reigen arataka has no idea

October 10 | Birthday

A surprise? Yes? Shocking? Hm... Reigen would say no.

Somehow, Reigen's birth date has been out to the public. Apparently he registered it onto some social media account that he used for advertising around two times before deciding that he did not understand the posting format at all and promptly giving up on it. And everyone else had found it and marked it on their calendars.

The day started with no messages, just as Reigen had expected. All day, he eyed his laptop while waiting for the arrival of a certain email. It appeared in his inbox right while he was eating lunch. Of course, he misses it in the few minutes he turns away for. 

When Serizawa arrived at the office, Reigen probably could've paid more mind and had realized that he was acting off. But he had other things on his mind, like which type of ramen he'll buy tonight and what movie he'll play while he eats it. 

A slow day, but fortunately there were actually customers today. A few massages and salt splashes later, the afternoon arrives. School hours have ended, but Mob doesn't arrive the exact way that Reigen was expecting. He rushes in, wide-eyed. He doesn't seem too frantic, but he's definitely stumbling on a few words. So Reigen rushes outside with him. The two go into an alley, and Mob points behind a dumpster, saying something about a spirit. Reigen is incredibly nervous, no ghost that Mob was afraid of could ever be handled by the fake. But he drags himself to take a quick peek into the shadows.

When nothing is there, Mob just shrugs it off and says it must've run away. So they go back into the building.

Inside, many of Mob's friends, who are also Reigen's friends, were inside the small office. They yell 'Surprise!' as the student and master enter the room. An average sized white cake sits on Reigen's desk, which he can't help but notice is directly on top of his closed laptop.

And Reigen enjoys this 'surprise party'. Time passes, people talk, gifts are received, and everyone is gone by nightfall. Most got a slice of cake, and Reigen gets to take the leftovers home. He's happy about this, because that is much more fun than microwaved noodles.

He has to take the cake and presents home by himself, but you won't hear him complaining. The excitement of the day keeps Reigen lifted on his feet as he rushes home to put everything away. He's not drained, not like the other day. This time, he's sure that nothing could ever go wrong again.

It's strange, to pretend to be something you're not. Especially when that thing is so big or important, and very much real. Maybe Reigen would feel different in another universe, one where espers did not also live along with humans. Maybe he would still make a business as one, but there wouldn't be any real ones to criticize his work, or to prove him wrong. But even then, they don't seem to even do that much in this universe. They still, somehow, think highly of him. 

And that's how it's always been, and how it will always be. Over this time, this story, Reigen has not changed. And maybe he doesn't plan to change. Maybe he should change. But who's really to say? He's not going to let someone else tell him, at least.

So, no development. No advancing. I guess. It's none of my business.