Author's Notes: I have no idea how this will be received, or if it will get any attention. To be clear, this takes place after the ending of Mob Psycho 100, Reigen is 31 (He was 28 in the series), and he has psychic powers he obtained right before the story started. I Hope you enjoy!
Reigen Arataka, self-proclaimed greatest psychic in the world, was staring off into the distance. He was still in Japan, in a city that, theoretically, should be right next to his own city. Yet no one heard of Seasoning City. Somehow, no cities in Japan were even named after food the same way. When he found out the year was a long way off what it should be, he, in a panic, checked recent news and discovered some nonsense about heroes.
Everywhere he looked there were pro heroes. Not real-life pro heroes, though he had seen one to his disbelief, but the marks of cultural obsession surrounded him. Toys, movies, games, shirts, and even conversations. And he thought his world had too much of a love for superheroes.
But he also stumbled on a newspaper that displayed news of a popular superhero. Front page news that was written as though the hero was a real person. With his amazing information-gathering skills, he managed to find out that most of the world had superpowers. And he found out that they appeared sometime during the '90s.
He was forced to face the reality that he was not in his own world anymore. There's no way he would have missed news like that. The irony was that he just unlocked his own powers, a true rarity in his world. Now he was on the normal end of the power-having spectrum again, not that it mattered one way or another.
A world where pro heroes exist…His favorite series was a gag manga based on that concept. Thankfully, this world was not quite as violent. In fact, the crime rate was even lower than it was back home. Apparently, no one had decided that they wanted to take over the world yet. Then again, when that happened back home the news covered it up pretty fast.
A green balloon-looking spirit with a face and two red circles marking his face floated down while he contemplated what he should do. Dimple, the strange, power-hungry evil spirit that somehow ended up working for him after his student exorcised him.
He was also the only person that was dragged into the hero-obsessed world with him.
"Yep," Dimple said. "It's not our world, that's for sure. I haven't run into any evil spirits either…That might be a coincidence, though."
Reigen nodded. "Well, I guess there's only one thing to do."
"Get us back home with your new power you already know how to use?" he asked semi-hopefully.
Reigen straightened his tie. "I'll open up a psychic consultation office because I don't know how to get home. It's a good thing I was carrying around a ton of cash from those last three jobs."
"You're just asking to get mugged. Besides, you brought us here! You finally got some real psychic abilities and all you do with them is strand us in another world!?"
Indeed, Reigen was what someone might call a con artist. Actually, most people would call him that, and they would be right. He was a total fraud, only unlocking the ability to see spirits years into his career as a psychic during his fight with Claw, an organization of real psychics.
Not that he did much fighting personally. Reigen opened his wallet and double-checked how much money he had.
"Look, it isn't like I knew I'd get a crazy ability like that. I already had my psychic abilities unlocked, or so I thought."
Dimple huffed. "Yeah, the ability to see spirits. To think you had so much potential locked away in there. That crazy powerful spirit is responsible for this. I guess this is what happens when Mob calls off sick. Why do bad things always happen to good people?"
"Didn't you start a cult?" Reigen deadpanned. "Twice, actually. Why were you by me when I teleported anyway?"
"I didn't start the second one!" he shouted defensively.
Reigen rubbed his ear. "It's a good thing no one can hear you. Wait, do I look like I'm crazy?"
While he looked around, paranoid, Dimple rubbed his own head with a green arm he grew.
"I'll have you know I was trying to save you by possessing your body. How was I supposed to know you'd suddenly get psychic powers?"
Reigen tried to escape the overwhelming power of the spirit who should have been no big deal. In a panic, overwhelmed by a torrent of psychic energy that radiated from the spirit, his own power finally awoke and fulfilled his wish to 'be anywhere else.' For some reason, Dimple was hanging onto his jacket screaming something.
The amazing power of dimensiokinesis was unheard of even in his world, but he had no idea how to use it.
Reigen's eyes narrowed and his mouth hung open, words not quite escaping. A few seconds of awkward silence passed.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Dimple demanded. "I'm a changed spirit! I helped you with Mob, remember?"
