Chapter Text
Kageyama Shigeo. The most ordinary boy you could ever meet in a lifetime. That should be it, it’s truly all there is to Shigeo, but not when it comes to the students of Salt Middle School… All he did was show off a little bit of ESP and suddenly he became the second school idol, just like how Takane Tsubomi was the school’s first idol. It's not something special, all he did was make light of a characteristic he has, that's all he did. He’s so normal. Such an average person he is. Guess that’s not how most people see it though, just because he has powers doesn’t make him any less of a loser, Shigeo doesn’t see the appeal.
Does popularity really make an average person, well, average? Is the thought Shigeo had, was he such a normal kid after gaining such exposure? It's not like he's complaining, he'll get noticed more often now and make more friends. Then again, if he knew this was the aftermath he'd receive, he would've done it a long time ago. He's not sure if he should feel ashamed, but at least he's aware. Shigeo finds that if that were the case, it would definitely be for Tsubomi's attention. Kind of a sad motive, he just finds it sort of ridiculous now. It isn’t like Tsubomi is bad, and certainly not dislikable– well, Ritsu would say otherwise– he’s just lost interest, that’s all. While Tsubomi got confessions from a wide variety of people at Salt Middle School, all of them were rejected, despite their calculated plans and high hopes. It may be that she isn't interested in such things. Shigeo still hopes they could be friends, surely they’re at a balanced league now that Shigeo’s also a school idol, that’d be nice. Hmm, after putting so much thought into it, they’re both school idols… Will he also have to deal with out-of-the-blue confessions like her too? He hopes not, it’s still all so new, and it’d also be overwhelming. Probably not though, he doesn’t think anyone would find him attractive in that way, he is still just a normal kid. Then again there are his psychic powers that everyone seems to idolize… Surely there’s something else that would get people so interested in him, a quality that people find amusing.
Do people even look that deep into somebody’s personality though..? Shigeo thought, a good point to bring up. Shigeo wasn’t much of a people person anyhow and he’s gonna be forced into more interactions with more students so the probability of that is slim. He knows that he’s most likely correct about this, but he just hopes there’s more to it than just his powers, that everyone else still sees him as a human than something to put above themselves, than before when he was below them. Maybe there’s someone out there who will see more to him than meets the eye.
Shigeo’s been spaced out for a while now, he’s just realized his surroundings. Ritsu had always gone a bit earlier to school, as usual, being part of the student council and all, it’s normal. The boy has been wandering aimlessly for a while now, relying mostly on muscle memory. He's walked through this route a lot, so it's no big deal, he just realized he's already made it. Now, there is no guarantee that this ordinary boy is prepared for the school day after his sudden burst of popularity, he doesn’t know what will happen, and he isn’t ready for a crowd of students following him through the halls, probably hearing comments about his psychic abilities and people asking to see it. It’s easy to assume that Shigeo isn’t too fond of what the day will hold for him.
Maybe it won’t be so bad! You’re still an ordinary person! Was his thought process, it’s still a new thing, maybe everyone has yet to adjust to it and won’t treat him too differently as before… Oh, how wrong he was. It was less than he expected, which he’s grateful for, but it was still more than what he would’ve wanted. I feel even worse for Tsubomi, she has to deal with this every day, he acknowledged. Normally, he would’ve thought popularity would be fun, like how everyone else would think, but it seems that mindset has been shattered just after some hours of school. Hopefully, he’ll see Ritsu soon enough and he can speak his troubles to him, Shigeo knows that his little brother is always happy to be there for him, he couldn’t have asked for anyone better. When he first told his brother about his abrupt popularity, Ritsu was enthusiastic about it, happy that his older brother got something he wanted, and Shigeo shared the same energy. Now his positive affirmations about the whole thing have transferred into something more negative, he hates to ruin the mood though. Ritsu looked so happy for him. It really is disturbing Shigeo though– it wouldn’t hurt to sugarcoat it a little, that way it won’t sound too bad when he opens up to Ritsu. We’ll just have to see if Shigeo will be able to do it, he’s usually the most honest or quiet about these things, he can worry about that later, he’s only walking to lunch right now so he has time later in the day.
“Mob-Kun!” Someone said, and it was Mezato, one of the only people who haven't changed towards Shiego, he's just glad nothing has changed between them. She's probably here to interview him for her club. I think he should join a club as well, it would give him a confidence boost, and he would have a tighter circle of friends. He just doesn’t know what club he’d join, there’s The Telepathy Club but he isn’t too interested in that, there’s Body Improvement Club which would be beneficial, but there are still tons of options that he could pick, and choose from.
A hand waved in front of him. Oh, I must’ve spaced out again… Shigeo sighed, gathering his attention and setting it on Mezato. “What is it, Mezato-chan?” He says. “I thought you’d realize, obviously I want to ask you questions about your opinion on your new-found status as the second school idol,” She hums in amusement, and she was right, it was what he expected a few seconds ago. “Right, yeah I knew that, just wanted to ask if there was anything else,” Shigeo said, “So do you have a list of questions or..?” He dragged it on a bit, waiting for Mezato to interrupt him and promote some idea or immediately start interrogating him in the hallway, but she walks ahead and stops in front of him and exclaims, “Well, I have a lot of questions that I can’t cover right at this moment in this hallway! I’m free later, throughout the day really, we can talk during that time!” Shigeo’s pace slowed down as he stopped when Mezato blocked him from moving forward. He was hoping he could use the rest of his day applying for a club, and talk to Ritsu– WAIT! HE CAN’T DO EITHER! He has to go to Reigen-san and do his shift at Spirits & Such. “Oh, maybe some other time? I have a few things to attend to later today,” Shigeo responded. He expected a brutish expression on Mezato’s face or something, but her expression seemed more mischievous or so. “That’s fine! I mean, you’re popular and all, it wouldn’t be nice to stand anybody up,” She snickered.
Huh..? “Stand anybody up”? What does that- OH! “Oh! No, no, no! I just have a part-time job and some home stuff I need to do! I-it isn’t anything like that!” Shigeo stammered a flustered expression spread across his face. Mezato laughed, “You’re too easy! I know it isn’t a date, it’s too early for that.” Shigeo continues to not understand while Mezato keeps talking, “Hm, well I can wait, it isn’t like you’re gonna lose popularity anytime soon, still plenty of those psychic powers!” Is what she said as she left.
I’m too easy??? He wonders, he doesn’t understand what that means, is he too easy to tease? Too easy to see through? Moreover, he isn't sure if he's comfortable with people in his school knowing about his abilities, which is also getting under his skin. He’s been hiding them ever since he got into middle school, it just doesn’t feel right now that it’s been revealed. It isn’t like anything bad has happened, it’s just difficult to adjust to. He can survive a few more hours left of school, after that, he can talk to Reigen about it and get some advice from him, and after that, he can talk to Ritsu too. That should work with his schedule.