Everyone came back from winter break, including a new student. Saiko Metori, was his name.

'His name is uncomfortably similar to Saiki...'

Saiko immediately left an unsettling impression on Asher. He was snobbish and stuck-up. Asher couldn't stand people like him. Luckily, Saiko was focused on Teruhashi, so he shouldn't have to worry about being around him too often.

"Asher, Saiki!" the teacher called out, sounding troubled. "Can the two of you please visit Saiko's home and give him his test? I want to ensure that all of the students receive their work back.."

The assigned brunette frowned. "Then why don't you go yourself? I shouldn't have to do the job for you."

"I'm much too busy for that. Now, hurry along."

'How unfortunate.'

"I can't believe we have to go to that snob's house."

"I wonder if he lives in a dark castle, with a dragon that swarms around it!.."

"I'm hungry."

'Why did these idiots tag along?'

"Y'know, you guys didn't have to come. Our teacher only said Saiki and I.."

'Always gotta ruin our time together.'

'It's better this way.'

"Of course we had to come," Aren shook his head. "We have to make sure we stand out for our brethren if they approach enemy territory."

"Yes!" Kaidou shouted. "Exactly that!"

Asher raised an eyebrow. "What? It's not gonna be like that. We're dropping off a paper, then leaving."

"Oh, oh! I think we're here!" They all approached a huge building.

"Okay, what the fuck? This is just annoying," Asher frowned at the mansion.

"W-why is it so big?.. Well, the building in front of my house is just as big as this, so this is nothing.." Aren laughed the size of the house off nervously.

Saiki went forward to push the gate open, but it opened by itself.

"Woahhh, so cool! It's like magic," Nendou gaped.

"It's just an automatic door, Nendou."

"What brings you to my abode, peasants?" Saiko approached them from inside the gates.

"We're just here to give you a paper from class-"

"Your house is so cool!"

"You think?" Saiko hummed, ignoring Asher.

'This bitch..'

"I guess I could give you measly commoners a tour around my place. Just to get a glimpse of the world only I am able to live in."

"This house is nothing that great, anyways!"

With that, they were all lured into the gates. They walked around the outside of the building, soon standing in front of several stone statues.

"Woah.." Kaidou looked at them in awe. "So cool..."

"What is it!? What do you think is cool!?" Saiko questioned excitedly.

"These statues," he pointed to them. "Where's the switch?"

"Huh?"

"The switch? Y'know, they're hidden as normal statues but as soon as you switch them on, they come to life!"

'How has his mind become so fogged with fiction..?'

"Oh- no. They don't do that," Saiko looked at him as if he were mentally ill.

Kaidou's shoulders slumped. "Oh. So boring.."

'WHAT!? DID HE SAY BORING!??'

'Yes. He did.'

"Anyways, let's go inside now!" Saiko rushed them inside of his house. "Everything in this room is worth 7 billion yen, by the way! And, that one painting is worth almost 3 million yen!"

"Wow, really!?" Nendou was quick to take the painting off of the wall to gaze at it better.

"What's the point of wasting your money on such useless things...?"

"Hey, don't touch that! Put that down!" Saiko snatched the painting from Nendou and put it back on the wall.

"Well... that's the same amount of money the richest man has, so that's nothing. This is nothing, compared to him!"

'Just admit that you're jealous, at this point.'

Saiko continued to lead them through different rooms, showing off the cinema, the snack bar, the gym area. This guy could stay in his house forever, and never need to leave. He has everything.

'So fucking annoying...'

'Look whose jealous now.'

"Wow, look at the time," Kaidou look at his non-existent wristwatch. "It's gotten so late. We should go now."

"Yeah. Let's get food before we go home," Nendou rubbed his stomach.

"Y-you all can eat something here! We have a lot of different, exotic food."

"Nahh, I think I just want ramen," Aren chimed in, the group walking out the front door.

As they were walking out, Nendou somehow got stuck in the gate.

'This fucking dumbass.'

The school year came to an end, and many fellow third year would be leaving the school.

Asher didn't know anyone in the third year, so he didn't bother going to school that day (seeing as the entire day was spent for that ceremony).

Saiko was also planning on dragging them all back to his house, but Asher was kind enough to save Saiki from the trouble.

"Let me go home."

"Never."

Well, he was still in some kind of trouble, but it wasn't as bad as being with that stuck-up prick.

