Chapter Text
“I got an 86 on my math test.”
“Wow! A new high score! That’s amazing, Mob.”
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but Seasoning city was rebuilt in half by the efforts of local espers, many of whom being ex-Claw members and of course Shigeo himself. Maybe a few bricks were slightly out of place, but there were very few complaints by citizens who were able to return safely to their freshly fixed homes, their lives returning to relative normalcy. Shigeo himself included.
Shigeo shifted on the floor, tucking his knees underneath him. Well, it wasn’t a major improvement by any impressive standards, his last score being an 83, but in exchange for his long study sessions with Hanazawa over the years, he’s gotten consistently better grades than his slightly less than average ones from early middle school. So.
Not stagnant, but nowadays improvement just feels slower.
At the start of high school, none other than Musashi himself encouraged him to start his own body improvement club, and while it had been utterly daunting, being able to cultivate an uplifting environment for others made it worth it. Over time, it became routine. Maybe not easy, but easier.
Normal.
Like studying regularly and talking to Tsubomi on the phone.
“Thank you. Even Master Reigen was impressed. And Ritsu.” He smiled softly to himself.
“And Hanazawa?”
“Oh!” He brightened. “He said we have to go shopping again to celebrate. I feel a little guilty…he’s the one who helped me study, but he says shopping would be ‘his treat’”.
“Oh. Interesting.”
Shigeo hummed noncommittal. “I’m excited. Hanazawa is very fashionable,” he said, glancing over at his closet slowly filling with a handful of apparel Hanazawa insisted suited him very well.
“You sure do think of Hanazawa highly, don’t you?” Tsubomi said, a smile hinting through her tone.
“Oh yes, Hanazawa has very good taste. And he’s really smart and very patient, even when it takes me hours to get one lesson,” he said, not even registering the smile on his own face.
Tsubomi laughed lightly on the other line before cutting herself off abruptly.
“Wait, but wasn’t he the one who— with the broccoli and the…shirt?”
“H-he meant well!” Shigeo insisted, hurriedly. “Well, Dimple didn’t think so, but…”
Hanazawa had apologized profusely after the ordeal in between gushing about how cool Shigeo supposedly was for rocking his world once again in between aggressively defending his fashion sense to the green spirit claiming it was a piece ‘the world just wasn’t ready to see yet’.
Shigeo snorted softly, a gentle huff of air. “I trust him. I think I just wasn’t able to pull it off yet. Master Reigen says confidence is key to the reception of an outfit.”
He doesn’t add how Dimple retorted that he only said that ‘cause he wears the same one to work everyday.
Fashion seemed like a lot of work to keep up with.
“Hm, that actually seems like pretty decent advice.”
“Ah– but I’ve been talking this whole time.”
Tsubomi laughs in seeming lighthearted agreement, and Shigeo burns pink.
“Wh-what have you been up to?”
She hums light and breezy. “Nothing much…oh, but I did see a cute girl at the vintage comic store.”
He moved to his futon, hugging a soft and plush stuffed frog Hanazawa won for him after a day at the arcade together, and listened to Tsubomi animatedly talk about a spirited short-haired girl haggling the store manager in a manner he felt would impress even Master Reigen with her quick wit.
He hugged the frog tighter. He was grateful for his confession just a few short years ago. With the rejection of romance, he’d gotten to regain his childhood friend. He wouldn’t want any other deal.
⋆—⋆✶⋆—⋆
“Kageyama, check it out!” Hanazawa grinned brilliantly at him pulling out a rainbow checkered sweater with chess pieces as the buttons. It seemed…artful. Was that the right word? It didn’t seem to matter because Hanazawa threw it into the sweater as he just as quickly picked up another article of clothing. A classic leopard print tank top.
“Now, I know I already have like five of these, but look at it! It’ll pair great with some tights and legwarmers, don’t you think? Man, I’m getting excited just thinking about it!”
