halfway point.
"He's alive!?"
Teru let out a quiet, relieved breath.
Hm? Ritsu glanced up at the glowing green blob sitting on their fence. What's that?
"While Ritsu was mistaking Dimple for a creepy looking balloon…"
"A creepy-looking talking balloon?"
The screen changed, switching through various gang members discussing the fight that broke out at Black Vinegar.
"...the rumors about Mob, who kicked around Hanazawa, the shadow leader of Black Vinegar Middle School, were starting to take a life of their own."
"White T Poison… This was the title given to Mob, whose identity had yet to be revealed."
Mob sighed softly.
Reigen chuckled. "More drama, eh?"
"White T Poison… I'll be the one to defeat him."
"I'll defeat him and make him admit that I'm the best."
"So the next target is Salt Middle School…"
"White T Poison is my prey."
"This is my chance to shine."
"I doubt anyone wants to screw with him now."
Colored parts defined the territories of several middle schools on the map of Seasoning City, with Salt right in the center.
"And thus, the fierce battle to fight White T Poison was about to begin."
Mob cocked his head, confused.
Ritsu elbowed him lightly. "I think the people I fought-" his voice caught slightly- "That day- thought I was you."
He nodded. "I see."
Exaltation ~I've Obtained Loss~
"And I have a bad feeling! Great."
"Man, thanks for helping me out," Dimple drawled, pressing a finger on his cheek and explaining how he came back.
"I managed to make it back from the particle level by myself, but my spiritual energy is way less than what it used to be, so I wasn't able to get into the house anymore." His reminiscence showed him hovering over the house. "It appears that low-level spirits can't even go near this place just because Shigeo lives here."
Ritsu stared at him. What… is this ugly jellyfish-looking thing that talks?
But the first thing I need to do is… he grabbed Dimple by his wisp.
"What? You wanna shake hands?"
And started slamming his knee into his face repeatedly.
I have to exorcise it!
There was a wave of laughter. Mob's lip twitched slightly.
"So they are brothers."
"Wait! Stop kneeing me in the face!" Dimple cried, "I'm Shigeo's friend!"
Ritsu let go of him. "Nii-san's?"
"You could even call me his mentor!" Dimple held his nose. "I'll let you off the hook this time, because you obviously panicked. That aside…" his expression darkened, "How about it, Ricchan? Wanna pair up with me?"
"...Ricchan...?"
"No."
"Good choice. Very good choice."
He held up a hand. "That was too fast. Wait a sec, just hear me out. You just awakened to your psychic powers, didn't you?"
Ritsu flinched. What? I have psychic powers?
"The fact that you can see me is proof." The spirit gestured to himself, "I'm Dimple. I'm basically what they call a ghost."
"So are my psychic powers only strong enough to let me see you?" Ritsu asked.
"I see you haven't realized what your powers are, let alone how to use them."
A curious silence was maintained throughout the watchers. Nobody particularly wanted to comment, so nobody did.
A drawer of spoons, forks and knives were poured onto Ritsu's desk.
"Go ahead." Dimple encouraged, "You should be able to do that now."
Ritsu gazed down at the pile, then hesitantly picked up a spoon. I shouldn't get my hopes up.
He kept his concentration on the utensil for a while but nothing happened.
Dimple flew closer to him and asked, "What's the matter?"
A bead of sweat slid down Ritsu's face. It's a world that's out of my reach… His grip shook around the spoon.
Damn, he really is suffering because of this, Reigen thought.
What's with him? Does he have a complex or something? Dimple frowned. Well, it's understandable, given who his brother is.
It… It's… It's not… Ritsu stuttered in his thoughts. It's not bending!
"D-Dimple!" He turned to Dimple, shouting desperately, "It's not bending!"
"Calm down." The ghost pointed down smugly. On the desk, the rest of the pile remained nothing but harshly wrung silverware.
His brother smiles at him. "See, Ritsu? I told you, you'd be able to do it one day."
"̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶b̶u̶d̶d̶y̶-̶b̶u̶d̶d̶y̶ ̶b̶r̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶a̶c̶t̶ ̶e̶n̶d̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶.̶"̶
"Because we're brothers," Ritsu whispered, eyes closing.
Mob placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yes."
