𝖯𝗌𝗒𝖼𝗁𝗂𝖼 𝖧𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗌 | SaiTeru

01

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It was another typical day at PK Academy—well, typical for everyone else.

For Kusuo Saiki, no day was truly ordinary.

Being a psychic with an arsenal of abilities meant constant vigilance, carefully orchestrating his life so that he could avoid trouble and blend into the background. All Saiki wanted was peace, but fate had a cruel sense of humor. Between his bizarre friends, unexpected disasters, and his overbearing powers, an easy life was impossible.

The one thing that truly tested his patience, though, was Kokomi Teruhashi.

Kokomi was the "perfect girl," as everyone called her. She radiated confidence, beauty, and grace, always the center of attention. Boys fell over themselves to gain her favor, while girls admired her from afar. She was the kind of person who effortlessly turned heads, and she knew it.

But there was one thing Kokomi couldn't stand—Saiki's complete indifference toward her.

Saiki's psychic abilities allowed him to hear the constant stream of thoughts from those around him. Teruhashi's thoughts were especially loud and predictable:

He'll notice me today. I'll make Saiki say, 'Oh wow!' this time for sure.

The very idea made him sigh internally. How many times had she tried the same tactic? She would bat her eyes, toss her hair, and smile sweetly, all to catch his attention. But Saiki wasn't like the others. He didn't care for appearances or charm. His main concern was keeping a low profile, and Teruhashi's obsession with him threatened to ruin that.

Today, as Saiki sat at his desk during lunch, quietly enjoying his coffee jelly, he could feel Teruhashi's gaze on him like a laser beam. She was sitting with their usual group—Nendou, Kaidou, Hairo, and Yumehara—but, as usual, her focus was squarely on him.

He's ignoring me again,

she thought with a mix of irritation and determination.

Why doesn't he ever react?

Her inner monologue was as bright and self-assured as ever, but there was an edge to it today, a flicker of frustration she couldn't hide.

Across the room, Nendou's booming laughter echoed as he shoved another mouthful of food into his face, completely oblivious to the tension slowly building. Kaidou was lost in his world, talking about the "Dark Reunion" conspiracy, while Yumehara sighed dreamily over her latest romance manga. Meanwhile, Hairo was busy planning his next athletic achievement. But none of them noticed the subtle shift in Teruhashi's demeanor or the quiet, internal battle she was fighting.

Her blue eyes stayed locked on Saiki as he carefully spooned his coffee jelly, entirely unfazed by the bustling world around him. She leaned slightly forward, her fingers tapping lightly on the table as she flashed him her most dazzling smile. Her hair fell perfectly into place, her posture flawless as always. "Hey, Saiki-kun," she called sweetly, her voice full of charm, though her thoughts were anything but casual.

I'll get him this time. He has to notice.

Saiki didn't even glance up. He knew better. Even the slightest acknowledgment would only encourage her, and the last thing he wanted was for Teruhashi to think she was making any progress. She was already too fixated on him as it was.

But Teruhashi wasn't the type to give up easily. "You've been pretty quiet today," she continued, her voice light and teasing, but Saiki could sense the growing frustration beneath the surface. "Something on your mind?"

He ignored her.

Silence was his best defense.

Teruhashi, undeterred, tried again, this time with a coy tilt of her head. "You know, Saiki, it wouldn't hurt to pay me a compliment once in a while." Her lips curled into a soft, confident smile. "I mean, after all, I go out of my way to look extra cute for school. Don't you think so?"

For a split second, Saiki's eye twitched.

He could feel the collective thoughts of the students around him, all of them watching and waiting for his response. They were already murmuring in awe of how bold Teruhashi was being.

Is today the day Saiki finally admits how amazing Teruhashi is?

They were all on edge, waiting for his reaction.

But Saiki remained still, his poker face unflinching. Inside, he was fighting the urge to roll his eyes. If only they knew the truth: he wasn't ignoring Teruhashi because he was playing hard to get. He ignored her because he wanted to avoid this exact situation—where all eyes were on him, and anything he said or did could feed into the ridiculous rumor mill.

Teruhashi, however, was reaching her limit. Saiki could hear the shift in her thoughts. She wasn't just mildly annoyed anymore; she was genuinely irritated. No one had ever resisted her charms this long, and the longer Saiki ignored her, the more it gnawed at her. Her smile faltered momentarily, the tiniest crack in her perfect facade.

Then, without thinking, she blurted out,

"Why won't you just admit you like me, Saiki?"

The words hung in the air like an explosion. Teruhashi's voice had risen louder than she intended, echoing through the classroom.

Everyone froze—Nendou with a rice ball halfway to his mouth, Kaidou in the middle of his Dark Reunion speech, and Yumehara mid-swoon over her manga.

The silence was deafening.

Teruhashi's heart pounded in her chest as she realized what she had just said. Her perfect composure shattered for a split second, and her cheeks flushed a deep pink. She quickly plastered her usual smile back on her face, trying to laugh it off. "Oh, haha! I'm just kidding, of course!" she added with an airy giggle, waving her hand dismissively.

But her nervous laugh couldn't erase the tension in the room. Everyone was staring, and for once, Teruhashi didn't know how to handle it. She felt exposed, and vulnerable in a way she had never experienced before.

Why did I say that? What's wrong with me?

she thought, panic set in as her heart raced faster.

Saiki, for his part, remained as calm as ever—at least outwardly. He kept his gaze on his coffee jelly, pretending not to notice the way the air had thickened with anticipation. But inside, he was mildly surprised. Teruhashi's outburst had been unexpected, even for her.

Just another one of her tricks,

Saiki told himself, dismissing it as quickly as it had happened. Teruhashi was always trying to provoke a reaction from him, always testing the boundaries of his patience. But there was something different about today—something in the way her voice had cracked, the slight tremble in her thoughts. It didn't feel like her usual, calculated performance.

Teruhashi was flustered. And that, in itself, was strange.

She quickly averted her gaze, pretending to be engrossed in the conversation with Yumehara, but Saiki could still sense the whirlwind of emotions swirling in her mind. Confusion, embarrassment, and—was that a hint of something deeper? Could Teruhashi be questioning her feelings?

Saiki cut off his telepathy before she could dwell too long on the thought. He didn't want to know. He didn't need to know. Relationships, emotions, love—those were all distractions, and distractions were dangerous for someone with his powers. He had spent his whole life avoiding attachments for a reason.

And yet, despite his best efforts to push it aside, Teruhashi's voice echoed in his mind, louder than before.

Why won't you just admit you like me, Saiki?

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hope you enjoyed the first chapter! until next time :)

xx ; ♡⋆.ೃ࿔*