Shigeo was smiling now, too. He couldn’t help it. Hanazawa was seemingly always bursting at the seams when it came to things he was passionate about. It was contagious, spreading across his face and spirit, and Shigeo wouldn’t mind being infected forever.
“Kageyama, would you…?” Hanazawa lifted up a pink ruffled button up with balloon sleeves and light bellbottoms with crimson roses embroidered at the cut. His eyes were large and expectant, and Shigeo couldn’t help but stare into them, not quite registering the question but feeling unable to do anything other than nod.
Hanazawa lit up impossibly brighter.
“Yes! Alright, and I’ll try on my set. Come on!”
It was strange, in most other instances when they held eye contact for more than a few seconds, Hanazawa would usually be the first to break away, laughing loud and out of tune, but when it came to shopping, nothing could come between him and clothes.
He dragged Shigeo to the changing stalls near the back and all but shoved him inside. “I’ll wait for you right out here!” He grinned, his tongue sticking out at the corner.
For a moment, he just stared at himself in the mirror. His cheeks were a bit sore from smiling so much all day and looked like they were a bit red, too. Was it just him or was the store a bit warm? He hastily took his shirt off to try on the other. It was normal for Hanazawa to ask him to try on clothes, but usually there was much more deliberation and a bit needed convincing on his part. Lately, however, Shigeo’s been finding it harder to say no to the blond.
He pulled on the bellbottoms and adjusted everything before stepping out. He wondered what Hanazawa would say. Shigeo expected Hanazawa’s usual adulation as he walked in circles around him admiring his outfit combination and the craftsmanship of the clothes. Maybe he’d even insist he take some of his hair clips when he wears this outfit for the first time.
Instead, when he came out, he immediately froze at the sound of Hanazawa’s gasp.
Hanazawa openly gaped at him before slapping a hand over his mouth and quickly averted his eyes. Maybe the store was warm, he was looking a bit flushed, too.
“Does it look alright?” Shigeo asked. He didn’t know all too much about fashion, but the clothes felt surprisingly nice. The inside of the shirt was smooth like silk, and the pants were soft, too, like they were gently worn.
Hanazawa hadn’t looked back up at him since he came out, muttering incoherent words behind his hand.
“Hanazawa…?”
He jumped.
“Sorry!” he said, still looking down.
Shigeo ran his fingers over the cuffs of the sleeve. Smooth.
“Hmm… I think I’ll take it.”
This got Hanazawa’s attention.
“Really?!”
They blinked at each other, and Hanazawa immediately backed off sheepishly. “I-I mean, if you want, then yeah! Go for it!”
“You really think so?” Shigeo wondered aloud. Hanazawa’s reactions were very odd today.
“Of course!” He gave him one of his small smiles, the sort he doesn’t share often but makes Shigeo feel like he’s in some sort of special club for seeing. “You looked really nice in it, after all.”
Hanazawa was always so nice.
Shigeo wanted to return the favor.
“You also look nice,” he said simply.
Truth be told, Shigeo hadn’t really looked all that much at the outfit, but Hanazawa always looked nice. He had pretty eyes that gleamed when he smiled and soft hair and very pleasing features. It didn’t really matter what he wore, at least not in Shigeo’s opinion. Maybe it was the confidence Reigen had been talking about. He was sure Hanazawa could pull off any look.
“O-oh! Do I? I wasn’t really sure, but…”
But now that he was getting a good look, found himself very pleased with what he saw. It was a navy blue dress shirt that helped emphasize his eyes, but oh, his collar’s a little crooked.
Without thinking, Shigeo reached up to fix the shirt, fingers barely brushing against his throat.
Hanazawa stiffened. Shigeo jumped back like he’d touched a hot stove.
“I’m sorry, I should have asked,” he said quickly, a slight frown forming. His chest ached in a way he didn’t understand.
“Don’t worry about it!” Hanazawa squeaked. “Let's get changed!” He retreated back to his room without another word.
