Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rumors spread fast, even when you try your best to hide them. Instead of the usual gasps she normally receives, gossiping murmurs filled the hallway as she walked in. Kokomi had a good guess what they were talking about. Her suspicions were confirmed as she entered the classroom where her boyfriend, Kusuo, was already sitting at his desk. ‘Apparently one of your fans saw us kiss when I left you home yesterday’ he told her telepathically as she took her seat beside him. She simply let a tired sigh, that cause most boys in the room to go “offu”. It was bound to happen at some point, they both knew that. Still, she felt annoyed. ‘Careful, we don’t want other people to know you pout when you're mad’ Kusuo teased her telepathically. She relaxed her expression and turned to look at him. He held his head straight toward the blackboard but his eyes were on her. She knew he was also annoyed at the situation, probably more than her, yet he still made an effort to comfort her. In his special Kusuo way, of course. ‘I don’t pout’ she answered mentally, earning an amused hmm from the psychic.

Chiyo and the others made their way towards them, swearing that they hadn’t said anything about them.
They'd found out about their relationship a few weeks prior on Kusuo’s (correct) birthday, when they had tried to surprise Kusuo in his room. And ended up finding them cuddled up and asleep on his bed. Needless to say, they were shocked, but quickly accepted their relationship. She calmed them down and explained what Kusuo had told her, and they all sighed in relief to know they hadn’t accidentally spilled the beans.

Soon enough some of her fans got the courage to come and ask her directly. “Teruhashi-san! Is it true?! Are you really going out with Saiki?!” One of them said. She glanced at Kusuo who gave her a small nod. She turned back to her fans, “yes, Kusuo and I are dating” she said with her brightest smile. She watched as the boys fell to the ground, lamenting that their goddess had been claimed. Have they always been this dramatic when it came to her? ‘Yes’ Kusuo’s voice sounded in her head, earning him a small pout. A pout Kusuo mentally added to his “Best Kokomi faces” list. The bell rang and everyone took their seats. She tried to pay attention to the lesson but the jealous glances directed at her boyfriend were anything but subtle. ‘I’m sorry about them’ she told him in her mind. ‘You don’t control their actions’ Kusuo said ‘it’s not your fault they’re idiots’. Kokomi smiled at the comment. The rest of class passed by mostly the same, with jealous boys sending mental threats at Kusuo, unaware that he was telepathically sharing particularly funny ones with her. The one about hoping he got stuck in a glue trap, almost made her laugh out loud in the middle of the lesson.

Finally lunch time came, they made their way towards the cafeteria with their friends walking around them, acting a sort of shield for them. Chiyo and the others had been doing a great job trying to ignore the stares, and Kokomi was so grateful for that. Every once in a while, Kuboyasu would return her jealous fans a threatening look of his that would calm them down for a few minutes. Chiyo talked out loud about what a cute couple Kusuo and her made, emphasizing how happy Kusuo made her while shooting daggers as some gossiping girls. Kaido declared that their relationship was under the protection of Jet Black Wings. Nendou and Mera were to focus on their food to notice the stares at all, which Kokomi supposed was normal. Kokomi felt oddly relaxed at her friends' support, like they were in their own little world. To her surprise, Kusuo held her hand over the table, in plain view of everyone. Seems like he wasn’t backing down either, a light pink blushed her cheeks as she tightened her grip of his hand.

As they walked back towards class, a particularly bold group of boys approached them. Kusuo let himself be pulled by the arm by one of the guys. “I CAN’T ACCEPT THIS!” he said, “WHY WOULD TERUHASHI-SAN CHOOSE SOMEONE LIKE YOU?!”. Kusuo freed himself from the guy’s grasp with just a bit more force than necessary. “It’s not for you to accept”, Kusuo projected telepathically, his expression more annoyed than it had been all day. He had known it was coming, but that didn't make this any less of a pain. This did nothing to calm the group’s angered jealousy, another one of them took a swing at Kusuo, who easily dodged it. “WE WONT LET YOU HAVE TERUHASHI!” The rest of the guys said as they joined the fight. Now a 5 vs 1 is no problem to a psychic like Kusuo, but there was also no way his friends would let him fight them alone. Kuboyasu and Nendou quickly started swinging back at Kusuo’s attackers. Kaido also tried to join the fight, but was quickly pushed out in the ruckus.

More and more students started surrounding them, gossip and cheering filled the air. Kokomi watched as Kusuo efficiently dodged every hit, unable to fight back without sending them through the wall. A part of her enjoyed watching her boyfriend fight for her. But the sensible side of her knew this fight had to end. They might get in trouble if someone brings a teacher. ‘Time for my secret weapon’, she thought.

*drop drop*

The whole world stood still as delicate tears rolled down Kokomi’s cheeks. She held onto Chiyo who was standing beside her. “P-please stop fighting!”, she said with her sweetest most vulnerable voice. Kusuo may have psychic powers, but she had the power of her beauty. She hid a smug smile in her hand. All eyes were on the crying angel in front of them, no one noticed Kusuo’s smirk at his girlfriend’s tactics. The boys immediately released whatever grip they had on their opponents, and fell to their knees in apology. “I don’t want anyone to fight because of me”, she cried. As the attackers lifted their heads to promise it wouldn’t happen again, Kusuo made his way towards her. As soon as he was within reach Kokomi flew into his arms, sobbing. “K-Kusuo!”, she sobbed into his shoulder. Kusuo quickly wrapped his arms around her, gently cradling her head. “I don’t like watching people getting hurt” she continued her farce “especially not if it’s the person I love the most!”.

