Guest - When I get to Halloween her costume will definitely relate to her love for Manga.

Guest - Yeah, I had a feeling they were wrong. I speak no Italian. Luckily I do have an Italian reader who fixed it for me. So that chapter will be fixed later.

Guest - Once I get more inspiration I'll update that story.

hellspam - We will see. Just wait till the movie theater episode.

suntan140 - I cannot reveal that yet, but it'll be shown in a few more chapters.

This is Lotus

This is Saiki

This is Saiki and Lotus

~This is the thoughts of others~

The Fortune Teller - Scratch That, Its a Misfortune Teller!

Lotus was in class once again her nose dug in a manga, one that she already re-read several times before. She hadn't been able to purchase any of the newest issues yet.

Despite not having her new Jump Lotus was in a rather sprightly mood today. Yesterday she had witnessed a very selfless act committed by one Saiki Kusuo. He gave up his coffee Jelly, something he truly loves, in order to help a little boy get back his autographed baseball.

After Saiki left she overheard the little boy talking to his older sister wanting to thank the pink haired teen for getting back his rare baseball. That's where Lotus stepped in. She introduced herself as a friend of Saiki's and suggested buying him some coffee jelly as thanks. The sibling's appreciated Lotus's help and got the Jello delivering it to Saiki's home.

Lotus smiled thinking about the happy look Saiki must have had when he received the gift. Now could she have told Saiki that it was her idea for the little boy to gift him with the special confectionary.

Yes, she could. But she'd rather keep it her little secret.

With a smile, Lotus tried to maintain her focus on her manga but it was kinda hard with all the chatter going on around the class, plus the added on chatter from people's thoughts.

"What! You went to the house of fortune telling Chiyo?" A girl asked

Chiyo smiled nodding her head. "It was amazing. They told me I'd finally be able to break up with Takeru and find a new boyfriend."

At that moment Takeru and his friend were standing outside the class having a conversation in the hallway.

"Takeru you've been to the house of fortune telling?"

"Yeah, it was great. They said me and Chiyo would get back together and find happiness," Takeru said

Lotus sweatdropped hearing that.

"Well, both fortunes can't be true."

Kaidou walked up standing before Lotus and Saiki. "How naive fortune telling is a ridiculous fantasy concocted by false prophets trying to prey on the weak-minded."

"Wow, for once you and I finally agree on something."

"Is it just me, or does Kaidou sound really smart when he talks like this?"

"Anyway forget about that. There's more important things happening come with me after school." Kaidou said

"The way you said that can be taken the wrong way."

"Haven't you noticed there's a dark aura surrounding me and dark reunion is behind it…."

Kaidou continued to talk, but he was tuned out as Saiki's thoughts ran through Lotus's head.

"That's just a ridiculous fantasy you concocted. Don't you have anyone else you can ask to go with you?"

A dejected Kaidou walked away but the empty space he left was quickly filled with Nendou sliding in.

"Buddies! Did you hear about the new telling of fortunes hut?" Nendou asked

"Wrong name Nendou," Lotus said

"It's called the house of fortune telling and I'm sick of hearing about it."

"I heard they sell Jump before street date at the shop next to it," Nendou said

"They shouldn't do that."

Hearing the words Jump Lotus's head snapped around quickly. "Did someone say Jump?"

At the chance of getting the newest print of the newest Jump Lotus was eager to make her way to the shop in hopes to snag a copy.

"Thanks for walking with me to the bookstore Saiki," Lotus smiled

"I'm not we just simply happen to be going in the same direction," Was Saiki's response

Lotus giggled knowing his words were not true, yes walking this way would get him home, but it as a longer route. So Saiki was indeed going out of his way to walk with Lotus.

"Actions speak louder than words. I think that's one of the things I find so interesting about Saiki. His actions always speak for his kind heart."

On the way there the two teens spotted a long line forming outside a shop.

"So that's the House of Fortune Telling?"

A girl came running out the doors running over to her friends gushing about how her fortune said some boys' destiny would be entwined with hers.

"Well, as long as it makes them happy I guess that's all that matters."

Saiki turned to Lotus who had a sour look on her face.

"That's a new look."

"I can't stand con-artists like this. Playing with people's feelings to get a quick buck. They don't know the real damage that they can inflict on a person's life." Lotus clicked her tongue. "Makes me sick."

"You sure feel strongly about this."

"Can you read the future?" Lotus asked Saiki.

"No," Saiki answered

"Then neither can that so-called fortune-teller. Until you can do it or I see definitive proof I refuse to acknowledge a person like that."

"Well, now she's in a bad mood." Saiki sighed. "Let's go get you your manga."

"Yes, manga will make me feel better!" Lotus stated a bit too loud.

As the two were about to walk away Saiki spotted a familiar figure.

"Kaidou? What's he doing here?"

"~I don't care about fortune telling but if this person really is a prophet it's possible that Dark Reunion would target them.~" Kaidou thought

"I don't care about his reasoning but this fortune telling seems suspicious."

