AN:Kaido is a surname. All Kaido Shun's friends referred to him as "Kaido" or one of his nicknames. Hopefully, this isn't too confusing because his family is in this. Since this is written mostly from Kaido's POV.

Chapter 18 - Midnight at Sukiya

To be honest, Kaido was not sure really what to do next.

After telling mom off, he ran out of the grocery store. He picked a side street and kept on running.

Kaido kept on thinking of all the times he blindly did what his mother asked, and the flack, the alienation that he got from his peers throughout middle school and beginning of high school. His desperate, painstaking efforts had earned him few smiles and sometimes, very rare praise from his stern mother. He kept on trying anyway. School, TV, and even manga told him that a good eldest son did as his mother told him.

Then, he thought about how his current group of friends, specifically the guy friend of Saiki, Nendo and Kuboyasu. He thought about how they've hung out, built forts, get motorcycle licenses, pranked on each other, shared each other's homework misery. Sure, they've teased him for which Kaido felt comfortable enough to tease them back. With them, Kaido finally felt like he did not have to change who he is.

What was the point of working hard, get a job, being good, when it would barely impress his mother? His father certainly didn't care. His younger sister, Sora, was in that stage where she thinks that all her siblings are stupid. The younger brother, Toki, who was in third grade, certainly didn't look up to Kaido due to his grades.

Kaido's friends didn't care about grades either. Judging by the future plan survey they did back at the end of 2nd year, it seemed like it was Kaido who had the most educational and career ambition among his guy friends. Hairo and Kuboyasu wanted to be teachers, which are ambitious, but safe and unimaginative. Nendo wanted to marry an idol, along with probably owning some sort of business. As much as people dismissed Nendo, there was no dismissing Nendo's luck. Saiki wanted to study economics or literature at mediocre schools, which sounded downright boring and a little disappointing. Saiko was going to inherit the conglomerate so he wrote something about business and one of those impossible-to-get-into types of tertiary schools.

Kaido didn't run for very long. He wasn't naturally built or trained for long-distance running like Nendo and Hairo. Driven by finally being able to stand up to mom, he felt like he ran further in one stretch than any other time. Eventually, he slowed down to a trot and kept on going until he felt his physical body could not handle it. He ended walking instead.

And now, he was lost.

More like he was not sure how to get back into town, or to one of the guy's houses.

Kaido had a phone on him, so he probably could use a ride-share application but that would also mean that he would have to turn on the phone location service. At the moment, he wasn't looking forward to having his mother tracking him down through a cellphone application. He deliberately turned the location service off and even took out the battery on his phone so the authorities could not find him. He did not want the embarrassment of having the cops picking him up and having his mother scold him in front of his father and siblings.

Kaido found himself taking shelter at a 24/7 gyudon shop, Sukiya (1). The shop was well-lit with fluorescent lighting, the smell of savory beef, and sitting booths with thick red upholstery. He found a corner booth and sat down. Kaido was oblivious to the attendant at the counter who was giving him the stink eye for loitering.

Kaido took a survey of what he had with him. He had his phone, the clothes on his back, shoes, and his wallet. There was also some lint, a paper clip, a random button, a receipt, and a pen in his pocket. Not exactly all the resources he needed to run away.

His wallet was flush with cash from midterms, so that was a plus. If he needed it, he can go find a hotel for the night. Not that was what he wanted to do with his midterm cash. He originally was going to buy some game cards, a couple of issues of Jump, and treat his friends Saiki, and Yumehara like Teruhashi had suggested, to some after-school snack activity.

Friends. Would they come to him now? At this late hour? He would very much like to be with one of his guy friends, to be assured that he was accepted for what he was.

Kaido first thought about Kuboyasu. Of the guy friends, Kaido was on a given name basis with Kuboyasu. The two hung out one and one the most. It was a little scary to call Kuboyasu "Aren," though. Rumors had it that Kuboyasu used to be a feared gang leader at Carnage Elementary, Blackmark Middle, and Hellfire High before coming to PK Academy. Kuboyasu got challenges daily, ones that he honored and would randomly show up to class with 'ketchup' all over his school uniform.

