Chapter 8: Turf Wars

[mp_npc]

Even though it was nearly 6pm, the sun was still relatively high in the sky compared to just the month prior. The days were getting longer and the air was getting warmer. With the heat brought energy--especially in the particular stretch where Teru had asked Mob to meet up. It was in the southeastern district of Seasoning City, an especially dense urban stretch near the freeway bordering on the industrial part of the city.

Factories and and their smokestacks were in the near distance. Workers in uniform were shuffling about with purpose, disappearing in and out of the narrow alleys that snaked through that part of town likes veins. The scent of street food was strong. There was one food stand that Teru asked Mob to wait near in particular, one with especially good yakitori. A gust of wind carried the delicious smokey glazed scent of it--along with laughter and jeers from one of the alleyways just behind Mob.

"Hey, ain't that a Salt uniform?" A boy jeered as his friends formed a loose-but-coordinated semi-circle behind Mob. Their own uniforms were a rusty red with enormously tacky gold buttons down the center.

Comments

[mp_npc]

He grunted and nodded. "Sit. Enjoy it. On the house."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Thank you, but..." Mob nervously looked at the broad-shouldered student duo, watching as their forms began to disappear into the steady stream of pedestrians.

[mp_npc]

"I insist."

The old man rubbed his angular and sagging jaw. His gaze was scrutinizing but not unkind. "Look. I'll be direct with ya, kid. You look like you got a good heart. You don't need anything to do with them types." He gestured with his thumb after the Miso gang. "The delinquency lifestyle is nothing worth covetin'."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I'm not interested in becoming a delinquent." Mob took a bite of his strawberry. "Oh, this is good." What would Reigen tell him to say? "Thank you."

[mp_npc]

"Good. I seen a lot of young men in this neighborhood get caught up. Good young men. Me included...but that was a long time ago." He yawned and stretched his neck from side to side, small pops and cracks following each motion. "Now I sit here mindin' my fruit. It's a simple life, but I never lose sight of my responsibilities. We're all born into the world with responsibilities, and we take more on as we get older. Can't escape 'em, no matter what we think...Gah, now I'm ramblin'. Listen, kid. Your business is your own, but mind the things that are important. Ya hear?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Okay," Mob said in acknowledgement.

Responsibilities. Did he have any responsibilities? Sure, he had to go to school, make good grades, and go to work, but... was there anything else that he was expected to do?

"I should go now. Thank you again for the strawberry."

[mp_npc]

"Good, ain't they? Just came in season." The old man's furrowed features lit up with pride. "They're good for blood pressure and stress, too. You're never too young to worry about that. Come back for some whenever you need to clear your head."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I will. Thank you." And with that, Mob took one final bite of his strawberry and popped its top into the trash can.

With one final nod of gratitude to the man, Mob started walking back in the direction he was headed before; the duo were long gone now, but he still had other work to do. He wondered if Teru had any luck finding anything.

[mp_npc]

With the gang's passing, the streets were no more loud than usual. The crowds had barely thinned, even though the sky had begun to dim from blue to orange in the time that Mob and Teru had begun their patrol. The vendors even seemed more at ease as there were no delinquents in sight--a rare reprieve for those hours after school had gotten out. Some baristas were chatting about it as Mob passed, and then--

His phone began to vibrate.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob quickly flipped the phone open. "Teru? Is everything okay?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Shige--we've got trouble." Teru's voice was slightly unsteady from the effort of righting his breath.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"What's going on?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Your brother...I thought he didn't have psychic powers."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Ritsu? He has psychic powers?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"I ran into him," Teru said, still trying to catch his breath, "He definitely has them. He hit me with them--hard."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

It had to be an accident. Ritsu had to be struggling with his powers. Even Mob had problems with that at first.

"Where are you?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Well--he took me off guard, really--I'm fine." Teru cleared his throat. Mentally, he was kicking himself. He never let his guard down like that, but just because it was Mob's brother...

"I'm near Sando Hills complex. Where are you? Are you still up north?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Yeah," Mob said. "I can head to where you are and we can go to Ritsu together." It might mean using his psychic powers to get there and he might get sick along the way... but it was definitely going to be the fastest way of getting there.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"No, stay where you are. I'll come to you. He was headed north."

Teru had a truly bad feeling, but saying so aloud wouldn't be helpful to Mob. Of all things he expected to happen--well, even meditating on that was pointless. He knew better than to expect the expected. He knew better.

"Where are you now?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob turned around, looking for the nearest landmark. "I'm outside of Marjoram Cafe."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Alright. I'll head right there." Teru hung up and quickly set about orienting himself.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Okay, I'll see you soon."

Mob snapped the burner phone shut and tucked it away in his pocket with his other phone. He wanted to find his brother, but somehow managed to command himself to stand there long enough for Teru's arrival. He was sure there was no one else in Seasoning City who would find a way to arrive faster.

[mp_npc]

The street was quiet, but it wasn't still. The lights that were slowly popping on to signal the approach of evening began to flicker.

The baristas at the cafe where Mob was loitering had been chatting idly amongst themselves--when, suddenly, one shrieked. The espresso machine was going haywire and shooting steam everywhere. The other quickly scrambled and threw a towel over it.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob didn't even think to contact Teru. He sensed a pulse of energy nearby that he hadn't felt before. But when he felt it, he knew exactly who it was.

Ritsu.

His feet carried him to where he felt the presence. Before, he thought no one could navigate Seasoning City faster, but Mob's feet carried him there so quickly that he was sure that the Body Improvement Club would cheer his improvement if they saw it.

"Ritsu..." Mob called out once they locked eyes. He was relieved; now that he had found Ritsu, he could help him. It'd be okay.

[mp_kageyamabro]

"Bro..."

Shigeo had sensed him before Ritsu could sense Shigeo. In fact, he had basically managed to sneak up on him.

Well.

Whatever.

There was a chorus of anguished groaning at his feet from the piles of thugs freshly strewn about. Ritsu ignored it and fully turned his body to face his older brother.

"What are you doing here?"