Chapter Text
Mikoto was avoiding me.
I had no idea why she was, we were close friends and talked every day, in person and in texts, so why was she suddenly doing everything in her power to avoid me?
I noticed it first at lunch on Monday, when she didn’t say a single word to me the entire time and left as quickly as possible. I was suspicious, but I was more worried about her well-being then thinking it had anything to do with me.
Then she didn’t answer my messages. She left me on read, and I was getting increasingly more concerned about her. People don’t usually do this, right?
Tuesday followed the same pattern. She didn’t answer any messages, didn’t talk to me at lunch, and avoided me afterwards. It was starting to get frustrating.
It was Wednesday when she actually did something, but it wasn’t even towards me.
I was in my brother’s classroom, attempting to steal some of his food and failing, when she burst through the door, purple-haired pervert in tow. She froze so suddenly when she saw me pervert guy slammed into her back, and then they started yelling at each other.
“Hey guys, you good?” Aren called out to them.
Mikoto whipped her head around, smiled widely and nodded, then turned back to pervert guy and said something to him I didn’t catch.
The rest of our friend group was also stood around Kusuo’s desk, and were all watching this very strange interaction. A few of them were snickering to themselves. I wasn’t.
Finally, Mikoto straightened up, turned around, and marched up to Kusuo’s desk. Pervert followed her, his hands in his pockets, and so did Touma.
“Kusuo, we need you, it’s very. Urgent.” She hissed out at him. I could tell she was thinking something at him.
Kusuo simply arched an eyebrow at her, projecting so everyone else could hear, ‘Class is about to start. I don’t have time for this.’
One of her eyes started twitching, and she looked like she was about three seconds away from attempting to throttle Kusuo.
“It’s definitely important, Saiki, even the ghosts agree.” Pervert piped up.
Mikoto nodded furiously, gesturing at him. “See? Even the ghosts think it’s important, so come on.” She said the last word slightly strained, as she had clamped down on Kusuo’s arm and was attempting to drag him out of his seat.
Kusuo rolled his eyes and followed. She didn’t let go of his arm.
Kokomi clearly noticed that, too, as she was staring at the pair slightly forlornly.
“What was that about?” Shun asked aloud, to nobody in particular.
Before anyone could share any theories, the teacher clapped for the class’s attention, and I left to go back to my own classroom.
~~~
On my way back to my classroom, I finally found out why that gym teacher had looked at me weird back in chapter 5.
I was walking through the hallways, watching a group of insects wage war on each other, when we quite literally bumped into each other at a corner.
He was holding a few sheets of paper, and they scattered to the floor. It felt very cliche, if i I’m being honest. He apologised quickly, like he would to any student, but did a double take when he actually looked at me.
He straightened up.
I remained where I was stood. “Are you okay, Sir?” I asked.
He looked at me even weirder this time. “Yes, I’m alright. Sorry I bumped into you, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was walking.”
I shrugged. “We didn’t see each other, it’s normal.”
He nodded, and gave me another weird look. It was a mix of confusion, wariness, and maybe a little relief? What was going on?
“Sir? Are you sure you’re alright?” I asked again, wanting to ask directly why he was looking at me like that but not wanting to be rude from the get-go.
He nodded and made to move past me and I huffed.
“My apologies if this is rude, but why are you looking at me like that?” I asked firmly.
The teacher looked at me like I had just asked what colour the sky was.
“Because, you’re the student that confessed to me and I rejected a few months ago, yet you’re acting like this is the first time we’ve met.” He finally said.
I pulled a face. What the fuck? Who would confess to a teacher of all people? And why in god’s name would he think it was-
You have got to be kidding me.
“No, that wasn’t me. It was my cousin, we look like twins.” I half-lied.
Relief washed over his face, and he smiled at me. “Good, I was worried I would have to turn you down again. I’ll explain to your teacher why you’re late, who do you have?”
I told him the name and class, and then we went our separate ways. He was nice, I suppose. As nice as gym teachers can be. And it’s completely understandable why he seemed so uncomfortable around me, what with the confession that was apparently me. Speaking of which.
What the fuck, Kusuo?!
‘Oops.’
Seriously, why the fuck did you confess your undying love to a teacher as me? Literally what the hell?!
‘Relax. Some kids were trying to prank him, I stepped in.’
Okay, I’m gonna need a way more detailed explanation than that bullshit.
‘Later, Kineshi is aggressively encouraging the class to work harder, I’ll get a speech yelled in my face if I don’t pay attention.’
I rolled my eyes, but dropped the subject. I had managed to steer the situation away from myself and onto some made up cousin, so I guess it wasn’t a crazy deal. Still, it would be great if Kusuo could at least tell me about all the times he pretended to be me. That would be great.
~~~
Kusuo, Shun, Aren, Riki and I were walking home from school, as per usual. It was quite pleasant today, actually, as Shun had some leftover ramen from his lunch and had given it to Riki, so we weren’t asked about ramen every minute.
We were walking up our street, when Kusuo stopped walking. His face twisted into something sour, and Shun and Aren looked at him in concern. He looked at me.
‘Kusuke’s home.’
My stomach dropped to my feet.
Fuck.
Kusuo turned to the others, and projected at them all, ‘Go home. I just remembered Kuriko and I had an errand to do.’
Shun and Aren nodded in understanding, smiling. “Oh, right, you just suddenly stopped and we were worried, but that makes sense!” Shun said.
Riki wrapped his arms around Kusuo, and I snorted at his facial expression. “Bye buddy, I’ll miss you,” Riki said, acting like Kusuo was going to war.
“Chill out, Riki, it’s not like he’s going to war or something.” Aren said, grinning at his friend’s antics.
Huh. Great minds, I guess.
He finally let go of Kusuo, and the group left. Riki walked on slightly ahead of the other two, whistling something to himself very pitchily. Aren slipped his hand into Shun’s. I smiled. Took them long enough.
Once they were out of sight, Kusuo put his hand on my shoulder and suddenly we were at the local park. He let go, and sat on the swing set he had teleported us in front of. I sat on the one next to him.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to see him again.” I said aloud.
Kusuo nodded.
We sat there in silence for an hour.
I gently swung myself back and forth, finding comfort in the repetitiveness. Eventually, I was swinging myself as high as I could get, and wanted to go higher. I shut my eyes and lost myself in the feeling, when I felt myself getting pushed higher. I opened one eye and looked down at my brother as I swung back, he was sitting in the same position that he had been for the past hour. I smiled, closed my eyes properly, and let him push me with his powers.
Another twenty minutes, and I felt marginally better. Kusuo stopped pushing me, and I dragged my feet against the ground to fully stop myself swinging.
He stood up and held out his hand. I grabbed it and he teleported us into my bedroom.
‘I’ll keep him out of here.’ Kusuo projected, and I hugged him.
I’m not one for hugs, neither is Kusuo, but I needed it this time. And he knew that.
I stepped back and he lingered for about a second, then walked out of my room, shutting the door gently behind him.
I flopped onto my bed. Why did he have to be here? Why now?
Straining my ears, I listened to the conversation I could somewhat hear coming from downstairs. I could hear my parents talking. I could hear Kusuke talking.
I clenched my fists, grabbed my headphones and blasted GRANRODEO directly into my ears.