(mob psycho 100 fic)

1

Mob was fidgeting as he did his homework, soon nervously glancing up to Reigen. That was when the soft mutter escaped his mouth, "Shishou? What does it feel like to love someone?"

The room, which was full of little dings from Reigen's computer and scribbling from Mob's pencil, was now dead silent. Mob knew he should have just shut up then, but it was a serious question. Maybe he worded it badly. He had just felt so hollow and tired. But not a sleepy-type of tired. It was different.

Reigen soon filled the silence with a confused tone, "What do you mean?"

"Like.. romantically? How does it physically feel?"

"Oh. I don't exactly know for everyone. But sometimes it's like butterflies in your stomach, but in a good way. Did something happen with Tsubomi?"

"No. I just don't think I ever liked her. I... I think I love someone else."

"Oh? Who's she? Have you told me about her yet?"

"Teru. I think I like Teru. I don't want to be wrong though." Mob began to shift in his seat some. It would be best for him to be nonchalant, but he never told this to Reigen. He knew Reigen liked Serizawa, though, so he hoped that he got an okay reaction. Which he did.

Reigen chuckled weakly and smiled, though Mob could tell it wasn't real. Mob knew Reigen wasn't on the absolute best conditions, but he knew that Reigen knew that Teru returned Mob's feelings, "He's nice. What made you think you like him?"

"He took me shopping for clothes. I asked him to, because I needed a new shirt. He's kind and sweet and caring and confident. and we held hands and stuff as he picked me out a few shirts."

"Don't you think that classified as a date?"

"No. It wasn't a date."

Reigen went quiet, thinking some, before asking, "Why did you ask me how it feels to love someone?"

Mob paused. He didn't want to answer. But he did. "I don't know how to feel anymore."

Then, the front door opened. It was Tome. Reigen's new secretary. Mob liked Tome, she was fun to hang out with, and she acted like the big sister he never had. It made him feel joy.

Tome noticed something off, however, by the way Mob was still looking down at his desk and the way Reigen had a shocked expression. "Hey. Are you guys okay?"

"Everything is alright, Tome. I was just getting ready to—" Mob started.

"Actually, Tome, something is wrong. Mob just doesn't want to tell me." Reigen says, standing some, "And since, to the looks of it, we don't have any clients for the rest of the day, how about all three of us head out and get dinner?"

"Oh! Sure!" Tome spoke with a nod.

"I have to get going..." Mob lied directly to their faces. Which made him hurt. He knew it was for the better though.

"Nah, Mob, you gotta come too. You told me what your parents're making earlier, and you told me you don't like sushi anyways, so why does it matter?"

Mob sighs, "...okay. I'll go then, I guess."

"There's our Mob!" Reigen said with fake excitement. He then scooped him up and placed Mob on his back. This made Mob feel like a child. Which he somewhat enjoyed.

Tome smiles, soon stepping outside and then following them—technically just Reigen—to the restaurant of Mob's choice.

He chose his favorite ramen shop, as expected.

Mob felt a little better to be sitting with a few of his favorite people. He slid into the booth they were given, where Tome sat beside him, and Reigen sat across from him. This was when he realized how similar he and Tome looked. Their hair was the same color and texture. Tome's hair was a bit greasier than his own, though. They even had the same flat-looking hair. Same charcoal-black eyes, same relative face shape. They were even close to the same height. Tome was taller than him, however. Maybe they were long lost siblings. It certainly felt like it with their relationship.

Apparently he muttered this aloud, as he realized that he was staring at Tome. He blushed slightly, looking down at the table, "...Sorry, Tome. That was weird."

Tome chuckled slightly, smiling some, "I always wanted a little brother, so I guess it's cool."

"I mean, he's not wrong. You two do look like you could be related." Reigen says, shrugging.

Mob went quiet, before muttering, "okay."

As their server came back with their food, they all went quiet and began to eat. Mob was glad for it to be in silence. This wasn't a bad, lonely silence, it was almost comforting.

As Mob got about half-way though his bowl of ramen, Reigen asks, "So, can you explain what you're feeling, Mob?"

Mob hesitated. "uh... I don't know. It's all really shallow, I guess.. Sometimes I feel a ton of emotions all at once.. But it's been especially.... empty recently? I mean, I still feel emotion, it's just hard to differentiate them from each other. Like, I can tell that sometimes my stomach will get.. tingly—kind of like butterflies—when it does that, I can tell I'm feeling disgust or discomfort or sadness or things like that, but I don't know which. I'll just get randomly sad, too, but I can't cry a lot. The only emotions I can truly feel now it my anxiety when it kicks up, and then sometimes really shallow joy." He looked ready to say something else, but suddenly stopped.

Reigen nods, thinking some, "Does your counter still go up?.."

"Yeah, it does. I still feel emotion but I can't tell the difference between them all."

"I feel like the best option would be a therapist," Tome says quietly.

"Mom and Dad said it was just my hormones and puberty."

"It's not though. Any sane person knows that." Reigen huffs, "I'm sure I'll be able to get you a good therapist, though."

Mob nods, sighing shakily. He was burdening his family. He knew it. He weighed them down, no matter what he did.

Today was when he truly felt guilt.