After changing and paying, ‘No no, Kageyama, it’s my treat, remember?,’ they didn’t mention how he flinched. Hanazawa was back to smiles and stories and specially tailored jokes just to try and make Shigeo laugh. Shigeo was allowed to forget his uncomfortable feelings.
Hanazawa was very kind.
⋆—⋆✶⋆—⋆
Shigeo didn’t mind doing things outside the norm if it meant he can spend more time with the people he cares about, like shopping with Hanazawa, but routine is nice.
He enjoyed the consistency school so easily brings him, the structure allowing him to passively re-regulate his mind.
He ate lunch with his friends.
“Yo Mob, you gotta check out this new game Mameta found!”
Jogged the group mile with the rest of the body improvement club.
“Fight on! Fight on! Fight on!”
Even got distracted in class.
“Dozing off again, Kageyama?”
It was the comforting sort of predictable where new changes found their way into becoming normal like meeting with Hanazawa halfway between their schools after club time to walk home together.
Another change-turned-normal was associated Hanazawa’s home with Master Reigen’s.
Hanazawa had confessed it had been an…adjustment to say the least when Reigen first offered him a room under his room, or in his apartment. Shigeo had felt equal parts of both overwhelming gratitude to Reigen and relief Hanazawa had not let his pride brush the offer aside.
Though Claw was a thing of the past now, the only thing Hanazawa gets from his parents are biweekly allowances. Shigeo unknowingly clenched his fists. It never sat right with him that his parents had so easily left him to live alone when he needed them most.
He couldn’t have been much older than he had been when he met Reigen. All alone in a big apartment, having to learn how to fight to defend himself from the adult espers targeting him…
“Woah, Kageyama, are you alright?”
Shigeo blinked out of his thoughts, zoning back in to find him nearly running into Hanazawa. He held his school bag over his shoulder like the perfect school idol you’d find in a shoujo manga, his hair shining golden in the sun, eyes sparkling bright. He cracked a lopsided grin.
“H-huh?”
“What’s on your mind? You looked like things were working pretty hard up here.” He tapped a finger gently at Shigeo’s temple.
“Oh, sorry…”
Hanazawa’s smile faltered.
“I was just thinking about you, that’s all.”
“Wait, me? What about?” he asked, concerned.
Shigeo turned his gaze that had been fixed on the path ahead of them to smile warmly at the boy next to him.
“I’m happy you’re doing well, Hanazawa.”
He chuckled awkwardly, ducking his head as a hand came to rub the back of his neck. “Ha, that was kinda outta nowhere…”
“Oh, was that odd to say?”
Shigeo wasn’t sure he would take it back if it were. He meant it. And seeing Hanazawa try and fail to cover up his toothy grin only reaffirmed that belief.
“No no no, not at all!” He waved his hands in a manner reminiscent of a certain copper-haired man before trudging along. “Come on, now, we should probably hurry up on getting you home, shouldn’t we? Wouldn’t want little brother getting on to me for keeping you out so late,” he said with a wink.
Shigeo could’ve sworn he’d seen a sparkle appear beside his eye.
“Right, let’s—”
A video game theme interrupted them. It was from one of Tome’s favorites that she’d programmed his ringtone as a “subconscious reminder to check it out, Mob!”
The two espers locked eyes for a moment before Hanazawa tilted his head and asked, amusement coloring his voice, “Don’t you wanna take that?”
“Oh, right.”
Shigeo pulled out his phone, his master’s caller ID shining bright. Hanazawa hummed, hovering over his shoulder.
“Reigen? Looks like he might need some help on a job,” he mused.
“Hello Master. Huh? Oh, purple haired…? No, I don’t— Oh. Oh. Okay. I’m on my way.”
Shigeo hung up, the arm with his phone in hand laying limply by his side. He made no move in the office’s direction.
Teruki tilted his head.
“What was that all about?” Shigeo winced when Hanazawa spoke up, realizing he’d zoned out again. “We’re headed to the office now?”
He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, but all that came out was a shallow huff of breath. He swallowed his nerves, peering at the other boy through his peripherals.
