"I told you not to listen to him, look where he's gotten us now, you-," The villain kept babbling on, and on. It was getting on the hero's nerves. The villain hadn't stopped talking since they were locked in this closet, and he was on the verge of snapping, and so he did.
"Shut up!" The hero half-yelled, and the villain narrowed his eyes. The hero harshly pushed him against the wall behind him. "Just shut up for once, will you?" The villain raised his hands above his head, and the hero let go.
"You didn't have to do that, you know? You could have asked me nicely." The villain muttered, a blush appearing on his cheeks, and he was glad for the darkness of the place. Glad that the hero couldn't see it.
"Sorry, I lost control." The hero said, embarrassingly. They went quiet for a moment, awkwardly standing a few feet away from each other. And then the villain spoke up, again.
"Or you could have, made me." The villain whispered, shyly. And, the hero shuffled.
"What?" The hero asked.
"You could have...made me shut up." The villain implied, and the hero's eyes widened. He raised his eyebrows.
"Did you want me to?" The hero pressed, a smirk making its way on his lips.
"Tch, you wish." The villain laughed, as he forcefully broke the door of the closet and ran. The hero cursed under his breath and ran after him.
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The boy's eyes shut close, opting to press a kiss on your forehead instead because nothing else need to be said—he couldn't understand your sadness, but he knew he needed to stay right beside you at this very moment.
A/N ~ The scenarios are either, they are cheating or you just out of the blue want to break-up. Some end up with you breaking up and some you forgive him. BTW on some, I went overboard and I made it long.
🍃 Sehun
“Sehun...we should break-up."
He would look up from what he was doing and give you a death stare.
You looked down, biting your lip, "The fans don't want us together...they've tried the hate and they have threatened my life. I love you so much but-"
"You don't love me." He replied.
"I d-"
"No, you don't. You're giving up on us just because some fans don't want us together?!" He huffed and ran a hand through his hair.
"If you're going to just give up on us then leave."
A tear slipped from your eye, you knew he was stubborn and wouldn't listen anymore. So you got up and left to your friend's house.
🍃 Chen
It wasn't easy dating an idol. Not being able to see them for that long, them being on tours for a long time, and them being stressed. You loved Chen to death, but lately, you have been getting the attention you need. No love, affection, or even the little chit chats you had in the middle of the night. It was all slowly going away.
It was 9 in the night and you were waiting for him to come home. Once he did, you got up from your spot on the couch and looked at him.
"Chen..?" You whispered.
He looked at you with tired eyes and mumbled, "Yes.."
You started fidgeting with Chen's t-shirt. "We-We should..." Your eyes started tearing and you squeezed your eyes shut, tears dripping down.
"We Should break up!" You blurted, more tears falling.
He was emotionless. He sighed and you could hear sniffling. "Why."
You mumbled, "Chen we’re losing our spark, you don't show me love anymore, and that's all I want."
He clenched his jaw and mumbled, "We can work this out."
"No-”
"WE CAN WORK THIS OUT!" He yelled
It became silent, “Please....let's just try”
You sighed and nodded, “Ok.”
🍃 Xiumin
You already knew that he was cheating. Suho had told you since he cared about you. You were in the car, staring at your house, getting the courage to walk inside. A few deep breaths were taken, before opening the car door and getting out, shutting it behind you. You walked up the steps to your door and put the key in the lock. Entering the house, you quietly shut the door behind you, going straight to the bedroom.
As you got closer and closer, the moans were becoming louder and louder. The tears at this point were also starting to drip down your cheeks. You quickly wiped them with the back of your hand and opened the door, shutting it behind you loudly.
“Xiumin, im giving you three minutes to stop fucking her, change into some clothes, pack your things and leave. By the way, we’re over.”
They separated and the girl tried to grab her clothes, “No, take the fucking blanket and leave, I’ll burn your clothes, once he leaves.”
She ran out and you glanced at Xiumin, “What are you waiting for?!” The more he stood there with guilt written over his face, the more your tears were threading to spill again.
“Leave...please.” Your voice cracked and you felt broken, the tears making their way down your face.
He put his shirt on and mumbled, “I’ll get them tomorrow.” Xiumin walked towards the door and stopped, turning his head to look back at you, “"Just remember Y/N....I’ll always love you.” You followed him, wanting to beg for him to come back, that you forgive him, but you knew you need to be strong. As He walked out and shut the door, your head hit the door and you let more tears out.
🍃 Baekhyun
It was silent, with only phone notifications going off, and not from your phone, from his. Each time, a ‘Ping’ sounded through the living room you raised your eyebrow suspiciously.
You were never suspicious until know that he had her. His ‘best friend’. Your mind told you that he was dating her as well, but your heart told that they were just close, like best friends would be.
The couch seat next to you was empty as Baekhyun got up, putting on his shoes and coat.
“I have to go to work, Suho just texted that he needs all of us to go over some moves.”
You nodded and watched as he left.
Hours passed and you turned on the tv, only to be met with pictures of Baekhyun and his ex -- Taeyeon.
Grabbing your phone, you immediately texted Suho asking him if there was ever a dance practice. Once he responded with a ‘no’, you knew you should have listened to your mind.
You decided to do him a favor and pack his things for him, taking the duffle bag downstairs.
The door opened at 2 in the morning, Baekhyun saw you sitting on the couch, looking straight at him.
“What are you doing up still?”
You tilted your head and got up, pointing to the duffle bag.
“Take your shit and leave.”
He started to get mad, “Why?!”
“Go sleep with your other girlfriend, Taeyeon!”
He got pale and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything you opened the door and threw the bag outside, “Leave.”
He sighed and left. What did you do? You didn't cry, you just let one tear slip, before going to sleep.
🍃 Kai
Lately, you haven't been feeling like yourself. Your usually happy, outgoing, and fun. One day, that all went away, you didn't know why, but you felt like this ‘new’ you were rubbing off on Kai. So you decided to do something you never wanted to do.
”Kai..” You softly called out to him.
He turned around and a small smile appeared, “Yeah..”
You bit your lip and looked down at your feet, letting the words slip, “Let's break up.”
You didn't look up as you knew what his expression would be.
“I just---.”
“Is it hate? Ill have the fans stop, please don't leave.”
Your bag was next to you as you picked it up, “Kai, have seen me, im, not my usual self and I think this life is affecting me. I need to recuperate myself and maybe ill come back.”
He was crying, and the whimpers, and sobs melt your heartache, but you knew that this was for the better.
You walked out of his life and who knew for how long.
🍃 Suho
It was the fourth fight in a row in the same week. Words were said and you had enough, he always took it to far. He had left and you knew it would be hours until he came back.
You took this time to get some bags and stuff your clothes inside, grabbing your necessities, shoving them in as well.
You took the bags to your car and walked back in the house, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen.
Dear Suho,
I know this is the cowardly way to go, but im writing this letter to break-up with you. I should have waited till you got back, but I already knew what was going to happen. We forgive each other and then we fight. How long are we going to last like this? I decided to end it right now as I didn't want this effect to go on any longer. Please, take care of the next woman you love.
Forever and always,
Y/N L/N
Just like that, you left.
🍃 Chanyeol
Everything was perfectly fine, but all of a sudden, you wanted to break up. You didn't feel the sparks when you two kissed, you didn't have too much skinship with him. Maybe you just weren’t in the mood or maybe you had fallen out of love. You bit your lip and walked inside, S.M, going to see the boys. You heard music coming out of the practice room and decided to wait a bit before knocking.
Once you had knocked a small ‘Come in’ could be heard, so you walked in a happy Chanyeol immediately running over to you. You buried your face into his neck and the waterworks turned on.
”Jagiya....Whats wrong?”
He let you down before you looked up at him mumbling, “Im breaking up with you.” The room became silent, eyes were widened, crying was audible, and a pleading Chanyeol was the only thing talking.
You ran out of the room, never seeing him again or at least you thought.
A ‘Ping’ could be heard from your phone as you looked at it. An anonymous person texted you, asking if you had changed your number.
Y/N ~ Who is this??
Anon ~ It's me Y/N...Chanyeol.
You stared at his name before getting the courage and texting him back.
Y/N ~ Chanyeol...
Chanyeol ~ Remember how I said that if we ever break up im going back with my ex?
You rolled your eyes, ‘great so he was rubbing it in your face that he was with his ex....just great.’
Y/N ~ Yea. Are you just rubbing it in my face?
Chanyeol ~ No...because you are my ex.
Your heart fluttered, “Gosh he's so cheesy.” You mumbled to yourself.
