Chapter 5: Genuine Acceptance

Clark arrived at Pete's house late in the evening, drifting down directly onto the porch. Pete had gotten a job for the summer, keeping him busy, so this was the only reasonable time Clark could visit him.

Clark knocked on the door.

After a few seconds, Pete's mom answered. A blond woman in her late forties who smiled when she saw him. "Clark. How can I help you?"

"Hi Mrs. Ross, can I talk to Pete?"

"Sure, but you'll have to wait for a bit. He's taking a shower."

"That's fine with me. I'll wait."

"Alright, dear." She stepped back to let him in. "Feel free to ask if you want a drink or a snack."

Clark nodded and sat in the living room. After a few minutes, Pete came down.

"Hey man, what's up?" Pete asked.

"Hey, it's been a while since I've seen you. You alright?"

"Yeah, just a bit tired." He glanced at his mom at the kitchen. "Wanna head up to my room?"

"Sure."

Pete led the way and they entered his room. Clark hadn't been here in weeks, but it was the same as always. Messy. Clothes thrown around the floor and piling up in the corner and trash on his desk like old snack wrappers and cans. Posters of his favorite musicians were on the walls.

Clark took a seat on the bed. "So, Pete, there's something really important I want to ask you about."

"Alright, what is it?"

"It's about Lana."

Pete didn't react, keeping a straight face. "Oh. Are things going okay between you two?"

"Yeah, but the thing is, I thought it was really surprising that you told me I should date her."

"Really, why's that?" Pete wasn't very good at feigning confusion. Maybe a stranger wouldn't be able to tell, but to Clark it was obvious how he'd hesitated.

"A while back you said something about having feelings for her."

Pete was taken aback. "I did? When?"

"At Kenny's party back before graduation," Clark lied. He'd thought carefully about how he'd handle this conversation and decided that it would be best to claim Pete had mentioned things he didn't remember when drinking at Kenny Braverman's house.

"Oh man, I barely remember anything from that party." Pete looked at him worriedly. "I didn't say anything else, did I?"

"Actually, there were a few other things." Clark acted reluctant to tell him. "Besides saying how I get Lana's attention without even trying, you said a few things about how it's impossible to compete with me.

"Oh my God." Pete's hand went to his forehead.

"I was going to let it go, since we've been friends for years, but who knows how often we'll see each other anymore? Right now we hardly do with me travelling and you with your job. I don't want to leave things like this when we go off to college."

"Hold on, Clark. Can you tell me exactly how much I said?"

Clark could recite Pete's tirade word for word, but he gave an excuse for why he couldn't. "You weren't making much sense. All I caught was that you were upset over how Lana looked at me and how unfair it is that I don't have to try with my looks and grades."

"Shit man, I'm sorry."

Clark smiled, Pete seemed genuine, so he appreciated the apology. Still, he needed to get to the root of the problem. "Thank you, but I need to ask, how much of that was true? I thought we had a pretty good friendship. I didn't know you felt that it was a competition or that you resented me."

"I never really gave it that much thought, but . . . that's not completely wrong. Dude try to understand. I really like Lana, and for years she wasn't interested in any other guy besides you."

"I'm pretty sure she's dated a few other guys."

"Yeah, but I don't think they were that serious. At least, when things ended with them she always looked at you the same way."

Clark had to think back. Even with hindsight, he couldn't remember many instances of Lana's crush on him. He wasn't even sure for certain that the few lingering touches and possibly more-than-friendly smiles were actual signs.

"If you liked her, then why tell me that I should accept her date?" Clark asked.

"Because you liked her back. Man, I'm not going to get in the way of you two just because I like Lana. You're my friends, what kind of guy do you think I am?"

"Right, I almost forgot," Clark said, adding a bit of a joking tone. "You're the best friend I could ask for."

Pete grinned. "That's right."

"Still, is that really all that boiled down to? You liking Lana, but her liking me instead?"

Pete's grin faded and he looked aside. "No, that's not the complete story. I guess sometimes I really do feel like I don't even measure up. Like back when we did football tryouts. You did so great that the coach would have killed to get you on the team, but you decided not to play. Meanwhile, I didn't even make the cut."

Clark remembered that. He'd only gone to tryouts on a dare, he'd never had any thoughts of actually playing. It must have been insulting to Pete that he'd done so well without even trying.

"Sorry about that," Clark said.

Pete cocked his head to the side. "What are you saying sorry for? Me being upset over that is my own fault."

"Okay. So are things good between us?"

"Good? Were they bad before?"

"I honestly didn't know. I thought that maybe you secretly hated me or something."

