Ch. 24 Secret Secrets Are No Fun

The world was burning.

That was the only explanation for the smell of smoke that was hitting him. Though Saiki did not want to open his eyes to find out. His body was aching, and really that could only mean the end. Right? His head hurt, he couldn't quite remember what had hit him but he could definitely feel it. This would be the end.

"Saiki?" A little shake on his shoulder and whispers in the breeze.

"What should we do, what if he doesn't wake up?"

"What is happening? Why is the school like this? I'm scared."

"This must have been Dark Reunion... If that's the case t-then of c-coure I'm ready to fight and give it my all. For Saiki."

This would be the end of his secret.

Someone was dabbing at his face with a cloth, "Do you really think that's gonna work, Auira?" Chyio asked quietly, somewhere to the left of him.

Auira's voice was harsh, but underlined with concern and desperation when she snapped back, "I don't know Chyiopipi! It worked on Toritsuka when he passed out!"

Well not really, Saiki could feel Toritsuka's presence close to him. His "friend" was awake and alive, but the poor boy's thoughts were a looping pit of pain. His body was not suited to running as much as he did. Saiki reached up, gently pushing Auira's hand away from his face, and checking to make sure he was wearing his glasses, before opening his eyes.

"Saiki!" Auira's face came into view above him as she breathed out in relief, "He's ok guys!"

Of course then they were all there, staring down at him. Four more faces he didn't really want to see right now, lined with concern and worry. Dust speckled in their hair and on their skin. A faint smell of dried blood. How much pain did they go through before he saved them? How little did he accomplish in his weakened state?

"Saiki! Tell me what danger has befallen you, I can make it right with-" Kaido.

"Saiki, how are you feeling? Do you need water? Ice cream?" Chyio.

"Who did this to you man, I will kick the shit out of them no prob-" Aren.

"Hey! My Best Buddies alive!" Nendo grinned down at him, much less concerned then the others, and so devilishly stupid even in times of great danger.

Get out of my face, Saiki grimaced at them, frustrated when their faces didn't back away and their voices continued to berate him endlessly at the same time. There was too much guilt pounding into him. Afterall it was his fault that they were hurt by his brother. His fault that... Back Off!

A strong gust of air pushed against the four normal humans. Though not strong enough to knock them off their feet, it caused them to reel backwards, and gifted Saiki enough space to lift his head from Auira's lap and look around. They were on the roof. Had Auira dragged him up here?

"Where did that wind come from?"

"It was almost like... Almost like-"

"There's no way... no way Saiki could also be special like me."

Nendo shoved his hands into his pockets and glanced around at all of them. "So, now that buddies awake, are we gonna clean up the school or what?"

"Nendo you idiot," Kaido hiccupped slightly, still afraid, "How are we supposed to clean this whole mess up?"

"We get some brooms or something, I don't know."

"I am gonna kick both of your asses if you don't shut up right now," Aren's brow twitched angrily, he directed his attention back to his fallen friend, slowly getting back to his feet. "Listen Saiki, you need to start talking. Because one minute we were all in Okinawa, preparing to get on a plane, and the next thing we woke up on this roof, with you looking like-" He gestured his hand up and down towards Saiki. "Well, like that."

I don't have time to talk, Saiki brushed some of the dirt from his school uniform and turned to look down at Auira. As important as they all were to him, there was still something much more important. Do you know where she is?

"Um," Auira pulled out several crumpled pieces of paper from her pocket and held them out to Saiki, "We found these in the remains of the mechs while you were out-"

What? Just how long was I out?

"But we were too distracted with you and Toritsuka to really figure it out."

Saiki took the papers from her carefully, but was interrupted before he could truly begin to examine them.

"So are we just gonna not know what is going on with all the robots and all the holes in the school?" Aren was getting frustrated, the veins all over his face were popping out. "I don't like not knowing what the hell is going on around me."

Good grief, Saiki didn't have the energy for this. He held out his hand towards his four friends, using the other to carefully cradle and protect the clues. Aren, Chyio, Kaido and Nendo just stared blankly, not knowing what this gesture was supposed to mean. Saiki sighed, rolling his eyes, Touch my hand! I'll just show you.

Nendo snickered, "Isn't that a little gay buddy?" The three boys reached out anyway, their trust in their friend unwavering even at a time like this. Chyio took a second longer, concern spreading out across her brow.

"Where's Kokomi?" She asked, fear bubbling in her gut at the look of pain she saw flash in Saiki's eyes before he turned to look at her.

That's what I'm trying to figure out.

Chyio's eyes widened with worry. With the school in the state it was, all the pain her friends were in, and Kokomi missing completely... What had happened to her best friend? Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes as she reached forward and pressed two fingers against Saiki's wrist. The only place where there was still a little skin available beside the boys.