"What? Did I do this?" Ritsu breathed out a laugh.
"Join me, Ricchan," Dimple began again, "if you want to surpass your brother."
Ritsu froze.
Surpass Nii-san? Is that possible?
"Probably not," Reigen muttered.
Dimple's glow reflected off his eyes as he looked up. "I can be like my brother?"
The ghost smirked down at him, "If you'll let me use your body."
"That... came off wrong. Very wrong."
"Huh?" Mob's attention shifted from his meal to the empty chair beside him. "Ritsu's not eating?"
"He doesn't seem to have an appetite," his mother told him. "I wonder what's wrong with him."
"Is he feeling down?"
"No… He seemed oddly happy," she looked up in thought.
"Okay, this actually feels REALLY ominous and it's freaking me out a little."
"Honestly? Same."
"I kind of expect him to start laughing maniacally, to be completely truthful."
Ritsu winced. "I wouldn't do that."
Reigen nodded, mumbling, "He's not as unstable as this is making him look."
Ritsu's feet tapped on the floor.
"How do I get to use my powers freely?"
"It's better to actually try them out, rather than explain, Ricchan," Dimple replied.
"Don't call me that."
Teru chuckled softly, bringing his head out of his hands.
"Okay, then," he floated higher, "I'll just call you Ritsu - close your eyes and relax your whole body."
Ritsu stared skeptically, but eventually did as Dimple instructed, which prompted the ghost's sly grin.
Possession! He declared, storming into Ritsu's mind. You fool! Now your body is mine!
There were cries of dismay as-
Ritsu's hand slapped on his face.
The despair changed to laughter.
"Oh, thank god."
What?! I can't control his body!
"Plot twist!"
"Hm?" Ritsu picked at his reddened cheeks, searching around. "Where'd you go, Dimple?"
It's because my spiritual powers have become so weak… Dimple cursed. Damn it!
Ritsu looked down at his hand, glowing a kaleidoscope of purples and blues.
Reigen felt mildly surprised that his powers looked so different from Mob's. Although, he supposed, they were very different people. Or maybe it was just different for everyone.
The bell rang at Salt Middle School, and Ritsu and Kamuro strolled the hallways of the building. Students that they passed by talked after them in admiration.
"I heard that the student council took care of the problem."
"You mean about the perv gang leader?"
"They're like heroes."
"They're the heroes of the school."
Ritsu winced, rubbing the back of his neck, eyes down.
Kamuro halted his steps. "Yamazaki-kun from Class 2-4, I'd like a word with you."
"Huh?" Yamazaki frowned at them, "What do you want?"
"You haven't fully buttoned up your coat."
"So what? Buzz off."
"Yeah, I mean, when it comes down to it, who fucking cares?"
"I can use them…" Ritsu breathed out. A bottle of soda moved in the air where he pointed his hand. "I can use psychic powers, Dimple."
'It's because I'm controlling the output,' Dimple said from his mind, 'but you've always had latent psychic powers, Ritsu. And I'm deducing that the reason they came out now is due to your emotions.'
Mob flinched slightly.
What?
The experiment dropped as he slipped out of Ritsu's head.
"Did something stress you out badly lately?" he asked, "Like shitting your pants in front of a lot of people, or getting caught peeping into the girls' locker room?"
Ritsu picked the bottle up, giving Dimple a look, "Of course not. Are you mocking me?"
"It's just a joke. You're so damn serious, Ritsu. Oh," Dimple raised an eyebrow as he remembered, "That's right, you're an honor student. Then, what?" he gawped, "Did you do something bad?"
Ritsu's eyes burned holes into the floor.
"I heard rumors that you were stealing the girls' gym clothes," Kamuro continued.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"And so the student council did a bit of investigating…" he addressed Ritsu, "What did we find out, Kageyama-kun?"
"We found some of the girls' gym clothes in your bag, Yamazaki-senpai," Ritsu replied.
"Huh?" Yamazaki gaped in fury, "What?! Stop lying!"
"Why the fuck you lyin'-"
"Why you alway's lyinnn~"
"You can try to say that you didn't do it, but that might prove difficult." Kamuro smiled slyly, "The school's been very strict with perverts lately."
Yamazaki flinched.
