I'm so late what kind of white rabbit bullshit is this
"Reigen-san, we've rewatched it three times. Can we please get back to the show?"
"Yes, yes, in a second. I think I got everything... broccoli, scraps of paper... a plant growing..."
Kei had called a short break for them to look over the opening after Reigen's observation. Ritsu, Mob, Teru, and Reigen sat clustered around the computer she had lent them. Mob had a half-eaten granola bar in one hand and was still a bit pale, but overall fine.
Reigen scribbled one last line on his notepad before tucking it back into his jacket.
"Okay, let's get back into it."
A minute later, everyone was settled back on their respective couches and seats. Kei, holding the remote, waited for the room to quiet before pressing play on episode four.
"ORA!"
Students in purple uniforms went flying.
Teru paled, recognizing the uniforms as Black Vinegar's.
"The guys from Salt Middle School are strong!"
Onigawara flexed proudly, grinning, until someone muttered, "I'm going to make fun of your hair, Josuke!"
"You shouldn't use your strength to hurt people," Goda said, looking at him.
"I don't anymore, remember? I haven't been in a serious fight since joining the Body Improvement Club."
Black Vinegar Middle School Gang Leader: Edano Tsuyoshi.
"Oh, this must be where you come in, Teru," Reigen remarked.
Teru ducked his head.
"What's wrong?"
"I was... kind of awful. Back then."
"Well, you aren't anymore, and that's what matters."
"Damn it... so he's Salt Middle School's Tenga the Demon!"
Salt Middle School's Gang Leader: Onigawara Tenga.
"Is that all you got? That wasn't even a warm-up!"
"This is so weird," Onigawara said under his breath.
"Damn it!"
"The shadow leader!"
"Someone call Teru-san!"
"Jeez, Onigawara, you look awful."
"Hey-"
He looked up.
"Huh?"
The next scene was a huge dent blasted into a wall, blood staining the center.
A sudden quiet fell on the watchers.
"...Oh."
"D-Damn..."
"That's Teru-san for you."
The camera panned down to Onigawara, slumped against the wall.
Onigawara winced, rubbing the back of his head.
"But isn't this a bit overboard?"
"Whooo boy, we crossed that line a long time ago."
"It had to be done. They had the nerve to stand up to me."
"Calm down, dictator in training."
"Holy shit, man, are you okay? I'm pretty sure you're bleeding from your ears."
"I had a mild concussion and a ton of bruises, but I was fine after that."
"Sorry about that," Teru called.
Onigawara waved a hand awkwardly.
Teru texted someone on his phone, continuing, "If you show idiots like these that you're out of their league, they'll suddenly bow down to you, like completely different people."
Reigen hummed quietly, frowning. He's pretty much Mob's polar opposite- what's it called? A foil. Teru is his foil, what he could have been had things gone differently.
Black Vinegar Middle School Second-Year Hanazawa Teruki.
"Just like you guys."
AKA: Teru
Not to mention, it's not a bad idea to have these guys indebted to me.
"God, what a schemer."
"He's kinda cute, though."
A black bird flew through the sky.
Be it power or people...
"This is very ominous and I am concerned."
"Seconded."
I'm going to take advantage of everything I can.
He lifted his head.
"I am NOT A FAN of this music."
After all, I'm the main character of this world.
Teru actually laughed. He wiped at his eyes, grinning. "Sorry, it's just so ironic! Considering-" He gestured at Mob, chuckling.
Reigen tapped his chin. Yes... I see it now. Mob blends in, not believing his powers make him special. Teruki believes- believed- that his powers make him special; truly complete opposites.
Episode Four- Idiots Only Event ~Kin~
"Ha, that sounds like the last episode."
"Right?"
Mob sat up from his futon, yawning.
"Good morning. Isn't it a lovely morning, Aibou?"
"Is that... the spirit... from the last episode...?"
"Yes."
"It looks like a blob of snot."
"Has a personality like one, too," someone muttered, anger lacing their voice.
Mob blinked at him.
"Oh my god precious bby, protecc smol bean-"
The students around the American exchange student stared at her in confusion.
