Without Thinking

Disclaimer: This story is set after the last Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan manga chapter. With this I mean the last 2 JUMP Giga chapters that come after chapter 279. These two chapters were adapted in episode 6 of Netflix' The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened. There will be spoilers if you haven't read those, or watched up to that point.

I will summarise the essentials in the next chapter, so one more warning: SPOILERS.

I started writing this months before Reawakened was released, so I based it off the manga version's ending. This ending was a bit more open and up for interpretation, so I went with one.

If you like my work, then please leave some love and consider sharing it with other Saiki fans.

I'm around on Reddit and Tumblr by the alias of tsundere_aibou / tsundereaibou. I love it when people drop me a line, so please don't hesitate!

Thanks, and please enjoy!

Chapter 1 - Taking the Bait

"It sounds like a trap to me, Saiki. However, we cannot ignore the hundreds of civilian lives that are at stake."

Kaidou was leaning against Saiki's school desk, his bandaged arms folded across his chest. Kuboyasu was standing next to them, hands in pockets, and Nendou was off to the side, digging around in his pants for what Saiki sincerely hoped was his hamster. Kuboyasu laughed heartily and gently slapped Kaidou on the shoulder, which somehow still nearly made him topple over.

"I doubt there will be hundreds of people there, Shun. Still, you guys should go and check it out." Kuboyasu winked. "It doesn't happen often that the girls invite us over."

What a pain.

Saiki, in an attempt to ignore the idiots around his desk, pondered for a moment if he would have been better off letting that meteor hit the earth after all.

That had been about six weeks ago. Shortly before that, he had used his brother's new invention: a new control device that should have sealed his powers for good. And at first that had certainly been the case. Saiki had no longer been able to use any of his powers: no x-ray vision, super strength, telekinesis, not even telepathy. Finally rid of these cursed powers… and some of the conveniences that came with it.

Of course that was when a meteor had suddenly started heading for Japan. So typical. Finally without powers, and instantly utterly useless. The role of sitting duck was an unfamiliar one for the pink-haired youth.

However, there had been a twist. To this day it was still unclear to him what had caused it — his powers had been a bit volatile just after using the device, leaking through a couple of times — but either way, his powers had fully returned in the middle of all that. He had been able to throw on an invisibility cloak, ascend into the exosphere and punch the meteor back to from whence it came. Crisis averted once more.

That had been it though. Trying to wield his powers after that had yielded no result. It seemed they were really gone now. Forever.

So here he was, without his trademark green-tinted glasses and limiters in his hair — after all he had no use for them anymore — and wondering how to get out of this situation without the use of psychic powers.

His name was Saiki Kusuo, and he was just a normal high school student.

With a bunch of really stupid, annoying friends.

Who were trying to convince him to attend a stupid high school party.

He wasn't that normal.

Good grief.

The girl camp — that was Teruhashi, Yumehara and Mera — had been set up at Teruhashi's desk. Unfortunately that meant it was right next to him.

They were halfway through their first term of their third year in high school. Back in April, Saiki had successfully stopped the volcano from erupting at last. The world had finally been able to get out of the time loop that it had been stuck in for years. Regrettably for him, a new school year meant shuffled classroom seats. Without his powers, he was just left with his abysmal luck. With no way to oppose her anymore, he was at Teruhashi's whim, who was loved by the Gods. And they had granted her a desk next to him this year. He sighed.

It would have been so pleasant to seal the worthless power that sucked oddballs to him like a magnet as well, but alas, no dice.

"W-well, I invited the entire class, s-so…" Yumehara sputtered at Kuboyasu's notion that she'd invited them specifically. Bowing her head did not hide the crimson of her cheeks, still visible through her strawberry blonde bangs.

Just invite Kaidou already. Leave me out of it. Geez.

"I really hope everyone will be there. I'd like to celebrate my 18th birthday with all my friends." Yumehara eyed Teruhashi nervously. "You'll come right, Kokomi?" It was so obvious she was using her as lure.

Sparkles just shot off Teruhashi's aura. Saiki swore he saw some embers land in front of him.

"Oh, of course I will, Chiyo! It'll be so much fun!"

A deafening "OFFU!" resounded through the classroom. Possibly through the hallway as well.

Of course, Saiki just remained seated at his desk with pursed lips, arms folded across his chest. If Teruhashi was coming, then all the more reason for him not to. Imagine the kinds of disaster he would find himself in if he did. No thanks.

He mumbled something about visiting his grandparents on the day of the party. Actually having to move your mouth to communicate was still a pain, now that he could no longer send words straight into someone's mind. So he did it as little as possible.

"That's odd. I don't see anything planned with your obaa-san and ojii-san." Aiura was playing with her crystal ball at the desk behind them. She didn't have to rat him out though.

"You should go, Kusuo. You won't regret it." There was a weird, melancholic tone to her voice.

What on earth is she talking about?

Teruhashi beckoned Mera closer and whispered something in her ear. What were they up to? Telepathy would have been pretty useful right about now.

"Ehhhh?! There will be a chocolate fountain?!"

Never mind that. Who needs telepathy.

Did they take him for a fool? He would not rise to the bait.

"And macarons? And cupcakes?!"

What kind of party was this? A tea party?

"Eh what? Coffee jelly?" Even Mera was getting suspicious now.

Tsk.

It was most certainly a trap. He didn't care how good the lure was. There was clearly something fishy about this.

If he still had his precognition, it would be telling him to get the hell out of there. Right now. Massive migraine included. Going to the party was a very bad idea.

He would not take the bait.