Chapter Text
Sitting beside him on the sofa, Toritsuka doesn’t turn to look at Saiki. The two sit in silence, one that is quickly broken by Toritsuka Reita, the spirit medium. He says, “Saiki, I know you can hear my thoughts right now, so–”
Saiki quickly shakes his head, interrupting Toritsuka. He points to the ring in his left hand.
Toritsuka finally turns to Saiki, though they don’t make eye contact. Still, Toritsuka is looking at Saiki’s way. Even without telepathy, Saiki can tell that Toritsuka is clueless to the ring, or as to why he’s showing it in the first place.
The words coming out of the spirit medium only confirms Saiki’s thoughts, “Okay? Cool ring. I don’t see how that’s– Oh! Oh! I see! It blocks your telepathy?”
Saiki nods. “I sometimes wear it at home. Pardon me for interrupting you. What were you saying?”
Toritsuka shifts uncomfortably in his seat, fumbling the beads of his bracelet. He’s no longer facing Saiki. Toritsuka does not say a word, and doesn’t expect Saiki to break the silence, either.
…
…
…
The piercing silence makes Saiki almost consider taking off his ring, not until Toritsuka finally speaks again.
“You must be aware I’m... well... having feelings for you. Maybe? I haven’t really figured it out fully. I do know that I see you as more than a friend, that much I can tell. Ghosts aren’t the best people to open up to about these kinds of stuff, so...”
Saiki thinks, Honest as ever, before taking a sip of his drink. He closes his eyes as he does so, savouring the bitter taste of the coffee. He lets Toritsuka continue talking.
“And, I don’t really expect you to feel the same way. I know you aren’t the most romantic person. Still, I would like to take you out, just this once! Just to celebrate your birthday. As friends.”
Saiki glances at Toritsuka. “Today?”
Toritsuka nods. “I know it’s a little early since your birthday’s next week, and we could probably just celebrate here at your home since your parents are out, but–”
“My birthday’s in August. August 16, to be exact.”
Toritsuka shakes his head. “No, it’s not...? It’s on July twenty-something–”
Wait, it’s stupid of me to question his own birthday, Toritsuka thinks. He looks at Saiki, dumbfounded. “Wait, huh? But– I asked Nendou’s dad to check for your house and birthday… He got the house part right, though…”
Saiki deadpans, “There it is. You asked Nendou’s dad. You know his son’s a total idiot… The apple doesn’t fall too far from the stupid tree.”
…
Toritsuka slumps in his seat, burying his face in his hands. If almost admitting to your best friend you might be developing feelings for him was bad enough, try getting his birthday wrong by a month. Toritsuka Reita got that covered. He sighs. “August... Your mom’s confusion makes so much sense now...”
“YOU MET MY MOM?”
Toritsuka solemnly nods. He regains his composure as he talks rambles, “She passed by the temple I live in then a ghost told me she was your mom, so of course I approached her and introduced myself as your friend. I said something about your birthday being next week and she was confused but didn’t say anything so I didn’t think much of it.”
“Does she know that you know?”
“I know what–? Oh! No. I don’t think she does. She mentioned the word “esper” then corrected herself.”
Saiki internally sighs. “It’s probably best if it stays that way. I can’t have you two babbling about my powers in public. Continue...”
Toritsuka grins. “I then asked her if you were home then she said “yes”, and told me that I could–”
“That I could...” Toritsuka clears his throat before raising his voice by a few octaves and mimicking the airy tone in Saiki’s mom’s voice, as well as wearing the cheerful expression on her face that’s very familiar to Saiki.
“... Come over and hang out with her dear Ku! She’s so glad you have so many friends.”
Toritsuka continues talking, although telepathically,
“I also told her you’re mean to me sometimes and she hugged me and apologised on your behalf; wish you’d do that, too, you meanie.”
Toritsuka maintains the smile on his face, while the frown on Saiki’s gets more and more evident. He swiftly disappears in front of Toritsuka.
“What–?! SAIKI. COME BACK. SAIKI. KUSUO. Wait, are you fine with me calling you by your name? SAIKI!!! WHERE ARE YOU?”
Despite many calls, Saiki doesn’t return immediately and Toritsuka crosses his arms.
Bored, he makes his way up to Saiki’s room. Toritsuka smiles smugly to himself. He rubs his palms together as he thinks, I’m going to summon so many ghosts here…
Toritsuka calls out to his guardian spirit, “Oy! Tell the others they can–”
“They can do what?” Saiki’s voice startles Toritsuka greatly, the latter literally jumping at his friend’s sudden return.
“WHEN DID YOU GET BACK?”
“Just now.” Saiki answers. “I needed 3 minutes to use teleportation again.”
Toritsuka takes a deep breath and furrows his eyebrows. “Where did you teleport off to?”
“America.”
Toritsuka gasps, his words exaggerated to hell and back. “Did you really have to get to the other side of the world to avoid me? I’m hurt, truly. Was my impression of your mother that horrible? I think I did a great job.”
Saiki glares at Toritsuka with a frown as he takes off his ring. Saiki winces at the overwhelming flow of thoughts before replying to Toritsuka. “Yes, I did. And unfortunately, you did a great impression of my mom, which is what made me want to get away from you in the first place.”
Toritsuka flicks his wrist and grins. “Months of using my summoning ability pays off~!” He then pouts his lips, “But, why? Does Ku not like being called “Ku” by anyone who isn’t his mommy?”
Toritsuka laughs, obnoxiously. “I didn’t see you as a mommy’s boy, to be honest. It’s cute!”
Saiki rolls his eyes. “You’re here to celebrate my birthday early but you got my birthday wrong, right? You should go home now.”
Toritsuka sticks his tongue out. In a sing-song tone, he replies, “You aren’t getting rid of me that easily~!”
