Episode 26

"Future ~Career Paths~" is the 26th episode of the Mob Psycho 100 anime adaptation, and 1st episode of the third season.

Synopsis
Salt Middle School has given students, including Mob, a task to write down what their career path and future look like. However, Mob seems to have a problem as he doesn't know what he wants, while everyone else seems to have some idea of their future. Serizawa has also joined Spirits and Such Consultation Office and is now learning to handle his newfound life, guided by Reigen, but working alongside Mob. Meanwhile, the mysterious giant broccoli tree, called Divine Tree, is still standing in the middle of Seasoning City, and some people have formed a Psycho Helmet Religion around it.

Plot
Mob sits at the table in the Body Improvement Club with the former Telepathy Club members and ponders what he'll write down for his career path paper. Surprised by Mob's indecisiveness on what to put down his career path paper, the members try to motivate him by explaining their career path goals. Mameta also details that Tsubomi plans on applying to Yuzu Pepper High, one of the top three schools. Contrasting with the members' morose demeanor, Mob was delighted to hear that Tsubomi was aiming for such a prestigious high school. She'd later walk by Mob in the hallway, while talking to some friends about the perks of the school, making Mob's explosive progress grow to 7%.

After school, at the Spirits and Such Consultation Office, Reigen looks at Mob's career path paper and figures that Mob will continue working under him. However, Mob states he's merely a part-time worker there, which irks Reigen. He then claims that his office could one day become reputable, and he could hire Mob as a full-time worker there. Curious to know why Reigen started the office in the first place, Reigen tells Mob a fabricated lie about his motives, which Mob believes and is impressed by. Serizawa then enters the room, saying that he has finished cleaning the toilets, and greets Mob. Reigen then announces that a client will arrive soon and wants Serizawa to observe how he handles said client.

The client claims that an idol he possesses has cursed him with bad luck and asks Reigen to use his clairvoyance on it. From his examination, Reigen spots a 500 yen label on the bottom and asks the owner how much it cost to purchase, and he answers 80K yen. At first, Reigen plays it off as; however, Mob warns him of a nefarious evil inhabiting it, convincing him to exorcise it, and asks the client to wait in the cafe downstairs. Once the client is gone, Reigen asks Serizawa's opinion, and he says it's nothing more than a cursed doll to him. Reigen then claims that Serizawa failed to notice his mistake and, to make up for it, has Serizawa exorcised the idol. Serizawa manages to do so; however, in the process, it breaks the left arm of the idol. Hence, Reigen fixes the idol with his Big Bang Rice Grain.

That night at his home, Mob confesses his anxiety about the career path paper he was assigned, not to mention he's uncertain what high school he'll attend. Ritsu chimes in and claims he should find a job he excels at, suggesting a magician, drawing irk from his brother and parents. Later in his room, Mob sits at his desk, staring down at the career path paper as Dimple suggests he put whatever down and change it later if need be. Mob then asks what Dimple plans to do in the future, prompting him to remember his old LOL Cult.

The following day at school, Mob inquires what careers his fellow Body Improvement Club members have chosen. Hearing his peers' individual career paths leave Mob amazed, and later on the roof, he's caught by Mezato gazing at the giant stalk of broccoli in the center of town. Mezato deduces that Mob was the one responsible for bringing down the evil organization days before. However, Mob corrects her that he was merely pondering on what to put down for his Career Path paper. Hearing that astounds Mezato, who claims she knows he's responsible for the monumental broccoli, now being worshipped by the Psycho Helmet Cult who call it the Divine Tree. As Mezato talks about this, Dimple heads to the location and sees a large group of people surrounding the tree. Mezato tries to cajole Mob into meeting with the cult members, and when asked what her career path choice is, she answers either a photographer or journalist. Downplaying the praise Mezato showered him with and noting the tree is nothing but a stalk of broccoli, Mob answers that he hasn't chosen a specific job for his career path.

After school, Reigen, Serizawa, and Mob take another client who believes an evil spirit possesses his filthy dirty house. Reigen believes it, but is more terrified by the cockroaches roaming around the house. As the client names off the bad omens that have befallen him, Reigen leaves the house, claiming he's retrieving some exorcism supplies. The client then continues his morose self-pitying monologue, and both Serizawa and Mob relate with the client for different reasons. Hovering above the client's house was a giant malevolent sloth spirit that put everyone in the vicinity to sleep. Reigen noticed the spirit after he exited the convenience store he used to purchase some cleaning supplies. He would use his Double Hydrogen Water Mist attack on the spirit when it tried to influence him. Returning to the house, Reigen has Mob and Serizawa deal with the spirit that was a manifestation of the client's wraith. Once the spirit was exorcised, Serizawa gasps at how close to home the situation affected him, but Reigen tells him to man up and be thankful he's made improvements to change himself. To Reigen's surprise, the situation hit close to home with Mob as well, who fears he may one day end down the same path as their client. Mob, however, is certain that Serizawa will be fine from now on, but for himself is too nebulous for him to say as his explosive progress grow to 18%.

Eventually, Mob turns in his paper to his teacher without deciding on a career path. It was hearing that his teacher wanted to be a traveler in his youth, that inspired Mob to perhaps try and pursue that profession, much to his teacher's concern.

Afterward, Mob confesses to Reigen that his career path won't be at the office. Surprisingly, Reigen accepts it and tells Mob the truth that he founded the office on a whim only to close it on a whim a year after he started it. However, the sudden appearance of Mob convinces him to continue it and advises him to follow what he wants to do, even if it's not "work", per se. The words inspire Mob and motivate him, but irks Reigen as Mob leaves early.

Meanwhile, by the tree, Dimple sits atop the tree and claims that his time has come.

Anime and Manga Differences

 * The scene with Telepathy Club talking about their future is anime only. In the manga, Mob talked only with Body Improvement Club.
 * Ranks of students and Tsubomi going to Yuzu Pepper High School after graduation is anime-only.
 * Reigen's Special Attack, "Big Bang Rice Grain", is anime-only; in the manga, he just casually uses rice to repair the figurine.
 * The case of the second client was much shorter and simpler in the manga. The client came to the Spirits and Such Consultation Office, and Reigen's massage solved his case. No evil spirit was involved. Because of that, Reigen's Special Attack, "Double Hydrogen Water Mist", is anime-only too.

Notes and Trivia
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