Chanyeol ~ I hope we have a great relationship Jagiya :D
You chuckled and hugged your phone, “Sometimes lovers just need a little break, just to come back stronger.”
🍃 Lay
It was forbidden.
And it would always be.
They didn't like you.
And they never would
His parents despised you. You never knew why, but they just did.
You walked down the steps, and you heard Lay’s parents talking with him downstairs.
“Break up with her Lay...You know that she's not good enough for her.”
When he responded back with an “I will.” Your heart broke...wait...it didn't break it shattered. You covered your mouth with your hand and let the tears flow. What you didn't know was that they heard your sobbing. When you made eye contact with Lay, you ran upstairs to your bedroom, slamming the door behind you.
You heard lay yelling downstairs before it became silent. A knock came on the bedroom door and you yelled, “Go Away Lay! Im leaving you!!”
A part of you said that since he was going to do it anyway and you wanted last say. Another part said because you were hurt.
A chuckled emerged from behind the door, before its opening.
“Jagiya...I said that so they would eave me alone with breaking up with you and I knew that you were listening.”
You looked up at him through your blurry vision and hugged him, “God, you scared me.”
“I love you my nosy Jagiya.”
🍃 D.O
Never would you have thought to do this, but it came to the point that you did.
So enough when the words slipped out of your mouth, an argument started.
“They don't want us to be together Kyungsoo. Just let them get what they want.”
The both of you had overcome things like this with the fans, but it was getting to the point where you couldn't even go out in public together without a crowd of fans tearing the both of you apart, you getting lost in the sea of people. You even got injured once as a fan, hit you with something knocking you out.
“Kyungsoo, if you love me please let me go, what if they do something to me...I love you, but im also worried about my safety.”
A sigh escaped from his lips, “Your right...” He ran a hand through his hair. You could see he was holding back tears and so were you.
That day you walked out, but never expected what was coming up in the next few months.
------ A Few months later -------
You were surfing channels on your tv when you saw Exo on one. You got curious and decide to watch. A tired D.O caught your attention and you gasped in horror as you taught him to take care of himself when he worked.
As you were caught up in your thoughts, your name was being said and you looked up at the screen when D.O looked at the camera.
“Yes, Me and Y/N broke up. She came up to me and told me, but you know what the reason was...it was the fans. It was about how they didn't want us to be together anymore and how she was scared for her safety and I knew it was true. I didn't want anything to happen to her, but then again I also didn't want to let her go.” He paused, taking a deep breath, holding in his emotions. “Then she told me, Kyungsoo if you love me please let me go. So I did...I let her go and a few months after that day I was planning to propose. Those few months were today.”
He took out a little crimson box and got down on one knee looking at the camera, opening the box revealing a ring. Not just any ring, a ring that was a crown with diamonds on the points.
“Y/N M/N L/N, Will you marry me and take me back as your husband?”
You felt something in your eye and you went to rub it when you noticed you were crying as you felt the wetness of the tears hit your finger.
That's when you also realized you loved him so much that you didn't care for your safety, that's when you realized you want to have a family with him, but most importantly you noticed that you wanted him.
So you took the next plan to South Korea and texted Suho for details on where they were staying. As you got to the hotel, you immediately went up to the floor Exo was staying at. You found D.O’s room A19 and knocked on the door. Footsteps approaching the door could be heard and when he opened the door, his face lit up. You immediately pulled him into a hug and started crying.
“I love you. I love you so much that I don't care about my safety, I love you so much and I was an idiot and I can't believe I broke up with you for a stupid reason and-”
“Gosh Y/N are you ever quiet.”
You two stood there in the doorway hugging each other in the quiet before he pulled you into his room, closing the door behind you.
“It wasn't a stupid reason, it was a valid reason and I realized that your safety s more important than our relationship.”
He then took out the crimson box, before opening it.
“So it's a yes?” He asked nervously.
You cracked a smile and nodded, “Yes.”
🍃 Kris (Former Member)
I thought of Kris with kids and how his eyes always lit up when he sees them ^^
At home with your kids was stressful enough, but with Kris coming home late from ‘Work’ was adding more to your stress. It had been happening for 2 years now and he would forget your dates, he even forgot your birthday once.
Today, once he came home late, you had enough, so you decided to follow him. Yes, it was a stupid idea, but you needed to know what he was doing. The next morning, when he left for work you started to lay out the plan, drop the kids off at your moms’ house, dress up in some clothes Kris had never seen you in, and go to his job at 6.
AS the day was getting darker, and darker you got ready dressing in your clothes, dropping your kids at your moms’ house. You drove to his work, parking in the front, looking directly at the door, taking some pictures on your phone. Thats when you saw him, Kris was walking out and he got into his car, driving off. As you followed him in your car, you decide to stay back a few feet so he wouldn't suspect anything. He stopped in front of a hotel, seeing a girl get into his car.
Tears pricked at your eyes, but you held them back, continuing your job. You saw that Kris stopped at a park, seeing them both get out of the car to probably take a walk. You got out of your car and lifted up the mouth mask, walking behind them. They didn't notice you until Kris pulled out his phone and called you. As your phone started ringing behind them, They turned around and Kris had his eyebrows furrowed.
“Y/N?! Are you serious?!”
You immediately ran back to your car, footsteps pounding behind you. As you got into your car, Kris was beating his fit against your car window.
You took a breath before, driving away seeing him get in his car and follow you.
When you got back to the house, Kris immediately started yelling at you, but then stopped once you yelled this.
“JUST SAY IT KRIS, YOU REGRET HAVING KIDS WITH ME AND YOU LOVE YOUR EX!”
“YOU KNOW WHAT Y/N I DO REGRET HAVING KIDS WITH YOU AND I DO LOVE HER!”
You nodded, and went to your car, driving back to your mom's house, picking up your kids.
You texted him ‘We’ll work out the details once i get a lawyer, I’ll get the divorce papers as well.”
🍃 Luhan (Former Member)
Whoever breaks this little baby’s heart is cruel. I can’t stay mad at this little munchkin....like who can.
Luhan.
The man you love and support.
That was until you found him cheating.
Not with just any girl ‘No’ It had to be your fucking best friend.
You had never blown up, but today you did.
“ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS LUHAN!?!?”
Your quite, shy, and flustered persona was gone and was replaced with a mad, loud, and vicious persona.
You immediately went over to your ex-best friend, pulling her off Luhan.
“Get your nasty ass out my mutha fucking house, before I kick you out like the fox you are.”
Once she had left, you immediately turned your attention to him, a look of guilt and anger, splashed across his face.
“What the hell Y/N?! Why did you kick your friend out like that?!”
Is he serious right now, did he just ask you the stupidest question ever? He stood up, putting on his boxers, before waiting for your answer.
“So you want your booty call to come back, well you can go ahead and call her back to you once you out of my house.”
Luhan rolled his eyes and mumbled, “She's not a booty call!! I just call her when you're not here and I'm lonely.”
You clenched your jaw and charged at him, hitting his chest repeatedly, tears pooling out your eyes.
He grabbed your wrists, and mumbled, “Do you really want me to leave?”
You nodded rapidly, “Yes...YES!!”
Luhan let go of your wrists and nodded, “Ok.” with that he walked out.
🍃Tao (Former Member)
Once the words left your mouth, it was quiet. Tao put down his phone and glanced up at you.
"We should break up." He mocked you.
You stood there still and silent, not looking up at him.
"Maybe the fans were right.....you just loved me for my fame and money." He took a breath and gritted his teeth, "Now that Exo isn't getting attention. The moment I stop buying things, you leave me."
That was not why you broke up with him. The reason was you were slowly breaking, and time after time he was breaking with you. He was suffering, but he didn't understand that.
"Leave."
You nodded, walking towards the door. You opened it, but stopped yourself from walking out, mumbling, "Now you won't suffer."
A/N ~ Some of them were probably shit, im sorry, i just wanted to get something out for you guys.
"Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic. All you are is, pathetic." The villain hushed, the words getting carried into the darkness of nothing but a singular light coming from the window on his left. Silence.
The hero scoffed and then half-laughed, "At least, I'm not a loser who the world is behind." His hands itched against the ropes that held him together. They weren't too tight, if he wished, he could untie himself and run away. But, he wanted to spend some more time with the villain, something he shouldn't be doing on his mission. Inappropriate. Who could blame him though? The villain's tactics to gain his attention were too cute.
"Oh come on, darling. We both know you're jealous of me because I'm more famous than you." The villain said, with an almost childish smile on his face. The hero sighed.
