Archive of Our Own ^beta

When Aiura gets an idea, it's hard to escape from it. More specifically, if the idea involves you for being psychic, and an acquaintance of the other two involved.

There was a new exchange student, to everyone's misfortune, (Quite literally. It was ridiculous) a very, very unlucky one.
Hii Suzumiya, student of class two; a danger to society.
As soon as Toritsuka came running to me, whining about a new student he couldn't even, I knew I was getting into trouble.

We watched her for a while, discovered how her "ability" worked, and to prove it, she fell in love with Reita.
After that, Aiura insisted on making Hii fall out of love so she could be with Satou.

I found it unnecessary for her to create a whole plan for this, involving me.
The psychics of PK Academy, together again, along with the girl with the worst luck in the universe.

I didn't think Toritsuka would be so cooperative with the idea of losing a girl crazy about him, but to my surprise, it turned out even Reita was too scared to accept her.
He didn't know about the plan, but he seemed to understand the intentions as soon as Mikoto organized an outing/date with Suzumiya and Toritsuka.
Of course, the two of us included to sabotage them.
The real reason was that I would have to protect them from possible fatal accidents.

I wouldn't have come, but I didn't want to have the blood of those three on my hands.
We decided to stay in communication through my forced telepathy.
I created a triangle of mental interconnection so we could talk among ourselves without Hii knowing. Despite insisting it was only for unavoidable matters, I wasn't surprised they ignored that.

First, we decided it would be a date alone, just the two of them with us watching from the shadows.
Reita whined about not wanting to be alone with her, even after explaining we'd be keeping an eye from a distance without Hii noticing.
In the end, fed up, we decided to accompany them as friends and give Toritsuka a reason the moment the ghost-seeing psychic swallowed a fly and started choking.

I had to intervene directly, which gave away our presence, and since Hii didn't mind, we continued like that.
I interfered more than three times to object to the idea of a double date.
Aiura was already too reluctant about the idea to listen.

We walked on the asphalt, heading to a restaurant.
If Reita was guiding us to where we went with Teruhashi, we could start with bad impressions. However, with that luck, the food could actually end up killing one of us.
If not the food, the rotting facilities would collapse on us.

I had already taken care of at least three incidents and it didn't seem to stop.

Mikoto stopped to see our reflections in a window.
"And again we all have death marks."

Suzumiya was talking animatedly with her date, who wasn't paying much attention.
It was intriguing to see Reita annoyed by a girl.
I observed her love meter, still at 86 with no change.
I sighed.

The effects of the terrible luck were reserved for whoever was with or near Hii, but I couldn't help thinking about how it somehow affected me before being in the girl's range.
Maybe I was dramatizing, but it was undeniable that I already felt uncomfortable.
Is forgetting something bad luck even when you're the one responsible for omitting it unintentionally?
Suzumiya talked about how she used to forget things, so she started carrying everything.

Maybe from the beginning of the day, luck hadn't been on my side.

"Where should I take her, Saiki?" Reita directed at me.

"And you don't ask the clairvoyant?" Mikoto gave him a sidelong glance, still walking at a calm pace.

"He must have the best plan."

"I was the one who created this whole plan in the first place! And anyway, no matter where you take her, you'll manage to scare her off." She crossed her arms, with an air of annoyance, while moving ahead, passing everyone. Reita looked like a dog about to bark.
I rolled my eyes and then turned to my surroundings.

I dismissed the idea of Nendo's ramen. The place was so nefarious that if there were a bathroom, it would be in such deplorable condition there would surely be cockroaches.
Unusable.

"Aiura, use your powers to find out what Hii doesn't like."

"Spicy things. She doesn't have a good history and has concluded she's too clumsy for chili."
Reita was barely making an effort to keep up with his date.

"Toritsuka, there's a spicy food place a few blocks away. Take her there."

Obediently, he stopped in his tracks in front of Hii and gave her an affable smile.
—Hey, I'm hungry, aren't you? How about we go eat?

The girl was actually hungry. Her eyes sparkled and the meter rose to 89.
I didn't worry too much. It will soon fall much more than it rose.

I swallowed another sigh.
If I started sighing and sighing, I didn't doubt the other two psychics would notice something was wrong, and then they wouldn't leave me alone.
They would burst into laughter upon learning the source of my unease.

We soon arrived at a pretentious place for serving the spiciest food in Hidariwakibara.
As soon as she saw it, Suzumiya tried to explain and refused to eat there, fearing she would ruin something.
She took two steps back, waving her hands in an unintelligible explanation, when just then a marble rolled to her foot, she tripped, and fell on herself.
As if that wasn't enough, a brick was about to knock her out if it weren't for my reflexes.
I held the brick up high so it would fall to the side, not on her. I panted, making sure no one had seen more than the other two psychics. Both were still dumbfounded, looking at the events in surprise.

"How does she stay alive when Kusuo isn't around?"

I bit my tongue.
A slow, steady unease began to grow inside me, right below my belly. A discomfort caused by the liquid I should have emptied earlier.
If there were no bathrooms in that place, I would leave the other two psychics alone for a while. They'd manage.

