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{first check} - definition
If Saitama knew how difficult having a disciple was, he would have just gotten a dog instead.
"Thanks for the sake, Bang!" Saitama crowed cheerfully. It'd been a while since he had such quality alcohol and he was in good spirits.
S-class hero Silver Fang (otherwise known as Bang) nodded, "Not at all, Saitama. I'm glad I could share it with you. It's a bit much for an old man to drink alone."
"Well, anytime you need help with things like this, I am more than willing to be of assistance."The young hero assured gravely, downing another glass and enjoying the way the drink burned smoothly down his throat.
The two were enjoying a rare weekend afternoon that had been surprisingly monster free. Bang invited Saitama and Genos over to his dojo on account of celebrating Saitama's recent rank jump to the B-class. Saitama was indifferent to the promotion but brightened at the prospect of free sake. Accepting the offer, both heroes arrived in casual clothing that suited the warm summer afternoon. Bang had offered them both a glass but Genos had declined ("My systems do not ideally process alcohol.").
They started a mild discussion about Saitama's most recent battle with the Sea King (although it was mostly Genos who recounted Saitama's tales of heroism with uncanny detail) when Charanko sheepishly interrupted requesting aid with the armory.
("We're sorting out all the weapons we have on hand right now, but some of them may have…fallen over." He explained, blushing in shame.)
Saitama offered to help but was superseded by Genos who insisted that Sensei enjoy his celebration. He and Charanko disappeared into the corridors of the dojo, leaving Saitama and Bang to chat. Bang was recalling some of his old stories with his previous students.
"But you know all about that. I won't bore you with details." The fighter said off-handedly.
"Ah? Know about what?" Saitama asked, confused.
"Being a teacher, of course." Bang raised a brow, amused at the bland look on the hero's face.
"Eh?"
"Haven't you had a disciple for a month now?"
Saitama sweatdropped, "Rather than a disciple, I would say I've gained a maid?"
Bang chuckled, "I make Charanko wipe the dojo floorboards daily as well, but surely you've provided Genos with some sort of instruction? The boy clings to your every word."
If possible, Saitama shrank further into the polished floorboards that seemed to be mocking him. "Er, I don't think I have…" Sometimes when they go grocery shopping, Saitama will point out which stores have the best radishes or soup stock but he was pretty sure that didn't count as formal training. Can it even be counted as informal training? Isn't that just basic life skills?
Aside from the occasionally sparring that was actually quite fun, Saitama already had his hands full trying to adjust to the cyborg's strange living habits. He wondered if Bang had the same problems with Whats-his-face.
"Hey Bang," Saitama called, "You had students, right? Were they easy to manage?"
"I had close to twenty at one point." The Silver Fang recounted, "but they were all very attentive and followed my direction without fault."
"That's great!" Saitama grinned, "And how did you get them to stop taking pictures of you?"
"Stop what now?"
"Genos keeps these "journals" of me and fills them with all this random crap about me like how I sit or the circumference of my head."
Saitama uses air quotations because he had personally swiped one of these "journals" once and it felt like he was reading a documentary on some fascinating new species. Instead of drawings, Genos had upgraded to taking digital photos of him on his phone and printing those out to place in his notebooks. While Saitama is mildly impressed at how he looks in some of the angles (nevermind he isn't actually looking at the camera in half of them…), he is more disturbed by the three volumes (and counting) of information about him. He didn't even know that much about himself. Nor did he want to.
"It's seriously creeping me out." He shudders, "I don't understand that guy."
"While the paparazzi-like stalking is unusual," Bang admits, "This is also one of the trials that come with taking on a disciple...Even if it is a bit obsessive."
"But I didn't want him!" The bald hero insisted, growing frustrated with this sudden intrusion in his life. "He keeps following me everywhere, calling me whatever he likes, moves in with me, and cooks, cleans and pays rent and Bang, he expects things from me."
Bang was not sure why Saitama sounded so horrified at this particular prospect.
"Of course he does," the S-rank hero affirmed confusedly, "You're his teacher. He wants to learn from you."
"But I have nothing to teach him!" The B-Class hero bemoaned "All I know is strength training and he thought I was joking. Were those three years of grueling agony a joke?"
Bang wisely chose to confiscate the bottle from Saitama's reach as the hero seemed to get progressively more weepy with each glass. He cleared his throat. "It does not matter if you don't have anything to teach him."
He patted Saitama shoulder with a kind smile. "If he chose to follow you of his own accord, then he must see something worth following. Perhaps all his journals, notes, and…stalking are just manifestations of his own confusion. Just as you do not understand him, he also does not understand you. But he seeks to try."
The S-Class hero poured himself a glass,"And the moment you chose to accept him as your disciple, you accepted him all of him—all his strengths and faults in their entirety. That's what it means to be a teacher. He's your responsibility now."
"Mine..?" Saitama echoed blearily. His gaze was dazed but he seemed to be seriously considering Bang's words.
The older fighter nursed his drink, eyes twinkling in amusement at the young hero's troubles. "Be patient with him, Saitama. Maybe he'll even teach you a few things."
"Hmm, okay if you say so." Saitama hummed incomprehensibly, focus drifting off again. "But I keep losing him. When we were up against that Sea Cucumber dude, he just runs off on his own. And when I finally get there he had gone and broken himself again so I had to send him to the doctor to get fixed. Hey Bang, how do I train him not to do that?"
"Saitama…Genos is not a pet."
a/n: i haven't written in 4 years. i hope it was enjoyable!
