Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It really was innocent at first. Truly this hadn't been his original intention when he first started doing this, it just seemed as though events lead to this point by forces beyond his control. It all started-

Hey, who's telling this story here? Anyway the actions that unfolded were not my fault. Despite what other people might think. It was all pure coincidence. You see. . .

1 week ago

"Oh Ku! Good you're home, I need a favor to ask." I hope he says yes.

That can't be a good sign. But it's mom so it's probably nothing too bad. He arched an eyebrow in acknowledgement as he took off his shoes.

"You know how I go to neighborhood watch meetings right?"

He nodded.

"Well it would seem that someone is needed to file some papers and well. . ."

"You were roped into doing it since you don't know how to say no." Really he didn't know what he was expecting.

She sighed "Yes, but it's only for the month and then it will cycle to someone else."

Well it could be worse I suppose. "What do you need me to do?"

"I'll be getting home too late to pick up groceries for dinner. I would ask your father but he works so hard that I couldn't imagine making him go somewhere else before coming home. I can't do that to him."

He's too incompetent for something like this anyway. "So you need me to pick up groceries?" He asked.

"I hope it's not too much trouble. I know you like hanging out with your friends after school-" He interrupted "They're not my friends" "And I would hate to interrupt that. I know this is your first group of friends in a while-" He said again"Not my friends" "But there really isn't anything else I can do. Please will you do this for me?"

I was planning to after you told me this is what I would be doing but now. . .

"Oh and any money you have left over after buying everything on the list you can use to buy sweets." She smiled

"Sweets?!" He was aware that this was bribery but he didn't care. So what if people could bribe him with sweets? As long as nobody important found out he didn't care. "Deal."

"Oh good! That you so much Ku!" She hugged him. "I'll go start on dinner right now. There's a present from your brother in your room by the way. It was delivered by drone." And with that she went to the kitchen.

Good grief. A gift? What was it this time?

He made his way up the stairs to his room and slowly opened the door. He did a quick scan finding the present being the only thing out of place in his room. It would have to be dealt with but he could only rewind time on his clothes or his room, not both. In the event that it was a trap of some kind, which it no doubt was, he would have to take it some place that could handle any damage. He walked into his room dropping his bag near his bed and then stared at the gift. It was even wrapped in a bow. He sighed.

Leaving it alone might also trigger some kind of trap. Fine. I'll play along.

He lightly grabbed the box and teleported with it. When he arrived at his destination, a deserted island, he opened the box. In the box he found a note.

Hi Kusuo!
I know you're probably wondering where the trap was this time but there isn't one. Honest! And if I know you as well as I do you probably teleported somewhere far away and unpopulated.
I appreciate that you think so highly of me! But I would never send something to you that might end up hurting mom in the process.

What about dad?

Oh! And dad too I suppose hahaha.

And with that he began the long swim back to land.

present time

I got sidetracked. I'm still bitter about that swim. He turned the corner as he made the trek back to his house. After I got back my mom ended up giving me the list that I would need for the rest of the week. And honestly I should have had her make me do this a long time ago. It's only benefitted me.

Monday

"Hey Saiki! The force of Dark Reunion is strong today, I fear that if something isn't done then the world might meet a terrible end! Will you follow me into combat? The battle will be long and gruesome but-"

"I can't. I have errands."

"Oh, do you want company?" What happened to Dark Reunion? "I have to do errands for my mom sometimes and it can get lonely, so if you want I can come with you."

"Huh? What are you guys talking about? Ramen?"

"No you idiot! Only you would think about something like that all the time."

"Oh. So do you guys wanna get Ramen? I just found this new Ramen place."

"Saiki can't. He has to go. . . uh. Wait, what do you have to do?" He turned to look at him. "Wait where did Saiki go?"

"Buddy? Oh he left when you started talking about ramen. Hahaha. I can't believe that you would think about ramen so much that you would forget about your surroundings."

"Nendou, that was you!"

"Oh was it? Hahaha it doesn't sound like it!"

"What do you mean it doesn't sound like it?! Only an idiot like you-"

And that's enough of that. I made the right choice to leave after Nendou started talking. I'm sure Kaidou will be fine. But I can't believe that I'm leaving on time for once. It's like everyone is leaving me alone for once.

And they did. Saiki managed to go to the store, pick up everything he needed with money to spare for a coffee jelly, and then went home. There weren't any disasters that he had to avoid. There weren't any people that tried to stop him. He was able to go straight home.

What is this feeling? Is this. . . happiness? I can't believe that this came from things other than eating sweets and being able to blend perfectly into the background. His smile was brighter than it probably should have been given he just made it home at a reasonable hour, but he didn't care.

"Kusuo, is that you? What are you doing home so late? And where's your mom?"

"Didn't she tell you what was happening starting today?" He arched an eyebrow at his father as he started to put groceries away.

"What was she supposed to tell me?"

"She's working for the neighborhood watch and won't be back until late so I'll be picking up dinner groceries."

"Oh I see. Well then." There was a look of contemplation on his face but his mind remained empty. So he started walking back to his room.

"Hey wait! Don't you want to ask me how my day was?" He was following him up the stairs.

"Not interested."

"But it was really interesting!"

"Didn't you just lick shoes all day? How is that interesting?"

"Well I- I mean it wasn't all licking. I did some shining too but, no wait, that's besides the point!"

"Still not interested." He closed the door.

"You should respect me! I'm your father," He was whining "you're so mean Kusuo!"

What are you 5 years old? Grow up would you. He heard his father go down stairs and then turn on the t.v. grumbling on the way down.

And so that's how his day would go. He would leave school before anyone could bother him giving the answer of having to do errands, then he would pick up groceries, ignore his father, eat coffee jelly, wait for his mom to come home, eat dinner, and then do homework. His disastrous life suddenly seemed a lot less Disastrous. But all good things must come to an end.

Wait what?

And so after a week of peace he found himself staring at the person who he always did his best to avoid.

No. No wait.

"Oh Saiki! What a coincidence!"

Damn you.