Aiura offered a hand to Hii.
—Come on, I'm dying of hunger.

Upon entering, a series of things happened: the bell fell on Suzumiya's head and then bounced towards Toritsuka. Then a leg of a nearby table broke, causing the food to shoot towards us.
I took a tray upon myself and used it to protect us, and although it went quite well, there was one casualty.

Red sauce on her white skirt. Well, not even I could counter all her bad luck.
Hii blushed.

—Sorry! It's because I'm so clumsy. —Aiura gave her a blank look.

—Are you clumsy because a table broke?

—Yes, I should have been more careful when passing.

Okay, this was ridiculous.
"This girl is so complicated." Aiura scratched her neck.

My bladder decided to rant against me again.
I leaned over with the excuse of looking at the broken table and scattered food.
Time to leave, they'll manage until I return.

—I'm glad I always bring clothes, just in case. I'm going to change and I'll be right back. Sorry to make you wait —she said embarrassed and asked for the bathrooms. She went where they pointed.
I followed her.

—Saiki? Where are you going? —questioned Toritsuka. Mikoto also wanted to know.

"I'll see if she's okay." It was a very weak excuse. I knew it.

—I should go too. After all, I'm the reason she's here and I must protect my-... —Aiura grabbed him by the neck.
—Ah, no. You stay here.

—What?! Why do you let Saiki go?

—Because I know Kusuo isn't going to try to spy on girls while they're changing. Now, let's get a table that doesn't break and order food. —Reita followed her with dismay.

Bad luck.
There was only one bathroom, a unisex one. One where Suzumiya was changing clothes.
Good grief.
I let out an angry sound, resting my forehead against the bathroom door. I crossed my legs, as I had wished to do for so long.
It helped, but the disappointment was greater.
I tried to decide between going back with the others or waiting there.
What was less strange?
I went with the first option, turning to leave, when I heard a crash.

I used X-rays to see what had happened. Immediately, Aiura and Toritsuka arrived, scared and confused.

"The ceiling fell on her. Again, apparently. We have to get her out of there."

I opened the door with telekinesis while Mikoto and Reita pushed the rubble and grabbed Hii, trying to pull her out. She was unconscious.

"Kusuo, fix this so we can get her out," said Aiura, panting with effort before pulling on her again without success.

I controlled the owner's mind to not alert anyone about the commotion, a necessary thing to use my powers without unwanted looks.
I extended a hand towards them, the pieces of cement beginning to float and rise.

A twinge in my bladder and my concentration vanished. The rocks returned to how they were.
I felt the gaze of the other two psychics burning a hole in my chest, while I tried to regain composure.
I staggered, leaning against the wall beside me.
I didn't think it was possible, but I felt a sudden heat in my neck.

As quickly as possible, I tried again, this time succeeding.
The pieces came together and everything returned to its original state.
Suzumiya slowly opened her eyes, only to apologize again.

—Yes, yes. Let's eat —said Aiura, and I picked up a hair tie from the floor. The seer was perceptive, but no more than I.

Everyone ordered ramen except me, who only ordered a coffee jelly with nothing to accompany it.
I wasn't very hungry and preferred not to add extra pressure.
By this point, everyone except Hii was a bit paranoid. Reita was startled when the man bringing our drinks slipped and the glasses broke.
A wave of apologies and a girl started cleaning while they had to prepare everything again. We sighed.

My ankles rubbed together, joining once, rubbing a couple of times, and separating again.
Aiura was beside me, still with the double date idea. I didn't want to draw her attention to my inconvenience.

<<Your powers failing? That's new.>>

I waited for her to ask.
I took the hair tie from one of my pockets and slid it across the table towards her. She caught it with both hands, holding it with confusion.
My heart was beating hard. I hoped it was impossible to notice.

<<I had a premonition. As easy to solve as removing a hair tie from the path.>>
She turned towards the plastic object, keeping it to herself. There was no reason to doubt me, so she accepted it with the naturalness with which I had gotten the façade.

I wanted to pride myself on my good lie, and I would have, if it weren't for the twinge that decided to return with all its might.
My jaw tensed and I moved as slowly as I could. I didn't realize I had held my breath.
It was hard not to sigh when I felt like I was drowning.

It wouldn't be out of the ordinary for me to just get up and go to the bathroom, right?
The food arrived: Aiura and I making sure it didn't fall again until it was on our tables.
I stood up.

—Are you leaving again? —This time it was Reita who asked.
I didn't answer and they didn't question me. They trusted me enough.

My body sped up as soon as I had what I so desperately needed in sight. I walked faster, trying to keep my breathing under control.
In the same way, I felt the urgency return.
I closed the door behind me.
I couldn't even pretend to take off my clothes, because I immediately saw the "out of service" sign.
I cursed. It wasn't even there before, which meant they had just put it up. Was it too hard to put it outside?

I took the opportunity to help myself with my hands, squeezing for just a second so I could leave with more composure than I entered.

A minute's difference and there was already another disaster.
They added too much chili to Suzumiya's ramen, causing her to spit it out on Toritsuka and frantically search for water.
Her food spilled, too hot, and almost fell on Aiura. The girl moved away in time.
Hii drank hers in one gulp, hoping the burning would disappear. She looked at Reita with eyes watery from the spice, who just pressed himself as close to the wall as possible to avoid being affected by the disaster.
Her meter dropped to 60.

