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It was Mob's birthday today.
And everyone was excited.
It was a special time when everyone had an excuse from their daily lives to get together and have fun, celebrating their friend's special day.
And they made sure nothing would disrupt that.
They eventually decided to throw it in the previous called 'Awakening Lab' (since it had the most space and everyone would know where it is).
Reigen and Serizawa, Teruki, the Body Improvement Club as well as the Telepathy Club, the ex-7th Division of the Claw Organization together with the Special 5 and Shou along with Ritsu - they were all there and had planned the ultimate party the best they thought.
From decorating the room and bringing in food of all sorts to being sure that no spirit would intervene or any other potential 'bad guys' would show up.
Now the only thing left was for the birthday boy to arrive.
"We'll do as we planned. I'll go and take Nii-san from home and bring him here. Then when we both enter-"
Shou cuts in "We jump and shout 'Happy Birthday' at your signal, we got it Ritsu. Get this over with already. Everyone is ready to party!"
Ristu glares at him but nods, exiting the room. Everyone is left in darkness and silence.
Sakurai sighs after a while "At least we got it preped in time."
----
Mob was casually lying in his bed as he was awaiting for his brother to come. He was told that they were going somewhere nice today. And Mob was genuinely looking foward to it.
He was happy that they got closer again. After the episode in which Ritsu totally dismissed having any affectionate emotions, as his brother or whatever, he steadily tried to remake that, even if Ritsu kept telling him that he was over and done with that. He wasn't quite certain yet.
'Truly amaizing. This brotherly love of yours.'
Mob jumped. He cautiously looked around and couldn't see nor sense anyone. He gripped the edge of the bed, ready to use his barrier at any time.
"Reveal yourself."
'There is no need to act tough. It's your day after all.'
In front of Mob appeared who he hoped he could forget and never imagine again. Mogami was solemnly standing a few feet away from him, smiling lightly.
He casually walked up to Mob and crouched down to his level on the bed. Mob, as on queue, leaned away, his barrier already showing.
'If you think I came to-'
Suddenly there was a spark of rainbow colors in Mob's hands and with a quick swing, he slashed through the air in front of him, cutting Mogami in half.
Or so it seemed.
He rapidly formed back like water coming back together after a powerful splash. Dark matter crackled as he became one ghostly figure again, a frown marrying his features.
Mogami sighed and Mob readyed for another wave.
'Look. These slashes won't work. Or anything you'd do in particular. Why? -'
There was another slash. Without Mob knowing, or not really caring at the moment, all the small things around his room were coathed in rainbow outlines as the began to float.
"I don't care why you're here. I'll exorcise you for good if you don't leave."
As before, the ghostly spirit forms back lile nothing happened. He looked around the room and smirked in acknowledgment at the other's powers.
'Scary... But you sure got more emotion now. Anyway, unfortunately for you, I'm here to stay.'
He smiles widely and disappears. Mob blinks for a few times and then, after he sees that he doesn't appear again, he rubs his eyes and looks from side to side. A content sigh left his lips.
"Am I having one of these visions again? I thought I got rid of them some time ago..."
And so it was. After the half of year that the poor and temporary helpless boy had to mentally live through, even if the outcome was a self-proclaimed happy and important one, it didn't mean that the event didn't leave him with a slight mental scar.
For weeks, he couldn't help but stare longer that he should at certain animals or birds or insects. Couldn't look normally at his classmates or any students at his school. Couldn't help but time to time yelp at the sudden sound of his brother's or parents' voices whenever they called out to him. Couldn't sleeping having the unending feeling that Mogami would come and keep him from sleeping with his words of 'reason'.
And as he looks around, he catches a glimps of something behind him and snaps out of his thoughts.
'I am glad to see that you thought of me so much up until now! But that's probably because of my poorly state.'
Another spark of lights escapes Mob's hands as he jumps of the bed and faces the spirit that was behind him.
He felt the small twinge of worry form in his stomach as his question was answered: he wouldn't be rid of this spirit for the while. Instead worrying more over that, he voices a question that has been keeping him limited now.
"Why can't I hit you?"
The spirit smirked as he cought a glimpse of Mob's fear on his face. He was probably overthinking the outcomes already, poor boy. But as soon as it arrived it disappeared, his usual blank look taking over again.