"That's true," he admitted. "Well, thanks. Anyway, it's time to get started on making a living in thi-"
Whatever profound thing he was going to say was cut off when he brought his wallet up to eye-level to make a point. It was empty. Completely empty. More empty then the cold depths of space.
He turned to see a redheaded man with spiky hair running with his cash in hand and screaming "Thanks for the cash, crazy man!" when he noticed Reigen's gaze.
"I did say you were asking to get robbed," Dimple supplied unhelpfully.
"Nooo!" Reigen screamed in despair before springing into action.
He started running after him with impressive speed. Reigen started exercising after helping his student train for a marathon. He was embarrassed that the most out of shape person he knew had more stamina than he did. Now, his dedication would shine.
"Get back here, you bastard!"
Trailing hot on his tail, he caught up to him and tried tackling him. The man dodged like he had eyes in the back of his head, leaving Reigen grasping at air. Groaning, he picked up speed again and his mouth gaped when the man ran into a crowd of people and weaved through them like a crazy gymnast.
Persistently, he chased him through the streets until they reached an empty street. Deciding it was now or never he raised his hand. The man skidded to a stop and turned around.
"What!?" he screamed.
Reigen glowed with psychic energy, and the same energy soon covered the thief. The thief collapsed and the money in his hand flew upwards before returning to Reigen's now open wallet.
"I-I can't move! What an amazing quirk!"
Why did he stop before he used his powers? Reigen stared at the paralyzed man. Should he turn him in to the police? There were pro heroes so using a power to catch someone should be no big deal, right? It was just a citizen's arrest.
Dimple floated down. "Huh. I guess you already have the basics down. Telekinesis, and no doubt you can put up a barrier."
Before Reigen could say anything, the man scoffed. "So, we have the same kind of power."
"Huh? You're a psychic?" Reigen wondered, astonished.
"A what? Have you lost it? You have the same Quirk-type. But you were lucky to be born with an amazing ability that everyone would love."
"Oh," he said dispassionately. He could feel a monologue coming.
He released the man from his psychic hold. He stood up and looked at him with a sad glint in his eye.
"My quirk is telepathy," he started unprompted. "I can read the surface-level intentions of anyone. But everyone always looked at me like I was reading their thoughts or something, like I'd know all their secrets. No one trusted me or my power. All those bastards never once gave me a chance! You were blessed with the ability to control objects with your mind, right? People must have been falling over themselves to make you a hero and praise you every time you took a piss! But me, all me my friends abandoned me. No one wanted to talk with me!"
"I dunno, it sounds like a cool power to me." The man looked surprised, but Reigen was not done. "Look, my powers don't make me any more special than you or anyone. There is nothing about telekinesis that's better than, say, being good at games. It's just a characteristic. You have to own that part of yourself. Nothing is more important than living positively."
The man's eyes widened further, and he was at a loss for words. He'd never heard anyone say anything like that about quirks. It was made even more surprising by the fact that this man had an amazing quirk.
Reigen put a hand on his shoulder. "You know, the real secret to charm is kindness. Just be kind to people and you're bound to find people that'll overlook that one thing, or even appreciate it."
He shook his hand off. "No, you don't understand! You can only say those things because you were born with the right quirk!"
"You know, I only just got this power."
"W-What are you talking about!? I've never heard of anyone manifesting a quirk at your age..."
"Well, yeah. I think that's true for psychics as well. But none of this matters at all. Whether you have powers or not or what they are just doesn't matter. What's important is how you treat the people around you and interact with the world. All I'm hearing out of you are excuses. People treated you badly so you can steal my money?"
The man looked contrite. "I just wanted to…" The man's eyes started to water. What was he doing?
"E-Even I wanted to be a hero at some point, ya know? But everyone always…I just wanted someone to say I could do it."
Reign nodded along. "You can do it, and I mean that. But before you go and try to do that, work on yourself a bit."
The man stumbled and hit a wall feeling relieved and exhausted. "But I can't just leave this life. The boss will have my head on a stick."
