Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

.
.
.

I'm in big trouble. That's all I could think of as I was handed the failed test at dinner.

“Shigeo! What the hell is the matter with you!? How could you fail one of the most important tests of your life? What have you been doing when I tell you to do your homework!”

Mom is furious, and Dad is just looking at me with a disappointed stare, I really messed up this time…

“I’m sorry! I did study—” A loud clanking of a fork came from Mom as she put it down on her plate

“Well, it must not have been hard enough! You'll be lucky if you even pass ninth grade!”

“I—”
Ah…

I bent another spoon on accident again

“Don't be so hard on him, Mom. He's trying his very best!” My brother nudged me and passed me another spoon from across the table.

“Stop it Ritsu, you can't help him this time! He needs to be scolded! He might be sent to that class 3-E up in that mountain with all those bad Influences this time around!”

Class 3-E? What's that? I never heard of it…

“Calm down Mom I'm sure one failed test isn't going to send him with the delinquents-

____

“Shigeo Kageyama, you are being sent to Class 3-E. Mandatory.”

“W-what, sir? One failed test can't be—”

“Enough. You're going until your grades improve. Think of it as summer school. You'll have more time to study there because I feel as if you're too far behind to catch up with your classmates here.”

The principal took a long glance at me and then sighed

“Look, it's not as bad as it seems Shigeo, I have a colleague there from college. She's a nice lady, she's the main teacher and the kids just love her.

This isn't a punishment, this is for you to be able to learn without being left behind. Get it?”

“...Got it, sir..”

—(7%)—

I find myself staring at the ground for some reason. The walk to masters feels particularly difficult today…

Maybe it's just what all happened at school… I'm going to miss the body improvement club, but they said I could rejoin after I come back.

Still-

“Oooo! Looks like good boy mob got in trouble! How'd you even fail that test anyway! I could have passed it with my eyes closed! Bahaha!”

Maybe it's just him. Bringing such a negative aura should I just exercise him right now?

“Hey, chill out! I heard that!”

“Oh. I must have said that out loud” I glance toward the green floating ball.

“Wow, you're really out of it, hmm. Since you now have a shiny new record, going to ‘super bad kid class’ and all, you should beat people up! Get some muscle and some lackeys-”

“Dimple it's not the time for that…”

“It's never the time for that! But now it is! Hear me out super rad bad kid Shigeo—”

I push open the door to Spirits and Such, and head towards the main desk where Master is doing his usual work

“Hey, Mob! Welcome back!” I nod, noticing he seems busy because of the loud clanking that his keyboard is making. Master might know a little more about the class that I'm now going to.

And maybe some… better advice than dimple.

“I have a question, Master.”

“Oh? A question from my best student! That's new, spit it out.”

“Master, do you know anything about Class 3-E?”

Regain stops typing instead of that, he puts a hand to his chin.

“Oh? Class 3-E? It's the classroom for mean weird gangster students up on the mountain- actually, we got rid of a cursed wandering spirit near it a few months ago

It's basically a big collaboration with Kunugigaoka Junior High School and Salt Middle School, and another one of the districts- can't remember the name for the life of me-

Anyways It's for students who are underperforming or the last ditch effort for the expelled. Why'd you want to know?”

“Uhh… So master…what would you do if you...

Failed your end-of-school test and now are getting sent to the place where you heard someone say that there were mean weird gangster students where you're going to study until your grades are up..?”

“… Hmm, personally, I would probably cry.”

That's not a good answer. Not at all… Is it really that bad that my master is giving such a negative response..?

“Master…”

“Listen Mob.” Regain clears his throat while clasping his hands together.

“That's what I would do in that situation. You're different because you're a smart kid even if your failed test says otherwise.

And let me give you one more piece of advice.”

Silence fills the room once again.

“Beat the oldest one in the courtyard.”

…

“Master… Isn't… that for prison..?”

Regain just shrugged “Same thing probably. Now, Mob, we do have a job today, so you better put those thoughts away before we get to the client for today—

Oh wait, speaking of clients I think they're here! Just listen to me, the expert, Mob!”

The door opens with a soft clink as a middle-aged woman frantically walks in

“Hello there- I've been cursed I say! cursed!”

“Ma'am I'm the one who'll say you're cursed!” Regain does some weird hand motions to make the conversation even more clear

“I feel your aura and something is troubling YOU deeply!” he finishes while pointing at the woman.

“That's right young man— I've been having nightmares of the moon exploding! Kaboom! And a squid creature crawling out of the remains!”

.
.
.