'That's a good question. But the most reasonable answer would be that I am now part of your mind.' he says so as he points to his own head.
Mob clenches his fists 'After that confrontation in which you seriously beat me, you and I both escaped that girl's head. I held onto your consciousness as your spirit flew back in your body. And so, I became part of you, you could say.'
It took a moment for Mogami's words to sink in. "....what?" Mob looked down as he thought about it. It was impossible. The didn't feel any different being coming back with him then. But that could explain why he felt so strange back in his body, as if it wasn't his anymore. Why his power surges were uneven. Like he almost slipped out of consciousness every once in a while, only to be back in the matter of seconds.
"Then get out of me. I don't know what might happen or what I might do with you like that."
Mogami stared at his confused but already stresed figure. He snickered at him 'Only if that were the case. That is not possible to do anymore.'
"Why-"
Mogami raised a finger 'You almost whiped me out then. So I became a weak spirit who can't do even that. I would die if I attempted to do that.'
Mob raised his hand at him, ready to use his powers. That had nothing to do with him. "Then do it. I couldn't care less about that. With everything you did-"
Mob stopped as the man got up from his bad and grinned, shaking his finger at him 'Tch tch tch. I see you got more emotion but they already got the best of you. 'couldn't care less'? Is that okey with you? Why your so important privileges over your powers?'
Mob got a step closer glaring at him while Mogami stood in place still grinning. He started to hate that grin already. But he couldn't find himself say anything at the spirit's remark.
'...Is that what your 'Master' told you to do?'
Mob stopped in his tracks as he was ready to fire at his master's mention. He lowered his hand just a bit as he thought over what Mogami said.
No, this was different. He was different. That was referring to totally different situations. And this one was clearly not one of those.
Mob began to shake his head and look back up at his foe.... But there was no Mogami as in his stead stood now his master.
"Listen Mob.... Let's make a promise..... Do not ever point your powers at a person.... And just be a good person yourself."
As he stared for a few moments he blinked, Mogami's figure coming back into view. He was playing with his mind again. That seemed the only way the man played his tacts. And Mob knew them a little too well to not make him be on edge.
He was about to say something as the door to his room opened revealing his brother with a look of slight concern.
"Is everything alright Nii-san? I called out to you two times and you weren't answering so I came up to get you."
Mob looked behind him, finding himself calm down from his tensed pose. When did he get all sweaty? "...oh. I see."
He looks between Ritsu and Mogami and sees that his younger brother isn't able to see the unwelcomed spirit "Everything is fine. But can't you really see him?"
As he pointed to Mogami's direction on the bed Ritsu follows. As to answer him qestion himself Mogami starts to walk towards the younger brother, even walking through him. He then twirls and smiles at Mob as he leans against the wall right next to the door. Ritsu after looking at the pointed direction for a while looks back at his brother "Is there something? I don't see anyone Nii-san. Are you sure you are alright? You seem kind of on edge."
Mob spared one last glance towards Mogami before he nodded and exited his room with his brother "Yes I'm sure. I'm probably just still sleepy, that's all. Let's go."
As the brothers made their way out of the house Mogami snickered and blinked out of existence.
---
The trip to the Awakening Lab was uneventful but calming, as the perfect weather for a day of May would be.
Mob could feel the glances his brother was throwing him time to time. He porbably wasn't convinced that it was just his tiredness getting at him. He almost laughed as the sudden thought hit him: his brother knew him and read him better than he was doing so himself. But he wouldn't do that, laugh. Weariness was the only feeling he had now.
As they entered the building, Mob just couldn't suppress a question that was bugging him since they started heading this way from home "Why are we here Ritsu?"
When Ritsu said that they would go 'somewhere nice' Mob couldn't really think of anywhere in particular. But seeing as to where they were heading, he couldn't imagine what they could do here.
Not that he was the type to judge or complain about something.
Ritsu seeing Mob trying to figure out the answer on his own he laughed, and dismissed him with a wave of his hand as they entered slowly a room filled in complete darkness.
They stood there for a moment and Mob was about to ask again but stopped himself as he was hit by smell of the different types of food present in the room.
He looked vaguely at Ritsu's direction as he saw a small spark light in his palm. Then he was hit by the sudden gleam of lights and colors from the room that they were standing in.
