Chapter Text
Saiki was not having a good day. Somehow Toritsuka had garnered the wrath-of, well, he couldn’t tell, which was more scary than anything else. All he had to work with was his ghost-nuisance perv’s nickname (Ghost King…) and with almost no mental signature in the area.
Yare yare, it didn’t seem like he would be getting rest anytime soon figuring out this mystery. Toritsuka, for his part, seemed scared to death of the mysterious caller. And with him not knowing the actual name of the culprit, long distance likely wasn’t an option. Unless he was Japanese, which he somewhat doubted, otherwise he would have noticed earlier.
Apparently his fr-nuisance had received an angry call from the King for whatever reason. Saiki wasn’t sure what it was; perhaps it had something to do with the ‘favors’ he always asked the local ghosts. But if he wasn’t from Japan (and wasn’t as obsessive as his brother) then why would he care?
His answers were given to him on a silver platter later in the day. He had just enough in his pocket worth enough to replace for a coffee jelly, so he ate one on his way home. He liked the flavor and texture enough to save him from the overwhelming stress of thinking of a situation largely outside of his jurisdiction (and therefore his control).
Toritsuka was talking to the same mysterious figure on the way out of school. He seemed to hyperventilate enough to collapse in the middle of a walkway just outside. This was bad, and highly irregular for him. The esper reluctantly picked up the man, hoping to teleport and get things over with. Perv’s actual phone rang, however.
The Unknown Number on the caller ID was quickly read by him as originating from somewhere in the US. Saiki debated whether to bring Toritsuka back to his house or not; people might get the wrong idea if he did. But it was closer.
He picked up the phone and responded in as calm a voice as possible: “Yes?”
His voice must have echoed through the speakers as the reverb seemed to almost echo painfully through the device.
The response through the other side was surprisingly more matter-of-fact.
“You aren’t Toritsuka! Wait, then, why do you have his phone?”
The number’s accent was grating in how American it was. Not Southern, exactly, but an unplaceable American kind of sarcasm to match his own dry Japanese version.
“He passed out, you idiot.”
This was slower seeing as he used his powers to both null the blasted echo and make the other understand his words.
The response was that of a surprised but oddly pleased American.
“Good. Served him right. He was harassing too many ghosts.”
Wait.
“Why do you care? You’re not from Japan.”
“I’m the Ghost King. Wait, how did you-“
“Caller ID. You were stupid enough not to use a burner.”
Perv groaned, still in Saiki’s arms.
Saiki just sighed.
“He’s my…friend.”
It took too much for him to say that.
“And therefore my responsibility if you traumatize him.”
The other laughed.
“Wait, that makes too much sense. In that case…I have a friend just like him. But, hey, ghost business is my business, so keep him under control, kapeesh? Unless you want me to visit.”
Don’t bother, I’ll just teleport there myself.
“Got it.”
He had a new respect for ghost-nuisance for putting up with that guy.