Chapter Text
It had been going on like this for weeks. I’m at my wits’ end; I was at the end of my rope; I was sick to death of it. So tired of the state that is my daily life. For the fourth time this week, to the observant person? It would seem like I was continuously hiding from some big bad in my life. Some insurmountable bully or something, and those guessing wouldn’t be too off the mark. I was hiding, but it was from a stalker. One that had consequences if I decided to decline her advances.
Teruhashi wouldn’t leave me alone, and she kept popping up wherever she wasn’t wanted or needed. Trying to convince my parents that if she comes by to tell her, I’m out. Trying to explain why I can’t stand her would be impossible since they wouldn’t see the problem. Someone said it best, ‘if someone is beautiful, you excuse the stupid, selfish, arrogant things and evil things they do.’ Since they wouldn’t see the problem; beauty creates blindness.
She was like a buzzing fly who had found the stinky, stenchiest pile of garbage to buzz around and refused to abandon it. Not realizing that she was annoying me and putting a target on my back. She knew got damn well how ridiculous and over the top her fan club was about her. She was considered “the prettiest and most popular girl in the world,’ and I did not want any part of her or what she came with.
I already had enough already! For the last few weeks, after all the not-so-subtle hints, her fan club started noticing who has her attention, and I’ve gotten daily death threats and been harassed, stalked, and persecuted by her fan club on more than one occasion. Since she’s decided to put her attention on me, this would be unnoticed if the fact that they have been stalking my house and my personal space and using my powers to pay her more attention and forget about me didn’t work and made them worse somehow.
This had been going on since the summer. When she took notice of me on the street, and I pointedly ignored her, and it felt like it had been going on ever since with no end in sight. I don’t acknowledge her; I don’t give her any attention, but all she seems to do is bother me and follow me wherever I go, like a puppy who’s always looking for its next treat from its owners.
All I want is for her to leave me alone. Her thoughts alone said that she had already made the decision for me. That I would be hers once I stopped being shy. Even though he was plain and boring, he would be grateful and fall all over himself once he knew her interest in him. Those were her thoughts on the matter, and it irked me. Teruhashi’s condescending attitude, her fake sympathy, and her empathy bothered me. The fact that she’s acting like she is taking me on is a pity case. Everything about her interest in me bothers me on a subconscious level.
She was delusional and pretentious as hell because I know her interests, and I’m not interested. Who wants to be around someone who only thinks about themselves and what they want? Someone with petty interests and thoughts.
Teruhashi doesn’t really have a future for herself outside of just being some housewife, a gold-digging one at that? In her mind, whether I’m interested or not is already at the conclusion that she’s made. In her mind, there is no possibility; I just couldn’t be interested in her; it just isn’t a thought in her head. Even though she knows some people are not attracted to her in any capacity, I am one of them.
It was a gloomy day, rainy and miserable. Other than Kaidou nudging me about her interest in me. Nendou is making plans for this weekend, which I already planned today. It will hopefully be an average and ordinary day. With my backpack stuffed, an umbrella in my hand, and dreading going to homeroom and having her crowd him again.
Saying my good morning to the gym teacher while ignoring the students’ chatter and ‘friends’ (more like clingers), my mind was elsewhere as everyone was thinking of the newest movie, some guy was considering dumping his girlfriend, and someone was considering a part-time job that he could take on weekends. The mental voices blended in with outward speaking, and it was all just noise to me. All their talking, all of it meaningless drivel and noise.
Putting his raincoat away and switching his shoes, he was already dragging himself to the class. He wasn’t late by any means, but he was there pretty early. Other than the three of us, nobody had shown up yet for homeroom, not even the extras who say nothing and sit in the back. Getting into his head, he wanted to avoid some people showing up.
The homeroom teacher was doing puzzles at her desk while listening to music, considering she was a nondescript, extra kind of teacher? As is the will of the universe? I don’t doubt it will get replaced with someone more entertaining? My life acts more like an interesting sitcom for the amusement of the gods at this point than any semblance of normalcy. Shaking my head, I noticed those other classmates coming in and taking their seats, and a girl. I’ve never met her before, but she stood out compared to the rest of the girls. The girl seemed to be getting surrounded by a group of nattering girls and trying to focus my eyes. Right now, my sight oscillates between seeing them as they are, their skeletons, and without skin at all. See them as everything and anything in between the extremes. I was desensitized to the human body in every aspect. When you see everyone from your most intimate family members to complete strangers as naked as the day they were born, as well as see them in ways they could never see themselves. You lose that sense of shame and embarrassment that would be instinctual to anyone else. That insane level of constant and consistent perverted thoughts guys my age typically would have seemed nonsensical. Reita’s horn dog behavior was a perfect example of something I don’t get.