"I'll give you one way out of this. Onigawara ordered you to do this, didn't he? If you admit that, you're merely another victim."
Sweat ran down the delinquent from top to bottom.
"Oh, and button up."
Someone whistled.
The whole school had been cleaned up and turned into the optimal environment for academics.
The screen showed clips of the peaceful school and classrooms.
However, because of the considerably immoral strategy that was used upon certain students, there would be a deep, black scar engraved in their lives.
I did that I did that IdidthatIdidthatỊ̵̧̡̘͙͖̙̦͍̖̝͈̀d̴̘͙͉͉̯̯̟͚̠̙̭̉̃̉̇̓͊͒̾̚i̸̢̬͖̯̦͙͇̰̹̹͈͋̉̈́͜d̷̛̬̼̟̯͗̋̌͗̃̈̃̑͋̚ͅt̸̨̧͕̞̬̰̮͔͚͔͛̃̾̀̈́͜h̶͖͙͇̬̉̈́́̔̾̓a̸͚͎̔̔̈́̓̍͂ţ̸̡̨̻͉͚̲͙̫͚̟̔̓̌͌̊̐̈́̉̑̊̌̋͘͠͝
Students with "pervert" labeled on them with sticky papers crowded the white landscape. Ritsu and Kamuro walked through them with their backs turned.
And the two that carried it out would have to live with that burden forever… Therefore…
Kamuro stood tall with red roses showering him, a wicked grin on his face.
"Can we take this fucker off the student council?"
"I second that."
...they either became drunk with power and felt a delusional sense of accomplishment…
Ritsu was curled in on himself with cacti surrounding him, gripping at his head in agony.
Or suffered greatly.
Mob patted Ritsu's back softly, giving him one of those rare, soft smiles that made him want to cry.
"Whoa!" Dimple cheered, watching Ritsu's power wisp about freely. "Your power's grown even more, Ritsu!"
Corruption and guilt… Ritsu mused. Those are the things that become fuel for my powers.
"And Mob just picked 'all of the above,' ha-ha."
"Whatever it is, it's working! Something eating at you?"
"Dimple, you just won't stop talking."
"I'm getting the feeling that Dimple's going to die again."
The ghost's enthusiasm died down. "Eh?"
"If I were able to control my powers on my own," Ritsu looked up, "would I be able to make you disappear?"
"Solid question," Reigen muttered under his breath.
Dimple scratched his cheek. Is his personality changing, too?
Reigen's eyes narrowed, now. No... I don't think that's what's happening. Or, if it is, it's really just more of his 'real' personality, rather then the face he shows to the world.
He chuckled softly. He has the same problem as Mob, but for a very different reason.
Two spoons slithered around each other in the air, and dropped between countless others.
Takeshi sputtered, "S-Seriously?"
"Amazing…" Mitsuura turned to Ritsu with awe. "That's amazing, Kageyama-kun!"
"Do you want me to keep going?" Ritsu smiled up at him, "Want me to fold your car in half, Mitsuura-san?"
"CAN you do that? 'Cause I have this really annoying neighbor-"
"What?!" Mitsuura sweated. What the hell happened?
Teru splayed his fingers out in front of him, forming a wide fan shape. "Magic!" He whispered in a low voice.
Ritsu had been walking through traffic, on his way back home. He stopped, sighing.
"Can I help you, gentlemen?" he called over his shoulder. Four older teenagers were on his trail.
"Mad anime protagonist vibes from that."
The one in the front spoke up, "According to Kamuro, he had you plant all the evidence on us. Are you the one who framed us?"
Ritsu turned to face them fully, sliding his bag off his shoulder. "I have no idea what you're talking about… Dimple."
"Leave it to me," Dimple whispered back.
Reigen exhaled through his nose. "Don't. Use. Your. Powers. Against. Normal. People."
"THEY attacked ME!" Ritsu hissed.
"You could have run away. You're very athletic. Instead, you woke up and chose violence."
"Even if I did," Ritsu let his bag hit the cement, keeping his arm up as red spots formed on his cheeks, "It's too late."
"Why, you little…" The guy lunged at him, outraged, and grabbed him by the shoulder of his uniform. "Who do you think we are?!"
