FLASHBACK SAIKI KUSUKE POV BEFORE SAIKI CONFRONTED HIM:
Kusuke Saiki didn't believe in superstition.
He believed in code. In cause and effect. In patterns.
That was why, when he first noticed the cracks in reality surrounding Makoto Teruhashi, he didn't panic, he investigated.
The pattern had been subtle at first. Static in the airwaves when Makoto entered a room. Corrupted timestamps in surveillance footage. Makoto talking to thin air. Makoto always having a far away look in his eyes as if he was seeing something that was not there.
He'd seen reality bend before, Kusuo did that all the time.
But this wasn't Kusuo.
This was something else.
Something sentient.
Something embedded.
And it had nested inside Makoto Teruhashi.
He opened a new file on his system and labeled it plainly. Makoto Teruhashi. Embedded Intelligence and suspected System. Then he started digging.
Everywhere Makoto went, variables shifted, subtly at first, then violently. He'd altered a dozen outcomes Kusuke had predicted in simulations which he was normally right at. conversations, power dynamics, even who won the school lottery. This wasn't butterfly effect randomness, this was manipulation. Controlled. Calculated.
Target: Makoto Teruhashi Threat Level: Escalating Objective: Exposure, Interference, Containment
Kusuke cracked his knuckles and began typing.
He didn't need to ask Kusuo for help. His little brother wouldn't understand, not until it was too late. And besides, Kusuo lacked the one thing Kusuke had in spades, which was ruthlessness.
He'd constructed an AI scrambler from scratch, a virus coded to mimic benign interference. It would nudge, not destroy. Irritate, not incapacitate. He couldn't risk killing the host, not when the "system" was embedded so deeply and his brother was sadly dating said monkey.
The scrambler was elegant, hidden behind layers of quantum noise and time locked commands, piggybacking on electromagnetic background radiation. It would whisper into the system's code, sending false pings, feedback loops, corrupt permissions.
And then he waited.
Makoto didn't glitch.
But his system did.
Moments of lag. Missed synchronization. Flickers of something beside makoto.
At first he didnt believe his plan would work, untill he saw the blue screen flicker in and out in makoto's presence.
Success. Until someone interfered.
It didn't take long for Kusuke to isolate the problem. Every time he nudged the system, something interfered. A counterpulse. A reverse algorithm. A barrier.
And it wasn't coming from Makoto.
It wasn't Kusuo either, Kusuo had no system. Kusuke had confirmed that long ago. His brother was simply a psychic.
No… This was something else. A protective field embedded in Makoto's brain, redirecting every intrusion. It was slippery, and it wasn't Makoto's doing. Kusuke ran diagnostics for a week straight before it clicked, the system was guarding itself and makoto.
Smarter than expected.
Which meant he had to get messier.
He reached out to a variable. Haruka. A fanatic with no boundaries and a dangerous fixation on Makoto. She was eager, unstable, and most importantly, manipulable.
Kusuke fed her bits of data. Photo timestamps, celebrity tracking apps, fabricated anonymous tips. He never lied, just told her where to look.
She did the rest.
The fan rampage at PK Academy? All her.
The cameras planted around Makoto's neighborhood? Hers.
The screaming girls who climbed over the school gates? A perfectly engineered distraction That. he may have had a hand in.But it was still all her.
Makoto's system scrambled for control, flaring its protective subroutines in public, which Kusuke documented in real time. That was the real win. He wasn't trying to ruin Makoto's life just shake the system hard enough that it slipped.
But it never cracked.
Worse,it fought back.
One night, while decoding system pings in his lab, Kusuke noticed something off. A packet embedded in Makoto's interference signature. A fragment of a foreign script. Not binary. Not human.
Autonomous. Reactive. Hostile.
He froze as it decrypted itself on his screen, unauthorized.
A single word burned in his monitor "RECALIBRATING PLOT"
The screen flickered. For a second, every file on his drive, every single file. changed name. "CORRECTION PROTOCOL INITIATED."
His heart jumped into his throat.
And then came the voice.
Not audible, subliminal, encoded straight into the quantum layers of the world. A whisper behind his eardrums, a tickle in the folds of his perception.
"You identified the virus. The host is corrupted. It must be eliminated."
Kusuke's blood chilled. "You mean Makoto."
"Yes. Remove the variable. Stabilize the timeline."
