Chapter 98

'''PSImashing! Surprise Party (Part 1)''' is the 98th chapter of The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (Saiki Kusuo no Psi-nan) manga series released on the 12th of May 2014.

Characters

 * Saiki Kusuo
 * Nendou Riki
 * Kaidou Shun
 * Kuboyasu Aren
 * Yumehara Chiyo
 * Teruhashi Kokomi
 * Hairo Kineshi
 * Mera Chisato
 * Nakanishi Kouta
 * Kanda Pinsuke
 * Soul Shout
 * Takahashi
 * Saiki Kuniharu
 * Saiki Kurumi (mentioned)

Abilities Used

 * Hypnosis
 * Telepathy

Short Summary
Kusuo's friends attempt to throw him a surprise birthday party. Unbeknownst to them, it is not actually his birthday, it is his father's.

Long Summary
Kusuo is packing his school work into his bag to go home. It feels like the others around him have been acting strange lately. Riki calls him, telling him they should walk together since SHun has something important to say for something tomorrow. He was cut off by Shun, telling him to shut up, however he does not understand what is going on. Shun apologizes to Kusuo, saying he has business going on with the others. Aren, grabbing Riki, goes with Shun out the door and tells Kusuo that he will see him later. Kusuo then eyes Kokomi and Chiyo, who are also leaving. Chiyo sees this and in surprise she whistles out the door.

Kusuo starts to believe that this is all a new way for them to annoy him. He exits out the school building and the others, who are staring out a window in the building, are glad that he left. One of them mentions how scared they were that Riki almost ruined their plans. Kokomi also mentions how Chiyo had a close call too, Chiyo immediately apologizes. Kineshi asks where Riki is and Shun responds to him that he sent him home due to him still not understanding the plan. Shun then unrolls a paper, saying they have planned this for nearly a week and will not forgive anyone who foils the plan. The paper reads that their plan is a surprise birthday party for Kusuo. They begin the meeting and are so happy that tomorrow is the big day and wonder what his reaction would be. Outside the door is Kusuo, who has heard everything. With a nervous smile he explains this is definitely a plot to annoy him.

At the meeting, Shun starts to explain how the day will be planned out. After school, Aren and he would invite Kusuo to Shun’s house. They would arrive at his house, not mention anything about his birthday, and he would go get drinks while they head to his room. The room would be completely dark, Kusuo would question it, and when the timing is right Aren would pop a party cracker. With that noise it would be their signal to jump out, turn on the lights and exclaim happy birthday to him. Shun would then arrive with the cake and it would be a complete success. They then again wonder how he would react. Kusuo, again hearing everything, has a reaction of distress and explains this is his reaction. Chiyo then thinks it would be a shocked reaction and shows it to everyone, Kusuo wonders if he should just do that and get it over with. Aren, Kineshi and Chisato then show their interpretation of his reaction, the first two being overly surprised while the last being breaking their glasses. Kusuo believes the first two are way too much and then wonders how Chisato broke her glasses. He explains that his reaction is not overdone like them, however, he is genuinely surprised.

They all wonder how Shun knew it was Kusuo’s birthday. Shun explains he ran into Kurumi, Kusuo’s mother, and he asked her about it. Kusuo now understands who told them and how sorry he is about the situation. Shun then says after he found out he started planning it out. Since Kusuo does not know that they all know about his birthday, all of this would definitely be a surprise for him. Kusuo explains that his birthday is not tomorrow, in May, but in August. This is why Kusuo did not stop the party in time, he did not expect them to celebrate his birthday 3 months early. Tomorrow is actually his father, Kuniharu, birthday who has nothing to do with them. He feels bad for them to prepare all of this and hopes they do not think badly of him afterwards.

Shun asks the others if they have gotten Kusuo a present. Everyone claims they have and bring out the present they got him. Shun is surprised and they explain they were too excited. Kusuo believes it is getting harder for him to tell them but then decides if he tells them before he gives them the presents then it might not be too late. Shun asks Kineshi what he bought, he explains he did not buy it, he made it and did not sleep for days due to it. Everyone is impressed by his thoughtful gesture, meanwhile Kusuo feels like it was unnecessary and it made it harder for him to admit the truth to them.