Auira sighed and pulled herself up onto her feet, brushing dust from her knees, "Prepare yourselves quickly because this might be-" A shock passed through Saiki and up into the awaiting hands of his four friends. They all sprung backwards, a sudden feeling of nausea welling up inside of them. Chyio and Kaido actually gagged, and gripped at their stomachs. "Shocking."

All four were staring at Saiki with wide eyes. He didn't move, just waited. This was it. All four brains had just received the information of everything that had just transpired in the last day or so. All of them know now. All of them would leave him. Or report him. Ignore him like he had always wanted. This was it, they were finally scared-

Well, actually Nendo didn't really look all that surprised or frightened. He seemed to shake off the shocks with only the ease that a monkey brain like his could. Or no that wasn't right. Saiki could actually read a monkey's brain. A Nendo brain then. He shook it off like only a Nendo could and slapped a hand to his best friend's shoulder.

"So you're a psychic huh? Neat."

Neat? Was that really all of a reaction he was going to get. Neat?

"I don't," Chyio was still grasping at her stomach, her wide eyes staring down at her feet, not daring to look him in the eye. "I don't know how to process this."

"Wait, does that mean he has been reading my mind all this time!" Kaido had gotten over his nausea, but was now gripping at his hair, embarrassment taking over as the biggest reaction to the news that his best friend was a psychic. "All of those times I talked about... about..."

Aren stood silently. Even his thoughts quiet as his body and mind tried to put together the pieces of information he had just been given.

This was it.

Auira kicked at Toritsuka's shuddering body, "I mean, it's not like me and Toritsuka don't, like, also have powers and shit."

"Oh yeah, I totally forgot about that. Runt there still hasn't told me about my guardian spirit," Nendo kicked at Toritsuka as well, "Hey, get up man! We need your help!"

"N-need my help for what," Toritsuka coughed, shuddering harder, "Your Guardian Spirit won't help save Teruhashi. Seeing ghosts isn't gonna do anything, p-plus I can't even move."

"Wow, one of the mechs knocked over the wall to the girls locker room," Auria whistled, holding her hand over her eyes as if she was looking far away.

"What!?" Toritsuka jumped to his feet with impressive speed, his body seemingly healing itself. "Is there anyone in there!? Are they changing!? Would they see me!?" His shudders had turned into the panting of the creepy and the desperate.

Auira smacked the back of his head, "No you idiot! It's the weekend, there's nobody even here."

"Owww!" Toritsuka rubbed the back of his head, "That wasn't necessary!"

"Shut up."

"B-but he -" Kaido was squeaking out loud now, still panicking, "He has more p-power than -"

"It doesn't matter!" Chyio's voice wrung out, fierce and unshaken. Saiki's gaze turned to her, surprised at how quickly she had settled herself. She was gripping the bottom frills of her skirt, looking focused and meeting his eyes. Steady. Brave. Her thoughts had turned back to Kokomi. "It doesn't matter guys! This is Saiki! He's our friend, and he's never hurt us, and now we have to help him to save Kokomi!"

We? As touched as he was, he wasn't also about to suddenly endanger all of them. This is probably going to be dangerous. My brother is a little crazy.

"Wait, your brother." Kaido's eyes flickered with recognition, and his hands finally fell from his hair, his breathing a little steadier. "You mean the brother that chased us through all of London?"

Yes. Saiki nodded grimly, He has made it his life's goal to defeat me.

"A real life supervillain!?" There was a familiar spark back inside Kaido's eyes. "Saiki has an arch nemesis, just like me!"

I am not a super hero.

"Oh yeah, that guy was cool," Nendo laughed, patting Kaido's head affectionately, "He gave us all kinds of sweets and paid for our tickets and our hotel!"

"He also chased us through the streets of London!" Kaido shouted, though Nendo didn't seem to hear, or care.

"Saiki," Aren raised his head to look at his friend, "All of this time I have thought of you as frail and weak. I believed that I alone shouldered the protection of our friends. I want you to know," He took a step forward and held out his hand, "My respect for your strength knows no bounds."

Saiki blinked twice. That was very unexpected. Ok, He reached forward and shook Aren's hand awkwardly. Thank you.

Aren nodded and stepped back, "Now, leader -"

What? No, let's not go there.

Aren ignored him, "What do we do now? Where is your girl, and how are we gonna get her back?"

Saiki stared at his friends. None of them were cowering anymore, none of them shocked. It was almost completely normal again, except of course for the fact they knew he was listening to their thoughts. Their thoughts that were screaming out support and determination to help him and save their friend. What... How were they taking this so well? All six of them, knowing who he was, and still here...

The papers in his hand crinkled a bit, and flustered, Saiki turned his attention back to them.

Teruhashi. He opened the clues. We're coming for you.