"Jesus, what the heck did I say that made you think that? I'm never drinking again."

Clark laughed. "I don't think you have to go that far. Thanks for talking, it's given me a lot of relief. I need to go now."

"Sure, see you around."

Clark offered his hand and shook Pete's. "Don't be a stranger. Lana and I miss hanging out with you."

"I'll try my best."

Clark left Pete's house. He'd been prepared for much worse, Pete getting angry and defensive, their friendship in ruins. Instead it had gone smoothly, all misunderstandings had been cleared up.

Now he just needed to test his Syndrome, and there was pretty much only one safe way of doing that. He needed to check with his parents.

Clark flew low, cautious of anyone spotting him, and he returned home. Pa was in the barn with one of the cows, so he went there first.

While hovering a few feet in the air, Clark said "It still seems like everyone thinks my flight as normal."

"Huh? Are you still going on about that?" Pa asked, disappointing Clark.

"Sorry, never mind. If you need my help for anything, just shout." Clark went up to the top of the barn.

What had gone wrong? He'd made up with Pete, the inciting incident with his Syndrome had been resolved, so why was it still working?

He recalled every detail of what Azusagawa and Sakurajima had told him. Sakurajima's invisibility had only been fixed after Sakuta had gotten everyone's attention and forced them to acknowledge her. Futaba Rio had fused with her clone after accepting that there were parts of herself that she disliked. Sakurajima and her sister had regained their bodies by telling each other about their doubts and troubles. Koga Tomoe, a younger student at their school, had stopped simulating the same day over and over again when Azusagawa had forced her to accept that he loved Sakurajma instead of her.

They were all examples of Syndromes getting fixed, but there was one that hadn't been.

Kaede. She had never really resolved her Syndrome. She'd only stopped manifesting injuries from cyberbullying by isolating herself from others.

What would the equivalent for him even be? Never showing off his powers? Limiting himself even when there were no consequences?

No, no it was too early to worry about that. He could still fix this, he'd just been wrong about the cause. Pete wasn't it.

Or at least, Pete wasn't the only one.

Clark took in a sharp breath. Lana. She had to be the other factor in what had caused his Syndrome. His powers hadn't just altered Pete's view of him, Lana had viewed him with awe and amazement. It had made him uncomfortable that night at the creek, but he'd been so much more bothered by Pete's reaction that he'd overlooked it when considering his Syndrome.

He took off to Lana's house. This time, when he arrived, he tapped right on her bedroom window. Lana made a confused sound and opened the window.

"Clark? Why are you coming in through here instead of the door?"

"I needed to see you. It's important."

"You needed to-" Lana glanced back and lowered her voice. "Okay, but my parents won't like it if I sneak a boyfriend home at night, even if it's you."

"I probably won't be here for long." Clark entered through the window and took a deep breath. "Lana, no matter how you think of me when you learn about my powers, I'll accept it. Admiration, fear, or even if it's disgust, it should be a genuine opinion. Not one my Syndrome forced on you."

"Clark, what are you talking about?"

He sighed. "I know it's confusing. I know it seems like nonsense because of my Syndrome, but I mean it. No matter how you or Pete react, I'll change your minds and show you that I'm still Clark. The friend you've known for years. And when the world finds out, I don't expect to convince them all, but I won't let their opinions worry me. After all . . ."

Clark paused for a few seconds, wondering he'd succeeded. "It's not normal for a person to be able to do this, right?" He floated a foot above the floor, hoping that she would prove to him that his Syndrome was gone.

"Not normal to do what?" she asked.

His expression dropped. "Nothing. Sorry for bothering you with all that. I should go."

"Wait Clark, you don't have to go now . . . "

He left through the window despite her pleas. It was rude, but he had to fix his Syndrome. What else could he do though? Yell at a crowd like Azusagawa had?

Well, maybe if he got more desperate. It would be dangerous if his Syndrome wore off while he was demanding that people acknowledge his powers.

"Heh," he laughed at himself. How ridiculous he'd been. He'd said that he'd accept the world's reaction, but it was still difficult to think about revealing himself to everyone.

He'd meant it though. He really had.

Alright, Syndrome? You might win this round, but I'll get you next time.

\\\\\

Clark woke up ,in his bed at home. Recently, in his travels around the world, he'd taken to the habit of sleeping outdoors since he could do so comfortably in any weather. This was still his favorite way to wake up though.

He tried to come up with a game plan for the day to get rid of his Syndrome, but the Azusagawa-patented yell-at-everyone method was looking like his best hope. After all, if the logic of his Syndrome was that it resulted from his fear of people's reactions, then it should go away by overcoming that fear. Yelling at a crowd was at least a surefire way to do that.