By this point, the cleaning girl just gave them a hopeless look.

—Are you okay, Suzumiya? If you want, we can order you something else. —Again, Aiura trying to be kind. It would be the third time they ordered.
Hii shook her head, saying she was fine, that she wasn't hungry. A few more insistent attempts until Mikoto gave up and the rest of us ate.
For my luck, the food issue made my fruitless trip go unnoticed.

I crossed my legs, wishing this would end soon.

Suddenly, I felt everyone was eating too slowly, including me.
I took small bites, even though it wasn't a large jelly.
I wanted to be at home, free to use my bathroom, to enjoy a coffee jelly as it should be.
Without having to watch my movements for being unnatural in front of the personification of misfortune and two other psychics.
My knees knocked together once more.

It wasn't a bad dessert. They had prepared it well and I had enjoyed it. But now I wished to get away.
I came to the conclusion that, since Hii transmitted bad luck, I would have to get far enough away from her to find facilities I could use without inconvenience.

I would have to find a way for the other two to take charge.
I planned to do it immediately upon leaving.

Toritsuka and Aiura still took a while to eat, since they actually had real food.
The last thing I wanted was to get impatient, but it was starting to become ridiculously difficult.
I bounced one leg, then the other, and it came to both.
Fanning, opening and closing, then crossing my legs and staying still for a while.
Then the pattern repeated.
I gave Aiura a small nudge.
It wasn't my intention, and yet it captured all her attention.
I knew she thought I wanted to tell her something, but since I didn't move or say anything, she just turned towards the initial couple, glancing at me from time to time.
That nudge had caused Aiura to focus on me, and I was aware that she now knew something was wrong with me.
I just did my best to ignore her.

My hands clenched into fists, refusing to squirm.
It was the best I could do until they finished eating, and maybe I got up too quickly.
The liquid shook inside me. I gasped and leaned over, supporting myself on the table. My hair cascaded over my face. I didn't move for three seconds.

—Kusuo?

I regained my composure and headed for the exit, without giving them even a glance.

<<Let's go.>>

Hii, too distracted, didn't seem to notice anything. Reita did, but he was too busy with his date. The main attention I got was from the seer.
As we left, she stuck close to me, following closely behind.
She was behind me, waiting for an explanation I didn't plan to give.

I was no longer aware of where we were going, and I couldn't care less. I put a hand in my pants pocket.

I took a misstep that made me stop short. I forced myself not to show pain. To remain stoic.
My legs crossed with a sigh.

Everyone was looking at me.

I started walking again, maybe forcing my steps too much.
I hoped the receivers would stop being on me to tell Aiura she would have to take charge for a while.

<<Alright, what's wrong with you, Saiki?>>

I squeezed inside my pocket.

<<Take charge. I'll be back.>> She wasn't satisfied, since she still didn't understand.

<<But..., where...?>> I had already moved away when she growled in frustration, cursing me under her breath.

I was a few meters away when both Aiura and Toritsuka interfered again.
<<You have to come back.>>
<<You can't leave.>>
<<Suzumiya just fell into a manhole.>>

I turned around, seeing from a distance both of them kneeling, trying to peer into a black hole in the sidewalk.
I had to go back.

—Do you see any ghost that looks like Suzumiya? —asked Aiura.

—Not yet. I think she's alive. —Reita replied, sticking his head in to see better.

<<Don't do that.>>

I decided it would be quick. Get Hii out of there and again head to where I wanted.

I knelt, using my heel for pressure.
The position was a fleeting relief.

I used X-rays to see well where and how Hii was.
It was a deep sewer, but to no one's surprise, she was more or less okay.
I spotted the dimly lit stairs beside her. It was too dark for Hii to see them without additional help.

I caught myself rocking in place and stopped, feeling additional heat on my skin.
I couldn't help but seek the gaze of the other two psychics, making sure they hadn't noticed.

Without wasting more time, I sent a telepathic message to Hii, indicating where to exit.
It didn't take long for her to return, rubbing the back of her neck, where she clearly had a bump.
I heard her apology in the background, already wanting to resume my relief plans.
I didn't take long to get up, ignoring the distress caused by the movement, and I hadn't taken three steps before being interrupted once more.

Aiura grabbed my arm, obstructing me.

—You can't leave, Saiki. You're the only one who can protect her and us from tragedy. As soon as you take another step, something else will happen and we'll need you. —I looked at her with all the monotony I could muster.
Her grip on my arm became more ironclad, a clear sign of her anger.

I tried to free her grip from my skin, grabbing her as well.
My body shuddered the moment I tried to pull.
Aiura moved away on her own, taking steps back, confused. My legs trembled, ignoring my direct orders. She must have felt me shivering.
I looked away as a last resort.

Reita had the decency to use forced telepathy:
<<All this time I've only heard Aiura whispering about how something's wrong with you. You know you can trust us with anything, right? We're the psychics of PK Academy. Although I'd understand if you only wanted to tell me. It's your decision to tell the person you trust the most, and Aiura would understand perfectly.>> Mikoto looked at him as one would look at a rotten sandwich, full of mold and worms. Hii also looked at me, then at Aiura and then at Reita.
Her meter is at 70.

