Chapter Text
Hm. Yes this is perfect. The plan will be executed.
It was a normal morning of school. The weather was clear and there were no incidents happening. But there was something brewing up in Teruhashi Kokomi's twisted yet incredible mind. She looks at the pink haired boy's head from the back. A plot. A scheme. Saiki had heard her thoughts and was quite worried what the hell she was planning now. The aura alone was almost comical. Saiki a dark and a little bit scared and Teruhashi was also dark and scheming but smirking with cofidence. Dear gosh, he's really not in the mood to go with Teruhashi's whim. He was thinking of maybing just ditching class... When the bell rung, Saiki went to the cafeteria with his friends. A tug came from the back of his shirt.
"Saiki-kun, can we talk for a while?" Everyone looked back and of course, they just pushed him forwards. He reluctantly got pulled lightly by Teruhashi by the sleeve. They go somewhere a little quieter but it's not fully secluded. People could still see them but no one could hear them.
"What is it now..?" He thinks out loud with a frustrated scowl. Teruhashi was still carefree and just smiling. Not that Saiki could see much of it due to his xray vision.
"Saiki-kun, let's hang out again today,"
"No." He quickly replied.
"I promise to buy you that coffee jelly you like last time!"
Saiki loosens his facial expression, actually thinking it through. This psychic is being bribed to a hangout using coffee jelly. But no, she's just going to buy one-
"I'll buy you 5 large coffee jellies!"
Sold.
"Meet me at the mall then. 4pm sharp! Here's the itinerary!" She suddenly gave him a piece of paper. Saiki was confused. What's this? Usually she would just drag him around. Why would he need a noted script of the plans? He gave a questioned look. Teruhashi's smile didn't waver.
"If all of the plans listed don't get checklisted, I won't give you those 5 coffee jellies." Kokomi answers to his look. Saiki looks at the text.
Arcade... Photobooth... Ice Skating and listening to the live concert in the mall. Well they all sound pretty simple. This should be easy. It's not as if he had to enjoy these and take a long time in each spot. He's just striving for those 4 large coffee jellies from his favorite cafe. He nods in acknowledgement.
"Oh and Saiki-kun! Wear something purple!" Purple...? Was she trying to match with him... in a way later? Well whatever, he has a purple sweater he often wears anyways. It wouldn't hurt. "Hmm." He replies as a yes. What confused him the most was how giddy she was. She usually would try to be smooth and "angel-like" but no... Saiki tried not to think too much about it. "I'll see you then. Be careful on the way."
The pink psychic was waiting next to a pole outside of the mall. One that Kokomi had specifically texted him to be at. It was exactly 4pm sharp, not a second wasted. He wanted to be on time, not because he was excited but rather he wanted to get this over with as fast as possible. He searched the crowd for the usual blue haired girl. He had purposefully used his ring for today. The mall was a crowded place, hearing all those thoughts would kill him. A minute passes and he groans. He hated waiting. Kokomi usually would be on time as well. Sometimes even early due to being excited to meet Saiki. Saiki got out of the haze when his shoulders bumped with someone, he was already a little pissed so he shot a glare but only to soften his gaze when he saw Satou.
"Ah- Saiki-kun! Fancy meeting you here." Satou was wearing a purple hoodie. Kind of out of breath and wearing his casual smile. "I'm waiting for Teruhashi-san, you?" Saiki was confused. He's waiting for Teruhashi too?
"I'm the same." He managed to respond. He hated to actually speak but the germanium ring was blocking him to speak telepathically. He didn't want to be rude and not speak as well. He fiddled with the germanium ring, should he take it off? But it's so busy as of right now... Maybe he'll take it off only everytime he needed to speak. Yeah that'll work.
"Huh?" Satou was also confused. Then a notification ping came from the both of them. It was from Teruhashi.
"You guys already met eachother right??? Have fun with Satou-kun, Saiki-kun! Remember to checklist everything on that list!!" was the message that Saiki read.