"Hmm, what can I say? Of course, I'd be jealous of such a pretty face." The hero let on, grinning. The blush that crept on the villain's face, was worth everything. Widened eyes stared back at him in amusement. He wasn't normally the one to flirt, but today somehow felt different. A gained confidence, a crush to make blush. The villain smirked, after regaining his composure.
"You're not so bad yourself, Gorgeous." The villain said back, eyes gleaming with excitement. And, now it was time for the hero to blush as his body ran with adrenaline, warmness flooding through. His heart raced. He felt himself untying the ropes, and standing up. The villain raised his eyebrows, not moving. The hero walked towards the villain and handed him the rope.
"Try harder next time, sweetheart." The hero whispered in the villain's ear, who was standing there, stunned. And, before he could even react, the hero took off running. The villain cursed under his breath and ran after him.
"Dismissed, you are." The villain told his sidekick, swirling a glass stone in his hand. He thought about his previous meeting with the hero. How both of them had gotten so close to each other that they could basically smell one another's perfume. He sighed. For some reason, it was stuck on a loop since that day. What's funny is, it's almost been a week and he can't get it out of his head. Neither does he want to. It feels wrong to just…just forget about it as if it never happened.
So, the next time he found himself fighting the hero, he made sure to be as far away from the hero as possible. He tried his utmost not to get into close combat or anywhere near 4 feet of distance between them. Unfortunately, though, the hero noticed his strange behavior. The hero stopped him in mid-battle and frowned.
“What’s wrong with you, today? You’re not fighting properly, your stance is extremely wrong and you don’t seem to be paying enough attention to your attacks. You okay?” The hero breathing heavily marched toward him. His face, somewhat concerned, but bemused, shone under the high sun. The villain stepped back, still refusing- and reminding himself- not to get too close to the hero.
“Stop! Don’t come too close.” The villain groaned, his head throbbing with the heat around him. The hero’s brows knitted together, not convinced, he continued to move his feet and stopped when he was about a foot away from touching the villain.
“What?” The hero asked, licking his lips. The villain, despite himself, followed the movement of the other’s tongue. Entranced. He sighed, glancing away, not wanting to look into the hero’s eyes.
“Nothing. I’m f-fine. Just want some space.” The villain murmured, his feet shifting away from the hero, but before he could, the hero’s hand was on his wrist, restricting him.
“Are you sure you’re okay? Your face is red.” The hero said, tugging at the villain’s wrist. His lips pressed in a straight line, jaw tightened. The villain attempted to ignore him, but to his vail, the hero merely tugged him close. His body flushed against the hero’s, whilst he stared at the ground, his heart racing. “Look at me.” The villain shook his head.
The hero brought his hand up, put it under the villain my chin, and forced him to turn his head. “Did I do something wrong?”, the hero swallowed. And the villain wanted to say something because the way the hero’s voice was so gentle, made him feel wobbly.
"No, you didn't do anything wrong. Now, let go of my hand, will you?" The villain muttered, putting his hand on the hero's. The hero didn't even flinch a little, studying the villain with his big doe eyes. The villain huffed.
"Then why?" The hero asked.
"Because, I…I get this feeling when you get too close during our fights."
"Huh?”
“I like you, you idiot!” The villain exclaimed, going red in the face. His heart beating so fast, he feared it was going to stop without warning. “I’m not supposed to, goddamn it. But, I do.” The hero stood stunned, his grip loosening around the villain’s hand.
“Oh.” The hero let out. His face was set in concentration mode. “I didn’t-didn’t know.” The villain waited patiently. The hero looked him in the eyes.
"I'm sorry. I'm sure you don't like me back." The villain whispered when the hero didn't say anything. "This isn't your problem."
"What if I said I like you too?" The hero suggested, his voice calm and collected. The villain stopped.
"What?"
"I like you, too. I have liked you for like months now, but I was afraid you wouldn't like me back. And, I know we're not supposed to be romantically involved, but we can't help who we like or love, can we?" The villain smiled a little.
"Yeah."
"Yeah. Wait, can I kiss you?"
"Thought you'd never ask." The villain laughed, as he pulled the hero close and kissed him softly. The hero, hesitantly so, kissed him back. And, it was perfect. They were perfect. This was perfect. They would deal with the world around them later.
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"what are you saying, mother...?" Azumi's eyes glistened with the tears she's been suppressing. "you had other intentions...?"
Akina sighed exasperatingly, raising a hand to rub her temple, trying to ease the growing headache. "... This wasn't the right time to tell you."
"Well, when were you planning to tell me?! Years later after I've mastered my psychic abilities?!"
"Yes." Aiken answered bluntly, looking straight at his daughter's eyes as it darts from his to his wife's. The look of betrayal was prominent on Azumi's face; with eyes the widest they have ever been since she was a child, and eyebrows furrowed in denial. She refused to comment on her father's brutally honest reply. Not like she could anyway; a lump had already formed in her throat, preventing her from speaking clearly without her voice cracking midsentence. As if a rope of thorns are wrapped around her neck, occasional sharp pains pricked her throat.
"There was no other options to choose from so quickly. We feared your powers would be too much too soon, so we went with the best decision we thought." Aiken explained, maintaining eye contact as Azumi takes unconscious small steps back until her calves bumped the sofa. At the unexpected impact, she almost lost balance and, fortunately, didn't fall on her butt on the couch. It would have been embarrassing to argue after just falling.
"This issue involves me! Why didn't you consult to me first?!" She was now yelling, the dam in her tear ducts breaking and sending rivers down her cheeks. "If you thought lying to save you the trouble of talking to me would be best, you were wrong!"
"But I suppose you're too busy with other things to care about—" Azumi cut her sentence short went she silently choked on her saliva. Usually, she'd be embarrassed, but she was too deep in emotion to be feeling only a specific one for a moderate amount of time.
"What does that supposed to imply?!" Akina joined her daughter in standing, seemingly understanding her words despite it being abruptly cut. "We're doing this for you! For when you've given up all your powers you've had your whole life to your child! When you turn into an ordinary person, atleast you'll live in comfort. In luxury!" Azumi was irritated at her mother's assumption of procreating. How dare she, she doesn't get to decide on that. Whether she decides on an offspring is up to Azumi.
"I don't need luxury if it means I have to be neglected by my own parents! Parents who could always spare time for their lonely daughter, who spent all her life trying to achieve all her parents' expectations hoping to be rewarded with praise and attention." Azumi tried not to sniffle too loud, not bothering to wipe her tears. "and receiving nothing after all those years." Azumi walked away, the first time she's done that to her parents, and she felt a new sense of freedom by doing so.
"Azumi—!" Aiken was already by his wife's side, shutting her up.
"It's fine. Let her be alone for the remainder of the evening. We'll discuss about this again some other time..." He looked at his wife in the eyes as he held her in place, knowing she'll follow their daughter to her room demanding an explanation for her deplorable behavior. "We're also at fault here, Akina."
——————————
The next day, Azumi woke up all puffy and blotchy after crying so hard last night. She intended to wake up just after Aiken and Akina left for work, so she could prevent running into them in breakfast and in departing. Not like they ever encounter everyday in the morning, anyway.
.
.
.
Azumi arrived at school early, so she decided to take a detour from her usual walk straight to her classroom. She headed to the side of the school, where very few people would choose to walk through, and sat down on the concrete bench surrounding one of the trees. It was a windy morning, mild gusts of air blowing from the east, providing Azumi with the coolness she needs to feel as comfortable as possible. She was content on simply watching the leaves sway and fall from the wind until the morning bell chimes, but she was interrupted.
"Huh? Little buddy?"
Azumi turned to see Nendou approaching her. 'I didn't pin Nendou to be one of the early birds.' She gave a small wave, before redirecting her attention to the sky. 'But maybe it's just for today that he arrived here early, I do remember him mentioning about some early morning try-outs.'
"What are you doing here? Let's go to our classroom!" He beamed, before shifting his expressions to a more playful one. "Or did you forget where to go? Don't worry, little buddy, I'll show you the way!"
Azumi smiled at this. "No, I didn't forget. I just thought of clearing my head before school starts." She watched as he walked closer to her to listen more clearly to what she was saying, before another gust of wind blew the trees and drew her attention back to them.
Nendou decided to sit down next to her, planting each of his palms on the concrete beside his thighs and leaning back, using his arms for support. "Eh? Clear your head? Where will your brain go then?"
She lightly laughed, sparing her friend a glance. "It's not that type of clearing. I just want to forget about what happened to me last night."
"Huh, something happened to you last night?"
"Say, Nendou, how is your relationship with your parents?" Azumi realized her confession, and attempted to change the subject before her companion pries too much.
