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Something was wrong today and Saiki knew it.
It was after school and Saiki was already at his shoe locker, Nendo hounding him to go for ramen already. He was used to Nendo’s antics, but today, Kaidou was missing from said group.
Saiki took a glance around, ignoring the badgering of “hey, partner, hey, let's go for Ramen,” and noticed Kaidou was already walking past them, head low and ignoring the two. His thoughts, usually loud and cutting through the crowd, were soft and blending in with everyone else's.
Saiki usually didn't want to get involved with other’s business and glad there were less annoyances, but Nendo was already strolling up to him, arms wrapping around his shoulders.
“Hey runt, let’s go for some ramen!”
Saiki was close enough to Kaidou to hear his thoughts more clearly now.
Shoot I was trying to avoid this.
“I can't today, I'm a bit busy…” He shrugged off Nendo and walked away as fast as he could.
“Aw too bad! It'll just be us, how ‘bout it partner?” Nendo said, turning around to face a now-vanished Saiki. “Huh? Partner?”
Good grief. Saiki thought, trailing behind Kaidou invisible. I wonder what he's up to.
Kaidou walked the usual path to his house, a path they all had walked a few times to hang out sometime. He seemed to slow down from his previous near-sprint out of the school. The thoughts of the others were still too loud to hear Kaidou’s quiet thoughts, but Saiki picked up a few words here and there.
Saiki, no way, friendship, someone like me.
Saiki’s ears pricked up at his name and he strained his telepathy to try and hear the rest. Eventually, the laughter and thoughts from the school trailed off and Kaidou was left alone with an invisible Saiki. Kaidou sighed, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes and his face getting redder.
There’s really no way Saiki would want to be friends with me. He only hangs out with me because Nendo keeps inviting me against his will. He's much better off without me. Kaidou’s thoughts continuously went through the same ideas and he sighed.
Really. Saiki thought. He shouldn't be assuming things about people.
Suddenly, Saiki had an idea. He hid behind a wall where no one would see him and beamed an idea into Kaidou’s head.
The bench.
The bench? Kaidou thought, eyeing a bench a few meters away, nestled among tall walls and a vending machine. Oh yeah, my legs are feeling a bit weary. Maybe I'll rest there for a few minutes.
Saiki took his brief break as a chance to search through his pocket. He found 200 yen and used it to apport the towel he knew Kaidou carried in his bag. It felt a bit damp in his hands and he reluctantly placed it in his bag.
Okay. Now him. Saiki turned visible again and turned the corner to walk to the bench Kaidou was sitting on. His eyes seemed glossy and out-of-focus and his thoughts were racing.
Really though? Why would he want to be friends with me? His eyes snapped to Saiki when he heard him approaching him. What could he want with me?
“Oh, hey Saiki. I thought you were going for ramen with Nendo?” Kaidou didn't meet his eyes as Saiki moved to sit down beside Kaidou. He reached into his bag and pulled out the towel. “Oh, did I forget this somewhere? Thanks for bringing it.”
He just wanted to return this to me. Of course he didn't just come to see me.
Saiki nodded, curious about where these types of thoughts were coming from. He pointed at the vending machine.
‘Want something to drink?’ He asked, pulling out some more change from his pocket.
Is Saiki saying he wants to sit with me here?
“Sure, just a tea.” Kaidou moved to give some money to Saiki but he shook his head and bought the drinks.
He handed the tea to Kaidou and sat down beside him with his own. Saiki wasn't sure how to handle this. Usually, when someone had a problem, he ignored it or fixed it with telepathy. He had no idea how to help Kaidou without revealing he had been spying on his thoughts.
“Thanks,” he said, finally looking into Saiki’s eyes. Kaidou seemed to be cheering up a bit, but his thoughts remained as bleak.
Saiki shook his head internally. He pointed down the path Kaidou was walking to, which Kaidou seemed to understand.
“You want to come to my house? Well, sure I suppose. Isn't Nendo waiting for you though?”
‘I told him I had plans,’ He answered, standing up and stretching a hand to Kaidou. Although that wasn't true, Nendo was probably still searching for him, but that was a problem for another day.
He blew off Nendo to hang out with me?
Kaidou took the hand and stood up, holding onto the hand for a few more seconds before letting go. Saiki smiled to himself, happy to know that Kaidou was understanding a bit more.
Well of course anyone would blow off that idiot.
Welp, there goes that idea.
The two walked to Kaidou’s house in relative silence. A few birds flew overhead but the walled pathway blocked any other sounds. They arrived at his house and Saiki pondered ways to help Kaidou understand that they were friends.
Telling him straight would make him suspicious. Planning some get-together with everyone might make him think I invited him as an afterthought. Good grief. This is difficult.
