OH MY GOD, the latest episode...it has to be canon, sooner or later. But for now, have an episode 19 drabble.

If you have not watched Episode 19 yet, TURN BACK! Contains MAJOR SPOILERS!

Takes places during that one month after Mako get's taken by COVERS. Will include second chapter later!

He tugged at his new uniform. He extremely disapproved of the Nudist Beach garb he now had to dawn with the end of his Goku Uniform. His was the first to go, the first to fall into ruin until it destroyed itself while he was fighting. He got out just in time.

Now he had to adjust in the new uniform. He really didn't like being so exposed but it would have to do until they finally took down Ragyo, RECOVS, and the Life Fibers. It was all he could really do, like the rest of them. Fight when he could, rescue what was left of Japan's population, and hope COVERS wouldn't take them all. He knew though why he had to wear it, the reason behind losing his Goku Uniform. The reason why he now dawned his ally's clothes.

He was constantly looking for her. For Mankanshoku.

Out there, somewhere within the millions of COVERS attacking Japan's schools and capturing humans to move without the Original Life Fiber, was the one who held Mankanshoku, using her to energy and for fighting. It could be hurting her, killing her for all he knew. She could be dead, stuck within that disgusting alien suit, for all he knew. The thought hurt, every time it came back to mind. It hurt more coupled with the fact that he failed miserably.

He failed to save her. In front of her entire family, he failed. She was in arm's reach and he failed.

He was being sucked in to his memory again, and his chest burned as he relived it again. He hated the fact that he was so close…and yet let her slip away.

He heard her screams before he saw her. He heard her family screaming for her, trying desperately and failing to save Mako and the COVER slowly pulled Mako up into the air. He turned in enough time to see a dog fly up to her, missing her completely and falling back to the ground. Everything in him seized and shook him to move, to try and get her. Her mother's scream for her had him running and jumping for her, dodging countless other COVERS already powered by captured humans.

"Cut the thread! Escape, Mankanshoku!" he shouted to her, nearly screeching her name as he went airborne, reaching as far as he could for her. She struggled against the thread tied around her, but reached out for him, her fingers digging in the air for him. He was too far away, she was too far away! Wait! She could almost reach him! He could make it! He…just needed…a few more feet-!

The COVERS caught him by the arms in mid-air, taking away his progress toward her. He slammed hard into the ground, pinned by the force and weight of the COVERS. He could barely move, but was only able to look up as Mako flew up by the thread of Life Fibers.

"MANKANSHOKU!" he screamed. The threat of tears hit him like stone. He held them back. Mako's family stared in horror alongside him as she was pulled higher and higher toward the wave of COVERS hanging above.

"Some-bo-dy-help!" Mako yelled down, only getting that plea for help out to them as she was sucked in to the COVERS. The alien suit grew and detached from the Original Life Fiber and was gone.

Her family was in complete disaster. Crying and screaming over the fact that their daughter was now a plaything for Life Fibers. Her mother was in the worst shape, sobbing into her hands. COVERS floated down around them, and only then did they begin to run. Gamagoori still was pinned to the ground, struggling to move. It wasn't because he didn't have the strength.

It was the fact that he lost the will to. He had failed to save Mako.

"Mankanshoku…" her name was a sword and a shield at that moment. He closed his eyes, surging suddenly with anger and rage. Pure hatred. The COVERS were ripped off him and thrown away by the surge of adrenaline fueling his actions. They never came back, possibly knowing that it would do no good to fight him.

The sorrow and despair caught him once more. He fought back tears. He fought back his emotions. He needed to focus, to help the others while they still could be saved. Nonetheless, a single ears escaped him, rolling down his dirt-covered face, and he broke down quietly. Replacing back his face cover, he sobbed for Mankanshoku, for her safety. For her return.

Even when he caught up to her family, and found them in complete devastation, awaiting to get housing and looking after Matoi, he continued his mournful cries. For his heart had shattered alongside his hopes of ever admitting to her what he felt.

When he pulled himself out of the flashback, and looked up at the mirror in front of him, he found those familiar line of tears falling down his face. It was happening more often; an occurrence he was starting to accept. He couldn't deny the facts.

He held romantic feelings for her. He could even go as far as saying he loved her.

It finally built up and overflowed after abandoning the Academy and leaving behind Satsuki, which had to be done as she was captured by her mother before any action could be taken. The pent up emotions and sudden attacks of feelings finally made sense to him. The reason for trying to save her was suddenly clear. But now, with Mako gone thanks to his mistakes, his crush for her was hurting him.

Maybe that explains why it's called a 'crush'.

"Hey toad, you alright?" Nonon poked her head into the room, her hat tucked under her arm.

"I'm fine. I'll be out in a moment"

Nonon didn't leave until she saw something that seemed to make her move, and the door slammed closed behind her. Gamagoori gave a shaky sigh, his tears and the sobs caught in his throat returning. He settled down on his cot to his left, shrugging off the Nudist Beach uniform and just laying out naked on his bed. He could hear Mako right about now, yelling at him to wear pajamas to bed so he wouldn't risk getting sick.

He curled up and turned to face away from the door, throwing the small covers over him.

What he wouldn't give to hear Mako's glorious rants again.