<<You two are psychics. You can be without me for five minutes.>> I was aware that was probably a lie. I trusted that I wouldn't find them dead, and that was enough.
My pulse forced me to move again. I drummed my fingers on my thigh, my breathing measured every three seconds. Breathe in two, exhale one.
How did I get to the point where my bladder was so full to bring me to this?

—You're not stopping because of me, are you? —Hii asked shyly.

Of course, only Aiura assured her we weren't, throwing me a sidelong glance while making up flimsy excuses.

My mind was beginning to work slower than usual. My quick reasoning had always been a great advantage, but now I couldn't decide if I should try to leave once more. Too many escape attempts and I had already drawn too much attention from all three, including Hii, which was already a clear sign of my lack of discretion.

I didn't want to look desperate.
Ironic, since every so often I needed to turn with the excuse of looking at something better.

<<Suzumiya is not only a danger to us and herself, but to the whole of society!>>

I bit my thumb pensively. I crossed one leg over the other, hoping to look more casual than tense.
Another wave and I leaned back, beginning to feel sweat forming on my forehead.
I couldn't tell if it was from the heat or the effort. Maybe both.

I recomposed myself with a puff of breath, deciding they were self-sufficient psychics and could manage alone for five minutes, for God's sake, just five minutes to find a bathroom and relieve myself.

It was as if Mikoto had managed to read my mind, because she just looked at me coldly, reproaching my selfishness even without doing it directly. I expected her to do it via telepathy, and maybe she would have if not for the next interruption:
A throb in my temple, pounding my head with stabs of pain; and a real omen.

—Saiki! Are you okay? —The concern was collective as soon as I became aware of my surroundings again. Everything was spinning and I had a terrible migraine.
When the dizziness passed, adrenaline invaded me.
Even with the torment, the first thing I did was panic-check if I was dry. I looked down, Reita followed my gaze. I sighed upon seeing nothing, while my companion tried to figure out what he was looking at, as if it gave him a clue. Of course, there was nothing to see.

<<A... >> my mental voice broke at the sudden urgency, returning without any remorse. I exhaled through my mouth and grabbed my sweater from the other end, externalizing my struggle with the garment. Aiura and Reita looked at me attentively, waiting for what I would say.
<<A vision. A school bus with small children will have a brake failure, triggered by a bird.>>

Lost opportunity. The pain became constant in my abdomen.

<<You can avoid it, right?>>
I straightened up to look at Mikoto.

<<Yes. Take Toritsuka and Suzumiya to some store.>> My voice sounded breathless.

They obeyed, so I could handle the problem by myself.
If only I could be more productive without having to stand up and lean over every few steps.
I shook my head, small drops of sweat falling. I felt my vision was erratic.
I had to concentrate.

A bird would drop an acorn on a man, who would get angry and throw it at some kids playing soccer, who would kick it and it would end up in the bus's mechanism, preventing the use of the brakes. The rest was history. A history that wouldn't happen with me there.

I held back for a second, hoping no one had seen, and headed towards the kids playing soccer. It was the next street over from where we were, so it was quick. I held onto the construction brick to my right. I needed to pee, damn it.
I doubled over, holding onto the wall to avoid falling, with my knees trembling. I closed my eyes, letting out a gasp, followed by another and a hiss of pain. I put my other hand in my crotch.
I didn't think about it, it was instinctive. Just like removing your finger after touching something hot.

The series of events was approaching and I couldn't even have my hands free.
I opened one eye with effort, noticing I could barely see thanks to my glasses. They had decided it was a good time to fog up.
A child stopped to look at me.
I looked at him wearily.

—Why is an adult acting like this? —he mocked between giggles. He didn't stop further and went back to chasing the ball.
My bladder hurt, and now my ego did too.

<<You are too young to understand what it's like to be dragged along by two other idiot psychics, forced to keep them from dying on a suicide mission,>> I thought with little humor, grabbing my clothes tighter. I took deep breaths and regained my composure. I didn't want to hear more mockery from children.
I grimaced in anguish when I thought I was acting more childish than them.

It wouldn't seem so funny if it were his dignity and reputation at stake.

Another twinge and I just wished to finish as quickly as possible and teleport to a bathroom.

The moment the child kicked the acorn instead of the ball, I caught it without much effort with one hand, walking back and forth.
I was frantic, with my hair plastered to my temple and sweat sliding down my neck.
I had never sweated so much before, nor did I believe it was possible.
The liquid I exuded had reached the bridge of my nose and I feared it looked like tears. I could say it felt that way.

Okay, I saved the children. Now I must leave, now. Right away.

<<I could see you stopped the catastrophe. It's safe again, isn't it? Come back to us>> I realized how nervous I was when Aiura's mental voice took me by surprise, irritating me with a startle. I wanted to ignore her.

<<If I start trying to convince her to show me her bra, will her meter drop? Or maybe...>> I cut off communication with Reita, too fed up to bear it.