"Of course it is. Clearly, the only person in that house of fortune is a lying snake con artist." Lotus growled out.

Another girl came running out of the shop squealing about a boy was going to be hers, the very same boy the previous girl had been foretold would be hers.

"That guy's got two girlfriends now."

"Saiki! Kaidou's going in, we have to save him from that liar's money hungry paws." Lotus said

"Wow, you really feel strongly about this. Well were here already might as well check it out. Hold onto my shoulder."

Lotus grabbed Saiki's shoulder, and he started to go invisible. The power spread to Lotus and within seconds the teens were gone.

Lotus and Saiki, both invisible, followed Kaidou inside the shop.

A woman sat in the in middle of the room at a table, dressed in what one would imagine a stereotypical gypsy would be wearing. In the center of the table was a crystal ball. The lights had been dimmed with a few lit candles hung around the room.

"Welcome to the House of Fortune Telling." The woman greeted

Kaidou took off his disguise. "Whoa!"

"This place is so cliche."

"I'm Mikkio Clairvoyance. Nice to meet you."

"Even her name is sketchy."

"I know she's not even trying with that name."

"On what matter would you like advice for today?" Mikkio asked Kaidou.

Kaidou sat down across from Mikkio. "~Seems kind of shady maybe she is a normal person after all.~" He thought

"Looks like he's not impressed either."

"Is good to know that someone smells the fishiness of this."

"Oh my," Mikkio gasped. "I'm getting a very special aura from you."

Kaidou gasped jumping up.

"Your no ordinary boy are you? I'm sensing you have special powers." Mikkio said

"~This woman is the real deal!~" Kaidou thought

"He's hopeless."

"And since he acted like that she sees right through him."

As Kaidou all but gushed Mikkio smirked a sly smile resting on her painted lips.

"~So he's got a hero complex. This will be almost too easy.~" Mikkio thought

Lotus felt her brow twitch as she clenched a fist at the so-called Fortune Teller's words.

"I'm picking up that there's something troubling you, that right?" Mikkio asked

"How did you know?!"

"People without troubles don't come to places like this."

"Ha, let me tell you what it is. A romantic delima...is, not the problem. Concerns about school or your future is not troubling you….but relationships with your friends-"

Kaidou shouted shocked.

"Yes, I'm getting a strong sense that your distress has something to do with friendship," Mikkio stated

"How did you know!"

"You make it too easy."

"This is place is so fake it's painful."

"Yeah, your right. That is the absolute source of my distress. You see I secretly super powerful…"

"~What is this idiot blabbering about?~" Mikkio thought

"I ask myself that every day?"

"I'm used to fighting evil, but fighting the solitude. It's the hardest part, I have no friends. I mean comrades I can rely on but…."

"~He keeps spouting nonsense but the gist is?~" Mikkio thought

"His problem is he can't make friends."

"You're searching for someone to understand you. Am I right? But that's the wrong approach."

"Huh? She makes some valid points. Guess I misjudged her prematurely."

"Just wait for it."

"This will help too." Mikkio pulled out a tasteless silver necklace.

"What is she giving him?"

"Just listen the true nature of a woman such as herself is about to be revealed."

"This enchanted necklace will change your life," Mikkio said

"No way," Kaidou gasped looking over the necklace.

"If you wear that you'll be able to make friend with over a hundred people. I can sell it to you for 30 thousand yen." Mikkio said

"What it cost how much!" Kaidou shouted

"Seriously? What a scam. Why do I even bother?"

"Will this make Saiki friend too?" Kaidou asked

His words made the two pink heads freeze.

"As long s you wear this necklace this Saiki fellow will greet you every morning with a hey pal!" Mikkio said

"Huh? What Saiki are you talking about it?"

"I'll take it!" Kaidou said

"Kaidou...I never knew he felt this way….and this hag here is just playing with him to get all his money when he has a serious problem!"

Lotus raised her fist hovering it over the Fortune Teller's head like she was going to hit the woman, but Saiki stopped her.

"Come on Saiki! Just one good hit to teach her a lesson!"

"In your angered state plus your psychic powers, one hit could send her to the core of the earth."

Kaidou happily left the shop the expensive worthless necklace in his hand.

Saiki and Lotus stood outside the doors to the room Mikkio waited in.

"Saiki, let's burn this place to the ground," Lotus stated with a serious look.

"That would be a crime. I have a better idea."

Lotus listened to Saiki's thoughts a smirk appearing on her lips at his plans.

"What a moron going on about a shadowy organization. Next in line!" Mikkio said

The doors opened, Saiki walked in alone.

Lotus stood outside the doors to the room listening intently. About a minute passed before Mikkio's scream rang through the room. The Fortune Teller ran, no full on sprinted out of the room and out of the building.

"Whoa…." Lotus looked at Saiki. "What did you do to her?"

Kaidou was holding the new necklace up admiring it.

"Kaidou!"

Kaidou turned around only to be greeted by a panicking Mikkio holding his money.

"Take all your money back! I don't want it!" She shoved the money into Kaidou's hands. "Everything you said was real!" Mikkio turned and took off running.

