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]

"Thanks, Mom." Shigeo's smile was slight, but it was definitely there. "I'll be back in a bit."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

The night was pretty warm--Spring really was here, wasn't it? The sky got brighter the closer they got to Teruki's high-rise, but that was because it was closer to the city proper. That was one reason he was always getting home late; there was just always something to do in that part of Seasoning City.

"Your family is cute, Kageyama-kun. You're lucky."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Thanks, I really am." Shigeo could definitely recognize that. Especially now, knowing that Teruki was living alone. "If you ever want to drop by, let me know. Do you have a cell phone? I'll give you my number."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"...Yeah. That's a good idea." They were nearing the trail by the river that was popular with all the joggers. Before they ascended the steps, Teruki whipped out his phone and added Mob's number to his contacts.

When he finished, he pocketed his phone to look Mob in the eye. The warmth in his blue eyes hardened over.

"Hey...don't tell your parents that I live alone. I'm not asking you as an acquaintance. I'm telling you as a fellow psychic."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Sure, but why don't you want me telling them?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"If they knew, they'd start asking questions. I don't want to expose them to danger." The Kageyama's were good people. They would have had to be to raise such a good son, but now that he had met them for himself...

"When I was ten I was nearly kidnapped. I've been followed by the ones who tried it ever since."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Almost kidnapped?" Mob could hardly believe it, but he could tell from the way Teruki was talking that there was no way he was lying. "Who are the people who tried to kidnap you?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Of course, they've never succeeded, but..." Teruki glanced around to take stock of their surroundings; the shadows under the bridge moved, but it was just a cat with a rat in its jaws. "Basically...it's a cult of psychics who go after children who they know to have strong psychic ability to recruit them into their ranks. By force."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

That was... unnerving to think about. Mob was relieved that he had gone unnoticed up until now. Was it because he rarely used his psychic powers for anything outside of work?

Still, he had one other thing to be worried about.

"Is it really safe for you to live alone when there are people after you?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

“It’s the safest thing for me to do. I can handle myself.” He stepped towards Mob, extending a hand for the wrapped bentos. “I’m not trying to freak you out…but it would be wrong for me not to at least warn you.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob handed them over. "Thank you." Hopefully, there wouldn't be anything to worry about. But still... when he thought about Ritsu, his mom and dad, and Master Reigen getting hurt...

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"I'll see you later."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

The weight of the wrapped food settled over Teruki's fingers. It was warm and it still smelled really good and he suddenly felt like there was more he should say.

"Hey...Kageyama-kun. I thought having another psychic in town would be nothing but trouble at first. But the truth is...I feel a lot better knowing you're around." His thumb tightened around the fabric. "And I'm not just saying this from one psychic to another. I'm saying this to you."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob knotted his hands in front of him.

"Thanks." He never felt like be could be relied on before. He was always the one relying on others. But it felt a little like Teruki might be relying on him a little.

"I don't like fighting, but if you get into any trouble..."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"You'll come to my rescue, right?" Teruki laughed but not unkindly. He didn't want to leave Mob on a dour note. "Don't worry, there are plenty of other things we'll do before I ask you to do something like that. Like perfecting your hand-holding technique."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob blushed. It was still dark, even in the city lights, right? He hoped Teruki wouldn't see it.

"Y-yeah."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"See ya around, Kageyama-kun." Giving the other boy a sharp two-fingered salute, Teruki turned with a flourish and ascended the steps.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob closed the door behind him quietly enough that he was sure no one was going to hear him coming in.

He was wrong. His dad popped his head in the hallway with an expression that Mob wasn't exactly sure how to read.

"Oh, Shigeo, you're back. Come here and talk to your mom and me for a bit." He gestured for Shigeo to join them in the living room.

His dad's voice was friendly enough, but Mob was already on-edge. This wasn't going to be about Teruki, was it?

[mp_npc]

"Oh Shige, welcome back. Have a seat." Mrs. Kageyama smiled and motioned for her son to have a seat beside her on the sofa and then at some steaming tea on the table "I made some nice hojicha with honey and milk, just how you like it."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"S-Sure!" He sat down on the sofa next to his mom. His dad sat next to him.

Mr. Kageyama looked at his wife and gave her a sturdy nod of signal.

[mp_npc]

Mrs. Kageyama returned the gesture. “Shige, your father and I just wanted to talk about what happened in your room earlier…”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I-it wasn't anything!"

"Don't worry! Your mom and I support you no matter what!" Mr. Kageyama slapped a hand on his oldest's shoulder. "I have to say, I wasn't expecting you to date until at least high school!"

"W-wait, it's not like that!"

[mp_npc]

“What your father means is…yes, we love and support you no matter what.” Mrs. Kageyama put her hand on Shigeo’s other shoulder. “You don’t have to be embarrassed of any thoughts or feelings you’re having. The most important thing to us is that you’re spending your time with someone who respects those thoughts and feelings.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

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"I know that," Shigeo said, his voice tensing nearly as much as his body.

"Good!" Another familiar pat on the shoulder from his father.

"But Hanazawa-kun and I really aren't dating. I promise you!"

[mp_npc]

Ah, her poor Shigeo was really panicking. Still, she knew her son well enough to know that he wasn’t the type to kiss anyone just because he felt like it. If he wasn’t able to admit anything to them now she could let him know that door was always open. “And it’s okay if you aren’t. Or if you are. Hanazawa-kun is clearly very fond of you and he’s always welcome to visit anytime.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Thanks, I'll be going now." Mob immediately stood up, but his father caught his wrist.

"Even if it's with a man, you still should wear a condom."

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