Work Text:
'____' texts are saiki saying stuff telepathicly.
"___" texts are thoughts
"___" are speeches.
Final year of high school.
"It's almost over," Saiki thinks, "Hell is actually almost over." After restarting the year so many times to save Japan, Saiki has actually made it to the actual end of school year.
Second last week of school, and as he arrives, it's really no surprise that all people are talking about is prom. "Ahh!! I can't believe (insert name) actually asked me to prom!" are what most of the girls are thinking of. "Dude. I can't believe I actually asked her out!" are what the guys are mostly thinking of.
Of course, exceptions would be Aren and Kaido, who are already in a relationship, so they're obviously going together.
"A dance with Kaido...it'll be our first... I wonder how people usually dance." Aren's mind goes to a flashback of--no, Saiki did not just see that.
"Do people usually strip while they dance? No, Aren, just follow Kaido's lead! Not everything in your gang days is how normal people do it!"
Thank god that Aren still has common sense.
Kaido, on the other hand, is just filled with excitement. "I've been taking dance classes for this day! Aren will definitely be impressed with my skills!"
That's actually cute. Kaido taking dance lessons just to impress Aren on prom? What a big sacrifice for someone like Kaido, honestly.
Other exceptions would be Aiura, who plans to pull a girl boss and just go solo. Yumehara, who wants to ask Aiura but Aiura already said she's going solo, so Yumehara plans to as well. Nendo, who doesn't even know that high school is coming to an end. Hairo, who asks Nendo to "compete" on who can dance the "hardest" without collapsing. Nendo, who just blindly agreed.
And, of course, there's Saiko, who is just doing the same as Aiura because "I don't want to dance around with lowly class peasants!" though he is coming to prom anyways. There's also Toritsuka, but Saiki tries to focus on Akechi's mind so he can't hear Toritsuka's. (For very obvious reasons.)
Plus, Akechi's just better than Toritsuka overall.
It's lunch, and Saiki is hanging out with Akechi to-- A. avoid Teruhashi, and B. hang out with Akechi. They're sitting on the rooftop of the school, since no one else really comes here.
"Hey, Kusuo-kun, do you have a prom date yet? If you do, who is it? Of course, if you're uncomfortable with saying who the lucky person is, you can--" 'Akechi, I don't have a date. In fact, I don't plan on going to prom.'
Akechi just raises his eyebrows, obviously judging Saiki, "Kusuo-kun, prom will be the last day of high school, therefore the last memory of high school. Plus, you shouldn't miss prom just cause you don't want to go. I understand maybe you didn't go other years due to the fact that prom is supposed to say goodbye to the final years, but now we are the final years, so--"
'Okay, Akechi, I'll go. But I don't have a date and I need to get one before Teruhashi asks me.' Akechi just stares at him, but instead of the judging look for earlier, it's more confused. "And why would you need to do that? You have all the time you need to ask someone out, even if Teruhashi asks you, which I highly doubt she will, just decline her."
Saiki just rolls his eyes, 'Akechi, she'll obviously ask me out. She's been in "love"' Saiki does air quotes as he says the word love. '--With me for the last 3 years.' Akechi snorts at this, and from the long, long (and quick) thoughts in Akechi's mind, Saiki can hear one:
"Is Saiki just bluffing? Surely he already knows?"
'Know what?' Akechi stills at this, 'What don't I know about Teruhashi?' Akechi looks at him with wide-eyes and a tilted head, "You don't know? Teruhashi isn't planning on asking you out. In fact, I'm pretty sure she has someone else on her mind."
Saiki just has the most unimpressed look ever.
"Don't look at me like that!" Akechi laughs, "I don't know how you don't know yet, considering that you can read minds!" 'Get to the point, Akechi.' As Akechi is about to open his mouth, the school bell rings. "Ah, sorry Kusuo. Well, you can read her mind anyways! See you later!" 'See you.'
Teruhashi, not thinking about asking Saiki out for prom? Or, well, most importantly, Teruhashi, not having a crush on him? Almost sounds like a dream come true, how did Saiki not know of this yet?!
And there is absolutely no way that Akechi is trying to prank him. If so, it would probably be all Akechi would be thinking of, therefore when Saiki got that one thought, it would be about Akechi planning to prank Saiki.
So, in summery, Teruhashi has 100% fallen out of love with Saiki! At this point, Saiki can't even be bothered to know why, that's really the only thing that matters.
At least, that's what Saiki thought.
And then he entered his classroom, Teruhashi dragging him to her desk. (Even though it was right beside Saiki's, anyway.)
"Saiki-san! Please help me!" Is what Teruhashi says, but she actually thinks: "Usually, I would never even go as far as to ask someone to help me with something as important and top secret as this, but Saiki's always been on the neutral side, so it'll be fine right?"
Unfortunately for Saiki, she is very much correct.