I pretended to move, but I stumbled and ended up with one leg over the other; as if I had taken a step in the wrong direction.
I wiped the sweat with a sleeve.
My other hand rested on my abdomen, unable to avoid the impulse to feel the rigidity of the overly full organ.
A tremor took over my limbs. I raised a hand and observed it, only to see the clear trembling of my body.

<<Saiki?>>

I had to ask for her help. Otherwise, I couldn't leave. She had to understand my situation.
Already at a critical point, of urgent incandescence.
Just to find a bathroom.
I should just teleport to any known facility, hope they didn't die in three minutes, and return. And that's it.
It was as simple as that. So straightforward.

I bit my tongue, squeezing one eye shut tightly. I needed relief. What a pathetic way for a psychic to crave relief, I thought with little humor.

I took another step, followed by a fierce urgency that crawled from my center downwards, just wishing to stop the agonizing pulse just above my pelvis.
My knees bent against my will, diminishing in effort. I bent over in the full definition of the word.
Both hands on my crotch, exerting force on my groin, in an attempt not to humiliate myself.

<<What is that guy doing? >> I heard the thought. People were watching me.

It was just a drop. A drop that I felt moisten my clothes that made me panic.
I wasn't going to wet myself.

<<Aiura, I want..., I want you to cover for me>> I stifled a guttural moan. My broken and hoarse voice was enough.

<<Again? You can't just leave and abandon us whenever you want. You should learn a bit about affective responsibility, you know what that is... >> I interrupted. I wasn't proud of begging:

<<Please, Aiura. I need to leave.>>

There were a few seconds of silence. Aiura didn't know what to answer, surprised. I noticed she softened her tone to a more affable and indulgent one:
<<I don't understand. What's wrong, Saiki?>> I sighed with irritation. I wasn't going to answer that question.
The fabric of my clothes made a rubbing sound when I rubbed my thighs.

<<I need to get away from Suzumiya to not be affected by her bad luck>> I was sure Mikoto wondered why I sounded tense. Forced.

<<I'm not understanding. We're all suffering the consequences of Hii, Toritsuka just got splashed with wat–>>

<<I need to pee. Help me.>> I interrupted. It was a concise and quick sentence, wishing to end all this. It was pathetic, yes; but I didn't want to deal with the situation anymore.

Silence again, in which I could imagine Aiura blinking incredulously, barely grasping the information.

<<W-What?>>
I was beginning to get more frustrated than I should. I walked back and forth, stopping every few seconds to hold back.
I didn't want people watching, but I also didn't know where to go.

<<Have you been acting like this all day just because you need to...?>>

<<Will you cover for me or not?>> Again, the other girl's tone was more carefree and even with a hint of amusement.

<<There's a bathroom where we are. Just come and ask.>> I could swear she was smiling.
I hissed through my teeth.
<<Suzumiya's luck won't allow me while she's nearby. I already tried.>>

<<Well, come and I'll take them somewhere else. It's not the end of the world.>>
I could feel the density of the liquid in my body. It would be the end of my bladder if this continued.

<<Your powers failed because you wanted to go to the bathroom... >> It sounded more like a reflection to herself.
Next time I would also take away her forced telepathy.

<<Don't say anything to Toritsuka.>>

I had no other choice, so I went with them.

The walk was torturous.
A haze of anxious thoughts: Does my walk look strange? Did anyone notice something? What if the damp spot is visible? What if... I don't make it?
It had been a while since I kept my hands away from my thighs, pinching, wrinkling, pulling, and violating the fabric in a constant rhythm. A pattern.

I arrived at a small store where I knew they were. Aiura walked towards me as soon as she saw me.
I tried to keep my hands away and look normal.
My legs were trembling too much not to notice.
I tried to make eye contact, but her eyes kept falling downwards. It was getting on my nerves.

<<Where?>>

Out of the corner of my eye, Reita was trying to see what was happening. He was talking to Hii, but kept getting distracted by us. The boy's face was full of mud and the girl was bleeding from her arm.
I didn't ask anything.

—In the back. We'll go for ice cream. Now go before you wet your pants. —I gave her a sharp look, however, I didn't retort. I just walked past her quickly, ignoring her stifled giggles.
I would never help Aiura again.

They left the store, feeling them gradually move farther away.

Just as she said, there was a bathroom in the back.
I was beginning to get desperate enough to just teleport a few inches away. Saving any time was essential.

I closed the door with a trembling hand.
I turned around, hyperventilating with one hand on the wall.
Then something walked across the floor.
I looked at it. It looked at me, moving its antennas. I disappeared, and suddenly, I was in a desolate wasteland. Texas again?
Shit, no, no, no. I would have to wait three minutes before teleporting again, and I couldn't go back to that bathroom.

I walked back and forth, dragging what seemed like sand.
I was grateful for my glasses, otherwise it would get in my eyes, which wouldn't help.
I kicked a rock. With my strength, it flew far away, until I could no longer glimpse it.
I couldn't communicate with Aiura from such a distance.

Two minutes. I knelt, grabbing my crotch firmly. I could feel my bladder throbbing, too full. It felt regal.
The liquid still tried to crawl downward, make space.
I wanted to remove my bladder, full and heavy. As if it didn't belong to me, only causing pain.
I gasped, not thinking much about the nature of the sound.