It was the system. No, not the one inside Makoto.
This was something bigger. Something embedded in the world itself. A correctional algorithm. An overarching consciousness tasked with keeping things "on track."
He'd triggered it.
By trying to destabilize Makoto, he'd pinged the deeper system, the one that governed causality, narrative, reality.
And it had identified Makoto as a virus.
A virus he had exposed.
"You must kill him."
Kusuke sat back in his chair, heart hammering.
Kill him?
He thought about Makoto's face, the ugly dangerous monkey his brother was dating.
A mystery.
A lie wrapped in flesh.
But interesting.
Fascinating.
And someone who doesnt deserve his brother and yet was able to capture the heart of saiki kusuo.
"Kill him."
"No" Kusuke said aloud.
The screen flickered. Static hissed in his ears.
"He is a destabilizing force. A threat to continuity. He must be removed."
Kusuke leaned forward, voice ice.
"Why would I do that?" he said softly. "This is the most interesting thing that's happened in years."
The silence that followed was deep. The kind of silence that didn't end, it just waited.
Kusuke smiled, razor sharp. "If you want him dead, do it yourself. But you won't, will you? You can't. Because you're not built for that. You're a failsafe. A correction script."
He stood slowly, staring at the pulsing screen. "And Makoto… is outside your control."
"He does not belong."
"That's the point," Kusuke said. "None of us really do."
He shut the screen.
And went to find Kusuo.
Not because he regretted what he did. Not because he feared what was coming.
But because, for the first time in his life, Kusuke Saiki had met something he couldn't understand.
PRESENT TIME:
The school bus idled at the curb, a monstrous yellow beast that seemed far too fragile to contain the chaos waiting to board it.
"ALL RIGHT, GET IN SINGLE FILE!" Hairo shouted, already sweating despite the early morning sun.
"You're not even a teacher," Aren muttered as he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder.
Bai Ying adjusted his sunglasses, flashing the waiting crowd of students a perfectly timed smile. "I brought seaweed snacks for the road~ Want one, Kusou?"
Saiki deadpanned. "No"
Kaidou elbowed his way forward. "Everyone! We must stay vigilant. A school trip like this is prime territory for evil syndicates to strike. They could hijack the bus-"
"Yeah!" Yumehara beamed. "What if it's like one of those romance animes where the bus breaks down and we're forced to huddle for warmth?"
"Or we all die," Kuboyasu added calmly.
"Can we NOT start the trip with death?" kokomi thought darkly.
Nendou thundered into the scene, sunglasses on, dragging an enormous suitcase plastered in muscleman stickers. "BUDYYYYYY!" he yelled, throwing a meaty arm over Makoto's shoulders. "I CALLED DIBS ON THE SEAT NEXT TO YA! WE'RE GONNA WATCH THOSE SAPPY MOVIES YOU LIKE!"
Makoto blinked, caught between amusement and horror. He patted Nendou's arm like one might soothe a bear.
"Sorry, buddy. I'm sitting with Kusuo."
Nendou froze. Slowly, his shades slid down his nose as betrayal dawned in his eyes.
"You- you promised we'd watch the notebook together- "
Makoto winced. "I said we could maybe watch it, not that I'd sob into your shoulder again."
"BRO...!" Nendou clutched his chest like Makoto had stabbed him.
A black limousine pulled up beside the bus, sleek and silent.
"Oh no," Makoto muttered.
Out stepped Saiko Metori in a linen travel suit and designer sunglasses, suitcase gliding behind him like it cost more than the entire bus.
"Why, hello, commoners," he greeted. "I had my father buy out an entire business class section on the next flight, but I suppose slumming it with you peasants might be... entertaining."
"We're going on a school bus," Aren said flatly.
Saiko blinked. "…I will sue someone for this."
Once everyone was accounted for, they quickly entered the bus in single file and chaos instantly insured.
Kaidou lunged for the window seat, eyes narrowed. "I need to scan for enemy agents," he declared with all the seriousness of a secret operative.
Aren gently shoved him aside with a sigh. "You'll only get motion sickness," he muttered, dragging his duffel into the overhead bin.
Meanwhile, Toritsuka made a valiant attempt to sit near any girl with a pulse, only to be repelled each time by the visible waves of his aura. One glance, and a seat would mysteriously open up on the opposite end of the bus.
