Chapter Text
My name is Kusuo Saiki, and I am attempting to escape my high school graduation.
We left off halfway through my disastrous graduation ceremony, where movie star Makoto Teruhashi was running amok in the middle of student speeches.
I wish I could say it ended civilly… however, nothing is civil when it comes to him.
He was arrested and carried off by police, but not before he was asked for his autograph. By my parents.
Good grief.
The rest of the ceremony was spent giving speeches that no one would remember, and many didn’t even listen to.
Finally, finally, we got our certificates and were able to leave.
Until we were stopped by the meandering crowd outside.
Hundreds of strangers mingling, laughing and celebrating the graduation of our class.
Now I should point out. I’m not a hater by any means.
However – I do hate people in my space. In my face. Or anywhere near me, really. Especially when there is a risk my parents will invite people over to celebrate if we’re stuck in this crowd for too long.
Best I leave. And quickly.
I stand in the doorway to the lobby and the front courtyard, starting forlornly out at the gates through which I might escape this hell of small talk and gossip.
It seems in the hurry everyone was in to escape the hall, I managed to lose Nendo and Kaidou, and my parents. Thank goodness.
Using my telepathy, I keep tabs on where Teruhashi is. It isn’t hard to tell, the thoughts surrounding her are almost as loud as the crowd around us.
She has been in great distress since her brother was arrested. But, of course, she can’t show that.
Whatever. Like I care.
I turn my attention away from the other side of the courtyard, and glance around the crowd.
I’m looking for both an opening to escape, and a path that will avoid the biggest nuisances of my school life.
I’d managed to shake Kaidou – who I could hear nearby, embarrassingly talking about his grades with his family. Judging from the angry thoughts of Mrs. Kaidou, she is less than impressed with her son’s performance. If only she knew how bad they really were.
Nendo was nowhere to be seen, but that was even more worrying. I couldn’t hear him in this crowd, even if he had thoughts to read. The fact I didn’t have a visual on him was worrying, but I’d have to deal with it if he caught me before I could make my escape.
I can see Kuboyasu and a criminal speaking near the gates, the crowd around giving them scared looks.
The criminal looking man smiles, and it changes his face completely, sending a jolt of recognition through me. The resemblance is uncanny. That man must be Kuboyasu’s dad.
Good grief, he really does come from a criminal family.
Not that it matters to me. All I care about is leaving. And they’re a potential roadblock.
Now you may ask, Saiki, why don’t you just teleport?
And that is a good question. The reason I don’t teleport here is, I would be seen.
Oh but can’t you just go back inside and find a spot to teleport out of?
No.
My parents are still inside.
I can hear them, talking to some of the parents of other students from my class.
If they were to see me, my mother would surely slip up about something to do with my powers, as she always does. And in a crowd this size, changing their memories would be almost impossible. And certainly a big pain.
There is also the possibility of my turning invisible, however that only works so long as no one touches me, and, in this sea of people, that would also be completely impossible.
No. I have to do this the old fashioned way.
By running through as fast as possible!
Now it may be an unconventional method, but you see, crowds like this are run mostly by a hive mind. Most normal people, when in a large crowd, would make way for a person moving at a high velocity through the masses.
However, I horribly overestimated the normalcy of these people.
I lament my shortsightedness as my body slams into someone heavy and oblivious.
Nendo?
No, wait.
Mera.
Damn it.
“Mph! Huh? Ooohhhss its Saiki!”
How is she still drunk on simple fruit juice? Oh crap. Her shouting is going to get the attention of others.
The thoughts of others around us grow louder, and to my horror, I can hear focus turning to us.
Not good.
I turn to run – this time in the direction of the side of the school – but hit another wall.
Or in this case, another person.
Nendo.
“Hey buddy! Me and the little guy were just looking for you!”
I spot Kaidou behind him, looking chagrin. His mother must have embarrassed him. I don’t see her or any of the other parents – including my own, much to my relief – behind him. But that doesn’t mean they won’t swoop around any second.
“Something wrong? Oh! Are we hiding from someone!?”
Ah, Nendo’s voice is so loud. It’s sure to bring attention to us.
I glance around, taking note of everyone’s changed positions using my telepathy. With Nendo in front of me, there is no one who’s position I don’t know now.
Teruhashi is still a ways off, a crowd of her fans around her, good.
Kuboyasu and his punk dad are close, but they haven’t noticed us yet. I’d prefer not to have to confront either of them with Nendo in toe… who knows what kind of punk-fight off they might have. That would draw far too much attention.
It seems everyone else are still inside, including my parents.
But- what’s this?
Oh crap.
Teruhashi’s seen us.
‘Oh its Saiki! This is my chance to change his life! I’ll pretend to drop my highschool diploma and as I go to grab it, I’ll fall into him! It will be an accidental hug! Though, not completely accidental since I planned it! But he won’t know!’
Its no use, I have to make a break from it.
I point into a blank spot in the air.
Nendo and Kaidou lacking in grey matter look up where I point, and I sense Teruhashi glance upwards as well.
Using all my will power, I teleport myself outside the school gates, and into a bush. I crouch quickly, not wanting anyone else to see me from the outside.
“What was that buddy- hey wait! Woahhh! Cool trick. Where’d he go?”
“S-saiki?! It must have been Dark Reunion! They’ve taken him- Oh hey Teruhashi! Y-you look amazing”
“Huh? Where is Saiki! He was just here!”
“It must have been Dark Reunion! Quick, it isn’t safe out here. I’ll lead you to the safehouse!”
“Wait for me! I’ll help protect Teruhashi!”
I can hear Teruhashi’s voice fade as the other two lead her away from the school gates.
Good grief. I know I give them both a lot of flak, but sometimes they come in handy.
Now, while I have the chance, I’ll be taking my leave.
I use the cover of the bushes around me to teleport myself home unseen. Straight into my bed. Freshly showered and in my pjs.
What? You expected me to do that myself? I’m a psychic. Of course I can make myself comfortable in a matter of seconds.
Ah, finally, I can read my favourite manga…