Saiki K PeePee

Ch. 16: Interest

To his great relief, Saiki was able to get to school unmolested. He left when Nendou wasn't around this morning and enjoyed his walk in silence. Not a moment after he sat down at his desk, homeroom started and he was accosted by the mischievous thoughts of the slightly-less-of-a-nuisance next to him.

"So I figured out your next debt repayment plan. Since going out together is too dangerous, how about we try meeting up at one of our houses?"

Of course, her face did not betray any indication of her annoying thoughts.

Forward, are we?

"Whatever. Unless you want to get more stressed about your powers being discovered then I think this is the best option."

Yet you want to risk either my parents or your brother discovering that we're spending time alone? How dare you attempt to invade my fortress of solitude?

"Oh, so your house isn't off the table? I was just trying to give you options, not imply anything suspicious. If you can think of anywhere that doesn't require insane planning feel free to suggest it, debtor. I suggested something we can do within normal means, so if you want to whisk me off to another country while also trying to convince your parents that you randomly being gone for hours isn't weird..."

... my parents are weird but they are already comfortable with you coming over. Your brother discovering us would be by far the less favorable outcome. Why are you so annoying?

"Right back at you," she thought while trying to project as much smugness as she could muster. He did not honor her efforts with a response.

If we go to my house, how do you propose we prevent your brother from digging too deep?

"There's no way to prevent that, he's way too protective of me. He's jealous of women that I meet as well, but to a lesser degree. I can convince him I'm going to meet with Chiyo. I can tell him that we're going to get food after school so I won't even have to see him. I think he's on set again today but it never hurts to be more prepared."

That doesn't sound like a bad plan. I guess you'll have to greet my parents then.

"Yeah. I'm a bit nervous given the last few interactions I had with them."

It was probably inevitable. It's better that they hear it from you directly because they've already pestered me about it more than I can put up with.

"Heh. Hear what? That I'm blackmailing their son to spend time with me?"

I thought you were above blackmail now. I guess you really haven't changed.

"Oh, you noticed that I changed? How sweet. If I didn't know better I'd assume that we're friends or something."

She had apparently noticed a petulant scowl disappear just as quickly as it came.

Shut it.

"Fine, I guess I won't push it. Where do you want to meet after school?"

Not sure yet. We need to get your fan club off of you. Hypnosis on Aiura likely won't work again, especially on Akechi. If I tell him again, he might get sore that I never spend time with him.

"Well, let me know if you think of anything. I'll brainstorm some ideas as well."

Hm.

He could hear her thinking feverishly next to him, but he couldn't make it out over his own thoughts. He could remedy the situation by promising Akechi that he'd spend time with him another time and that he was paying back a debt. He groused at his fiscal imprudence. His debts were going to spiral out of control if he wasn't careful.

Hey, Akechi...

"Salutations, Kusuo-kun! It has been a while since we last spent time together. The last time I invited myself over to your house we took bets on horse racing after I complained of boredom. We bet on a slice of cake and I emerged the victor. Perhaps we could have a similar battle of wits as it was by far the most entertaining activity we have participated in together. Given our abilities, perhaps solving the Fermi Paradox is within our grasp?"

If we get any more psychics, PK will become a psychic bargain sale. Also, assuming I am capable of teleporting millions of light years, going to any amount of suitable planets with him could not be less appealing.

"Of course, I jest. The Fermi Paradox is a thought experiment and not a problem to be solved. Speaking of paradoxes, your behavior toward Teruhashi-san has been inconsistent with your previous attitude about her as of late. Your actions toward her have been considerably more genial, as you now look at her every time you enter the classroom. In addition, your facial muscles tense approximately .35 cm less than they did before when you look at her. Taking past trends into account and using your appearance of disdain for me as a data point, I believe that you are more comfortable with her presence than you have been previously. In addition, I believe that you have spent more time with her outside of the roof incident as your negative reaction has decreased more than what could be considered a standard deviation of reactions to someone given your familiarity with them."

What's your point?

"I could not care less about your relationship with Teruhashi-san, but I would like to come over to your house more. If your familiarity toward her continues to increase, then I fear that I will not have very much time to spend with you as you will be busy with her..."

My familiarity with her will not increase outside of acceptable tolerances. I am only fulfilling a debt, Saiki hissed.

"That's a relief. By the way, why did you just mention that you were fulfilling a debt even though I gave no indication that I thought you were spending more time together in the near future? Do your words betray your thoughts?"

I think exactly as I said, I do not intend to become more familiar with her. I called you to tell you that she would be headed over to my house because I know you would figure it out anyway and to ask that you keep it to yourself. In return, we will do something together at a time of your choosing unless there are any scheduling conflicts.

"Oh, what kind of conflicts, Kusuo-kun? Given your slight hesitation and tensed shoulders, I assume that you have something in mind before I have even told you when I would want to play with you..."

Push it and I'll change my condition to erasing you instead of spending time with you.

"Very well, I will honor your request. In exchange I will be proposing a time within the next week in which we may spend time together. We will start our chosen activity posthaste instead of watching tv to bore me out of our time together."

Fine, Saiki said derisively.

"Excellent! I hope you have a wonderful playdate with Teruhashi-san. I await our playdate with great anticipation."

Once again Akechi had mentally bludgeoned him into submission, so Saiki did not have the energy to censure Akechi's choice of words. He reminded himself to prevent Akechi from getting leverage over him as much as possible.

Akechi is taken care of now.

"Great! I figured out a way to take care of my fan club. I always know when they're following me, but I usually just ignore them or ask favors from them. They should be the only ones following me when I go outside, so I can ask them to bring me some cider specifically marketed by Cyborg Cider Man #2, which along with having to walk to wherever it's sold should make them scratch their heads long enough to make our escape!"

You could have just said "ask them to get you food" instead of trying to crowbar a reference in.

Once again, he felt a smirk creep up on his face.

We might actually be invincible together.

"Ara, ara?"

Shut up.