscious spell.
"Nonon, for now do not call him that. Any actions that spell possible harassment or bullying are to cease until Gamagoori is back to normal, understood?"
"Yes, Lady Satsuki" "Understood" "Understood, Lady Satsuki"
Satsuki nodded at their response, and looked down at Gamagoori. She had heard tales of his past before but seeing it in an unorthodox situation led her to fully believe that he had a rough childhood. It explained a lot about his character and how it had evolved through the years. Now back at this age, he was definitely smaller and nowhere near close to the size he was during middle school. She continued to softly pet Gamagoori's hair and watched as his tight muscles slowly relaxed, and he felt him sigh in relief. She smiled at the small child before locking eyes again with Inumuta.
"You haven't figured out why at this age he takes to me, Inumuta?" she asked. Inumuta pulled up Gamagoori's bio and read through it quickly.
"Not exactly. Maybe someone in his past? He never agreed to explain his past so the data I have on him is supremely limited"
"He was born mixed-race. Half-Japanese, half-American" Satsuki explained, getting everyone's attention. "He got subjected to bullying for it. He has darker skin than us, and blond hair. He began his life being bullied based on racist beliefs. That is why he feared all of you, because you were displaying behavior similar to what violence he had been exposed to during this time"
"Still does not explain why he takes to you" Iori stated, looking through Inumuta's log to see if there really was anything on figures Gamagoori looked to in his youth.
"His father was an American soldier stationed in Japan, but he apparently left the family before his birth. I must resemble his mother, and from what he has told me, she had to leave him to his uncle due to trouble with finance and living situations"
The Elite let the information simmer and settle. It made sense, and seeing that they had all revealed parts of their pasts to Lady Satsuki, they could confirm it as truth. Nonon sighed and settled on her couch, looking at Gamagoori and Satsuki, seeing Gamagoori squirm a moment and frown before settling back into the comfort of sleep. Satsuki could not babysit him the entire time this happened and she knew that if she let him stay within the care of her Elite, they would simply try to manipulate him in some way. She did not doubt their skills and leadership but she felt a duty to protect him in this vulnerable time. She needed someone he could connect with that could protect him in the safety of the tower for now.
She had an idea, a perfect person for the job she required filled, and summoned Soroi to make the call to get them in quickly.
"So what are we going to do once he wakes up?" Sanageyama asked, "We can't exactly avoid another screaming incident now that he pegs us as bullies."
Satsuki rested a hand on top of Gamagoori's head momentarily. "That's why I'm pulling in some help."
"Help?" Nonon questioned, "Help from whom?"
"So you want me to babysit little Gamagoori while he's like this?! Are you sure you got the right person for this?"
Mako had no clue how she got chosen out of hundreds of thousands of students to come into the secret insides of the Academy and babysit someone. She didn't expect that Gamagoori somehow turned into a little kid but she had to admit he looked cute being all small and adorable.
"I'm sure of it. Simply make sure he stays safe and does not hurt himself or his surroundings. We will be back as quickly as possible with a solution to this issue." Satsuki informed Mako, who suddenly procured a blanket and draped it over the still slumbering Gamagoori, who rested alone in Satsuki's chair of honor. Mako tucked it under his chin and smiled as he snuggled into it, sinking peacefully into the chair.
"We will be back, Mankanshoku. Do not leave his sight." The Elite Four followed Satsuki as they exited the top floor, leaving Mako and young Gamagoori alone. Mako squatted down beside the chair, looking curiously at Gamagoori as he slept soundless, a smile on his cute adorable face. She poked at one of his cheeks and watched as he curled his hands up to the touched cheek and opened his eyes, the steel grey she knew now a lighter, more innocent shade of soft grey. He blinked for a moment, keeping his eyes on her before sitting up and rubbing at his eyes.
When he truly woke up, and looked at Mako, he tried to scoot back into the chair as far from her as possible. He clutched the blanket in his hands tightly, fear showing in his eyes.
"No, no, no it's okay, I'm not a bully!" Mako cried, holding her hands up in surrender. Tears were forming in Gamagoori's eyes, and Mako's heart shrieked that she was making him cry, "Don't cry, I would never hurt you."
Mako found hot tears building in her eyes, her vision blurring. Barely into her duty as babysitter and she made him cry. She felt them fall, and couldn't stop them. She failed already at her task. Gamagoori already did not like her, barely a few minutes after seeing her.