"What about the necklace?" Kaidou called out.

"Keep it! I bought it at a street fair for five hundred yen!" Mikkio called back.

"What!?" Kaidou shouted

Around the corner stood Saiki and Lotus.

"I don't want him thinking that necklace has the power to make me his friend. He should rely on his own to make friends and not rely on trinkets like that."

Lotus snickered knowing Saiki did the deed because he had a good heart.

Saiki turned to leave only to walk into the Nendou.

"Oh hey, buddies!" Nendou looked back at Kaidou. "And runt too!"

Kaidou gazed amazed staring down at the necklace in his hand. "It worked. This is great."

"Huh?" Nendou said confused

"Another plan ruined because you showed up."

Lotus stepped out from behind the corner she was hiding behind approaching Kaidou.

"Hey, Kaidou!" Lotus greeted walking up to the boy.

"W-Warrior Queen Lotus! You here too?" Kaidou asked

"I got to thinking about that Fortune Telling and what you said earlier got me thinking," Lotus said

"What I said earlier?" Kaidou asked

"Yeah, you said Dark Reunion was up to something right. So obviously if this Fortune Teller was real Dark Reunion would target them and if that were the case then you'd surely come to the rescue to take down Dark Reunion," Lotus said

"Y-Yeah that's right!" Kaidou said

"I'm sure the Jet Black Wings doesn't need help but I came to check and make sure my friend was okay. Even heroes need support from time to time," Lotus said

Kaidou appeared bashful by Lotus's words. "You came to check up on me?"

"Yeah, we're friends right?" Lotus said

Kaidou was stunned staying silent for a minute or two. "Friends? That's right friends."

Saiki observed on the sidelines as Kaidou talked about how the Jet Black Wings needing a sidekick and the Warrior Queen would make a perfect one. Lotus just smiled and chuckled at Kaidou's words enjoying the boys talk.

Saiki realized Lotus was the kind of person who would do anything for those she cared for. It was lucky for that Fortune Teller that he was with her today, or knows what Lotus might have done to that woman.

Lotus spent a great deal of time talking with Kaidou, not that she minded though, she was glad she was able to reassure the boy that they were indeed friends. She made sure to exchange numbers with the boy to solidify their "newly" established friendship.

Her talk with Kaidou lasted even longer when Nendou decided to join in on the conversation too. The whole time though Saiki, even though he had many chances to leave, stuck around, and that's what made Lotus the happiest that afternoon.

Saiki and Lotus were walking home together. Since she spent so much time talking with Kaidou and Nendou she forgot to pick up that manga she wanted, by the time she realized it the shop was closed. The boys, Nendou and Kaidou, both apologized for holding Lotus up from her goal. Lotus just waved it off with her award-winning smile.

"It's alright guys. At least I had fun talking with you. I can always get some manga. But the precious moments I spend with my friends are irreplaceable." Lotus had said

Both Nendou and Kaidou blushed at those words and smile. Was it possible to feel happy but guilty at the same time?

Anyway since she wasn't getting that manga today Lotus walked home with Saiki. During their walk, Saiki questioned what had Lotus so upset about that fake Fortune Telling.

"It's not the fake fortune teller that's really got me angry but what she stood for," Lotus stated

"Stood for?"

"Preying on the fears and insecurities of others. Giving people false hopes. It's what I hate the most. It may be different if that fortune-teller was simply charging people a small fee to make them feel better but as you saw she nearly robbed Kaidou of all his money. Everyone has fears and worries, something that scares them and to exploit that to make money is disgraceful. At first, it may seem harmless but if you go deeper into it such things can cause great harm. Woman getting botched surgery so that they'll feel beautiful, people spending hundreds upon thousands of dollars on schemes like fad diets and pyramid schemes. False hopes and false promises don't make the world better. That's what I mean," Lotus explained

"I see…."

Saiki understood what Lotus meant, especially after what happened to Kaidou.

Saiki's likeability for Lotus got higher!

Lotus giggled lightening the tense situation. "Sorry for being so serious but that's just how I feel."

Saiki stared at Lotus making her nervous as the boy didn't say, or rather, think anything.

The next day at school Lotus got a rather pleasant surprise when she opened her shoe locker. Inside was the manga she was going to purchase yesterday. Lotus smiled happily pulling the book out.

"Awesome! I can't believe someone got this for me! Could it have been Nendou or Kaidou? Did they feel bad that I couldn't get this yesterday? I wasn't trying to guilt trip them or anything. Could it have been..." Lotus giggled thinking it could have been Saiki, but he didn't really seem like the type to give out secret gifts. Lotus shook off the thought and smiled hugging the manga closer to her. "Either way I'm happy!"

Saiki peeked around the corner of the lockers spotting the happy Lotus. He tucked a receipt for one Shounen Jump into his pocket. For him, it was quite easy to get. All he did was teleport to the store the minute the shop reopened bought the manga then teleported to school depositing the book in Lotus's shoe locker. Lotus didn't have to know it was him.

He'd rather keep it his little secret.