So, focusing on the new girl who had a rather deep fake tan, she wore makeup. She was breaking the code of the uniform as it was showing ample curves and cleavage. Some of the extras gasped and were at a loss for words, but their thoughts, on the other hand. Those thoughts gave them away as perverted and filthy. She seemed bubbly and chatty with the girls, flipping her hair teasingly, her beach blonde hair eye-catching and notable. She was all put together with false long sparkling nails and her heeled shoes, a backpack filled with school supplies, and many other things on hand. She took a seat near me, but it seemed she hadn't noticed me. I was annoyed by the crowd of chattering, happy girls she was surrounded by. She was invading my personal space.
“Alright, gather around, ladies, gather round!” Her voice was clear and enticing as the girls seemed to surround her. A few with quizzical faces, but intrigued.
“Your futures are mine to foresee for five hundred yen a pop. I can tell you your future and reveal your greatest love. Step up, and I will reveal all the mysteries of the universe.” Her voice was cheery, yet it took on a mystical and dramatic style. If I didn’t know better, I would take it more seriously.
Oh, she thinks she’s a psychic, a fortune teller. She can’t be serious. Most of the people that claim as much are lying or just con artists. So many so-called psychics get really famous for guessing right or being calculated with their marks, fast-tracking their scam of having powers for their benefit.
'Let’s see then what she’s got. And when it’s smoke and mirrors, I will make sure she goes back to where she came from.'
“Are you the real deal?” One of the girls with curly purple hair, bright blue eyes, with freckles across her nose asked. She sounded skeptical, eyes raised and looking down at Aiura like she was a con woman. It was probably something you'd see in the back alleys or at the occasional festival, like everyone had seen before.
“As real as my name, ladies! Aiura Mikoto at your service!” Aiura had a big smile as she inspected the girl who questioned her.
“Let’s see, you got a rather distrusting aura. Its icy blue swirls in waves around you like a mist; your analytical, a natural skeptic, am I right, Takahashi Akairi?” She had an eyebrow raised, challenging her to tell her she was wrong. This girl, Aiura, her thoughts were haphazard, but she just seemed like she just wanted to do fortunes, nothing more, nothing less. There was some smugness, but it wasn’t malicious or vengeful. It’s more like it's pride in her ability.
The gasps from the small forming crowd. That is the girl’s name, and she figured out her nature in an instant. This wasn’t good at all.
“Can you help me find someone?” Someone pushed her way to the front. The voice was familiar. And I knew exactly who it was as she came more into focus and the crowd parted.
“And you are?” Her voice held of a grain of already knowing the answer, but she was up to something.
“Mera, Chisato?”
“You have a dutiful aura, ambitious and strong. Yellow and bright like gold, it’s like a shield for those you hold dear, but your aura says you are hungry, always yearning and reading a fortune for someone like you? That’s an easy task just to prove my point! I’ll do it for free just this once.” She said with a serious nod, her eyes seeming to glow, something Mera seemed to reflect.
She took a bucket from out of nowhere and started a concoction of eraser shavings, glitter, and a dash of chalk and water, swirling quickly and splashing the globe, a part highlighted in pink glitter and eraser shavings.
“Your father is in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Normally, I could give you a full mailing address and phone number, but I’m off my game today. Ask me in a few hours; I might have that information in full.” She said with a sad expression on her face.
“How did you know?” Mera was in complete disbelief. The girls clapped, and I was awestruck. This is horrible, this is my worst-case scenario, and I’m not sure I’m not in a nightmare right now.
“I said I was psychic. If you want, I’ll help you raise the money; I can tell.” Her words implied she knew about Mera’s home life. I could feel a pit forming in my stomach. Moments are always terrifying; a real psychic with credible evidence is a recipe for disaster.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!” Chisato was rapidly bowing her thanks, clear on her giddy face.
“Now, who next? Step on up!”
“Ooo me, me!” Little Miss Boy Crazy herself, handing her five hundred yen over. Her anticipation and glee were shining off her like a disco ball.
“Anything, in particular, you want to know?”
“Just my future love life!” She said with a burst of desperation and energy that seemed exhausting from here.
Pulling out a crystal ball. It was glittery, sparkly, and pink.
Putting her hands on the crystal ball, I could see the visions of the future. This girl, Aiura, was the genuine article, a natural clairvoyant. This was bad. This was really bad; she could expose me. Hell, she could screw up the relative ease of life I already had.
“Ohhhh, Ciyo Pippi! The guy you have a crush on now is trash, and you have a pretty bad taste in guys." There was a gasp from the group, accompanied by a scowl or two in disagreement with the blatantly true statement.