"I only have my mom. My dad died before I was born..."
"I–I'm sorry to have brought it up." Azumi felt bad for being so insensitive, she intertwined her fingers together and broke eye contact with Nendou. "How is your relationship with your mom, then?"
"Oh, we're doing fine!" His drastic change in expressions is questionable. "She got a new job at this company that she says pays more. I'm really happy about that, because my mom says she can buy me new shoes now! Though, last night she made me clean my room because I came home late and made her worry... Oh yeah! What happend to you last night? You hadn't told me that yet"
'To think that he came back to the topic after my distraction.'
"A–Ah, that..." Azumi hesitated, 'I guess telling him would be fine. I mean, he's not one to judge the lives of his friends, right? I'll just leave out the whole psychic powers thing.' She sighed.
"... I had a fight with my parents..."
•°●•°●•°●
"I feel like a kid who got beat up by a delinquent on their first day at a new school."
Azumi wanted to talk to Saiki about what she found out from her parents last night. She wished to tell him, most likely out of spite from being lied to, but also because it involves him as well. Just after she rounded a corner, she was surprised to see an unfamiliar student walking next to Saiki as she was heading to her classroom. She raised a hand to fiddle with her ear cuff, curious to know what his relationship was with the new student.
"I don't get why you want to hide it. Psychic powers would get you all sorts of attention." The new student was being too loud with his words in their sort of environment.
Azumi raised her eyebrows at the thoughts incoming behind her and hid in an empty classroom. She felt Teruhashi about to walk by and pass the two boys walking ahead of her.
"That's what I don't want."
A few seconds and a gasp later... 'Looks like the new transfer student fell for me, too.' Kokomi cheered in her head as she leaves the hallway, bringing Azumi out of her hiding spot. She furrowed her brows at what Teruhashi had done, confused on why she would actively search through the school looking for the transfer student only to receive a mere gasp for her efforts. She can always wait for him to hear about her and watch as he finds her. Atleast in that way, she can just sit pretty.
"Wh–Who is that beautiful girl?!"
"That's Teruhashi-san. She passed by us on purpose. You should be thankful."
Toritsuka Reita reacted loudly, shaking the shoulders of Saiki, before quickly being flocked by girls. All of which are curious about the news that spread about his psychic abilities.
"Saiki-san..." Toritsuka began, seemingly shocked by the crowd, but easily recovering. He smiled and gave a thumbs up in Saiki's direction. "Maybe I can settle for this."
'It'll die down, soon enough' Azumi thought, taking the chance to stand beside Saiki as if she had just arrived. She kept her hands in her pockets as the two psychics witness Toritsuka do his job in impressing the girls before him. "Who is he?" Azumi feigned ignorance of the situation, turning her head to look at the friend beside her.
Saiki shortly glanced at her in masked skepticism, before looking back at the gathering people around the spirit medium. "Toritsuka Reita." Azumi nodded in response, turning as well to watch the commotion in front of her.
Takahashi and his friends insisted Toritsuka tell their spirit guardians after initially being ignored, which inconvenienced the spirit medium in his quest to woo every girl that are around him. "Okay, let's see..." Toritsuka deadpanned, sparing them only a quick look. "Geezer, hag, hag, and hag. Okay, it's done."
Azumi got overwhelmed by the growing number of people gathered in the hallway, she sought solitude. In her attempt to walk away, she drew the attention of Toritsuka. "W–Wait—! You there, don't you want to know your guardian spirit?!" He gaped as she ignored him and left to go to her classroom. Toritsuka turned to the psychic he knows. "Saiki-san, do you know her?!"
"Ah, that was Kanasawa-san. She was new here on the first day."
"She's got a crazy powerful guardian spirit. Maybe even a psychic...?" He whispered to Saiki, to which his words piqued his interest.
He was about to repsond, when Kaidou came and interjected. "Guardian spirits? What nonsense." He acted uninterested, despite his thoughts telling otherwise. "Still, I'd suppose it would be rude not to hear you out. So tell me what my guardian spirit, or whatever, is."
Toritsuka was about to deadpan at him as well, but his guardian spirit was too interesting to not comment on. "Huh? Your guardian spirit is quite abnormal."
'Seriously?! 'Quite abnormal'?! Is it a demon?! A sealed monster?! A dark spirit?!' "I-I see. So what is it? Tell me." Kaidou had an obvious blush on his face, but despite his excitement, he lowered his voice to maintain his appearance of uninterest.
"It's a chihuahua."
"Ch-Chihuahua?!" Kaidou exclaimed as the students around started laughing. Looking down on his clenched fist, he started mumbling to himself. "How dare he?! I bet he's a fraud!"
Toritsuka faced Saiki. "Introduce me to her so I can tell her about her guardian spirit." His favor sounded friendly, but adding in his expressions and his true thoughts, it became too friendly and borderline perversion. 'Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute, cute, cute. She looked so cute...' Not like he wasn't a pervert, anyway.
"What was that about, Kanasawa-sensei? Are you feeling alright?"
"Quit repeating 'cute' in your head...!" Saiki directed his thoughts to only the spirit medium, irritated at his noisy mind.
——————————
Aiken looked up from his desk, seeing the faces of two of his co-workers. "Hmm? What do you mean, Kinji-san?" He addressed the hospital resident who was with him in the OR, lowering the pen he was holding.
"In the surgery a while ago..." Kinji started.
"Why, what about it? Did I cut something wrong in any way?" Aiken knit his eyebrows, worry bubbling within him.
"No, it's not that. You did everything perfectly."
"So what's the problem here?"
"The problem is, you did everything. It was as if there was no one there to assist you in the surgery." The other doctor, Taiji, replied. He was there to confront Aiken after having been approached by Kinji. 'I appointed a number of residents under Kanasawa-san, because he was the best of the best, but how can they learn from him if he doesn't give them a chance?'
"Yes, is there something bothering you? This normally isn't the case." Kinji held on the backrest of the chair on the other side of Kanasawa's desk, contemplating if he should sit down or not.
Aiken sighed, leaning back on his chair. "It's a family issue. I apologize. I promise it will be ameliorated by tomorrow."
.
.
.
"Kanasawa-sama, the new managers of the marketing department have arrived. We are waiting for you to teach them the ropes." A petite young woman entered Akina's office after notifying her presence with a knock.
Akina looked up from her documents, she had finished little in the span of the morning, and the executive secretary took notice of this. "Is that so?" She turned back to the papers on her desk, lifting her pen to scribble in her signature. "Call in one of the presidents to lead on the managers. Whoever you choose that best fit the role will be my substitute." She spoke after a moment of silence.
"Are you not feeling well, Kanasawa-sama?"
"Yes, and so I entrust the decision to you, May-san." Akina looked at the young psychic in the eyes, an aura of superiority radiating off of the CEO. "Good luck."
"Come on, Saiki-san..." Toritsuka pestered Kusuo after he followed him around the whole day, through lunch and even now as they were walking out of the campus.
"As you wish, Kanasawa-sama" She bowed before leaving the room. May heard the sigh coming from her supervisor right before she fully shut the door.
——————————
Toritsuka mistakenly thought Nendou was a ghost a while ago, having swung his bag at him, and were now on their way to his home at the temple to explain his reason for assault.
"Just tell me more about Kanasawa-san!" He whined like a child that was denied from eating candy. "The ghosts avoid me like the plague when I ask about her from them."
"They do?" The new information grabbed Saiki's attention, but he didn't turn to look at his companion. "Well, they should."
"Is she a psychic like you? Because I think her guardian spirit might be an ancestor of hers. They look alike..." Toritsuka gave up on his begging, knowing that Saiki will not let out information even if he cried all night. Toritsuka leaned his head back on his interlocked fingers, before his saliva was practically drooling from the corner of his mouth. "But if she is someone with psychic powers, then I should've come to her instead."
Saiki smacked the back of his head with his psychokinesis, glaring at him from the corners of his eyes. "Hey! Don't go changing your mind after annoying me last night."
"Ow—! That hurt you kno—" Toritsuka cut off his own sentence when something in him clicked, as if the slap urged the gears in his brain to work. "Kanasawa... Does Kanasawa-san live next to you?!" He held the shoulders of the psychic beside him.
Saiki frowned at his personal question and invasion of personal space. "Why would you want to know?"
"Last night, while I was walking to your house, I passed by this huge house that was beside yours. It had 'Kanasawa' written in the gate's plaque." Saiki raised an eyebrow, having already known the information, but Toritsuka continued. "It was strange, because there were no ghosts hanging around and in the lot. There are a lot of ghosts that prefer to hang out in mansions, so it came as a surprise when I saw absolute zero ghosts when I passed by."