"Actually I kinda tricked you, Satou-kun. I apologise. But please have fun with Saiki-kun! He actually really wanted to hang out with you but he was shy so that's why I pretended to be the one you were hanging out with. Have fun, Satou-kun!" was the message Satou received. Both of their arms flung down and then looked at eachother. They both got played. It was silent, both processing the situation.
"Did you get the uh... message from Teruhashi-san as well?" Satou muttered, Saiki nodded. Silence.
Another few seconds. "Well, since we're aleady here... let's go out on... a...." Is it... a date? A hangout?
Saiki didn't hesitate anymore, not letting him finish his sentence. He grasps Satou's wrist, pulling him into the mall. Saiki snapped open his sheet of papers with the list of activities he has to do. His motivation? Five large coffee jellies. If the past him could talk to him right now, he would be yelling and pulling himself away from Satou. He had VOWED not to break his normalcy! But... he's still human afterall. He still has emotions. Wants that his heart can't take alone. The black haired boy just followed the pull and matched up to his pace. He peered over and saw the list. Satou chuckled. He looked so prepared it was cute. Matching outfits too. Did he plan all of this? Maybe Saiki actually really wanted to be friends. Teruhashi really was the best for setting them up was what Satou thought about. Satou never truly realised that both of them weren't thinking about friendship at this moment. No, something much more.
Arcade. Yes. Arcade should be first, Saiki thought. Do the most loudest ones first so he can avoid it for the last moments. Satou gleamed in excitement, the flickering lights enticing him. "Let's try the claw machines!!" Satou, the one that was initially being pulled on, now pulling Saiki towards the claw machines full of big plushies and teddies. Saiki never liked this machine. Well, he never liked arcades much but especially these machines. They just waste money and you don't get the stuff. But since Satou was so exhilarated, he followed along. They exhanged some money for coins then went to the claw machines. Their grasp on eachother loosened as Satou directs his attention to a claw machine with small pastel boxes.
"Alright, let's do this!" Satou cracks his fingers and sticks out his tongue a little in concentration. Which Saiki adored. Satou slotted the coins, the claw hovering over a pink box and missing everytime. He stays insistent, groaning a bit every time he fails and hitting the machine a little in frustration. Saiki had a fleeting thought that if Satou wanted, he could get all of the boxes in that machine if he asked to. But of course not. Instead, he takes off his germanium ring. Even if the noise cam aringing, noise from machines now flowing in with people's thoughts. It was so noisy. Saiki winces in slight pain but he forced to shrug it off.
"Ah... let's just go, we won't get anything.." Satou pessimestically said after losing 24 times.
"Just do this last one." Saiki answered, like an order. Seeing the determintation and the trust Saiki had "given" him with those eyes, he excitedly nodded and tries it for the last time. The claw goes the direction in which direction the joystick was moving. He's sticking his tongue out again in concentration. He was going to fail. That claw never had any intention of taking the box but Saiki forcefully made the claw close in and two boxes risen from the pile. His psychic powers then released when it was supposed to. Satou gasped in delight and rushed to get the two boxes. Saiki put is germanium ring again, sighin in relief as the volume descreased. A pink and black one. "Oh my god! We got it!" He smiles brightly up at Saiki and Saiki swore his breath got stolen. The world stopped when Satou smiled at him. He wanted to be selfish. To take Satou away for himself. That smile only for him. Only him that could provide Satou happiness. Even without realising, his hands are already drifting upwards, aiming for Satou's face but when his hand is midway there, he realises. His hand redirects to the boxes and takes the black one.
"Oh you want that one? Let's open it together!" Satou suggested then they opened the box together and revealed cute little keychains. They looked like the ones that were probably 10 yen at a downtown store. The one in the pink box had a rubber creature attached to it. The pink matched Saiki's hair. Whilst the black one had a rubber creature as well that matched Satou's hair. Both of them looked ugly. Like, really ugly. Like if it were to accidentally get into the washing machine it would instantly get destroyed. The black one was far worse so Satou offered to just change.
"You wanna change the keychains? Black suits me better anyways. And the pink one matches your pink hair!"