No. Not Kuboyasu. Kuboyasu was the fearless, take-no-prisoners manly man that Kaido looked up to. Kuboyasu's continued good opinion mattered to Kaido and Kaido was not certain about Kuboyasu's reaction to Kaido's difficulties with mom.

Kaido then thought about calling Nendo and immediately thought that was a stupid idea. Nendo was trustworthy to be an accepting friend. Nendo was not trustworthy to be delicate. Kaido did not want to risk the possibility of Nendo yapping to all their friends of how Kaido ran off. Nendo was also elemental and was likely to pick on Kaido for "walking-out-on-mama" which was not what Kaido wanted to hear now. While Nendo was okay with directions, Kaido was not. Stupidity and poor directional sense would only get both of them lost.

Kaido didn't consider Hairo or Saiko in the group of guys he could call. They always seemed like they have bigger fish to fry. Hairo had all his club and civic activities, as well as the love and respect of pretty much everyone at school. Hairo was the epitome of goodness and would give the shirt off his back to anyone. But Hairo would never understand the parental expectations for someone like Kaido, who had to work so hard and endure so much. Saiko had all his money and the burdens of money and endearingly flaunted it in people's faces. Saiko would house and fete Kaido handsomely, while going off on a monologue about how plebs should know their place. Saiko was extremely self-confident, whether it was warranted or not.

Oddly enough, it seemed like Saiki was the person that Kaido could relate to and was actually one of the first people that Kaido thought about.

Saiki was probably the most normal guy that Kaido know. Saiki's parents were still around and together. Saiki knew what it feels like to have a sibling. Saiki lived in a normal house. Saiki dressed normally. Saiki had normal, boring plans for the future. The only real difference between them was that Saiki's parents were not as modern, with a stay-at-home mom and a father with a modest salary. Saiki didn't have a part-time job either. So Saiki's didn't have the money to participate in certain activities like arcades or card games. Saiki usually watched people do things a lot of the time. Saiki was the younger sibling, though, which meant that he probably got away with everything, just like Toki.

In the end, Kaido decided to reach out to Saiki. In their current close friend group, Saiki was his friend the longest and was a great listener. Kaido felt that Saiki would understand and not be judgemental of perceived flaws.

Turning on his phone, Kaido first made sure that the location feature was not on before he looked for the brand new phone number he got from Kurumi.

Call or text? In this day and age of scam callers, a text would be safest, especially from an unknown number.

-Hey. It's Kaido. You got a moment?- Kaido tapped into the phone and hit send.

When there was no immediate response, Kaido groaned. He sort of recalled Saiki's mom saying something about Saiki being technology averse and not responding to text and phone calls. Or what if he inputted the wrong number and got a stranger?

Refused to be deterred, Kaido risked another round of stink-eye from the order counter attendant and asked for the location of the shop.

-I'm at Sukiya, at the corner of Tenda Street and Niho Avenue. Can you come?- Kaido sent.

No response for the next ten minutes. It was long enough for Kaido to be worried about how Saiki thought of him or just leave him in a lurch, or that maybe Kaido got the wrong number when he copied it from Saiki's mom earlier.

During that time, Kaido thought back to their primary friend's group. As much as Kaido looked up to Kuboyaus and Nendo for their unique personalities, disapproval from those two did not seem hurtful since they have a habit of liking and disliking people for the slightest reasons. Rejection from Saiki, who accepted everyone as they were, felt like a rejection of the whole person.

Actually, it was hard to know what Saiki thought of anyone since he seldom expressed an opinion. Saiki was always just there.

Kaido thought about that. Saiki was always just there, almost like a protective guardian spirit.

Kaido shook his head at that idea. That scrawny, average at sports, bespeckled, nerdy Saiki, being a protective guardian? It was laughable.

During the time that Kaido used to fret over Saiki's response, a couple of customers came in and one left.

In the end, Kaido focused on his phone, trying to will it to respond with something, anything. Feeling dejected because Saiki did not respond, Kaido gave up and looked up Kuboyasu's number again. Kaido was determined to show mom that his guy friends are better and more reliable than her.