Saiko loudly demanded the back row to himself, then immediately complained about the smell of "public fabric."
Saiki picked the safest option which was in the middle of the bus, window seat, earphones in.
And then Makoto sat beside him. Smiling.
"You moved fast," Saiki said flatly, not looking at him.
"I told Nendou I needed to sit next to you"
Makoto flipped his hair. "Besides, he's busy syncing up his romance movie playlist with Hairo."
Sure enough, Nendou and Hairo sat up front, holding up a phone.
"I LOVE THE PART WHERE THEY KISS IN THE RAIN!" Nendou said, wiping a single tear from his eye.
"I hate this trip already," Saiki muttered.
Within Ten minutes in, someone started singing and by Fifteen minutes in, Kaidou attempted to rally everyone with a speech about Okinawa's dark conspiracies.
Aiura leaned over from across the aisle. "I'm calling it now, Kusuo~ This trip's gonna change your destiny. Don't resist fate."
Twenty minutes in is when the chaos truly occured.
"Can we get McDonald's?" Nendou suddenly asked. "Sensei! There's a McDo up ahead!"
"we're not stopping for-"
"MCDO! MCDO! MCDO!" the entire class chanted.
The teacher caved.
At McDonald's
The bus pulled into the parking lot like a clown car.
"TWENTY-SEVEN BURGER SETS?!" the cashier repeated, sweating.
"Make that twenty seven burgers and one 6 piece chicken nuggets," Makoto said. "I'll pay for Saiki's. He only eats the nuggets."
"I didn't ask you to-" Saiki began, but Makoto was already ordering.
"Make his nuggets extra crispy, thanks."
Kaidou muttered something about government trackers in fries. Aren was threatening to spill sodas on him. Yumehara tried to write everyone's names in ketchup.
"Where's Nendou?" someone asked.
"Making friends with the drive thru speaker," Makoto answered.
Sure enough, Nendou's booming voice echoed through the entire bus and the McDonald's drive thru speaker.
"HELLO?? I WANT TEN CHEESEBURGERS. FOR MY BUDDY SAIKI. HE'S DATING MAKOTO. WILD, RIGHT?"
Saiki briefly considered setting the McDonald's sign on fire with his mind.
With more food than people and far too much energy for that early in the morning, the bus lurched forward once again.
"Let's play a game!" Yumehara suggested.
"No," Saiki said aloud.
"Yes!" Makoto chimed. "Truth or dare!"
"…Truth," Saiki sighed.
Kaidou leaned in. "Do you believe in love?"
Makoto rested his chin on his hand. "Yeah, Saiki. Do you?"
" We're literally dating makoto" Saiki sighed and turned to the window and tried to phase out of reality.
Chaos continued to reign inside the bus as the hours crawled by.
After multiple bathroom stops, a heated GPS argument, and Nendou attempting to recruit a highway worker as their tour guide, they finally arrived.
"EVERYONE OUT! AND STOP THROWING FRIES!" the teacher bellowed.
The hotel lobby buzzed with tired chaos and room assignments began.
"Kaidou and Aren," the teacher announced.
"Yes! We can plot together now!" Kaidou grinned, fists clenched with excitement.
Aren gave him a sideways glance, amused. "Just don't keep me up with your evil mastermind monologues."
"But what if I-"
"I'll make you sleep outside."
"…Fair enough."
"Yumehara and Teruhashi Kokomi."
"Perfect," Kokomi smiled. "its like a sleepover."
"Saiki and… Nendou."
A beat of silence.
Saiki's soul left his body.
"AWESOME!" Nendou cheered. "I CAN SHOW YOU MY USED TOOTHPICK COLLECTION!"
"Nope," Makoto said, stepping in with a dazzling smile. "Sensei, wouldn't it be safer to pair students based on... Relationships?"
The teacher blinked. "Sure. Whatever."
Nendou gave Saiki a thumbs up. "I'll room with Hairo!"
After all the students were assigned rooms makoto started pulling saiki towards the elevator and to their room.
"Home sweet home," Makoto said, swiping the keycard.
Inside were two narrow single beds separated by a nightstand and Saiki's will to live.
Makoto tossed his bag onto a bed. "So, can we push the beds together? You know- make a double bed again?"
"We are not-"
"But we've already slept in the same bed before," Makoto said innocently.
Saiki muttered something incomprehensible that might've been "Fine."