Tiny hands touched her face before they brushed away her tears without a hesitation. Mako opened her eyes and found Gamagoori leaning over to her, his hands rubbing her tears away even though his tears fell in tiny streams. Mako could not believe the caution in his touch as he made sure no more tears fell down her face. He poked her nose once he made sure every last tears got wiped away, and Mako giggled at the cute gesture. She went to wipe his tears, but he flinched away. She withdrew until Gamagoori returned and let her slowly wipe his little tears away, tugging at one ear before smiling at him.
"I'm sorry for that. You started crying and I didn't want to make you cry..." Mako told him.
"It's okay." he said softly. Mako gasped at the pure softness of his voice, so used to the steel slap his voice usually provided. His child voice was like being enveloped by a cloud.
"What's your name?" he asked her, trying to tug his blanket up over his shoulders, but couldn't free it from under him. Mako offered her help and picked him up, pulling the blanket out from under him as she settled him into the crook of her free arm. Gamagoori suddenly latched to her shoulder, snuggling into it like her shoulder became a pillow. She giggled and told him that he acted like a magnet, getting a chuckle from him. She got him to release her and settled him back on the chair, blanket draped over his shoulders like a mighty cape.
"I'm Mako Mankanshoku. I know your name, too."
"Ira Gamagoori."
"Yep! I really like that name."
"But why? It's attached to a body that no one likes."
Mako's happiness fled for a moment, rage building in her in place of it. The self-loathing and put-me-downs he just committed made her sad, angry, and disappointed. Was this really how Gamagoori was as a child?
"Why do you say that?"
Gamagoori's pulled the blanket tighter over his body. "Everyone laughs at me. They say mean things about me and pick on me. The bigger boys hurt me."
Mako's heart shattered. Gamagoori was a bully survivor? He was hurt and hit by kids at this age?
"You look perfect, Ira." Mako told him, brushing the building tears in his eyes, "And you have looked that way forever. Those mean bullies are wrong to hurt you. The way you look, the way you talk, the way you hold yourself. It's all you, and it's perfect. Never believe anything else. You're perfect the cute way you are!"
Gamagoori couldn't stop the tears as he launched into Mako for a hug, catapulting him off the chair and into her arms. He dug his hands into her shirt as he sobbed, making sure he stayed where he landed. Mako smiled sadly at him, wrapping her arms around him.
"No one should bully you for your color, or who you are. A beautiful person like you shouldn't hurt in such a bad way."
Gamagoori sniffled and curled up in her embrace, hugging her as tight as he could. "Thank you, Mako."
"You're welcome! It's okay, Ira. You're safe here. Don't worry."
Satsuki and company returned later that day, as night fell over the Tokyo Bay, with their solution in hand, finding Mako and Gamagoori fast asleep on one of the Elite Four couches. Gamagoori tucked himself close to Mako, his small body curled up against Mako's chest while Mako had an arm draped over him. The blanket Mako had earlier draped over them, completing their make-shift bed on the couch.
"Oi, Mankanshoku." Sanageyama whispered, poking Mako until her eyes fluttered open. She gasped and went to move but Sanageyama stopped her. Mako looked down at Gamagoori and relaxed back into place, slowly moving until she wormed out of his hold and off the couch. She adjusted the blanket back over him and whispered her good nights.
"Thank you Mankanshoku for looking after him." Satsuki thanked her. Mako quickly bowed and thank Satsuki for trusting her with such a task. After swift but comforting pleasantries passed around the group, Mako left the Elite and their queen to their business in their castle, returning to the Academy grounds and leaving for home with Ryuuko at her side, questioning her about what was up within the secret tower only the Elite could reach.
The next morning, Gamagoori woke up to the surprise of tears falling down his face. Memories of yesterday's horrific mishap came to life, replying each and every detail in crystal clear picture. Every moment with the Elite finding, every moment within Satsuki's arms.
Every instance with Mako as she comforted his seven-year old self and making him believe in the beauty of himself.
He sat up slowly, rubbing the tears away. The warmth brought from the memories with Mako made his insides jump, but it a way far from negative. Mako's valiant attempts to keep him calm ad happy made his look on her ever more positive. Her belief in him and his being made him over-joyous. Her successful winning over him as she made him believe in himself and not the bullies that plagued his childhood.
He gave a soft chuckle as he pushed his hair back from his eyes. His heart pounded in his chest as he relived yesterday, his mind switching emotions quickly, resulting in Gamagoori fleeing into his bed again, fighting invading thoughts involving them taking care of a child and Mako being the perfect mother. He scolded his imagination for such rude and careless thoughts.
"You amaze me again Mankanshoku. I wonder if you will ever cease the never-ending surprises."