Everyone stood still watching the scene in front of them. Kusuo gently lifted Kokomi’s face, her eyes teary with fake innocence. He brought up a hand to cup her cheek, softly he brushed away a delicate tear with his thumb. “It’s okay, I’m okay” he said, his voice soft, and his expression more gentle than anyone expected from him. Kokomi leaned into his touch, and gave him a soft smile. At that moment the bell rang again, Kusuo took Kokomi’s hand and the two walked away from the crowd that had formed.

They arrived at their classroom, it was mostly empty, as most of their classmates had stayed to watch the fight. They took their seats, and watched as the rest of the students hurried into the room. Everyone seemed to be in a state of shock after their little scene. ‘You think we overdid it?’ She asked mentally. ‘They’ll be fine’ he said. She looked over to the guy that started the fight, he held his head down, eyes glued to his desk. ‘Hope no one tries something like that again’ she turned her eyes back to the blackboard. ‘No one’s gonna risk making their perfect angel cry again, don’t worry’ Saiki assured her ‘even if they do, they’re nothing more than an annoyance’.

The rest of the school day continued, not once did Kusuo leave her side. Returning all the menacing looks tenfold. As she reached her shoe locker, some of her fans came over and apologized for their behavior. Kokomi gracefully accepted their apology. She assured them that she was very happy with Kusuo, and wouldn’t change him for the world. Which was completely true, she never imagined romance would be in the cards for her. After all, every guy automatically fell for her looks and the persona she put on. Not Kusuo, he actually saw her for her, not her looks, which at the time he couldn’t even see because of his X-Ray vision. He heard her less than ideal inner thoughts and still stayed. He helped her grow as a person, a real person, not the perfect pretty girl she thought she had to be. Of course, she was still beloved by everyone, and her fans can still cause her trouble. That’s why it meant so much to her that her attention hating boyfriend would be willing to stand beside her in the spotlight.

‘You’re thinking mushy things again’ he said standing at the gate, waiting for her, his face mildly annoyed but Kokomi could see the subtle blush across his face. She let out a small giggle as they started walking home.

Chapter Text

Kokomi didn’t usually have bad days, she’s been loved by God from the moment she was born. But it seems that not even having God's favor could prevent this loss. She looked over the empty cat bed next to her desk. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to put it away. Some people might say it’s stupid to mourn a cat, but Kokomi wasn’t one of those people. It had been a long time coming, she’d known for a while, but it still hurt to let her go. Aiko, her cat, was gone. Can anyone really blame her for mourning her? She’d had Aiko for almost 12 years. She found the gray cat on her way back home from school and instantly decided to bring it with her. Aiko had been her closest companion since then, whenever her parents left her home alone, she was there to keep her company. Whenever her brother was being annoying, Aiko was there to listen to her let out her frustrations. When everyone else only saw her as “perfect Teruhashi”, Aiko saw her for who she really was.

And now she was gone, her room felt so quiet, empty. Aiko was never a rowdy cat, she spent most of her time napping. Her bed was her favorite place, especially when the sun hit her window at just the right spot and shone warm sunlight directly on it. But the bed wasn’t warm right now, it was cold, the spot the cushion had molded to Aiko’s form, was empty. Tears she didn’t know she had left, welled up in her eyes. She didn’t want to cry again, but she couldn’t stop the tears. She had taken Aiko to the vet the previous afternoon, when she noticed the old cat wasn’t waking up. The vet just confirmed what she feared. It took everything in her not to break down right there, not wanting to cause a scene. She held her tears as best she could until she reached her room and cried until she fell asleep. She missed Aiko, she missed her so much. She didn’t lose a pet, she lost a friend.

Kokomi didn’t even realize the hour until her phone buzz; Chiyo had sent her a series of messages.

Chiyo<3: hi kokomi
Chiyo<3: are you okay? we missed you at school :(
Chiyo<3: Saiki, was so worried, ;) he’d probably deny it tho
Chiyo<3: I'm here if you need to talk

sent 2:45 pm.

She had missed the entire school day, she hoped no rumors of her death were spread this time. She remembered the way she laughed when Kusuo told her about the time she got a cold and people started talking like she was on her death bed. She teased him a good bit about him coming to drag her brother out of her room so she could recover. Kokomi was snapped out of her memory, with a knock on her door. I'm here’ Kusuo told her from her front door. Figuring he’ll do so eventually, she told him to come in. So he did, teleporting just outside her room, his way of showing respect for her space. He stood still when she opened the door, still waiting for her to invite him in.

She did of course, silently stepping aside so he could enter. ‘I’m sorry about Aiko’, he told her telepathically. Kokomi let out a small sigh, he knew already. He probably checked in on her with his clairvoyance when she didn’t show up to school. If it was anyone else, she probably would have given them a perfectly practiced smile. But there’s no point lying to a psychic. “Thank you”, she made no effort to hide her sadness. They stood there looking at each other, unsure of what to do next. ‘Mom made cake last night’, he lifted up a bag she hadn’t even noticed he was carrying.

They ate on the floor, leaning against her bed. The cake was strawberry, her favorite. She'll have to thank Mrs. Kurumi for it later. Kusuo hadn’t asked her anything yet, he just told her about the chaos her absence caused at school. Apparently her fans built an entire shrine in her honor. She let out a small chuckle, and leaned to rest her head on his shoulder. Kusuo stood still for a few seconds before resting his head over hers.