Reign started sweating a bit. Was the city he was planning to start a life in a hotbed for Yakuza or something? He should probably do something about it or he'll be getting robbed all the time.
"I'll take care of him."
The man tilted his head to the side. "Come again?"
Dimple watched this all happen passively. 'He's as good with words as ever. Snapping a guy out of his delusions with one conversation. Psychic abilities or not, that's his real power. But so is getting in way over his head. Then again, he is a psychic now.'
The redheaded man led him into a non-descript building, through winding hallways, shivering all the while. It wasn't cold that gripped him, it was fear. Certainly, they were walking into a situation they could never escape alive.
Reigen, on the other hand, held the same self-assured countenance he had through their conversation. It was as though he had no fear. He was walking into one of the most dangerous places in all of Musutafu City, yet his face betrayed nothing but confidence. Was he really that strong, or was he just stupid?
The redheaded man swallowed heavily. "This is it."
A few seconds passed and Reigen spoke up. "You should probably open the door."
"I was giving you a chance to change your mind! Just…Don't start a fight. I promise you can't win."
With that warning, he twisted the doorknob. His jaw dropped when he opened the door and sweat started dripping down his face.
"I thought I recognized that voice," a man with a deep voice said. His hair was greying, and he sported a short beard. Long scars covered his face, the perfect picture of an underworld boss.
"B-Boss," he said in terror. "W-W-We're totally screwed. What was I thinking?"
Reigen walked into the room like he owned it and said, "So, you're the guy causing trouble around here."
The boss leaned forward in his chair, the only thing in the empty room. "And who the hell are you?"
Reigen waved his hand around before pointing to himself with his thumb. "My name is Reigen Arataka, greatest psychic of this century!"
"…Call me Kuda. Now then, give me a reason I shouldn't kill you where you stand."
It was borderline impressive Boss did not react to the psychic line. He snapped his fingers and a dozen men flooded the room.
"Ah jeez. You shouldn't use your powers on other people like that. Listen, you have to stop with all the thieving. Normal people can't live their lives if they're worried about getting robbed."
Boss stood up. "You deign to tell me what to do!?"
The redheaded man along with Boss' other subordinates got ready to dive out of the way.
Reigen looked a little frustrated. "Someone should. You should all know that what you're doing is wrong. Stop all this and come to your senses."
Wait a second…Acting like he was unbeatable, that commanding air, the way Reigen seemed without fear…Could he be!?
Boss' expression grew furious. "You…I'll show you who you're messing with! And you as well, whatever your name is!"
Oh no, he looked furious… "Wait, are you talking about me!?"
Kuda looked right at the redheaded man. "Of course, I am. I don't know what game you're playing or what your name is, but you'll regret causing me trouble!"
The redheaded man winced. "You jerk! I told you my name a bunch of times! It'S-"
The atmosphere in the room began to change, literally so. Clouds gathered around Kuda, and he held his arm out towards Reigen. "This is my Quirk, Atmospheric!"
Everyone in the room besides Reigen jumped for cover as a blinding white light illuminated the room. Lightning shout out of the cloud and slammed into Reigen.
Kuda laughed. "How's that? Ready to beg for mercy...Huh?"
The lightning dissipated, streaks of electricity still dancing around Reigen while he simply looked annoyed. He dusted his jacket with his hand casually as everyone gaped at him.
"What's with the stupid light show? That looked dangerous for a second. Now, look here-"
Reigen pointed at Kudo and a streak of lightning shot out of his finger and hit the wall behind him, making a sizeable hole. Everyone was speechless. Reigen, for a reason beyond them, just stared at his finger.
The redheaded man jumped from cover and pointed at Reigen. "I knew it! Boss, you have to stop! That's not an ordinary guy. I-It's him! He used a Telekinesis quirk on me earlier!"
Kuda tried to figure out what…whatever his name was currently was babbling about. Then, it hit him. A man who could use more than one quirk, who stole his quirk right in front of his eyes…He swallowed heavily.
"A-All For One…!"
