This is Lotus
This is Saiki
~Thoughts of others~
The Yamaguchi's - The Odd Couple
Saiki was just enjoying a casual evening out alone. Being home was nice–and quite possibly one of the psychics' most favorite past times–but even he needed some alone time out and about every once in a while. He casually strolled down the street, doing his best to blend in with the crowd.
"Well, if it ain't mister pinky!"
"Mister Pinky?"
Saiki turned around, spotting the mother of his newly established girlfriend, Camellia. The woman sported a broad smile, her hands tucked into the pockets of her pants.
"Sup. Where you headed, my boy?" Camellia asked
"Nowhere."
"Ha!" Camellia laughed, throwing her head back. "I like you, kid. I myself am heading to the store. Violet said it wasn't that far, the girl must not have given clear directions because I can't find the place."
"Or you're just bad with directions."
"Hey, Why don't you show this lady here how to get there?" Camellia said
"I'd rather not."
"Lotus said you were a sweets-loving kind of guy right? I myself don't get it, I prefer spicy food. Takumi on the other hand is the one who loves the sweets, a trait that he passed on to Lotus," Camellia said
"Why are you telling me all this?"
"Hmm…" Camellia looked at her nails with a sly smirk. "To make a long story short, you show me to the store and I might buy some extra ingredients and have Lotus whip up something sweet and delicious for you," She said
The woman smirked as Saiki started booking it down the street.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
Saiki accompanied the directionally challenged woman all the way to the store. He spent the majority of the trip preventing her from walking in the wrong direction multiple times. It didn't end when they reached the store either. Camellia had miraculously gotten lost trying to find her way from the vegetable aisle to the frozen foods section.
"She's not directionally challenged, she's straight-up inept."
After having Saiki guide the woman like a lost puppy all across the store, Camellia had everything she needed.
"Alright, I got all I need. I'll just go out to the front and check out. You can wait for me out front if you like," Camellia said
Saiki did not have to be told twice, the pink-haired boy making his way out the front doors of the store. As Camellia was rung up, Saiki waited patiently just standing a foot or two beside the store's automatic doors.
"Hey."
"Oh great."
Saiki knew who was approaching him, so there was no need for the psychic to turn around. Approaching him were two less reputable young men. From the looks of it, they were college-aged, possibly freshmen. They were dressed like they were still in their high school delinquent phase switching out school uniforms for button-down shirts (that had the top two buttons undone), slacks, with open blazers. Each of them sports gaudy accessories, including one too many gold chains.
"Maybe if I just ignore them they'll go away."
The duo, in fact, did not leave Saiki alone but decided to crowd the young psychic boxing him in so he reminded pressed up against the wall of the storefront.
"Hey, there pal. You gonna ignore us?"
"Yeah pal, that's not nice you know."
"I knew thinking they'd just go away was hoping for too much."
"I think you're hurting our feelings. You gotta pay up for that. Might need some therapy sessions to recover."
Saiki was not expecting, nor wanted, to be a part of a shakedown. Especially not from two individuals who were clearly older than him and should be long past their bullying phase.
"Guess some people never grow up."
As the second-rate shakedown began Camellia was stepping out of the store, groceries in hand.
"Now, where's that boy?"
She looked left then right and easily spotted the mop of pink hair but found that he was not alone.
"Extortion, huh? Haven't seen something like that in a while," Camellia said with a hint of amusement lacing her words.
She set down her bags, before calmly making her way over to the three males.
"Hey! I suggest you leave that kid alone."
The two delinquents turned around and froze when they saw Camellia, or rather what the woman held. Clutched tightly in the furious womans' hands was a pickaxe.
"Why do you have that?"
"Let him go….or face my wrath."
"You hag, you're just bluffing-!"
The young punk's words halted as something flew by his head. He, along with his friend, were still for a moment before they turned to look at the wall. Dug deep into the brick siding other store was Camellia's pickax.
Camellia stood in a throwing position, eyes closed with a pleasant smile on her face. Though despite the smile the aura of a furious beast raged behind her, like a looming shadow.
"What were you saying?" She questioned pulling out a second pickax.
"Where are you getting those from?"
Camellia's smile reminded as she lightly tapped the handle of her weapon in one hand. "I'll give you two till the count of three to scram, or this time I won't purposely miss. 1….3!"
She raised her weapons and the two delinquents screamed, running away with their tails tucked between their legs. When they were out of sight Camellia lowered her arms a burst of laughter leaving her lips.
"Those little babies! Thinking they're tough. Let's see them pick a fight with a real man."
"You're a woman."
Camellia smiled sliding her pickaxe over her shoulder before placing a hand on Saiki's shoulder.