“…Ahha! Is that so? Well, I just have a thing for that! Just let me talk to my associate real quick——Mob, what do you think?”

Ah, we're whispering now I guess.

“A weird squid thing? Hmm, it might be a spirit causing the dreams but I don't feel anything attached.”

“Yes yes, I also feel that, but do you think she's just having weird nightmares?”

“Maybe, we could check her place if you want, something may not be attached to her but the apartment or house she's staying at. I thought you would know that and bring it up right away, Master.”

“Of course, I knew that mob! It's just when you get to MY level you tend to overlook the most obvious. Anyways we'll probably do that then.”

“ahem! Ma'am, we have the best solution and package for you! Just for the small fee of ¥13000!

—(18%)—

“This place is creepy- no wonder she's having nightmares. I mean who has a house in the middle of the woods like this…

That's just begging for every spirit in the area to come mosey over… Anyway, Do you sense anything Mob?”

“No, nothing at all. This place is pretty much clean.”

“Really? Ahem, yes, that seems to be the case.”

“It's weird… I can almost feel no presence of any spirits in this Immediate area.”

To Mob's response, Regain puts his hand on his chin

‘Ah looks like Master is thinking things over, he must also feel that something is up with this place.’

Regain is in deep thought about what Mob said but of course not for the same or right reason.

‘No spirit in the Immediate area?! This is bad! We can’t tell the customer that there’s nothing wrong—

—jackpot!’

“Ah-ha! A leftover package of takoyaki! This must be the reason! It’s causing the woman nightmares because she’s such a wasteful person! That's it Mob.”

Regain waves both of his hands in the air

“Sometimes things aren't always from ghosts but from guilt, We must dispose of this takoyaki!-”

Creaaaaakkk…

“…Mob what was that…”

“Uh… What are you doing in my house?!”

There where the creaking was coming stands an angry old man in front of the door to one of the rooms

“EEEK! MOB I THOUGHT YOU SAID THERE WERE NO SPIRITS”

“I'm right, there is no spirits master.”

“What? Oh, then are you that lady's boyfriend or something, did she not tell you that we were coming?”

“No. Actually, I think you got the wrong place.”

“Huh—wait, Mob, did we get the wrong house?”

“No... this is the address...”

“Damn it! Ah, I’m sorry, young sir! We were sent here to exercise a spirit based on a report from a woman a few hours ago. It seems she must have gotten the address wrong!

My deepest apologies, and you should really keep your creepy home locked—”

“Enough. Since you’re here, you might as well get rid of a spirit for me.”

‘Is this guy for real? He's a total bum! Asking for free labor like he's the one who called us!’

“...Ah, sir, we can’t do that—we are a paid establishment—”

“Do you really want me to call the cops-”

“...”

‘Oh… what a guy using that card on me, well unluckily for him I also have something up my sleeve.’

At this point Regain knew what to do even if this guy wasn't a spirit, there was an optimal move that works just as well for these types of people.

Regain Arataka uses the special move run for your life.

“MOB RUUUUUNNNN-”

This move is a critical move for those in the scamming industry! Regain using both of his legs darts for it, making one a spectacle of himself and two confusing the opponent!

“HEY! YOU WEIRD AND KINDA… sexy… BLONDE MAN COME BACK HERE!”

Sadly for Regain that move of his only works half of the time!

“Wait no Master, let's hear him out, there's something wrong!”

“Mob I'll only tell you this once- we can’t let people walk all over us-”

“Please wait-!”

Regain stumbles, he loses balance, slipping and falling towards the ground, It looks like he tripped!

“AKKKK-” —CLANKkKK

.
.
.

“Master, you dropped one of the takoyaki balls…”

…

“and it fell right in my way and since it was dark as hell in this house I tripped… Yes Mob, thank you.”

Regain muffled out while being face down on the floor.

–

“So you're telling us that there's something odd happening in this forest…? That's all?”

“Yes. Fix it.”

“Like I said sir I am a paid professional in my field you're going to have to give me more than it feels funny.”

“Urkk fine. A few miles away from my house is a broken-down shrine of sorts. I think it's all happening there, I'm too scared to approach it.”

This guy is a total scam! We can’t be talking to guys like this! Mob- please see this guy but don't hear him out-

Oh crap- look at his face he is hearing him out!

“Psst- hey, Mob what do you think?”

“I mean master… These woods do feel off. I feel like we should at least check… just in case something big is blocking or eating off the spiritual energy leaving nothing behind.”

