"My name is Loid Forger. I am hoping to become your father."
Kusuo Saiki, a psychic, found himself ensnared in a high-stakes dilemma. Before him, was a man willing to adopt the two of them, relatively average and affluent, your average psychiatrist hoping to start a family. However, all was not what it seemed. Being adopted by him meant being adopted by an active secret agent, a risk far too great to take with himself and Anya wanting to live a normal life. Saiki perched on a chair, backward, with his arms draped over the backrest, his sharp eyes locked onto his opponent.
Loid Forger, better known to the West and East as Agent Twilight, a master of a hundred disguises, sat across from him, a picture of composure and openness. His gaze remained steady, concealing the analytical assessment of the young man in front of him. He was a man accustomed to balancing delicate operations, yet the factor that is the older brother of Anya posed a dangerous question. His mind raced through the pros and cons, debating whether or not to cut his losses and continue his search for a gifted child, or take the already developed teenager and his younger sister into the operation.
"Big Kuu taught me how to read and write, look."
Anya Saiki, the closest thing to a family member Kusuo had, as well as a telepathic psychic, raised one of their notebooks from the table, Anya's name clearly written on the front with a less-than practised hand. Her face sparkling with joy as she went on about all the mathematics and reading Kusuo taught her in the little notebook. Mr. Chimera had decidedly taken a seat on Kusuo's bed as she showed her handiwork to their potential foster father, who nodded along.
The Caretaker had left the three of them alone to talk to 'get along', but in truth he went back to his room to continue drinking.
"Ah, I see, I see. That's very nice of your older brother to teach you, little girl. Do you mind if I get to know him?" Loid nodded, his eyes meeting with Saiki's emotionless stare. "Why don't we have a chat, me and you?"
Kusuo merely nodded in response, thoughts formulating in his head. Behind Loid's smiling demeanour also lay another analytical series of thoughts, the two of them plotting in their minds.
A delicate balance has to be maintained with Loid Forger. If I am to be revealed as a Psychic, there would be no end of interrogations and scientific tests. I can't abandon Anya, nor can I just blast him away. I have to appear as…
'It is clear Kusuo Saiki is an intelligent and bright child, and considering his upbringing in this orphanage, it's clear that he would be suspicious of any prospective parents. If I am to be believed, I need to watch what I say and how I act. My alibi might need a change if I am to adopt Kusuo and his sister, but I need to assess him first. For now, in order to fulfil my goals I must appear as…'
"A normal person!"
This is not going to be the only time Loid Forger and Kusuo Saiki share identical thoughts.
"You've got an interesting collection of books there, you're quite the reader from what I can tell." And immediately, Kusuo had already failed at the former.
'Theoretical Physics, Psychology, Extrasensory Sciences. This kid is a genius!.. Operation Strix requires me to acquire a wife and child to enter Eden Academy to ascertain Donovan Desmond's true motives — but it didn't say anything about how many children I am to adopt nor the type of mother I should look for. Kusuo Saiki, I'll be sure to ask Franky for some background information on you, but from what I can assess, I have a prodigy in my hands here. Without him, I'm certain Operation Strix's success will be hamstrung from the start.'
Saiki glanced briefly behind him at his collection of overwhelmingly difficult subjects, especially for a sixteen year old to grasp. I needed those books to update my Limiters once and awhile, usually I'd hide them but I was being careless this time.
Kusuo enjoyed reading them alongside their educational benefit. Anya stared at him weirdly when he laid back on the bed to read through them, unable to comprehend the words and thoughts going through Kusuo's mind.
"I'm a psychiatrist myself, if you'd like to talk about psychology, don't feel too uncomfortable to share. I hope to get along with you well, Kusuo."
"Sure." Kusuo responded blankly. "Is Anya fine with going along with you, Doctor Forger?"
"She is, but I don't want to separate your sister from you," Loid spoke in a neutral manner. "I know how much a brother cares for their little sibling, and since you're old enough, I was hoping to have your consent without making this feel… forced."
'Operation Strix requires me to acquire a wife and child to enter Eden Academy to ascertain Donovan Desmond's true motives — but it didn't say anything about how many children I am to adopt nor the type of mother I should look for. Kusuo Saiki would make teaching and raising Anya much easier, and with Kusuo's clear intellect, it should guarantee Operation Strix's success.'
