Chapter 1, Ninja To Kombu
"It's been six days since my start as a 'professional' hero, and all I keep hearing about from people on the street is that I'm like some sort of God. I don't suppose that's a bad thing, but being swarmed by people that hardly know me is a bit annoying.
Right. Genos has also moved into the apartment, I think he's renovating the other rooms… I mean, he's already taken over maintenance, and even filled those holes outside as well. That's nice of him.
One thing that was both helpful and a bit useless is this phone they gave me. They only call for big monsters and that's maybe a few minutes before they show up on the news. I suppose it does function well as a GPS though."
.
His thoughts aside, the book he was reading was definitely not written by a hero. It has the label of the guy named 'King' on the front, and it doesn't really seem to detail how he did things.
The sound of pencil hitting paper kept interrupting his reading session, not that he was even paying attention to the words, it gave a way to drop it. "what're you writing over there?" He asked, dropping the book to his lap.
"I'm recording the details of your lessons and trainings regimen." He says, stopping his note jotting and such. Already the page had so much detail as to give a visual representation of how his master was sitting on the futon, and even how he held the book.
"This guy raised the bar once again, man what the hell am I supposed to do? I already told him my training regimen, and now he's taking everything I do as a lesson… Think! Think!"
"Genos." He says. And the disciple raises his head from his writing, to listen to his master's great words of wisdom.
"Not everyone is born the same. You thought that my training regimen was… well, bullshit, right? