Work Text:
Akechi placed the device over Saiki’s head, having designed the helmet with convenient holes for Saiki’s limiters to fit through. It looked like something Kusuke would make in a lab: a sort of chromed bit of headgear with lights flashing about it. They weren’t just aesthetic, though. The lights indicated that the device was charged, online, and ready to be activated. An elaborate science project, the helmet was supposed to give a report on the subject’s stress levels and assess what the cause of any anxiety might be–hunger, exhaustion, relationship troubles, etc. Really, Akechi confessed in a long ramble, it was mostly just a novelty piece. The device would get some readings from the subjects brain waves and give an immediate assessment on how occupied their brain was, but as for giving a reason for any stress, the device would mostly spit out a random answer. It was still a high school project, after all, meant to be a fun display at the cultural festival.
“Alright, Kusuo,” Akechi announced, looking down at the computer the device was connected to. “I’m going to begin your reading. Of course, try to relax, but as we previously discussed, you shouldn’t take any of the results too seriously.”
Saiki prayed silently that Akechi wouldn’t give any further explanation about placebos and confirmation bias–all of that information was included in the poster board display behind their live experiment.
Aiura, who was the third member of their group, popped her gum. “Yo, forreal. Who’s idea was it for our class to host a mini-science fair? Why couldn’t we have done a maid cafe or something less… sciency?”
“It was my idea,” Akechi reminded her. Saiki knew from reading Aiura’s mind that she remembered that it was Akechi, she was just griping. “I thought it would be a unique idea, since other classes focused more on the entertainment aspect of the festival. Our class would be the only one with an edutainment theme.”
“I know,” Aiura deadpanned. “Still, kinda a lotta work.”
Saiki agreed with Aiura, even though she had done very little of the work on this project, actually. Her work on designing the poster board was appreciated though. It was a lot of glitter and puffy stickers, but it was tasteful. Okay, it wasn’t tasteful. But at least Saiki didn’t have to do it.
Akechi gave Aiura a big blinking stare. “Anyway, Kusuo, are you ready for me to activate the device? It’s not going to hurt, of course, you know the voltage on the machine is too low to administer anything other than a slight shock, even if there is some malfunction, but the wiring was simple enough, so there should be no issues…”
“OMG, just throw the switch or whatever, Tou-tou, please,” Aiura groaned.
Saiki couldn’t help the tiny smile that spread over his face. Aiura was so straight forward with Akechi, but somehow they were close friends. In fact, that was why Saiki asked her to join his and Akechi’s group. He knew that she would be able to speed things up, just by telling Akechi to shut up and keep working.
But lately, maybe there was another reason Saiki wanted Aiura to join their project. Maybe lately he’d been enjoying spending time with her. Lately he felt like he kind of…
“I like Mikoto.”
Akechi’s hand froze on the switch. “Did you say something, Kusuo?”
“Bro, did you just confess to me?”
Saiki’s eyes widened. “Why was that thought broadcast? I wasn’t thinking “out loud” like I normally do to communicate, using my telepathy to place that thought in their minds. No, that thought was supposed to stay private. What the hell?”
He heard these thoughts echoing in the room around him.
“Turn that off!” Aiura shouted, waving her arms at Akechi.
“The reading says Kusuo is stressed,” Akechi said, turning the machine off. “But that may be because it seems to have caused some mishap with his telepathy. It projected his thoughts through the room. You didn’t intend for us to hear all that, did you?”
Saiki didn’t answer, keeping his face stone still. Maybe he could just pretend that none of that happened. That they didn’t hear him admit that he liked Aiura and his subsequent freakout.
“Is that true?” Aiura asked, and she wasn’t talking about the device’s unintended consequence of projecting Saiki’s thoughts to the other two students in the room. She wanted to know if he liked her.
Since no one else was around, Saiki seriously considered just teleporting home. Instead he removed the helmet from his head and placed it on a desk. “The helmet shouldn’t be used on espers,” he concluded before stalking off down the hallway. He decided that he couldn’t just disappear from the classroom as other students had surely seen him go in there. He’d have to run away the old fashioned way.
“Kusuo! Wait!” Aiura called, jogging after him. “You don’t have to leave.” We can just act like that didn’t happen, right?
Saiki glanced around at the other students passing in the halls. It seemed that no one else heard his accidental confession and subsequent panic. He was going to make sure that this conversation stayed private. “Do you really think you can pretend that you didn’t hear… what I think about you?”
No. I guess not. But I can, like, try, right? If you weren’t ready to tell me, then we can try to act like nothing’s changed.
Saiki shook his head. “Not possible.”
Aiura crossed her arms over herself. So what, you’re just gonna ignore me?
Other students were starting to stare as the two of them glared at each other in silence, having had the whole conversation inside of their minds. “I don’t want to ignore you,” he admitted, feeling an emotion that he hadn’t in a long time, maybe ever. Sheepish. Embarrassed. Naked. Exposed.
Aiura smiled at his softly, displaying the pity that Saiki felt he deserved in his vulnerable position. “Come on, let’s just try to enjoy the festival.” She reached for his hand.
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” Saiki snarked. Just because she knew his feelings now, that didn’t mean that he was going to make this easy for her.