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Gen was about to go insane. These busy days reached the point where he rathered do all the hellish physical work. Since Taiju and Yuzuriha arrived, Senku was always busy talking with them, leaving a huge workload for Gen every day, each day he gave him instructions for his daily tasks.
It's not that he was jealous, or that he didn't want to work, but some help with the village would be immensely appreciated.
"Gen... Gen!" he heard someone shouting "What!?" he snapped at the person, Kohaku stared at him surprised and worried? "Did you hear me? I need your help with something in the village, some girls are making a fuss over..." Gen muted Kohaku's explanation and put on his friendliest smile, for some reason, everyone thought that he was the only one they could ask for help, but he was incapable of denying them or refusing to help them...
Kohaku led them to the place where the fight was happening. Gen analyzed the situation quickly. It didn't seem like a big deal, two girls were holding, no, fighting over a dress, pulling and manhandling it, Gen was glad it wasn't a fight over money, food, or something serious although it escalated quickly. "Hello girls, care to explain the situation please?" both of them started to shout at the same time, his head was starting to hurt but he kept his facade.
"One at a time, please~ you start first" he said as he pointed at Sango with his hand. "Well I was looking for the new dress I bought at Yuzuriha's store, I looked for it everywhere inside my house, and then I looked out the window and there it was! She was holding it and showing it to everyone as if it was her's!" I'm about to go nuts if they keep shouting so loud. "Because it is mine! You can even ask Yuzuriha, she saw me buying it" Said Ruby.
"Hmm... I see" it was a good alibi, for such a pure town of course, but it didn't mean Gen would buy it, Gen looked at the girl's eyes without meaning to intimidate her, but instead with the eyes which he would look at Suika.
"So if I go and ask Yuzuriha she would prove you right?" The girl nodded, but looked away and put her hands behind her back. This town is too pure to lie. Gen shifted his gaze and stared at the blond girl "But Yuzu-chan also knows you bought the dress, right?"
"Yes! We even chatted for a bit after that" Gen nodded at that, Kohaku had already taken the dress so the girls were not fighting for it anymore. It was clear that the dress was Sango's, Ruby's alibi was lacking since Yuzuriha knew almost everyone who bought her clothes, so she probably lost it, or was just being a spoiled brat and a terrible liar. He looked at both girls, analyzing them a bit more. The dark-haired girl's face had an annoyed look, her eyes on the floor and the hands behind her back fidgeting. The blond was looking at her dress and Gen, a frown between her eyebrows, her hands fisted.
Fear, sweating, fidgeting, avoiding gaze, stuttering.
Longing, consistent, determined, trustful.
Although sometimes it was the other way around, this young girls did not have any abilities when it came to lies, the environment they grew up in was too pure, and as a result, one spoiled teen with sweaty hands and unable to keep a stable tone in her voice.
"Ruby-chan" he called to get her attention "this dress" he said as he took the dress from Kohaku's hands "is not yours" he finished firmly.
"But you haven't even asked Yuzuriha! How could you-"
"That would not make a difference dear Ruby~ She knows both of you bought the same type of dress" the dark-haired girl's face looked even more upset now. "I don't care" she hissed "It's mine give it back!" she screamed as she reached to grab the dress by force but Kohaku was faster and took it from Gen's hands.
"I'm sorry Ruby-chan, I cannot give you this dress, perhaps you lost yours? or maybe you never had one at all? if you wanted one you could have asked your parents~" he didn't mean it to sound snarky, but he couldn't avoid the playful tone to mock the girl. His headache was getting a bit too painful, so he tried his best not to frown. This girl was being ridiculous. Well... I should never expect much from a spoiled little girl anyway. "Give it back Kohaku! this is not even your business"
"It is, you two were at night hours and some people actually have to work tomorrow" she said calmly. Gen was glad she didn't raise her voice too. "Yeah, we'll have to talk to your parents about this, we need to avoid future problems between you two, I hope this isn't-" Gen was interrupted by Ruby growling at him, she grabbed his arms and started to shake him a bit too roughly. "Shut it! You are not even the village chief to be ordering me around! Nobody asked you to butt in with your tricks and lies! Ugh!"
Gen's facade was starting to fall with all the shaking and shouting. He let her finish her childish fit and at some point, she sighed, annoyed at his lack of response. Kohaku took her to her parent's house, Sango thanked him and apologized shortly before leaving.
His headache had worsened, and he could feel his patience wearing thin. Ruby's fit was the last straw, and though he managed to maintain his facade, the effort had drained him. As Kohaku led Ruby to her parent's house, Gen felt a wave of dizziness. He leaned against a nearby wall, taking deep breaths to steady himself. He could still hear Ruby's angry shouts in the distance, echoing in his head. The stress of the situation combined with his already overwhelming workload was taking a toll on him. Gen closed his eyes, trying to block out the noise and chaos around him.
"Gen?" Kohaku's voice broke through his haze. He opened his eyes to see her standing in front of him, her expression shifting from concern to alarm as she took in his pale face and trembling hands. "Are you alright?" she asked, stepping closer. Gen tried to muster a smile, but it felt weak and forced.
