Mob Psycho 100 : Reverse AU

5. The Spring of Youth

A time of liveliness, where youngsters begin to find their way in life.

The second year of middle school is one of the most formative years of a person's life. It is when youngsters develop their sense of self. 

Some aim to gain knowledge, and surpass all others in the realm of academics. Others train their bodies for sports. Some invest in hobbies, cultivate talents, and others rebel against such acts. Some fall in love. 

That is why they call it the spring of youth.

Reigen Arataka wishes only to become the greatest Psychic of the 21st century.  To some, that dream may seem ludicrous, impossible, only fantasy.  Reigen knows that it's possible, he knows one day, he will fulfill that goal. Afterall, his master, his teacher, is a psychic. 

Kageyama-sensei was no fraud, or faker. He was the real deal, and Reigen knew it. 

Except....

"Master, can I help with this client?"

"Reigen-san, your mother had called me. She had been getting numerous calls of you skipping out of school, and turning in assignments late. I understand you're passionate about learning from me, but please, focus on your schoolwork....."

"Can I at least observe?"

"Reigen-san, have you completed your homework yet?"

Reigen shifted in his shoes and averted his eyes. 

"...yes?"

"Reigen-san finish your homework first.... also, don't stay up surfing the internet. Sleep first, then do your homework. I understand you're passionate about becoming an esper, but esper powers rely on your brain. You can't become an esper if you're not taking good care of it."  Mob said, patting Reigen on the shoulder. 

"How did you know?"

"I can see your eye-bags. Ah, Mr. Tanaka, you're here, please, come in." 

The client was a scruffy looking man, who probably hadn't shaved in weeks. Probably didn't shower or bother to change his clothes either, judging by the stains and not-so-faint smell.

The man walked past Reigen with a passing glance, and walked into Kageyama-san's office. 

The click of the shutting door seemed like the closing of massive gates to Reigen. 

Reigen felt like he was wasting his spring of youth. It had been a few years now since he started his tutelage under Kageyama-Sensei, and he hasn't been able to see a single ghost yet. The only thing he had was his salt, and a vast knowledge of ghosts and psychics from the internet, which, truth be told, was mostly fake. 

Although he did find a website for a cult. Their god looked suspiciously like a long faced Mob-shishou. 

Reigen worked on his assignments with spite. It was an hour later when the client came out. 

"Especially with the lottery, it's been found that people who've won usually don't feel happier after a period of time, and that is perfectly normal."

"I... don't know what I'll do next though. I'm never being a salary man again, though. That was hell..."

"Mm. There are alternatives to being a salaryman in this country. Perhaps you may want to explore an old hobby. It may give you something to do."

"... I'll keep that in mind. Have a good day."

"And to you as well, Mr. Tanaka."

The client left. 

"Mob-Shishou..."

"Yes Reigen-san?"

"When will I be able to become as powerful an esper as you?"

"Reigen-san, being powerful is not the most important thing in the world. What matters most is that you're a good person."

"Well what if I want to be more? What if I want to... I don't know, be somebody?"

"Reigen. You don't have to be a hero to save the-"

"When are you going to teach me how to see spirits? Or bend spoons, or i don't know, just lift a spoon at least...." 

"Reigen-"

"Sorry, I'm being impatient."

Reigen went headed for the door. 

"Reigen-san, your things..."

"I'm just getting some fresh air." 

The next day as he was heading for Mob-shishou's office, Reigen was approached by Megumu Koyama, a punk kid who had a mowhawk and piercings. 

"If you know what's good for you, take me to your master." 

Reigen swirled the lollipop in his mouth. "What do you want with Kageyama-sensei?" He asked. 

"What do we want? Kid, do you know who your master is?"
"Eh?"

"Have you heard the rumors of White-T Poison?" 

"White-T Posion? That's some bogus urban legend."

"Bogus urban legend!? He was the most powerful esper ever known! Thrice more powerful than the previous leader of Claw!"

"What? Mob-sensei?"  (Also what the heck is Claw?)

White-T Poison was an urban legend of an entity who looked like the most average kid you could think of. Except, that kid had god-like power. He was said to have decimated all the Thug Gangs a few decades back, even having decimated the most powerful Thug Gang at the time- Black Vinegar Middle School. Their leader was rumored to have been able to defeat thugs with only a thought, and the absentminded flick of his wrist. It was also on old newspapers, that the whole school had been taken apart and put back together in a matter of minutes, the rubble having floated in the sky. 

There were few photos of the encounters with White-T Poison. Those photos were blurry, and often obscured by immense amounts of dust and rubble. 

It showed a kid with a white T-shirt, glowing eyes, and the creepiest, blank stare. 

Reigen couldn't recon the images with the Mob-shishou he knew. 

"That's complete nonsense. Mob-sensei is nothing like that. He wouldn't hurt a fly if he could help it. Sorry, but you have the wrong guy."

"Really? Then take me to him. Let me see for myself."

"No. Mob-Shishou's a psychiatrist. He's busy with clients."

Reigen started to walk away, but then was stopped as Koyama grabbed his shoulder and spun him around so that he was facing Koyama. 

A violent, purple-red aura shaped into orbs around Koyama's fists, like boxing gloves. Koyama then punched Reigen across the face, and then kneed him in the gut, sending Reigen flying into the air. 

He then caught Reigen by the collar, and demanded once more. 

"Take me to your master."

Reigen agreed, but he also had a bad feeling about this.