"Mob Psycho 100?"
"Oh, like Psycho/Psychic? And 100 like that thing we saw with the numbers?"
"But Mob? Is he in a gang or something?"
Mob stayed quiet.
Kei moved back to the front.
"So that's the first part of the first episode, but I figured that you'd want some enlightenment. The two seasons of this show that are currently released to the general public-just roll with me here and this will be done a lot quicker- are short, so it shouldn't take you that long to complete, but you'll be taking breaks and it's still kind of a lot of television!
"So, the bathrooms are over there-" she gestured to one side of the room with two large doorways- "Please use the one which fits with your gender identity. Food will be stocked on those shelves."
She pointed towards the other side of the room, with shelves of boxes and crates adorning the sides.
"One final thing."
Kei took a breath. Then she launched into motion.
"I'm only showing you Season One, the events of the past. If, when you finish it, you want to come back and watch the future, Season Two, then you will tell me at the end of this season. I will bring you back sometime within the next month."
She grinned, turned with a flourish, and called over her shoulder.
"Take this time to get something to eat and go to the bathroom."
A wave of students stood and moved toward the separate utilities. Mob moved to the bathroom, Ritsu following, as Reigen made his way to the food.
When they met up again, Reigen held an armful of assorted snacks, eating an apple.
Ritsu raised his eyebrows before Reigen threw a granola bar at his face. Lightly, of course.
"Some of it's for you two," he said, placing the food on a nearby coffee table, pulling it closer to them. Teru picked up a plastic-wrapped sandwich.
"Thank you, Shishou."
"So," one student shouts, "Are we going to unpause it?"
Once everyone is settled into a seat, Kei does just that.
A gravestone is displayed. Believe it or not, the world is filled with strange phenomena that science has yet to explain.
"Yeah, no shit sherlock-"
"Language!" Hisses one of the teachers.
Small, blue flames appeared around it. Different horrifying monsters are displayed across the screen.
People- students and teachers alike-jumped back in horror.
And when people come face-to-face with them, they're helplessly thrown into the dark depths of fear.
"Yeah, couldn't imagine why," one student called, and before the teachers could reprimand him, Kei said, "Let them react to it how they want."
But there are those who fight every day- different people appear on-screen from a businessman in a suit to an old man bearing rosaries-
"Like superheroes?"
-To shine a ray of hope into that chaotic darkness. People call them...
Psychics!
"So I was right, it was psycho like psychic!"
"Thank god. I was hoping it wasn't a story about a psychopath living among us."
Kei laughed. "No, nothing like that."
"So who's the kid?"
Her eyes glinted with strange mischief. "You'll see him."
A man with ginger hair pointed at himself extravagantly. "I, Reigen Arataka, shall accept this job!"
The entire room (sans Mob, Ritsu and Reigen himself) started to sweated.
"Um... is... is that him?"
"No."
The blonde client sobbed. "Thank you so much," she said, obviously grateful. "I was at a complete loss because no one would take me seriously!"
"Wait, he's right there!" One girl shouted, pointing at Reigen.
He jumped slightly before waving. "Hello."
"What are you doing here? You're not a student," one of the teachers said.
Before Kei spoke, he said, "If I'm in this show then that makes me important, no?"
"I'm not from this school either," Teru piped up before standing.
"Teru?"
"Actually, I'm from Black Vinegar Middle School," Teru said. "I'm also a psychic."
The Body Improvement Club glared at his back.
"Psychic?" Goda muttered.
Kei unpaused it.
The words Client: Hanako appear. She wipes her eyes with a handkerchief.
"I see, I see," says Reigen. "As for my fees..."
He reached for a file.
"It depends on which exorcism course you take."
"Exorcism... course."
"I exorcise spirits for a living," Reigen muttered. There was no way the student could have heard him, but he stopped talking all the same.
"Course A, the trial course, gets you 20%. Option B, the serious course, gets you 50%, and Option C, the all-out course, gets you a 99% reduction in spirit guaranteed."
"Reduction?"
"Because he can't make it go away completely."
"Ritsu-"
"Well, spirits are kind of like carbon dioxide," Reigen explained.
"They are?"
"Yes, well, that's the kind of space they occupy," he continued, typing. "So it's a bit hard to completely get rid of one."
"So, you're psychic?"
"Yes."
"Cool!"
Reigen hummed, a bead of sweat on his face. Ritsu glared at him.
A sign with "Spirits and Such Consultation Office" is shown. "But have no fear," Riegen said seriously. "If it appears again, I'll take care of it for 20% off!"
"How generous of you."
Reigen wiggled his fingers at the student, who jumped, yelping.
The woman sobbed. "Thank you, Reigen-san!"
