Stuck In The Life Of A Psychic Teenage Girl

18

The day started off quiet, almost peaceful, as Kuriko went about her usual routine. She went to school, her psychic abilities kept carefully under wraps, interacting only when necessary. As always, she floated through her classes without much notice, until she felt it—a subtle but nagging feeling that someone was watching her.

The feeling grew stronger as the day wore on, following her out of school and down the quiet streets leading toward home. When she turned the corner into a side alley, she stepped aside and waited, the faintest hint of tension in her usually expressionless face.

A figure turned the corner and nearly collided with her. Kuriko's eyes met Shinichiro Sano's, his face turning an unusual shade of red when he realized she had caught him.

"Sano, were you following me?" she asked, her tone neutral.

Sano seemed to shrink, his usually confident demeanor replaced with something hesitant, almost vulnerable. "I... well, yes," he admitted, not meeting her gaze. "Look, if you hate me so much, why don't you just say it already?"

Kuriko blinked, taken aback. "I don't hate you."

Sano looked up, surprised, his expression softening as he searched her face for any sign of a lie. "Then... why are you always so cold?" His voice cracked, and for once, he looked truly vulnerable, his usual bravado stripped away.

Kuriko didn't respond, unsure of how to convey the truth without hurting him further. Instead, she felt a pang of sympathy, an emotion she rarely entertained, and finally spoke. "Let's go to the amusement park tomorrow," she offered, her voice soft.

Sano's eyes widened, a flicker of excitement crossing his face. "Really?"

"Yes."

The next day, Kuriko found herself sitting on the back of Sano's motorcycle as he drove them to the amusement park. The wind whipped through her pink hair, and for once, she felt a strange kind of freedom, almost as if she could forget her burdens for a while.

When they arrived, Sano was eager to show off. He took her to every game stall they passed, determined to win her a prize. After several attempts, he managed to win her a small teddy bear and then, with even more focus, an octopus plush that he handed to her with a proud grin.

Kuriko took the plushies silently, but there was a faint softness in her gaze that Sano noticed, and it made his heart skip a beat. "See? I'm pretty good at this stuff," he said, his usual confidence returning.

Just as Sano was trying out a strength-testing game, Kuriko caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance—Asano. Her eyes widened slightly, and as she turned toward him, he waved, making his way over to them.

"Kuriko, I didn't expect to see you here," Asano greeted, his tone polite as always, though he shot a quick, cautious glance at Sano.

Kuriko nodded. "Sano invited me."

Sano turned, noticing Asano's presence, and his expression immediately soured. "Oh, of course, you'd show up here," he muttered, the tension between them growing palpable. Asano held his calm, seemingly unbothered, but the tension only escalated as Sano grew visibly irritated.

"I don't know why you keep hovering around us," Sano snapped, his fists clenching. "Can't you take a hint?"

Asano's expression remained neutral, but his voice softened as he spoke. "I'm not here to intrude, Sano. I just wanted to say hello."

Before the argument could escalate further, Sano scoffed, dropping the mallet he'd been holding. "Forget it. I'm done with this," he muttered, turning and walking away, his steps heavy with frustration.

Kuriko watched him go, a small pang of regret tugging at her. She turned to Asano, who was watching her with a look of quiet concern.

"I'm sorry, Kuriko," he said softly. "I didn't mean to ruin your day."

She shook her head slightly. "It's fine. He was... emotional."

Asano nodded, clearly relieved but still hesitant. "Let me walk you home."

The walk home was quiet, the evening air cool as they walked side by side. Asano glanced at Kuriko every so often, as though worried he'd somehow upset her. When they arrived at her door, she hesitated, noticing the lights were off inside. Her family wasn't home yet.

"Would you like to come inside?" she asked, surprising herself with the offer.

Asano's expression softened, and he nodded. "I'd like that."

Inside, Kuriko made them tea, her movements unhurried, and they sat in the living room, the silence comfortable. For once, she didn't feel the need to keep her guard up around him.

Asano looked at her, his usual reserved demeanor fading as he spoke. "You know, I've been wanting to say something, but... I wasn't sure if it was my place."

She looked up at him, her expression unchanged but her gaze attentive.

"I... I know you carry a lot," he said carefully. "You're always so strong, so independent, and it's something I admire about you. But I also wonder... if there's ever a moment when you feel like you don't have to be so guarded."

Kuriko blinked, caught off guard by his sincerity. "I don't have to be guarded with you," she admitted softly.

Asano's eyes widened slightly, and a warmth spread across his face, his usually composed exterior softening. He reached out, brushing a strand of pink hair from her face, his touch gentle.

"Kuriko..." he whispered, his voice barely audible as he leaned in closer.

Kuriko felt her heartbeat quicken, but she didn't pull away. There was a warmth in his gaze that made her feel exposed and yet... comforted. Slowly, Asano closed the distance between them, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, lingering kiss.

The world around her seemed to fade, and for the first time, Kuriko felt her walls begin to crumble, if only for a moment.

Extra Shinichiro's POV:

Shinichiro stormed through the front door, slamming it behind him. His chest felt tight, a mix of anger, frustration, and—though he hated to admit it—hurt. He'd felt so close to breaking through to Kuriko, to showing her that he could be the one she relied on. But just when he thought they were finally connecting, Asano had shown up, polite and perfect, like always. And, like always, Kuriko had seemed... softer with him, maybe even happy.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed his little brother Mikey tugging at his sleeve. "Shin, did you bring us anything?" the boy asked, his wide eyes filled with hope.

"Oh, yeah. Here," Shinichiro muttered, rummaging through his pockets and handing Mikey a small souvenir keychain from the amusement park. Mikey's face lit up, and he darted off to show Emma, who was watching from the doorway, her expression full of concern as she studied her brother.

Their grandfather hobbled into the room, taking one look at Shinichiro's face before sighing. "You've got that look again," he remarked, settling into his chair with a creak. "You've been seeing that girl, haven't you?"

Shinichiro didn't answer, just stared at the floor, clenching and unclenching his fists. He didn't want his family to see how much it bothered him. But somehow, being surrounded by them made the ache a little more bearable. Emma came over, resting a small hand on his shoulder, and he managed a weak smile. "It's nothing. Just... a long day."

I feel bad for Shinichiro. 😭
I'm thinking of getting off track with Asano and making more scenarios with Sano.