"...No, I want the black one." Saiki responded stoicly (telepathically, taking the ring off just to respond)
"Oh- uhm... alright." Satou smiled cheerfully. He put the keychain on the strap of his bag. After it stuck on, he jinggled the bag around a little. The ugly creature reminded him so much of Saiki. Just by the color palette alone and maybe the memories that came along with it.
"Is there any machines that you wanna try?" Satou asked.
He shook his head but he offered that they still have a few coins left. Satou took that as an invitation to use it for other machines. Mostly, it was him doing the machines as everytime Saiki would reject the idea but still watched Satou enjoying it. Satou realised that he wasn't a fan of these.
"Aren't you bored? You're not playing any of the machines."
Saiki just shook his head. Calmly still looking at Satou. But Satou just... didn't feel right having all the fun.
"Well actually, let's just do something else. Anything you got in mind?"
Saiki looked back to the list, pointing to ice skating on the list. Satou nodded to the idea.
Satou had falled off the 6th time in the range of just 10 minutes of being in the rink. Saiki wasn't perfect as well, clinging onto the wall. He had disabled his powers so he can't just "float" on the ice and he's never done this before. It was embarrassing. To not be able do anything once his psychic powers were disabled. Even more so, that whenever Saiki tried to take a step forward, his legs would tremble and the clench on the wall around the rink was so visible and strong. Satou would chuckle even if his own butt is on the ice. He frowns a little, trying to mask his embarrassment. Satou tries to get up and also cling on the wall.
"Sorry- sorry, it's just funny!" He apologises while still chuckling at Saiki. Satou falls down again with a soft hiss before going back to his smile. Saiki slid and extended his hand. This was a bad idea. Satou took his hand and pulling himself up but instead of standing up, Satou accidentally pulls Saiki down. They collided into eachother. Satou looking up at the towering Saiki. Saiki's arms caged him in and his legs in the spaces between Satou's legs. It hurt a lot but the feeling of embarrassment and shyness took over everything. They were so close. So close to eachother. Satou swore he could feel Saiki's cold breath on his face. They stayed there for a few seconds but to both of them, it felt like time had stopped. Saiki got to see those hazel eyes up close, admiring him the same. Their moment was disturbed by an instructor. "Are you two okay?"
Saiki instantly stood up. Like he sprung up, suddenly knowing how to stand properly in skates due to the adrenaline coursing through his body. Satou, on the other hand, tried to brush it away and just laughed it off. "It's my first time ice skating so I don't really know how to do this, haha... Could you help me up, sir?"
"Of course." The (male) instructor also cheerily responded and extended both of his arms and successfully helped up Satou. The way they're both laughing and that the man can help Satou up whilst Saiki couldn't made Saiki clench his fists. He was supposed to be the one Satou leaned on. They continued conversating which made Saiki even more annoyed. He suddenly grabbed Satou's wrists and gently pulled his grasp away from the other man. Without another word, he started walking on ice to outside of the rink. Satou was obviously confused but then when he looked back to the rink, the other man had already skated away. Saiki wasn't saying anything so Satou peered over to see Saiki's expression. It was spite. Annoyed. ...Jealousy?
Saiki let go of Satou's wrist, just realising the fit of rage he just displayed. He took off the germanium ring.
"Let's just go somewhere else. I don't think we're fit for this."
Satou observed how his expressions were kind of conflicting. Eyes darting everywhere and brows furrowed. He really was... jealous. For some reason, Satou found this adorable. Found it amusing. So he nods to the suggestion.
"Lead the way, Saiki-kun!"
2 more things to get done... Saiki realises on the way to a photobooth, Satou was eyeing some restaurants.
"Do you want to eat, Satou-kun?" He stopped in his tracks and tilts his head as he asks the question.
"Oh yeah! Sure! What do you have in mind?"
"You can choose."
"No, I want to know what you like as well!"
