Work Text:
Becoming a brand new person over night is impossible. Even becoming a better version of who you already are is harder than Teru anticipated. Changing his hairstyle turns out to be the easiest part, but he has always appreciated a challenge. After years of achievements coming too easily to him he actually finds himself enjoying the struggle.
Between helping old women carry their grocery bags, treating his classmates kinder and trying his hand at being a vigilante hero Teru messes up a lot. Sometimes his old habits come back, if he doesn't pay close attention. He assures himself it's normal to make mistakes, that this is his personal chrysalis and that he'll emerge out of the learning phase as a beautiful butterfly - hopefully good enough to be Kageyama-kun's equal, or even his friend.
Then he chastises himself for thinking nonsensical stuff like that – he is neither a star, nor is he a butterfly.
The highlight of Teru's life nowadays are weekly study sessions with Kageyama-kun. At first he had offered mostly out of desire to prove his newfound altruism but quickly found he actually enjoyed spending time with his rival - companion? It isn't quite as exciting as bringing down criminal ESPer organizations together, but Kageyama-kun turns out to be enjoyable company even when he's struggling with basic math. He's not very engaging but he's kind and sincere in a way that makes Teru think of it as strength instead of weakness.
It's Friday and Teru has prepared a special apple-flavored herbal tea, bought at a discount, for today's study session. It's supposed to have a calming effect and since they're starting on an especially hard topic today, he figured he might as well.
He has learned that Kageyama-kun is a big fan of green tea, traditionally served without sugar, but Teru has made it a goal to introduce him to the wide variety of flavors tea culture has to offer. Turns out Kageyama-kun isn't a big fan of Oolong but really enjoys black tea with milk. Teru doesn't make a big deal of it but is secretly thrilled to be the one who introduced Mob to milk teas.
The doorbell rings just as he's pouring himself a cup. Not bothering to check the peephole, Teru throws open the door to the sight of Kageyama-kun still in his school uniform holding a nicely packaged bundle which he promptly shoves at Teru.
"Good afternoon, Hanazawa-kun."
Teru takes the fancy packet out of his hands and invites him in. He watches Mob carefully untie his white tennis shoes and when he realizes that Kageyama-kun doesn't plan to elaborate on the unexpected gift, starts examining that instead.
"For me?" He asks while holding the bundle up to his face. The other boy nods.
They settle down around the small table, Teru carefully putting the wrapped present as far away from his cooling cup of tea as it will go without falling off the tiny piece of furniture altogether. He looks imploringly at Kageyama-kun who slowly blinks back at him but says nothing. Despite learning all about his tea preferences Teru finds he still can't read Kageyama-kun's expression as well as he would like to.
"You should open it."
Teru stands up "You're right! But let me get you something to drink first."
The steaming pot starts hovering in the air and the cupboard doors open to reveal a colorful assortment of cups. A baby blue one with little ladybugs on it gently floats out and lands in Teru's hands. He would just pour the tea with his powers but it seems a little disrespectful. Kageyama-kun doesn't tend to use his powers for everyday activities and Teru tries to emulate that. He still finds himself using telekinesis a lot, just because it feels so natural, but pouring tea for a guest isn't something to be taken lightly.
He puts down the blue cup in front of Kageyama-kun who smiles lightly up at him.
"Thank you, Hanazawa-kun."
Teru mirrors his smile more broadly. "You're welcome. I don't think you have tried this kind of tea before but I hope you'll like it."
Then he finally gets to uncovering his gift. It's around the size of a football and wrapped in a meticulously precise way that makes Teru suspect that Kageyama-kun has probably asked his little brother for help. This realization makes Teru's face grow pleasantly warm, half in embarrassment, half in satisfaction. The warm feeling lasts until he feels something prick his finger.
"Ou-" he almost lets the present fall out of his hands but Kageyama-kun catches it with his telekinesis with a "I'm sorry! I should've warned you!" He looks quite distressed so Teru winks him off quickly.
"I was just caught off guard, it doesn't even hurt." He smiles kindly at Kageyama-kun who's sprung up and is now hovering awkwardly. The gift, which Teru now recognizes as a cactus plant, is floating beside them. "How come though? A cactus?"
The plant in question is a lush green color and pleasingly round. It seems healthy and the skin looks inviting to the touch, if it weren't for the long needles sticking out from little bumps strewn all over it.
"I- Master Reigen has recently gotten a plant for his office because he said it gets lonely, when he has to work alone and I thought- since you live alone..." he trails off and looks awkwardly around Teru's apartment "Not that I think you're lonely! I'm sure Hanazawa-kun is very popular!"
Teru grins self-deprecatingly.
"You know, back then I told you that you were my first visitor and honestly, you're still my only one." He grabs the still floating cactus out of the air. "So this is really thoughtful of you, Kageyama-kun. Thank you so much."
"I'm glad."
Mob's smile seems relieved but it falls quickly and then he puts his hands over Teru's on the potted plant. He's floating the cactus out of their combined grasp but doesn't release Teru's hands. Instead he brings Teru's left hand up to his face and inspects the pricked finger. There's a tiny drop of blood pooling on it.
Teru sighs. Kageyama-kun is so kind, so important to him.
He recognizes suddenly that he will never catch up to him, neither in psychic power nor inherent goodness, but the realization doesn't sting as much as he had feared. It's just like the cactus prick, only mentally this time.
He senses Mob levitating the plant back to the table and setting it down gentle while at the same time retrieving something out of his schoolbag, resting under it. It's unusual seeing Kageyama-kun use his telekinesis so casually and Teru feels his heart rate rising as he stares at the hands softly holding his in place.
A small, colorful packet of band-aids float into his vision and he looks quizzically at the other boy but before he can even ask Kageyama-kun explains "I tend to scratch up my knees a lot with the Body Improvement Club so my mom got me these."
The front is decorated with small animals, drawn in a cutesy style. Band-aids are slowly floating out of the box and swirling around them - Mob seems to be looking for a specific one. They are all dyed a bright color with little animal logos in the middle. Finally Kageyama-kun releases Teru's hand to grab the pink one out of the air.
Teru wants to say something but the words won't quite come out. It's rare that someone tries to take care of him like this. Even rarer that he lets them.
When the band-aid is finally, carefully, applied to his finger, he raises his gaze to look back into Kageyama-kun's eyes. His unassuming face. Kageyama-kun has changed Teru's life, has saved him, forgiven him- and his soft smile makes Teru want to -
"Thank you." is what he ends up saying. "Thank you. Thank you."