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“C’mon, Aiura,” Toritsuka said, using her real name for once instead of a vulgar nickname. “I know that fortune telling gig stresses you out. I can help you blow off some steam, if you know what I mean.” He waggled his eyebrows at her as he leaned over her desk at the end of the school day.
“Ugh, you total germ,” she said with a scoff. Her cheeks were flushed, though.
(Wait, she’s not actually considering it is she? Saiki thought as he listened in to the conversation from the roof of the school.)
Toristsuka narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re blushing!” he said, pointing at her face.
She buried her head in her arms. Bastard. So I’m, like, a little stressed, that doesn’t mean… “I am not blushing,” she said, even as she was clearly trying to hide it.
“Aww, baby, don’t be shy, it’s just me,” Toritsuka said in a gross, oily kind of voice. He was so smarmy it made Saiki want to gag. Toritsuka reached down and held a tendril of her blond hair between his fingers.
Aiura shot up from her desk now and kicked Toritsuka in the shin, just below where he had his pant leg rolled up. “It doesn’t matter how stressed out I am, being around you makes it like a hundred times worse, you worm!” She balled her fists up like she was ready to throw punches next.
“Geez,” Toritsuka complained as he gripped his shin. “What was that for?”
“For you being such a pervert!” she said, her voice hard to control. At this point, everyone else had left the classroom, but it was still a bad idea to go around shouting at school. “I, like, can’t be friends with you if you’re always going to be like this! You know I like someone else.”
Toritsuka rolled his eyes as he settled his foot back on the linoleum floor. “Yeah, yeah. I know. Saiki. But he doesn’t give two craps about you. And at least I’m fun.”
Aiura looked away, her eyebrows scrunched up together. He does care about me. At least a little, right?
(Hmm. Maybe. A little, Saiki thought, pleased with the greenish purple bruise that was already appearing on the medium’s shin.)
“Aiura, you need to give that whole soulmate thing a rest,” Toritsuka continued, his voice sounding genuine for a change. He was actually speaking from the heart. “I’ve known Saiki a little longer than you and he… he’s just not into girls. Or guys. Or anyone. You’re just setting yourself up for failure.”
Aiura’s eyes were getting a little glassy, but she blinked any tears back and squared her shoulders. “I’m not giving up.” I like Saiki. That’s not going to change.
(Good grief, Saiki thought. She really should take Toritsuka’s advice. I can’t believe I’m saying that…)
“Fine, suit yourself,” Toritsuka said. “But just because you like him doesn’t mean we can’t have fun together.”
“That’s enough,” Saiki said, suddenly appearing in the classroom.
“Ah! Saiki!” the other two kids shrieked in unison.
“What are you doing here?” Toritsuka said.
Saiki force-pushed him to the other side of the room. I keep regretting that I haven’t purged you yet, Saiki thought. He didn’t answer the medium’s question, instead beckoning for Aiura to walk with him.
“Saiki, like, what was that all about?” Aiura asked as they walked toward the shoe lockers together, leaving Toritsuka to fix the desks that had been knocked over when Saiki shoved him.
Saiki shrugged. “He was bothering me.”
“You were listening to us?” Aiura asked.
Saiki gave a curt nod.
Aiura’s cheeks reddened again. “Like, I know that you know how I feel about you and all, but it’s still kind of embarrassing.” She rubbed the back of her neck.
Saiki waved his hand to dismiss her worries. Honestly, of all the girls who had ever had a crush on him, her thoughts were some of the most straight-forward and least cringey. She was probably the only one who ever just came out and said it, too, which Saiki had to respect.
Aiura grinned. “Well, thanks for showing up. Toritsuka was really annoying me too.”
Saiki wanted to ask why she would consider taking up Toritsuka’s offer, even if it was only for a second. (Not that he was jealous or anything…) But that was too much to ask. Instead, he asked, “Are you really that stressed out about your job?”
Aiura stopped at her locker first, Saiki standing by.
Aiura answered after a beat. “Yeah, actually.”
“Then quit,” Saiki said. It was a win-win in his mind. Aiura had gotten better about her psychic advice being more generic, so as not to rouse too much attention. This protected both of them. It was better that the general public remain skeptical. But still, her generic advice was still accurate and helpful. If she quit, then Saiki would feel more confident about the reality of those with psychic powers remaining a mystery and Aiura wouldn’t have to bother with the stress of it all. It was a no-brainer.
Aiura tucked her school shoes away. “I don’t want to quit,” she said. “I like helping people. And the money is nice.”
Saiki frowned. He knew that they would just have to agree to disagree about helping people. But Saiki couldn’t blame her too much. Even though he tried to avoid it, he still was constantly intervening in people’s lives. He was just more secretive about it. And the money thing was hard to argue against. He often lamented that anytime he needed extra cash, he’d have to endure a visit from 100 yen man or else wait for his parents to give him more allowance. And Aiura’s family wasn’t rich by any means. But there had to be something that could be done about the stress. Something other than Toritsuka’s disgusting offer.
Aiura sighed as she followed Saiki to his locker. “I admit, it is totally hard listening to people’s problems all the time. And sometimes, the advice I give will, like, help their situation or whatever, but it doesn’t make them any happier. Like helping people figure out that their spouses are cheating or that their kids are into drugs.”
Saiki’s frown sagged further. That did sound like a drag. No wonder she was considering “help” from Toritsuka. It would be good to get her mind off that stuff for a while. But oh well, not my problem. As long as Toritsuka doesn’t try anything again.
Saiki tugged on his sneakers and slipped his school shoes away. He was ready to walk home alone, but paused when he heard Aiura kind of hiccup behind him. Ugh, don’t cry in front of him, she thought.
Good grief, Saiki thought as he turned around from his locker, facing her. Her eyes were a little glassy-looking again, and her smile was wobbling at the edges.
She was upset thinking about the stress of her job, but probably even more so, she was upset thinking of what Toritsuka had said about Saiki not caring about her. Saiki could probably help with that concern, at least, and he didn’t want to hear or see her crying. That would be uncomfortable.
“Want to go get cakes or something?” he asked flatly, his lips pressed into a firm line.
Oh, really!? Maybe he doesn’t, like, hate me so much after all! she thought, her tears drying instantly. “Sounds fun!” she chimed, taking Saiki’s arm eagerly.
Saiki groaned inwardly as they walked out of the school, but he couldn’t help the tiny smile tugging on the corners of his mouth, knowing that he was the one who cheered her up.