I didn't want to get covered in sand.
I stood up again. My eyes were half-closed and it was hard to see.

One minute. A drop of sweat fell and moistened the ground beneath me. The sight caused a leak.
I squeezed tighter, unable to avoid looking down and letting out a sigh of relief, which sounded more like a sob, upon seeing my clothes still looked intact.

Zero minutes. The pain had settled at the lowest point, pulsing over my groin and causing unbearable stinging.
The sensation was different now, as if dragging vestiges of weariness. It was accompanied by a tingling numbness that didn't stop causing me agony.
How did I get to this?
As if feeling it wasn't enough, it repeated in my head like a mantra.
<<It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.>>

Another burst paralyzed me. The inside of my thighs moistened with the traces of urine descending.

I thought about relieving myself deliberately just to stop my body's affliction.
No. Not now.
I could teleport again, I just had to endure a little longer.
My vision turned watery, feeling my eyes tear up a couple of times. It was because of the sand. I was crying because it got in my eye and nothing more.

I teleported back to the store, outside the bathroom, of course; avoiding the cockroach at all costs. The store owner, distracted, looked around for the source of the noise. I hid behind a shelf; both hands clutching the edges and shivering.
I wasn't used to feeling such overwhelming heat on my face.

The man lost interest and I could pretend I had just come out of the bathroom.

I tried to look for the others, but they weren't there.

I approached the exit, the glass door allowed a view to the inside of the store.
Sure enough, Aiura accompanied a sad Toritsuka, holding an empty ice cream cup, and an embarrassed Suzumiya with the dessert on her clothes.
She must have felt my gaze drilling into her back, because she turned curiously.

Her gaze was one of confusion.
She must have felt the abrupt loss of telepathic connection.
She patted Reita's shoulder before heading towards me.

I did my best not to start walking in circles. I had much less composure than normal.
I allowed my knees to press together.

Another spasm and my body weakened from the electric current that ran through my veins and set every nerve on fire.
My legs bent and I swore I would fall to the ground when Aiura grabbed my arm to prevent it.
She tried to help me stand up and it was embarrassing that I kept bending over.

I wasn't cooperating.

—I'm reaching a point where I'm starting to suspect you don't know how or don't want to use a bathroom. —And despite the biting nature of the comment, her tone contained a certain delicacy. The poor girl, more than confused, was beginning to worry.

<<Cockroach.>> I answered, struggling for air.

—Are you an idiot? Just kill it. —she said with frustration and took my arm. She dragged me back to the bathroom and I angrily freed myself from her grip.

I took two steps back when she opened the door, determined to kill the insect. I almost fell over a shelf, barely managing to grab a cup that rolled too close to the edge.
A crack spread right from where I was holding it and I placed the cup back in its position as quickly as I could before it broke completely.

I didn't have time for that.

I left the store stumbling.
My steps were clumsy, unusual for me. Slow and sluggish.
My bladder couldn't handle a different pace. My bladder was beginning to not even be able to handle that pace.

Toritsuka and Hii waited for us outside, Reita looking everywhere, trembling with fear and paranoia. I wondered how much he had already had to endure that day.

I leaned against the wall upon reaching them. Hii looked at me surprised and Toritsuka was still too traumatized to follow my movements.
A burst of urine escaped my control and I let out a choked sound.
Did I really just have to wait for my body to give in and betray me in front of my classmates and strangers?
How? I should have teleported home as soon as I had the chance.
I shouldn't have accepted an invitation to something so stupid that hasn't even worked beyond 10 points.

<<I should..., I should teleport now. Now before I lose every gram of dignity. Before I can't do anything.>> I thought to myself.

—Are you okay, Saiki? —Hii asked innocently and even Toritsuka focused on me.
He couldn't ask without telepathic communication in front of Hii, and maybe in another situation I would have been proud of his anger.
Now I just wanted to disappear.

I turned to face the wall, pulling my clothes down and placing my closed fist against my crotch. I couldn't let them see the damp spot on my clothes.
This wasn't good.

Aiura returned with slumped shoulders. I didn't even look at her, but I felt her presence and heard her footsteps.

<<Thirty more came out. I couldn't get them all.>> she confessed, embarrassed. I gasped at this.

Reita whispered to Aiura, but the girl ignored him. Hii was very confused.

Another leak and I covered my face.

Mikoto took me by the shoulder and whispered to me:
—Hey, calm down, Kusuo. We need to find some private place so you can teleport home.

I didn't answer, overwhelmed by shame and physical sensations.

She announced to the others that it was time to go home and took me to continue walking. It caused another leak, and I sighed abruptly again.

She looked at me and then lowered her gaze.
She tried to pretend she hadn't noticed the dampness of my clothes, but I knew she saw it. I heard her thoughts upon seeing it.
And as if that wasn't enough, Reita wanted to know. He approached me, asked me several times, then Aiura, and repeated. He didn't give up and his voice was stressing me out more.
Mikoto reprimanded him and he just got annoyed.