"Hey, Saiki," Asher turned to the pink haired boy from where he sat. "Can I hug you?"

"Why?.."

"Y'know, just because..."

'I wanna know how he'll react to the physical contact. A hug isn't too bad, though.'

'Isn't that a little weird to be curious about..?'

"Only this once, I guess."

"Seriously?!"

"Do you want me to change my mind?"

"No, sorry sorry‐" he scoot closer to Saiki and wrapped his arms around him. Saiki just sat there, feeling confused.

His emotions were very conflicted right now, and he didn't like it.

Asher soon backed away. "Sorry, that probably made you uncomfortable..."

"Huh?"

"You just sat there. You could've said no if you really wanted to. You don't have to force yourself just because I admitted my feelings 'n all..."

Saiki frowned. "Do it again."

"What?"

"Hug me again."

'Why do I suddenly feel so nervous to hug him now..?'

The brunette slowly nodded, wrapping his arms around the other once again. It was hesitant, but Saiki soon followed Asher's movements. The two sat on the couch in each other's embrace.

'He's warm, like when I use my pyrokenesis on my body...'

'My heart is going to fucking explode, holy shiiiiittt-'

Saiki then tugged away quickly. "Is that good enough for you?"

Asher furiously nodded his head.

Saiki had only pulled away because his mother had been approaching the building. She came through the front door, soft clanking noises being made as she unlocked the door and walked in.

"Asher, I'm home!!"

Said boy looked to Saiki. "I didn't know she was gonna be here-"

"It's fine, it's just your mom."

Asher looked away as he slowly stood to his feet. He was heading in the direction of his mother, but she beat him to it.

"Ash, hun, should've let me know you were home-" she had placed a hand on his arm lovingly, slowly looking behind her son's body. "And you have your boyfriend over- seriously!.." She started running her fingers through her hair to make it more presentable.

'Boyfriend?'

"He isn't my boyfriend, ma," he rolled his eyes. "Why're you home so early?"

"I told my boss today was graduation day, and he was so kind to let me have the day off."

"But I'm not graduating..?"

"That's besides the point," she waved him off, side stepping him to face Saiki (who had been staring at them for quite a while). "Saiki, hi! I'll make you two some lunch, hopefully you aren't starving."

"Mom-"

"Actually," Saiki stood from the couch, "We were just getting ready to go out. But I appreciate it, Ms. Mortelli."

'Go out..!?'

'Not like that, idiot.'

She raised both of her eyebrows. "Oh.. okay, then. Have fun, you two."

The pinkette nodded in response, grabbing Asher's wrist as he led them out of the house.

"Where are we going?"

"Let's stop by that little shop nearby, then I'm going home."

'So it is a date! Hell yeah!!'

'No.'

After they stopped at the pastry shop to have a little snack, they walked to Saiki's home. The psychic could've walked home alone, but Asher insisted he went along.

"We're here, so you can go now."

"Right.."he licked his lips nervously. "Uh, Saiki?"

"What is it?"

"What'd you do with the ring?"

Saiki looked away, in an almost anxious manner.

'So he threw it away..'

The pinkette sighed. He tugged at a silver chain that was latched around his neck. Asher hadn't noticed it before. At the bottom hung the silver ring he received for Christmas.

"Oh.." Asher felt his ears becoming warm. "You had it the entire time."

"My mom insisted."

The brunette grinned. "Even so, that makes me feel relieved. Anyways, I'll go now. See you later, Saiki."

"Tell me when you get home."

He chuckled softly. "Right. I will."

Saiki stood in front of the front door as Asher walked away, only turning into his house when the tall male turned a corner.

"What were you doing so long out here with Mortelli?" He flinched as he almost ran into his mother.

'I let my guard down again.. seems to happen when around that guy.'

"We were just talking. I'm going to do my homework now."

Saiki's mother smiled happily as she watched her son wall upstairs to his room. "They grow up too fast.."

'Jeez, that makes you sound so old, mom...'

----‐------------------------------------

+ his mom barely said anything about the ring. she only said "what a sweet kid. you should keep it" after he said he didn't know what to do with it

I wanted them to have one on one time. idk how I feel about this chapter, but I refuse to rewrite it. not yet, at least

also, I hope everyone had a happy new year 👹

Word Count: 1556