‘Sighhh’

“Alright, it's up to you Mob just for you to know you're not being paid overtime nor are you getting any meat in your raman for this so don't get too cocky about extra work…”

Mob just nods at this and Regain points his index finger to the door

“Alright then! Let's head out.”

—(26%)—

A small shine sits alone peeking through the darkness in disrepair, nature slowly taking its course seeping throughout the bricks.

Obviously, No one has been here to visit, let alone keep up the work and maintenance of having a shrine out in the middle of a forest.

And It definitely wouldn't have looked as scary in the daylight actually, It could've been very serene to many.

But for Regain Arataka who thinks a evil spirit or worse that middle-aged guy from earlier is going to pop out from the dark and try to sell him a scam using his own tactics.

That thought is so scary it sends the hot blonde shaking in his boots even with his thirteen-year-old psychic disciple who's been looking nervous but otherwise unbothered.

“Wow, that old guy was right, this place is broken down, Looks like no one has visited this place for quite a while, or like a few decades. and might I add on really creepy…

Let's hurry this up and eat some late-night raman… in a nice bright restaurant… doesn't that sound just wonderful… Anyway got anything yet Mob?”

“I sense nothing here either master.”

“I knew it! That guy was a scam! Mob you can't have people like that waste your time—”

Suddenly Mob's eyes went wide, Regain noticing and even stopping his very hypocritical rant, stared at his student, and then in a light voice he asked,

“What's it Mob?”

“Actually… huh? I feel such a strong and sudden energy coming from over there in the distances, you must feel it too Master.”

“...O- Oh! Yes, indeed I do feel that such an overwhelming amount of power… what are we doing here let's go and exercise that spirit!”

“Master… You're going the wrong way. It's towards the east of us.”

“…Ah! My senses aren't sent in tune at the moment! Mob when you get as powerful as me you have a hard time having your senses everywhere, I simply limit myself for the good of me and everyone around me!- “

Regain puts a hand on his student’s shoulder,
“Now let’s go to the place..! And I'll let you take the lead Mob! After all, you're still learning!”

“Alright then Master, I feel it over here I think it's only a mile away… Master something over there is very wrong, such a strong and weird energy out of nowhere…

It's off-putting…”

“Huh? What, do you think that it's another esper like you?”

Mob slightly nods.

“Maybe so Master, I mean I don't think a spirit could cause such… chaotic spiritual energy.”

“Sounds like trouble… like I said it's up to you Mob whether you go or not I'll be right behind you with whatever decision you make. Just make sure you don't get hurt.”

“I won't, I promise Master. Let's at least check it out, I feel it up this path… we're almost there. Even if it's an esper,

their getting near the level of what they can produce at this point it actually might kill them,

or hurt others with all of that spiritual energy that at the moment is just collapsing and rebuilding itself.”

Before answering back to Mob, Regain stops in his steps for a moment before continuing walking ‘Is it getting harder to breathe or is it just me…?’

“Ahem… That sounds really bad… Alright then speaking of that I think I see a building in the distance? Do you think that's where that weird spiritual energy is coming from?”

“…”

Mob pauses for a second before replying back. “Do I think? I am certain something big is in that building and I sense bloodlust. Don't you feel it, master.”

‘Bloodlust? That's new… Never heard Mob mention ‘bloodlust’ before.’

“...Yeah actually. it's almost suffocating the more we're getting near that building actually… you really want to go through with this Mob…?”

‘I mean I know bloodlust isn't a good word, I just don't know what it means in the psychic terms or no Mob terms, he's obviously worried about it… is this really a good idea?’

“I mean if not us then who? Master I don't think anyone normal could go against a spirit or an esper.

‘…’

“...Y-Yeah that would be insane, haha… I mean normal people c-can't even see spirits let alone beat an espers power!

That's why me and you have to protect the normals who can't defend such evil… and Mob…”

Hearing his name in a serious tone Mob turns his head behind him toward his teacher.

“...?”

“Stay sharp, you never know what could be lurking to attack. Don't get cocky because of your powers, if you fight whatever this is, you could still lose.”

“Master I'll be alright-”

“We're here. And you… take my words to heart.”

Both Mob and Regain look towards the white office-looking building that is in ruins, walls collapsing, the roof completely blown off, the dust from rubble and debris still visible in the air.

“This happened recently…” Regain muttered while looking toward his assistant,

Mob on the other hand was frozen in place.

‘I don't- I don't think I can fight it let alone defeat it! The bloodlust… the energy… it's all over!’

Mob found out something that he didn't know that he could feel

‘Death’

Like the reaper itself was standing in front of him, If he made one wrong move someone no. Something can kill him in an instant.