Kusuo maintained his poker face as Agent Twilight leaned forwards, his fingers intertwined with one another as he ran through the briefing in his head. Anya seemed dumbstruck at the endless stream of words coming from Loid's mind, unable to make sense of a few words that he used.
Wow, and all of that was said in only half a second. Kusuo couldn't help but mentally smirk at how easy it was to read people. From his experience, a spy's true motives were hidden under layers and layers of preplanning and careful consideration to maintain a mask, something Kusuo can definitely relate to with his psychic abilities.
But now it is my turn, Agent Twilight.
Living with a spy would complicate things for him and Anya, and Anya's well-being was all that Kusuo had to look after. 'Loid Forger' would only ensure their safety and well-being up until his mission was a success, and then it was over.
"Doctor Forger, me and Anya come from a very troubled background. I don't wish to insult you but I believe you aren't capable of handling children let alone raising them."
He would disappear. They would be abandoned with whomever the spy had married to carry out this act of a fake family.
I don't know what irritates me more. His fake sincerity or the whole ridiculousness of this operation. Reading the minds of spies tells me everything I need to know about them. They're in a world of lies, a world of half-truths and vague threats. A war of shadows where the truth is concealed at every turn. You, 'Loid Forger', Agent Twilight, play your role in this secrecy. So why do you think—
He thought back to that dream he had in the morning.
Kusuo didn't just think back to it. He watched it unfold again.
"Subject-001 is showing incredible progress in adapting to his abilities." A voice spoke behind the plane of glass that separated the room a young pink-haired boy sat in.
'Why can I hear them?'
His head turned towards the empty wall that those voices originated from, his eyes staring blankly through it. Several scientists stood by with clipboards in their hands, scribbling away as they seemingly looked back at Kusuo. They didn't acknowledge he was looking at them, their attention dragged away by the floating toys surrounding him. They were levitating off the ground.
"Begin the test." His perception warped after hearing those words. Time sped by, a blur of memories involving needles and devices being strapped onto him. Dials ticked and scales measured until it suddenly stopped.
Clarity returned, this time, he saw nothing but darkness. Kusuo's movements felt restricted, a tight metal band surrounded his head. Kusuo couldn't hear their thoughts, or use his X-Ray vision to see through. It was complete, and utter darkness.
"It won't be long until we can start delving deeper into his secrets. Are those limiters ready?" A young man spoke with a clinical coldness to his voice.
"Yes, Doctor. We've also developed a special pair of glasses for him to use to prevent the incident from before." A feminine voice responded. Kusuo could hear another person in the room, sighing in relief. "It's a miracle we even caught him in the first place, are you certain we can replicate his results?"
"If Subjects 005 and 006's results are to be believed, then yes. We just need a more potent source of his ESPer readings. May I suggest spinal cord fluid?"
"Too invasive, as proven in previous experiments, his skin requires a laser cutter with high output to even bruise. Even if we did extract spinal fluid, we could damage Subject 001's capabilities."
"We should start gathering material now, sedated, just in case 001 isn't compliant."
"Start it up, we'll start extraction when he's under."
Fifteen years of this went by. Fifteen years of being poked and prodded at by these people he knew nothing about. Why couldn't he disappear? Why was he here? Kusuo felt his chest tighten up as an intense droning noise filled his head.
It was so loud. It was so annoying.
Stop it.
STOP.
ENOUGH.
Alarms blared loudly in the hallway. Red lights flashed in and out, illuminating the destroyed wall and piles of rubble that stood in front of a single teenager. The scientists were nowhere to be seen.
They ran the moment his restraints broke.
Smoke poured from the broken wall Kusuo stood in front of, punched through with ease with his super strength.
The green-tinted sunglasses the scientists put on him to limit his petrification were slightly cracked from the sheer force of impact Kusuo had unleashed against his confines. Even if it were easier to just run through the building and petrify everyone in his sight, he didn't want to deal with the trouble it'll cause.
"Restoration." He held his hand over his glasses. The cracks sealed up, the flow of time going backwards as he reversed the damage he had done to them.
I guess I could escape now.
