"Aren? Can't I see Kusuo's friend?" Kusuke's voice came through the door.
[Now that "big brother" is meeting a friend, I'm feeling nervous.]
Saiki Kusuo: ??
In the end, he obediently let Saiki Kusuo push him into the room.
All right.
Saiki Kusuo took a deep breath. He had to meet a friend... huh...
At the door, he could hear Aren's thoughts.
[After getting that text from Saiki saying he's back, it's hard to believe. Everyone talks about him at our yearly get-togethers. He went abroad to study without a word. I even worried if he got threatened by some gang...]
What wild imagination.
[Anyway, it's great he's back! I came over on impulse, but showing up this late might be rude. Maybe come tomorrow... No, tomorrow's Tuesday. Have to wait for the weekend to visit.]
Office life is tough.
At the same time, his dad was sitting in the living room playing with Wap.
Wap is a mechanical cat that Saiki Kusuo made. In six years, it hasn't changed much on the outside, but inside, it has many new features, like connecting to the front door camera.
"Meow~ Meow~" Wap said.
His dad, who has known Wap for six years: "Oh! What did you say, Wap? There's something unusual at the door. Someone's there who, even after years in society, can't hide 90% of their inner aggression—probably a former delinquent. 10% chance it's a former killer..."
[No matter how well you know it, why does two meows get translated into that?]
"Huh!? Kusuo, are you going to the door to see that person? Is that your friend? Wait, since when do you even host people?"
Saiki Kusuo headed straight for the door.
What's the big deal? He came all this way; I have to be a good host. I just learned some hosting manners from the Zoldyck training. Time to use 1% of that politeness.
At the door, Aren Kaidou with his purple hair was hiding something behind his back: "Huh, uh?! Saiki, what a coincidence. Are you out throwing out the trash?"
[Yeah, are you throwing out trash and passing by my house? Want to come in and sit?]
"Ah, actually, I already finished with the trash! I bought this coffee jelly on the way back. I remember you liked it before. Not sure if you still..."
[If you have coffee jelly, you should have pulled it out right away.]
Well, I saw through that anyway.
...
Saiki house, second floor, Saiki's bedroom.
"Didn't expect your room to look the same as six years ago. Oh, right, you look the same as six years ago too. Your parents seem the same. Your whole family hasn't changed at all!"
All you can say is "the same"?
If you want to see changes, want to check out my black-and-white photo frame in the backyard?
Saiki Kusuo's sudden return meant the house had been empty for a long time. The fridge had no desserts. The only drinks for hosting were some hastily bought juice and peanuts that looked like bar snacks.
But that didn't stop them from chatting. To be precise, Aren Kaidou did most of the talking.
And Saiki Kusuo was sincerely enjoying time with a friend he hadn't seen in nineteen years.
—Along with the coffee jelly.
Now it's six years after high school second year. Kaido went overseas for further studies, Nendou became a teacher, Teruhashi is Japan's image ambassador, and Mera opened a shop with his dad using his years of part-time experience. After high school, everyone went their own ways, and contact lessened, though they still meet once a year.
"We get together once a year, and everyone is always so excited—no, regretful? How do I put it, nostalgic? Mourning?"
Don't say it like I'm dead.
"Anyway, everyone misses you a lot, Saiki!"
Yeah, yeah, I know. I knew from the start. No need to stress it.
[So, Aren, what are you up to these days?] Out of politeness, Saiki Kusuo asked.
"Huh? Me? Oh, just the usual! I had big dreams in school, but real life has so much to learn. So I just... If you want to know, Saiki, sigh, my personality..."
Okay, I already know you're a kids' coach at a training center.
"Sigh, guess I should tell you." Aren finished hesitating.
Starting now?
[And so... like that...]
Saiki Kusuo poured him some juice, and Aren chugged it like beer.
"Ah! That hits the spot!"
It's just juice.
"Venting feels great! Sorry, Saiki, it's rare we meet, and here I am dumping my problems on you."
[No problem. I like hearing about normal life.]
"Let's talk something fun. Remember how we were obsessed with Hunter x Hunter in high school? Togashi resumed it!"
Something I've known for nineteen years just popped up out of nowhere.
"Ah, what a long wait. I've been a fan since I could breathe."
That's too much. When did Hunter x Hunter come out? At our age, it was "not out when we were born." Though I can't guarantee for readers in front of screens. In 2023, do young fans still discover Hunter x Hunter?
"Lately, I overhear kids chatting during breaks. You know that little girl from the Phantom Troupe's past who died."
You said fun topics, but the mood got heavy right away.
"We thought Meteor City was super cruel and twisted to raise such villains. Turns out the Phantom Troupe started as a music band."
I didn't think of that, but I knew a bit from someone's memories.
"Her friend was Sheila, the one Kurapika and them saved was Sheila too. Then the Phantom Troupe wiped out her whole clan—sounds like a soap opera plot!"
The Hunter x Hunter I'm in is way better. At least the troupe's reason wasn't Sheila.
"Saiki, who's your favorite in Hunter x Hunter?"
...
I don't even have favorites in real life.
If I had to pick, hmm... home, yeah, Mom is so innocent she's like an angel. Dad, whatever. I mean the mom with the Saiki last name.
"I love the Phantom Troupe! Fans exploded when their backstory came out!"
Congrats. You used to role-play as Uvogin with toilet paper.
"Chrollo's memes went global!"
Why not the man himself? Going viral without that "great" face.
