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.

Comments

[mp_simplyacommoner]

"You said your Master was a nice guy, right? I'm sure he'll understand. This is your love life on the line, after all! Remember, just be confident. Especially when you're not." Teru sat on his own open windowsill, cheesecake slice still in hand. He wanted to talk to Mob more, even though they had just finished seeing each other, but the other boy sounded like he was dealing with enough. "Get enough sleep! See ya tomorrow."

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

"Y-yeah, I'll do that. Thanks." Mob flipped his phone shut, then turned back to Ritsu. "Sorry about that."

[mp_kageyamabro]

"Bro..." Ritsu wasn't even sure what he wanted to say. Everything was getting to be too much. He was exhausted. "...Have fun tomorrow."

Then, Ritsu passed him on his way to head down the stairs to the kitchen.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

He hadn't been rude, had he? He'd have to make it up to Ritsu tomorrow.

45%.

Mob headed into his room and shut the door. He set the tea down on his desk, then pulled out his futon. He wasn't going to bed quite yet, but he wanted to be ready for when he did.

He grabbed his tea and took a long sip of it, then sat down on his futon. He flipped open his phone again.

Sorry, I'm going to be late to work tomorrow. he typed out to Reigen, then hit Send.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Reigen's phone buzzed on the sofa seat beside him, jolting him awake from the movie he had just been dozing off in front of. It was a text--not an email. He got distinctly more of one at this hour than the latter.

'Ah. It's from Mob...' He yawned and flipped his phone open. ...Huh.

How late is late?

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

I'm not really sure. Send.

We don't have any important jobs tomorrow, do we? Send.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

'Tch. Is this kid trying to be slick about something?' Reigen reached for the now-cold tea on his side table and took a long swig from it. He had two highballs earlier in the evening and was already feeling it. God, why did he do this to himself?

Well, who knows? You know we've been having a lot of big drop-ins lately.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Was Master disappointed??

I'll try to wrap it up as quickly as I can then! he typed back as quickly as he could. He wasn't as fast as the girls in his class, so it still took awhile even though he was going at top speed.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Mob was being vague. He should have known better than to be vague with Reigen. Club stuff? You know, excessive exercise is pretty bad for the body.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

There is club stuff, but I'm meeting up with a friend afterward.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

'A friend he says.' Did that occult-obsessed middle schooler really count as one? He needed to have another talk with Mob about getting brow-beaten, clearly.

You can come in late tomorrow, but I'm gonna need more notice from you moving forward.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Okay Send.

Mob thought better of it and sent another message.

I'm sorry. I'll make sure to give you more notice going forward. Send.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Ugh. What was he even doing, getting this prickly with a 14-year old? Of course they weren’t great planners. He didn’t need Mob beating himself up until the point he walked in tomorrow either. Reigen downed the rest of his tepid drink, blamed his burgeoning hangover, and picked up his phone again.

It’s fine. The work picks up in unpredictable ways when it gets warmer, that’s all. You’ve been pretty busy over here helping with the repairs so take a little time to decompress with your good pal. I’ll see you tomorrow.

[spiritsandsuchtrainee]

Okay, thanks.

Good night.

Mob flopped backwards onto his futon and thought what it might be like if Teru really did help him to get together with Tsubomi. It'd be really great. He'd get to walk her home after school and maybe eventually they'd get to hold hands. And after that...

Mob's face went red and he flipped over to bury it in his pillow. He felt really excited about tomorrow, but anxious, too.

But he was sure it'd be alright.

Right?