Author's Notes:

This chapter honestly became longer than expected. I planned typing 500 words, but it became 2k words, ahah

Thanks for continuing to read! I hope you enjoy it!

•••° kusuo °•••

Kusuo lays contently under the thick blanket. It's quiet and dark in the room, and there's a warm body next to him. It's comfortable.

The digital clock on the bedside table reads five thirty in the morning. Today is Saturday, which means he doesn't have work. He could relax, and maybe oversleep.

Or so he thought, until last night.

Right now, among the early risers within his telepathic range, he could hear a certain excited train of thought. Kusuo sighs fondly, grabs his glasses from the table and places them on before closing his eyes; he estimates that there's about two more minutes before he has to get up.

He's almost lulled to sleep again, but those two minutes pass by quickly, because he soon hears footsteps approaching.

There are two knocks on the door before it opens, and a bright-eyed Kurama peeks into the room.

"Good morni—!"

"Shh," Kusuo quickly quiets him down, "Mama is still sleeping. Lower your voice."

"Oops, sorry," Kurama whispers, grinning sheepishly. Kusuo sits up, smiles at his son and gestures for him to enter. The kid crosses the room excitedly to climb on the bed and cuddle with him. "Papa, good morning."

Kusuo ruffles the boy's pink hair lightly and sets him properly on his lap, "Good morning, Kurama. You woke up really early."

"Mm! You promised to teach me how to use my powers today. I was just so excited that I couldn't sleep, hehe…"

"It's only five thirty, though. Are you sure you want to get up now?" Kusuo wraps his arms around the kid and places his cheek on top of Kurama's head. "I'm still a bit sleepy, you know," he teases.

The kid giggles quietly and hugs back. "I'm sure!" Kurama pulls away a little to show him his huge, puppy dog eyes. "So let's get up already, pleaaase? I'll even make coffee for you! Mama taught me how to turn on the electric kettle!"

Kusuo sighs. To think that his son used that expression against him so effectively…did Kokomi teach him that technique? "Fine." He holds the Kurama securely in his arms and stands up, careful not to disturb his wife. "Let's go wash our faces first, okay? And maybe make some breakfast."

"'Kaaay!"

The two head to the kitchen after a short trip to the bathroom. Kusuo puts down Kurama on the counter, pours water in the electric kettle, and then lets the kid push the 'on' button. He grabs two mugs, a stick of instant black coffee, and hands them to Kurama. The pink-haired child opens the coffee sachet and empties it into one of the mugs. "Will I get to drink coffee too?"

Kusuo huffs, "Of course not. Your Mama will kill me if I let you drink that at your age." He opens the refrigerator and stares inside. "What do you want? Orange juice or milk?"

"But you let me eat coffee jelly. It's made of coffee too, right? And milk, please."

"Coffee jelly is too good to pass up, I'll feel bad if I don't share some to you," he says, pulling out the almost-empty milk carton and pouring the contents in the other mug.

The beep of the electric kettle goes off and Kusuo pours some hot water in his own mug. Kurama grabs his cup of milk and takes a few sips before giving Kusuo a wide grin.

"So, Papa," the kid started, carefully putting his mug back down.

"Hm."

"You're a psychic too, right?" Kurama looked thoughtful for a moment, and through telepathy, Kusuo hears him absently trying to recall faint memories from around two years ago of floating furniture during spring cleaning, and of Kusuo suddenly disappearing from sight and shortly reappearing with groceries, which, to a younger Kurama, didn't seem to be strange events.

Kusuo tries not to rely on his powers much, especially at home, so it's no wonder the kid hadn't been aware of his abilities until now. He was planning to tell his child about them when he is older, but the reveal just happened sooner because of last night's event.

"I am."

"That's super awesome! What things can you do?"

Kusuo stirs his coffee with a teaspoon, silently lamenting how it'd probably taste way blander compared to the drink Kokomi brews for him on weekdays. But, well, instant coffee is a quicker fix. Perhaps a little sugar can help. "I can do a lot of things, like teleport, or turn invisible, but we'll discuss that another time. Let's focus on what you'll be training in today. Psychokinesis."

