good news everyone, i got a computer. i officially Have No Excuse
"Next is today's weather."
Teru tensed, recognizing his apartment building.
"Though a lot of parts will be sunny today, there is some instability in the atmosphere."
Teru put on his purple jacket.
"Oh, that's-!"
He shrunk slightly, pressing his back against the couch. Reigen glanced at him, slightly concerned.
"There is a possibility of thunderstorms and high winds."
He straightened his tie.
"If you're going out, it might be a good idea to bring a foldable umbrella..."
"You gotta fight poison with poison," Onigawara said. "I'll send Salt Middle School's extraterritoriality, the Body Improvement Club, to clash with Black Vinegar's shadow leader, Hanazawa Teruki."
"WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU PLANNING?"
"Stop shouting!"
"You've got that saying slightly wrong. And the Body Improvement Club isn't really poison..."
This got a few soft laughs. The language teachers high-fived.
"Isn't the nuance of extraterritoriality a bit weird, too?"
The kid's teacher almost cried from joy.
"The nuance of the what, now?"
"I think he just wanted to try saying it."
"Both of those came up in class recently," said the last boy. "Apparently Tenga-san is actually paying attention."
"I think this is my new favorite episode."
"Same."
Tenga's face went slightly pink.
"Even though he's an idiot-"
Tenga punched the kid in the face.
"Never mind."
His chest seemed to inflate, buttons popping off of his uniform as he barraged the kid with punches.
"Th-there it is!"
"Demon Rush! Tenga-san's most special move of repeated punches!"
"Tone it down a notch, Speedwagon."
"It's a legendary move that you rarely get to see."
"It's supposed to be rare, but apparently he's using it here!"
"You really are amazing, Tenga-san."
Reigen rolled his eyes. "All he did was punch the kid a lot. There's no tact and no style. It's just boring."
"Says the guy with a move where he throws salt on people."
He raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? It has style, it has pizazz. The Salt Splash is a move of quality."
"Kay. Sure."
The scene changed to Mob, in gym clothes. He opened his locker to a pair of shoes and a love note.
"Ohhh... I have a bad feeling."
The note read, "To Kageyama-kun of the Body Improvement Club 3 How are you? I'm a girl, but Kageyama-kun, I abhor you!"
"I'm a girl but I abhor you?"
"There's a little heart."
"Maybe they meant adore?"
"I'll be waiting for you at Ankle Park. 3 Please come!"
"Okay...?"
"Th-this is..."
He points at one of the words. "What is this? Abhor?"
Dimple floated over to his shoulder. "Did I offend someone?"
"No. I doubt it's possible, considering you don't talk to anyone. I mean, no offense, but-"
"We get it. We know."
"I'm assuming it's supposed to be a love letter," Dimple said. "They spelled 'adore' wrong."
"Called it."
Mob's face flushed, hearts appearing around him. "Adore? What?"
Reigen smiled lightly. Aww.
"Er, that's definitely a lie," Dimple said awkwardly.
"Stop CRUSHING his DREAMS."
"Eh?"
He stared at the letter. "This is a lie?"
"BABY DON'T HURT ME, DON'T HURT ME NO MORE-"
"That's a guy's handwriting, so it's clearly a fake love letter. You're too unpopular to realize, huh?"
Reigen was going to have a chat with Dimple once they returned to Seasoning City. Ritsu was practically simmering, glaring at the green blob like it had just spat on his parent's gravestones.
Teru frowned. "That seems unnecessary."
"So, this is a lie...?"
"Let it go, Shigeo. Let it go."
"It's a li-"
The scene changed abruptly. "Challenge. By Onigawara. You took real good care of us last time. Our helper will deal with you this time, so come to Ankle Park. Bring as many as you want. Don't run away, you rice bastards."
"They used him as bait. Of course they did." Reigen rubbed his forehead. For god's sake...
Ritsu was virtually snarling, looking inches away from committing murder, his face dark and dangerous. Mob, at his side, had a hand on his arm.
"We received a challenge."
"The only one with handwriting this bad is Onigawara from Salt Middle School."
"Also, it says 'By Onigawara' at the top."
"He doesn't give up, does he?"
The boy next to him pointed at the words "rice bastard."
"What's this 'you rice bastards' part mean?"
"I think he wanted to write 'you rat bastards.'"
"Your spelling is shit."
"Yeah, I know." Onigawara looked resigned to his fate.
"You're so smart, Edano-san."
Half of the school rolled their eyes.
"No, it's just that Onigawara is stupid."
They laughed like idiots.
"You're both stupid."
"They're all stupid. If you combine all of their braincells, I doubt they'd exceed a hundred."
Onigawara sat back, grinning. "My plan is so perfect that I scare myself."
"Sometimes my genius is... it's almost frightening."
