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Reigen reaches out and gently twists the radio dial until the soft snores coming from the back seat can be heard over the melodious music. He spares a quick glance into the mirror above his head, observing the light movements of the slumped over figure of his pupil, the rise and fall of his chest illuminated every so often by the ambient glow of the streetlights. Reigen sighs lowly and gazes longingly at the half-empty box of cigarettes tempting him from the dashboard of his beat-up car. Chiding himself for even thinking of smoking while Shigeo is near him, he instead reverts his attention back to the empty stretches of highway in front of him. The lights seem to flicker and smear in his vision, and he suspects that the day's events are starting to run their course. The exorcism seems like a blur in hindsight, nothing out of the ordinary- except, he supposes, the long drive to and from. He'll give Shigeo a big bonus tomorrow as a reward, he thinks as he ponders all the new flavors of noodles he'll try with the large payment.
The glow of the exit sign interrupts his train of thought as he pushes slightly against the weathered steering wheel, the rough and worn-away fabric rubbing against the soft palms of his hands. He eases the breaks as he turns onto the exit, quickly glimpsing back to make sure Shigeo hasn't fallen into an uncomfortable position by the force of the turn. He hasn't. Reigen directs his car up the overpass, his gaze falling on the city beneath him.
In the early hours of the morning, Seasoning City is quiet and calm. The light emanating from the various shops and high-rises does not seem nearly as harsh as during the day, when the streets are bustling with activity as people scurry around. Many residents are asleep along with the sun- Reigen and the outliers rest with the moon, though he will soon join them in the comfort of his own bed. The ghostly quiet as he turns down the winding roads is comforting, and he finds that he takes great pleasure in the peace he's created for himself. Reigen smiles a melancholic smile as he thinks of how in a few hours' time, the sun will peak over the horizon and send its warm rays to awaken the sleepy residents of Seasoning City. He will once again join the masses as he cycles through another day of doing the same job, meeting the same people, smiling the same smiles. Then the next day he will do it again, and again, and again until finally one day he simply doesn't wake up.
Reigen wonders if where he is now is where he wants to be- what happened to his childhood dreams of becoming an actor, a lawyer, an astronaut, a star? Will he really limit himself to the mundane happenings of his every day life, scamming people out of their money to make his own living? Will he be satisfied going on every day to see the same hopeless faces, talking to the very same people-
A small noise cuts off his mental struggle and Reigen looks to the back of the car. Shigeo has positioned himself so as to lean against the window, his arms wrapped around himself as if cold. His eyes are open in the slightest, and Reigen can see his irises, dark as the night that surrounds him, glazed over with sleep. Reigen immediately begins fidgeting around in his seat, one hand on the wheel as the other struggles to remove his blazer so it can serve as a blanket for the boy.
"Shishiou," comes the quiet voice from the back, barely above a whisper. "It's okay. We'll be home soon, right? Don't worry."
His tone is kind and Reigen can picture his face without looking at him, his familiar deadpan stare now softened by the drowsiness only 3 AM can bring.
"Yes," he responds, pausing to gently clear his throat as his voice comes out in a rasp. "Yes. We'll be home soon, Mob."
Shigeo makes a sound of approval and nestles back into the window, his dark hair cradling his face as his eyes flutter shut once more.
Reigen's heart swells with emotion. He thinks that maybe dealing with the same people everyday won't be so bad. So long as he has Shigeo, he doesn't mind the mundane happenings of his life. Life doesn't have a purpose on its own- it's up to him to give it one. That's what he has always told himself, and he thinks that he finally might have found that meaning, sitting in the backseat of his car.
The road becomes more rough as Reigen weaves in and out, transitioning from the typically busy main roads to the smaller streets leading up to Shigeo's home. The light of the city is left behind in his sideview mirrors as he turns into the suburbs, the streets becoming more familiar.
He remembers his own times walking up and down these streets as a child, those simpler times when all his troubles were based around what new character was to be introduced on his favorite cartoon. Back when school was the worst thing in the world, the greatest evil he knew. Back before he grew up. Oh, wouldn't he love to return to those times?