"Sai–saikokin–"

"Psychokinesis. The ability to move things with your mind. Like this." The pantry cabinet suddenly opens, and a glass condiment container flies out and settles on the counter flawlessly. The lid opens, a small amount of sugar plopping into Kusuo's coffee, followed by the teaspoon in the mug stirring the drink on its own.

Kurama gapes at him, his blue eyes wide and sparkling with awe, and Kusuo's lips turn up. Cute. The kid's expression looks so similar to what Kokomi's had been when he first demonstrated his powers to her…how very endearing.

"That's. So. Cool!"

"You'll be able to do that too, after some practice."

"R-really!?" Kurama's smile is so big and hopeful. "It's just like in Harry Potter! Things floating around! Magic!"

Ah, right, Kusuo thinks. The three of them watched the first Harry Potter movie two nights ago. "Yes, like magic, I suppose."

Kurama beams brightly. "Teach me, please! I wanna, uh…I wanna make the table float!" The kid looks at the dining table and narrows his eyes in concentration. Kusuo can hear him chanting "Float, float, float" in his mind. The furniture does not move.

"We should start with something small," Kusuo says, hiding an amused smile behind his coffee mug as Kurama scratches his head with a sheepish grin.

"Y-yeah, that's right! In Harry Potter, they did the Wingundam Levitate with a feather!"

Kusuo chuckles, "It's Wingardium Leviosa. And we don't have a feather. How about you try that one?" He gestures at the empty instant coffee stick sachet. Kurama nods and gives the small packet an intense look.

Float, float, float, float, float!

After a few seconds of the mental chant, Kurama sighs and looks at Kusuo pleadingly. "It's not working. How many times do I repeat 'float' in my mind? Or do I just concentrate real hard? Do I have to say Wingunda–Wingarden–Winguardian Levee-ow-sa?"

Hm. This is more difficult than Kusuo thought. He doesn't really know how to teach this. No one had to help him learn how to use his psychic powers; he only ever needed help in suppressing them. In the case of Psychokinesis, it just came to him naturally. Normally, he just…willed things to move with his mind.

"Well, you definitely don't have to chant anything or say a magic spell." Kusuo took another sip of his coffee. How could he help Kurama..? "Yesterday, when the spoon bent, how did you feel? Did you notice anything different?"

Kurama looks down on his lap in thought. Yesterday, I just was eating curry, but it's like…it's like something came out. I don't know how to explain it to Papa…

"What came out?"

Kurama yelps and gazes up at him, blinking in surprise. "Eh?"

"I can read minds."

The child gasps in amazement, "You can do that too!? Whoa!" Can you hear me, Papa!? I, uhh, I want chicken nuggets! "Did you hear me!?"

Kusuo smirks, "We don't have chicken nuggets anymore. Maybe tomorrow. We'll go visit the grocery store with Mama later."

Kurama squeals in excitement, "Wow! That's amazing! And yay! Can we buy some ice cream too?"

"Of course," Kusuo places his now-empty mug down. "Well then, let's get back on topic. How did it feel when that something came out?"

"Oh, um, I'm not sure. It's like a small...wave? From my head?"

"A small wave of what? Energy?"

"Yeah! It just came out suddenly and went to the spoon, I think."

"Can you feel it right now?"

"Hmm, not really?"

Kusuo is starting to understand. Last night, Kurama's psychic energy came out in a small, uncontrolled burst and affected the spoon. He could relate to that, because he did have power accidents when he was younger. The difference between them, however, is that Kusuo's psychic energy is ridiculously abundant even as a new-born infant, while Kurama's is only emerging now. This would explain why it's easy for Kusuo to use his abilities, and why it's a challenge for the five-year old.

This means that Kurama has to concentrate first in calling upon his psychic energy and learn to control its output and movement.

Good grief, why does Kusuo feel like he's some master about to train a shounen protagonist? It's almost like Kurama's about to undergo some trial and get stronger to conquer an enemy, or something.

"Listen, Kurama. I want you to close your eyes and try to feel for the same energy from last night."

Hah. He really does sound like he's from a manga.