An image appeared of him fishing, Mob with a love letter at the end of the hook.
"Now we just have to wait for them to take the bait, and we'll make our move."
"I'm pretty sure the guys from Black Vinegar Middle will be there, but will the guy from the Body Improvement Club show up? He might think it's a prank."
"Who's brave enough to play a prank on the freaking JoJo characters?"
"No, he'll definitely fall for it. Just in case, I wrote "I'm a girl" on it."
"Oh, he meant-"
"I- first of all, idiot-"
"'I'm A gIrL' like that's gonna help-"
"He did fall for it, though-"
The camera zoomed in dramatically on the letter.
"And added a heart!"
The other two stared at him.
A girl wouldn't write 'I'm a girl...'
Seriously, no one's gonna fall for that.
"But he did." Mob, with a blush still on his face, stood in the park, Dimple next to him.
"You're seriously..."
"Honestly, I'm so damned lonely I probably would have gone either way, just for the chance that someone loves me."
The kids around the student stared at him.
"What?"
"Dude, that was dark as f-"
"Well, if a girl is actually waiting, I'd feel bad for her."
"See?!"
"I told you that's a fantasy! Are you sure about this?"
From behind, something approached him.
"Oh shit, run!"
"You didn't even tell the muscle guys."
"Of course you didn't." Reigen rubbed his forehead. "At least tell someone where you are. What if you get into trouble?"
"I got kidnapped, actually."
Ritsu stared at Reigen, who looked so exhausted that he almost (almost) felt bad for him. He looked like a father with a troublesome kid.
"We're supposed to train on our own today."
"Hey."
"Shoot."
The Black Vinegar students loom behind him. "You're from Salt Middle School, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
Dark clouds moved over the sun.
"Captain Musashi, there's trouble!"
"Oh thank god. GO SAVE HIM! HURRY!"
Musashi looked up. One of the boys held out a piece of paper. "This was under a dumbbell."
We have Kageyama-kun. If you want him back, fight us. From Black Vinegar Middle School.
"Kageyama-kun's been kidnapped!"
"So many notes in this episode."
Musashi's expression darkened terrifyingly.
Body Improvement Club Pumped Up: 100%
"Shitshitshit."
"Okay, no panicking. Nobody panic."
"He looks like he could tear me limb from limb, how can I not panic?"
"We're going to Black Vinegar Middle School!"
"Hell YES! Kick some ass!"
"We're going to get Kageyama back!"
The scene changed again.
"Hey, what are we gonna do today?"
"What do you want to do?" Teru said, his arm slung around the girl.
"Well, first, go to a cafe..."
His phone binged. He pulled it out of his pocket.
"Tch."
"Shoot."
"Okay, but can we talk about how perfect that tch was?"
Mob was tied to a chair. He looked nervous and sweaty.
Reigen felt about five seconds away from kicking some ass himself.
"Shigeo, do you know these guys?"
"No, not at all."
He was surrounded by what looked like at least fifty Black Vinegar students.
"Wow, talk about going overboard," someone commented dryly, summing up the thoughts of everyone in the room.
"Do you understand what's going on?"
"No, not at all."
"Everyone in school, ever."
"Your submissiveness doesn't go away, does it?"
Mob looked at him, but didn't say anything.
"For the guy that Onigawara called in to help, he's pretty quiet."
"Kageyama, was it? Sorry, but we have to uphold our image, so we're going to take you hostage."
"They're middle schoolers!" One of the teachers finally exploded. "Middle schoolers! Why are they taking children hostage?"
"I see..." Dimple said, arms crossed. "Looks like you were tricked by that Onigawara guy, Shigeo."
Everyone in the room glared in his direction.
"We've already told Onigawara-" He cracked his neck in a way that made everyone cringe- "That if he wants his friend back, he needs to come get you."
"Though, either way, you're kinda screwed," another kid said, shoving the side of his face against Mob's and licking it.
Reigen cringed. "God, that's so unhygenic..."
"Who does this no-eyebrows-Johnny-Test-haired bitch think he is?"
"Shigeo." Dimple's voice held a bit of urgency. "Thugs and politicians care more about their image than anything."
His face darkened and he grinned evilly. "Make sure to be able to release your powers at any time."
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Reigen muttered.
Teru, on the floor, pulled his knees to his chest.
"You're not supposed to use psychic powers against other people."
Tch! He's always so accepting of other things, but he's staunch when it comes to that.
Reigen grinned proudly, adjusting his tie.
Just use your damn powers in a situation like this!
"He does have a point. I mean..." the student searched for the right words. "This is a pretty dangerous situation."
The sliding door slammed open. "The guys from Salt Middle School are here to fight!"
"Yes! Finally!"
"Please mess shit up."
The boy's face narrowed into a glare.