It was the only thing that made any sense. That must be why he was so confident when he waltzed in. Shit! Even he feared the mysterious super villain that could steal the quirks if others. He didn't even believe that particular rumor. To think he could steal his quirk without so much as touching him!
With no other choice, Kuda grit his teeth. "What did you want again?"
It was humiliating but he had no choice but to do whatever he said against such a dangerous man.
Reigen was looking at his finger like it didn't belong to him until that Kuda guy said something. He looked up and saw the looks of fear. Crap, he didn't mean to do that, but he probably thought it was a threat or something. Was he going to get arrested? He totally shot real lightning with psychic powers.
"Let's all calm down. No one needs to get anyone else involved."
Kudo started sweating profusely. "L-Like a hitman squad!?"
"Where did you get that from?" Reigen wondered aloud. "I don't want anyone to get hurt or anything, I just want to live in this city peacefully."
"Peacefully? But…Aren't you going to use your powers to do something?"
Reigen looked genuinely confused. "Like what?"
"You know, take over the world or something." It sounded dramatic but he was talking to the world's greatest super villain.
He just sighed. "I've had enough of people who want to use their powers so selfishly. I just want to live a normal life because I'm just a normal person. Thinking some power gives you the right to do anything is childish. You all know what you're doing is wrong."
Everyone looked away guiltily. That redheaded boy, fear replaced by confusion, walked up to Kuda and whispered, "Boss, what's he talking about?"
Kuda whispered back, "I think All For One-No, Reigen is trying to start a new life."
"So, do you get it?" Reigen asked. "No more crimes, alright?"
The redhead's eyes widened, and he whispered, "Wait, I get. He must have had his money stolen on purpose. That's why he was standing in the middle of the street, fingering a fat stack of cash like an idiot! He wanted the situation to play out like this!"
Kuda gasped dramatically. "Of course! A man like him can't just turn good one day and live a normal life. This must be some kind of test. He wants us to safeguard his identity and follow him!"
They both straightened and looked at Reigen with the utmost seriousness. Reigen, meanwhile, was wondering if he heard one of them call him an idiot. They were not very good at whispering.
The redheaded man pointed a shaky finger. "W-What are you planning to do when this place is crime-free?"
He wondered why they would possibly care, but he responded, "I'll open up a consultation office and help my clients, I guess."
"What are you asking th-" Kuda began before being taken aback by the tears in the young man's eyes.
"T-That's so manly!" he said clenching his fist. "After years of using your powers for yourself, you realized how futile it was. Now, you wander the Earth searching for redemption by helping other people, no matter what people say. No matter what the law is!"
Kuda let out a noise of realization. "Damn, there's something in my eyes."
All around him, the thuggish men tried to hide their emotions, but one thing struck Reigen.
"T-The law, you say?" Reigen stuttered
"Of course! You came marching in here, using your quirk illegally, no matter what the consequences were! You wanted that badly to set us on the right path."
'What the hell kind of backstory was that!?' Reigen thought. And he had no idea using a power was illegal.
Kuda stepped forward with a glint of determination in his eyes. "What should we do? What are our orders!?"
"Uh, just stop committing crimes."
Reigen lost the plot a little, but he figured he could just ignore what was happening and get them to stop.
The redhead sniffled. "You got it, Boss' boss! We'll protect you in plain sight, living normal lives!"
'What kind of misconception were they under?' Reigen wondered. He figured it was probably fine, as long as they stopped what they were doing.
"Okay," Reigen began confidently, "You don't need to protect me. Just get a normal job and live a normal life. Try to be kind to others, things like that, okay?
Everyone nodded like they received an order, Kudo looked way too determined, and Reigen turned to leave.
"Wait," the readhead said. "My name is Eiichirou Kirishima. I'm going to be a noble man, just like you."
Reigen didn't know what to say to that, so he just kept walking. At least these weirdos seemed genuine. Maybe they were starting to realize that their powers didn't make them special.
Some time later, Reigen slumped in his new office chair with a satisfied sigh. Finally, he had a new, furnished office. A couple of chairs with a small, round table, a desk with a laptop and a printer, and some decorations. Just like home. Well, just like home before he had any money. He built a business with nothing but blood, sweat, and tears before; he'd do it again, no problem.
