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I’ve probably talked about this before, but I’d love to see more discussion regarding Serirei when it comes to protecting one another. It’s more easy to discuss the ways in which Serizawa protects Reigen, given his psychic abilities and history as a bodyguard; he’s incredibly loyal to the people he cares about.
Reigen’s harder to think about, but the show kind of spells it out in some ways. He’s good at being the voice of reason. He’s not afraid of being firm and calling something out. He would absolutely sit on the phone for ten minutes on hold to say that the thing he ordered online came in a beaten box and he would either like to return it or to get a refund.
He’s good at the incredibly mundane, everyday stuff, and mundaneness is not something many espers really get to have. Sure, they’re used to the stress— used to the spirits floating past them on the street that others can’t see— but one way or another, they feel different.
Espers are probably very used to having their powers being used one way or another. People will call them special, or on the complete opposite spectrum, will call them scary. So how refreshing must it be when Reigen starts going on about how, psychic powers or not, you’re not special; it’s just another part of who you are. The same way you’re left-handed or have a specific mole on your cheek.
Serizawa sees Reigen reminding Mob of that often. He thinks about how Reigen had a totally humanizing explanation for why Mob had snapped at the end of season three. Reigen doesn’t blame Mob; he instead apologizes for not noticing his struggles sooner.
Reigen lets Serizawa know that he doesn’t have to be on guard all the time, and that he should allow himself to use his hands rather than his abilities to feel the things beneath his palms.
Reigen shields Serizawa from crowds when they get off the train. Reigen does the majority of the talking for them. He’ll sit on the phone for ten minutes on hold to ask for a return or a refund after something Serizawa ordered came in beaten, even after insisting that it was fine.
Reigen reminds Serizawa that he is human just like anyone else, even well after Serizawa comes to terms with it and internalizes it.