“Mob…—”

He was trembling, he was afraid. Afraid of whatever was in the remains of that building, its energy was absolutely drenched in bloodlust,

and Mobs now being so close he can smell the human blood radiating from inside.

Mob, was truly afraid.

—Snap of it!”

“H-huh…?”

“You alright Mob?”

‘Master is hardly reacting to it?’
“don't you feel what's inside Master…?”

“Of course I do Mob. It's just not as powerful as me! Why did it scare you? I mean you were trembling a moment ago.”

“Master, do you really not feel it?”

Regain shrugs while answering
“I mean my chest feels a bit heavy otherwise no not really? Mob, is this collapsed building really that scary?”

“…”

“Mob you can't have these spirits intimidate you just like that old guy did for you to even take on this job! I don't even think it's another esper. Just another cocky spirit thinking it rules the world!

So don't worry about it Mob, let's just get this exorcism done with.”

Mob stays quiet for a few seconds before talking to Regain but this time not out of fear but anger.

“Master… I smell blood… loads of it coming from the building… something is in there and it… it did it. I sense it…

Regain stares blankly for a second ‘Crap! I didn't think there was going to be a crime scene or something in the building?!

Now I sound like a total idiot in front of my money maker! I have to pull this off somehow…’

“Ah yes! Mob I now sense it as well! Since this is way-y-y-y out of our pay-grade I suggest just leaving this one to the police and you—”

Mob tunes out Regain for a moment while he just listens…
.
.
.
listens…
.
.
.

Until he finds it

“I'll die in a year regardless.” a young adult male barely audible to the young psychic could be heard.

‘A voice!’

Mob instantly darted to where the voice was coming from.

“Mob?! Where do you think you're going!”

The hot blonde watched confused as his student ran off towards the building when the student in question had just said to Regain that he ‘smelled blood loads of it.’

He then proceeded to chase after said student.

‘I'm going to punch some sense into that kid! We don't deal with murders!’

“I don't care if I die here.”
The man continued to speak while Mob stared from behind some rubble.

‘he's… that energy is coming from him… looks like talking to someone- ’

“Mob! You don't run off like that!”
Regain spoke in a hushed voice.

“Master! There's a guy! And a woman! She looks hurt!”

Regain stares at where his student is looking before responding in a growl.

"Mob… that's not a ‘guy’ that's thing over there is more akin to a monster.”

And with that, the monster starts to speak again

“And I don't mind dying with the earth, either.”

“What in the hell is it talking about and what's with its hair, Looks like tentacles of sorts?” Regain muttered as quietly as he could

The guy soon took a step which blasted a massive wind ring into the air, Both Regain and Mob watch as the woman stumbles toward the tentacle being

“No!” the woman cried out quickly embracing the ‘monster’

“…Ah looks like their lovers Mob…” Regain looks toward his side where his assistant was supposed to be.

He wasn't there?

“Wait… MOB?!”

Mob was already halfway down the rubble to where the woman and the 'monster' were-

“MOB WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING THIS TIME!”

-And Ignoring Regain frantic whispers.
.
.
.
‘I sense it's something dangerous, not the monster! A weapon… it's coating in something weird- it's aimed right where the lady is!’

Mob quickly grabs the lady as quickly as he could, “Huh!!?” the lady made out a frightful scream as they both landed on the ground with a thud.

The 'monster' quickly turns back toward the lady,

But then in that exact moment right in front of him, a large spear shoots through the wall.

Silence filled the already silent destroyed building as both the 'monster' and the lady looked towards each other in shock.

Chapter Text

“Aguri!"

The monster appeared by her side within an instant,

“You- You almost- that trap… it was set for me if you would have gotten hit-”

“Calm down! I'm alright-" Aguri looks at her hands, which were only scraped from the disheveled floors.

"Huh? Wait, I'm alright..? Wait!” She looks behind herself to see something, no someone. A young child in fact.

'Ehh!? Who... a kid...? I am alive, right?

How… huh? No kids should be even near the proximity- this facility is hidden…

And monitored by the government under the guise of a military base so no civilians wander in-

That means… Is he one of the test subjects here?

No.

It can't be… The only human test subject here was Mr Reaper…

Even if that kid was, I don't think he would have survived anyway, especially after the building collapsed.

Then…’

Aguri takes note of the uniform the kid is wearing ‘A middle schooler? He's not from the lab for sure… Where in the world did he come from?’

Aguri, confused, turns towards her side, looking the monster in his two bright red eyes,

The monster, on the other hand, just hummed. “A child, is he one of your students?”

