Chapter 2: Hunting Season(ing) Part One

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Are you okay with this?" Mob sat on a bench with Tome, the head of the Telepathy Club. Mob wasn't part of the Telepathy Club, but he had a good relationship with the members since they shared the room with the Body Improvement Club (which Mob was a part of). So naturally, when Tome aggressively insisted that he help her hunt aliens or telepaths or telepaths that were also aliens, Mob felt like he had no choice to agree.

But unfortunately, despite having four investigative meetings (this one was number five), they had thusfar failed to find anything.

Maybe aliens or telepaths weren't as common as either one of them thought.

"Maybe it'd be better for us to try again later in the year. Maybe aliens visit only during certain seasons." It didn't at all seem implausible to Mob. People always hoped for the weather to be a certain way when they went on vacation. If aliens were even a little like humans, Mob was sure they'd feel the same way when they vacationed on other planets.

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[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Um." Mob's mouth began chattering again but no words came out. After a moment, Mob was able to make his throat work again. "M-maybe! But... it's something I really want to do!" The last few words came out loud and quickly, as if Mob were afraid what would happen if he didn't get them out soon enough.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Okay," Teruki replied in smooth English. He had spent plenty of time in the states with his parents working overseas, and he peppered his dates with catchy little English phrases enough that eventually his girlfriends all picked up the habit in one way or other. "Then...let's hold hands."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob swallowed and snatched Teruki's hand before he could think better of it.

Countdown to Mob's Explosion: 32%.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"A-ah, Kageyama-kun...you're squeezing a bit..." It wasn't him just playing demure; Mob was squeezing hard enough to cut off circulation to his fingers.

Where the hell was that strength when he threw a punch at him?

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Oh." Mob immediately loosened his grip on Teruki's hand. "Is that -- is this better?"

Just imagining his was holding Tsubomi's hand... it was like a dream come true.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Phew. "Yeah." He interlocked their fingers and playfully pressed his thumb against Mob's own. His nails were short--did he bite them? Mob's hands were a little calloused too, but it made sense. He had joined an athletic club recently and his skin surely wasn't used to the metal finish of the dumbbells yet. "This is nice."

...

Teruki cleared his throat, signaling a return to normal. "So! How was it?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob's fingers fanned out as he released his hold on Teruki's hand. He took a deep breath, hardly able to believe what he had just done.

"Terrifying..." he exhaled. "I don't know how you do it."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"You have to remember: the times when you're not feeling confident are the times when it's most important to act like you are." He retreated and picked up his duffel bag from the side of the swing set. "You wanna kiss her too, eventually, right?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob was fidgeting with his fingers again. "Y-yeah... eventually."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Teruki squinted as an orange beam caught his eye through the leaves--the sun was really starting to get low, now.

"Once you're comfortable with holding hands, eye contact, conversation...kissing and everything else follows naturally. Trust me on that one." He nodded towards the entrance--he figured it was a lot more important for Mob to be home at a certain time than it was for him. "Of course, even the most forward girls are gonna expect you to make the first move, so pay close attention to the little things."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob took the cue and followed after Teruki.

"Y-you think so?" What Teruki was saying was probably true. Tsubomi probably would want the guy asking her out to make the first move. But... would he be able to do it? "I'll probably need to practice some more before I do it."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"You can come over to my place whenever you feel like it. I live alone, so you won't be bothering anyone."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

That was enough to snap Mob out of his nerves.

"You live alone?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Yeah." Teruki pointed at a distance high-rise. It was unmistakably the up-up-upscale residential district of Seasoning City. "It's got a pretty nice view."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob's gaze followed Teruki's finger.

"But where are your parents?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"They work overseas. I think they're in Manhattan right now..." Teruki trailed off towards the end, clearly unsure himself. "Ah, where do you live? I'll walk you home."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Oh. That seems pretty lonely," Mob said as he lead the way to his home. Mob wasn't sure what he'd do without his parents and Ritsu there every day.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Huh.

“Don’t tell me…”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"What?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Teruki leaned in closer as they walked. "Don't tell me you're worried about me."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob had no reservations about admitting it. "Of course."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

That was pretty rich, but...if Mob cared enough about him even when they were fighting to cry over hurting him...

"Don't be. Seriously. It's better this way."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob started to open his mouth to say something, but then he stopped. It sounded like maybe Teru didn't want to talk about it. He shouldn't push then, right?

"My home's this way," he said, pointing a finger in the appropriate direction. "So if we go forward and turn, it should be two blocks down."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

'Though...this may involve him sooner or later...' Teruki was quiet for the rest of the walk, consumed by thought, enough that he didn't hear Mob at first when he broke the silence.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"...it's almost dinnertime, so I'm sure if you wanted to, my mom would be fine with you joining us for dinner," Mob continued.