Kaidou unlocked the door and let Saiki in first. The two took off their shoes and headed into Kaidou’s room. The two sat down on the floor at the small table in his room.
“Do you want anything to drink?” Kaidou asked him and Saiki shook his head. He tapped his fingers on the table before pulling out a few pieces of paper. “Want to work on the homework together? We can get it done faster that way,”
Saiki took out his own homework and moved nearer Kaidou. He couldn't finish the homework in a matter of seconds like he usually does, so he was forced to slow down and pretend to be thinking about the questions. Kaidou’s thoughts were still racing as he tried to do his homework.
I hope I'm not boring him, I didn't expect him to want to come over today. Did he even want to do homework? Maybe he wanted to go somewhere.
It was about two minutes before Saiki cleared his throat to try to ignore them, interrupting the stream of negative thoughts. Kaidou looked at Saiki and down at his work.
“Oh, did you need help? You could just ask me. English is one of my better subjects.” Saiki wanted to make Kaidou feel good about himself, so he let him sit beside him. He started pointing out the various grammar points and the sentences, translating them to Japanese to try and help Saiki.
“There! Understand it a bit better now?” Saiki nodded and gave him a thumbs up, expression not changing one bit. Kaidou beamed at him and went back to his own homework, his mind actually focusing on it now. Saiki smiled and continued his work.
The sun was still shining brightly when the two finished their homework. Kaidou put down his pencil and stretched.
“Have you finished, Saiki?” Saiki nodded. “You've been here for awhile now. Do you need to go home soon?” He sounded slightly dejected asking that.
Saiki shook his head. Not that he could tell Kaidou, but he could teleport home, and he frequently left Japan to travel thousands of miles away.
“Well, would you want to watch a movie? I have a few in the living room.”
‘What do you have?’ The two stood up and he followed Kaidou to the living room. Kaidou pointed to the shelf beside the television which held the movies.
I wonder what movie he’ll pick. Hopefully nothing too scary. Not for me, I mean! I just don't want Saiki to get scared walking home alone!
Saiki picked the goriest-looking movie he could find and handed it to Kaidou. He tried to hold his laughter as Kaidou made a disgusted face but he put the movie in anyway. Saiki sat on the couch and Kaidou came to sit beside him. Saiki didn't particularly like movies, especially since he was spoiled for nearly every one of them, but he made an exception today.
For Kaidou. He told himself.
10 minutes into the movie, the first victim was already murdered. Knowing every twist beforehand made Saiki not even flinch when any jumpscares occurred, but his friend beside him was freaking out internally and externally.
He just got murdered! Look at all that blood! I'm gonna be sick! Ahh! What was that!? Kaidou thought, covering his eyes with his hands.
Maybe this was too harsh. Saiki thought, a bit guilty but still laughing at Kaidou.
“Hey! Don't laugh! You would be s-scared too if you knew that this is what the Dark Reunion did to people they don't like!” Kaidou said, trying to shirk away from more violence happening on screen.
‘You can turn it off if you're scared.’
“No it's fine!” Sweat was running down his face already and he looked like he was about to cry. Saiki gave him a pointed look. “Really! I've watched this a hundred times! I know exactly what is going to happen-”
He screams when he sees the killer appear and wraps his arms around Saiki. He stutters an apology before sitting straight up.
Damn! I just accidentally hugged Saiki when I got scared! It did kind of calm me down though… Kaidou thought, a slight blush gracing his face. He peeked at him from the corner of his eyes and noticed Saiki was staring back. His eyes shot straight back to the movie.
Shit! He just caught me staring at him! Now he probably really doesn't want to be friends with the guy that holds him and stares at him! His mind raced and he tried to focus on the movie, clenching his hands.
Saiki thought about it for a second before inching closer to Kaidou, stretching his arm behind his shoulders, and pulling his head to rest on his shoulder.
‘Is this okay? You seemed to be less frightened like this.’ Saiki stared at the television. Kaidou looked up at him, surprised, before nodding and wrapping his arm around Saiki’s torso.
I didn't know he had a sensitive side. Kaidou buried his face a little deeper into Saiki’s shoulder, breath ghosting his uniform shirt. Everytime more gore appeared on screen or the killer showed, Kaidou took it as an opportunity to hide his face in Saiki’s shoulder and squeeze his midsection just a bit tighter.
Good grief. If he really didn't like horror, he could have just said. Secretly, Saiki was gloating, being able to make Kaidou feel safe.
When the movie ended an hour later, the sun was on the verge of setting. Neither of them wanted to move from their positions and he heard Kaidou’s stream of consciousness.