Suddenly, the seat cushion opposite of Kaido shifted and someone plopped down.

"Good grief."

Kaido blinked and looked up. It was Saiki.

The pink-haired young man was holding what looked to be a milkshake and what appeared to be a lidded styrofoam cup of hot beverage. Wordlessly, Saiki placed the milkshake in front of Kaido.

Kaido just stared, completely not expecting Saiki to show up so quickly after being messaged. Eventually, Kaido was able to eek the words, "Saiki! What are you doing here?"

Saiki pulled out a phone. He tuned it 180 degrees and placed it in front of Kaido to see the two lines of text message that Kaido had sent him.

Kaido unconsciously reached out for the milkshake and drank. Meanwhile, he realized how fitting Saiki's presence was. Saiki did not respond to text messages. Saiki just showed up.

And from the look of it, Kaido almost wished he had not messaged Saiki.

Saiki looked ashen white, like all the blood had drained from his face, and was a little gaunt. He looked worse than the day of the exam. Saiki also wore clothes that seemed really too warm for June, long sleeves with a pull-over hoodie sweater and track pants. Saiki even wore a baseball cap. Saiki's characteristic scowl seemed even deeper than usual. He also held onto the cup of hot drink as if trying to warm himself with it.

Kaido wanted to hit himself in the head when he recalled what Saiki's mom had said earlier. Saiki's mom did say that her son was sick and had told Kaido that she did not want visitors.

That must be why Saiki was wearing such warm clothes because Saiki must've gotten a fever and one of the classic symptoms of fever was a feeling of cold. Per standard at-home treatments, Saiki must've learned and worn heavier clothes to keep whatever this was from getting worse.

Saiki must've snuck out to meet him.

The idea strangely made Kaido feel a little better to know that his friend valued him enough to risk illness and being caught out of the house this late at night.

It also made Kaido feel a little guilty.

Whatever illness Saiki had seemed to have really bothered him.

"Um...how was the stomach flu?" asked Kaido. Even as the words slipped out of his mouth, he wanted to hit himself in the head again. What's with him? He was usually much more eloquent than this. "I mean. How are you feeling? I saw your mom earlier. She said that you were sick."

Saiki took a sip of tea, his gaze focused on the cup. "Not good."

Kaido wasn't sure which question Saiki had answered.

"What's up with you?" asked Saiki.

It took a moment for Kaido to think up a good response. This was Saiki, his longest friend to whom Kaido could say anything.

Heroic music started to play in Kaido's head as he puffed up, indulging in the thought patterns of being a protagonist in his own story. "Well, I've called you out here, Saiki, because I've received desperate news of a Dark Reunion reconnaissance team bursting forth, on this earth, at the bewitching hour. You, a dedicated follower of the Jet Black Wing, have been selected from the masses to join me, to serve Judgement upon this detachment, and overcome this hostile take over."

Saiki gazed at Kaido steadily through those green-tinted glasses. It was uncomfortable. Saiki did not have to say anything. Kaido's imagination and natural uncertainty, guessed that Saiki was probably thinking, -Did you really call me out in the middle of the night for this?- followed by -I snuck out of the house, while feeling like shit, for Dark Reunion?- followed by -I'm going home.-

And it seemed like Kaido guessed Saiki's thought correctly because Saiki got up, looking disinterested.

"Alright alright! I'm kidding," Kaido offered.

Saiki kept on moving.

Kaido just stared. Was Saiki really going to walk out on him?

"Oh. Bathroom," said Kaido to himself after seeing Saiki entered the men's room. It would make sense that Saiki wasn't leaving, since Saiki left his phone on the table.

Saiki left his phone on the table...

Kaido knew he should not, but he could not help himself.

The phone was the livelihood of a person, a window to their deepest thoughts. Saiki was a good friend, and a good friend wouldn't care if their good friend took a peek at their phone. Kaido wondered what kind of dirt he could dig up on Saiki.

Like what type of porn Saiki indulged in.

Or if Saiki was secretly Dark Reunion.

Or if Teruhashi had finally convinced Saiki to date her.