"You surprised? Well, you know what they say, yesterday's enemy could be today's friend."
"I don't ever forsee you ever being Nii-san's friend-"
"Didn't he help you uncover your psychic powers?"
Ritsu growled under his breath.
Mob reached out and grasped the top of the wispy spirit.
"Huh? You want to shake hands?"
He then proceeded to slam Dimple into the floor multiple times.
"Wait, stop- what are you-!?"
The watchers burst into laughter.
"And he deserves it!"
Reigen chuckled a bit, too. Mob's face didn't change, but his ears reddened slightly.
Teru smiled, feeling oddly lighthearted and happy.
The spirit escaped his grip. "You startled me! What was that for?"
"Because you're kind of an ass, maybe?"
"I thought this might be a dream."
"You're supposed to pinch your own cheek when that happens!"
"Yeah, but this is more fun."
"Who are you?"
The spirit gawked at him. "I'm Dimple, the head of the religious group! You know, we had a fight to the death yesterday?"
For a moment, Reigen considered short-term memory loss, but dismissed the thought.
"Oh, so you didn't completely disappear," he said, reaching out.
"W-Wait! Hear me out!" Dimple fumbled. "I don't plan on living the rest of my life as some spirit!"
"Don't you mean... the rest of your death?"
"Don't be that person, Suzuki."
"But aren't you already dead?"
"You're not supposed to go there, Shige-chan."
Mob cringed a bit at the nickname. Ritsu quietly started to plan Dimple's demise.
"How did he even learn your name?"
"Who knows?"
"A idol! A movie star! A pro baseball player! Everyone has some kind of dream!"
Dimple twirled in the air. "And I have an ambition, too! To stand above all of creation...
"Basically, to become God!"
"Bruh."
"He'd have to possess another human for that, right? Not just rule it as a snot blob?"
One of the girls snapped her fingers. "A blobfish! That's what I thought he looked like!"
"Can we talk about the fact that he may be able to do this with mass hypnotism?"
"I dream of the day that I become God!"
"Everyone has nightmares."
"Huh... so that's why you made that religious organization."
"Just say cult. It was a cult."
"It was very much a cult."
"Though it was destroyed. But now I know... that to gain people's hearts, all I have to do is show them some strong psychic powers."
Reigen hummed. "He's not wrong... it is easier to win people over with things like that- in a way similar to a mob mentality, no pun intended."
Ritsu nodded solemnly, drumming his fingers lightly on the coffee table.
"Shige-chan! Pair up with me! Let's shoot for the top of the world together!"
"Let me answer that for you: no."
"Hard pass, yeah."
"Any more final words?" Mob said, reaching out.
Reigen chuckled. He really doesn't know Mob very well yet.
Dimple screamed. "Seriously?! I don't want to disappear yet! I won't do anything bad anymore!"
"Aw, now I kind of feel bad for him."
"Yeah, me too..."
Mob looked at him, expression softening. "Really?"
"Really!" The spirit whimpered, trembling.
"This... is just sad."
"Okay." He stood, still looking at Dimple. "Then I'll discuss it with my master."
"I doubt that did any good."
"Don't do anything weird at my home or school."
As he walked away, presumably to get dressed, Dimple's expression sharpened.
Talk about a softy.
"Aw shit, he turned into a Jojo villain."
"Not good."
"But, honestly, I'm not surprised."
I'll just wait for my chance to posess him.
The door creaked open, Ritsu calling out, "Nii-san, Mom says to hurry up and eat breakfast."
"Okay. I'll be right there."
Dimple floated into view as he asked, "Were you talking to someone just now?"
"Nope."
"You didn't have to lie, Nii-san," Ritsu muttered.
"It would have been a bit difficult to explain."
"Yeah, but I... kind of want to understand you better."
Mob looked at him, mild surprise showing on his face. "Why?"
Ritsu pressed his lips into a line.
"I don't understand you as well as I thought I did. And after gaining psychic powers, it makes even less sense. Why use them sparingly when there's so much you could do with them?"
Mob opened his mouth, searching for something to say, when Ritsu cut him off. "I don't want you to tell me. I want to see for myself. I want to be a better brother."