"Please choose, Satou-kun." This went back and forth for a while until they decided to go to a restaurant Satou wants. It was a ramen restaurant. It'd giving Saiki flashbacks to his friend group hangouts. They just go to any ramen shop in the streets and the place usually has bad furnishments but at least the food was good. Whereas, in the mall, the ramen restaurant was clean and aesthetic. Of course, it comes along with pricier ramen. It's not like he'd eat this often, just try it. He thinks. Satou picked up the menu as they were on the counter line. Satou closes the distance between them so that Saiki could read the menu as well. Saiki held his breath and tried his best to look at the menu. He scanned for each flavour and price and landed on the lowest price as possible. In these types of restaurants, they offer free refill so Saiki decided it's better if it's just one cup. As Saiki suggests that, Satou's mind instantly went into the gutter.
I-I-Indirect kiss! One cup means an indirect kiss! He hesitated. Should he just buy another cup or... just share...? Oh! I know! I'll just keep track on where he puts his lips so I don't.... but why does it matter, it's not like it's an actual kiss. He shakes his head, trying to get those thoughts of his head and just approved with a nod. They sat down. It was total silence. Saiki's mind was actually not thinking about a lot of things. Just like... the time and worrying a little about how Satou would go back to his house at night. Should he get a taxi? Hm...
Satou felt uncomfortable with the silence however. He tried to bring up topics and a question slips out. "Do you have anyone you're interested in?" Which caught BOTH of them off guard. Saiki averted his eyes away, trying to think of an answer. He doesn't even know himself. He slowly slides out the germanium ring and looks back to Satou.
"Satou-kun, what do you consider as interested in?"
"Uhm..." That question got him thinking. Right, it's not just romantic interest that occurs in this world. "Like you want to really know about that someone else. Their hobbies, their likes and dislikes and you'll uhm imagine scenarios where you did find out about them."
"Hm... then what do you like, Satou-kun?" Saiki was as nonchalant as usual. Satou was confused. What did this mean? By him asking me what I like after I explained that was one of the main components of being interested in someone, does that mean he's interested in me?
Saiki hearing this going through Satou's mind made him curse himself. He was too bold. He wasn't thinking this through. He was about to take it back but then he saw the flushed expression from Satou. Eyes looking down but full of glimmer, pouted lips trying to speak an ounce of any words available and his hands on the table, fidgeting. Gosh. He was adorable. Saiki tries to regulate his breathing as Satou answered his question.
"I like uhm... Peach Tea and... reading Jump oftentimes. Oh! My favorite band is ONE OK ROCK. I'm sure you've heard of it, Saiki-kun. I like playing games mostly with my friends and reading books." These were all the things Saiki had already knew but it put a smile on his face everytime. He was SO regular. So normal. If he asked him what he usually does everyday, it'd probably be an average thing as well.
"And... I like hanging out with you." Was not the speech Saiki knew beforehand. He winced and the thoughts came rushing back. I've made him not normal. No. No. Shit. He avoids Satou's eye contact which hurt him a little bit. He was expecting Saiki to say the same. Did he not have fun in this hangout?
"Well... let's eat!" He says as he tries to cut this weird tension in between them.
Oh how I wish I could tell you that I love hanging out with you too, Satou.
Saiki forces himself to get to that photobox. He wanted to get out of this mall soon. Like... as fast as possible. It's hard to breathe when Satou's around. It's like he might go to a cardiac arrest. There was one side of him that wanted to stop this, stop letting his feelings lead his actions. Satou's life is becoming abnormal. Being friends with him would make his life suffocating. He needs to distance... but he can't help but get addicted to his smile, his laughter, the stupid way he trips on air every now and then.
Let's just finish this and go home. Do the photobooth and listen to the music concert that's already started downstairs and being echoed throughout the whole mall through speakers.
Satou's mind however was hyper aware of the distance kept between them and it was small. So small that sometimes some skin brushed against eachother. Saiki didn't notice but Satou did. There was quiet between the two of them. They arrived to the photobooth and it was surrounded by couples or groups of girl friends. Long story short, they went into the photobooth. It was kind of cramped but it had enough space. Satou was smile-y again while Saiki remained the same. A sharp contrast between the two boys.