It would be nice to know that so they can start ragging on Saiki for going out with the most perfect girl in the entire world. It would be about time too, since it was pretty obvious to the rest of their friend group that Teruhashi crushed hard on Saiki. It was getting kinda painful to watch Teruhashi pine after a clueless Saiki.

Kaido took Saiki's phone and examined it.

Damn. For someone whom no one at school knew had a personal smartphone, Saiki sure had an extremely nice expensive phone, one of the newest models, sleek and with all the bells and whistles. Where did Saiki get the money for such a nice phone? Even more surprising was Saiki did not even have phone unlock security on it.

Saiki should thank Kaido for being such a good friend and safeguard Saiki's phone and making sure that Saiki did not lose such an expensive item.

Looking slightly furtive, Kaido quickly checked the web browser history.

No usage? That was a little strange.

What about pictures?

Kaido frowned at that. Zero pictures. Not even default pictures.

Looks like Saiki's mom wasn't kidding when she wished her son would join the 21st century.

Next Kaido checked out the text message application.

Nothing too interesting, but there was activity.

A lot of messages from 'mom' was on the top of the list. The most recent messages had been asking for Saiki's whereabouts from three to four days ago. A long string of them that had the words "come get us" and "where are you?" for which Saiki did not respond. Earlier messages tended to be asking Saiki to get one thing or another.

There weren't as many messages from 'dad' but the message theme was the same. Dad was asking after Saiki, looking for his whereabouts. Or messages to get him to and from work.

Was Saiki running some sort of taxi service? Saiki got a motorcycle license, not a driver's license.

There was a couple of messages from 'grandma' that told Saiki that she got back to the house safely and requested that Saiki take 'mom' back to the house and that grandpa was doing okay after coming back from the hospital. That corroborated with the story that Saiki's grandparents were having health trouble.

Kaido was seeing a pattern. In none of these messages did Saiki respond.

There was one message from Saiki to a person named 'Kuusuke.' It was in line with the parental messages, it was a request for the person's whereabouts.

Man, Saiki's family sure spent a lot of time looking for each other and people. Maybe they were actually directionally challenged?

On a curiosity, Kaido looked through the call history.

It looked like Saiki's mom called the most, followed by dad and then by grandmother. Saiki almost never picked up. It seemed like Saiki really only called this 'Kuusuke' character, and from the look of it, about a dozen times a few days ago during some wee hours in the morning. There were no other calls.

Maybe Saiki regularly deleted call logs?

Oddly, all of this lack of communication with the outside world seemed to fit Saiki. It made Kaido even more determined to get that nebulous impromptu group outing together after school. Saiki's life was just so damn boring and it was the duty of a friend to spice his life up.

Kaido suddenly felt a shiver down his spine. He turned around.

Saiki came back from the bathroom and was standing behind Kaido, watching Kaido's shameless snooping through Saiki's phone.

"I'm just making sure your phone doesn't get stolen!" said Kaido.

Saiki gave the look that seemed to say -You seriously think I'd believe that?-

Kaido kept on smiling, despite the sweat drop down the side of his head.

The pink-haired young man sat back down opposite of Kaido again, seemingly not caring if someone was trying to pry into his life through his phone. He didn't even bother to retrieve his phone that Kaido gingerly pushed back to Saiki's side of the table.

Kaido seemed emboldened by the fact that Saiki didn't reproach him. Instead, Saiki went back to holding his cup of tea with both hands.

They've settled into an uncomfortable sort of silence.

Kaido was rarely with Saiki alone. The one time that Kaido could remember was when they stalked Nendo, when they thought Nendo was up to no good. It turned out that Nendo was only getting the usual memorial gifts for Nendo's family funerary monument. Just sitting here and talk was simply awkward. Maybe calling Saiki was not such a good idea?

In an effort to start a conversation, Kaido asked, "So, did you find this Kuusuke person?"

There was a loud crash sound.

Kaido turned his attention to the source of the sound. The glass windowpane at the opposite corner of the store appeared to have blown out spontaneously.

There was a yell from the ordering counter. The night attendant of the shop yelled "What was that!? Oh, the glass broke again! That's the second time this year. We need to sue the contractor."