"Your romantic history from crushes and exes are a trail of broken hearts and tears.” If she’s not on the point about her from just a glance. She looked mad, like she was going to huff, puff, and argue, at least until she mentioned her exes, too. She can’t argue and tries to prove her wrong.
“I can foresee you marrying five times, each time to a man more unsatisfactory than the last. Can you see them, my dear?” Her voice sounded imperious, almost all-knowing it wasn’t a question if she knew it’s that it was a certainty of words that it was true.
She and the other girls could see the replay within the crystal ball. It’s hazy, but you can clearly see her getting older with a new man on her arm, her face getting progressively more frustrated with each one. The girls were shocked.
“Yes,” they all chorused, mesmerized with the future; they saw all of them looking at the girl with pity. I can’t honestly remember her name off the top of my head; sue me.
“But the man of your dreams? The one who can balance you out? Sits in this very classroom.” The image of Kiadou writing with his bandaged hand. Looking behind me, noticing he had been writing and listening to music, hadn’t heard a word that had been said so far.
This isn’t good this, so not good. This girl is the genuine article! An authentic psychic that can use a crystal ball to project the vision of the future and the current present. As she showed, she and Kaidou were older, surrounded by children and grand and great-grandchildren.
It was a happy scene, and they still looked very in love. She slumped in her chair, unable to believe it.
“You can only attain this future?” She said with a hand flourish and a soft encouraging smile towards the girl.
“If you can make him realize that his beliefs aren’t real but would make a really good manga idea. Be direct about how you feel and what you want from him. He doesn’t understand subtlety, be a sledgehammer about what you want, okay?”
“Okay, me next!” Placing her money down, the girl had rather messy black hair that covered her eyes.
“Tell me my future!” The excited tone filled everyone, all watching with bated breath.
“I can foresee you going abroad for college! If you buckle down right now? You can get into MIT; your English is so good! I’m impressed, and I see a man but be careful! He’s rather hard to get to know. Just be patient. But maintain those lovely locks and get them out of your eyes! Otherwise, it’s all for naught!” She said, her smile so bright as the vision showed how gorgeous the girl was with the hair out of her eyes.
“What’s all this commotion?”
The homeroom teacher finally noticed the giant line of students who were not supposed to be there.
Most of them that had shown up noticed the commotion since the classroom door was wide open. So, a bunch of girls from different grades, the girls noticed a few third-year girls. Who overheard and got in line wanting their fortunes told to? But realizing they were about to get in trouble, scattered like bugs exposed to light. Everyone who was supposed to be here took their seats; Teruhashi came in late, her seat in the front. It was already prepped and ready for her. She must have not heard or seen the ruckus and seemed to roll her eyes at the girls who ran past her.
‘Wonder what those wannabes are up to in this classroom? Who cares? They are just background players in my life anyway?’ She tried to pull off the perfect girl image she had cultivated for herself. ‘But I believe that about you as much as I believe my own brother can stand my presence. You aren’t fooling anyone who truly sees you for who you are.’
“Class? We have a new transfer student today. Please welcome Ms. Aiura Mikoto to the class.”
“Hiya, class! Well, most of you know me and what I can do! I hope this class is awesome.” She had a bright smile and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
I hadn’t noticed before, but her uniform skirt was hiked up more than was proper or standard. I could hear, over the din of lustful thoughts of my classmates, Teruhashi's jealous thoughts about their classmates. I was actually shocked. Usually, she didn’t see anyone as a threat; she was the prettiest girl ever, in her own words. There wasn’t anyone who could be a threat to that status.
‘Look at her! What does she think she’s playing at? This isn’t a horny man’s daydream! Don’t act like you’re so innocent.’ Teruhashi looked around the room and noticed all the dopey faces the way all the guys were so focused and attracted to her. Some mentally grumbled about wanting a more modest-looking girl, but we’re zoomed on her “assets,” admitting they couldn’t complain.
‘Don’t act like you’re prettier than me!’ I nearly wanted to laugh out loud and how petulant and childish she sounded in her own mind.
‘Don’t act like you can just take my spot. You will never be as popular or as well-liked as me!’ she looked around the room. As Ms. Aiura had the attention of everyone.
‘Don’t act like you’re not some harlot. Just look at you! Look at how you are dressed!’ as Aiura finished off, claiming she felt stifled at her old school and wanted to start over fresh.
As she took her seat, she had the eyes of everyone in the classroom. They weren’t staring at her like she was an animal at the zoo. The looks were closer to a painting in a museum. A painting was so pretty, but everyone just wanted to watch it or like bugs with light at night.
She just kind of brought attention to herself; she didn’t have some golden glow like Teruhashi seemed to run around with. That light that fools people into thinking she’s a good person. She did have some kind of energy around her to did bring attention to herself even when she was quietly just taking out her notebook.