Even if it would result in outing him, he was prepared to accept that.

Even if he didn't need it, Clark still ate the breakfast Ma made for them. After all, her homemade bread was just too good to pass up.

Once he finished, Clark said goodbye and flew off.

"Whoa whoa, Clark!" Pa yelled.

Clark instantly shot back to the ground at the distress in Pa's voice. "What is it?" he asked, already using his senses to scan for danger.

"What are you thinking, flying off like that?" Pa said, shocked by Clark's brazen behavior. "People could see you!"

Clark's eyes lit up at Pa's scolding. Could it really be? "Right, if people saw me flying, they'd freak out wouldn't they?"

"Is this some joke? Why are you smiling? Stop it, you need to be more careful."

Clark nodded, but his smile was plastered onto his face. "Yeah, you're right, I was too enthusiastic. I have to go visit some friends in Japan, but don't worry, I'll take a route that nobody will see."

"Okay, but seriously, be careful."

"I will." Clark zoomed off to the trees, trusting them to provide him cover.

\\\\\

Sakuta and Mai waited at his apartment. He'd gotten a call from Kent asking to see if he could see them, although he'd kept it a secret as to why. He'd said it might take a while though, so they watched some TV while they waited.

After an episode of a reality show they both enjoyed, the doorbell rang.

"Is that you, Kent-san?" Sakuta asked, trusting that Kent's incredible hearing would detect his words even if he spoke at a normal volume from the living room. Sakuta walked up to the door and opened it. "Since when do you use doors instead of tapping the window?"

Kent was dripping wet but grinning like he'd won the lottery. "I have to use doors now, at least when I'm in public."

"So, does this mean . . .?"

Kent nodded. "I got rid of my Syndrome. I checked with my parents and shocked some fishermen on my way here, although luckily they didn't get a good look at me."

"Congratulations." Mai turned off the TV. "I assume you're wet because you were saving those fishermen?"

"Actually, they were fine. I'm wet because I need to travel underwater to be stealthy. I got sloppy and surfaced near a fishing boat off the eastern coast."

"Here, dry yourself off with this." Sakuta handed him a towel from the bathroom. He got a thanks back and asked. "So, how did you get rid of your Syndrome?"

"I'm not really sure, but I'd be happy to tell you what happened. First, can I use your bathroom? I want to dry my clothes off."

"Go ahead."

"Thanks."

After a minute or two, Kent came back without a drop on himself or his clothes. His explanation was heat vision.

Then he went on to tell them how he'd tried to fix his Syndrome. He'd tried talking with both of his friends the previous night, but it wasn't until this morning that his Syndrome had worn off.

"Adolescence Syndrome tends to be mysterious like that," Mai said. "I doubt we'll ever know for sure what finally made it go away."

"The important thing is that it's gone," Sakuta said. "So what are you going to do now?"

"I'll have to tell Pete and Lana about my powers again. Hopefully it will go better than before. If it doesn't," Clark shrugged. "well, it's not the end of the world. There are also some places I still want to visit, I'll have to be a lot stealthier now. I have a reliable way to get to space from Kansas but dropping in on a country might get tricky. I'll make sure to come by regularly though. Oh, and Lana really wants to meet you Sakurajima-san. It's trickier, but I think I can find a way to get her here quickly and sneakily."

"That's admirable," Sakuta said. "You're not going to let your Syndrome's disappearance stop you, huh?"

"Not even a bit."

"I hope you figure out how to get her here soon," Mai said. "I'd be interested in talking to an American fan. By the way, do you have any plans for revealing yourself to the wider world?"

Kent gave the question some thoughtful consideration. "Eventually I will, but not yet. I want to work on getting a journalism degree first."

"Journalism?" Sakuta asked.

"Yeah, why are you two so surprised?"

"It's just that I wouldn't expect it from someone with your powers," Mai said. Sakuta nodded to agree.

Clark grinned, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "It interests me." His smile turned to a more thoughtful expression. "There is a lot I could do with my powers though. No matter what, they'll get a lot of attention when I reveal them, so I want to do it right. I'm not exactly sure how yet, but when I show them to the world, I want to be known as someone who uses them to help people."


So here it is, the end of my short story about Clark Kent dealing with the Adolescence Syndrome in Seishun Buta Yarō. I'd say I was influenced a lot by Smallville's Clark Kent, although I also took some inspiration from the Man of Steel flashbacks to Clark's childhood.

Suggestions for how I could have improved this are welcome.