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Shigeo Kageyama had an absolutely fantastic laugh.
Cobwebbed with hiccupping wheezes after years of disuse, it was a sound without reins, bouncing off the earth and between the walls of whatever room the boy happened to be occupying. He didn’t seem all that sure what to do with it those first few months of letting it show, often resorting to stifled giggles behind a concealing hand. Even now, it wasn’t often his peers got to hear that great, joyous guffaw - but none could deny it was the sort of laugh that inspired the very same in themselves, even without context for the joke.
Dimple, especially, was quite taken by it, considering he had a knack for getting the kid in stitches. And on any other day he’d be celebrating his ability to do so, were it not for one small issue.
“Stop laughing!” the spirit spat, wispy form blazing sea green with heat. “It’s not funny!”
“I-it’s - it’s - it’s pretty funny,” Shigeo managed, one hand clapped pointlessly over his open grin. He’d gone nearly silent now, so overcome with laughter that he’d lost his breath. In the moments the kid took to compose himself - poorly, Dimple noted in annoyance - his incorporeal companion scowled only deeper.
“It’s not like I teased you about Tsubomi!” the spirit snapped. “For goodness’ sake, have a heart!”
Still beaming, Shigeo haphazardly wiped the tears from his cheeks. “Tsubomi’s a bit different from Reigen Arataka, Greatest Psychic of the 21st Century, Dimple.”
The spirit pouted bitterly. “Explain how.”
“Well, she and I are both - you know, alive.”
“Superficial difference. You’re being discriminatory.” At the starts of a familiar sound: “Would you quit laughing already?”
“I’m sorry,” Shigeo squeaked through his fit of giggles. To be fair, he did sound genuine - about as genuine as he could in the midst of a bout of laughter, at least. “It’s just - you -”
“Oh, ‘cause ex-evil spirits just don’t have feelings, I guess.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Shigeo smiled apologetically, lifting a finger to poke Dimple’s cherry-red cheek. “Just… you picking him, of all people.”
“It’s not like I asked for it,” the spirit grumbled. “Shame on me for thinking you’d empathize.”
“Dimple,” the boy scolded gently, “I do. And it’s nice of you to talk to me about it.”
“Who else could I ask?” Dimple replied despondently, nonetheless appreciative of Shigeo’s kindness.
“Preferably someone whose only experience in this field isn’t one rejection.”
The spirit grunted in agreement. “Should’ve asked Teru, huh.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
They both laughed now, just a little. Shigeo leaned back against the reception desk, smiling. “How long?”
“How - oh,” Dimple blushed again. “I… I dunno. There was a point where I realized his bullshit wasn’t annoying me so much as it was entertaining me, but I didn’t really - y’know,” the spirit waved a small hand through the air, “‘till I realized how similar we were during the case with Minori.”
Shigeo’s expression darkened at event’s mention. He furrowed his brow in prompting.
“I - it was while you were out. I was kinda convinced you were - you know, gone for good, but Reigen wasn’t going anywhere. Said that, just because you trusted him, he wouldn't budge.”
Shigeo’s face opened again, bright and awed. It hadn’t occurred to Dimple that the boy wouldn’t have known about the exchange.
“And I realized - y’know, here we were, two shitty beings trying and miserably failing to cover up how much they cared for this one common kid between them.”
Shigeo shone. “Dimple.”
“Anyways, I finally quit trying to deny it after making it back from the Psycho Helmet incident. Obviously didn’t have much time to think on it, considering your preoccupation destroying the city at the time…”
Sheepishly, the boy smiled.
“... but, shit, I was so friggin’ happy to see him. Knowing neither of us had to take you on alone, I just - I didn’t see any purpose at that point denying I -” Dimple rolled his eyes at his own mushiness. For Christ’s sake, he sounded like Reigen. “Yeah, yeah, you get the picture.”
Shigeo let out a tiny chuckle. “It is funny, Dimple,” he answered after a moment’s pause. “I’m not good at seeing this sort of thing. But it seems so obvious now - and that’s why it’s so funny. You are alike.”
Dimple sighed in resignation. “I guess it is pretty ridiculous a setup.”
They were quiet for a bit, taking in the silence of the office on that early Saturday morning.
“If you want my advice, you should just be straightforward,” Shigeo eventually said. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Dimple stared at the kid. Was Shigeo really one for optimism in the face of probable rejection? At the tiny smile on the kid’s face, the spirit had his answer.
“That was - okay. Good one.” Dimple scoffed. “Anyways, that’s not happening, kid. Can’t you - can’t you talk to him for me? Help a buddy out, Shigeo.”
In confirmation of his jest, the kid grinned - then turned, in time with Dimple, as the office door creaked open.
“Sorry we’re late,” Reigen called, yanking his key from the sticky lock and strolling in with Serizawa tailing behind him. At the sight of his protege, he jumped, then smiled. “Oh, Mob, you’re already here. Wonderful.”
“Yeah, Dimple wanted to talk to me about something.”
Easy, kid, the spirit tensed in midair, don’t go letting him get all suspicious on me!
“Oh.” Reigen seemed perplexed. “What about?”
Shigeo looked at Dimple. Dimple looked at Shigeo.
Yesterday’s case, he’d say. Planning Tome’s birthday. Shopping with Teru. Anything. Literally anything, Shigeo.
Shigeo pushed himself from his lean on the desk and walked towards the spot in which Reigen was standing near the door, Serizawa now having moved to the kettle behind the desk.
“Dimple’s got a crush on you,” Shigeo said, patting Reigen on the arm. “I’m gonna go meet Teru for breakfast, I think. Be back in an hour.”
And then the kid left, letting the door drift gently shut behind him.
The three adults heard him laughing on his way down the hall, indiscreet and ill-concealed. The sudden shock of the situation couldn’t really mar how wonderful a sound it was.