“Asagiri’s been looking for me.”
⋆—⋆✶⋆—⋆
After first getting the news that the same girl who bullied him for months in some sort of time warped hellscape, Teruki couldn’t say he was particularly thrilled, his brows furrowing without his permission.
Slight flares in his aura that tickled the air. Damnit Teru, get your priorities straight! He shouldn’t let his unease get in the way of comforting Kageyama whose own nerves radiated in waves.
Teruki gently nudged Kageyama’s aura with his own, sending a smile his way when the other boy glanced over. He’d celebrated internally when Kageyama’s shoulders hitched ever so slowly down from their tense hike to his ears.
He took a deep breath. Kageyama had insisted Teruki hadn’t needed to tag along if he had other plans, but he argued his only plans were handing out with him. And no way was Teru going to leave him right now.
“Yup, she was looking for Kageyama. ‘The esper kid with the bowl cut and a kind presence,’ she said.” Reigen shrugged.
Serizawa handed the boys some tea. Kageyama stared intently at the steam coming off of it.
“Told her you didn’t really work under me anymore, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to tell you about it. She’s the same girl we went for that esper contest, d’ya remember, Mob?” He grinned like it was some sort of fond memory. It was really starting to irk Teru. “Man, you really scared me back then. I’m glad everything worked out in the end.”
Teruki glanced over at the other boy who’d yet to say anything. He barely registered the stare.
Well.
Looked like he would have to be the one to ask the questions.
“Did she say what she needed?” he asked. More like, did it sound like complete bull?
“There’s a ghost down at her school terrorizing her. It could just be some bored teenagers looking to start some rumors, but she’d planned on putting down big money.”
Teru lifted a brow. “But?”
If that was all, he and Serizawa could have dealt with that by the time they got here.
“But,” Reigen nodded pointedly, “she was oddly insistent on Mob being on the job.”
Kageyama went rigid.
“Of course, Mob, it is totally up to you. Honestly, it’s completely fine if you decline. Odds are it really is just a hoax, and on the off chance that it’s not, Serizawa and I and—hey! Actually, where is Tome? Never mind—Point is, we are perfectly capable of handling it on our own if it is real.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No, I can help,” he said.
Teruki opened his mouth to argue, but there was a subtle yet intoxicating air of determination laced in his words that made him bite his tongue. For whatever reason, Kageyama took it upon himself to join the case.
“Great! I’ll let her know right away!”
“Oh, ok, thank you, Master.”
Teruki mentally screamed into the abyss. Kageyama’s boundless kindness would be the death of him.
⋆—-⋆✶⋆—⋆
Shigeo felt the boy’s trachea, quite a delicate thing with his hand wrapped around it, and his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down desperately trying to gulp down some oxygen.
His eyes bulged, losing focus as he attempted to track Asagiri and her other lackeys as they scampered off. Shigeo barely reacted to their cowardice. He’d deal with them later.
His hand went tight around his neck. Tighter, tighter as he struggled with his legs dangling in the air.
It didn’t feel right. Something was out of place. He furrowed his brows. What was wrong?
He gripped tighter.
“Please…s-stop.”
Shigeo woke up gasping. His breaths felt trapped in his neck, unable to reach his lungs that burned. He grasped the front on his shirt and chest, pulling down at the fabric as if that would help.
Asagiri should be terrified of him. There were plenty of well-equipped espers out there who could help her. Why did she want him specifically?
What if he messed up? What if he…hurt someone?
Shigeo had bought his time pretending everything he had ever done was gone and dealt with. He could build all the structure, all the routine he wanted to distract himself, convince himself he really had become something different.
But in the end, it wasn’t enough. After all his change, self-improvement, he would be the same. The same awful, dangerous soul capable of causing irreparable harm. The only difference now being he would be in full control.
Shigeo stared out his window at the dark star-filled sky until his vision began to blur. He didn’t remember much else in between crying himself to sleep.