“No..?” she rubs her head now taking her eyes off of the monster and back towards the random child in a collapse lab, who, now was sitting upwards.

“Hey there?...” she slightly paused before continuing on, “...Are you alright? That was quite… a fall for you to have cushioned me.”

“O-Oh I'm alright! Miss!” The kid quickly answered back

“Ah, that's good to hear! I'm sorry to ask this. I mean, you just saved me, but… How did you get here..? Actually, a better question is how did you find this place..?”

‘Even if it's rubble right now, It's still a hidden government building, basically in the middle of nowhere- not a place anyone let alone a kid should be even near.’

Mob rubbed a hand on his neck,

“I-Uhm.”

But before he could answer anything, a voice shouting and loud pants could be heard coming down from the rubble.

“MOB! Are you alright!-” Huff- “ I told you just a minute ago not to run off! WHY-” pant- “Do you keep doing it! At this point,” pant “you're being a liability to our job–

Regain pauses for a second to catch his breath before doing something that can only be viewed as damage control of a scammer.

“I am so truly sorry for my student for interrupting your very private moment! Mrshadowtentaclehairman and Miss Lady! I shall give him a VERY serious talking to!”

Regain whispers the rest of the conversation to his student while helping him off the ground,

-Mob, what in the hell was going through your thick skull! Let's get out of here! We don't deal with anything that moves at the speed of light- let alone run straight towards it!

I know you did a good thing, Mob, saving that woman's life, but you put US and YOURSELF at risk, You cannot be doing that! We will speak more about this when we get out of your mess.”

“Sorry Master…”

Mob does a bow to his Master and to the other two people behind them.

Aguri blankly stares, and the monster blinks just as confused at the black bowl cut and eccentric hot blonde duo.

“Haha! Now that's over, we'll go now! You don't even need to thank my student for saving the miss! Isn't that right, hahaha-”

Regain death grips Mob's shoulders slowly dragging him away back up the rubble,

“let's go let's go let's go-”

“Now where do you think you're going?” The monster suddenly appears behind both of them.

It looked like the thing basically teleported, this of course sends Regain sweating and more importantly sending him into scammer protocol.

“You! right there! Um… I-I Regain Arataka… feel the horrible aura around you! I sense it… you must be cursed by an evil spirit!”

“…?”

“Here I have some that might help for free even…!”

Regain uses one of his special moves! A very quick salt splash to the eyesss!

“HRUHAH!-”

This move involves Regain taking a big handful of table salt from his pocket and throws it at the opponent's eyes!

This is one of Regain's special moves to run away from stuff he deems not worth it or in this case a weird tentacle monster thing!

.
.
.

Regain's attack failed!

The monster didn't even flinch let alone register that as an attack! Regain, now shaking a little, decides that the best choice is…

…Just to answer the question…

“...oh.! Haha- uhh, just… the way we came from, sir, Mr. Guy, sir!”

“...You can't leave right now. You have seen our faces. If you leave now, our identities will be compromised.”

“Sorry sir, not to be rude or anything- but do you even have a face-”

“...”

The monster just stared with its piercing red eyes, letting out a small grunt to the lady that ran next to him and grabbed his hand.

“Stop scaring them! The kid here literally saved my life…”

“Aguri…” the monster groaned

“You… Well… uhh- we could all go to my place and make plans of what we could do… Sorry to bring you two into things but… he's right… we can’t let you guys go.”

“Hey- wait there, lady! We're just Innocent bystanders here!-”

The monster's sharp teeth glimmers in the moonlight as he growls out his next words,

“You're not too innocent… what's a guy like you doing deep in the woods in the middle of the night… near a government building with a middle schooler?

“Legal things of course! We were sent here to exorcize-”

Regain stops himself and remains straight-faced, as a scammer he has faced many a client that ask whether what he's doing is legal and… of course it is.

Regain is a professional at being a law-abiding citizen, and usually, when a customer asks,

they're usually smitten by Regain Arataka's charm which works fifty percent of the time, The other half is having himself do fancy tricks to reel them in.

This case is quite different though since Regain is not facing a client nor a customer what he is facing is a bloodthirsty evil spirit asking if whatever he's doing is legal.

“-Wait I don't need to tell you anything Mr Suspicious evil tentacle guy in said destroyed government building-”

Regain is pretty sure being an evil spirit is indeed not legal.

“-Speaking of an exorcize-” Regain pulls Mob towards a corner away from the ‘evil spirit’ and the Stockholm syndrome reacherer.