There was a wave of sudden shuffeling as everyone raised from their hiding spot followed by a chorus of slightly delayed 'Happy Birthday's and Ritsu cringed to the side, but began to laugh with everyone as they filled the empty space in the room.
They all looked at Mob for a reaction as he was silent all this time, taken aback by everyone.
He slightly stepped back in some sort of delayed recoil but was quickly caught by Reigen's arm around his shoulders
"Wha-"
"Common Mob! Don't leave us on edge like that. React so we know if we did a good job or not with this surprise party."
Mob looked up at his master "Surprise party...?" he looked back at his brother who smiled reassuringly back at him and then he looked at everyone else with a slight bow.
"This is a real surprise. Thank you."
Teruki laughed lightly and smiled at Mob "At least act like you mean it! Geesh Kageyama."
Then it happened. And everyone stopped. There he was, Mob smiling wholeheartedly at everyone.
Reigen slapped Mob lightly on the back pushing him foward and breaking the image that frozen everyone "Alright! That's our queue to start this party!"
And with that, everyone rushed Mob's way to give him his presents.
To Mob, the whole situation was overwhelming but he felt that small twinge in his heart that told him to enjoy these moments.
He was happy. And glad.
---
After everyone was done with the gifts and best wishes, they reserved themselves in their groups, talking with each other and enjoying the festive atmosphere.
Ritsu was currently standing near the food tables on some chairs with Shou and Teruki alongside him. He looked at his brother as he was currently surrounded by the Body Improvement Club which were cheering and laughing with an awkward looking Mob between them.
He smiled to himself as Shou said his way "It's good that it ended up being a pleasant surprise for him. He sure seems to enjoy himself like no other time."
Ritsu nods and sighs "It's good to see him like that. He seemed kind quite tensed before coming here."
"Quite tense?" this seemed to peak Teru's interest.
"Yeah, he was all on guard staring at his bed. He even asked me if I saw someone there. I'm worried since I actually couldn't see anything." he looked down while fumbling with the food on his plate.
"That is weird. Did you press him about it?" Teru side glanced in Mob's direction as if the check if he was listening in.
"I did but he dismissed it quickly like always." he sighed happly as he looks back up at his brother and sees his silly attempt to laugh along with everyone around him "But it's alright now. Maybe he was really just sleepy as he said."
Mob stopped smiling when he heard the laughs all around him die down. Soon, all the talking was gone as well. As he looked about he saw everyone stare down, as if avoiding his gaze.
He tried the call out to them but as he took a look down at himself, he could see his psychic energy radiating off.
He looked back up with a some sort of panic, worried at the polar opposite atmosphere was now filling the room.
All the colors seemed to have turned in colder and darker versions of themselves; objects and people alike seemed to gradually lose color as the room's moodiness was reduced to an almost sickening silence.
Mob moves away from where he stands with the Body Improvement Club as we wants to get a better view of the whole room.
He passes his gaze over everyone as he settles it on his bother's direction with an alarming halt.
There was Mogami again, standing in front of Ritsu as he was analyzing him. Mob quickly strides to him as the spirit side looks at Mob.
'He was worried about you. You really have a good brother.'
Mob didn't like the close proximity as comes closer "What did you do?!"
'Not only him too. Everyone present here worries about you. You really gained a lot of 'important ones'.'
He is continues to come closer, glaring at him from under his bowl cut "What do you want with Ritsu?!"
He is yet again ignored 'But I've wanted to ask you something for a while... And since you seemed in such a good mood' he pets Ritsu's head to emphasise his statement mockingly.
"Don't you touch him." Mob comes to a halt behind him. His energy is crackling away in all directions now.
Mogami laughs lightly 'okey, okey. No need to get 100% serious now. You might damage you so important ones with your recklessness in emotion control.'
As if on queue, everyone falls to the grounds as if they were motionless dolls finally affected by gravity. Mob is startled by the sudden sound of breaking porcelain. He quickly looks at his brother and sees not only his plate, but Shou and Teru's ones broken on the ground, food cold and forgotten, splattered on the ground. In the ominous lighting, you could easily interpret it as something other than food. But Mob didn't want to think that.
