Chapter Text
Pretty much everyone had breezed over Toritsuka disappearing for a week.
Including herself.
In all honesty, Mikoto doesn’t willingly choose to think about the Perv when he isn’t directly in her general eyesight; and she likes to keep it that way. Though it was slightly strange to her that no one had noticed his week-long absence besides the unlucky girl. Or, maybe it wasn’t. Toritsuka is the type of guy that no one really pays attention to unless he’s doing something creepy and being slapped for it. Like the punching bag no one feels bad for hitting.
Okay maybe that was a little harsh.... Eh, whatever. Dude pretty much asks for it.
Anyway. Where was she...
Oh, right. Whenever he returned, surprisingly Toritsuka hadn’t made a huge deal out of it. He kind of just appeared again and continued being his usual perv self. He said something about Saiki having an older brother. She also knew it had been a kidnapping. Kusuo mentioned something about a ‘cat tank’? Very... broad. Thank you for elaborating, Kusuo. She didn’t really get it but if they were both alive and seemingly well, she hadn’t cared enough to push further.
You’re probably wondering, ‘Mikoto, why are you even thinking about it if you really don’t care?’
Well. She still doesn’t, of course.
...But Lately, Toritsuka’s been acting weird.
Okay, well. He’s always weird.
A different kind of weird; Like, off.
Either way! Mikoto isn’t concerned or anything like that. The Perv is always doing something attention seeking and he’s always been weird. As a soothsayer, she’s just perceptive and astute!
Okay, fine. And judgmental. Things can coexist.
Bla bla bla. Moving on.
The first time Mikoto noticed Toritsuka acting slightly off was a week or so after his mysterious absence had taken place.
Things were moving normally now. It was after school; she was heading home and somehow herself, Saiki and the Perv had ended up walking together. It was pretty typical. At least, as typical as a psychic trio could get.
Anyway, as per usual she and Toritsuka were fighting over Saiki’s attention before they were interrupted by Chiyo spotting them and bouncing over.
“Yo, Chiyopipi!”
“Hi Aiura-san and Saiki-san! Oh. And Toritsuka-kun.”
Saiki nodded and Toritsuka smiled, scratching his cheek.
“You don’t usually walk in this direction, do you, Chiyopipi? Headed somewhere?”
“I heard a new super cute cafe was opening near here! Look!” Chiyo had then pulled out her phone and turned it towards Mikoto, the screen displaying a reel showcasing the opening of an indeed super cute cafe. Souffle pancakes and character-shaped cream puffs. Totally Mikoto’s vibe.
“No way! Looking for company?”
“Yeah, of course! It’s just this way, let’s go!”
Excitedly accepting this side quest, Mikoto dragged a less begrudging than usual Kusuo along to follow Chiyo. (She could tell he didn't mind the idea of sweets.)
After a few minutes of chatter about some new American horror movie between herself and Chiyo, Mikoto suddenly realized the absence of a certain grating voice.
She glanced at the space beside Kusuo and saw... nothing. No purple hair and stupid headband in sight.
He left. Was all Kusuo offered.
“Oh! Did Toritsuka-kun need to go home?” Chiyo wondered offhandedly, following Mikoto’s glance.
Kusuo didn’t say anything. Mikoto just blinked and shrugged. “Probably got bored. Or he’s harassing women.”
“Anyway, did you say the wish came true and the girl got possessed?-”
They moved on.
In the moment, Mikoto hadn’t thought much about it. If anything, she was relieved she wouldn’t have to deal with Toritsuka trying a new pick-up line on Chiyo every three seconds.
Though later when everyone had parted, Mikoto (for some reason) thought about it again. Toritsuka had never just mysteriously disappeared during a conversation. Especially if they were about to hang out. He pretty much invited himself to everything.
Maybe he was trying to be mysterious – that sounded like him. He probably thought Chiyo was into someone cryptic and nonchalant or something. Yep. That’s the Perv for you.
He always had perverted intentions, so Mikoto managed to shut down any slight creeping confusion or concern. But she wondered why something so mild about someone she basically just tolerated was giving her a creeping bad feeling. Maybe she could ask Kusuo?
Before her mind had a chance to drift away from the topic of the aforementioned Perv, someone walking by shoulder checked her and her bag slipped from her shoulder and dropped onto the ground. (A hit and run!)
“Geez, watch where you’re going...” She muttered through clenched teeth, crouching down to retrieve her bag. “Some people have no respe-”
She stopped short when she realized her bag had been slightly unzipped, and one of her tarot cards had fallen through the opening and was lying face down on the pavement.
Okay. Very normal. Definitely a coincidence. Not a sign of anything at all.
She slowly picked the card up and turned it over...
And was met with a flipped tower.
She sat crouched there on the pavement for a beat, frozen and staring at the card, pondering the implication.
The uneasiness surrounding her felt stronger, and she quickly slipped the card into her bag.
“Okay universe,” She sighed. “Message received.”
...Something was apparently going on with Toritsuka.