Regressor!Saiki Headcanons
For the most part, Kusuo believed that he hid his regression wellāanytime any of his friends got too close to figuring it out he always knew he could fall back on his psychic powers to smooth things over. But he quickly realized that he didn't even have to slip that much for the last person he wanted to find out to notice: Kokomi. It was like she had a sixth sense for it or somethingāa little prodding with his powers told him it was actually just experience and not some sort of latent psychic ability. And she noticed it every timeāone of the most frustrating things that was a constant in every time loop. So it was inevitable really that she come into contact with him while he was teetering on the edge of regression and be there to catch him when he fell down that slippery slope.
With Kusuo being a toddlerspace regressor, it's pretty obvious when he's suddenly feeling three and not seventeen. It happens at the most inopportune time too, specifically when he's supposed to be working on a project with Kokomi at the library. He is quick to excuse himself, but not quick enough to hide even the subtlest of tells that he knows she picks up on. Kokomi lets him go, thinking he might need a moment. But when a moment turns into several minutes, she goes looking for him. When she eventually finds him hiding between some shelves towards the back, well...she knows she's looking at a frightened little boy. One that is only too happy to take the hand being kindly extended towards him.
Kokomi prioritizes getting Kusuo somewhere more familiar (somewhere that feels safer) and decides to walk him home. Small Kusuo is different than expected however. He makes no qualms about holding her hand and is more talkative too (talkative being a relative term of course, but the small sentences she's getting out of him are more than anyone normally gets). She doesn't push him, but instead gently guides the conversation and helps him feel like this is all typicalālike he didn't reveal a part of himself that he wasn't ready to share. Kokomi is quick to work her magic and knows all the little Ku basicsāhis favorite color, the cartoons he likes, how old he is. She can tell he's still nervous about her knowing though, and so she gets the idea to stop by the park on their way. They get ice-cream and sit on the swings together, and by the time they're done with their frozen treats, Kusuo has stopped holding her hand.
Things only evolve from there. While Kusuo had expected Kokomi to be insufferable about the whole thing she was actually...very good at it and very understanding. Not once did he feel uncomfortable, and in fact it was one of the best regressions he could recall having in a long time after she successfully coaxed him out of his shell. He never thought he needed or even wanted a cg, but the experience makes him reconsider things. She hadn't treated him any differently afterwards like he was afraid might happen if any of his friends were to find out. More importantly she hadn't let anyone else know about it either, nor was she holding it over his headāany and all of his fears were proven to be irrational. His regression had been fun instead of lonely because of her. So it's no surprise really that the next time he starts middlespacing around her he just kind of lets himself go. As annoying as it may be, small Ku has deemed her safe.
Needless to say, Kokomi is thrilled that Kusuo trusts her enough for something so important. It's nice to see a different side of him, and she feels as if they're closer already. That being said, she knows they need to have a serious talk about everything. She's very open with him and explains how she knows what age regression is along with her experience with it, and that she would like to look after him if that's something he wants too. Even if she has stepped in a couple times, it's still something she feels she needs to ask him because she knows he's a private guy. And even though Kusuo is a literal mind reader, he appreciates her honesty and finds that it makes it easier for him to be honest as well. He hasn't ever talked about this with anyone (while he's big at least), and it really does reinforce that his fears of her knowing were unfounded. Though what's even more reassuring to him is that Kokomi is actively listening to himātaking notes on her phone and asking questions because she wants to be the best cg for him!
Once they get more established, things go more smoothly for both of them. Not only is Kokomi always prepared for any small Ku scenarioāfrom coming up with the perfect excuse to keeping a couple of little sensory toys in her bagāshe also spoils him rotten. She's well off and can afford to splurge on him, after all, and keeps a small toy box for him tucked away safely beneath her bed. And for his part, having a cg and set aside days for regression helps him stress out over regressing less; it actually becomes the stress reducing coping mechanism for him that it was always trying to be, rather than just another source of the very thing it helps him with.
Most of his regression days follow a comfortable and familiar pattern now. They leave school together to go "study" at her place every Thursday, but the afternoon is actually filled with quiet time for Ku to be small. Coloring pictures for Kokomi to add to her special scrapbook, listening to her read while he has his snack, taking a nap with his stuffies on her soft bed as she brushes her fingers through his hair. In an hour or so he'll wake up feeling big again, not to mention feeling immensely lighter. And the smile she gives him as she asks how he slept has him thinking maybe the next time around he'll tell her about everything sooner rather than later.
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