"Saiki, I really want to ask this person out, but I don't know how!" 'Shouldn't you just ask them? That's the only why to ask someone out, anyways.' Teruhashi mentally groans, "No Saiki, I can't just ask her!"
"No, I mean, I don't think she even likes me back!" Saiki's face remains blank. 'I don't think I know anyone who dislikes you, excluding my brother.' Teruhashi just glares at him, "Thank you, but this is a girl! Not a boy!"
Oh wow. If Teruhashi is admitting that she knows that all man swoon over her, then it has to be serious. Still, Saiki can't find it in himself to feel any concern. 'Boy, girl, or whatever, as long as they aren't my brother, I'm sure you'll have a chance. Even if they're gay.' "So," Teruhashi starts, looking down as her hands start fidgeting, "I have a big chance no matter what?" 'Yes.'
Teruhashi smiles, though the smile is the very description of "fake", "Thank you Saiki!" In actuality, Teruhashi's thoughts are this:
"Ugh, Saiki was no help at all! I can't believe I even asked him! 'You'll have a chance whether they're a boy or girl'?! What a load of shit!"
Teruhashi just said a swear word. Though it was in her mind, she still said it. But still, this is so uncharacteristic of Teruhashi. Shouldn't she be so confident of her looks that she already knows they're going to say yes? "Oh," Saiki thinks, "This must be a plot device." To push the plot forward, the author has made Teruhashi OOC. "How creative of you, author."
Now, Saiki has to help Teruhashi into gaining the confidence (the confidence she should have) into asking her crush out. Great, just great. Another problem that he's just been dragged into without his consent.
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Operation Teruhashi's Prom- 1. Who is it?
This one should be easy. Saiki can read minds, for heaven's sake. Well, even if he didn't, the answer should be easy enough.
Rifuta Imu-- obviously the person Teruhashi wants to ask out.
Teruhashi is well aware of Yumehara's crush on Aiura, so if it were Yumehara, Taruhashi wouldn't even think of asking her out. Same thing goes for Aiura. Mera isn't even coming, well, she'll be here for the last 2 hours. And there's no other female main characters that are in PK Academy.
So, obviously, it's Rifuta Imu.
Operation Teruhashi's Prom- 1. Who is it? (Finished)
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Operation Teruhashi's Prom- 2. Does Imu ACTUALLY like her back?
Is this even a question?
Yes, she does.
("Kokomi-senpai doesn't deserve someone like Saiki!" "What does Kokomi-senpai even see in him anyways??")
("Kokomi-senpai, you wore my scrunchie yesterday!!!!" "Kokomi-senpai, you look amazing today!")
Operation Teruhashi's Prom- 2. Does Imu ACTUALLY like her back? (Finished)
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Operation Teruhashi's Prom- 3. Get together, lovebirds. !Phase 1!
Saiki truly doesn't know what to do. How do you even get two people together? So, he's asking people who have actual experience.
"Woah!" Both Kaido and Aren shout at the same time, then look at each other and laugh. "Anyways, Saiki, found yourself a date huh??" Kaido says, while Aren is smirking devilishly. 'It doesn't matter. Just answer my question.' Aren just slides an arm over Saiki's shoulder, "Hey, don't be shy, who is it?" Saiki sighs mentally. ‘I’m doing this for a friend. Now answer my question.’
Aren rolls his eyes, obviously disappointed. "Okay, okay, don't tell us then." Saiki just glares at him. Kaido, fortunately, is much more helpful, to the point of actually answering his question. "Well, it does matter who it is. Some people just need sometime, others might need to figure it out themselves, while some just need it shoved up their face." Kaido smirks right after. "So, we just need to know who is it, and we'll be able to help!"
Saiki takes back what he said. Kaido isn't helpful at all.
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Okay, so the people in an actual romantic relationship didn't help, what does he do now? Search in the scraps?
"Yes," Saiki thinks as he's walking towards the tennis court, "Yes I will search in the scraps."
"How to get two people together?" Even as Hairo is saying this, he hasn't stopped playing his match. "Well, your confession should-- Nice shot!" The other guy's ball had gone to the right side corner, nearly out, but anyone with eyes could tell it was in. "Your confession should have lots of passion in it! If it doesn't how can you expect that the other person will accept?!" Hairo, who has for no absolute reason, is full on screaming.
'I'm not talking about that,' Saiki tells him ("tells" because he's really just speaking to his mind), 'I mean, how do I make them realise they have feelings for each other?' Hairo almost loses the rally, because he stops a bit to think about Saiki's question, before realises he is in fact still in a match. "Well, talking from knowing Aren and Kaido liking each other before they got together--" Hairo pauses to return the ball,
"Get them drunk, probably!"
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'Toritsuka, do you know where Aiura is?' "Eeeh!! What does she have I don't?? C'mon, just tell me what you need Saiki-san!" 'No.'
(Saiki learned, (from threatening Toritsuka several times), that Aiura and Yumehara are currently doing something together. Saiki would rather not know the details.)