‘She loved you a lot, you know’ he said. Kokomi's eyes lifted towards him, it took her a second to remember Kusuo telling her he could hear the thoughts of animals. He told her how, a lot of animals are much meaner than humans like to believe. She never asked to know Aiko’s thoughts, and so Kusuo never told her. ‘A lot of pets view their owners as slaves, but she really appreciated you’, he continued. She felt her eyes water at that, she loved Aiko a lot, and to hear she loved her too was comforting. “She was my only friend for a long time”, she said looking back at the empty cat bed, “before I started talking with you guys”. She remembered how she used to keep everyone at an arms length all the time, worried that if they got too close they’ll find out she wasn’t as perfect as she pretended to be. Kokomi felt as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. She only had Aiko back then, she’d curl up on her lap as she stroked her fur telling her about her day.

“Remember the day where I came to talk to you on the street? When you ignored me until Nendou showed up?” She asked, wiping away her tears. ‘The day you thought I was a mirage and you started liking me and wanting me to “offu”’ he confirmed. She blushed at the memory of her first real interaction with him, how his avoidance had awoken feelings she’d never felt before. “I remember hurrying back home”, she explained “Aiko was sleeping on my bed, and i picked her up and spinned her across my room”. Aiko was never a fan of being picked up, but she always allowed her to do it. “I told her I had fallen in love that day” Kokomi let out a small laugh, her eyes still glossy. Back then she had mistakenly assumed she fell in love with Kusuo instantly, but she later realized she was wrong. She fell in love with him gradually, as she got closer to him. And Aiko was always there to listen to her lose her mind over him. “She must have been so relieved when I started going to Chiyo to talk about you instead of her”, she laughed again.

‘She was mostly happy for you’, Kusuo said. She lifted her head towards him. ‘She was happy to see you weren’t lonely anymore’, he explained. Kokomi thought about it for a moment, she really wasn’t alone anymore. For so many years she could only be herself with Aiko. Could only confide her true feelings to her. But that wasn’t the case anymore. She had Chiyo and the rest of her friends, who liked her for who she was. Who she could let herself relax with. Yes the boys still occasionally gasped when she joined conversations, but they didn’t treat her as a goddess like her fans did. Chiyo and Mera didn’t walk away from her when guys surrounded her. But most importantly she had Kusuo, who knew her better than anyone ever had. Who saw through her perfect facade and saw her for who she really was. Her eyes watered again, but she didn’t wipe them away this time.

She didn’t need to hide her true self within the four corners of her room. She could share it with people who loved and appreciated her for her. She looked back at Aiko’s bed, she had been there for her when she needed to have someone. And she had depended so much on her back then. Kokomi was afraid she’d be alone without her. But she wasn’t alone anymore, she had a new someone she could rely on. Tears had already started flowing, but she smiled, really smiled, 'you don’t have to worry about me anymore’, she thought to herself. She looked back at Kusuo, his stoic face flushed from listening to her thoughts. ‘I’ll be okay’, Kusuo’s gaze softened slightly, and she made herself comfortable in his hold. She buried her face into his neck, and he wrapped his arms around her.

‘I’ll be okay’, she repeated to herself, as a final tear rolled down her face.

Chapter Text

Cafe Mami wasn’t a big cafe, it was designed to be a cozy place where people could have a nice cup of coffee and enjoy a little peace. So the presence of loud cheering as a fiery class president and an ex-gangster arm wrestle really clashed with the vibes of the place. Luckily for the group of teens, the owner was rather fond of them, so they left them be. The cafe was mostly empty anyways. Kokomi was amused as she watched the competition unfold. It was a tough match. Hairo was sweating like crazy, and Kuboyasu’s veins looked like they were about to pop. Nendou and Kaido cheered them on, while Chiyo recorded on her phone. Mera treated herself to a couple snacks from their table, before dashing back to work. She sat beside Kusuo, who was enjoying his third coffee jelly.

To say Kokomi’s friends were unique was an understatement. The group was rowdy, impulsive and lacked common sense at times. But she loved them all the same. She never planned on befriending them in the first place, it happened as a happy consequence of wanting to get closer to Kusuo. The psychic had always been a magnet for eccentric people. She supposed she counted as eccentric too. Kokomi smiled at the thought. People often question why a pretty girl like her would willingly hang around such an unconventional bunch. But in her opinion, her friends were some of the funniest people to be around. They were genuine in everything they did. Something that she admired immensely, and was actively trying to replicate.

She glanced at her boyfriend, who was still entranced by his dessert. She couldn’t help but feel thankful to him. It was thanks to him that she was able to befriend so many wonderful people. There was no denying that he was the quiet center of this eccentric group. Without him, none of them would have come together like this. She leaned her shoulder against his, snapping him out of his sweet bliss. ‘What?’ he asked dryly, making her giggle. “Nothing, nothing at all”, she smiled at him.

Just then, Hairo’s arm gave out with a resounding thud, and Kuboyasu raised his fists in victory, grinning as everyone burst into cheers. Kokomi clapped along, laughing at the over-exaggerated responses everyone had. She’d never imagined herself being this relaxed in public. Not caring about being the perfect pretty girl she always tried to present herself as. Right now, she was just another teenage girl having fun with her friends at a cafe. To someone else this situation might seem ordinary and unremarkable, but it meant everything to her. She used to believe she was above having friends, or rather she had tried to convince herself she didn’t need friends. She didn’t realize how truly lonely she had felt before getting to know them. She was content in exchanging meaningless pleasantries with those around her, and having superficial conversations with her classmates. She couldn’t even imagine going back to that. Not when she knew what it was like to have friends like hers.