"Saiki-kun, smile~!" Satou giggled trying to get it out of him after the 3rd take of the photobooth. As expected, he didn't smile but he looked at Satou as if he was the most beautiful person in the world. It held on for two takes before he looked back to the camera and the corners of his lips turned upright for the last shot. Satou was caught slightly off guard but he was happy to know Saiki was happy. He rushed out Saiki by tapping hurriedly on Saiki's shoulder, gently nudging him outside. The machine prints it out, two strips with 3 photos in each strip. Satou immediately took the one where Saiki was smiling and gave the other strip to Saiki. He gladly accepted it and looked at the photos. He was never photogenic... He sighs in disappointment but when he raises his head, he sees Satou grinning ear-to-ear as he looks at the photobooth photos. The disappointment faded away and they headed to their last destination which was the live music concert.
Upon arrival, it was Satou's favorite band ONE OK ROCK cover by a live singer and he instantly gasps in excitement.
He jams to the music, bobbing his head and humming along to the song. Saiki on the other hand was getting overstimulated by the sounds and he tries to mask it. Satou, however, sees the frown on Saiki's eyebrows. He tugs on Saiki's sleeve, bending down a little to place his mouth next to Saiki's ears.
"Let's get out of here!"
Saiki blinks a few times. Why? We just got here. His approximity is intoxicating and if not controlled, Saiki could probably accidentally make a huge hole through the mall's floors right about now.
"I'm suddenly not in the mood. Oh! I want some ice cream!" Satou tugged him away from the concert and he just follows along. They go to a small ice cream store booth and Satou orders vanilla while Saiki orders chocolate. They eat it happily. Satou was licking the ice cream while Saiki actually took small bites.
"Wanna try mine?" Satou offers. Saiki takes the cone from him and eats a little. Well, it's vanilla alright.
"I want yours as well." Saiki didn't get the time to react before Satou also takes a small bite of the chocolate, some of it stained on his nose which was kind of cute. Saitou giggled, "It's good!"
Saiki wiped away the chocolate ice cream on his nose with a tissue and that made Satou's heart skip a beat. Well of course he was considerate. All of this felt so cliche. But Satou couldn't help but be super happy spending time with Saiki. It was now nighttime and the moon was shining a crescent. It was beautiful. Just as beautiful as how the white glow of the moon reflected on Satou's skin. This was their goodbye now. Their "Hangout" had finished and they both needed to go home.
"I had a lovely time." Only Satou's voice could be heard in the exit gates. The wind rustling and the occasional honks of cars.
"Me too." Saiki responded after taking off the ring.
"Uhm... see you tomorrow at school?" Satou smiled happily, the keychain of the ugly creature swinging gently.
He nods before asking, "You're walking home?"
"No, I'll be taking a taxi." Satou responded to which Saiki nodded in acknowledgement.
"Stay safe."
"You too, Saiki-kun."
He disappeared out fo sight after getting in a taxi. Saiki went to a secluded place and instantly teleported home. He then used clairvoyance to check up on Satou, making sure he got home safe and sound. He stayed that way for a couple of minutes and stopped after seeing Satou being warmly greeted by his family. Now, Saiki's vision was his home's ceiling. The door creaked open and entered his mother.
"Kusuo-kun, welcome back home."
"Hmm." He answered. His mother knew the happiness in his stoic face. She smiles seeing him happy tonight.
"Already eat? We still have dinner downstairs." She offers, he shakes his head.
"Still full, mom. Thank you."
"Alright then. Have a good night."
"You too, mom."
The responses were sweet and short. Something quite rare from Saiki. He would usually be distant and kind of mean but today's definitely lifted up his mood. He opens up his bag and looks at the photobooth strip and ugly keychain and actually chuckled. A sound never heard from him before. He continues to think about the black haired boy he's so sick in love with. He doesn't fully accept it as love even if we all knew it is. Infatuation, romance and attraction were things Saiki aren't familiar with. But he would give it all for that boy.
Satou Hitoshi.