"Wow. That's weird, isn't it Saiki?" remarked Kaido with forced ease.

Saiki seemed not at all perturbed. "I suppose." He absently twisted that muted gray ring on his finger, casually removing it and putting it back on several times. Saiki kept his eyes on the styrofoam cup, the usual blank expression on his face. "Why did you call me out here?" Saiki asked.

Now it was Kaido's turn to fidget. The original reason was that he was lost, in more ways than one. He needed one of his guy friends, people who didn't make him feel guilty for being who he is. A part of his soul, though, was afraid that if he said anything soft like that, that he would be teased for it. Or worst, rejected for it.

And just imagining getting teased by Saiki already made Kaido feel bad.

Actually, just looking at Saiki made Kaido feel bad for not answering sincerely. Kaido had never seen Saiki look this white. Saiki must have been really sick.

Kaido suddenly hoped that Saiki wasn't contagious.

Maybe the Dark Union had possessed Saiki?

"Saiki, did you know that you made first place in the midterms?" asked Kaido, deciding that was the appropriate lead-in topic.

"Oh." Saiki did not seem very happy about that. "I see."

Kaido blinked. It was not exactly the reaction that he was expecting. Every kid he knew who made it in the top quartile seemed pretty happy to achieve that ranking. The only person who seemed disappointed was the Tanihara, who was knocked off first place. Saiki had always been as cool as a cucumber, but Saiki seemed to be genuinely unhappy with being the exalted number one.

"How did you manage that, Saiki?" asked Kaido, not deterred by his friend's obvious displeasure. "I mean, you didn't just make first place. You got a full score. They even have someone from the university look at your exam and determine that you really are that smart. Even Akechi said that you're used always score number one." The facts were confounding to Kaido and it made him a little displeased. Friends don't keep such a big secret like that. "Why would you hide something like that?"

Saiki seemed to stare at Kaido for a minute, as if he was trying to determine whether to answer Kaido seriously or not. "Because I'm the idiot younger brother," Saiki said finally.

Kaido was not sure if Saiki was joking. "You got a full score, Saiki. How could you be called an idiot?"

Saiki seemed pensive. "Because it's true." He still fidgeted with the ring on his finger. "I didn't want to compete directly with him that way. It would've needed sincere effort and I could lose." There was a brief pause. "Not that it matters now. Reconciliation is impossible."

The answer made Kaido just stare at Saiki with obvious puzzlement on his face. What was Saiki talking about?

"Oh...Him. Your older brother!" Kaido realized, finally figuring out who Saiki was talking about "Wasn't he an exchange student in England? At some sort of local college?"

Per usual, Saiki gave the noncommital answer of, "Something like that."

Kaido kept on thinking, recalling the events of that England trip. Man, that was crazy. "Well, he didn't seem all that smart to me," said Kaido, trying to make Saiki feel better. Kaido was not the most observant young man ever, but even he could tell that Saiki's mood noticeably soured in the last minute.

"He wanted to play tag," Kaido continued. "What kind of grown man want to play tag? I don't know why my mom got the impression that he's a genius. I've heard that he came back this year," Kaido yammered a bit, trying to recall the conversation between his mom and Saiki's mom back at the store. Kaido was distracted with his phone at the time so he wasn't certain. "What's your older brother doing now? I bet it's nothing spectacular."

"Right now, nothing," responded Saiki, still look at the lidded styrofoam cup.

Kaido was slightly confounded. Was it him or did the shop had gotten suddenly a lot colder?

Saiki's eyeballs rolled up to look at Kaido. It seemed to Kaido had made quick work of milkshake. "But, we're not here to talk about me," Saiki reminded Kaido. "You called me out here at one in the morning for a reason and it's not to talk about midterm."

Kaido's mouth became slightly agape. His mind was suddenly empty. Where to start? He had so much to say and nothing to say. A man did not ramble on about how strict their mother was. Saiki probably wouldn't understand since Saiki's mom was so completely hands-off.

Saiki stood up. He slid out of the booth.

"Hey. Where are you going?" asked Kaido.

"For a walk," said Saik.

Kaido followed like a puppy dog.

