Chapter 4: Cutting Algae Part One

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Texting was a pretty neat function. It was widely adopted by every teenager except the one he, Reigen, had so generously gifted a phone to do it with. Mob was diligent to a fault about picking up his calls, but texting? Still a work in progress. Mob was getting better, though. After all, how else was Reigen supposed to give him a heads up about big jobs before the end of the school day? Excepting the occasional friendly lunch break chat.

That was of course assuming the phone was still intact. After their chat last night, Reigen wasn't so sure. It wasn't like Mob made a habit of texting him first.

Reigen squinted at the clock on his second-hand laptop he'd just replaced the shattered one with. 12:05PM. He had found a decent deal on one in a flea market but there was something off about the graphics. Parts of the screen were always slightly out of frame and most of his day had been spent trying to uselessly dink with the display options until it was righted, but instead he just ended up with a resolution that was too small.

'Ugh. New laptop, and if we're really unlucky, a new phone? I'll just garnish it...' Reigen pulled out his phone and fired off a text to his pupil. You didn't get washed away, did you? Your phone's still working, right?

Comments

[mp_simplyacommoner]

you’re stronger than me Send.

but not because of your psychic power Send.

you’re a good person Send.

even when it’s not easy Send.

Especially when it’s not easy Send.

that’s a strength I truly admire about you Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Thanks Send.

I think you can do it too Send.

Maybe not now but if you keep working at it Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Teru read what he was sent once and started laughing until he cried a little. He wasn’t even sure why, his only thought was, ‘He’s incredible!’

I’ll catch up to you! =͟͟͞͞(๑•̀ㅁ•́ฅ✧ Send.

I’m your rival!! Send.

So keep working hard or I’ll pass you by! Send.

as soon as you’re back I’ll show you how far I’ve come in just a few days! Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

I guess if we are rivals, I should work on styling my hair so we can compete Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Teru had to resist the urge to immediately remark upon how much he liked Mob’s pin straight hair. He liked a lot of things about Mob that Mob didn’t see himself, and that made him sad, but he didn’t want to scare him off with his compliments. Not everyone took them the same way he himself did, after all.

A little part would go a long way Send.

You’ve got a round face so a deeper side part would suit you Send.

I’ll break out my comb and texture spray next time you visit Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

I need something to work on if we're going to be rivals Send.

It won't be fair if you're helping me, but I'm not helping you Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

So help me with something! Send.

I’m sure there’s plenty I can learn from you Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

hmmm Send.

I'm not really good at schoolwork Send.

And the only food I can make is onigir Send.

Ritsu always beats me in video games too Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

I’ve never made onigiri Send.

So there we go! Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

What kind of onigiri do you want to make? Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

salted salmon! Send.

can we try yaki onigiri? Send.

with unagi sauce Send.

and extra nori （’┓`*） Send.

I have a really good pan Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

I've never made it before Send.

But we can try Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

oooooooh Send.

then let's start with you teaching me the basics Send.

Shige-Sensei ｍ（＿　＿）ｍ Send.

"Kageyamya-sama!" Misaki's voice called from the other side of Mob's door. "Pardon. May I enter?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Yeah, just one minute."

Mob wasn't a very fast typist on his phone. Teru definitely was. Mob was sure he'd be halfway through his first line before Teru would respond with four more messages. Maybe he would have to work at that, too. Was messaging Teru like this practice, then?

I have to go Send.

But I'll text again later. Send.

"It's okay. Come in."

[mp_npc]

Misaki slid the door open. She was in an entirely different kimono from before with her long braids now bound in buns at the sides of her head. She crossed into Mob's room and quickly lowered herself to her knees in a deep bow.

"I've come to tell you dinner will be ready at 7:30." It was 40 minutes until then. "Please enjoy our mineral-rich baths until then, Kageyama-sama! The water will purify your energy and ease your woes."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Should he say something to her about Reigen? An awkwardly long silence fell between the two as Mob decided that it wouldn't be a good idea to worry the client. He could almost hear Reigen say it in his own voice.

Mob was unphased by the silence. There was something else he wanted to ask about.

"Today we found a story about a Crane, back in the tea house. Do you know about it?"

[mp_npc]

Misaki finally sat up--having been locked into her deep bow during the entire duration of the silence. She was, as always, quick to move on though.

"Tea house? The ryokan's tea house?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"No, the one at the castle."

[mp_npc]

“Ah!” Misaki brightened knowingly. “The Crane Wife. Everyone in Kanimeshi knows that one.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Master said that there was something really important about it... but I don't really get good grades in literature, so I couldn't really figure it out."

[mp_npc]

Humming, Misaki tilted her head to one side, letting the weight of her bun jog her thoughts. “Everyone takes a different meaning from it, Kageyama-sama.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"What do you think?"

[mp_npc]

"I don't have as much to say about it as my big sister, but basically...I think it's a cautionary tale about miserable liars."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I don't like being lied to, but..." He really didn't like being lied to. "I think almost everyone does."

[mp_npc]

Misaki seemed to consider Mob's point. "Kageyamya-sama, do you think a crane could really marry a human?"