Chapter Text
Mob’s skin was cold and his nose was beginning to drip. The body improvement club was on his heels, chanting in unison.
“Fight! On! Fight! On! Fight! On!” over and over on this last day of December. Their feet pounded on the track, hot breath keeping the frost at bay. Not everyone could make it to today’s meet, but Mob understood. New years eve was a day to spend with family and friends. He kept his eyes ahead, thinking about his own plans and letting his excitement rise. It was an amazing feeling, something he rarely allowed a year ago. His friends would be waiting for him again, just like last time on Mud Boat Mountain. They had it all planned out this time and even Ritsu and Hanazawa would be coming along. Tome and the old telepathy club were already busy at the mall looking for better gifts for their extraterrestrial acquaintances. Since Mob would be a little late after the run, he would take a taxi and meet everyone at the base of the mountain.
“Fight! On! Fight! On! Fight! On!” The sound of his own breathless voice mingling with the group seemed to fade even further as another thought began to surface. He recognized the feeling, it was a surreal tug in the back of his mind, different than a goal or physical need, it was something that Shigeo had figured was a cry for help. Since he had come to terms with his own power last winter (in a most destructive manner), he had been feeling more in touch with his abilities than ever before. While this had come as a relief on the part of his well being, it had increased his sensitivity to matters quite out of his control. In short, Mob had become aware of a dark place somewhere outside of Seasoning City.
Mob’s mind wandered, lost in the automatic up-down jog and the growing numbness in the back of his head. Minutes stretched on until, thunk, his foot caught on a crack in the path. With a jolt and a stumble, he was back on his feet in an instant, his mind clear again.
“Oi, Mob,” came the voice next to him, “what time is it? We’ve passed our checkpoint.” Sagawa was right, Mob was in charge of leading runs, but this time hadn't realized that they went right past the big pine tree a few minutes ago. “You can keep going if you want but I think I should get these guys home.”
“Ah, I’m sorry,” everyone slowed to a stop when Mob spoke up, “it seems I've lead you a bit farther this time, and after we promised this would be a shorter meeting than usual.” They were all tired and cold but nobody seemed too upset. Mob was relieved the first years looked less out of breath than they had been at the beginning of the year. “If everyone is alright, I think we should head back now instead of taking a break here. It is probably not healthy to wait in the cold.” Everyone nodded in agreement despite being out of breath and fatigued. He felt bad, but he figured everyone would have more motivation on this day when they are headed home to be with family.
The body improvement club arrived at the starting point as the streetlights were beginning to wink on. The nights this time of year came so soon, even sooner it felt like when the skies stayed overcast like they were now. The sunset was peeking below the clouds, turning the west into a fire of orange, pink, and red. Sagawa stood up on a park bench as his club members were getting picked up by their parents, making a quick announcement about taking a shower once they get home and recommending they do some stretching once they’ve warmed up. They waved farewell, one after the next, as Mob breathed out and watched the warm air fade like a ghost before his eyes.
“Are you sure you don’t want a ride back home?” Mob jumped. He didn't notice Sagawa behind to him. He whipped around to see his fellow third-year’s dashed eyebrows bend into a concerned expression. Everyone from the body improvement club has always looked out for me, Mob thought, even after I hurt them.
“No, thank you President Sagawa, I have a taxi arriving in a few minutes,” he smiled.
The other boy looked renewed with confidence from seeing Mob’s smile, “ah, alright then! Happy New Years Eve, Kageyama,” he grinned and handed Mob the jacket he had left in his parent’s car. It was warm from the heater.
“You too, see you next time.”
The taxi wasn’t there yet so Mob took a seat on the bench. A blue nighttime breeze rustled the trees and the lantern lights grew in warm yellow strength. The cold was really bitter now and Shigeo pulled the beanie and mittens out of the warm jacket pocket. He put them on and unlocked his phone. His thoughts were idle as he opened the app that tracked his family’s phones. It looked like Ritsu was on his way to the mountain with Reigen Shishou and the others. He smiled again and enjoyed the way it felt to do so. His power stirred inside him as though good feelings fed that thing within, his dual side. The phone screen flickered. He was at peace, waiting. He was at peace for another five minutes and that was all.
The taxi was very late now. Mob hadn’t noticed. He felt his aura flare up suddenly, waiting for something that he couldn't quite sense. There were spirits around, as there are always spirits around, but they were not the cause. It was that feeling.
Again? He thought. Where is it coming from?
His aura burned brighter, a barrier that only espers could perceive, and the hairs on his arms and neck prickled. Suddenly, Mob wasn’t thinking so clearly anymore. Something was trying to contact him. He thought he could find it, he needed to find it.
It was 5:45 pm when the breaks on the taxi screeched and stopped abruptly. Shigeo rose from the icy bench, which had sapped quite a bit of heat from his body, and stepped inside. The car was dark and smelled like pine freshener. The silhouette of the driver turned and Mob could hear a distant voice. Someone was asking where he wanted to go. As if in a dream, Mob mumbled “Seasoning Train Station”.
The car pulled out of the parking lot not a moment later and Mob looked down at his phone. It was open on a message to Ritsu. Mob was having trouble comprehending the words but he could just make out his last message at 5:43 pm: "Ritsu, can’t make it tonight."
Mob felt one last instant of dread and confusion before something inside the phone burst with a spark, extinguishing the light.