But there is nothing he can do about it now. Reminiscing all he doesn't have will get him nowhere. If he were to be asked four years ago, when his life was his office job and his best friend his computer, if he would like to go back in time and change his life- he would have said yes. But now?
The gravels crunches beneath the tires as Reigen pulls into the Kageyama household's driveway, the only light given off besides his own headlights being the sparse streetlights. The house is quiet and Reigen remembers once more that Shigeo's family is out, that the boy is to stay in the house on his own. He clucks his tongue in disapproval as he begins to worry, but then remembers that the boy is much more than capable of protecting himself. Curiously, the thought doesn't seem to do much to ease his concerns.
Reigen leaves his headlights on as he quietly swings his door open, cursing mentally when it creaks loudly. Turning back, he is happy to find that it hasn't disturbed Shigeo's sleep. Reigen steps outside and walks to the door, swiftly grabbing the spare key from under the potted plant. He unlocks the door in a fluid movement and turns the inside light on.
He then walks back to the car and, in the least disruptive way he can manage, opens the door that Shigeo is leaning on. Reigen cringes as he watches the boy slump into the seatbelt holding him in place. Reigen taps him, gaining no response- after firmly shaking his shoulder and still having no sign of the Kageyama waking up, Reigen unbuckles his seat belt and bends over to take Shigeo into his arms. Luckily, the frail middle schooler is just as light as he looks, and Reigen has no problem shutting the car door with his foot as he carries Shigeo, one arm under his knees and the other supporting his back.
Reigen thinks back to everything he's ever done that has led him to carry a child he sees as his own son and silently thanks the fates that he ended up as well off as he did. He almost finds himself emotional as he enters the Kageyama household, kicking off his shoes as he makes his way to Shigeo's room. As soon as the thought passes his mind, he shrugs it off- he, Arataka Reigen, the greatest psychic of the 21st century, emotional? Over such a trivial thing, of all? Not a chance.
Still, as Reigen takes far measures to assure that Shigeo is snugly tucked into his futon, he finds himself smiling in pride at the boy he's watched grow right before his eyes. His eyes that, for some reason, seem to be welling up with tears- damned dust, it was everywhere! He takes one last look at Shigeo to assure everything is to his comfort before leaving the room, closing the door behind him. He slides his shoes back on and steps out the door, double-checking to make sure he's locked it before he slips the keys back to their spot and re-enters his vehicle. His apartment building is not too far from here, and without Shigeo in the back to be of concern, Reigen allows his own exhaustion to slowly begin claiming him. His eyelids grow heavy with sleep, and he yawns with every turn he takes.
Sure, four years ago he would have done anything to change his childhood, to give himself a new beginning somewhere far, far away. But as it seems, four years is a long time- more than enough to change. More than enough to meet your life's meaning, to find something worth waking up every morning for. Now, if you asked him, he'd smile and say "No, thank you."
Then he'd go back to the steaming bowl of udon noodles that he surely would be sharing with Shigeo, with their friends and family. He'd laugh at their jokes and tell his own. He'd entertain them with tales of his foolishness and his silver tongue, and he would scold Dimple for calling him a con artist. He would feel at home with his family, because in those four years, that's what he found. Family.
That would be nice, he thinks, the relaxing thought sending waves of pleasant calmness through his body. The tenseness in his muscles fades slowly to nothing and his mind is light and empty save for admiration of all those he surrounds himself with. His blinking seems to last longer and every time the lights blur and he shuts his eyes, a soothing peace overtakes him. He begins to swerve on the road as he drifts off only to wake with a start, yanking the wheel back toward him. He sees his apartment, a green smudge in the near distance- or is it a tree? It's hard to tell, his mind is so foggy. His grip relaxes as sleep slowly claims him, and he smiles to himself before slipping into unconsciousness.
He hits the tree head-on, and it is instantaneous- he does not suffer. He simply drifts away, no regrets in his mind as he takes his last breaths in the carnage of his car. Even with his shattered body, he raises a finger in his broken hand up at the moon, where his eyes focus- his family all sees that same moon, no matter where they are. He holds no sorrow in his heart, no pain. Only love, and with his last breath he utters Shigeo's name.
Family indeed.