As the laughter died down, Kokomi felt a warm glow in her chest that she didn’t experience often. It was something deep, something she rarely allowed herself to feel fully. Her life had been a series of expectations to meet, a polished image to maintain, and while she enjoyed her popularity, the truth was it could feel lonely. Yet here, with her friends, that pressure slipped away. She could be Kokomi, awkward, silly, and imperfect Kokomi, and they would still accept her.

She watched as Nendou and Kaidou started bickering about who could beat Kuboyasu next, and Yumehara eagerly suggested another round of arm wrestling, this time with Mera joining in. Kokomi couldn’t help but laugh. It was chaotic, unpredictable, and maybe even a little embarrassing, but it was also real. But that was what made it perfect in her eyes.

Here, in the cozy warmth of the café with her friends around her, Kokomi knew this was exactly where she wanted to be. She locked eyes with the guy who helped get here. If it wasn’t for him, she would never have discovered this side of her. The side that allowed herself to be imperfect in front of others. Her world had been small and sheltered, but he had unintentionally expanded it. She felt the prick of tears in her eyes, not out of sadness, but from a happiness so full it overflowed. She laughed to herself as the tears flowed, who knew being so happy could make someone cry. Kusuo’s eyes soften and the corners of his mouth raise slightly.

It didn’t take long for the rest of the group to notice her crying. Stopping whatever they were doing to check on her. “Kokomi? What’s wrong?” Chiyo asked, concern clear in her voice. All eyes were on her. She calmed her laughter as best as she could. “I’m just so grateful you’re my friends!”, tears still rolled down her face but she smiled nonetheless. Her friends took a second or two to process her words. Chiyo was the first to react, “Kokomi!!” She said, practically jumping from her seat to hug her, her eyes watering. “We’re the ones grateful to have you!!”. The rest of the group nodded their heads in agreement. “Yumehara is right, you’re the nicest friend ever” Kuboyasu said. “It just wouldn’t be the same without you!” Kaido exclaimed, trying his best to hold back his own tears. “You’re our girl, Teruhashi!” Hairo added excitedly.

Kokomi wiped away tears, “I love you guys”, she said sincerely. “We love you too Kokomi!!”
Chiyo pulled her back into a tight embrace, which she reciprocated enthusiastically. “Group hug! Nendou exclaimed loudly before scooping up his friends into his long arms. It was an awkward hug. There were just too many people, and the table they had been eating at was in the way. But Kokomi wouldn’t have it any other way. The hug lasted only a few seconds, and Kusuo hated every single one of them, but didn’t protest. Finally Nendou let them go, Kaido panted heavily trying to recover his breath after being squished between Nendou and Hairo. Chiyo quickly wiped away any tears she had let out and went to help him calm down. Everyone recovered surprisingly quickly from the emotional moment. But oddly enough, seeing her tears hadn’t placed too big of a downer to their get together made Kokomi happy. She looked back at her boyfriend, who still had a grumpy expression on his face. She giggled softly as she took a piece from her long forgotten cheesecake, and offered it to him. The sweet bite instantly melted away the annoyance in his face and replaced it with adorable bliss. ‘I’m not adorable’ she heard his voice in her head, making her laugh. ‘Whatever you say’ she teased.

Soon enough Mera’s shift came to an end, and the group of teens decided to take their leave. Kokomi personally thanked the owner for letting them spend time in his establishment, hoping her charm made up for the disturbances they undoubtedly caused to the other clients. The group walked together. Kaido, Kubayasu and Chiyo at the front looking through the videos and pictures Chiyo had taken on her phone. Mera and Nendou walked behind them, talking about good ramen places. Nendou was carrying a sleeping Hairo on his back. The class president had conked out the moment the clock turned to 8. Kokomi walked beside Kusuo at the back of the group. Kokomi felt very happy if a little tired from all the emotions she experienced earlier. She still considered this get together a major success, she felt so much closer to her friends now.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Kusuo placed a hand on her head. She turned her face to look at him curiously. As usual his head looked straight ahead, but his eyes looked at her. ‘Stop thinking, or you’re gonna cry again’ he told her teasingly. His face held the slightest hint of a smirk. Kokomi felt her cheek blush. Her lips formed a pout and she turned her head away in fake offense. She could practically feel Kusuo rolling his eyes at her. She relaxed her face into a smile. Her delicate hands pulled Kusuo’s larger one from her head, bringing it down and twisting it gently to cup her face. She leaned into it playfully. Her eyes locked with Kusuo’s in defiance. “You’re just saying that cuz you know you’ll get flustered hearing my thoughts”, she said, still leaning on his hand. Kusuo turned his gaze away from her, pulling his hand out of her grasp. ‘Shut up’, his face and his words seemed annoyed, but the subtle blush across his face told her she was right. Kokomi giggled at her flustered boyfriend, completely content with the day she had.

Chapter Text

Ringing a doorbell shouldn’t be this hard, and yet she’s been standing outside of the Saiki house for 10 minutes now. The last time Kokomi had been this nervous about knocking on her boyfriend’s door was back before they started dating. She had used the excuse of getting cooking lessons from Kusuo’s mother as a way to get closer to him. She had been so nervous back then, she accidentally ran the neighbors bell. She’s been to his house plenty of times after that, but he was always home. She rested her head on the wall that surrounded the house in frustration. Letting her mind wander back to what brought her to this situation.