Once the two started walking and moving, Kaido felt the awkward tension from earlier melt. This constant moving, of doing things together, even if it was walking around aimless, was much more preferred than directly meeting the situation at hand.

Saiki must be still feeling slightly ill, because this was one of the rare occasions that Kaido was able to keep up with his friend's regular walking speed without having to trot.

Eventually, during the walk where Kaido talked at Saiki, Kaido mentioned, casually, of shopping with his mother and bumping into Saiki's parents hours earlier. Kaido tangentially discussed how his mother, Aoi, under the control of Dark Reunion, snatched Kaido's precious communication medium and challenged Kaido in front of the whole store of innocent civilians. Kaido heroically defended his friends from that monstrous woman's nasty insults and attacks, throwing down an ultimatum for her to correct her ways or be forever spurned woman, cast aside as a heedless civilian.

"Why would you say that?" Saiki asked.

"Say what?"

"Call your mother a monster."

Being so directly challenged, Kaido found himself stuttering.

"You don't have to answer me," said Saiki. He looked thoughtful again, mirroring his earlier mood, "Sometimes, those who care the most show it in the most inexplicable ways."

Kaido chewed on that for a bit. The general theme in school gossip was that mom and dad were the preventer of fun and always wrong. Life was about struggles against the restraints and wishes of the parents. The only people to be trusted are school friends.

Of course, people in Kaido's close friend group has generally the opposite of popular opinion. They generally reproached the popular anti-parent sentiment and took things like parental respect very seriously. The worst was probably Hairo and oddly, Kuboyasu. Even Saiko was very much outright obedient and reverent about his old man.

Kaido's thought train suddenly derailed as they turned a street corner.

Right there, in front of Kaido's face, was his house.

Saiki had somehow walked him straight home.

How did they get back to Kaido's house so fast? Kaido swore that he must have slow run/fast-walked to the edge of town.

Kaido would have demanded in his usual energetic fashion for an explanation of such betrayal. A true guy friend would have completely agreed with Kaido and encouraged Kaido to go with the desired revenge against such an impossible mother.

Except that Kaido's mom, Aoi, and Kaido's youngest brother, Toki, were sitting on a folding chair, out in the front door entrance swing gate. Aoi and Toki were asleep, with Toki sleeping on mom's lap. All the exterior lights of the house were lit, which was an indication that they were expecting people to come to the house.

His mother and youngest brother had been waiting for him to come home.

Kaido almost teared up at the sight.

"You jackass," came a very soft hiss from somewhere above.

It was Kaido's younger sister, the sixteen-years-old Sora, who was on the balcony. It seemed that she was waiting also.

"Couldn't you have come home earlier?" Sora groused some more, her voice barely audible from where Saiki and Kaido were standing. "Mom made us wait. The food has been cold for hours and I'm freakin' starving."

Sora's hiss woke Toki. The little boy blinked and immediately noticed that his older brother was home. "O-Nii-chan!" exclaimed Toki happily. He struggled out of his mother's lap and ran toward his brother for a leg hug. Toki was a short second grader and he barely got up to anyone's waist height. Toki latched onto his older brother's legs like a baby monkey. "You're back! The neighborhood's dedicated protector, the Jet Black Wing, has returned!"

Kaido's mom, Aoi, was the last to rouse. She took a moment to remove her glasses and rub her eyes. A look of relief came across her face before a mask of sternness covered her face.

"Sora, Toki. Go back inside," she ordered.

"Aww, but mom-" groused Toki.

Aoi cut Toki off. "No buts. Go back inside and wake up your father. Tell him that we can eat now."

"Okay..." muttered Toki, obviously unhappy with his assigned chore.

"Sora!" yelled Aoi so her voice could carry to the second floor.

"I know, mom," said Sora with a hand wave. She was a properly trained young lady who knew what her mother wanted. "I'll go heat up the food and reset the table."

Yes. Aoi had whipped her children to fully anticipate her wishes. Like all moms of the household, she was on top of the food chain who commanded complete obedience of her household.

Aoi took a look at the situation. Without words, she could tell that Kurumi's son had brought Shun back. Aoi was a proper mother and she knew Shun was directionally challenged. It had taken half a dozen tries to get Shun to remember where the cram school was.