Reigen Arataka is nothing if not resourceful.
Dimple floated around his new office, whistling with appreciation. "Quite a place you got here, Reigen. Doesn't it look just like your old one? Maybe you should change things up a bit…Reigen? Huh?"
It was only then that Dimple realized Reigen looked more serious than he'd ever seen him. It was like the air around him had still. He sat in front of his laptop with a hand on his mouse, eyes scrunched in intense concentration.
"It's time for me to use my greatest power," Reigen mumbled.
"W-What!?" Dimple stuttered. Could this be it? Maybe he underestimated him. He must have been training his psychic powers in secret. Did he develop some electronic-related power?
Reigen erratically started moving his mouse. "Moogle Search: World Library Perusal!"
This is one of Reigen's special techniques. He uses an internet search engine to uncover data at a rate most people through human history would have found inconceivable at a world-wide scale.
Dimple floated hopelessly. "An internet search...? That isn't even the right name! We're going to be stuck here forever, aren't we…? Why did I expect anything out of this guy?"
And so, Reigen researched many things. Heroes and their origins, quirks and their workings, and the commonality of psychic abilities. Unfortunately, he realized that psychics were even less believed than in his world. He supposed that quirks made it easy to explain away strange happenings.
Either way, it would do him good to expand his focus once again. Despite becoming a psychic because he saw a magazine ad, he was rather attached to the idea now. There was only one choice, really: He would maintain his psychic business while expanding the types of clients he saw.
On the outside of the building, a sign was hanging. This sign read, "Quirks, Spirits, and Such Consultation."
Within this office, he saw clients that came to him with all sorts of problems, usually being Quirk-related. On rare occasions, he was faced with a job to exorcise a spirit that never turned out to be real. All the while, he trained his psychic abilities.
He used his power to grow plants, but they tasted literally like dirt. It wasn't unexpected considering his student had tried the same thing to similar effect, but the allure of free groceries was too great to resist. He developed his electrokinesis to cut down on his electricity bill, but it was in vain. Lastly, he tried to access his dimensiokinesis and succeeded to an extent.
It occurred to him, however, that training may be in vain as well. All the proficiency in the world won't mean a thing if he has no way to locate the world he wanted to go to.
After hearing these thoughts, Dimple rubbed his chin in thought. "Shigeo was able to locate his family with psychic abilities. Maybe if you found a way to combine that with your power?"
It was the best lead he had so he tried his best to learn both powers to no avail. As he meditated on his chair, trying to unlock new abilities, Dimple made his concerns clear.
"This is pointless," Dimple chided. "You're definitely the type to learn through instinct and intuition, just look at how you got us into this mess."
He figured he was right, but Reigen hated being wrong so he sat there in a state of fake concentration. His thoughts started drifting. His business was doing well…His ass was kind of itchy…He finally had some money, so he should by some manga…
Reigen's eyes shot open. His head fell forward, eyes covered by his hair.
"What's up?" Dimple asked. "Did you actually make progress?"
"O-One Punch Man…"
"Who?"
"The One Punch Man manga is my favorite series. I'll never know how it ends…"
Dimple narrowed his eyes. "Come on. You just now realized it?"
Reigen's head shot up, his eyes shining. "But I'm feeling a crazy new money-making opportunity. If only I had any idea how to draw…"
Dimple sighed heavily. And like this, peaceful days passed.
Izuku sniffled, standing outside an office most people would consider suspicious. He walked by it a few times, but he wanted to go in immediately, A fear stopped him. Fear they they would say the same things he heard over and over, or that they might laugh at him, or even that they would tell him to get lost because he didn't have any money.
He saved his allowance for a while. He wasn't sure what it would change, if anything, but he was desperate for another opinion. If he was honest with himself, he wanted someone who would say what he wanted to hear for once.
Izuku, just 9 years-old, walked up the stairs, clothes still covered in dirt after being bullied.
Don't forget to say something! This takes a lot of work, and a couple of sentences from you will make it feel worth it.