"Sigh, but I hear later the Phantom Troupe and Kurapika all die on the ship. Togashi confirmed it himself."
If he says they'll die, does it mean they will? I vote no. At least let Kurapika live. What did the kid do wrong?
"Can't wait for the next plot."
Didn't you hear from the author? Your beloved Phantom Troupe all die.
[Well, Togashi-sensei's back isn't better yet. Just wait slowly.]
"This time assistants helped finish it! Weekly updates, new arc should be soon. Maybe end of this year? Or next?"
[What comic chase drags on this long?]
"I have a feeling it'll go straight to the end this time."
[Everyone dreams that.]
"I'll stay alive to see the updates."
[Live for other goals too.] What if it ends? Die then?
Everything ends eventually. Don't put all your eggs in one basket waiting. I mean Togashi's updates.
Talked a bit much. Aren Kaidou drank another drink to wet his throat. [Ah, already 9 PM? Time flies chatting. But we got to Hunter x Hunter, and Saiki seems interested for once. Stay up all night! People can skip work, but this is Hunter x Hunter shared pain. Those kids tomorrow? Whatever. People have pulled all-nighters and still functioned the next day. Potential is unlimited. But chances to chat Hunter x Hunter are limited...]
Go home and sleep.
Saiki Kusuo stood up. Out of instinct, he checked on his health a bit. Now everyone is in their mid-twenties, still young, but under company 996 grind and unhealthy habits worse than wild men, some aren't that healthy.
[Oh, Aren.] After walking him to the door and parting at the corner, Saiki Kusuo asked, [Does your company do group checkups?]
"Yeah, why?" [Haven't had time, but I'm still young. No checkup is fine.]
[Get an extra knee X-ray or something during the checkup.]
"Huh? Why suddenly..." [Come to think, my knee does have a subtle ache, but not obvious. Extra tests cost more... Wait, it hurts now! What's going on? Old injury flaring? I'll see a doctor this weekend!]
No choice, there really is a sign of an old knee injury flaring. As an adult, I can't fix chronic wounds like that. Saiki Kusuo watched Aren Kaidou disappear into the dark.
Back in his room, his x-ray vision saw the damaged black-and-white photo in the backyard.
It's February now. He left around New Year's.
Kusuo told him the house had been empty for a while, since Mom and Dad would get emotional there, and living here would leak "death" info. Saiki Kusuo already bought his grandparents a house elsewhere. Here, they just have cleaners come periodically.
But his grandparents' love for him made them visit now and then, burn some offerings, hoping he's doing well down there.
The unburned papers were plentiful and odd. Money basics, then phones, computers... little houses, cars, fridges, fans, ACs all complete. Even cement and paint buckets. What for, make me a bricklayer?
Too bad I'm not dead. Didn't get those.
Saiki Kusuo's mouth curved a bit. Festival is coming soon. Save them to burn for Grandpa.
...
This grandpa, not that one. Not the one still alive.
(So, stick to the idea that people in that world are just comic characters?)
Impossible. Wait, whose inner voice is that?!
...
After catching up with friends still living in their hometown one by one, one day, the Saiki family took the new bullet train to the countryside.
Grandparents were there, and Grandma was invited too. Big family reunion.
Countryside, far from city bustle. Saiki Kusuo thought of memories of the countryside, then arrived.
"Beep beep. Welcome home, Dr. Kusuo, Dad, Mom, and Corpse-kun."
What robot is that?
And who is Corpse-kun?
Kusuo laughed happily: "Hahaha! Sorry, forgot to update the program. Just in case Mom and Dad come with a photo, the robot should greet them politely."
Which is more rude?
Looking at this "countryside," besides being remote, nothing felt rural. Roads had robots big and small everywhere. No roof lacked solar panels. X-ray showed some houses looked like old brick huts outside, but mechanical inside. Far fields were fully automated. Around them, two rows of small drones greeted them.
He should have expected it. With Saiki Kusuo's free-time full makeover, a tech-filled countryside was normal.
Following the drones to a house nothing like the old family home in memory, after seeing the elders, Saiki Kusuo took him to his sleeping room.
The room looked like a normal tatami one. Saiki Kusuo looked down; x-ray pierced nearly 10 cm of steel plates, soon revealing the secret base below.
This base wasn't just under his room but a huge area below, covering their whole expanded house.
So, no intro to what's down there?
"Ah, you mean the base below? Want to see my inventions? Nothing amazing." Saiki Kusuo smiled. "Compared to Kusuo's powers, these are way behind."
Saiki Kusuo pressed the wooden wall.
"Fingerprint recognized, success. Opening secret passage..."
The wall split into wood panels, revealing an iron wall that changed into a small elevator for two.
This alone is impressive.
In the base, the real wonders showed. Besides the structure, many machines were displayed.
"This is an electric fan." Saiki Kusuo led Saiki Kusuo to one spot to introduce.
An ordinary thing?
"From electric charge principles, max 120 volts blown out over an area. Not very practical, but it can mimic a million-volt surface skill."
No relation to normal electric fans.
"This is AC." Saiki Kusuo pointed to another side.
Much bigger from looks.
"Air adjuster! Max power integrates air in two 20-square-meter rooms in 10 minutes. Vacuum or all oxygen to one side, adjustable freely."
Stop the wordplay.
"Seems boring? Yeah, why do I even have these inventions?"
Saiki Kusuo saw behind; a huge machine there. Instinct said that's the main one.
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