The child takes a breath and closes his eyes, and Kusuo reaches out to gently hold Kurama's hand to activate tactile telepathy, which, for him, is an easier way to connect more deeply with someone's mind.

Through the connection, he could feel the kid searching for any hints of the 'wave,' but Kusuo knew that it would more likely be a few drops instead, especially if he's right about the thing from last night being a sort of release from an accumulation of energy that happened over time.

Ah, there it is. The psychic energy is too little, but it's there and it's enough to have an effect on the physical plane. "There. You feel that? Focus on it."

Kurama nods, keeping his eyes closed.

"You have to remember what it's like, so you could use it whenever. Then, try to take a small amount. Control it, and bring it forward until you can release it on the sachet."

It takes several attempts before any progress happens.

Kusuo squeezes his child's hand encouragingly as Kurama once again tries to bring forward the energy.

Almost…there…

Kurama opens his eyes and his gaze darts to the sachet just as the energy escapes him.

The coffee stick packet shifts to the right by a few millimeters.

It didn't float, but it moved. It moved.

Kusuo and Kurama turn to at each other silently.

"I…I did it," the kid gasps, and his hands starts shaking slightly. His big, blue eyes are bright with excitement. "I did it, Papa!"

Kusuo smiles and ruffles the boy's hair. "You did! I'm so proud of you. Congratulations."

Kurama giggles and stretches out his hands, asking for a hug. Kusuo picks him up and raises him in the air for a few seconds, making Kurama squeal in laughter, before he settles the kid in his arms.

"My, it sure is lively here!"

They look at the entrance of the kitchen, and Kokomi is there. Her baby blue pajamas are ruffled and she has bed hair, but her face looks bright and fresh.

"Mama!"

Kokomi approaches them and embraces Kusuo, trapping Kurama in a hug sandwich. "Good morning, Kura-chan!" She kisses the kid on the cheek, then turns to him. "Good morning, Papa!" She smiles, and closes her eyes as Kusuo leans down to give her a peck.

When she looks at them again, she has a curious expression. "So, what's gotten you two so excited?"

Kurama beams, "Mama! I used my powers! The coffee stick moved!"

Kokomi glances at the empty sachet on the counter, and Kusuo hears her mentally recalling last night's events, and how their son turned out to be a psychic, after all, before she grins. "You did!? That's amazing!"

"Yeah! I'll show you!"

Kokomi steps back as Kurama seems to concentrate. A few seconds of silence passed, but the object stayed still. Kurama pouts, "It doesn't work again."

Kusuo puts his kid down on the floor. "Don't worry too much about it. You just have to practice some more."

Kokomi nods, "You'll get used to it in no time! You can do it!"

The boy's eyes brightens. "Really!? Then, can I please practice some more now?"

Kusuo grabs the coffee stick and the half-empty cup of milk and gives them to Kurama. "Go ahead. Stay in the living room until breakfast is ready. Just don't strain yourself, okay? And finish your milk."

Kurama nods eagerly and thanks them before hurrying out of the room.

"He's so excited. How cute!" Kokomi giggles when the five-year old is out of earshot. But her smile fades, and her expression becomes a bit more somber as she turns to him. "He'll be okay, right?"

"Yes." He leans against the counter and crosses his arms. "His psychic energy is still very low right now. However, if it accumulates, it bursts out because his body isn't fit to contain it. That's why he has to practice a lot. It'll help his body get used to the power, and it will adjust to accommodate his growing energy."

He pauses for a moment before sighing, his hands dropping to his sides, "I just hope his abilities stay moderate, and that he'll have no need for limiters. I don't want him to have a hard time." Like he does, are the unspoken words. He definitely wouldn't want Kurama to experience something like uncontrollable telepathy.

It could drive someone into madness.

"Kusuo…" His wife wraps her arms around his torso and leans her head on his chest. "Whatever happens, we'll be there for him."

He hugs her back and hums in response.

End Notes:

Did Kurama get chicken nuggets and ice cream? Yes.

So, yeah, Kurama's a new psychic and he'll need a lot of practice. I am so excited to post chapter 3! But it's not done yet. Only around 60% wahaha but I hope I can finish by weekend!

Thank you so much for reading!