I was deep in thought, especially as her thoughts, miss Aiura, gave her away sounded both wistful and hopeful as she sat down.
The homeroom teacher went back to ignoring us. All the girls crawled around her, pushing their desks close.
“Now spill, what’s the real reason you came here?” Miss boy crazy asked, clear she wanted to legitimately know. I refuse to remember her name until she does something more notable than have a crush on a guy in class.
“Why did you transfer in the middle of the year?” One girl asks bluntly.
“Come on, we’re all dying to know the real reason!”
“It can’t be because of the energy and stifling nature. Come on, who are you trying to fool?” Mera said in playful shove as she was seated right next to her, signs they would be truly good friends soon enough.
“Pretty obvious, huh?” Aiura said while she played with her hair. A shy smile appeared on her face.
“Well, I couldn’t tell the truth in front of the teacher! I don’t want to come off as an airhead!” She said in a mock whisper for all the girls who were hanging on her every word. Some laughed good-naturedly but were paying rapt attention to what she said.
Teruhashi scoffed quietly. But was ignored as the whole class was focused on her reasoning.
“No, the real reason I came here. Two weeks ago, I got a vision in the middle of class that hit me like a freight train. Apparently, my Mr. Right? The man of my dreams goes to this school. His initials are S.K., and he has pink hair. I just want to meet him, and it was worth transferring in the middle of the year just to do that, you know?” She said with a sigh longing in her voice, her eyes and mind lost slightly in daydream. That he's desperatly wishing he could see or hear.
Most of the girls started sighing in a hopeful way. Most of them thought that they hoped that something like that would happen to them, but thinking was really romantic for her to do that, but I was mentally panicking that this girl had come all this way to talk to me and fall in love; with me! I felt glued to my seat, panicked. I just needed to avoid her today, and it should all be smooth sailing. Sending a subtle hypnotic suggestion to the entire class to look at the blackboard or do some outstanding homework or project and forget the words she said. Transforming his bright pink hair to neon green. Making his pins appear like a headband. The whole class followed the suggestion and seemed to ignore all else; the chattering had stopped, and Mera and the other girls moved back to how they were.
“You know,” her voice was rather lofty. He was in her eye line, in her peripheral vision. As he was seated closer to the window, she was seated towards the true middle of the classroom. She seemed to not be affected by the hypnotic suggestion at all. Turning to look at me directly in the eyes, it felt like I was getting my soul dissected. Palms in fists under her chins, seemingly taking a moment to check him out unabashedly.
“Psychics can’t truly use their powers on one another like that, you know. Reading one another’s minds, sure but suggesting I stare at the board unquestioningly and forget why I’m actually here for?” Aiura was shaking her head at me like I was ridiculous.
“Yeah, no, that’s a pretty sus hypnotic suggestion, dude. The voice didn’t even sound like it came from my mind; I just had to turn and see who was doing it!” She said, her smile bright as she walked over to my desk. She was looking up at me from her false lashes.
“You’re the guy I’m searching for, huh?” Her voice is cheerful and bubbly a bright friendly smile on her face.
A cold shiver ran down my spine. I teleport out of the school then and there; screw it, I can just make it seem like I’m in class all day! While not going to class. I needed to clear my head and my panicking heart. I’ve never point-blank been called out for what I was doing or put under a microscope. And she didn’t even read my aura like everyone else.
Using clairvoyance and telepathy was taxing, but now that she realized it’s me, I can try to convince my parents to transfer schools at this point. Who else going to drop in and be a nuisance in my life?
My mind focuses are my telepathy, and my clairvoyance focuses on Aiura and her thoughts.
Well, apparently, he’s the one, and he was the one messing with my powers. From the minute he left, everything was back to how it normally is, and everything is so clear again. I wonder how he did that? Then again, that guy can use teleportation and hypnotic suggestion. I don’t know what kind of psychic abilities he’s got or what he can’t and can’t do, or why he ran away. Hand on her chin. Maybe… maybe… Did I come on too strong? Perhaps he already has a girlfriend? Putting both of her hands under her chin. That could be it. I’m no homewrecker, but it would be nice to have a friend who gets it regardless. There are only so many real psychics in the world.
She let out a sigh. I need to focus on the first class of the day, which is math. I decided to give it a rest since I was wearing myself out, pushing my limiters to their breaking point.
Knowing today, my mother would spend most of the day food shopping, and my father was out working? So I could be alone with my thoughts. And the newest monkey wrench in my life, how I could deal with it and try to get around another hiccup in my life. Every week, it seems like a new person is added into my life for no other purpose than to complicate it.