"Just a bit tired, Kohaku-chan. It's been a long day." She didn't seem convinced. "You look like you're about to collapse. Let's get you somewhere to rest." Before he could protest, Kohaku was guiding him toward his shared hut, her grip firm but gentle.
Gen's legs felt like they were made of jelly, each step an effort. His vision blurred at the edges, and he was vaguely aware of Kohaku's worried murmurs. As they reached the hall, Gen finally allowed himself to sit down, leaning back against the cool stone wall. Kohaku crouched beside him, her eyes filled with worry. "You need to take better care of yourself, Gen," she said softly.
"You're always helping everyone else, but you can't keep going like this." Gen nodded weakly, knowing she was right but feeling too exhausted to respond. The room seemed to spin, and he closed his eyes again, focusing on the sound of Kohaku's voice. "I'll get you some water and find Senku," she said, standing up. "Just stay here and rest."
Gen felt a pang of guilt at the thought of worrying Kohaku and the others, but he was too drained to argue. He nodded again, hoping she understood his gratitude. As she hurried off, he let himself relax, hoping that a few moments of rest would be enough to regain his strength. But deep down, he knew he couldn't keep going like this. Something had to change, or he wouldn't be able to keep helping the village—or himself.
---
"And then she just kept punching his arm! Taiju can be so oblivious sometimes!" Yuzuriha laughed softly. Senku would not admit it, but he was so glad his friends were back, so they had spent the last few days catching up and planning for the future. Senku was in the middle of a discussion with Taiju and Yuzuriha about their next big project when he saw Kohaku rushing towards him.
The urgency in her stride immediately caught his attention. "Senku! We need you," Kohaku called out, her voice tinged with worry.
What would she need me for at this hour?
Senku quickly excused himself from Taiju and Yuzuriha, following Kohaku without hesitation.
"What happened?" he asked, his tone brisk. "It's Gen. He doesn't look well. I found him pale and shaky after dealing with some troublemakers in the village."
Senku's heart sank. He had been so wrapped up in the excitement of reuniting with Taiju and Yuzuriha and planning their next big steps that he might have given Gen a bigger workload than usual.
They reached the place, and Senku's guilt deepened at the sight of Gen slumped against the wall, looking sick and hiding his eyes behind his coat.
"Gen," Senku said, kneeling beside him. "What the hell happened?" Gen peaked from behind his coat, a tired smile forming on his lips. "Just overworked, Senku-chan. Nothing to worry about." Senku frowned, placing a hand on Gen's forehead to check his temperature.
"Damn, you're burning up mentalist. This is more than just being overworked." He turned to Kohaku "Get some water and a damp cloth. We need to cool him down." but before she left Kohaku signaled Senku to come. Confused, Senku followed her and quickly left to fetch the supplies. When they arrived Kohaku looked at him with conflicted eyes.
"Senku, what were Gen's tasks for today?"
"Huh? Well I asked him to check the designs for the Perseus and make changes at will, then to help Yuzuriha with the ship sails. He also had to help to get more dragons from Ryusui, Kaseki probably asked him to-" he was going to finish his ramble but stopped when he saw Kohaku's worried eyes.
"What?"
"There's more?" he nodded "But he has helped us so much around the village! Are these his usual tasks?"
Helped around the village? but I didn't ask him to do that...
"Well, yeah but- what do you mean helped around the village?" Now she looked pissed "I thought you asked him to do that! All these days he has helped with problems and fights between some villagers! This Dragos stuff has confused everyone and..." he muted her after that.
Well I didn't consider that, yes it is something new, but I still didn't ask him to do that! he probably prevented a bigger problem then...
He had been so focused on the new projects and the arrival of Taiju and Yuzuriha that he had overlooked how much strain Gen was under. They headed back to Gen's and Senku's shared hut.
"You should have said something," Senku muttered, his voice softer. "You can't keep carrying all this on your own."
Gen chuckled weakly. "I didn't want to burden you. You're already doing so much." Senku's frown deepened. Not really...
"That's not an excuse. We're a team, remember? You're just as important as anyone else." Senku took the cloth, dipped it in the water, and gently placed it on Gen's forehead. He watched as Gen closed his eyes, a small sigh of relief escaping his lips. "We need to get you some rest," Senku said firmly. "No more pushing yourself like this." Gen nodded, too exhausted to argue.
Senku's mind was already formulating a plan to redistribute the workload and ensure that Gen had the support he needed. As much as he valued efficiency and progress, he valued his friends more. "Stay here," Senku instructed Kohaku.
"Make sure he stays hydrated and rests. I'll be back with something to help him recover faster." Kohaku nodded, and Senku stood up, determination in his eyes. He felt a pang of guilt for not noticing Gen's condition earlier. His excitement over reuniting with Taiju and Yuzuriha had blinded him to the needs of those who had been by his side all along.
"I've been an idiot," Senku muttered to himself as he walked away. "I need to make this right." He might not be the best at handling emotions, but he would do everything in his power to make sure Gen was okay.
---
The next morning, Senku woke up earlier than usual, his mind buzzing with concern for Gen. The previous day's events had made it painfully clear that he needed to pay more attention to his friend's well-being.