"Man, kid, I really like you. Standing your ground, and not showing any fear, that takes guts. You're good in my books. My daughter sure knows how to pick 'em'."
"Lotus, honey, perfect timing. I just got home!"
Lotus blinked confused, having walked into a rather odd scene in her home. She had just stepped into the kitchen–ready to prepare dinner–and found her mother along with her boyfriend. Camellia was putting away groceries with the aid of Saiki.
"Uh….What's going on here?" Lotus asked
"Ran into your boy here on my way to the store. He helped me out, I rescued him from a bunch of wannabe punks, you know the norm," Camellia said
"Uh, what?" Lotus said
"Okay, Lotus, I got dark chocolate, heavy cream, and cocoa powder. What can you make with this?" Camellia asked
"Uh, what?" Lotus questioned
Only a day had gone by, and Saiki found himself walking down the street passing by the local playground.
"Hey, Cyborg Cider-man No. 2! It's you!"
"Oh, brother."
Saiki paused his stroll turning to look into the playground. It was a standard play area, swings, jungle gym, slides, those weird animal seesaws on a large spring that if you rocked too far back on you'd be launched off. The park also had one large tree in it, and it was occupied by a familiar boy.
"Yoohoo! Cyborg Cider-man No. 2! Hey!"
Yuuta waved his hands from his place in the tree. The young boy perched on a branch like some sort of cat.
"Yuuta, you little idiot! Hold onto the tree! If you fall, Mom will kill me!" Kisho shouted from his spot at the base of the tree.
Kisho turned to the park's entrance and spotted Saiki. He sent the psychic a withering glare, and mind-reading was not necessary to figure out what the boy was thinking.
He turned his attention back to the tree gazing up at his little brother.
"Yuuta! Get down!" Kisho shouted
"Okay!" Yuuta said
The little boy looked around the large limb he was on, but then paused. His cheerful expression turned to one of fear and he broke out in tears.
"Ahhhh! I can't get down!" Yuuta cried
"What?!" Kisho exclaimed
"Then why did you climb up in the first place?"
"Waaaahhhh! Kisho help me! Cyborg Cider-man No. 2, please you need to rescue me! Use your soda jump to save me!" Yuuta said
"I'll just leave this to the professionals. The fire department shouldn't take too long."
Saiki attempted to walk away but the back of his shirt was grabbed.
"You…" Kisho held onto Saiki digging his heels into the ground to prevent the teen from moving. "You help my brother or…or I'll scream real loud!"
"Your brother's already doing enough of that."
"Help us!" Kisho said, tugging more on Saiki's clothes.
Saiki withheld a sigh glancing over his shoulder looking at the boy.
Kisho was frowning, biting his bottom lip, and a few stray tears were starting to gather at the corners of his eyes.
"Yare Yare Daze."
"Oh, Saiki-kun is that you?"
Both Saiki and Kisho turned around, a large hulking figure looming over them. The angle at which they stood casting a shadow, obscuring their face.
"Ahhh! A monster!" Kisho shouted, running behind Saiki and using him as a human shield.
The figure moved, revealing themselves to be Takumi. He saw Kisho and gave the younger kid a polite smile.
"Hello there."
"~Why the heck is this guy so tall?!~"
"Aaaahhhh!"
Yuuta's crying grew louder, echoing throughout the playground.
"Oh, is he stuck?" Takumi questioned
"Yup."
Takumi made his way into the park, walking over to the tree. Yuuta, eyes filled with tears, carried on crying, unaware of the man standing beneath him.
"Huh?"
The young boy's loud cries were paused as two large hands grabbed his waist and lifted him off the large tree limb he was sitting on.
"There we go," Takumi said as he set Yuuta on the ground.
Yuuta stifled his cries, rubbing his eyes to wipe away the remaining tears. When his vision was clear, he looked up at Takumi.
"Wow! You're huge!" Yuuta said
"Um…Thank you," Takumi said
"You just like a tree!" Yuuta said
"Thank you?" Takumi said
Yuuta continued to talk the man's head off, Saiki and Kisho watching just a few feet away.
Once again Lotus walked into her home greeted by an odd sight.
"Hello, Lotus, welcome home." Takumi greeted
The large man was standing next to one of the kitchen counters, a mixing bowl in hand. His head was covered by a white bandana, and he had one of Lotus's aprons tied on. Takumi held a spoon, mixing the contents of the bowl he held.
Only a few feet away sat not only Saiki but Yuuta and Kisho as well, each one with a drink in hand.
"Uh…" Lotus said
"I'm making macarons. Would you like to help me?" Takumi asked
"Uh…sure?" Lotus said
She grabbed a light pink apron that was rimmed with white lace. As she tied it on, Lotus looked at Saiki.
"Um…How did this—"
"It's a long story."