"About time, Onigawara."
The scene flashed back to Onigawara, slumped against a wall.
"They shouldn't be able to recover from their wounds yet."
They advanced down the hallway. "Let's finish them off."
One of the teachers looked like he was going to have an anxiety attack. "Finish them off!?"
"Actually, that's not it!"
Godly muscles holding students by the collar were displayed.
"It's not Onigawara, but these guys in short sleeves and shorts who I've never seen before!"
There were mild cheers.
"Not to mention..."
The clouds rumbled, a bot of lightning arching down.
Bodies littered over the ground.
"They're insanely strong."
Lightning and thunder boomed in the background.
Edano stared in awe. Who the hell are these guys?
More lightning and thunder flashed, displaying the BIC in all of their glory.
There was a respectful, tense silence.
"Wh-who are you?"
"I'm the captain of the Body Improvement Club at Salt Middle School, Goda Musashi."
Goda Musashi
"Bring Kageyama out here."
"Kageyama...?"
"Who's that?"
"B R U H."
"Just the guy you freakin' kidnapped, you little-!"
"Huh? Captain Musashi? What are you guys doing here?" Mob asked, walking forward, still tied with rope.
"Where did they even get rope?"
It's him?! They stared, mouths open, eyes wide.
"Damn straight it is!"
"Thank you," Mob said quietly, directing it at the BIC.
They smiled back at him. "It's not a problem, Kageyama-kun," Musashi said. "You're in this club. We watch each other's backs."
Mob smiled at them softly.
"Oh, I just had something to do."
"Yeah, 'kidnapping' filled my schedule from three to four thirty, sorry."
An arrow labelled with "Kageyama" pointed to Mob.
This guy wasn't a helper... he was a landmine!
"I promise I'm not slacking..."
"Damn it! Onigawara tricked us!"
Onigawara couldn't even feel proud. He just felt guilty and resigned to everyone hating him for this.
"It looks like you're not hurt."
"All right, let's go, Kageyama-kun."
"Yeah."
"We need to get back and work out."
Edano stared at them, the background swirling in red and black.
Someone just sighed weakly. "Here we go."
"Stop messing around! Like we'd just let you leave! You're all going to bleed!"
"Well, that's dark."
"Get 'em, boys!"
Screams and cries reached the ears of the watchers as they ganged up, attacking the BIC.
Goda swatted one away effortlessly.
This turned into an avalanche of bodies as the BIC effortlessly laid waste to the Black Vinegar Middle School's gang.
Even Reigen stayed silent and watched in shock and awe with the rest if the room.
"Hurry.. and get Teru-san..."
A spike of fear struck everyone's hearts.
"Oh, shit. No, no, no-"
"I called him a long time ago," Edano said, sitting up. "But he's late... Is that bastard flirting with some girl again?"
A school bag flew through the air, hitting Goda's back.
"Did some gorillas wander in?" Came Teru's voice.
Teru cringed, wrapping his arms around his knees.
"Apparently, you need to be disciplined."
"Teru-san!" Edano cried, tears in his eyes.
Mob glanced over his shoulder.
"Are you familiar with the term 'organized violence?"
"Yeah, but I wish I wasn't."
Teru walked through blackness, purple outlining him.
"These pieces of trash lying here are the symbols of my authority within my life at school."
"Dictator. In. Training."
"And now that you've shattered that, you've basically thrown mud in my face."
Goda turned. "Are you a delinquent, too?"
Behind him, there was a laugh as Edano got to his feet. "He's our shadow leader, Hanazawa Teruki-san! Teru-san, these guys think they're tough, so please teach them a lesson."
Teru glared at him. "Edano-san, as of today, you need to step down from being leader."
"Understandably," someone muttered.
"You're too small-minded."
"Huh? Please wait..."
In a rush, Teru was next to him, planting a blow straight to the stomach.
"WHAT IN THE-"
Edano went down hard, Teru turning to look down at him. "My dignity's on the line."
"It looked like he just teleported over to him."
"I think you're just seeing things."
"We got what we came for," Goda said, turning. "We'll be going now."
"I'm the one who decides whether or not you leave," Teru said, turning to them, blue eyes dull and pupil-less.
"MMMM. NOPE."
" Leave. G o. Sticking around is a bad idea."
Goda lowered his head. "Very well..."
He started to advance. "I don't feel right about facing someone with such a frail body, but..."
Lightning flashed in the sky.
"Society always underestimates me."
"What did I say?"
"That's some Joker shit right there, I'll pass."
"Fools who don't try to look beneath the surface... That's why you're so easy to control."
Reigen laced his fingers together, resting his elbows on his knees and resting his chin on his hands. Internally, he debated outcomes.
Clearly, Mob knocked some sense into Teru. But how? No matter how strong the Body-Whatever-Club is, they're no match for him. He's no Mob, but he is reasonably powerful.