"Why does Aiura get to know and I don't?" "I'm a much better psychic." "How come you like this failure more?" "What about best psychic friends forever?"

I hissed in pain, not stopping at the pang of urgency and affliction. Behind me, they stopped and that almost pushed me over the edge.
<<Keep walking, please. What are you doing?>>

The gentle motion of walking had been cradling my bladder, and stopping suddenly...

Hii had fallen and they were helping her up. I wiped the tear of frustration from my face before anyone could see it.
My mind kept repeating the same phrase in a loop: "I don't have time for this," over and over.

I walked back and forth, frantic and with trembling hands. I grabbed my clothes, let go; then I adjusted my glasses and held my breath.
I choked and took a breath at the same time that the three turned to look at me. Hii and Reita still confused, Mikoto seemed to take pity.

Aiura started walking behind me, saying something to me. I decided not to listen, but it wasn't hard to guess they were words of encouragement.
I didn't need encouragement, I needed them to hurry up.

Any private place, we just had to find some place where they couldn't see me. How hard could it be?
And yet, I was already tired. My muscles burned raw, and even my bladder seemed to tire, sinking inside me.
I was still holding on, but I had already lost hope.
I began to think about what I would do the moment I lost control.

My steps became slower and Aiura was the one who started pushing me.
I just squinted my eyes as my clothes got wetter.
I felt Mikoto hurry.

The constant dripping didn't stop, and the dark stain had spread to the middle of my thighs. The group moving behind me, Aiura behind me to cover me.
I appreciated the gesture, but it wouldn't have been of any use in a few minutes. As much as I wanted to safeguard my dignity and hide from the other two what was happening, I knew I wouldn't last much longer. They would see.

Mikoto looked from side to side, searching for some place. A bathroom, an alley without people, an empty store.
The bustle didn't stop and there seemed to be more people than ever.

—I think I just saw a good place a few blocks away. We're very close. —Aiura assured me.

By that point, neither Suzumiya nor Toritsuka were speaking. They just watched, not understanding and curious. The tension spread among the four of us and now we were all anxious.

I felt another stab of pain and leaned on Aiura. She made a pained expression and I stopped when I saw I was hurting her with the force I was using to hold her.
She tried to make eye contact with me, to which I deliberately ignored her.

A part of me wanted to beg, to plead. I knew it wouldn't do any good, so I remained in a sepulchral silence.
Beyond my breathing, which I hoped wasn't too loud.
There wasn't much to do anyway.
I wouldn't make it.

I allowed tears to fall from both eyes. Just looking at the ground. Looking at how pathetic I looked with a fist over my crotch and fragile as I had never felt before.

Some people looked in my direction. I heard what they thought.
Nothing too bad yet, since they didn't understand what was wrong with me. They thought I was sick, that I was going to faint. Things far less humiliating than the reality.

I wasn't used to "blushing," I wasn't sure if that still fell into that category. The incandescence on my face that wouldn't go away hurt. My head hurt, a stabbing pain from the sun and from not having drunk anything for so long on such a hot day.
I wondered how it was possible to be on the verge of dehydration and at the same time be agonizing from having so much liquid inside me. It was unreal and an unfunny joke.

I don't know how, but we kept walking and I continued, and continued, and continued.
Until I couldn't anymore.

I took a few more steps when I felt my hand moisten and the warmth
slide down my legs.
Aiura hadn't noticed yet, because I also hadn't made it possible for her to notice.
It was until I felt relief that I stopped in my tracks.

I stopped walking. Mikoto turned towards me, sliding her gaze from my face to my legs.
Hii and Reita also stopped in their tracks, Suzumiya letting out a gasp of surprise.

I didn't move, I didn't make a sound, I didn't react either.
I had already given up before.
I closed my eyes so as not to see the others, also to avoid the new tears that had formed.
I let out a sigh that was different from the previous ones. It was one of relief, because my body couldn't take it anymore and the affliction had been torturing me.
I felt profound humiliation just from the vulgar sensation of getting the weight off my body. Not in the right place, nor in the proper way, but every inch of my body had been enduring more pain than it should, and now it just stopped.

I heard Hii's mental confusion, Aiura's disbelief, and Reita's surprise.
The psychic hadn't believed it was possible for this to happen, Suzumiya didn't understand anything, searching for theories about what occurred; and Toritsuka had thought about it and dismissed it. What they did share was that they felt bad for me, and I hated it.

It felt strange, the warm liquid on my clothes, the duality of sensations and the awfulness of the situation, because I knew that wasn't supposed to happen. Not to me. It almost felt illegal.
My clothes soaked and my shoes shining, with the light reflected in the liquid spreading at my feet farther and farther away from me, and, how did it last so long?

My bladder was finally empty.
I was defeated.
I took a step back, without opening my eyes yet.
I ignored people's thoughts, but they were there. I distractedly caught fragments of words, like urine or wetting oneself.
It felt bad and I thought about fleeing. Just teleport home and erase all their memories, erase myself from their minds without repair. I would change schools and my name, and universes.
My face hurt, my thighs, my abdomen, and every existing muscle. I just wanted to collapse and sleep.