“-Hey… Mob- Mob do you think you could exorcize that guy? He's definitely not human! Did you see those choppers? They're sharper than a shark!

Oh… and also there's the fact that he's literally pitch black with blood-red eyes and morphing tentacle out of his hair.”

“...Yes I do see that Master, Hmm. Maybe… I can try to exorcize him but he might be too powerful for me….”

“Don't say that Mob I believe you can! This guy is just a little more no, tiny more powerful than your usual evil spirit but I Regain Arataka, your mentor believe in you..!

“If it's just a little more powerful than what I usually do, why can't you Master? I'm sure it would be easier for you if you just did it.”

Regain waves his hands around frantically thinking of an excuse “W-well he's draining my powers Mob! Can you feel it! He's like a leech!”

Mob looks down for a second, “I don't really feel or see any disturbance with my powers master?”

“Hmm- It must just be me- because I'm so powerful- you see Mob when you get to my level some smaller fries might seem harder than they actually are-

This one is sapping precious spiritual energy from me making it harder to exorcize it! that's why my attack from earlier didn't work-

All of this is happening to me because of my massive psychic and spiritual power one sip and then BAM! My spiritual energy has gone haywire!

You'll eventually feel this… but not for a good while! I also believe You'll surpass such awful spirits! Under my guidance of course!”

Mob stares at his Master in uttered aw, leaving Regain to actually feel bad for lying.

‘His eyes are sparkling. Did I go too far this time around?’

“Anyway, he's messing me up so you have to do it! And you need more experience with evil spirits stronger than the usual anyways!”

Mob gives a nod to his Mentor, “I can do this Master trust me!" Regain gives a quick thumbs up and pushes Mob out towards the monster. “Atta boy! go get him!”

Mob walks the rest of the way to the ‘evil spirit’ Looking the monster deep in its face, then he asked.

.
.
.

“Um- Hey, do you mind if I exorcize you?”

“Eh…?” Aguri makes a confused noise.

“Don't just ask, just do it Mob!” Regain yelled from the corner.

Aguri looked obviously dumbfounded

‘They are delusional… maybe we should just let them go…’

As Aguri is trying to process what she should do in this situation, the monster beside her just tilts his head at mob’s question,

“Yeah sure go ahead, kid.”

Aguri yelped “Don’t you ‘Yeah sure go ahead kid’ him!”

The monster shrugged “Well I'm pretty sure he won't be able to do anything.”

“Don't seem too sure about that Mr. Tentacle EVIL SPIRIT!” glared Regain,

The monster stared at Regain returning his glare and then he looks back over to Mob, “I mean go give it a shot I guess kid.”

“Alright, then this might hurt? maybe?” Mob puts a hand towards the monster and then…

.

.

.

.

.

.

“It's not working, Master…”

“AAK!! Get back over here then!” Regain screeched

Cue Mob walking back to the corner where Regain is

“…?”

The monster and Aguri both give each other a look of confusion

.
.
.

“Mob! What are we going to do now!? And why can't you exorcize him! He's obviously an evil spirit!”

“…

…I-I don't… I don't… know… Master…”

Slumppp

‘EEP! That's bad! I actually see the depression in his eyes! I can't have him so down right now, this is important! A life and death matter! Mob are lives are on the line!’

“Hey Mob- don't be so upset! I mean this guy is obviously something I can easily exorcize but I don't think we should- I think we should just run…

“Master… I don't think he's an evil spirit… I think those two really do need help…”

“What are you saying Mob? if he's not an evil spirit then he's just a monster which I'm pretty sure, is in fact worst… and something that doesn't need help in the first place!

Think about it Mob what troubles will be thrown into our life if we let them in! Obviously this is for the next guy to take on.”

“…”

‘Wait- Mob stop it… why are you putting a finger on your chin like you're actually thinking about it!? Please, Mob decline it! Take a good look at this situation and decline it!’

“It should be okay Master… I mean, they seem okay and look like they need help anyway.

‘NOOOOO!? I have to fix this somehow! I'm sorry Mob! I am not getting involved with that weird alien thing!’

“Yeah! Sure! Mob, I'm sure the guy with long flowing tentacle hair has our best intentions at hand. I keep telling you this Mob you can't have people take advantage of you,

even if it is what looks like to be an-”

…

“...an ugly eldridge monster of sorts.”

Regain lets out a long sigh and pats his student on the shoulder, “Don't worry your little head Mob… Your amazing Master will get us out of this…”

Nervous sweat could be seen dripping off the blonde's face.