He spent some time rethinking the day's tasks, carefully redistributing the workload to ensure that Gen had a lighter, more manageable set of responsibilities. By the time Gen arrived at the main hall, looking slightly better but still worn out, Senku had already laid out the new plan.
"Good morning, Gen," Senku greeted, forcing a casual tone into his voice. Gen gave a weak smile. "Morning, Senku-chan. What's on the agenda for today?" Senku handed him a list.
"I've reassigned most of your tasks. Today, I want you to focus on something simpler. Just a bit of inventory work and some basic coordination. Nothing strenuous." Gen glanced at the list and then back at Senku, his smile growing more forced.
"I appreciate the thought, Senku, but I'm perfectly capable of handling my usual workload." Senku shook his head firmly. "You've been pushing yourself too hard. I'm grateful for your help around the village but consider this a mandatory break." Gen's eyes narrowed slightly, and he forced a laugh. "Come on, Senku. I can handle it. You don't need to worry about little old me~"
Senku's frown deepened. "It's not about what you can handle. It's about what you should handle. You're burnt out, Gen. This isn't a suggestion." Gen sighed, clearly frustrated but knowing he couldn't argue.
"Fine. I'll do as you say." As the day progressed, Senku kept a close eye on Gen, subtly observing him. It didn't take long for Senku to notice the telltale signs of burnout. Gen's hands trembled slightly when he wrote, his concentration wavered, and he seemed to struggle with even simple tasks. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his usual vibrant energy was noticeably dimmed. Around mid-morning, Senku approached Gen, who was meticulously counting supplies in the storage area.
"How are you holding up?" Gen looked up, his smile never reaching his eyes. "I'm managing. Just a bit tired, that's all." Senku crossed his arms, not buying the act for a second.
"You need to take this seriously, Gen. Burnout isn't something you can just push through." Gen's smile faltered for a moment before he forced it back into place.
"Really, Senku, I'm fine. This is nothing compared to what we've been through before." Senku's frustration began to show. "Gen, stop pretending. You're not fine. Your hands are shaking, and you look exhausted. You can't keep hiding how you feel." Gen's expression hardened.
"I'm not hiding anything. I'm doing my job, just like everyone else." Senku's voice rose, his patience wearing thin.
"You're pushing yourself too hard, and it's affecting your health. Why can't you just admit that you need a break?"
Gen snapped, his facade cracking.
"You want to know why? Because I'm tired of you treating me like I'm fragile! I'm sick because I've been doing everything you asked without complaint and more! Do you realize how the arrival of our modern economy would affect this pure and innocent village!? now you're blaming me for not speaking up? You're the one who overloaded me with work!"
Senku's eyes widened, taken aback by the intensity of Gen's outburst. He opened his mouth to respond, but Gen continued, his voice shaking with anger and frustration.
"You were so caught up with Taiju and Yuzuriha that you didn't even notice how much I was struggling, I'm not jealous, but I had to play chief and do what you asked at the same time! We always did this together... A-and now you're acting like it's my fault for not telling you? I shouldn't have to tell you, Senku. You should have seen it."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words. Senku's guilt deepened, his frustration giving way to a painful realization. He had been so focused on his own excitement and goals that he had neglected the well-being of one of his closest friends.
"You're right," Senku finally said, his voice quiet. "I should have seen it. I should have been paying more attention." Gen's anger slowly ebbed, leaving behind a weariness that made his shoulders slump. "I just... I don't want to be a burden. I wanted to help, to be useful." Senku stepped closer, placing a hand on Gen's shoulder.
"You are useful, Gen. But not at the cost of your health. I promise I'll do better from now on. We'll figure this out together." Gen nodded, the tension in his shoulders visibly easing.
"Alright, Senku. Let's move forward." As the afternoon sun began to dip towards the horizon, Senku and Gen finished their tasks. Senku felt a sense of relief seeing a bit of color return to Gen's face, even if only a little.
Later, as the village settled into the calm of the night, Senku found Gen sitting by the river, staring at the water's gentle flow. Senku approached quietly and sat down beside him, the sounds of the night enveloping them in a peaceful embrace.
"Feeling any better?" Senku asked softly, his eyes searching Gen's face with genuine concern.
Gen nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes, thanks to you, Senku."
Senku smiled back, his usual scientific demeanor softened by a warm sincerity. "I'm glad. You mean a lot to me, mentalist."
Gen looked away from Senku, a small blush on his cheeks. "I know, Senku. And you mean a lot to me too."
They sat together in companionable silence, the starlit sky casting a gentle glow over them. The river whispered its secrets as Senku guided Gen's head to rest in his lap, and started to brush through the knots of Gen's hair.
As the night wore on, Senku gently took Gen's hand in his, a silent gesture of support and affection. Gen squeezed back, his heart swelling with gratitude for Senku's unwavering presence. Gen chuckeld softly after some moments of silence. "You know what Senku-chan, you and dear Taiju are not so different from each other~"
Senku raised his eyebrows, slightly confused "And why is that?"
"You both can be very oblivious!" Senku laughed at that and left a small kiss on Gen's forehead.