Seeing that Ritsu was alright and that he wouldn't be able to get to his unless he faced the older man Mob looks around as he reaches for Reigen on the floor right next to him. He shakes him but he doesn't seem to give away any reaction even though he had his eyes open.
He looks at his feet while being on his knees, back turned to Mogami "What did you do?"
Mogami shrugs from behind him 'I didn't do anything really. Just..... controlled.... some of your powers' output while you were enjoying yourself..... Don't give me that look, they're fine. They'll be back up once we finish things here. Probably...'
Mob gets up and fully faces Mogami, glaring. He knew he wouldn't get anywhere with this kind of person. "What did you want to ask me?"
Mogami laughs as if startled by his glare 'I wouldn't show that much hatred now. Anyway-'
He quickly vanishes and reappears behind Mob, holding him from moving away '-I've been thinking about your attitude that you had in my fabricated world.'
Mob tries to break away but sees that he can't. He eventually gives in and looks ahead with a blank face, letting Mogami continue staring at the work of modern ar that was littering the floor.
He couldn't use his powers.
'What seemed to have affected you the most there weren't the nonexistence of your familly or friends.... but more like the attitude that outsiders had towards you.'
Mob shakes slightly at the thought of remembering or reliving these moments. He still doesn't say anything. Why was he suddenly bringing it up again?
'I get it that I made you forget all about their existence... But you didn't seem bothered by the idea of not having a family; nor friends; as if you were used to the idea of living alone.'
Mob looked back at him, confusion evident on his features "What are you trying to say?"
Mogami continues 'And also your powers; they are far greater than everyone's that could ever exist here. And I don't mean just the city, but everywhere - the world. As if some kind of God was living inside you.'
Mob started slightly struggling. He didn't know the extent of his powers. Never really wanted to. Not after what happened with Ritsu when they were little. "...it's not as if-"
'-I wanted these powers, right? And I saw. You were relieved and hardly accepted back your powers. You were happy to finally get the chance to live a normal highschool life...' he paused 'So I'll stop with this rambling and ask you.'
Mob falls forward at Ritsu's feet as he looks back at Mogami with expectant eyes but winces as he looks back down at his hands - they were bleeding. He probably hit the broken pieces of porcelain on his fall. He also saw that his clothes were now dirtied woth the food but he didn't pay much time to that. He grabbed his right hand with his left, feeling pain stinging at him. He was about to cry.
'...Are you even from this world?'
Mob shudders as he thinks of the possibility of such idea. That didn't make any sense. "W-...what?"
'Your massive power, your want to be normal, your inability to express your emotions.... Even the existence of psychic powers.... Is it your doing?'
Mob backs away but is met soon with Ritsu's feet. He is panicked and he doesn't know why. He wants to run and he doesn't know why.
He wants to slip out of consciousness and he doesn't know why.
Mogami spreads his hands as if delivering the final conclusion, grinning down at him 'A lone psychic existing between hundreds of spirits. All after him trying to kill the only source that would be able to kill them.'
Mob stares up at him as if tunnel view was activated. His hands were shaking, the blood trailing down his hands and hitting his clothes. He unconsciously swallows.
'But the psychic, being the only one to do this kind of thing, he got bored and detested his destiny. So he stopped and stumbled upon another type of beings that would understand his type of thinking.'
He tries to calm his shaking but he can't. He looks to the side, trying to find something that could help him out of this situation. He couldn't find the will to talk back to the spirit. As if he was hold back by someone.
'So he decided to live there. He also decided to remove his own memories and rewrite other's ones so that he seemed as if he always existed there. And lastly, he shared his powers unevenly to a random few so that he wouldn't be the only one with powers. And that's how he was reborn over and over again as an emotionless boy whom he couldn't get over his self-inflicting inferiority complex.'
Mob was silent on the floor, staring at it. Mogami was staring at him, waiting for a reaction.
As he gets up, Mob feels a surge of anger overflow him "why would you say that? I wouldn't do something so dangerous like that."
Mogami pauses and back at him '..... so it wasn't that. Then..... Is this all in your head?'
Mob stumbled back "All.... In my head?"
The spirit laughs 'Yes! The world. It's people! Everything that is happening! Even what's going on now, this is what you subconsciously want to take place! Just a child's fantasy with power gone wrong!' he leans close to Mob's face 'That's the only way....'