—

Kusuo had asked her to meet him at the school’s rooftop during their lunch break. “Kuboyasu wants to take us to a gang fight after school”, Kusuo said. Kuboyasu wasn’t really taking them to a fight, he just wanted them to meet his friends from his old gang. ‘It’s obviously going to end up in a fight’, he argued. Kokomi chuckled, for as much as he complained about being dragged into things by his friends, he never seemed to just deny their invites. “I guess I’ll be walking home by myself today then”, she said. It’s been a while she’d done that, ever since her relationship with Kusuo became public the psychic would usually walk her home. And whenever he couldn’t she’d walk most of the way with Chiyo, but she had cleaning duty that day. She furrowed her brows thinking about what awaited her home, nothing, she realized. Her parents were enjoying themselves on a cruise in the Caribbean, and her brother was away filming his newest movie. Of course that was normal, but Aiko wasn’t waiting for her anymore. Guess she’ll have the house to herself today.

‘If you want company, you can always go to my house’, Kusuo suggested having listened to her thoughts. Kokomi looked at him like he had grown a second head. “Without you?” she asked as it was the most insane thing ever. ‘My mom won’t mind’, he assured her. But Kokomi wasn’t so sure, “I can’t just go knock at your door, demanding to be let in”. She can’t imagine anything more embarrassing. ‘You could take my keys’, he suggested. And well that wasn’t just embarrassing, it was mortifying. What would Mrs. Kurumi think of her if she let herself in like she owned the place. That was not how a perfect girlfriend would act in front of her boyfriend’s mom. What is she even supposed to say? “Hi, I can’t handle being alone at home so I invited myself over”. Kokomi would perish on the spot before she said that.

‘You’re such a pain’ Kusuo said dryly, snapping her out of her spiral. She turned around to look at the psychic with a scoff. Her lips formed a pout, offended by his words. “I happen to be universally regarded as a delight,” she said proudly, turning away from him. She heard a low hmm coming from him. ‘Then I guess you won’t have a problem’ Kusuo retorted. Her mouth opened to argue but said nothing. He had played her, ‘I did’, turned her confidence against her. ‘Yep’. She let out an annoyed groan, she hated when he did that.

‘Mom will be thrilled you went to see her, I promise’ Kusuo assured her.

—

And now she was here, still struggling to ring a stupid doorbell. She could practically feel Kusuo’s judging eyes behind her. Except he wasn’t behind her, he was with the boys. Kokomi was on her own, and she’ll continue being on her own until she rings the bell. She let out a long sigh in defeat, and delicately pressed the button. “Coming!” Mrs. Kurumi’s was heard from inside. A few seconds later, Kusuo’s mother opened the door. Her kind face lifted in surprise to see her there. “Kokomi! What are you doing here?” She asked, smiling. Kokomi pushed down her inner worries, giving the older woman a soft smile. “Well Kusuo went out with the guys today, so I thought I’d come by to keep you company”, she said. Yes she had twisted her story just a tiny bit, but she didn’t want to seem desperate. Kurumi’s face lightened up, “You came to see me?! How sweet!”. She stood aside to let the young girl in.

The Saiki’s house felt different than her own. While hers was elegant and extravagant, theirs was simple and cozy. Kokomi liked theirs better. The big rooms of her house always felt empty. All the expensive furniture that never got used because she’s the only one regularly spending time there. On the contrary, the Saiki’s house felt warm and homey. It was smaller than hers, but she thought it was nicer that way. She sat on the living room’s couch, while Kurumi prepared them tea and snacks. Kokomi held her hands pressed against her thighs to calm her nerves. It was a good idea to spend time with Mrs. Kurumi, she was her boyfriend’s mom afterall. She could probably tell her stories of when Kusuo was little. She giggled a bit to herself imagining a pink haired baby with Kusuo’s stoic expression. She quickly quieted her laugh as Kurumi set a tray on the table in front of them.

The older woman offered her a cup of tea, which she accepted immediately, before settling down on the couch with a cup of her own. “So what is little Ku up to this evening?”, she asked curiously. “Oh you know, they just wanted a guys hangout, nothing crazy”, she said trying to not get into details. If Kokomi was sure of something, it is that telling Mrs. Kurumi that her son went to meet some gangsters was a bad idea. Luckily Kurumi was just thrilled to hear her son was spending time with his friends.

Talking with Kurumi was surprisingly easy, she seemed genuinely interested to know about her day and how she was doing. Her face was sweet and caring, and her presence gave Kokomi a calm feeling. Her previous nervousness melted away as a warmth formed inside her chest. To her delight, Kurumi pulled out a photo album filled with Kusuo’s baby pictures. “He’s gonna be so mad you showed me this”, she said giggling. Mrs. Kurumi laughed with her, “Well too bad he’s not here to stop me”. They flipped through the pages together, cooing at Kusuo’s adorableness. Kurumi would point out pictures to explain the backstory behind them. Kokomi listened closely, wanting to know what Kusuo was like as a kid. The boy’s mother was more than happy to answer. Kokomi admired the way she talked about her family. There’s no question that she loved them all dearly.

The day turned into afternoon, their tea and snacks were finished, but Kokomi didn’t want to leave. Not yet. “Oh Kokomi, I’m so glad you decided to stop by” Mrs. Kurumi said, “It’s so nice to talk with you, my boys have never been big conversationalists”. The younger girl laughed, it must be interesting to be the only woman in the household. “I was actually pretty nervous to show up here uninvited”, she confessed, “I didn’t want to be a bother”. Kurumi took hold of Kokomi’s hands, getting her full attention. “You’re never a bother honey, you’re always welcomed here”. Kokomi couldn’t help but smile at those words, “I know, I was just being silly I guess”, she said “Kusuo even offered to lend me his keys when i was nervous about knocking”. Kokomi laughed at the memory, she was glad she had listened to her boyfriend in the end. Kurumi smiled softly at her, “Oh right! That reminds me!”. The older woman got up and looked for something in a nearby drawer. A moment later, she sat back down next to her holding a set of keys. “I’ve been meaning to give you these”, she said, handing Kokomi the keys.