Should I move? Should I put on another movie? It's getting late, does he need to leave soon? It is Friday, not like we need to get up early tomorrow. What if he doesn't want to hang out with me more and I'm just keeping him here because he feels bad?
‘Should we put on another movie?’ Saiki asked, not wanting him to spiral into more depressing thoughts again. Kaidou reluctantly released Saiki and went to look through the movies.
“Okay but I'm picking it this time! No one should have to watch what horrible things the Dark Reunion does to people again!”
Seems like he's back to his old self. Saiki checked the time - just past 6. His parents wouldn't be worrying about him, he snuck off to use the bathroom earlier and teleported home to tell his mom he'd be late. She was more than excited to have her ‘Kuu-chan’ finally stay at a friend’s house.
Saiki will love this one! It's a comedy. Although I never really see him laugh… Maybe I could change that. Before Kaidou could hit play, his stomach growled loud.
“Heh, I haven't really eaten since lunch. Are you hungry too?” He asked, walking over to the kitchen. Saiki followed him. He didn't eat much, not really needing food, but Kaidou might get suspicious if he skipped dinner, so he shrugged.
“I don't have much, but the convenience store isn't too far if you want to get some snacks there?” Saiki just nodded and they started to walk to the store.
Arriving at the store, Kaidou bought a bag of chips for the two of them and some candy, and Saiki eyed a coffee jelly that was there. Kaidou noticed him looking at it and offered to buy it for him, as repayment for the tea earlier.
The walk back to the house was uneventful and quiet. Saiki noticed Kaidou’s thoughts were no longer worried about whether or not him and Saiki were friends, just what they were going to do later that night. The occasional negative thought passed into his mind, but Kaidou was easily ignoring it. Saiki bristled proudly. Even he would admit that he was enjoying Kaidou’s company. When he wasn't doing his usual “Dark Reunion” shtick, he was actually pretty fun to hang around with.
Inside, Kaidou lay all the food on the coffee table and started the movie. He sat back down next to Saiki, who was enjoying his coffee jelly, before focusing on the television.
Shoot, if it's not a horror movie, I don't have a reason to sit like that with Saiki again. He deflated a little and ate some chips that were on the table. Saiki tried to focus his attention on the movie.
The movie was a little slow at the start, some jokes that Saiki didn't find particularly amusing, but he reveled in the way Kaidou had seen the movie so many times he was nearly quoting it all in his head before they said it themselves. He was so focused on Kaidou that he didn't notice him staring at Saiki, who was smiling at the delicious coffee jelly.
“By the way, Saiki, how was the coffee jelly?” Kaidou’s heart thumped heart as he saw him smile. He set down the now empty container as he mulled it over for a second before wrapping his arm around Kaidou’s shoulders and leaned in.
‘Great, thank you,’ he said. Kaidou shivered visibly before wrapping his own arm around Saiki’s waist.
“That’s good. Glad you liked it.” The two focused on the movie.
Kaidou’s thoughts fluttered between laughing at parts of the movie, shaking Saiki as he laughed, and thinking about Saiki’s arm around his shoulders. Usually, pointless thoughts would irk Saiki and cause him to be annoyed at disturbing his movie, but he couldn't bring himself to care this once, especially knowing he's the one that caused it. Kaidou’s negative thoughts and earlier sadness seemed to have disappeared altogether, leaving him happy Saiki was hanging out with him.
The two eventually relaxed a bit more. Kaidou removing his hand wrap (“Only because I'm getting better at controlling my powers!”), Kaidou lying his legs on the couch and stretching out across Saiki. He could feel Kaidou’s heart beat fast against his legs.
Eventually, the food was all gone and the credits started to roll. Neither of the two wanted to move. The sun outside had set and the clock showed nearly 8. Still early, but too dark to really go anywhere.
Kaidou stretched and sat up, bringing his head up to Saiki’s arm stretched on the back of the couch and rested on it.
“What did you think of the movie?” The loud rock played with the credits. Kaidou’s hand was holding onto Saiki’s waist.
‘It was okay. Some of it was funny.’ Kaidou nodded. Thinking of it now, he doesn't think he saw Saiki laugh.
“Do you have to leave soon?” Kaidou asked, hoping he would say no.
‘Do you want me to leave?’
“No!” he said as soon as Saiki asked it. “I mean, my mom won't be home until Monday, so I'm home alone all weekend. I wouldn't mind some company.”
‘I can stay. I told my parents I'll be home late anyway.’ Kaidou smiled wide at him and hugged him before pulling away.
“You should stay the night! We can have a sleepover!”
He nodded at the offer. Saiki had been warming up to Kaidou a lot that day, enough that he didn't completely throw away the invitation the second it was asked. He even thought about the possibility of sleeping over, so he conveniently teleported home and stuffed some clothes and other items into a bag.