“Even if it costs my life…”

“… Master.”

.
.
.

‘Well that's a slight overreaction at the mention of going to my apartment… how'd it even get to this?’

Aguri blankly blinks ‘I really do hope they know we can hear everything they're saying, they do know, right? At this point, they aren't even trying to whisper…’

“hey…” the monster meets her eyes, “that… blonde guy is like… super weird should I just kill him..?”

Aguri frantically shakes her head “I- I don't think that's needed…”

“He… threw salt at me…”

“I know, I saw… I'm sorry…”

“he called me an evil spirit…”

“I'm sorry…”

‘I mean they are certainly… a weird duo that's for sure… they believe they're psychic for one thing… makes me really do wonder what these guys were doing in the woods?’

Interrupting Aguri’s train of thought, The ‘blonde guy’ turns back to them, with his student following along soon after with his abysmal reaction time.

Regain stares right at the monster, of course mentally and physically sweating bullets.

“AhHUM!” Regain suddenly and dramatically starts to hand gestures.

“What's in it for me and my lovely student here! You're here bossing us around, telling us what to do just because we came at such a good, no, GREAT time and saved Miss Aguri here's life!”

Regain points his index finger towards Aguri to get his statement through.

“Just say it, You're a run-of-the-mill scammer! Trying to take advantage of this tragic situation! How horrible!

Forcing me and my young and quite frankly stupid student to help you when we already did so much! What a terrible thing! What a crime!-”

The monster points his sharp knife-like tentacles at him to shut him up,

“EEP!”

That seems to do just the trick, cutting off the scammer’s 101 to get away from any bad situation™ spew coming from Regain's mouth

In a low voice, the monster threatens, “What's in it for you is not death-” he doesn't continue when he notices that Aguri is making a face at him.

“Um! It will probably be beneficial for the both of you! I mean the kid here saved my life..! We would probably talk about payment..!”

“Hmm… I still don't know about-”

“I-I'm a teacher! If this kiddo over here needs help with a tutor- I would be happy too-!”

Regain goes fully grayscale when he sees his student's beam at the mention of a tutor.

“Wow! You're a teacher, Miss Aguri!”

She nods “Yeah, I am, hehe, all free for my favorite savior! Guaranteed satisfaction, no money needed!”

‘Wow, she’s good..! And Mob is totally into it! As a scammer, I'm shaking in my footwear…”

Regain sighs to himself

‘This lady…she likes teaching, it's not just a gig, she's practically bouncing in excitement at the slightest mention of being a teacher. A complete one-sixty on how she was acting earlier

I mean I would act the same way with Mr killer knife tentacles over here watching your every move.

How did she even get to this point If she's a teacher? I heard that they don't get paid a whole lot for teaching but I didn't think it was to the point of where they have to do what looks to be illegal lab work.

All of this is giving me a migraine… I should have brought my cigarettes… although I don't smoke in front of Mob because he's easily impressionable and all that.

…

A destroyed lab, a murderous monster with Intense bloodlust, and what seems to be a pitiful researcher stuck in the middle of it all.

What a dangerous combo, If we let them come with what crap will insure. Will crazy scientists come after us? Or the government?

This isn't safe. Who knows what these people will bring over to us?

If Mob gets caught with his powers, and if the government manages to capture him, what would I do? A scammer pretending to be an esper while the real esper looks up to him?

What would I do if something happens that is out of my control, out of my fake abilities-

Wait no, Mob can easily wipe out the government. What am I thinking the real problem is this tentacle guy,

even without powers… I feel it. Mob wouldn't even be able to leave a mark on this guy-

Now, looking at that monster in front of me, he looks a lot more scarier than before,

No.

He's always been scary the minute we spotted him, the minute I smelt the blood radiating off him.

I knew he was the one to blame, and I knew deep down when he was talking to Miss Aguri that he sensed us there.

I'm scared.

Standing In the ruins of once a building I feel small, even with an esper next to me.

…He is too naivë, he sensed the bloodlust and still ran straight towards it when this lady was in danger, without a care in the world. and now he wants to help them.

Even though one of them is the sole cause of why it reeks of blood in here.

I don't know if it was idiotic or brave. But he did save a life, and he did do something,

I would have watched the spike go right through her, without being able to do anything-’

Looking over to Mob and Aguri, ‘they seem to be chatting quite a bit’

‘…’

‘...I have to be calm about this because at the moment my life is on the line and so is my money maker-

Speaking of money maker… wait. He's pretty dead set on helping them…

If I put my foot down- he’ll lose trust in me? He has a pretty high standard of me. If I say no..? I'll look like a total jerk!