Saiki hummed in response, before throwing off Reita's hands from his shoulders using his powers. He contemplated with the new information he received, continuing with his walk. 'Her family is a mystery, even with the help of ghosts. As I thought, there is no other way to figure them out without getting close to them.'
"We're here. Okay, could you touch me while using your psychometry?" Toritsuka said after they stopped infront of his house, making Saiki push the topic of the Kanasawa's some other time. "I think you'll know why I made the mistake I made a while ago."
As Saiki stared at him suspiciously, he held his shoulders and activated his psychometry. "This is..."
Kusuo trailed off as he saw a Nendou lookalike sleeping on the ground while leaning on the stairs "Let me introduce you. This is my guardian spirit" Toritsuka looked ashamed, and didn't even look at Saiki in the eyes when he talked.
"You really do have it tough"
•°●•°●•°●
Azumi dreaded to enter her house, standing in front of the double doors and contemplating whether to enter or to retreat to a nearby park. 'No, I shouldn't postpone this any longer. It is bound to happen, anyway.' With gathered confidence, she pushed opened the door and walked in.
'They're either waiting in the main living room, my room, or the dining room.' Azumi hoped they were in the dining room, but the call she heard after being halfway in walking past the main living room, proved otherwise. 'Living room it is...'
She silently entered and sat in the exact spot she was the other night, feeling the gazes of Akina and Aiken as she does.
A heavy silence hanged in their air, each member of the family waiting for the other to speak up. Aiken chose to start. "It has come to our attention that you have been feeling neglected and ignored by your mother and I... and, we wish to amend the mistake we made and be given another chance to become proper parents to you." He spoke slowly, thinking over his words before it would be said, so as not to offend anyone. "I hope our talk today will enlighten all three of us of the hardships we each have encountered, and discuss a proper solution to help."
"There should be no raising of voices. We are here to talk and to listen." Aiken finished, looking at the expressions of his wife and daughter to see if they understand and agree or not. The two nodded, making Aiken nod as well.
The Kanasawa couple met gazes, and Aiken prompted his wife to talk. "I... have come to realize that I oftentimes cut you off... Zumi-chan. I didn't know it would have a greater effect on you than waiting for you to finish what you're saying. I'm sorry. This is more on a problem of self, so I don't wish for you to change because of what I've done."
Azumi stared at her mother, harboring mixed feelings on the apology she received. She looked down, thinking over of what to say. "An apology is the first step to redemption... and so, I accept your apology." She took notice of the wistful look on her father. 'Ah, I guess he has nothing to talk about, because we almost never talk—or do anything, really—alone.' Despite Azumi thinking her father had nothing to share, she was surprised to hear his voice.
"I apologize for not spending any of my time with you, Zumi-chan." He looked down, with his eyebrows low, he refused to look at his daughter. "I will make it up to you over time. We'll be bonding together atleast once a week, now."
Azumi furrowed her eyebrows at his words. "But your work..."
"I can always have a number of leaves a month. Since I'm a talented volunteer, they treasure me enough to let me manage my own schedule."
"And I can always reschedule." Akina added in. "You were right. No amount of money can ever replace the love from your parents." Akina genuinely smiled at Azumi, who slowly returned the smile. "I'm sorry it took so long for us to realize."
"it's okay, as long as you both won't forget." Azumi weakly said, afraid to hear her voice crack as a lump formed in her throat just as what happened last time.
"Ah, before I forget. About what you said of being well-rounded yesterday." Aiken raised his head.
"A–Ah, that. You can just put it off as me blabbering because of anger. I wasn't thinking straight last night."
"No, what you say matters." Azumi locked eyes with her mother. Her eyes widened by a fraction at the words she never expected to hear from Akina. "I cared too much about you being powerless, I pushed you to be perfect in every aspect. I hoped that even without psychic abilities, you can live your life whatever you wish, and pursue your dream job, as if you had them. I was obviously wrong."
"I'm sorry, as well, that I made you master various martial arts. I was simply concerned for when you encounter immoral people, and had no other way to protect yourself. By the time your powers awakened, you've already achieved all the highest honor of belts." It was Aiken's turn to lock eyes with his daughter. "I'm very proud of you."
"I pushed you to perfect every instrument, sport and hobby I give you. And I truly am sorry for everything I have put you through." Akina said after her husband finished. "I am very proud of you as well, Zumi."
Everything was going too fast and is overlapping with each other in Azumi's mind. She heard an apology and words of praise from both her mother and her father, so why isn't she satisfied? Was she too stuck up to genuinely accept their words? If so, she's feeling very horrible right now. Nevertheless, she forced a smile and wordlessly nodded. She didn't know what to think of right now, and ought to think it through the night.
"We'll be holding something similar to this every week, so we can improve our communication with each other." Aiken concluded, standing up from his seat, his family following suit. "Now, let's have dinner. I'm famished."
——————————
It was Saturday, and Azumi woke up pretty early; that is, if you can count 10:15 am as early. She had a sports lesson with Furushima Yumi, the volleyball captain she met during 'chapter iii.', and ought to prepare before their agreed time of 11:30 am.
She finished everything, from changing into her sports attire to packing water and towels in one of her bags, after almost an hour. 'Alright, 15 minutes is probably enough time for me to arrive at the school. But only if I run... Should I take the car?' While she was contemplating whilst headed for the stairs that lead down to the ground floor, she saw, from the corner of her eye, a frantic boy in front of her gate. 'Toritsuka-san?'
Azumi watched as he shouted at seemingly nothing, elaborating huge gestures as he does. 'What in the world is he going on about?' She was curious to know what has gotten him so worked up. 'Kusuo-san's house is over there, anyway.' With her heightened hearing, without touching her power limiter, she listened in on what the spirit medium has been talking about with the air.
"Come on, it'll only take a few seconds to peek inside..." Toritsuka dragged on, slouching his back and hanging his arms, slowly getting tired of all the ruckus he's been creating. "What's so terrifying about that mansion, anyway...?"
He stayed silent for a moment, most likely listening to the ghost he's conversing's explanation. "Eh? Is that so?" He looked at the front door of Azumi's house, before sighing. "I guess I'll wait for Kanasawa-san to come out. Oh, I bet she'll be super cute today, too~!"
Azumi grimaced in disgust at his last words. 'Yeah, I should take the car.'
.
.
.
"Azumi-san—!" Furushima took notice of the approaching figure of Kanasawa, placing down her water bottle and excitedly jogging towards the girl. "You're here!" She beamed, eyes creasing in delight and arms open to hug.
Azumi slowed her walking at the gesture the volleyball captain was showing, hesitating on whether or not she was comfortable enough to accept the hug.
In the end, she awkwardly wrapped her arms around Furushima, choosing to be polite and accept the gesture of affection.
After the first few volleyball lessons that happened between the two, Azumi thought they were close enough to be called by each other's names. "ah-hah... Did I make you wait, Yumi-senpai?" She let out a short nervous laugh before stating her question.
Furushima released herself from the hug, but let her hands rest on Azumi's forearms, smile unfaltering. "Not at all. But I have missed you since our last meeting." Before the psychic could respond, the volleyball captain was already ushering her towards the court, a hand gently guiding her back. "I thought you were ready to play with a team, so I invited a few of my friends, if you don't mind."
"No, it's fine. It's a fundamental part of playing volleyball, after all."
As if Furushima's smile couldn't possibly get any bigger, it just did. "You look pretty as usual today, Azumi-san..." Once again, Kanasawa was unable to reply when one of Yumi's friends yelled their greeting once they saw them walking towards the court.
==========
A/N
discuss plot holes of "erratic heartbeats" with us! @ the link in my bio.
'Ah, the beach... I would've enjoyed your sand today if it weren't for my parents forcing me to go out' Azumi sits on her beach mat, an umbrella implanted behind her and shielding her from having heatstroke. 'A shame, Atsumi-san reported me for being closed in my room all summer. They never really did like me, I suppose.'
The psychic let out a sigh, her hand moving to shut all the thoughts around her up and wrap her arms around her knees. 'I don't understand how people can be so sociable.' Azumi commented, turning her head at the party going on near her. '... and loud.'
She thought the noise was getting louder, so she decided to pack and move to a different, and quiter spot on the beach. Wearing her sunglasses, she began her search for a new place to sit. The sound of the party slowly fades as she walks away from her previous position. 'Atleast they're having fun.'