Ritsu took his wrist in return and twisted his arm off of him, looming over him as he screamed. His collapse on the floor after Ritsu dropped him enraged the other three.
The school watched in terrified silence- and morbid interest.
"You little shit!"
"That does it! Get him!"
They charged at him as well, only to be defeated in the blink of an eye. Ritsu stood in the middle of them, laughing hysterically.
"Oh, SHIT!" Someone screeched.
"THAT'S A BAD SIGN-"
Ritsu put his head in his hands as the room exploded with noise, the dam breaking all at once.
"Hey, there'a a fight," a girl watching from across the road pointed out.
"Scary!" her friend commented.
"But isn't that guy's hair even more amazing?"
"Eye-mouth-eye."
"Did- Did you just SAY an emoji?"
"Hyphen-underscore-hyphen."
As Ritsu picked up his things and turned to leave, Teru stalked towards him, his bag slung over his shoulder.
"Hey, you there," he called.
Ritsu faced him, "Yes?"
Gah! Dimple gasped with recognition. That's…
"I think that's enough."
"Redemption arc!" Someone blurted out.
The screen panned out, showing Teru's new, toppling hair.
Top of Teru's Head: 150%.
"Damn, y'all think he's compensating for something?"
"If you grow dependent on that, you're gonna get hurt," he continued. "You've got the wrong idea. You think you're someone really special. It's hard looking at someone who reminds me of my old self."
"Upgrades, people, upgrades!"
His smile fell, and he shifted his stance. "This is a warning. Don't try to live relying on psychic powers."
"What did I say? REDEMPTION ARC."
Ritsu's eyes widened at the mention. "Are you an esper?" He switched his bag to his other hand, "I don't know who you are, but I have no need to take warnings from you."
'Don't try to take a bite at him!' Dimple hissed, 'He's not someone you can beat!'
"I'm sure he's not much different from the people at the Awakening Lab," Ritsu reasoned, his glowing hand reaching out confidently. "I want to compare powers with him."
'Ritsu?! You idiot! Stop!'
"Sorry, Kageyama-kun," Teru said, smiling slightly, "But you have a ways to go before you can take me on. I'd be happy to practice with you, though."
Ritsu couldn't find the energy to protest. "Thanks, Hanazawa-san."
"Just Teru is fine."
"Then you can just call me Ritsu," he said tiredly.
Teru smiled again. "Okay."
Teru casually grabbed his hand, startling Ritsu, "Why, thank you for the handshake. I'm Hanazawa Teruki. A pleasure."
"How did you get this much character development in, like, a week?"
A surge of golden power forced Ritsu down, overwhelming him.
'Don't try to fight him, Ritsu!' Dimple tried again, 'Let go of his hand!'
Teru smirked down at them. "Having trouble staying on your own two feet? Ah, you're so young."
"Well... maybe he's not too different."
Teru chuckled.
The people on the opposite sidewalk yelled as a strong wind blew through the street. Teru glanced back in horror, letting go in favor of holding onto his wiggling hair. Ritsu stared at him in bewilderment.
'Now! Run!'
Ritsu panted, pushing himself off from the lamppost he was leaning on.
"I was surprised at how strong he was… And…" he put a hand on his chin in thought, "His brain was so developed. Is that why he was so strong?"
Reigen squeezed his eyes shut, straining in an attempt not to laugh.
"No… That was just because his wig didn't fit correctly," Dimple supplied. "Though I'm not sure why he's wearing it."
Ritsu looked down, "I'm so frustrated. I can't believe I lost to someone other than Nii-san." He turned to Dimple. "I want to get even stronger. So I won't lose to anyone."
"You are strong, Ritsu," Mob told him firmly. "There's no need for you to be overwhelmingly strong. There's no need for psychic powers in the first place. You're already very talented."
Teru blinked. That was probably the most he had heard Mob speak.
"I know," Ritsu said flatly. "But still, Nii-san..."
The screen changed to Mob walking through the city. A blonde lady that he passed by took notice of him.
"Little boy!" she called, toeing over to him, and Mob stopped to look back at her. She smiled. "Do you have a moment?"
i know, i know *dodges rotten tomato*
okay but in all seriousness i'm so tired y'all i hate school
and, because it keeps getting asked: the time they were pulled from is after Mogami but before S2 Claw.