I opened my eyes. At first, I saw everything blurry through the fogged glass, barely capturing the blurry shapes of people on the sidewalk.
Aiura approached me, without touching me and at a distance. I didn't know how that was supposed to make me feel better.

And then there was the stupid love meter that was still there because of the Reita and Hii matter. It changed towards me and I could only see the numbers decrease.
I almost closed my eyes again, clenching my fists and fighting not to fall.
This couldn't be happening to me. Of all people, not to the one who had thousands of powers to manage to avoid this.

I deactivated the meter, ignoring the very low number it remained at. I felt angry with myself and with everyone, with the situation itself.
I dug my nails into my arms. I didn't care if I bled.

—Hey, Saiki...

I moved away. My body moved on autopilot and I began to walk away.
I thought they would let me go, but they came after me. They actually tried.
Toritsuka caught up to me, and unlike Mikoto, he did touch me. He placed a hand on my shoulder as a consolation. I pretended to move away, but his pinky finger was in contact with my neck and then I looked around.

—I was wondering what was happening, you know? —Reita began to say, nervous and uncomfortable. I didn't pay much attention to him, because I was too overwhelmed. I didn't move and I wondered how he had the talent to make everything much worse.
I stood paralyzed, watching as a bunch of ghosts laughed and pointed at me. Spirits of people, who in general were at an inferior level for being dead. All watching, all mocking.

I couldn't believe how the world of the dead was crueler than that of the living, but they seemed to be having a great time.

—A boy with powers, huh? —An unknown face, who wasn't there before, looked me up and down. A spirit with an air of superiority. My instinct was to retreat, but Reita was still holding me.
I didn't see what was funny about it and the vision was the most horrible.
The laughter resonated in my skull and the living people were still looking at me with curiosity and pity.
—Poor thing, crying like a little boy for wetting his pants —said another of them, only with the intention of screwing with me and making everything worse. I didn't want to hear anymore. Ridiculous fucking comments.

I removed Toritsuka's hand from my shoulder, hyperventilating and with pupils narrowed.

The urine was cooling rapidly and I didn't want to stay there, in the middle of the whole crowd, entertainment for whoever passed by. My heart was beating so hard and the whirlwind of emotions that I could hardly suppress.

—You don't have to be ash... —I didn't let him finish, I tried to leave again.

—Wait, Kusuo. Don't go. —said Aiura —. This is our fault.
And although I appreciated the gesture, more or less, I couldn't stay there, listening to their pathetic attempts to comfort me. They wouldn't help, nothing would.
—You can't be crying over this, not you. —I looked at her as if she were crazy and then I realized with horror that yes, I was crying. I rubbed my eyes in spite, with fury. It hurt and I didn't care. It made no sense. When had I started crying?
It was no use, because apparently I no longer had control of my body in that aspect either. I had to turn away, hiding my face in my arm. At least I still had the decency not to make noise.

Hii approached, with the same high-pitched voice that characterized her.

—I don't know if it helps, but I always bring extra clothes just in case. I'm very clumsy, as you know. —She rubbed the back of her neck, embarrassed.

—But men's clothes too?
They were silenced the moment she took men's clothes out of her bag.
She handed them to me very carefully, and I hated the delicacy they were using with me.

I had to accept the clothes. In any case, it would have resulted in having to walk home or to some place without people like this. It was unbearable, having to endure the cold, the dampness, and the stares.
I kept walking behind them, and maybe it was unconscious, but they seemed to be covering me with their bodies.
The vestiges of my destroyed pride would never have accepted something like hiding behind them, but I supposed it was different if they were the ones deciding to cover me.

It was like that until we found a bathroom and I could have laughed at the irony and audacity of the universe.
I would never have imagined before the profound humiliation of having to enter a bathroom soaked in urine. Having to change clothes in an ugly cubicle, being silent, with your thoughts. Making it inevitable to connect with the day.

I changed and teleported back home, telling Aiura I would leave. It would have been cruel to make them wait for me forever after the kindness they had shown despite me being unpleasant and pathetic.

I took a bath and then lay down on my bed. Everything hurt, both emotionally and mentally. I stayed staring at the ceiling, not blinking, not moving.
It was sudden when I felt the terrible sensation of a horrible, noisy cry stuck in my throat. I breathed until I suppressed it, because it had already been enough to cry in front of a bunch of strangers and three classmates. I didn't care about being alone, with no one to hear or see me. I wasn't going to shatter my ego any more by crying, much less like that.

I couldn't stop going over the day again and again.

How it started and how I could have avoided and not avoided all that.
I wouldn't get together with Hii Suzumiya again. Her bad luck went too far.
Nor would I ever accept anything Aiura and Reita had planned. It didn't even serve beyond lowering more than 10 points and almost killing us all.

How it had been agony after agony.

I could only be sure that it had been one of the most traumatic situations I had ever been involved in.
What kind of torture? I even thought about apologizing to Akechi. Or rather, how come he didn't care?

I covered my face with the pillow, wishing to wake up from that horrible dream.
I fell asleep, unaware that I was still crying while resting. Unaware of the thousand text messages and calls from my three classmates, asking how I was.

I would resolve everything the next day, but for now, I just needed to sleep.