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Coming here was Teru’s idea.
It was a lazy Friday after school when Teru burst into the Awakening Lab, announcing his plan to bring everyone on an outing to a forest outside the city.
Mitsuura coughed politely, telling him about how he’s too old to do taxing physical activities like that and how he already had prior engagements due to ‘adult responsibilities. Neither Asahi nor the others could come up with an excuse quick and convincing enough to save their lives, and that was their downfall. “The physical activities and the fresh air will do wonders in strengthening your psychic abilities,” Teru insisted until everyone relented. He said the experience would so good for their ability to work as a team, and Asahi admitted, he already felt the team solidarity of why am I doing this.
And now, he also had a sneaking suspicion Teru was leading through the scenic route to their destination (“Come on, we’re almost there!” he said a bit too cheerfully for what seemed like the fiftieth time. He didn’t admit as annoying as it was, his chipper attitude was refreshing). It probably shouldn’t have taken them until dusk to arrive at the campsite, considering that they set out in the afternoon. By the time they arrived Asahi felt his feet dying on him, and he thought he heard one of the Shiratori brothers heaving from the back.
They finally set up camp near a stream, with perfect view of the sky. The sky, he noted, was much clearer here than if it was back in the city. The red and violet looked straight out of a painting. If it wasn’t for the bugs and fatigue dampening his mood, it would have been beautiful. The kind of beautiful that he would written cheesy romantic poems about if he was a poet, but he’s not, so humanity might as well has lost an important piece of literary work.
Asahi admitted, he might had been a little annoyed by this whole surprise camping trip.
A laughter interrupted his train of thoughts. Looking over his shoulder, he stared to where Teru was talking to Rei. He must have said something flattering to her, judging by her reddening face. It’s not like he has anything against either of them, really, but there was still that strange, wrenching feeling in his gut from witnessing the two. He’s just really uncomfortable with seeing people’s awkward flirting.
Still, curiosity got the best of him so he decided to shift a bit and listen in to their conversation.
“--really, we could’ve wandered for much longer if you hadn’t said anything.”
“I sensed we were way off course even earlier, but I thought you were planning it all along so…”
“I was planning it, but I didn’t take into account you would have used your powers. That was smart, by the way.”
This guy. So Teru’s plan was for them to spend even more time walking through the forest? Asahi reminded himself to treat Rei some MobDonalds later for saving everyone from that fate.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hoshino waving to him, one hand pointing at a stack of wood near his feet. “Hey Asahi! I’m done with collecting firewood, you come light these up!”
“You didn’t need to tell me,” he grumbled, rising to his feet.
As he was heading towards the stack of kindling, he saw Teru staring at him from the corner of his eye. That weird feeling in the gut came back.
Nevermind that. He crouched and held his hands up at both sides of the stack. A spark exploded between his palms. Another one, this one materializing into a small flame, growing to the size of his fist. He kept his hands steadied. His flame-like aura surrounded the fire as it moved along the stack, growing and shrinking at his command, eventually settling at what he perceived as a good enough fire for a camp.
A pair of shoes moved into his field of vision. He lifted his head nervously. Teru’s small approving smile, plus the way the fire danced in the reflection of his eyes might as well have put Asahi himself on fire.
“That's new. You haven't shown that to me yet.”
“Pfft.” Asahi wiped at the sweat on his neck. It sure was getting hot out here. “It wasn’t really that big of a deal. You should have seen all the other cool stuff I could do.”
“Yeah, sure.” Teru grinned. “Nice job though. Good control.”
“Thanks,” he said simply, for lack of better words. The warmth climbed up his arm And maybe his ears and a part of his face felt a bit warm too. If it wasn’t the fire doing that, it must have been the nerves.
Hold on, why was he nervous again? It wasn’t like he had to do anything especially challenging by starting that fire. There’s no reason to be intimidated by doing something he’s pretty much an expert at by now, and he's certainly not nervous of Teru, who he had known for months.
He was too tired to get too much into it, so he let it go and thought of dinner instead.
_
There was some mercy left in Teru’s heart, with him letting everyone retire early instead of continuing straight to training like he planned earlier. Still, Asahi was still too tired to feel well-rested when he rose awake in the morning. That and the added pain of how sore his limbs felt. Joy.
He glanced to the watch next to him. 6:17 a.m. Still too early for this. He closed his eye in hope of going back to sleep, before a growl coming from his side startled him from his stupor.
He opened his eyes. Hoshino. Snoring. He wasn't going to tolerate that.
He put on his hoodie, stepping outside the tent to be greeted by the cool air. Most the campsite was dark aside from the dim lights coming from the tents. The campfire has long since died out, with only embers remaining among the charred wood. He started a fire with his pyrokinesis, trying to hold it for long enough to be a good source of light.
It still took a while for his eyes to adjust to the dark. But eventually, he saw the figure not far from where he was. At the edge of the camp, Teru was there sitting on a stump with his back hunched. From here, he looked… aged. Older than a person his age should look like, a far cry from the condescendingly cheerful boy who had dragged them to a camping trip right after school, the boy who showed up last week and promising that they can grow together.
Asahi tried to step into his periphary vision, taking care not to startle him (he has seen what those air whips can do and he'd rather not be a target). He coughed to announce his presence, but that went unnoticed too.
He tried again. “You’re up early, Teru-san. The sun’s not even out yet.”
Teru blinked, looking up at Asahi like he just noticed he was there. He looked dazed for a moment, and the dark circles under his eyes looked more prominent from here.
And then the moment is over.
His back straightened, his smile slipping back so naturally it's almost like they never left at all. "I could've said the same to you, Asahi-kun."
He shrugged. "I share a tent with Hoshino. What's your excuse?"
“Fair enough.”
That didn’t answer his question. “What about you, though? You look like you didn’t sleep at all.”
"Who else is going to keep watch if not me?" he said, his smile looking less of a mask of confidence and turning more into something more sardonic.
Asahi was also about to ask keep watch for whom, before remembering the incident from months ago, and how Teru might be the only one here who’s capable of defending them from another esper group like Claw. That and the possibility bears. "Fair enough,” he echoed.
Teru seemed happy that Asahi was agreeing with him. Still, it didn’t sit well enough for him.
“H-hey, wanna do something while everyone's still asleep?"
Teru raised an eyebrow at him. "Such as?"
“I don’t know, maybe it’s a bit early for training.” He could suggest sparring, but it was also too early to get his ass kicked. He offered Teru his hand instead. “Just… something? You could show me some of the things you learned to do with your powers. Bet you have some neat tricks up your sleeve. I already showed you mine.”
Teru stared at his hand for a long time, long enough to make him sweat. Just when he was about to maybe awkwardly pull it back, Teru took it and pushed himself up to his feet.
“Sounds good to me.”