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

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Yeah," Mob said. "I'm sure it'd catch Tsubomi's eye."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

"So that's it, huh?" Reigen smirked, a grain of rice clinging to his lip. "Muscles are great and all, but remember--the key to a man's charm is kindness."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I'm kind already," Mob said, "But I don't think she really notices me."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

"Oh?" Reigen motioned at him again with his chopsticks. "You don't talk to her? Listen to her problems? You're not a person she knows she can rely on?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Um. Not really."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

"Then how does she know you're kind at all?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob swallowed. Now that he had to admit it... "I don't know."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Reigen sighed. There was only so much he could say about love and attraction to Mob, but...

It was gonna be a long train ride. Longer if Mob spent it all in his own head.

"Try something. Think of a time when you felt truly cared for. Really conjure it in your mind."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob took a breath and closed his eyes. It was easy to conjure up those moments he felt cared for, because he felt cared for a lot. By the Body Improvement Club, by his mom and dad, by Ritsu, by Reigen... he even felt like Dimple cared for him, even if it was in a weird kinda way.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“Caring for someone…being there for them…it’s simple but that’s what makes it difficult. There’s no shortcut or grand gesture that will truly unlock someone’s heart. It’s something you do every day.” The ramune gave a hiss as Reigen popped the marble. “That being said, being in shape never hurts your chances either.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

That made sense to Mob. But then, what was stopping him from doing that?

"I guess... I don't really know how to talk to her anymore."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Reigen swallowed without chewing all the way and regretted it when it stretched his throat on the way down. He winced and coughed a bit and took a swig from his bottle before setting it back down.

Before Reigen could respond, Mob’s phone started vibrating like crazy on the table in a way he could immediately clock as text tones. They had the same model of phone after all. One buzz, two buzzes, three buzzes, four…

’Someone’s popular.’

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob immediately grabbed his phone, then flipped it open and navigated to his texts.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

SHIGE Send.

That food is WAY CUTER than I remember it Send.

૮꒰˶●༝●˶꒱ა ~♡︎
/づ𓆏 Send.

wait Send.

are you still on the train? Send.

did you pack that? Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

No Master bought it for me Send.

It's my third-year work anniversary Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Three years? Today? Send.

Congratulations!! Send.

I had no idea this was a celebration trip (o_ _)ﾉ彡☆ Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

I don't think it is. Send.

We still have a job to do Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Still Send.

The best feeling is being recognized for hard work you put in yourself. Send.

my father is always finding time to celebrate when he's out on work Send.

profitable trades. high returns. market volatility Send.

Not just stuff like that, but team achievements and personal milestones are really important! Send.

You deserve to be recognized. Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Do your parents celebrate you too? Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

well, I don't work

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

What about for other things?

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Not really Send.

There was a pause.

Well, I do get cards and presents for my birthdays and stuff Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob frowned at that answer.

We should do something special for your birthday Send.

When is it? Send.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Oh it passed a few weeks ago. Don't worry about it. Send.

Another pause.

It's April 13th, for the record. Send.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Ok I'll have to figure out how to put it on my phone's calendar