Saiki Kuusuke afforded himself a rare moment of introspection in between his various schemes to bend the world to his will. He was a genius, the smartest person alive to be sure. A device to end the world himself or a device to make all the monkeys dance until they all killed each other was well within his grasp. Baboons, that is all the people of the world were to him; insignificant dust specks that were stayed by their facile concepts of "morality" and "kindness" underpinned by the less savory "self-righteousness" and "ego" that represented their true desires. He was no better, but at least he was well aware of his myopic obsession with the one thing he actually spared any thought for: defeating his brother, Saiki Kusuo.
For all his genius, he was as insignificant to Kusuo as the rest of the world was to him. Someone who looked down on him with such disdain, someone who could defy common sense at a whim, THAT is what kept him going. It ignited a fire in his belly (and his loins) to be the most competent person in the world rendered completely obsolete by his cute little brother no less. A true genius, Kusuo was the brother that should be renowned the world over were it not for that same silly concept of morality that the pond scum were enslaved by. Anything that he could do was completely inconsequential in comparison, yet he held all the awards and praise of the baboons. He had to cast aside the odious dogma Kusuo somehow managed to become ensnared by as he needed every advantage he could get to reach his ultimate goal.
No matter how hard he tried, he was defeated by Kusuo at every turn. He allowed Kusuo a moment of reprieve after the reemergence of his powers, as Kusuo was not at full strength. Kuusuke needed time to process the mind-blowing elation of discovering that once again, despite his best efforts, Kusuo was able to defeat his greatest creation without even having to actively do anything.
You may ask: why did he not sabotage the device with an extremely petty design that did not even attempt to conceal his disdain for Kusuo's decision to eliminate his powers? Simple, really. The only people he truly cared for in this world were his three family members. Where the ring box he delivered the power eraser in would normally signify new beginnings instead marked the end of old wounds. Kuusuke genuinely cared about his baby brother enough that he allowed Kusuo to let down his walls and become vulnerable, surrendering his ability to compete with his doting older brother.
Kuusuke would not have attempted to compete with his brother anymore as it would not have been worthwhile to defeat the psychic equivalent of a quadraplegic. Kusuo eliminated his powers despite the fact that he knew Kuusuke could end the world if he got bored enough. Why?
Kuusuke had lived his entire life living in his younger brother's shadow; he was even relegated to a support character in this series, a passing footnote as an object of disdain for the main character.
In his brief moment at the apex of creation, all he felt was… empty. His entire life had moved toward this single goal. He essentially invented his degree and single handedly progressed his field light years beyond what anyone thought possible in his 19 years of life all in pursuit of his objective. He had done all of this only to have the rug pulled out from under him at the very last moment. He didn't have time to dwell on his predicament anymore as he heard a familiar soft wind gust behind him exactly as expected.
"Oh, Kusuo, so you're here about the government? Don't worry, I've already got it covered! I just so happened to be modifying the cannon from the cat tank to be able to increase its power output, curve its shots, and appear very similar to the energy given off by your fast flight! Isn't that nifty? Of course, I already knew the meteorite was coming and planned accordingly. Those gormless spooks didn't even ask why the beam didn't come from London. On another note, I am beyond flattered that you came to ask me for help! I guess you could have used your mind control, but what fun would that have been?" Kuusuke replied with a cute wink.
Kusuo's face set into a scowl. Of course, Kuusuke couldn't actually hear him due to the telepathy blocker; but he had a good idea of what was supposed to come out.
"Blah blah blah annoying blah blah blah yare yare blah blah blah."
Just kidding.
"I don't really care what you think about my methods. Is the government still suspicious?" Kusuo said with a raised eyebrow, but with a furrowed forehead that indicated his tension from the prospect of talking to Kuusuke. Don't worry, little brother, your big brother surely will not needle you today!
"The government still is a bit suspicious, but I've already taken care of it for you. The hubbub should die down in a few days. I'm just so glad my little brother is whole again! I look forward to our next competition." Kuusuke settled back in his chair, arching his folded hands supported by his elbows on the arms of the chair. He looked strikingly similar to another controversial mastermind. If only he were wearing glasses and gloves and kept a boorish chinstrap beard.
"Fat chance you'll win," Kusuo said with a delightfully petulant scowl, though he kept his arms relaxed by his side to help prevent Kuusuke's overly analytical antics, or as Kusuo would call them, overly assumptive.