He glanced over to Reigen, who was staring pointedly at the screen.
"You're already a good brother, Ritsu."
Ritsu cringed. "I mean, not really."
Mob placed a hand on his arm, smiling. "I wouldn't ever want a different one."
He smiled back.
"Oh, okay. Anyway, hurry up."
"Okay."
Ritsu closed the door behind him.
"Oh my god."
"I know."
"You guys are thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Yeah."
One kid looked at the group. "What are you guys talking about?"
"He shut the door behind him."
He looked confused. "What?"
"Oh, you're an only child, aren't you?"
"Your brother seems pretty smart and nice, Shige-chan."
"My name's Shigeo. Call me "Shige-chan" one more time and I'll exorcise you."
"Ha, yeah."
"Eff around and find out."
"A-Alright. Sorry, Sh-Shigeo."
It was so weird thinking of Mob as Shigeo, even though, technically, that was his name. Reigen put that thought out of his head.
"Wait, his name isn't Mob?"
"I LITERALLY ALWAYS THOUGHT HIS NAME WAS MOB. I AM SO CONFUSED?"
"Shigeo? His name is Shigeo?"
Seasoning City, Salt Middle School
Just as I found out yesterday, it's hard to read what Shigeo is thinking.
"Really, Sherlock?" Reigen muttered.
"Tell me something I don't know," Ritsu sighed.
I must study his personal and social life and try to figure him out.
"Yeah, good luck with that."
If all goes well, Shigeo could start to see me as someone who really gets him.
Mob buried his face in his hands, watching the scene of himself blushing at Tsubomi through the cracks between his fingers.
"His plan kind of worked, didn't it?" Reigen said contemplatively.
"A little," Mob whispered.
"Well, he's not evil anymore, right?"
"He's not. I let him posess my body and he gave it back."
"Right, with Mogami. Oh, right, I never asked-what happened in there? You were in there for thirty minutes, we were getting really worried."
Mob froze.
Six months milk on his head laughter Ritsu's indifference the cat bleeding kicking snapping h̨̟̮͔̼̪͑͆͛̔͑̆̚̚̕͝ứ̷̛̗̘̲̰̞̲̈́̽̌̚͘͝r̦̘̹̥̗̫̭̠͈̅́̄̒̽͆̀t̡̲͕̫̩͙̮̠͖͙͛͒̑͊̄̈̿̚͡i̶̡̤̬͎̯͗̋̌͂͛͛̚͡n̡̛̩̳̘̗̟̰̙͚͇̄̀̋̂͝g̶̥̱͉͕̮͛̈̍͐̑̚͞ p̴̢̡̻̞͉͖̱̯̗̱̒̒̂̌͋̊̽̚e̪̙̥͓̥̖̥͛̐́͌̇͘o̴͉̲̹̱̻͉̘̭̹͗̏̿͐̃̍ͅp̵̧͈͔͇̱̥̍͂̒̏̾͟͟ͅl̵͓̪̼͖͕̥̳̒͒̇̎͟͡͞ĕ̛̻͔͚̲͎̗̭̝̜͖̅̆̑́̌͞͞-
"Mob? Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes, Shishou."
Reigen eyed him worriedly, but let the obvious lie pass.
If he eventually starts relying on me...
The scene changed to Mob, walking home.
"Hey, Kageyama-kun!"
Ritsu turned.
"You're Kageyama Ritsu from Class 1-3, right?"
"Oh, I thought it was-"
"We all did, shut up."
"Okay, rude."
"Yeah."
"I'm Mezato, from Class 2-1 and the school paper. Do you have a sec?"
"I have a bad feeling about this."
"Hey-!"
"So you're in the same class as my brother. If you want to talk about his psychic powers, ask him yourself."
"Periodt-"
"Aw, come on. I have something interesting to tell you, too."
Ritsu turned, eyes sharp. "Did something happen with my brother?"
"Jeez, overprotective."
"He can handle himself, man. We've seen it."
No... Reigen bit his lip. Something else was happening here- something he was missing.
Spirits And Such Consultation Office
"I accept."
"Here we go."