He swiftly backs way and he brushes his foot against Ritsu's and hand over his head. He looks at him and retracts his hand, as if scared of the touch"You're wrong."
'Am I? .......I made it all up.'
"...what?"
'With everyone fainting like this. I didn't do anything. This is your doing, with your power. You didn't want them to hear what I was about to say because you knew they would agree. Even me being here with you, this is your doing.'
Mob swings his arm in front of him, trying to cut away at anything that's in front of him. But he failed "You're lying."
Mogami smirks 'Really now?' and he points behind Mob.
Ritsu was..... bleeding. From his heas. And it was crawling down like wire action. Like he was cut and sliced by endless, unseen weapons.
"Ri....tsu....?" he reached out to his brother but was stopped by someone from behind.
"Mob...? Wha-! Are you.... doing??" it was Reigen.
"Master?"
"Kageyama-kun..." Hanazawa.....
"Wha..."
Mob turns around "I didn't do it.... I didn't..... do it...." and he begins sobbing.
Everything starts to float around him abruptly, no matter what it was. Ritsu was... like that. Because of him. Everyone.... was looking at him like that.
"Nii......san...?"
He feels his own hair float as his vision blurs "Ritsu...!"
He was quickly pinned down by the 7th Division.
He couldn't help the crack at the end of the question as he asked it, desperate while hitting the floor fully "Why.... are you pinning me down? I didn't do it! I wouldn't do this to anyone. More so Ritsu!" he glared at Mogami as he tried to raise his head feeling his powers taking him over "I am not the one to blame. He is the one-"
"Who are you blaming now Shigeo?"
"This isn't like you at all."
"Where did that quiet and reserved young boy go?"
"The one that wouldn't hurt a fly?"
"The one that wouldn't do such a thing."
He stared up at them in disbelief "....I didn't.... I just touched him. I can't even use my powers."
"Why are you lying?"
"This is your second time hurting him like this anyway, isn't it?"
"Haven't you realized yet that your using them right now?"
Mob froze as he looked around. Everything was in the air - be it food, plates, drinks, tables, chairs - and only began to cry. They were right. He was the one who did this to Ritsu. Then and now too! And everyone knew about it! What if... they only were his friend... Because of his powers-
"If you want to get out of this, then stop it. You do have the authority over this world in the end, don't you." Mogami smirked down at him.
Mob felt a overwhelming mix of emotions as he was forced out of consciousness. The next thing he knew, he was hyperventilating on the exact same floor with everyone worried right over him, shouting for him to wake up.
When did he get here? Wasn't he talking to the Body Improvement Club? He was enjoying the atmosphere and then-
He held his head with one of his hands and he slowly, and with Teruki's help, got up. He remembered; everything that haunting spirit thought he was; how he yet again almost gave up into his words and let him and his powers to decive and get the best of him in the end.
He got on his feet and nodded slightly his thanks at Teruki as everyone was glad that whatever happened was over.
As he looked to his right, he could see some of his other friends circling around a chair at the dining table. That's where.....
He shrugged away the ones holding him but he was stopped by two firm hands. He looked up and saw that it was...
"....Master?"
"It's better if you don't go there for he's-.... for now."
What happened to Ritsu... What did he do? He needed to know. Was it his fault?
He froze in place as he forced himself to go to where Ritsu was sitting.
And to his horror ihe was looking ashe did acter he cut him with his powers-
But he didn't get to think more as he blacked out.
And woke up to his brother's firm shakes.
"Nii-san! You're awake! Oh god, you...! I thought...!"
As he realized he was having streaks of tears running down his face, Mob reached out to Ritsu and made him lean into a hug.
It was all a dream. More like a nightmare. There was no injured Ritsu, no spirit Mogami Keiji, none of his friends pinning him down, giving him those doubtful and terrified looks.
He sighed shakily as he leaned away from the hug slightly so he could look at Ritsu "Let's go to the party Ritsu."
The said person looked up swiftly at him in surprise "....Nii-san.... How did you know we were throwing a party for you?" he laughed slightly
"Nothing escapes you, now does it, Nii-san?"
Mob laughs awkwardly as he gets out of bed "I guess you're right..." he scratches the back of his head.
And as they once again make their way out of the house, the front door locked with a final click.
"Hmm. Truly amaizing, his brotherly love."