So, why does Mob fight with him? He refuses to use his powers against other people. Does he explode again?
He glanced at his student, debating how to broach the subject.
"The star doesn't get to bask in the spotlight because he's a star. A star gets to be a star because he basks in the spotlight."
"This kid's ego is bigger than my di-"
"Don't."
"If you have your own spotlight, bugs with low IQs will aways flock you."
He was right in front of Goda now.
"What are you talking about?"
"Hey, vermin. Stop hiding and come on out," he called, thumbing to the side.
There was a pause, then Onigawara emerged from the side of the building.
Onigawara sinks into his bean bag as he feels people glare at him.
"Onigawara!"
Teru looked at him, eyes closed. "So it's you."
"Hurry up and crush him!" Onigawara shouted frantically.
In a smooth motion, Teru turned and slammed a glowing hand into Goda's stomach, sending him effortlessly flying.
"Oh, fu-"
One of the kids bounced in her seat nervously. Her brother was in the BIC.
The members stared in shock. He quickly crossed his arms, sending out a shockwave, knocking them all off their feet.
"Damn it!" Onigawara shouted. "Take this!"
"No, no, no! Stay back!"
More of the students echo the phrase, even though there was nothing they could do.
Teru spun, eyes flashing, and struck out a hand. Onigawara sailed away, yellow spots circling the screen.
Two feet dug into the ground. Onigawara stayed upright, arms crossed defensively in front of him.
"YES!"
"Go, Onigawara!"
Teru's lip twitched. Watching this was very different from living through it in such a fascinating way...
Meanwhile, Reigen had decided to wait until the end of the episode to ask the question.
It's heavy...
The cloth on his forearms was burned away, the skin underneath raw and bloody.
Teru winced.
It's just a slap, but it packs a real punch! He's tiny, but he swings like a bear.
He imagined Teru's body, corded with muscle. Are you even human? You monster!
He chuckled, finding humor in the situation. "I don't look like that!"
"I'm impressed."
The Body Imptovement Club rose as a whole around Teru.
"Yes! Yes, yes! Thank god."
The little sister relaxed slightly.
"You managed to blow us away despite the weight difference."
Goda approached from behind.
"You must have some excellent unique muscles."
"Muscles?" Teru said, inclining his head. Then he laughed, turned slightly, and slammed a palm into each of the club members, again sending them into the sky. Lightning crashed again.
Dread crept over the watchers, smiles turning to dejected looks.
Teru couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen, hands tightening on his upper arms.
The BIC crashed to the ground.
"You bastard!" Onigawara cried, throwing a punch.
"You're going to see hell! Demon Rush!"
"I miss the sun."
"Same."
His punches deflected off Teru. My fists aren't reaching him!
"Muscles and fighting techniques... This is why average people are so sad."
He raised his hands, flickering yellow.
"I'll show you something."
"Run! JUST RUN, YOU IDIOT!"
"Where's our super strong main character? MOB? YOU GOOD?"
Mob, from his seat on the couch, flinched.
Reigen sent him a look that he didn't catch.
Teru struck out at him, Onigawara barely dodging.
That was close!
A wave of yellow washes over them as the earth explodes around them, Onigawara shouting in pain as he's lost in a wave of dust.
"The leader, eh?"
He turned to leave, but picked out a figure in the dust.
"Yes! YES!"
"I AM HERE!"
"LET'S EFFING GO!"
"Wow, one of you is apparently pretty tough," Teru said, eyes a bit wide.
"Oh, you have no idea."
Teru shrugged. He really had no idea at the time.
The smoke cleared, revealing Mob, a scrawny, short kid, still tied in the ropes.
Teru stared at him.
What's with this guy?
"A much-debated question that none have been able to answer."
His presence barely registers, so I barely noticed him. Or rather, why is he tied up?
"You shouldn't use them against other people."
Reigen felt like he was going to cry from joy.
"No, you shouldn't," someone said, voice choked.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about your psychic powers..."
Blue light illuminated the ropes as they twisted off of him.
"...That you've been hitting them with."
"Mess him up, mess him up, mess him up! Show him the light side, Mob-kun!"
Teru stared at him, making a choking noise, eyes wide.
The majority of watchers (including Teru himself) burst into laughter.
He smiled warmly. "I was so surprised."
"Let alone use them for fighting."
Lightning crashed, illuminating the schoolyard yellow. It was displayed in scratchy black.
Progress Toward Mob's Explosion: 45%
i have an instagram account now- prolly just gonna post bad art on there lol. you can follow me if you want, I'm akatsuki_requiem. love all of you, also the "less than" symbol doesn't work on here for some reason, so the 3s are supposed to be hearts. This one's short, sorry.