Leaving this lady alone with that demon beside her? I already hear it now-

‘Master Regain… you're terrible, you left
a poor lady in a collapsed building with a monster… I'm quitting.’
.
.
.

NOO!! I CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!

“...Ahem… your lucky Mob is in need for… a tutor to help him, we will… take this offer for the sake… of my student here…”

Aguri nods, she then holds out her hand outwards, “Then it's a deal, now I was able to catch your name earlier when you decided to throw salt at my dear friend here,-”

she points to the monster whose visibility gleamed at the fact that he was called a dear friend.

“-But I feel like it's fitting for you to say it again so Mr-…?”

Regain takes her hand and they shake on it “It's Regain.”

“My name is Aguri, Mr Regain.”

“It's just Regain.”

“Alright! Now that's agreed on, I might have to say that I probably can't actually go home- uh what's with that face Mr Regain?”

“...My place is off limits, lady. And don't even think about Mob’s I'm pretty sure his parents will kill both you and me for even thinking about it.”

“Why is your apartment off limits Regain? Got porno mags laying around in the open..? How naughty.” The monster appears right next to Regain, giving him a sharp smile

“What the hell are you talking about? No, I'm way too old for that.” Regain replied blankly.

“You seem p-retty defensive,” the monster mocked popping the p. “Well I do have a… safe house nearby, the problem is…

That I have the same problem as you, Regain, if I remember correctly I accidentally scattered them all over the living room before leaving.”

“I told you I don't have that problem. I am too old to have porno mags. Especially ones lying around.”

“That's what they all say-”

Aguri glares at both of them already having her hands over Mob's since the beginning of the other two's convo.

“Really. What a mature way of speaking in front of a middle schooler.”

The monster immediately dropped it, while quickly going back to Aguri’s side “Sorry… it's true though.”

“Well… I guess that's the only choice at the moment… we’ll go there for the time being, but when we do get there, please clean them up.”

The monster was silent for a few moments before confidently replying, "Yes, ma'am."

“Now… how would we get there? How far is it?”

“Not far away I'm pretty sure I can fly all of us-”

“Hold it!-” Aguri throws her hands out, “-We can’t do that!”

“?” The monster tilted its head in confusion. It would have been cute if it weren't such an abomination of a creature. "Why not?" The monster asked

“Why not? Really? We can't have you spotted from the sky!”

“But…”

“No!”

“Alright alright.” The monster nodded dejectedly.

Mob softly chimed in, “Not to interrupt but wouldn't it be safer for him to fly us there if you didn't want to get caught?”

His mentor nodded his head at this, “Yeah Mob is right, if the guy can fly wouldn't it be? Not that I want to be flown there, let alone be touched by him.”

Regain points at the guy in question and then shivers dramatically.

“No it's not safe… flying with or on him isn't safe because we don't know the limits of how far we can go or if we can hold all of us-”

Regain puts a hand to his chin, “So basically right now he's kinda like an out-of-commission airplane.”

The monster looked super amused at this, “More like an out-of-commission rocket.” he corrected

Aguri takes in a small breath, “Ok- so you safe house how long would it take to walk?”

“Like I said it's not too far away- but it would be hard for people like you to walk.”

“Hmm I mean all of the transportation here was destroyed thanks to a certain someone-”

The silence from the monster spoke volumes.

“-And personally someone else had driven me here… do you Mr Regain perhaps… have a car?”

“Like I said it's just Regain and no, I don't have a car, We took the train, sorry to disappoint.”

“Oh no that's alright that's perfect actually!” Aguri clasped her hand together, as she asked the monster. “Hey, how long would it take to get there from a train?”

"About twenty minutes to get there. But when we arrive, we’ll still have to walk a bit, not counting the time it takes to get to the train station from right here."

Regain stares, ‘Close my ass- it took me and Mob thirty minutes to get over here- so it's going to take like an hour and a half to get to that guys ‘safe house’ or whatever!’

Unlike Regain, Aguri seems quite happy with that, “That's a lot better! Thanks! Yes! we'll take that! Let's get going!”

‘...Well, I mean if she's ok with it.’

.
.
.

‘Wait…’

“Uh, who's paying for the bus fare here?”

(31%)

—
.

.

.

Somewhere somehow somewhere… I mean at a small scammer's- I mean at a small workshop called Spirit And Such's, a green fart color spirit is having… quite an epiphany.

.

.

.

“Where the hell is Shigeo!? Did He forgot about me again!?”

—