"I just can't wait for you to see what I have in store for you! I used the data from our last bout to formulate an even more engaging challenge, though the time is not right now. On an unrelated note, you seem to be spending an awful lot of time with that self-important, egotistical blue nuisance," Kuusuke explained excitedly, but transitioned to a feigned smile modulated with a low seethe as he transitioned to his disdain for the hauteur of the blue baboon.
"Self-important and egotistical are essentially the same thing," Kusuo said flatly, his face indicating that he was close to his limit for Kuusuke's dastardly wiles. Was that a hint of aggression, though? Interesting. He hadn't seen a facial expression quite like that before. He needed more data.
"I really just wanted to demonstrate how much I dislike her!" Kuusuke said as he leaned forward in his chair with open mouthed excitement.
"You really didn't have to do that," Kusuo expressed, his face one of aggravated dissapointment. However, Kuusuke had gotten the data he wanted from Kusuo, try as he might to conceal his emotions. That was aggression without a shadow of a doubt. He knew for some time but it was absolutely wonderful to see in person.
"I already said she was no good for you; but, of course, you always do the exact opposite of what I say. I believe talking about it only makes it worse, so I'll keep quiet about that for now," Kuusuke relented as he reclined back into his chair. He had gotten more than enough data from this brief interaction. Kusuo would be gone in about a minute or so. Kusuo probably wanted to change the subject at this point anyway, and when he did, he would usually respond...
"You should stop talking in general. "
Kuusuke heartily laughed.
"Silly me, I guess I walked into that one! Although, I can't say I hate it; I'm always ready to take more abuse!" Kuusuke made sure to project a twinkle in his eye as he leaned toward Kusuo with open-mouthed excitement, simply unable to help himself from eliciting his baby brother's ire. Kusuo recoiled, disgusted by Kuusuke's provocation. Kusuo realized too late he had walked into the mad scientist's trap, so he changed his expression to a nondescript scowl to prevent Kuusuke from extracting any more pleasure from his discomfort. Unfortunately for him, Kuusuke had already gotten more than his fill and postured up in his chair, ready for his next move.
"'How do I always manage to make you regret coming to see me?' is probably what you're thinking right now," Kuusuke said with practiced ennui as he leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head.
Kusuo scowled and snapped his head to the side. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...
"See you soon!" Kuusuke said just before waving his darling brother out.
Of course he already knew what was going on, Saiki groused.
Saiki had been periodically perusing the news to ensure that he was aware of any developments regarding the sudden disappearance of the meteorite. The news was quite sensational at first. "Unknown hero destroys meteorite; government scrambles for answers," the headlines read. The most powerful weapons in the world would have caused unprecedented destruction to the local population. Many in Japan were understandably extremely hesitant to even consider using them, but they were not about to go down without a fight. However, the meteorite had disappeared without even so much as an explosion let alone the catastrophic EMP and fallout.
Hero.
That word echoed through his mind more often than he liked. He didn't want to be one and yet he saved the world again exactly how Superman would have: with no casualties and the general population's adulation. He still didn't really understand why he didn't want to be a hero in many ways. In anime and manga it usually worked out for the mysteriously powerful main character with a little deus ex machina.
The rumors of a potential investigation had reached a fever pitch, so Saiki became concerned about potential discovery. Luckily the government was already aware of that guy and had visited him before the media ever caught wind of it. Saiki would never admit it, but that guy was certainly reliable in a pinch. What exactly he sought to gain was unclear as his personality could only be described as chaotic. Neither of them wanted to be a hero, yet he took it upon himself to absorb the brunt of the unwanted attention. Why?
Saiki did not have more thought to spare toward his brother as he had some other loose ends to tie up. He caught wind that Toritsuka had roped himself into more trouble and dragged Kaidou and Yumehara with him.
"Hey, Saiki! One of the members of the occult club is in big trouble for reasons that are not at all related to me! Please come bail the chihuahua out so that girls will actually want to join my club pleeeeease!"
Kaidou had discovered Toritsuka's prurient magazine in his desk during the week and got in trouble for it at school. Toritsuka had accidentally stuffed it in Kaidou's desk while he was rushing to see gyaru Teruhashi/Aiura. Saiki had gotten the teachers and their immediate circle off of Kaidou's back, but news still spread to other parts of the school. Some girls were lambasting him about the incident on a city sidewalk as Toritsuka happened to walk by while Saiki and Yumehara observed from a distance. It seemed Yumehara's stalking habit had come to her aid here.