"Hold on a second!" Said the man behind her.
"Hm? Who might you be?"
"This is my boyfriend, Taro," Hanako said.
"What a benevolent fellow."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The words Boyfriend: Taro appeared onscreen. He pointed at Reigen. "Listen up, you, this is super shady! Hanako, you should really rethink this!"
"Can't blame him."
"Yep. SUPER shady."
"Hey, I'll have you know that we successfully exorcise spirits-"
"We?"
Reigen cursed mentally, realizing his slip of the tongue. "Yes, myself and-" he glanced at Mob, who nodded quietly- "my disciple."
"Disciple? Is he psychic, too?"
"...Yes."
"What's his name?"
Reigen looked at Mob again and said, "Shigeo."
The student looked disappointed. "Oh."
"This is super shady?" Reigen said forcefully, standing. "I guess I can't blame you for feeling that way," he said, waving a hand.
"I... I don't think that's what he meant."
"I mean, who would believe a stupid story like having nightmares about ghosts?" He moved from behind his desk.
" I wasn't talking about her! I was saying I can't trust you!"
"Well, just leave it to me," Reigen said, closing the blinds. "If I exorcise the spirit, I'm sure Hanako's face will return to normal, too."
"There's nothing wrong with her face!" Taro shouted.
Ritsu snorted at that, covering his mouth hurriedly.
"F."
"Oh, you poor, poor man."
"I see."
They walked down the city street. "So you've been having these dreams ever since you did a test of courage last week."
"Yes. They're so scary and creepy!"
Hanako points. "Reigen-sensei, it's that building over there."
Reigen stopped, eyes going wide. "What an incredible aura! This has got to be the first big one I've had in a while!" He shouts, pointing at a building.
"Sensei, it's that building over there," Hanako says, pointing at the dilapidated building.
Reigen jumped.
"Did he just-?"
"Wait, you just pointed at the wrong building, didn't you?"
"You're a con man, aren't you? You're shady enough to be one."
"I'll have you know that I am a psychic, thank you very much."
"Mmmm... I think not."
"Enough chatting!" Kei said. "You need to keep watching."
Reigen sweated, nervously scratching at the back of his head. "Ah, so it's that one! There's such an immense aura emanating from over there, too. I guess I got the wrong spirit!"
"Cough- con man- cough."
"There are too many evil spirits in this world, you know?"
"I see," Hanako said.
"Please, there's no way there are ghosts everywhere."
"And she ate it up."
"It's so blindingly obvious that he's a fake. So obvious. Clear as day and the only one who catches on is the boyfriend."
"Hey-"
"Oh no!" Reigen shouted. "The man who just walked past you, Taro-san...!" He wiped off his forehead. "What a close shave. That was an evil spirit, too."
Hanako and Taro jumped and slowly turned to look at a man with a large chin.
"The Buttchin Goblin."
"WHAT ARE YOU, EIGHT?"
Several students burst into laughter.
"Mood."
"He acts like an eight-year-old."
"I do not!" Reigen snapped
"You do," said Ritsu sharply. "Now watch."
"Hey, Taro, that's rude!" Hanako said, pushing him.
"What? He's the one being rude to that man!" He protested.
Reigen put a hand in front of both their faces.
"Okay, yeah, rude."
"I still don't understand why he's important."
He gave them an anime-girl grin.
"I'm sorry, the fuc-?"
"Anyway, shall we go?"
This bastard!
The building is wrecked. The inside is an absolute mess. Comics and books are strewn all over the floors.
"They say this place is haunted by the spirit of a man who saw a cockroach and jumped so high his head went through the ceiling and he died."
Reigen searched around suspiciously. Hanako trembled as Taro said, "I don't know how you actually believe that."
"I see."
What? Taro thought. He suddenly looks all serious...
Reigen looked around a pillar, nervous. "So that's what's going on here... Could there really be... If worst comes to worst, even I may not be able to handle it," he whispered, beads of sweat rolling down his face.
"This is too dangerous!" Hanako said, hiding behind Taro. Reigen slaps a hand over his mouth.
Cockroaches are terrifying!
"There is no way in hell this guy is a freaking psychic. It's just not possible."
"He's a fake."
26. 27. 28.
"Shishou isn't a fake," Mob said, perhaps a little more forcefully than necessary.
"Hm?" The closer students looked at him.
Reigen fought down a smile. Thanks, Mob. A flash of guilt rose in his chest for deceiving him- his innocence was easy to take advantage of and Reigen was doing exactly that-
He shoved it away with difficulty.
"No way this guy is a psychic. He's a total fake!"
A giant beast, humanoid, formed behind them. Taro turned, terrified, to face large red eyes.