She studied the keys in her hands thoroughly confused. “What are these?”, she asked with a curious smile. “A copy of the house keys”, Kurumi said, “So you don’t have to borrow Ku’s keys next time. Kokomi stared at her dumbfoundedly, trying to process her words. House keys? That meant she was fine with her entering the house whenever she pleased. Next time? That meant she was hoping Kokomi would come visit her again. She looked down at the keys, as she furrowed her brows. “I can’t accept these”, she gently handed them back to her. But Kurumi didn’t take them, she simply closed her hand around the keys to make them keep them. “Nonsense honey, you’re family now”. Kokomi looked at her wide eyed. ‘You’re family now’. She repeated the words in her head. Family? The way Kurumi said those words had been so easy. Like it was the most obvious thing in the world. But it hadn’t even occurred to her. And yet it felt so good to hear them.

“Oh dear!” Kurumi exclaimed softly, reaching out to place a gentle Kokomi’s shoulder. “Did I say something wrong?”. It took a second for Kokomi to realize what had alerted her, she’d been so surprised by her words she didn’t even notice she started crying. She lifted a hand to wipe at her tears, but they just kept coming. “I-I’m sorry”, said with a shaking voice, “I-I don’t know wh-why-”. She didn’t get to finish her thought, as two pairs of arms wrapped around her pulling her close. Kurumi held her gently, rubbing her back ever so slightly. “It’s okay sweetie, let it out”, she said, her voice soft and warm.

Kokomi couldn’t remember the last time she had been held like this. It felt so soft, so safe, and she let herself lean into the embrace, allowing the tears to flow freely. Kurumi’s arms were warm and comforting, like a soft blanket she hadn’t known she needed. She realized this is what family was supposed to be like, people you show yourself at your most vulnerable and let yourself be comforted. She hadn’t had something like this in so long. Her parents left to travel the world without thinking about their children. She had learned to be self-sufficient, and really believed she didn’t need to be taken care of. But right now in the arms of the most loving woman she knew, she knew that she was finally part of a real family.

Their embrace lasted a small while longer, until Kokomi’s tears stopped flowing and she was calm again. She thanked Kurumi for letting her into her family, her eyes still holding a light gloss over them. The older woman just smiled and took hold of Kokomi’s hands once again. “Would you like to help me with dinner?”

“I’d love to”, she said

Chapter Text

Dinners at the Saiki household were quickly becoming one of Kokomi’s favorite things about dating Kusuo. Her boyfriend’s parents were always so wonderful and welcoming towards her. Not to mention how good Kurumi’s cooking was. It was very different from dinners at her house. If she wasn't eating on her own, she had to deal with her brother constantly trying to feed her food from his plate like she was his girlfriend instead of his sister. One time he actually set up a candlelight dinner for them, all down to the single pasta plate obviously trying to have a Lady and the tramp moment. She of course dumped the entire pasta plate on his head and locked herself in her room. Kokomi shivered at the memory, noticing the way Kusuo grimaced at the thought of her brother. She gave him an apologetic smile for sending him that mental image.

Kokomi took a calming breath, shaking the awkward memory from her mind. Dinner at the Saiki household was so different from what she was used to, warm, lively, and filled with genuine love. She glanced around the table at Kusuo’s parents, who were chatting animatedly. His dad, Kuniharu, was telling some elaborate story that was probably half made-up, while his mother, Kurumi, listened closely, not doubting her husband for a second. Kusuo, as usual, was quiet, but Kokomi could tell he was content, a barely noticeable smirk showing his true feelings. And that alone was enough to make her heart feel full.

When they were all satisfied with their meal, Kurumi moved to pick up their plates and wash them. But Kokomi quickly stopped her, offering to do the dishes herself. Kurumi told her to relax and let her do them, but Kokomi insisted. She liked helping around the house, it was the least she could do for the people who accepted her so easily. It made her feel like she wasn’t just a house guest, but another member of the family. As she started carrying the plates to the sink she noticed Kusuo had stood up to follow her. He silently picked up a plate from the pile and started scrubbing. She giggled at the sweet gesture but decided to not tease him further about it, and turned her attention back to the dishes. They worked together in comfortable silence, she cleaned and he dried.

Their quiet teamwork was interrupted a few minutes later, when Kusuo’s shoulder tensed abruptly. “What's wrong?” Kokomi asked, putting the plate she was holding down. Kusuo’s expression morphed from unexpected shock to down right irritation. ‘An annoyance is coming’, he told her telepathically. She looked at him confused as he used his psychokinesis to finish the remaining dishes. She was about to ask him what was going on when the doorbell began ringing desperately. Mrs. Kurumi had barely stood up to get to the door when her brother’s voice was heard from outside. “KOKOMI!”, her brother yelled her name, making her skin shiver. She ran to the door with Kusuo following close behind her. She was ready to scream some sense into her brother, but her words died in her throat as soon as the door opened. Her brother wasn’t alone, two other figures stood beside him. “I told you she’d be here!”, Makoto told their parents. The two Teruhashi parents looked at her with disdain.

Kokomi couldn’t move, why were her parents here? Last time she had seen them in person since she was 13. She didn’t even notice when her brother closed the distance between them and tried to grab her. Luckily she managed to snap out of her shock as soon as he grabbed her wrist. She took a step back leaving her brother grasping at air. Kokomi’s heart pounded as she looked at her parents, who had barely been in her life for years. Their eyes, usually cool and distant, now held something colder, a mixture of disappointment and judgment she hadn’t seen directed at her since she was a child. The look twisted in her stomach, stirring up a part of her she’d long buried.

