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After everything is said and done, Reigen finds Mob sitting alone on a bench. He’s twirling the stem of a wilting flower that’s all that remains of a once-beautiful bouquet.
Everyone in the city gathered together to help pick up the rubble that was left in Mob's wake. It would get done much faster if they used psychic powers, but there's a nice sense of community that comes along with doing it the hard way. It's bringing everyone together. Reigen isn't doing much in terms of grunt work, but he's the one that's directing people on what to do. They need a leader to get this finished, and while he might not have been the one to orchestrate it, he's the glue keeping everything together. Or at least, for the particular section of the city he's become the unofficial head of. He should really go back and give them his guidance, but right now, Mob needs it most of all.
"Mob," Reigen says, sitting down next to him. "What are you doing?"
Mob startles a little as he looks up from the flower. “Ah. Master.”
Reigen jabs his thumb behind him towards the rubble. “You gonna help out?”
Mob looks at him dazedly, as if he forgot what they were doing in the first place. "Oh, that."
"What's up? You look like you've got something on your mind."
"It's nothing."
"Now, come on. Don't say that," Reigen says. "Did something happen?" He very pointedly ignores the elephant in the room.
"...well. She gave me her phone number.”
Reigen raises his eyebrows. “Tsubomi-chan?”
“Yes. Do you think… Do you think she could change her mind?”
"About liking you?"
“She said she’s never thought of me that way, but now that I said something—do you think she may realize she does?”
“Maybe. Maybe not," Reigen says. "Humans are fickle creatures—especially women. They can change their minds at the tip of a hat. It’s best not to apply logic to it.”
Mob nods as if Reigen’s just said something extraordinarily insightful. It may be common knowledge to someone like Reigen, but to a middle schooler who’s still discovering himself, it might as well be groundbreaking. Mob takes the words of a fraud as gospel, even if he’s known since the beginning. The guilt may no longer suffocate Reigen with its weight, but it will never entirely fade. He’s not what one might call an exceptional role model, but Mob looks up to him regardless. A kid like him deserves better.
Mob perks up. "So you think she will?"
“However, you must respect her feelings. Don’t resent her or expect her to change her mind now that you’ve put the idea on the table. You're a special kid, Mob," Reigen says. "Not everyone is gonna get that."
"Oh..." Mob blinks and stares at the ground.
"However, not everyone has to. Tsubomi-chan doesn't have to love—or even like—you. Not that I'm saying she dislikes you," Reigen rushes out at Mob's worried expression, "just that she doesn't owe you it."
"Master Reigen, I don't think I understand."
"It's just—ah." Reigen runs a hand through his hair and sighs. "What I'm trying to say is that you'll find someone who does get you. Tsubomi-chan may not be that person, but there's someone out there who is."
"What about you, Master? Have you found that person?"
"That's not what's important right now," Reigen says, hurriedly. "Do you get what I'm saying? This isn't the end of it all—just the beginning."
"Do you really think so...?" Mob asks. Reigen hates the hope in his voice, because it means he doesn't fully believe it; he doesn't realize how incredible he is.
Sometimes, Reigen sees Mob as an eleven-year-old boy—stuck inside his own head and in desperate need of guidance; oblivious to the world around him and barely able to handle the power he's been given. But over time, he has become so much more. He's learned how to grapple with the weight of the sky that was suffocating him for so long and is able to teach others how to be kind. He has become a better person with each and every passing day—one better than Reigen could ever dream of becoming.
"He is a good person," Mob had said. He believes in others more than he believes in himself, and that is the reason why Reigen admires him more than anyone else in the world.
"Of course," Reigen says with a smile sadder than it should be. "You're gonna get through this. It's going to hurt like hell right now, but eventually it'll be okay. Now c'mon. Your little brother, Dimple, Teru-kun, and Serizawa—they're all waiting for you."
There's something so heartbroken and haunted in Mob's eyes that it hurts; Reigen can see tears beginning to prick at the border of his eyes. His hands grip his jeans tight, as if it's the only thing holding him steady. "It's my fault... They shouldn't be cleaning up the mess I made."
"Nonsense," Reigen says, waving him off. "We all need a little help in our lives."
He hopes that he gets what he's trying to say across: You've done so much for them, all of them—me most of all. The least you can do is let us help you. Mob isn't known for noticing subtleties, so he probably doesn't pick up on it. It's best to be direct, but Reigen isn't ready for that. He can show it in little, implied ways, but admitting he cares for someone out loud is terrifying.
"I'm..." Mob's lip quivers. "I'm sorry. I destroyed the city and hurt so many people. I don't—" His voice hitches at the word don't. "I don't deserve everyone's help."
Reigen can still feel the wind roaring in his ears and the fear that accompanied it. Not for himself—okay, maybe a little, or more than a little—but for Mob. He tore apart the city and left no one in his wake. The tears he shed over getting rejected then and the way his voice breaks now; it must be torture for him. Puberty's hitting him with full force.
But despite all of that, Reigen thinks to himself—amazing. Just a few days ago, Mob wouldn't have been able to show this much emotion without something tipping him over the edge. He's finally accepted himself and allows himself to feel; he's no longer holding himself back.
"Don't say that. Everyone's deserving of help," Reigen says. "Look at everyone you've helped. Not all of them deserved it, yet you did so anyway. People can change through their interactions with others. You've proven that with others, but you yourself can, too."
Mob's expression is unreadable. "I..."
Reigen stands up and holds out his hand. "So let's go back. People make mistakes all of the time. What matters is that we learn from them and try to fix what we've screwed up."
Mob stares at it blankly.
"Come on—don't leave me hanging." Reigen's starting to sweat now. Did he say something wrong?
And after what feels like far too long, something incredible happens—Mob smiles. Not one of his usual smiles, but one filled with all the warmth in the world. A smile the Mob that Reigen once knew would never be able to do.
"Master. Thank you," he says, and takes it.
("This isn't going on your pay, by the way," Reigen says as they walk back together. "Just volunteer work. I'm not running a charity here. But afterwards, let's go get some ramen."
"Can everyone else come, too? Since we've all been working hard."
Reigen considers it for a moment before saying, "Of course. As long as they pay for themselves, they're free to come all they'd like.")