The wind felt nice on her skin as it gently blows against her. Azumi was watching the swaying palm trees as she saunters on the cemented sidewalk, when a stray pebble made its way into her footwear. Cringing, she raised her foot to shake off the small stone, successfully relieving it from its discomfort. However, due to her movements, she accidentally stabs the back of someone with the end of her umbrella, earning a yelp from the aforementioned someone.
"SHIT. I'm so so sorry—" The situation surprised Azumi, as well as the poor person who was hurt from her carelessness. She extended her free hand to help support the boy—who looked oddly familiar to her—as he stands up.
"It's fine. Just be careful next time—"
"Hairo-san?" Azumi finally recognized the person in front of her once he turned around to face her, she lifted her sunglasses and laid them on top of her head. Hairo had a hand stretched behind him to sooth the spot in his back that had been jabbed, when he saw the familiar face of his classmate. Before he could greet her though, she already started talking. "I'm sorry for stabbing you with my umbrella. I was distracted because there was a pebble in my slipper; and I didn't see you because I was making sure the pebble was out and not providing discomfort to my foot. I should've looked at where I was going. I—" Azumi shut herself up by covering her own mouth after realizing she was rambling. "Again, I'm so sorry, Hairo-san."
Kineshi laughed at her reactions, successfully lightening the atmosphere. "It's alright, Kanasawa-san. It's good to see you."
His words brought a smile on Azumi's face. She liked his presence, because he always seems to bring her out of her shell at the right times, plus he's the kindest to everyone he meets. Atleast, that's what Azumi sees in him. "You too. By the way, what brings you here?" She gestured at the whistle he picked up from the ground after dropping it out of shock from their encounter.
"Ah, well, I volunteered as a lifeguard—" Hairo was cut off by a yell followed by splashing, a tell-tale sign of someone slipping into the water. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" He was already sprinting down to the shore.
'Kusuo-san, Kaidou-san and Nendou-san? Surprise to see them here.' Azumi thought, walking astray from the sidewalk and following Hairo.
He dived into the shallow waters, the force pulling down his pants, as he lifts the seemingly unconscious Kaidou. 'Hairo-san does have a knack of not wearing underwear.' Azumi sweat dropped, at his partial nudity. She layed her things on the sand close to Saiki and sat down, having decided that this spot was suitable.
"Oh, it's you Hairo!" Nendou greeted as Hairo stood up, holding Kaidou as he lay limp in his arms.
As Kineshi took notice of Nendou and Saiki's presence, Azumi is left puzzled. 'How did he pull up his pants while holding Kaidou?'
Hairo walks out of the water and places Kaidou on the sand in front of Azumi's mat, as if nonverbally saying 'look after him' and moving on to answer Nendou. 'It's a mystery to me how you don't see Kusuo-san as capable for this.' Azumi was about to turn off her power limiter to see how much water her friend inhaled, when the boy in front of her stirred, halting her hand mid-air. Saiki, who has been silently watching, squinted his eyes at this. "Kaidou-san, are you okay?" Azumi loomed over his head, with some of her hair that failed to be pushed back by her hand falling down and tickling his face.
She was too late to gather the ones that hanged, sitting back and expecting the sneeze Kaidou let out. Azumi grimaced, eyebrows knitted and looking apologetic, "eesh... sorry." moving to kneel beside him as he sat up. She hesitated to hold his shoulder as he coughed out the water that entered from his nose and mouth, instead she gave pats on his back, attempting to help get rid of any excess sea water.
Once Kaidou settled down, he took notice of Azumi's presence, having been the first face he saw after regaining consciousness. "Ka–Kana–Kanasawa-san?! Wh–What–HI."
His response relieved her, Azumi let out a sigh before smiling at him. "Hi to you too, Kaidou-san."
——————————
"Ugh... who's at the door this early in the morning..." Azumi groaned, dragging herself out of her room and in the hallway in front of her door that overlooks the front yard and gate. She had a hand on her ear cuff, sluggishly twisting and turning, in order to deactivate it. "And on the day Atsumi-san isn't here."
Atsumi was hired only for the duration of the summer break to maintain the lavish look of the Kanasawa manor, with a weekly day off for them to refresh themselves. Yesterday was their last work day before the next term starts.
Azumi squinted her eyes at the person in front of their gate, wanting to confirm herself despite the person's thoughts distinctly confirming almost her every doubt. "Hairo-san?"
'Hmm... Kanasawa-san isn't answering the intercom. Maybe she's not home.'
'What kind of teenager is up and about at 7 am on the last day of summer?' Azumi sighs, wanting to go back to bed, but her drowsiness has already left the moment she used her powers. 'Apparently, people like Hairo-san'
'I came here to return Kanasawa-san's beach mat and umbrella that she left yesterday...' He looked down on the bag he was holding.
Realization hit Azumi like a wreaking ball, as her mouth dropped, her hand raising to cover it. 'Oh yeah... That's what I forgot...' No wonder the feeling of having forgotten something never left her until she went to bed.
'Well then, I'll just give this to her at school tomorrow.' Hairo turned and was about to leave.
'No way, I'm not carrying those at school.' Azumi already teleported behind her home's front doors, creaking one open and successfully halting Hairo from his departure.
"Ah, Kanasawa-san! Sorry to bother you, but you left your beach mat and umbrella yesterday" He exclaimed once he saw the figure of Azumi walking towards the gate.
"No, I'm sorry to bother you, Hairo-san. You came all this way to bring me back my things" She opened gate and took the bag from Hairo's extended hand. "Thank you..." Azumi smiled at him.
'Oh My, My Dear, forgetful as you are, you're so rude. Invite him in. Invite the guest in. Invite him in.' She froze. She thought she heard the voice of her mother, but remembered she was at work. "... in...?" She hadn't realized she spoke before it was too late.
"In?" Hairo repeated, confused at the dazed look his classmate was showing. "Ah! Are you asking me to come in, Kanasawa-san?"
Azumi felt embarrassed for spacing out in front of him, she answered in confirmation. "yes...?" It sounded unsure and more like a question, but Hairo laughed it off and thought it was her usual shyness that was preventing her from speaking clearly. "I–Come in, Hairo-san." Azumi opened the gate wider for her classmate to enter.
"Thank you for the offer, but I'm sorry, Kanasawa-san. Today's my last day as a volunteer lifeguard. I have to do my best until the end!" Hairo was determined; he almost always is.
"oh thank god" She felt relieved he declined, wanting to be alone for the rest of the day to prepare for school tomorrow.
"Hm? Did you say anything, Kanasawa-san?" Hairo was distracted at his self-motivating thoughts. He turned to Azumi, who simply shook her head as a reply, a tight smile displayed on her face.
"Good luck, Hairo-san" She closed the gate before letting out a sigh.
'Even without her physically being here, I can feel my mother's criticism on everything I do' Azumi agonized, comical tears streaming down her face as she clenches her fist in frustration.
Teleporting to her room, a weird clinking sound came from the bag Hairo gave to Azumi. 'Hm?' She peeked inside, there was her umbrella sticking out, her mat neatly folded in and... are those seashells?
They were pretty, Azumi confesses, and had unique shapes, but she doesn't remember picking them up yesterday. She may be quite forgetful, but she knows she isn't one to get everything that catches her eye. No, that would be her mother.
'Why did Hairo-san give me seashells? Strange.'
——————————
A new semester starts at PK Academy. Some classmates were complimenting Hairo on his new tan, while most of them were flocking around Teruhashi, surprised to find out she had an eye on someone special.
Azumi was sitting in her designated chair, observing around her classroom, when she cringed at Teruhashi's sly excuse after she accidentally yelled and broke her perfect figure. 'Who in the world is Yurwei Offidjot?' She facepalmed, feeling vicarious embarrassment on Teruhashi's act.
Though, Kaidou, who was standing behind Saiki, misunderstood Azumi's actions. "Hey, Saiki, Kanasa—huh? Are you okay, Kanasawa-san?" Azumi lowered her hand, turning her head to face Kaidou.
"huh...? Ah, yes." She absentmindedly nodded. He looked weird today, with his hair styled strangely and sporting an eyepatch over his eye.
"Really? Well, if you're not feeling well, just tell me—us! Just tell us—! We're you're friends, right?!—"
"Get to the point, Kaidou" Saiki cut him off before he spiraled.
"O–Oh, right. Don't you think Nendou is acting strange today?" Kaidou stuttered, before glancing at the mentioned guy sighing and shifting his hand all over his face. "Normally, he'd be bugging us to get ramen or something"
"True. He is acting a little strange."
Kaidou and Saiki planned to stalk Nendou after suspecting him to be hiding something, and invite Azumi with them. However, "Azumi-san! Please help me!" Yumehara appeared next to her and dragged her out of the classroom, leaving the two boys to spy by themselves.
