#from.undead unluck

[itadores]

take a break.

note: can’t believe this is what is getting me to write LOL. i know there are no x reader works for undead unluck but i started reading the manga recently so it's been on my mind

word count: 1.1k

pairing: tatiana & gn!reader, top & gn!reader, chikara & gn!reader

tags: gender neutral reader, scene takes place in the beginning of chapter 74, platonic relationships, reader is older than tatiana, top, and chikara (implied that they are an adult), mentions of death

the sight that greets you when you enter the rubber room of the union's headquarters brings a small smile to your face. on the opposite end of the room padded in white foam, top, chikara, and tatiana are chatting away as they train alongside each other.

it brings you some joy that in this difficult life you all lead, they seem to be getting along more and more. hopefully, they grow to trust and rely on one another as comrades and maybe even as friends someday.

your steps are languid as you make your way across the room, doing your best to not disturb the trio. you want to observe the three of them for a little while longer.

tatiana is the first to spot you, the lens embedded in her mechanical armor landing on you. she shrieks your name in excitement, and the large black sphere that holds her within its confines barrels towards you. you continue walking forward, unafraid of the gigantic metal sphere hurtling towards you, and hold your arms up. tatiana stops just short of flattening you like a pancake and uses two of her metal arms to carefully return your hug.

a huff of gentle laughter escapes you. tatiana’s childish excitement whenever she sees you never fails to amuse and endear you to her.

“hello to you too, tatiana.” you peer around her to look at the boys, who are standing still. they must have stopped training once they noticed you were here. "top. chikara," you say punctuating your words with a nod. they return your greeting with one of their own.

feeling you pull away from the embrace, tatiana unwraps her metal arms from around you and withdraws them once more. she rolls behind you as you finally make your way to where top and chikara are gathered. you eye the treadmill that's no longer in use and the small balancing ball near chikara's feet before your gaze lands on the boys themselves. both of the boys have numerous bandages scattered across the plane of their faces, beads of sweat dripping along their hairlines.

"you all have been training very hard, haven't you?" you say approvingly. top preens under your compliment, positively beaming, while chikara shrinks in shyness, the tips of his ears going red.

"of course! we have to get good enough to kick the butts of under's members so we can save fuuko!" top exclaims, fired up. he folds his hands into tight fists, a look of determination crossing his face.

“y-yeah,” chikara stutters, mirroring top’s actions and shakily forms fists with his hands. when chikara looks up at you, there is resolve brewing in his amber eyes. “we’re going to get strong enough to help bring fuuko back.”

“because that’s what friends do!” tatiana pipes up, rolling back and forth in her sphere. she raises both of her silver metal arms in a similar fashion to the boys.

you smile once more.

you place a hand on top and chikara’s heads, mussing their hair slightly. top scrunches his face up in displeasure that you’re messing with his hair, but he doesn’t bat your hand away to make you stop. chikara averts his gaze, his skin tinted pink.

“i believe in all of you. we will bring fuuko back to where she belongs, with us,” you say, having no doubt in the trio. you have full faith in them and their abilities. you only wish that they didn’t have to fight. tatiana, top, and chikara are all so young. children should have the chance to be children. they should spend their days worrying over academics and trivial matters, not over stakes that could mean life or death. but such is the life of a negator.

you shake off such thoughts and continue on.

“but it is time for you to rest for the day. no more training,” you firmly say to which they immediately begin to protest.

“no way!” top objects, drawing away from you and folding his arms over his chest. “we still have so much training we need to do before we face under.”

tatiana and chikara echo what top has said, but their protests die when you hold a palm up, effectively silencing them.

“i understand that you want to train as much as possible before we fight under, but an adequate amount of rest is necessary so you all can be in the best condition possible when that time comes,” you pause, giving them a pointed look. “if you keep on training at the rate you are now without taking any breaks, you’re going to run yourself ragged and will subsequently be unable to perform at your best. what will you do then? how will you be able to save fuuko?”

you know your words are harsh, but it’s the truth. if the kids keep on training, pushing themselves to the absolute limit, they’ll be spent before they can even enter battle. death is nothing new to you as a negator. it has followed you around like a dog and its master ever since your abilities manifested, trailing after you wherever you may go.

you would like to try and avoid any more deaths in your life if possible.

you sigh when you notice the crestfallen expressions on the kids’ faces. maybe, you were too harsh.

“i don’t say this to hurt any of you,” you say, softening your voice. “i only wish the best for you all and that is why i ask that you rest for the rest of today. i will not force you to, but i believe it is in your best interest to take a break and allow your body to rest even if it's only temporarily."

a lapse of silence falls over you all. you wait patiently for their response. you won't - and can't - force any of them to cease their training for the day, but you hope that they know you truly only have their best interest in mind.

tatiana is the first to break the silence.

“if that’s what you think is best, then i’ll take a break. i know you want to save fuuko as much as i do!” she exclaims.

top grumbles in agreement, the tension in his body easing as he uncrosses his arms. “fine, i’ll stop training too.”

“i’ll stop as well.” chikara says, shyly looking at you. “i trust your judgment.”

you smile.

although you suspected that they would cease training after your slight guilt-tripping, you're glad that you were proven correct. “thank you for trusting me,” you say before clapping your hands together, “now how about we cook something up and watch a show altogether?”

a cacophony of sound erupts as top, chikara, and tatiana all voice their opinion on what you all should eat and watch. you simply shake your head in fondness as the three argue amongst each other. despite the nature of your work and the hardships you have all endured as a result of your negator abilities, you're glad that tatiana, chikara, and top have the chance to act like the children they are. even if it's just for a moment.