"Shi-!"
"Want me to haunt your dreams, too?"
"oH GOD WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?"
"A spirit," Reigen replied, smirking. "Successfully exorcised, I should add."
Students started to look impressed and Reigen's ego inflated like a balloon.
"A GHOST!"
"Yeah, no fucking shit!"
"Watch your language!" Hissed one of the teachers.
The beast stood up to reveal a normal-looking man with curly green hair.
Evil Spirit: Ceiling Crasher.
"That's..."
"Not scary? Yeah."
"Honestly, I could exorcise that thing," one student quipped.
Tome stared at the screen. "A real evil spirit," she muttered.
"President?"
"Nothing."
"Want me to crash you through the ceiling with my curse?" He said, pointing at them.
Hanako screamed, hysterically shaking Taro. "That's him! That's the guy who keeps head-butting me in my dreams!"
"Yeah, terrifying," someone said dryly.
Reigen turned. I can't believe he actually appeared! "I got this!"
Points for bravery, Ritsu thought, although his lip curled.
"SALT SPLASH!" He shouted as salt sprayed around him. The image froze, Salt Splash appearing on-screen.
This is one of Reigen's special moves where he violently throws table salt everywhere.
"Hey, question?"
"Hm?" Reigen said.
"What the hell kind of special move is that?"
"I will have you know," Reigen said, drawing himself up, "That-"
"OH MY GOD WILL EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP."
The ghost hovered there, covered in salt. "This is just table salt you can buy in stores."
"I-IMPOSSIBLE! NO ONE CAN JUST DEFLECT THE SALT SPLASH!"
Reigen sweated.
"It has to be purified salt or it won't work."
Reigen dropped his bag of salt. Hanako and Taro flinched. Impossible! Reigen thought, sweat running down his face. Did I only imagine spirits are weak against salt?
"Well, if salt couldn't melt it, then I have to call my secret weapon."
"What's that? A bag of Himalayan salt?"
The joke was weak and didn't land.
He flipsped his phone open.
A boy in an alleyway, back turned, answered the phone.
The students leaned forward in their seats.
"Mob? Sorry, can you come by?"
Mob.
The person from the intro, so that was his name?
"What kind of name is Mob?"
Tsubomi's eyes widened slightly. Mob.
She had expected it, but still-
"No, seriously, there's an evil spirit. Yeah, the client and the evil spirit are both waiting, so hurry up, okay? Thanks."
"Your secret weapon... Is a middle-school kid?" Said one of the teachers.
Reigen stiffened, sweating.
"...Maybe."
"Is that not, like... against the law...?"
"It's not. I checked."
"That makes it shadier."
Someone moved out of the darkness, glowing with a blue aura. He had a school bag in one hand.
He walked through the doorway.
"Ah, Mob. We were waiting for you."
Silence. Then someone said, "That's him? I've seen that kid before."
The quiet turned to an uproar.
"That's the guy from the intro? HOW?"
"I-" one teacher put his head in his hands. "I don't know what's happening anymore."
"His hair looked different, too!"
"I could have sworn he was taller-"
"Hey, that's him!"
Mob started and glanced over nervously at the crowd of students looking at him like he was a zoo exhibit.
One of the girls walked over and squished his face, and that's when Ritsu, to a minor level, lost his shit.
He slapped the girl's hand away, hissing, "My brother is not a carnival attraction."
He surveyed the group of shocked students.
Mob, behind him, said, "Ah, Ritsu, it's alright-"
"No, it's not."
Ritsu looked out over them again before sighing and sitting down, keeping a close eye on the crowd.
Mob, already looking panicked, said, "Hi."
A chorus of greetings came back. He quietly looked out at the group of students and teachers before turning and going back to his seat next to Reigen, who nodded to him, uncharacteristically serious.
Slowly, the shellshocked students filed back into their seats, muttering breaking out.
Kei glanced around the room, awkward, and pressed play.
The spirit looked down at Mob and laughed. "First with salt, and now you're using a middle schooler?"
Mob raised one hand.
"Quit looking down on-"
Mob effortlessly zapped the ghost, expression unchanging. The spirit spun, screaming, and exploded into fireworks.
"Wow," one student breathed.
"Mob Psycho. It makes sense now."
One blonde turned to him and said, "Can you really do that?"
Mob blinked. "Yes."
The narrator spoke again. "Kageyama Shigeo, also known as 'Mob!'"
His name appears onscreen. "He's a real psychic-"
"A real psychic."
"-Reigen Arataka's student, and the protagonist of this story."
Behind Mob, a large picture frame fell to the ground and shattered. Mob turned to Reigen and said, "Shishou, I asked you not to summon me on such short notice."