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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[mp_simplyacommoner]

“You just have to be more confident—even on the days when you don’t feel like it. Especially on the days you don’t feel like it. Even a total novice can fool a great master if they’re confident enough.” Teru grinned. “Ah, before you say anything, it’s not lying. You just need to realize what’s already there.”

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"So... you can teach me that too?" Teruki was amazing!

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Yeah! Your first lesson starts now. You're ready, right? Of course you are." Wasting no time, Teruki hopped off the spin rider and directed it back to its place in the ground. "Pretend I'm her. Ask me out."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"A-ask you out?!"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Teruki only grinned as his answer. He passed his hand over his face to reveal a completely new expression for him--something that could only be described as coquettish intrigue. He clasped his hands behind his back and swayed his hips to one side.

"Ah, Kageyama-kun, why'd you call me here so late in the day?" There was a lot to be said for Teruki's acting abilities--he was completely able to switch to the perfect affectation of a schoolgirl on a dime.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob opened his mouth to try and say something, but no audible sound came out.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Kageyama-kun?" Mob was ramrod stiff. He bent at the waist to lean in. "Are you feeling okay?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob managed to make a small sound -- progress! -- but it didn't make up a full word. It didn't even sound like the start of one.

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Oh, man. Not good. Was he going too fast?

"Ah, I see. You're being the cool silent type today, aren't you?"

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"I, uhm..." Mob swallowed. He had to say something, but Teruki was so distracting. How was he so good at playing at being a girl?! "I uh..."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

Teruki couldn't help but think he'd have to improv this--he wasn't ready to give up the exercise yet and there was enough material to work with based on what he saw of the girl Mob was with. She was obviously the one who wore the pants to use an American expression.

"Say, Kageyama-kun, since we're already out...do you wanna catch a movie? I've been dying to see The Amazing Spiderman." He looped a bit of his blond hair around his finger. "You know...you kinda remind me of Andrew Garfield."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"YES!" Mob said it a little too loud, then tried to recover with a much quieter "...s-sure."

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Ah, there's a showing in half an hour...you really planned this from the start, didn't you?" He got a bit closer, brushing his hand against Mob's--forward enough without being too forward, right? Hey, he couldn't do all the work.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Mob suddenly became hyper conscious of Teruki's hand brushing his own. Should he ask to hold it? That's usually what people would do on a date, right??

"Um." Mob swallowed, pulling together all his courage. "W-would it-- would it be okay if we held hands...?"

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"Oh? You...really want to?" Teruki gently hooked his pinky around Mob's in invitation. "You won't be embarrassed?"

[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."