Chiyo then talks about what herself and Kokomi have been making. The others ask what it is and they reveal it is a cake, what the top appears to look like Kusuo’s face. They are amazed at how it looks, Kusuo believes it is creepy due to it looks like a severed head and his nose is not a corn chip. They believe Kusuo would cry happy tears, he however wants to cry for another reason. They are also impressed, it is Kokomi’s handmade cake, Chiyo yells at them to remind them that she also was involved in making it. Kusuo is relieved they have not made the cake yet so he figures this might be his only chance to admit to them the truth.

Aren, however, starts to talk about how hard the birthday project was and asks his partner, Chisato, to show the others what they have done. In a camera, is Uryoku Chouno wishing Kusuo a happy birthday. They explain they look for people that Kusuo knows other than the group and recorded birthday wishes. Kusuo is surprised that they made him a video letter and the people that chose to record a message. One was the school principal, who said the wrong name, then Soul Shout, who thought they were part of a tv program, and a strange guy whom Kusuo has no idea who he is. Aren and Chisato explained that the project was tough since Kusuo does not have many acquaintances and not everyone wanted to be filmed. Kusuo wonders who would be happy to watch the film.

Shun is impressed at everyone’s effort and that he only got Kusuo a present. Kusuo says that is how it should be, he does not deserve any more kindness from them. Shun continues to say, slightly embarrassed, that he only made Kusuo a letter. The others encourage him to read it to them, Shun is too embarrassed but relently does so. Kusuo dreads what the letter might say since it might involve Shun’s regular stories of Dark Reunion and all that. Shun reads the letter, saying that it has only been a year since they met but he is thankful of Kusuo. They have made wonderful memories, brought all of them together, somehow feel protected by him and wishes him a happy birthday. Everyone is in tears and Kusuo is in shock that the letter contains the exact opposite of what he thought. Everyone compliments and cheers on Shun of what the letter contained. Kusuo leans next to the door of the room they are in and sighs. Kusuo then genuinely smiles and leaves, saying he does not care what they do.

The next day, Aren and Shun are in shock that Kusuo went home. Takahashi tells them that he did indeed leave even though he had cleaning duty. They wonder what they are going to do. Aren asks Shun if they should cancel their plans. Shun tells him that they have come this far so they will do another plan, they will bring the party to Kusuo at his own home. They end up warning everyone what happened and they end up in front of Kusuo’s house. Shun explains the plan once again to them, they ring the doorbell, Kusuo then comes out, they pop the party crackers, wish him a happy birthday and he will be so moved by the gesture. Someone asks what happens if someone else answers the door. Shun then says they will explain what is going on and ask to be let in. The surprise does not matter at this point for him and he rings the doorbell.

The group anxiously waits. The front door is opened by Kusuo and they initiate the party crackers. Kusuo is in shock, wonders what is going on and realizes who they are. They question him if it is his birthday and he says yes but he is still confused. They tell him it is a surprise and Kusuo is surprised they came here to celebrate his birthday. They are relieved that he finally realized what is going on. He wonders how they knew his birthday and they explain that they found out by asking Kurumi. Behind them, a bit farther away, a person sighs. It is Kusuo, smiling, that it was a good reaction and explains that Kusuo they are congratulating is actually his father. Kuniharu is still touched they all came to celebrate his birthday, Shun tells him of course they will. Kuniharu is confused why he named him informally and slightly accepts it. Kusuo explains he used hypnosis to make everyone think that Kuniharu looks like himself. Kuniharu, happily accepts their surprise and thank them, they are happy that it was a success. Kusuo then goes further to say that he did not warn Kuniharu about the situation so his reaction would be genuine. He then goes to walk away and says he will now warn Kuniharu before someone notices that something is wrong. Riki runs by him, glad that he found the others and greets Kuniharu as if he were Kusuo. Riki then turns his neck, faces the actual Kusuo and is confused on how there are two of him. Kusuo is surprised and his glasses end up cracked.