"Are you my big brother?" The fifteen year-old Psychic paused as he turned away from the scene of chaos in front of him. A little pink-haired girl with her hair tied up in buns stood behind him with a curious stare, as if the destruction behind him wasn't there. "You do all the cool explosions and mind power things, so exciting!"
Kusuo noticed it as they looked into one another's eyes, tinted green glasses matched a pair of beady green irises that stared back. Sparks flew above their heads as if they could see through one another. It was like radio static, fuzzy, loud, but more importantly it sounded like it was coming from both of their minds.
"You're a…"
"You're a—"
"Psychic?"
Kusuo's heart skipped a beat. This girl, standing amidst the rubble of his explosive escape, was like him. Those scientists again. They replicated his abilities, his burdens, and gave it to a series of test subjects. He felt tired, exhausted. Sweat flowed down from his forehead and onto the jumpsuit the Scientists shoved him in.
"What's your name?" Kusuo spoke without moving his lips, communicating back telepathically with the little girl.
"Anya," she replied similarly, her face plastered with a big smile. "And you're my big brother now, right?"
Kusuo blinked.
What kind of— Wait, no, I'm not smiling now!
Here the psychic was, in the middle of a breakout, and this small telepathic child was claiming him as her sibling. He found a strange sense of comfort with it. A strange, warm bubbly feeling in his chest.
"Yes, I suppose I am," he replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Let's get out of here, Anya."
Anya.
Kusuo thought. One secret laboratory, Three households, three orphanages, three different last names, three different families. He thought back on the times he had to quickly remove their foster family's memories, or leave in the middle of the night before they woke up.
Kusuo used mass hypnosis three times to protect their identities. One to make sure those scientists forgot all about the destruction he caused. The other to normalise their distinct pink hair. The last…
All of those times, they tried to hurt Anya or separate me from her. Kusuo's eyes met with Twilight in a darkened stare. He flinched at the psychic's gaze.
Agent Twilight, can you prove yourself to be different?
"If you will please forgive me, but what can you say to convince me otherwise?"
Agent Twilight maintained his calm exterior, through stare struck a chord. 'What is this feeling? Fear? No, he can see right through me if I lie to him now.'
He had faced scepticism before, but the intensity in Kusuo's eyes was different. There was something more than mere protectiveness there; it was a challenge, almost as if Kusuo knew more than he let on. Loid needed to be honest, and genuine.
"I don't think I can convince you, Kusuo." Those words took Kusuo aback for a moment.
"I have dedicated my life to helping others as a psychiatrist. My profession demands empathy, patience, and an understanding of trauma and its effects on young minds. I don't believe words can convince you, Kusuo, but…"
Loid leaned forward slightly. "I ask for the chance to prove that I can provide you and Anya with a safe, nurturing environment. Your happiness and stability are my priorities. If, at any point, you feel that I am failing in this duty, I will respect your judgement and step aside. But please, give me the opportunity to show that I can be the guardian that both of you need."
Loid Forger. A spy. Agent Twilight.
I can see right through you.
His memories, his emotions, his motives. Kusuo Saiki can see through the layer upon layers of lies that lay underneath the name 'Loid Forger'.
Kusuo doesn't mean this in a metaphorical sense, he was being literal. Right now, he was seeing Loid Forger's well-defined musculature and sleek physique.
Stop joking around.
He inhaled deeply.
So why do your words seem genuine? Replace 'psychiatrist' in your sentence with 'Spy', and I can see why. You wear more masks than anyone with a psychiatric disorder, and yet you remain stalwart in your beliefs…
Agent Twilight, Loid Forger.
I'll play along for now. Let's see how you'll maintain this ruse.
"Fine, let's get out of here."
Kusuo and Anya said their goodbyes to the orphanage when they left. Of course, with no paperwork.
One of these days, that caretaker is gonna be arrested for administrative neglect, Kusuo thought as he walked through the streets, Anya holding onto his fingers as they followed Loid from behind.
"What's admeenastratev nee-glec, Big-Kuu?" Anya asked, looking up at her older with wide, curious eyes.
Kusuo's glare focused on Loid. "It's when the caretaker doesn't do his job properly, so the police have to come along and take him away."
"Shock!" Anya exclaimed, her eyes growing even wider.