"I shall exorcise this evil spirit photo, so please come back in a few hours."
"I mean, at least he actually tries to help the client...?"
"HAAAAHHHH!"
The camera zoomed in on the ghost in the background of the photo.
"GRAPHIC EXORCISM!"
This is one of Reigen's special moves, where he uses CG software to edit photos and makes them look perfectly natural.
Reigen slammed a finger onto a key on his computer.
"My god."
"Crap! I accidentally erased the client's eyebrow, too!"
There was a resounding slap as four hundred people facepalmed as one.
"Shishou."
"Is that you, Mob? I'm a bit busy right now, so give me a minute."
"Busy doing what, having an existential crisis?" Teru muttered.
Ritsu snickered. "No, probably more like a midlife crisis-"
"I'm twenty-eight!"
"Wait, that's your master?" Dimple said, obviously confused.
"Hey-"
"Yup. That's Reigen-shishou, a psychic."
Reigen swallowed, more guilt welling up.
"Uh, you can't be serious."
The students burst into laughter.
"Believe it."
"What do you mean?"
I don't feel any spiritual power from him at all. That idiot Shigeo is getting totally used.
Reigen shifted uncomfortably, trying to avoid eye contact.
I could let him know...
His gaze sharpened suddenly.
But no, this is fine. I'm going to use him to the fullest, too!
Reigen printed out the photo. "All right, it's done."
"Shishou, I've had this spirit stuck to me since this morning. What should I do? Should I erase it?"
Reigen looked at him, but obviously couldn't see Dimple.
Ha. Obviously you won't be able to see me, you fake.
"It's to weak for me to see."
"HA!"
"Wha-!"
"For you, it'd be the same as a ladybug on your shoulder."
Reigen chuckled, smirking, as Teru laughed and Ritsu bit back a smile.
"Do whatever you want."
Mob looked at the spirit and said, "Lucky you. If you don't cause harm, I won't erase you."
The scene changed again. "There wasn't anything that triggered them," said Ritsu.
"Oh, I was wondering what happened with them."
"Nii-san was born with his psychic powers. Ever since I can remember, Nii-san has been causing strange phenomena and showing me."
A flashback was shown, the two together, a bubble of water floating lazily in the air.
"This will never not be adorable."
In the back of his head, Reigen agreed.
"To me, Nii-san was the standard of the world."
Mob frowned. "Ritsu..."
"It's true," Ritsu said. "Intellect, athleticism, social prowess- those things never mattered to me."
"I don't have any of those- I just have psychic powers. They don't make me special, Ritsu. And you have them, too-" He laughed softly. "You have the ultimte set of skills, don't you?"
"I-" Ritsu stopped. "I'm not as strong as you are."
"Psychic powers are just another skill," Mob said, forcefully. "I'd rather be smart or strong than have powers."
Reigen smiled, hearing his words in his pupil's. He really has grown so much...
I should give him more credit.
"But it's been a while since Nii-san's used his powers in front of others. What happened to my brother?"
Mezato jumped slightly. "Mob-kun's caused quite a stir."
A poster that said, We're looking for our god- Psycho Helmet Cult with an awful drawing of Mob was taped to a pole. Mob stared at it, Dimple hovering over his shoulder.
"This... this is not good."
"Yeah, Sherlock, what deduction led to that outcome-!?"
"At least they're calling it a cult now."
"Doesn't it look like you, Shigeo?" Dimple pointed out.
"I mean, kind of...?"
"No."
Hm? This phone number's... I see. So now they're seeking support from Shigeo. Dimple smirked. Jeez, they're so easy to read.
"This is going to end poorly, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Very much so, yes."
"Mob-kun's hidden charisma managed to bring forth adoration from a lot of people at once."
"Oh- oh my god, does that say MobDonald's?"
"IT'S SAID THAT THE WHOLE TIME. THE WHOLE TIME-AND NONE OF US NOTICED?"
"Holy shit, holy-"
"I'm going to order fast food from every chain in the area after all of this is done," Teru muttered.
"I'll join you," Reigen told him.
"So much so that it formed a new religion." Mezato played with her drink, contemplative. "I think he deserves more recognition."