She dragged the psychic into a more secluded place, behind the school. "I don't know anyone to talk to about this, but please hear me out, Kanasawa-san!" Yumehara started, her voice cracking at the end. "My boyfriend, Takeru, and I haven't been getting along, and I think we're growing apart..." She sobbed, holding onto Azumi's forearms for support.
Azumi sweat dropped, not knowing what to do or how to comfort her. "Ah, I thought you liked Kusuo-san. When did you get a boyfriend?" At her words, Yumehara raised her head, showing the tears that were trailing down her cheeks.
"That's another problem! I think my crush on him is resurfacing..." She weeped, wiping her cheek. "Takeru used to be so romantic..."
"here we go..."
"He loves to say this phrase, but he's so repetitive at it. It's getting a bit tiring. And when he finally says something different..." Yumehara cringed at her memories, earning furrowed eyebrows from Azumi. "... it made no sense and turned me off."
Azumi nervously laughed, grabbing Yumehara's hands and holding it in hers. "I see. I appreciate you telling me all this, Chiyo-san, but I'm not the best choice to ask for love ad—"
"That's not all. Takeru's feet stink, he makes lots of noise when he eats, and he holds chopsticks weird, too. He's very condescending to store clerks, he's got terrible fashion sense, and he kills the mood at get-togethers all the time by dislocating his jaw..." Yumehara cut her friend off, enumerating all of her boyfriend's flaws. "These days, all I can see are his faults"
'Good grief. I normally couldn't care less about other people's relationships, but she might go after me again if they break up.' Azumi resisted the urge to look up and at the watching Saiki.
"okay, alright... What do you want me to do, Chiyo-san?"
"I predict that Takeru would bring me on a date later, before he walks me home. I want you to follow behind us, and if anything goes wrong, (like if we break up), atleast I have someone to be there for me." Yumehara turned away mid-sentence, whispering something inaudible—for an ordinary person—before continuing.
Azumi's features softened at her words. 'She just needs a friend.' She nodded, earning her a hug from Chiyo.
"Thank you, Azumi-san!"
.
.
.
'That's Chiyo-san's boyfriend?' Azumi thought, standing by the gate while holding open a book.
"Sorry to make you wait. Now that I'm here, the rain in your heart is—"
"Oh, it's fine. I just got here too." Yumehara didn't even let him finished, as she deadpanned at him.
'I'm guessing he was about to repeat his usual phrase Chiyo-san got tired of.' Azumi raised her eyebrows at the sight of Saiki behind one of the pillars of the entrance. 'Ah, he did say to himself that he wanted to salvage their relationship.'
"Wanna do something? Go somewhere?" Takeru started, walking beside Yumehara as they leave campus.
"Either is fine." Chiyo boredly replied.
"Then let's go somewhere."
"I can't go too far."
As the couple conversed, Azumi pretended to be busy reading her book as she follows behind. 'It'll be awkward to walk behind them with Kusuo-kun.' She resisted the urge to sigh, instead, she placed her free hand in her pocket. 'The two are heading to the town center... Maybe I can just stop by one place and wait until something bad happens to Chiyo-san.'
Azumi already turned a corner, opting for a shortcut to the town center and get ahead of the couple and Saiki. 'It beats having to act like I'm reading. And besides, Kusuo-san will be there to make sure everything goes perfectly.'
•°●•°●•°●
Azumi found a quiet café to rest and wait, having ordered a slice of cake to not raise suspicion. Her power limiter was turned off for her to listen to the thoughts of the people around her, primarily Saiki's, so as to keep track of Chiyo's actions.
Yumehara and Takeru's date was going smoothly, thanks to Saiki and his powers. 'I wonder when can I control mine like how Kusuo-san can control his.' Azumi sighed, lightly envying Saiki's ability to use his varying psychic powers at will.
'Her favorability meter is at ♡95♡. There's no way they can break up now, right?' Azumi had a bad feeling, suspecting that Saiki likely jinxed everything after thinking that. She stood up, grabbed her bag and dashed out of the shop.
'Good thing I paid after ordering.' Azumi headed to the direction of the Okonomiyaki place that Yumehara entered with her boyfriend. 'What is this 'favorability meter' anyway...?'
.
.
.
Saiki was about to turn and go home, having done so much for Yumehara's relationship, when he heard a yell from inside the Okonomiyaki shop. A voice belonging to a condescending, insensitive young man.
♡67♡
Takeru removed his shoes, his stinky feet fumes invading the air. "Man, I'm starving!"
♡49♡
He held up his hand that had his fingers weirdly tangled in his chopsticks. "Time to eat!"
♡31♡
He began chewing with his mouth open.
♡00♡
"... I can't take this anymore!" Yumehara ran out of the restaurant, crying as she leaves. "Goodbye!"
"Huh? Hey..." Takeru tried following after her, but he stopped at the restaurant's entrance, still chewing his food with his mouth open. "What's her problem?"
Azumi arrived just as Yumehara was about to bump into her. "Woah, hey. Are you alright, Chiyo-san?" She held the crying girl's shoulders to keep her upright, eyebrows furrowing in worry.
Yumehara peeked through the space between her fingers, immediately wrapping her arms around Azumi's neck once she saw it was her friend in front of her. "Wahh, Azumi!" The sudden physical contact distressed the psychic, she froze. "I broke up with my boyfriend!"
"... Um... There, there...?" Azumi hesitated, trying to choose her words right. She panicked when Yumehara cried louder, earning a few stares from the people passing by. "fuck, wrong words... um... ice–Ice... cream...?"
Yumehara sniffled, wiping her tears after withdrawing her arms from Azumi. "Ice cream?" She repeated, before brightening up a bit. "Yeah, ice cream will probably cheer me up after all that."
Azumi sighed in relief at her response. "Alright, I'll treat you to some ice cream."
——————————
"Kanasawa-san...!" Kaidou called out to Azumi as she walks along the school's hallways. She turned at the call of her name, just as Kaidou reached her. "I, the Jet Black Wings, will be holding a meeting later after school."
Kaidou had his hair covering one of his eyes, a serious look plastered in his face. "I have assembled formidable seni—no, allies in our quest to defeat Dark Renunion and stop their human seperation plan. We'll gather behind the school and discuss our plans." He turned and walked the opposite way Azumi was heading.
'Oh? He made friends, good for him.'
.
.
.
Azumi was fiddling with her ear cuff as she walks to the back of the school. Kaidou has always been talking to her about the secret organization of Dark Reunion, how overpowered he is despite the initial impression, and the reason behind his bandaged limb. She asked once about the torn hems of his shirt, pants and blazer, and was met with,
"I go through difficult battles everyday before school. Dark Reunion has been sending assassins after me, and I don't want to get the school involved, so I defeat them all before the morning bell rings."
Even though his thoughts reveal otherwise,
'I cut the hems of all of my uniforms, because it makes me, the Jet Black Wings, look cool.'
Azumi keeps hearing from others, even from Saiki, about how Kaidou has eight-grader syndrome. She searched about it, since it was the first time she heard about the syndrome, and was intrigued.
"Ah, Kanasawa-san, you're here." Azumi reached their meeting spot. There was Kaidou, but no sign of any one else. "The others are probably running late." He seemed to know what Azumi was thinking.
She nodded, walking towards him and laying her bag down on the bench. "How many are the 'others' we waiting for?" She knows Saiki was one of the others, having felt his presence nearby as he silently watches.
"There are four more, counting Saiki" Kaidou crosses his arms, trying to act tough and collected, but his thoughts were panicking. 'What if they don't show up?! That just means I wasted Kanasawa-san's time...! No Shun, they will come! The fate of the world rests on our hands! We have to be ready for Dark Reunion's next attack!'
•°●•°●•°●
'... they didn't come...' Kaidou sulked on the opposite end of the bench they were sitting. About 2 hours have passed, and the sun was shining just over the horizon. He hung his head low, his bangs covering most of his face. '... I wasted Kanasawa-san's time...'
Azumi hid her frown, head turned to her sad companion.
"Is he still there?" She piqued at the laughters her heightened hearing heard. She subtly looked up and saw the peeping heads of three seniors. "Yeah, dude, he's still there." They continue to fail to stifle their laughter.
Azumi faced front, trying to act like she was patiently waiting with Kaidou and ignorant of the three seniors' set up. She sensed the seniors peer over the window, leaning each of their elbows on the window frame, thinking he wouldn't look up and call them out. "What a loser. You were right when you said he had eight grader syndrome so bad." The three made fun of what Kaidou said to them when they first approached him, disparagingly mimicking his words.