“Kokomi,” her father said, his voice dripping with disdain, “what are you doing here so late?”. She could barely look her father in the eyes, “T-this is-”, her voice was breaking. “Speak up Kokomi”, her mother’s cold voice interrupted her. Kokomi stood up straight, already slipping into her younger self mentality, constantly having to take her parents' constant criticism. “This is my boyfriend’s home”, she said, trying to keep herself together. Her parents exchanged a look of disapproval, as if the word “boyfriend” was beneath them. Her mother’s lips pressed into a thin line, and her father gave a dismissive huff. “So it’s true, then,” her father said, his voice hardening. “Makoto told us about this... boy you’ve been seeing. We hoped he was mistaken, you should have more sense than to involve yourself with people who don’t belong in your world.” Kokomi’s hands clenched into fists. She had expected some resistance from her parents if they ever found out about Kusuo, but hearing their cold words here, in the Saikis’ warm and loving home, filled her with frustration. “People who don’t belong in my world?” she echoed, her voice shaky but growing stronger with each word. “What do you know about my world? You’re never around! You don’t even know me anymore!”

Her mother’s eyebrows raised, not expecting any type of back talk. “Come one Kokomi”, her mother said, “this rebellious phase is clearly getting out of control” Frustrated tears began forming in Kokomi’s eyes, as always her parents didn’t care about her feelings or opinions. The only thing they cared about was themselves, and their status. But Kokomi wasn’t like that, not anymore, she had changed for the better thanks to the boy her parents just insulted. She felt Kusuo’s hand gently grab her own, giving her his silent support. She squeezed her boyfriend’s hand drawing strength from it. “It’s not a phase”, she said, her voice steady and strong, “This is where I want to be”. Her father’s expression darkened, his tone growing sharper. “Quit being difficult Kokomi”, he said “we’re just trying to do what's good for you”. Kokomi found her father's words ridiculously ironic. “So leaving me alone was good for me?!”, she asked, tears stung in her eyes but she remained strong. Her father’s face twisted in irritation, clearly not expecting his daughter to stand up to him. “That was different, Kokomi,” he replied coldly, “You were expected to handle yourself with dignity.”

“Dignity?” she repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. “You left me alone with Makoto, who treats me like a prize instead of his sister. I’ve had to manage everything on my own while you spend your time traveling around. And now, suddenly, you’re here to tell me who I’m allowed to spend time with?” Her voice cracked and she could feel the tears starting to run down her face. But she kept going, feeling a surge of anger and pain that had been buried for years. Her mother’s gaze was icy. “Don’t be melodramatic, Kokomi. We trusted you to maintain our standards, not throw them away for some... some lower-class boy.” Her mother gestured towards Kusuo, who just narrowed his eyes at her. “Lower class?” Kokomi choked out, looking around at the Saiki family, who had done nothing but treat her with love and respect. “How dare you talk about them like that, when they’ve been nothing but sweet and accepting towards me!” She gestured at Kurumi and Kuniharu, who were watching the exchange with concern. Kusuo’s hand squeezed hers gently, his touch grounding her. Her mother crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed by her outburst. “This is your last warning, Kokomi. Stop associating with these people. You’re making a fool of yourself, and of us.”

The words sliced through her, embarrassing her parents was her worst nightmare as a kid, but now she couldn’t find it in herself to care. “I’m not going anywhere,” Kokomi said softly but firmly. The patience in her father ran out, he walked over to her pulling her arm, “Enough Kokomi! You’re coming home with us!”. He was about to pull her away from the Saiki’s house, when Kusuo hand stopped him. “She’s already home”, he said, his grip on her father’s arm tightening as he stared daggers into him. Her father released her abruptly and pulled away from Kusuo’s grip. As calm and composed as Kusuo looked on the outside, Kokomi could sense the simmering anger beneath his face. She tightened her grip on his hand, feeling the quiet strength he was lending her. She kept her gaze strong as she looked at her parents, “I think you should leave”. Her father gave her a last displeased look before turning away. Both her mother and brother seemed like they wanted to argue more, but one serious look from her father was enough to make them silently follow him as he walked away.

Kokomi kept her gaze strong as she watched her family leave. Holding onto Kusuo’s hand trying to keep it together. Her knees gave up as soon as they were out of sight. Luckily Kusuo was able to catch before she hit the floor. She breathed heavily trying to calm herself, never in her life had she had the courage to stand up to her parents. Kokomi's chest felt heavy as she clung to Kusuo's arm. She felt him gently guide her to sit down on the steps by the door, his grip steady and reassuring. She let out a tired sigh as she laid her head against his shoulder, and she felt his arm wrap around her. She knew she’ll have to deal with the consequences of standing up against her parents. But that was something for future Kokomi to worry about, right now she was home, and she could let herself rest.

Chapter Text

If you asked Kokomi what her favorite place to be was she’d say the Saiki’s home, more specifically Kusuo’s room. The small bedroom was where she felt more comfortable about being herself, even compared to her own room. Things had been tense at the Teruhashi house ever since her confrontation with her parents. It had been about a week since then, and things were only just starting to relax. Her parents had begrudgingly accepted that they couldn't force her to break up with Kusuo, and that Kokomi had formed a life of her own in their absence. Still they expected her to behave properly while at their house, which Kokomi complied with. Limiting her interaction with her parents to basic greetings and small talk. She has noticed them easing up on their comments, which she appreciated. Hopefully they’ll agree to meet Kusuo properly in the future. They were still her parents afterall, it’d be nice if they could at least be civil with her boyfriend. But right now in said boyfriend’s room, freshly out of the shower in borrowed pajamas, she didn’t have to worry about any of that at the moment. She made herself comfortable in his bed, spreading her limbs so she covered as much surface as she could. Kusuo usually called her a bed stealer, but he wasn’t here right now. He was taking a shower, so she had his room all to herself for a few minutes more.

She stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. She’d been crying an awful lot lately, which wasn’t something she usually did. A part of her was surprised Kusuo hadn’t started calling her crybaby, but she also knew he wouldn’t tease her about expressing her emotions, not when it mattered. She was becoming more comfortable expressing what she really felt in front of others, instead of putting on a practiced smile. Kokomi couldn’t help but smile at the thought of how much Kusuo had changed her life. If it wasn’t for him she’d still be that shallow girl who thought everyone was beneath her living only to be admired and praised. Just like her parents wanted her to be. Kokomi sighed, rolling onto her side and letting her thoughts drift. She could remember the version of herself that had perfected the art of charm and poise to the point of becoming her entire personality. That girl had been admired, praised, and envied, but she had felt hollow, always performing, always striving to maintain her perfect image. The thought made her heart ache. She’d been so focused on appearances that she hadn’t realized how lonely she was. She nestled deeper into Kusuo’s pillow, inhaling his familiar scent that instantly calmed her nerves. Her life before Kusuo felt so distant now, like a faded memory.

Kokomi thought back to when she first noticed him, the quiet, serious boy who never seemed interested in her charms. It had stung her pride at first, and she had tried so hard to impress him, to get him to say “offu”, convinced that it was just a matter of time. But now she couldn’t help but be grateful he didn’t, since it kept her trying to get closer to him. She learned that Kusuo wasn’t the shy guy she had imagined him to be, but a generally stoic guy who only really smiled when eating sweets. He didn’t fawn over her, trying to impress her at every turn like every other guy, but she preferred him that way. As she got closer to him, she just realized she wanted to be even closer. It wasn’t enough just to hear him gasp at her. She wanted him to fall in love with her, like she had fallen for him. She really did love her boyfriend, in all his introverted and gloomy self. He understood her better than anyone, and she liked to think she understood him too. As much as he likes to deny it, Kusuo cares a whole lot about others, especially his friends. Always going out of his way to help them without them even knowing. He had told her several anecdotes of how he used his powers to stop his friends from getting hurt or played. Kokomi found it funny how he’d always find a roundabout way of convincing himself he was doing it for his own benefit.

Kusuo never liked when she referred to him as a “tsundere”, but the truth was he simply was one. Always trying to hide how much he cares for those around him. Even now that they are actually dating he’s still not one to show too much affection, at least not in the traditional way. PDA is not really his style, or hers if she was being honest, but he made up for it in abundance of acts of service. Whether it was getting her a snack because “he was already getting one for himself” or using his abilities to help her avoid her fans when she was too tired to deal with them. He always found a way to show he cared, even if he grumbled about it. Because that is just who Kusuo is, a kind, if a bit grumpy, guy, who made her heart race in ways no one else could. She remembered the first time she had stayed over, Mrs. Kurumi had been the one who suggested it, seeing as it was raining heavily. Of course Kusuo could have just teleported her to her room, or simply walked her home with an umbrella like any non-psychic. But she had accepted Kurumi’s invitation way too fast for him to even suggest it. She had been really embarrassed about sounding so eager to sleep next to her boyfriend, her cheeks flushing bright red. Kusuo had been sure to call her a “tomato” about it, and she retorted asking him to specify that she was a “cute tomato”. Looking back it was funny to realize how far they had come in their relationship. She was proud to say she no longer turned into a “cute tomato” at the idea of sleeping in the same bed as her boyfriend. If anything he’s the one who gets more flustered having to hear her thoughts. Which was quite the treat to see. Kokomi laughed a little to herself at the memory. She snuggled further into Kusuo's blankets, breathing in the subtle, comforting scent that clung to them. There was something undeniably soothing about being here, knowing this room was a sanctuary for him and now, for her too.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a damp towel falling over her. She uncovered her face with a groan only to be met by her boyfriend’s annoyed yet flustered face. She hadn’t even noticed when he entered the room. ‘Stop thinking mushy things’, he said flatly, his cheeks tinted pink. Her smile grew wide and a little mischievous, she really hadn’t intended to fluster him while he was getting ready for bed, she had just let her mind drift on its own. But she wasn’t complaining, “Nope”, she said, throwing back the towel. He groaned as he caught the towel mid air with psychokinesis, and moved it to drape over his desk chair. Kokomi wordlessly scooted over to give him space to lay down. She watched as he carefully closed his eyes to remove his green tinted glasses and grabbed his sleeping mask. It had the picture of a cute panda, which Kusuo wasn’t particularly fond of, but he still wore it to make sure he didn’t accidentally turn her to stone. Once he was settled, she scooted closer, laying her head on his chest. She felt his arms slowly wrap around her, careful as to not crush her with his strength, and she sighed contentedly. ‘I love you’, she told him in her mind, the words soft but brimming with emotion.

There was a brief pause before she heard his voice in her head. “Yeah, yeah, love you too.” His tone was as nonchalant as ever, but she knew better. The faint flutter in his heartbeat against her cheek told her more than his words ever could. Smiling to herself, she closed her eyes, the warmth of his embrace lulling her into a peaceful sleep.