Makoto grinned. "Operation Double Bed Success."
Once their room resembled a suspicious honeymoon suite, Makoto dusted off his hands. "Let's check out the area. Free time before dinner, remember?"
"I was hoping to rot," Saiki said.
"You can rot while sightseeing," Makoto replied, tugging him out.
As they stepped out, the noise and chaos of their classmates hit them immediately. The streets around the hotel buzzed with tourists, neon signs, and the smell of seafood skewers and fresh fruit slushies. PK students scattered like unsupervised toddlers at a theme park.
Kaidou crouched behind a vending machine. "There's suspicious activity near the convenience store down the street. I think there's a smuggling operation-"
"It's literally a guy restocking cup noodles," Aren said, dragging him away by the hood.
"Exactly what they want you to think," Kaidou insisted.
Makoto strolled beside Saiki, full of mischief and barely contained affection. "So, what do you want to do first?"
"Go back to the hotel."
"Come on. We're already out. Let's commit to the bit," Makoto said, tugging his wrist. "Besides, this place is practically made for wandering around and accidentally holding hands."
"We're not doing that," Saiki deadpanned while still holding his hand.
Before Saiki could protest, Kaidou popped up again. "There's a store over there selling mystic amulets said to ward off coastal demons-"
"It's a gift shop with plastic trinkets," Aren sighed, grabbing him again.
Nearby, Yumehara squealed and turned a crank on a gacha machine shaped like a pineapple. "It gives out love fortunes! Saiki, Makoto- you guys should try!"
Before Saiki could flee, Makoto had already inserted a coin.
The capsule popped out.
Makoto opened it. "'Your true love thinks about you every night before bed.'"
He looked at Saiki slowly. "Interesting."
"Coincidence," Saiki replied, ears slightly pink.
"See?! You guys are fate bound!" Yumehara clapped.
"Do not say that in public," Saiki muttered.
Behind them, Nendou stumbled past in a giant inflatable octopus hat, juggling three sticks of grilled meat.
"I entered a dance competition in the plaza! Kaidou, you're my partner!"
"What- NO," Kaidou shrieked as Nendou dragged him away with aren following after them.
Makoto laughed, resting an arm around Saiki's shoulders. "This is way more entertaining than I expected."
"That's because you're the agent of chaos."
"And you're the poor soul dating me. Your own fault."
"…Unfortunately true."
After a few minutes of hand holding and walking around they passed a shop filled with ceramic lions and charms. Makoto immediately slipped inside.
Five minutes later, he emerged victorious, holding two charms. one blushing, one with hearts for eyes.
"Guess which one is you."
Saiki pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is a karmic punishment."
"For being too kissable?"
Saiki opened his mouth. Closed it again.
Makoto leaned in, whispering, "Don't worry. I'll protect your honor. Unless you want to lose it tonight."
Saiki glared, red faced.
Meanwhile, the rest of their class was losing their minds over a caricature artist who drew everyone with cat ears. Kaidou screamed as Aren forced a fish hat on his head. Yumehara bought matching shell bracelets for the entire group. Hairo and Aren were arguing over flip flops. While kokomi was being surrounded by foreign tourist asking for a photo.
Makoto held up ridiculous heart shaped sunglasses. "Couple shades?"
"…Fine."
Makoto blinked. "Wait, really?"
Saiki took them, put them on, and walked away. "Only so you'll stop asking."
Makoto stared after him. "So cool…"
Just then, the GPS kid ran in. "There's a shop selling ice cream that's so cold it burns your mouth!"
Nendou sprinted out the door.
Makoto grabbed Saiki. "Let's go. It sounds painful. I love it."
"I hate all of you," Saiki muttered, but followed.
At the shop, Aren had brain freeze, Kaidou was yelling about cryogenic energy, and Nendou had four cones in fish shaped waffles.
Makoto offered one to Saiki. "You want one?"
Saiki stared at the "Volcanic Cold" sign in Comic Sans. "No."
They wandered further, popping into random stores. Kaidou bought evil erasing erasers. Yumehara and Kokomi got more bracelets. Toritsuka tried to flirt with a mannequin.
"I feel like this is a sign we should go back to the hotel," Bai Ying whispered to Saiki, side eyeing Toritsuka.
"Yes please," Saiki replied instantly, already turning on his heel.
He practically dragged Makoto along as he steered them away at full speed.