The trip to their new home involved public transport and a bit of walking, both of which Kusuo found unpleasant. The former, especially, with its cacophony of noise on public transport.
"Alright, you two. Here is our apartment," Loid announced after their short walk from the Bus Station across the street.
Kusuo glanced at the building behind Loid, its exterior grand and well-maintained. Wow, they really went all out on this one, he thought. Twilight's intelligence agency must be paying a fortune for this operation.
His attention returned to Loid as he stood on the stairwell to the entrance, looking at the brother-sister duo. "Starting from today, you two are my children. Oh, Kusuo, this might be a bit weird, but I need you two to act as if you've always been my children, alright?"
Kusuo nodded. "Got it."
"Ok." Anya chirped, nodding enthusiastically.
"And make sure to address me as Father," Loid added, "Just as the elite do."
"Papa!" Anya said with a bright smile.
"Old man."
"Hey…" Loid exclaimed, giving Kusuo a look of exasperation.
"Father, then." Kusuo's expression remained unchanged, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. Loid huffed for a bit, before opening the door to their apartment. 'That kid has some attitude to him.'
The two entered the remarkably modern apartment complex, being greeted by a simple hallway that led up to a stairwell, with mailboxes located on the walls to their left and right. The two psychic children followed Loid closely, Anya still clutching onto Kusuo's hand as they travelled up the stairs.
Clean, relatively spotless. And this time I won't have to clean the entire building. Kusuo could get used to this.
As Loid stopped at the fourth floor to turn down the hallway, an old lady paused to see the new family coming up the stairwell.
"Well, isn't this an adorable little family? Hello there." The Old Lady greeted the trio, her cashmere purse tucked under her arm as she adjusted her glasses to see the three of them. Loid reached out and took off his hat as a sign of greetings.
"We're the Forgers. We just moved in today."
"I am Anya. I have been Papa's child for a very long time."
"You misunderstood what Loid meant." Kusuo added mentally. "I'm Kusuo Forger. It is a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
The old lady seemed to ignore what Anya said. "Oh, what a polite young man."
Loid reached over to open the door, "Come on, let's go inside."
Kusuo entered, followed shortly by Anya and Loid. He paused to get a good look of his surroundings, being a relatively well-furnished and beautifully decorated home with an appealing light green wallpaper. His eyes wandered to the collection of books by a wall-mounted television as well as a nice kitchenette.
The latest in all modern amenities, I see.
"Ah! Tele-Vee!" Anya immediately took off, her small feet pattering against the hardwood floors as she dashed towards the television.
"Go ahead and turn it on." Loid took off his hat and set it on the nearby coat rack. Kusuo, your room is down the hall to the left." He gestured towards a corridor leading off from the main living area whilst taking off his gloves.
The familiar musical stinger of Spy Wars blasted from the speakers on the TV as Anya switched it on. The little psychic pointed towards it, looking towards her new foster father. "I like this show."
'Of all things…' Loid added, watching Anya hop excitedly in place as the animated show went through its musical opening.
You have no idea, Loid. Kusuo followed more slowly, taking in the details of the apartment. Everything seemed meticulously arranged, picking through the books he found an array of topics from the field of Psychiatry. He's taking his fake profession into real consideration. What a meticulously well-crafted image.
Kusuo should probably take some notes from the Spy on how to maintain his image of an average teenage boy. Or, well, that won't matter since Loid thinks he's a super genius now. Guess I'll have to make him think it was a fluke, otherwise who knows what kind of expectations he'll push onto me.
'First, I'll need to gather all of the essentials, and then I'll have to forge IDs for both of them.' Loid thought as Saiki walked past, preoccupied with his mental checklist to get done. The teenager picked out a book from a shelf and brushed his finger across the title.
I could kill some time. He sat down next to Anya with his newly acquired piece of literature. Spy Wars playing in the background as Loid moved towards the coat hanger to retrieve his white fedora.
"I'm going out for a bit."Loid announced.
"Make sure to grab some peanuts for Anya and Coffee Jelly if they have it at a discount." Kusuo chirped in, his attention focused solely on his book.
"Oh. Sure." The spy slipped on his black gloves as he opened the door to leave.
'How did he know I was going out for groceries?'