She also knew that Shun would try to depend on his friends. Having known the moms of Shun's friends, Aoi was not so much worried. Her mom friends would keep her informed, if they knew anything.

How odd that Kurumi didn't let her know that Saiki-kun was the one her boy had picked as a good friend.

Kaido stood rooted to the spot about 2 meters away from his mother, mentally going through all the nasty, downright insulting scenarios that his controlling mother would do right in front of his guy friend.

Sure enough, Aoi did not disappoint.

"Young man," Aoi addressed Saiki like a scolding school teacher. "Does your mother know where you are at?"

Saiki, unflappable, gazed back steadily. "Debatable."

Aoi considered that and thought that sounded like Kurumi. "Well, stay here for a moment. Let me go get car keys and drive you home." She turned to her son and closed the distance between them. "Kaido Shun," she addressed, her voice steely.

Kaido stood stiff. He was going to get it now. Stupid Saiki and his betrayal. Saiki better not say anything to the guys or...Kaido didn't know what revenge he could threaten Saiki with, probably steal Saiki's coffee jelly or have Kuboyasu make Saiki do everyone's homework or make Saiki go out with Teruhashi. Wait, none of those punishments would be sufficient revenge and the third one would be somewhat of a favor. Time enough to be creative about payback later, when he can get everyone in on the same scheme. Kaido put as much promise of something unpleasant in that sideways look to Saiki.

Unexpectedly, Aoi hugged her son tightly. "I'm glad that you came back. Thank goodness you're okay."

The hug was long enough to make Kaido's face turn red in the face. Such physical touch was rare since he was no longer a kid. A part of him wanted to push her away, to publically denounce her years-long subjugation of making him into something he was not. He was in front of Saiki, for god sake. Kaido kept on thinking of Saiki making fun of him for being so babied. When that happens, Kaido would absolutely, positively just die.

Another part of Kaido was relieved and surprised that Aoi was not mad. He had finally drug up enough courage, since she did insult his friends, to tell her how awful and unreasonable she had been. At the same time, he was afraid of the consequences for such direct disobedience so he thought he had to made that decision for her.

Things did not turn out as badly as Kaido had imagined.

"Be a proper host and keep your friend company while I go get my car keys," said Aoi, going inside the house.

That left Kaido and Saiki in the little courtyard between the low front gate and the door.

Kaido rubbed the back of his head in the universal gesture of embarrassed nervousness. He muttered something about how ignorant civilians were about the powers of Dark Reunion.

Aoi came back to the front door in no time, with her usual purse and car keys. Toki was close behind.

"O-Nii-chan," Toki automatically grabbed Kaido's hand and began trying to pull him into the house. "You gotta come inside. Dad wants to know how you made a twenty-fifth place!"

"Toki, don't drag," cried Kaido, trying not to fall over.

Toki listened and reduced his pull to more of a persistent tug. In his eye, his older brother was the most important, most accomplished person in the world. Of course, Toki would obey his older brother's words.

Kaido felt quite embarrassed, being nearly pulled to the ground by such a pipsqueak. This was such a bad look in front of Saiki. Kaido snuck a look at Saiki, trying to see if Saiki was taking notes of this embarrassing family interaction for future blackmail.

Instead, Kaido was confused.

Of all the possible expressions that the usually nonchalant Saiki could possibly express, Saiki seemed...envious?

What would Saiki, the ranked first place of the third year at PK Academy, with a mom who more or less let him do whatever he wanted, be envious of Kaido for?

Aoi had already opened the carport gate and was getting into the car. "Come on, Kusuo-kun. I gotta get you home. You shouldn't be out so late. Kurumi must be worried."

"So, I guess we'll see you back at school next week?" asked Kaido at Saiki's retreating figure.

There was a noncommittal shrug for which Kaido assumed to be a 'maybe.'

Kaido watched as his mother drove off, with Saiki in the passenger seat. Kaido watched as the car sped off, a confounded expression on his face.

Kaido had the strangest feeling that he won't be seeing Saiki again any time soon.