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kusuo is aroace and i will DIE on that hill. he says he’s not interested in romance, and he says he’s not aroused by naked bodies. HE ISHEAVILY IMPLIED TO BE AROACE.

HEAVILY IMPLIED = CANON. SHOW, DONT TELL.

“but he’s only like that because of his powe-“ so? still aroace. stop trying to find excuses to rip away one of the ONLY pieces of aroace rep we have.

“but he likes teruha-“ no.

“terusai!!!” no.

“he called her pretty!!” you can call someone pretty without being in love with them. i think several of my friends are pretty but that doesn’t mean im in love with them. but you can’t grasp aromanticism right?

“indirect kiss!!!” probably unintentional

“but his eye widened when he heard teruhashi’s voice in the reawakened finale!!” his eye widened because he was shocked his telepathy was coming back, NOT because it was specifically teruhashi he was hearing.

“kusuo likes toritsuka!!” NO??????

“kusuo x nendo!!” can you please let friends exist???????

“kusuo x kaido!!” can you please let friends exist x2

“kusuo x aiura!!” they’re both psychics, yes. aiura is freaky, yes. THEY HAVE NEVER SHOWN AN ACTUAL ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP THOUGH THEYVE ONLY FEIGNED IT TO FOOL SOMEONE AIDWKDBEKJD

“kusucest” you’re disgusting.

“kusuo x anyone else” IWHDKWJDJWKDKS rips my hair out

“there’s no platonic explanation for this!!!” i hate you and your aphobic repetition.

stop it.

A fully aro Saiki in a QPR (queerplatonic relationship) reads very differently from a demi Saiki who develops something romantic/sexual after bonding with someone.

There's so much more than this, here's some resources:

See Identities on the Aromantic Spectrum

See Identities on the Asexual Spectrum

The Relationship Exists on His Terms

Saiki doesn't pursue. He tolerates, then allows, then quietly chooses. A relationship with him looks less like courtship and more like someone being gradually un-excluded from his personal space. He will not confess. He will not ask, but he stops pretending he doesn't care.

He'd stopped trying to lose them after the third time. Whether that counted as choosing them, he hadn't decided.

Love Through Action, not Words

Saiki's affection is expressed in what he does, never what he says. He memorizes schedules so he can intercept problems before they happen. He uses his powers on someone's behalf and tells them it was a coincidence. He shows up. These are his "I care about you."

Choosing to sit near someone even when he could sit alone.

Deflecting a bad situation before his partner notices.

Remembering small details (he'd learn everything without saying a word) and quietly adjusting the world around them.

Physical Intimacy

Asexual doesn't mean touch-averse, though Saiki specifically has reasons to be (his superstrength).

Write with his physical comfort in mind. He'd likely never kiss on the lips as a greeting. And there are ways around that. Kissing anywhere but the lips can also be very intimate.

What He Gets from the Relationship

He needs to realize he doesn't have to be alone. A relationship isn't about romance or passion for him; it's about having someone who knows him, doesn't demand he perform "normalcy".

Avoid:

Having him suddenly "realize" he loves them in a rush of feeling

A partner "fixing" his disinterest in romance

Writing his aro/ace traits as coldness or damage

Grand confessions or jealousy

Sex/romance as a catalyst for his character growth

Sexual descriptions in HIS pov

Treating a QPR as lesser than a "real" relationship

Try:

Slow, quiet moments of acknowledgment

His partner learning to read his non-verbal language

Actual communication replacing assumed romance

His internal monologue being introspective, not tortured

The relationship having its own shape, not fitting a template

Describe him being flustered for being accepted the way he is

When something surprises him, he files it, examines it from a distance, and usually concludes it is "not worth addressing." His internal monologue around the relationship should feel the same.

Feelings, in the conventional sense, seemed like a tremendous waste of energy. Whatever this is, the specific irritation of missing their voice at lunch, as opposed to the general irritation of everything.

His voice is not cold. It is precise. There is a difference. He notices things with care; he simply doesn't emote about them.

Types of Attraction

Explore the other attractions. Saiki actually shows aesthetic attraction canonically. He has (nonsexually) said things like Teruhashi is pretty, Rifuta is cute, and commented on some men being handsome. He, for his own reasons, like average looking people.

What makes a QPR distinct (if you go this route, aro/ace)

A queerplatonic relationship sits outside the romantic/friendship binary. It has the commitment of a romantic partnership without necessarily including romantic attraction, platonic. For Saiki, he might, after enough time, be unable to imagine his life without a specific person in it even if he doesn't want them that way.

QPRs often require more explicit conversation than romantic relationships because there's no script. His partner can't assume that a relationship means X. They have to talk terms. The negotiation looks different for each relationship. Cohabitating and not being alone could be the goal. Or going on "dates" without making it into something; best friends go out together, it's like that.

The partner's characterization is just as important as Saiki's. They need to:

Not need him to perform romance in order to feel loved

Understand that his care is real even when it's quiet

Have their own needs and communicate them; he can listen, even if he doesn't always respond as expected

Not "fix" him, but grow alongside him

The best personalities for this kind of fic are ones who are themselves a little unusual; someone who finds conventional romance overhyped, who values stability and presence over declaration, or who simply fell into caring about him before they understood how he works.

If you don't want to go the QPR route, my recommendation is the demi route because it works really well for slow-burn stories. The gray route can be interesting depending on what the condition is. But please understand, QPRs are just as interactively rich; just look at his friendship with Aiura, it's beautiful. Also, you guys are sleeping on Mera; Saiki has a good relationship with her because they are somewhat the same and she doesn't want anything from him.

Example Fics:

Ichigo Ichie (QPR) x fem OC

-> AO3 -> Wattpad

After college, Saiki unexpectedly finds out he's a father and has to decide what he wants to do with that information.

Your Psychic Prince (ASpec variety) x genderneutral Reader

-> AO3 -> Wattpad

This is a variety of oneshots. He is a bit different in each one, but it's not outright stated what he is.

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Hopefully this was helpful. Anything I should add?