"Haha, right?!—Hey, who's that chick with him?" One of them pointed out, the rest looking down in curiosity. "This is the first I've seen her. Is she a freshman?"
"I don't know."
Kaidou stood up, drawing Azumi's attention as she turned her head. The seniors ducked under the window. "I'm sorry I brought you here for nothing, Kanasawa-san." He grabbed his things and walked away with a half-hearted wave. He didn't bother to turn and look at her, he was too ashamed to. "I'll see you tomorrow."
This time, Azumi openly knit her eyebrows, worried of the effects of this prank to his mental state, before her expressions turned terrifyingly blank. An eerie and powerful aura surrounds her as her ear cuff lit up like a strobe light, indicating that it was trying to control the haywire burst of power coming from within the psychic.
"Ah, that was fun. Let's go."
"Hey, are we still on with our maze run?"
'Maze run... ?! They still have the nerve to go and have fun after fooling the poor heart of Kaidou?!'
"Heck yeah, come on."
'You all will pay for what you did to Kaidou...'
Azumi properly dealt with the three pieces of trash.
But she did not kill them. unfortunately
.
.
.
'Is she... really a psychic like me?'
——————————
Azumi was worried for Kaidou after yesterday, but he reassured her today by acting like usual. "I feel a great disturbance in the air today. What is Dark Reunion planning?"
"Let's go eat ramen!" Nendou exclaimed, as he walks home with Kaidou, Azumi and Saiki.
Azumi tried to walk behind them, but Nendou and Kaidou insisted she walks first, next to Saiki. So there she was, nervous out of her mind and mindful of her gait and expressions.
"Huh...?" She turned to see what grabbed Nendou's attention, stopping the other two in their tracks. "They installed a new playground over there... And there are no kids playing on them!"
"W–Wait—! Nendou!" Kaidou tried to stop him, but he was already running towards the monkey bars that seem too high for a small child to climb. "Hey, you can't play on those!"
Kaidou ran after him. 'Good grief. Those guys have the minds of preschoolers.' Saiki peeked at Azumi beside him. She had such an ignorant expression, with her eyebrows raised and mouth opened slightly, curiosity dancing in her eyes. 'Her expression right now is such a far cry from the one she made yesterday.' His eyes followed Azumi as she walks to sit on one of the swings.
Saiki observed the scene for a few seconds. Kaidou and Nendou were shouting at each other over the slide, while Azumi sits and watches them argue. 'This is probably the best time for me to go home now.' Saiki thought and turned to walk away.
"Hey Saiki...!" Kusuo clicked his tongue and faced Kaidou. "Come over here and tell Nendou that this is a jungle gym and not a prison for little kids!"
"I'm not the only one here. Ask Kanasawa." Despite the uninterested façade, Saiki walked over and sat on the other swing next to Azumi.
"See?! He said it's a jungle gym!"
"I said no such thing"
"Huh?! I thought it's a jail for children..."
"Idiot! Why would they add a jail for children in a park?!"
Saiki peeked once more at Azumi as Kaidou and Nendou continue to yell. 'She's awfully quiet today' He commented, assuming she knows that he knows about her previous usage of psychic powers.
Just after he finished his thought though, the girl spoke up, pointing at one of the playground equipment. "What's that called?" She asked, like a child.
Nendou and Kaidou ceased their argument, turning their heads at where she was pointing. "Merry-go-round?" Kaidou whispered the answer.
"Ah, that! It's a round-and-round-and-round!" Nendou gave Azumi a thumbs up while walking towards it.
"No, it's a merry-go-round! A. Merry. Go. Round!" Kaidou ran in front of the jock, and stepped up on the merry-go-round in efforts to seem taller.
Nendou took the opportunity to spin the playground equipment, causing his friend, who went ahead and climbed aboard it, to scream from the top of his lungs.
"NENDOU...! THAT'S ENOUGH, PLEASE!"
•°●•°●•°●
The street lights were already on by the time Azumi and Saiki were walking towards their houses, the sun having set minutes ago. They just came from having a ramen dinner with Kaidou and Nendou, and were now heading home.
The two grew used to the silence that falls on their atmosphere whenever they walk together. It was one of the rare quiet times Saiki gets after dealing with nuisances everyday, and he appreciates it. While in Azumi's case, she grew tired of the constant nervousness she feels at these times, so she gave up in filling the silence.
"See you tomorrow, Kusuo-san."
Azumi entered the gates of her house, still feeling the happiness from the afternoon's activities. And, oh, how she wished she knew what was coming for her once she entered the doors of her home.
"You're home late, Zumi-chan..."
Azumi froze in her steps, the small—almost nonexistent—smile on her face dropping. She was just about to walk past the open doors of the main living room, when she heard the voice of her father. She turned her head, hoping she was mistaken and was just hallucinating. She immediately regrets.
"Come here, my dear. Sit down." Akina, her mother beckons, as she was seated on one of the single seats. Aiken, her father, was seated on the other, opposite of his wife. A coffee table was laid in front of their diagonally-positioned seats, then a camelback sofa facing them.
Azumi didn't want to, but it would seem rude or even disrespectful to ignore her parents. Her legs shook, but with every step she takes, it would become almost unnoticeable. She was nervous, because this was the first in such a long time where they would talk face-to-face and was not over dinner. Atleast when conversing over food, she could avoid the discussion under the guise of eating. But right now, there are no distractions.
Once Azumi sat down in front of her parents, she stayed silent to let one of them start the conversation.
"Now, why were you late to go home?" Akina was the first to talk.
The young Kanasawa felt like she was in an interrogation room. The pressure she feels over the two pairs of eyes staring at her is overwhelming. "I... was out with friends... mom, dad." She tried to speak coherently, drawing out false confidence by raising her chin to meet her parents' eyes. "... We... stopped by the park and ate dinner at—"
"Who are these friends of yours?" Aiken cut her off.
"Kaidou Shun, Nendou Riki, and—"
"What did your group do for you to be home at this time?" Aiken continued.
"... We stopped by the park and ate dinner at Hayanari's ramen shop—"
"You had ramen for dinner?" The tone Akina used to state her words were heart-racing, and not in the good way.
"uh—Yes... mom."
"Hm, is that so?" The mother leaned back in her seat, meeting her spouse's stare for a moment before redirecting her gaze at her child in front of her. "Tell me, about your friends... Are they psychics?"
"..." Azumi hesitated at this, but tried to quickly recover. "No but–"
"If that's so, then why are you still hanging out with them?" Azumi's façade almost slipped at her mother's comment.
'She didn't let me finish.'
"You should be training your powers before it gets out of hand." Aiken spoke up. "Because of how late your powers awakened, you don't have much control over it than if you had them sooner."
'Ah, we're back at it with my powers again.' Azumi lowered her eyebrows and turned to look at the roaring fire in the fireplace, a little upset at the shift in conversation. Big mistake.
"Kanasawa Azumi. Look at us when we're talking to you." Her mother pronounced her full name, indicating that the topic has turned serious. "I don't remember teaching you such disrespectful manners."
'That's because you didn't. You and dad are gone most of the day, all week, every month.' She frowned this time, angry to the point of tears. She hid her gritted teeth and resisted the urge to glare at them.
"What's this...? You're talking back now?" Aiken stood up when his wife did. She was surprised, but soon that shock turned into irritation and disapproval.
'fuck' Azumi made the mistake of not shutting her mouth, because of her tendency to speak what's on her mind becoming a more common plot tool of the author to cause drama.
"What has gotten into you, Azumi?" Aiken tried to make sense of their daughter's sudden attitude. "Ever since you've started attending traditional school, you've been more recluse and irritable."
"Yes, you avoid us at dinner. And I suppose those friends of yours may also have an impact." Akina huffed, crossing her arms before sitting back down, her husband slowly following suit.
"what... what are you saying?" Azumi mumbled, suspicious of her parents' next words.
"I guess you'll have to go back to homeschooling if PK Academy has that much of an effect on you." At her mother's words, Azumi feels like she was electrocuted by lightning.
In her surprise, she jolted up on her feet. "That... That won't do, mot—mom... Wasn't the reason you've placed me in a traditional school was to well-round me? To cover the 'social skills' I lack?!" Azumi tried to reason, giving up on masking her emotions. "Mom, it's about time I meet people who can give me perspective into the life I wasn't able to live...!"
"Enough with this attitide! The whole reason we ever enrolled you here was to expose you to a more experienced esper...!" Akina didn't realize her slip-up until Aiken called her name.
"I—You... what?"
——————————
|A/N|
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