"Wait, Mezato, you support this cult?"
Mezato nodded softly.
Reigen eyed her cautiously.
"So I was hoping to get a unique viewpoint from your-"
"I'll have to decline, Mezato-senpai."
A chill went down everyone's spines at how dark Ritsu looked, glaring at her.
Reigen quietly moved a little bit to the left while Teru started writing his will.
Ritsu just stared ahead, the same dark look on his face.
"Nii-san's powers are not some sideshow."
Reigen quietly agreed, but chose to stay silent, side-eyeing Ritsu.
"No, that's not what I meant..." Mezato said, sounding freaked out. Then she glanced to the side. "Well, maybe I did..."
"Are you suicidal? Shut up and run, don't you see his face?"
"But he could get really popular-"
Ritsu picked up his bag and stood. "Well, I'll be going now."
Mezato watched him go, then started to write in her notebook. Kageyama Ritsu-kun. She held it up, scribbled with info about him.
Ritsu shivered. She even has my blood type... how did she-?
"Stalker," someone muttered darkly.
"I am not a stalker!" Mezato snapped.
"Then how in the hell did you get his favorite food?"
His grades are at the top of his class and he's a hot, popular guy who's great at sports.
"See, Ritsu?" Mob said. "You have lots of talents. I'm none of those things."
"With all of the girls cooing over you, you're at least one of them."
She closed the notebook, taking a sip of her drink.
He's everything that Mob-kun isn't.
The room fell very silent at this.
Jeez... People really aren't born equal.
Mob shrank slightly in his seat.
The scene faded to Ritsu, sitting at his desk.
Nii-san was the standard of my world.
The curtains on the window rippled in a soft breeze.
Psychic powers were a perfectly normal existence for me.
He held a spoon in two hands.
Reigen frowned. He had a bad feeling about this.
Because I'm his little brother, I thought I would be able to use them too, someday.
That's what I wished for...
"Charisma," my foot. "Popular," my foot!
His hands tightened around the spoon.
Give me a break!
Oh!
What an idiot he was. Reigen cursed his own stupidity- he should have been able to see this... this jealously, passed off as overprotectiveness.
Ritsu was tense, hands clenched into fists, glaring at the screen like it had murdered his whole family.
Psychic powers aren't that cheap!
Mob watched, feeling only a little surprised. Actually, his emotions were leaning more toward sadness. This was his little brother- they lived in the same house! Ritsu was always there when he needed him. Why could he never return the favor?
Moreover, he was the on making Ritsu so jealous and angry. A pang of guilt stabbed at his chest.
"Sorry, Ritsu," he whispered.
Ritsu's hands clenched tighter, head snapping to look at him. Reigen was also looking at him, frowning.
They're angry at me-
"Why are you apologizing?" Ritsu said, quietly but forcefully.
"W-well, this is kind of my fa-"
Reigen actually slapped the back of his head. Not hard- more of a wake-up slap. Ritsu glared at him.
"Mob, this is not your fault."
Ritsu gritted his teeth, but said, "He's right."
His eyes bored into Reigen's head. "Don't ever hit my brother again."
Reigen stared right back.
"Only if he never says something that stupid again," he replied, crossing his arms.
Teru pressed his hands over his ears, not wanting to hear any more personal things.
Night turned to day, and the next scene was Mob leaving for school.
"I'm leaving now."
"Nii-San." Ritsu called. "I'll go with you."
"That's rare. You're usually gone early."
"There isn't a student council meeting today."
Of course he's on the student council, Reigen thought.
"Also, I wanted to talk to you about something."
They walked to school together. "He seems to be pretty close to you," Dimple noted.
Mob looked at him, but didn't respond.
"Why don't you use your psychic powers more?" Ritsu asked.
Reigen raised an eyebrow.
"Right into it, huh?"
"I don't get any opportunities to."
"Debatable, but okay."
"And I'm telling you, there's plenty!" Dimple objected, from behind him.
"I don't like him, but he's not wrong."
"I mean, kind of? Because he actually could, if he wanted to, but he doesn't seem to like using them often. So, technically, from his point of view, there are no opportunities."