"I would have expected this from Pervitsuka; but not someone like you, Kaidou! Shame on you!" A heckler pointed at Kaidou in a very accusatory manner.
"B-b-but this is all just a big misunderstanding! The teachers figured out I didn't do anything wrong so that should be enough, right?" Kaidou said as he flailed his hands ineffectually, unraveling the bandages that contained Black Beat.
Wrong.
"Well, you may have been saved from judgment by the teachers, but you'll never be safe from the Court of Public Opinion!" The girls said, faltering a little bit; but still more than willing to press the attack.
Toritsuka attempted to cut in, "Please, please girls! It must have been that dastardly Nendou *crack* I mean I have no idea where it came from! As the president of the occult club I will not allow one of my members to be slandered like this! If you join up with us, we can show you how virtuous we can be…"
An orange blur flew past Kaidou, creating a cliché breeze that ruffled his hair. Yumehara suddenly stood between Kaidou and his accusers, her arms and legs splayed out in a defensive position.
"Kaidou would never do something like this! As a girl, I know Kaidou is completely harmle-I mean a morally upstanding guy! Think, have you ever known him to do something like this or act crudely toward women?" Yumehara challenged with a look equal parts determined and aggressive, like a lioness protecting her cub.
"Well, no. But he could harbor deeply depraved desires that have only been discovered right now!" the hecklers replied emphatically.
"That could be true, but why not give him the benefit of the doubt? It has only happened once and you need at least 2 points to make a line! Besides, what's the point in spending the energy to be angry at someone? Wouldn't it be better spent being happy? " Yumehara deflected.
Yumehara had apparently been struggling with math recently.
"Well, I mean, being angry is kinda the thing to do nowadays…" the hecklers faltered.
"Then be the change you want to see in the world! Would you want someone to think badly of you from a misunderstanding?" Yumehara proudly exclaimed, standing tall with her balled fists placed on her hips.
"No, I guess not…" the girls grumbled, defeated by Yumehara's tenacity and misdirection. They exchanged a few more inconsequential words, and the hecklers left with downtrodden looks, not even daring to look Yumehara in the eye on the way out.
Kaidou's face was flushed bright red following the girls' flight from the scene.
"My hero…"
Stop being so dramatic. I guess I really didn't have to do anything at all this time.
"Ow, Saiki, what the heck was that about?" Toritsuka inserted his unwanted dialogue again.
You already dragged two people into your mess. Bold of you to attempt to add a third.
"But I did a good thing, right? I called you to help someone else!"
You did do that, but you also tried to deflect blame onto someone else and use the situation to advance your own ends. Your score is -1.
"Oh, come on! Can't I catch a break?"
One day I'll make a monk out of you.
"You're so lame…"
Saiki tuned Toritsuka out as something infinitely more interesting was happening outside of their minds.
"Uh… T-t-thanks, C-chiyo," Kaidou said as he unsuccessfully attempted to re-wrap his bandages with his trembling hand.
Yumehara smiled brightly and said, "It's no problem, Kaidou-kun! That's what friends are for, right? I know you wouldn't do something like that! Besides, you've done the same for me in the past!"
Kaidou's face burned bright red and steam comically erupted from his ears to relieve the pressure inside of his head. He scratched the back of his head nervously as if he were trying to open a third valve.
"Uhhhh yeah it's uh no problem… It sure was a great coincidence that you happened to be in the area right as that was happening, how did that …" Kaidou blurted out.
Yumehara's face blanched and her eyes glazed over momentarily, but she recovered quickly enough to misdirect.
"I, uh, think the better question is h-how did that magazine get there in the first place?" Yumehara stammered while unsuccessfully forcing a laugh.
"Well I'm glad the situation resolved itself, with that I will take my leave as I have important spirit medium business to attend to," Toritsuka said as he turned heel and sprinted out as fast as his sandals would allow him. He got a bit of distance until a banana suddenly appeared under his foot resulting in Toritsuka's face kissing the pavement. He swore at Saiki, but then booked it again when he realized that his tormentor could still hear him.
In the commotion Yumehara had also vanished without a trace, leaving Kaidou dumbfounded. Saiki, realizing that his intervention was no longer needed, teleported home as well, leaving Kaidou alone to reflect on the confusing turn of events.