The resort infirmary was quiet for once.
Too quiet.
Even the ocean outside sounded like it was trying not to disturb anything.
Takeru was laid down on a clean bed.
Wrapped tightly in medical bandages and layered healing wraps.
Not because he was dying.
Because the healers didn't trust him to stay still otherwise.
The two Shoko stood nearby, arms crossed, clearly done with everything.
Shoko Ieiri
"…He woke up early again last time."
Shoko Ieiri (alternate)
"…So we wrapped him properly this time."
Takeru stirred.
Slowly.
Blinking.
"…Huh?"
He sat up slightly.
Then stopped.
Something felt… off.
He looked down.
Saw the wraps.
Then tilted his head.
"…Why am I a mummy."
Silence.
One of the Shoko shrugged.
"Damage control."
The other added:
"…You fainted in the ocean."
Takeru blinked.
"…That happens too often."
He tried to stand.
Failed immediately because of the wrapping.
"…Okay. Noted."
Then he noticed something.
A small strand of color hanging near his face.
He squinted.
Slowly pulled it forward.
"…Pink?"
Pause.
"…Why is there pink?"
No answer.
He looked toward the hallway.
"…Guys?"
Still nothing.
Takeru slowly shuffled—wrapped and all—toward a mirror in the room.
He leaned in.
Silence.
Then—
his eyes widened slightly.
On the sides and back:
black hair.
Normal.
Familiar.
But the top?
Bright pink.
Messy.
Completely uneven.
Like someone had decided his head needed "personality."
Long silence.
Then—
"…WHAT HAPPENED TO MY HAIR!?"
The shout echoed through the infirmary.
Outside the room—
Yuji immediately froze.
"…Oh no."
Megumi looked away.
"…I knew this was going to come up."
Hakari wheezed.
"…IT LOOKS GOOD THOUGH."
Kirara elbowed him.
"…Don't make it worse."
The Shoko inside the room didn't even react.
Just continued writing notes.
"Stress response spike."
"…Confirmed."
Takeru stared at his reflection.
Still wrapped.
Still pink-topped.
Still processing betrayal.
"…I leave the island for five minutes…"
Fred slowly raised a sign outside the window.
It read:
"Healing side effects: unknown fashion outcomes."