"I guess you don't have any desires," Ritsu said, smiling innocently at him.
"This is such a personality change, what?"
"If you want to talk to me, please just say what you want," Mob told Ritsu, looking at him.
Ritsu ducked his head slightly, feeling a bit ashamed. Mob rested a hand on his shoulder, smiling.
"I do, but using my powers would be pointless."
"Huh?"
"Psychic powers aren't needed to survive in the first place," Mob told him.
"You're the only one who thinks that!"
"Okay, yeah, mood."
"It's kind of refreshing, learning a different point of view," one of the teachers whispered to the one next to him.
"It's not pointless! You just haven't realized how useful they are!"
Reigen felt a rush of pride, in himself this time. I did that.
"Are there things you can't have, even if you use your powers?"
"Not at all!" Dimple continued, ranting. "You could even become God!"
"Muscles."
The Body Improvement Club looked very happy at this.
Dimple stared at him.
"Pfft- hahaha!"
"Look at his FACE!"
"Ha-"
What is he talking about?
Looks like he didn't observe Mob as well as he thought he did, Reigen thought, laughing slightly.
Mob continued, more serious. "Or the ability to understand girls-"
"I'm afraid that's an unattainable goal, my friend," one boy said mournfully. His peers nodded.
"-or read my surroundings. I think there's even more than that, like wisdom."
Reigen nodded thoughtfully. Some things can only be gained through experience.
"I envy you, Ritsu."
"Oooh... I bet that went over well."
Ritsu's eyes widened slightly, and he looked away.
The scene changed to the school. Mob sat in math class, staring confusedly at the board as equations and "Find the Area" floated around him.
Hm... Yeah. I mean, psychic powers can't even help you solve math problems.
"That's weird, because the media always says psychic powers make you a supergenius."
Dimple, floating in the corner of the room, sighed. If those psychic powers belonged to someone else, we would have seen a completely different world.
Reigen rested a his chin on his hand, leaning on the side of the couch. That's an interesting statement. What would the world be like if Mob didn't have powers, and someone else did? What if Mob wasn't as pacifistic as he is now?
What would happen if Mob was violent?
He shivered, imagining the state of the world if that happened. Carnage, the earth torn up into pieces-
Reigen shook his head and put those thoughts out of his mind, refocusing on the screen.
The scene changed again, this time to Goda. "What do you want with the Body Improvement Club? This is no place for the likes of you."
The thoroughly beaten Onigawara, surrounded by the rest of the gang, looked at him.
"Unlike you guys who waste your lives away, we are living in the moment, Onigawara."
"What about them?" Onigawara said, pointing under his arm to the Telepathy Club.
"Yeah, what about them?"
There was silence for a moment.
"If you have something to say, let's go outside."
He avoided the question!
"I think I would, too."
"I'll keep this short. You guys in the BIC have the strongest bodies in the whole school."
"I mean, yeah, that's like the whole point."
"I want to ask you guys' help to crush Black Vinegar Middle School!"
"Sadly, this is lower body strengthening month, so we're busy doing squats."
"Squats!? What are you..."
"Fighting is stupid! Our muscles don't exist for something so petty!"
"I like them," Reigen noted.
Teru winced, guilt flashing on his face.
All four of them drew back, surprised. "What'd you say!?" The bald one shouted, lashing out.
One of the members seized his forehead, holding him up in the air.
"Say no to violence."
The teachers looked very happy about that scene.
The gang screamed. H-He stopped Yamazaki with one hand... With these musclebound freaks on our side, we're sure to win!
"Hey..."
"I don't think that anymore!" Onigawara shouted, looking nervously at the "musclebound freaks" around him.
What?
His gaze fell on Mob.
"Damn."
"If you hurt him, Onigawara-"
"I didn't. Hurt him, I mean."
There's one guy who obviously hasn't improved his body.
"I'm working on it," Mob muttered.
His eyes narrowed, an evil grin spreading across his face.
"If you hurt him, I swear-"
"Shigeo, you aren't actually aiming for this, are you?" Dimple said skeptically.
Progress Toward Mob's Explosion: 28%