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"Who else could I possibly even ask?" At that thought, a certain person with a certain chin-- "Nope, not him."
"Kusuo-kun?" Saiki nearly jumped at this, before recognising the voice. 'Akechi?' "Ah, apologies for startling you, Kusuo-kun, however you aren't usually this easily startled, so you must of been thinking of something very hard!" Saiki, though sighing, smiled at the sight of Akechi. 'Well--' "Wait! Let me guess!"
It only took Akechi a few seconds before he started talking again.
"Is it because, after I told you about how Teruhashi liked someone else, the author took this as a chance for Teruhashi to admit this to you, conveniently right after I told you that information, so you learned that Teruhashi thought she had 0% chance with Imu, when in reality, she has more than an 100% success rate, so now you're trying to get these two oblivious lovebirds together for prom?"
'Pretty spot on. The only thing you're missing is the terrible advice from everyone I've received.' Laughing a little, Akechi smiles. "If you really thought you were going to get answers from them, I'm sorry, but you should've came to me first!" Saiki actually sighs this time, 'Yeah, I probably should've. Anyways, what's your advice?'
Akechi chuckles, "Well, I think all Teruhashi needs is courage, not really the fact that Imu likes her back! As long as you can somehow convince her to ask Imu out, I'm sure it'll go smoothly from there!" Saiki smiles, 'Thanks, Akechi.'
He's about to stand up when-- "Kusuo-kun." Saiki's head titled slightly, 'Yes?' "Have you found a date yet?" Saiki's eyebrows were furrowed by now, 'No? I'll probably go alone anyways.' Akechi leans forward hesitantly, as if looking for confirmation--even though Saiki didn't know what he even wanted. "Then.." Akechi leaned closer to him(a bit less nervous, this time, it seems), his hand reaching to the back of Saiki's head.
"Then will you be my date?"
Operation Teruhashi's Prom- 3. Get together, lovebirds. !Phase 1! (Finished)
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Operation Teruhashi's Prom- 3. Get together, lovebirds. !Phase 2!
'So, that's why I think you should just go for it.' Teruhashi was still biting her lip, but she did agree with the plan. "Thank you, Saiki-san! What flowers should I bring though?" 'Probably red roses, Imu is cliché like that.' "Right, thank you." Teruhashi freezes up for a moment though. "Wait--how do you know it's Imu-chan?!?!?!"
Saiki basically bails after that, running to his house, while telling Teruhashi "everyone has their secrets" and "good luck". That being said, how did Saiki sound the exact same as when he's next to Teruhashi, even though he's clearly running away?
Eh, it's just a minor detail anyways.
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"Huh." Saiki thinks, as he sees Teruhashi clearly restless, tapping her foot over and over again while holding a bouquet of red roses. "A cherry blossom tree. A bit too cliché, even for Imu, but it'll probably work."
The place is empty, not a single person there, not a single person to know that Teruhashi will confess to Imu. Well, other than Saiki, but he's obviously an exception. In his mind, Saiki can hear a thought. "I wonder why Kokomi-senpai asked me to this place, it's barely even known! Wait..does that mean it'll be just her and me?!" Partially correct. But, most importantly, Imu is finally arriving, and soon it seems.
"Ah, Kokomi-senpai! Why did you--" Nevermind, she's already here. Imu cut her sentence short though, after seeing what's in Teruhashi's hands. Imu's face is a tomato now, with how red it is. "Kokomi-senpai?!" Teruhashi shifts a bit, "Well, Imu-chan..I've, um, liked you for a while now and.."
Bowing down as her arms stretch out, practically shoving the roses to Imu's chest. "Please go out with me!" Though it doesn't seem possible, Teruhashi's face looks like it's more red than Imu's. "Kokomi-senpai....are you serious?" "100 percent!" Imu smiles then, though it's covered by her hand.
"Of course I'll go out with you Kokomi-senpai!"
Operation Teruhashi's Prom- 3. Get together, lovebirds. !Phase 2! (Finished)
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Saiki has never felt so... carefree than he has now. The only thing that could compare would probably be the day he finally stopped the volcano. Dancing with Akechi to the beat, he gets all those cheesy romance novels--that it feels like it's just the two of them, dancing together in an empty space. But of course, they're surrounded by a load of sweaty teenagers.
Kaido is leading Aren along, those two just looking in each others eyes the entire time. (Saiki almost wants to call it gross, if not for the fact that him and Akechi probably look the same way.) Hairo and Nendo are doing their "dancing competition", breakdancing to ballroom music. Yumehara and Aiura ending up dancing together afterall, and Saiko is just standing in a corner. With Toritsuka. Well, to be fair, Toritsuka is in the opposite corner.
Of course, Imu and Teruhashi are dancing together, almost every boy looking at them, saying "offu".
Well, it's not like Saiki is even noticing anymore, his eyes locked with Akechi's.
Operation Teruhashi's Prom: COMPLETED!