“Try me.”
As he ignores Saiki’s words, Toritsuka laxly sits on the floor of Saiki’s room, a goofy grin on his face that makes Saiki want to punch the lights out of the spirit medium.
Saiki sits on the singular chair in his room... The scene oddly reminds him of their first meeting.
He hears Toritsuka think, I should ask about his mom.
“Absolutely not.”
Toritsuka raises his hands up and shakes his head, “Not like that, I swear! I mean, is she the only one who calls you “Ku”? Do your dad and brother use that nickname too?”
Saiki nods, then shakes his head. Toritsuka takes this as answers to both of his questions.
“I’d rather die than have Kusuke call me “Ku”.”
Toritsuka gives Saiki a thumbs up. Mockingly, the nickname rolls off Toritsuka’s mouth. “Ku, we should go out.”
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
“Huh–!? I mean, sure, let’s say that. I just did that earlier.”
Saiki deadpans, “I wasn’t going to say “yes”.”
Toritsuka scratches his head in frustration. “No! I just mean go out, literally. I didn’t expect your room to be… this boring.”
Saiki smiles, though his eyes don’t seem to go along with the happy front Saiki wishes to put up. Toritsuka knows Saiki’s being sarcastic when he says, “Thank you. I do my best.”
To which Toritsuka exclaims, “That wasn’t a compliment!”
Saiki lets out a slight chuckle in response.
A silence fills the room again, and Toritsuka’s eyes move over to Saiki’s hand. He thinks,
He’s again wearing the ring that cancels his telepathy… This means Saiki can’t hear me, right? Well then, I can (kind of) finally pour my feelings out to him without him finding out.
Toritsuka closes his eyes for a second before focusing on an object in Saiki’s room. Anything that wasn’t 10 centimeters away from the guy he likes. Liked? Likes. Toritsuka figures he probably likes Saiki.
Okay, the singular pillow on his bed.
Here goes. Saiki and I both know that even if I finally get to the point where I figure out my feelings for him, neither of us are willing to pursue anything beyond friendship; Saiki would not reciprocate these feelings in the first place.
Still, I wish to be by his side. I will try my best not to dwell on the fact that the first guy I’ll ever like… won’t like me back. Or that, despite having powers as well, I won’t be able to help him as much as he has helped me.
Still, that will not stop me from feeling these feelings. I do not see myself and Saiki being each other’s boyfriends– well, I might have daydreamed a few times– but I do not want to lose our friendship. Even if he denies said friendship to hell and back. I’m not the only one he hides his feelings from.
If there were a term for two people who are not-romantic, but not-exactly-“just friends”, I’d wish to be like that with Saiki… Yeah, that’s all, I guess.
It feels great to let all this out.
A small smile settles on Toritsuka’s face. This goes unnoticed by Saiki, who looks to be content just staring out the window of his room.
However, Toritsuka isn’t aware of the fact that Saiki heard half of the things he thought… Not that Saiki would like to bring it up. He doesn’t want Toritsuka to feel bad, he only meant to adjust his ring.
Saiki thinks to himself, I’ll continue wearing it for the time he’s here.
Toritsuka sighs. Hm, I could think of a better thing to do than looking out the window. Tons, actually! I’m honestly so bored here…
“Ku.”
Saiki jumps a little in his chair and glares at Toritsuka. “Don’t startle me like that. What do you want?”
Toritsuka smiles and points at Saiki. “Aw, you responded when I called you Ku~. Anyway, let’s go do karaoke.”
Saiki shakes his head.
“Pleaaseee? There’s nothing to do in your room.”
Saiki shakes his head again. “Then go by yourself. I’m perfectly content sitting here alone.”
“That’s just sad!” Exclaims Toritsuka. “Loosen up a little! Go karaoke with me! It’ll be the best non-birthday birthday celebration ever!”
Firmly, Saiki says, “No.”
“Karaoke.”
“No.”
“Ku. Karaoke. Please.”
Saiki frowns at the nickname. “No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“I am going to call your mom and tell her that her lovely Ku won’t go out with a dear friend.”
Saiki stands up from his chair and cracks his knuckles. “You wouldn’t do that.”
Toritsuka nervously gulps. “Yeah… Yeah.” He quickly regains his confidence, “I wouldn’t do that if you just went karaoke with me! You don’t even have to sing. A personal performance from me, who wouldn’t want that?” Toritsuka coolly runs his hand through his hair.
“Many people would not want that, me included.”
Toritsuka groans. “Just go this once! If it’s the many thoughts that you’re worried about, just wear the ring that cancels your telepathy– I’ll be there, anyway, so I’ll make sure you don’t get startled too much.”
Saiki looks Toritsuka in the eye. Should I take off the ring and see if he’s being serious? Although, it’s not like he’s really lied to me before. He’s still got such an honest look to him that at first glance, you can’t ever tell that he’s a pervert.
Finally, Saiki sighs and gives in to Toritsuka’s wishes.
“Fine. I know a place that’s a little secluded.”
Toritsuka raises an eyebrow in surprise. “Really? How do you know something like that? Don’t tell me you’ve, like, hooked up there before?!”
Saiki scrunches his nose in disgust. “No. Don’t suggest that again. I just ate alone in one room to celebrate the mixer Rifuta Imu held in the next room for Teruhashi and Yumehara with some dudes from a prestigious school.”
Toritsuka asks, “Did it… go well?”
Saiki shakes his head. “I took the guys out.”
There’s a flash of worry and fear in Toritsuka’s eyes as he silently questions what Saiki meant by “taking the guys out”. He figures it’s a subject best left untouched.
Instead, Toritsuka asks, “Where’s this karaoke place, though? Let’s just go there.”