Various Mob Psycho 100 Oneshots/Short stories/AUs

In Which Shigeo Takes in a Con-Child (Pt. 1)

This was actually the first thing I wrote, but I went back and edited a bit, cleaned it up, etc. This is going to have multiple parts, I just haven't written more yet. Technically, this is an AgeSwap!AU but it's more what me and my "co-author" think it would be. Nothing else too special to say about this for now, other than enjoy!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     The building had no signs on the sides or corners. Should one be looking for a certain office, they'd simply need to already know where to find it. And within that office, the greatest psychic the world has known sat at a simple, undecorated desk.

     Shigeo Kageyama wasn't expecting any further clients today. He had already dealt with them, turning some away because their ails weren't truly caused by spirits or curses. Now he was typing at his keyboard, returning emails from previous clients thanking him and emails from potential clients asking for his services. He was so focused that he didn't notice the door open again, and a boy in a middle school uniform walk in.

     Reigen Arataka was cursed, he was sure of it. His incredibly horrible luck was no coincidence, and no one in school wanted to stay around him. That wasn't to say he was some sort of loner kid; everyone in Salt Middle School knew his name and face to some extent. They simply didn't want to be caught in the crossfire when he dropped his lunch, or slipped down the stairs, or caused a chain of events that led to a bucket full of water to pour onto his head. Needless to say, the uniform that hung baggy and loose around his body had seen better days. He stepped forward, approaching the severe man in the dark trench coat and turtleneck.

     "You're able to help with curses, right?"

     The sudden voice jolted Shigeo out of his work trance. Looking up from his computer, he saw a middle schooler with reddish-blonde hair... and the biggest, darkest curse he had seen. It clung to his shoulders, looming over him, shifting and swirling, an enraged face showing itself occasionally. He drew his eyes down from the curse, making eye contact with the boy.

     "Yes, I do. Need me to help you?"

     "Oh yes, please. I would really like to be a little bit more lucky again,"

     He was clearly trying to be confident and cool to cover his nervousness. Idly, Shigeo waved his hand and dispelled the curse, waiting until it was fully gone before speaking again.

      "Alright. It's gone now," he stated, to the confusion of Reigen.

     "Wait, that's it? You're just... are you serious?" He seemed... almost offended, for some reason.

      "Yes." The man returned to typing away at his keyboard. "And I'm not going to charge you. You can go home now."

     Reigen paused and sputtered for a moment. He expected more, more pizzazz, more something!

     "What, do you not care how I got cursed or something?"

     The man paused again, thinking. He should care, shouldn't he? That curse was massive, it would have taken a powerful psychic to curse the boy like that. Who did he anger?

     "Hm. Do you know any psychics that would want to hurt you?"

     "Any- Well, um, let me think," sputtered Reigen, waving his hands about. Any psychics who would hurt him..?

     "Are you only looking for psychics, or will non-psychic people work too?"

     "No. Only an esper could make a curse like that." Shigeo sat forward in his chair, steepling his hands. "Anyone you can think of that might be a psychic?"