“I don't think I have it in me to watch another movie, unless you want to? If not, we can head to my room. I have a television in there we can watch.” Saiki shook his head to the question. Kaidou stood up and held out his hand to help Saiki up. The two headed back to his room and started changing into their pajamas.
Kaidou changed into shorts and a black T-shirt. Saiki changed into a long sleeve green button up and a long pair of pajama pants. After they had both brushed their teeth and headed back into the room, Kaidou turned on the TV and Saiki stood next to him.
“Do you want to take the bed? I can sleep on the ground beside you.” Saiki shook his head and pointed at the bed.
“Wh-what? Hah hah, I'm fine on the ground! Really, you're the guest anyway,” He stammered out. Saiki rolled his eyes and grabbed his hand and dragged him to the bed.
‘Sleep here. It's your bed,’
“W-well, okay, but let me at least grab you a pillow and a blanket then.” Kaidou moved to get up but Saiki stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. Kaidou looked confused. Saiki pushed him gently over and slid into the bed next to him. Kaidou’s face lit up bright red when he realized what he was doing, and he tried to climb out of bed over Saiki.
“Really Saiki! I'll be fine on the floor! I don't want to accidentally release my powers on you in the middle of the night!” Saiki’s arms were wrapped around Kaidou’s waist, easily restraining him using ESP from crawling to the floor.
If anything I should be worried about that. Saiki thought.
‘It’s fine. We can both fit.’ Kaidou struggled for a bit before easing up and reluctantly lying next to Saiki. The smaller bed for two taller boys meant that they were hip-to-hip and shoulder-to-shoulder. Kaidou turned his face towards Saiki’s and put his hand to the control devices.
“Aren't these uncomfortable when you sleep?” He moved his hand to the frame of the glasses, palm resting against Saiki’s cheek. “And these, too?”
Saiki could have expected this. He had never let anyone see him sleep before for fear of waking up and turning them into stone without his glasses, nevertheless sleeping at someone’s house.
‘I need them to sleep.’ Saiki shrugged and Kaidou nodded his head, it wasn't the worst lie he's told. Kaidou moved his hand from his cheek to his neck before dropping it to the bed.
Kaidou lay his head on Saiki’s chest, the two silently watching two talk show hosts talk to each other about nothing. He shifted so he sat back next to Saiki. He noticed the other’s thoughts were about their current sleeping situation, but nonetheless calm.
“You know,” Kaidou began, causing the other to peer at him, faces inches away from each other. “It might sound a bit stupid but I was actually worried earlier you didn't like me… You-you know, as a friend!”
Saiki kept silent, trying to listen to his thoughts and what he was saying at the same time.
“W-well, I'm hoping that we're friends now! Especially since we've been hanging out all day! Unless I…” Guilted you into hanging out with me… Kaidou continued in his head.
‘I like hanging out with you,’ Saiki replied, and he truly meant it. Despite his eighth-grade syndrome, he was a nice friend and didn't want much out of Saiki. Even his talk of “powers” was starting to grow on him. ‘And don't put words in other’s mouths. I hung out with you because I wanted to.’
“Th-thanks… we should do this more sometime.” Kaidou smiled at him and he smiled back before focusing on the television. “How did you know what I was going to say?”
Saiki whipped his head back to Kaidou.
Damn. I accidentally said something he thought out loud. No matter.
‘Just a guess. You were acting strange all day today,’ he said.
“Was it that obvious? I didn't want to worry you guys,” Kaidou asked, red tinting his ears. Saiki nodded and smirked at him. Kaidou sighed and put his arm around Saiki’s waist in a mock hug. Saiki returned it with his own arm around the other’s waist.
The two were close together, sharing body heat. Saiki felt the other’s breath blow gently on his neck as he exhaled and his ribs push up against his own. The television shone brightly over the two and cast blue hues as the scene changed. He felt Kaidou’s breathing even as he eventually fell asleep, snoring quietly. Saiki managed to pick up a few dreams he was having.
Saiki… warm… don't move…
He smiled down at Kaidou and telepathically turned off the television, before pressing his nose into the other’s hair and falling asleep himself.
*****
Saiki was the first to wake up, peering around and making sure that his control devices didn't move and the room itself was still in one piece, which it was. Kaidou’s arm was resting over Saiki’s chest and his other hand was gently resting near his head.
Saiki… Dark Reunion is there… Jet Black Thunder is here to save you…
Good grief. Looks like he's still in a deep sleep. Still dreaming about me too. Saiki rubbed his fingers through the other’s hair before letting it rest on his head. Well, this is okay just for a little while longer.
Saiki relaxed back into the mattress and fell back asleep, listening to Kaidou’s dreams of him.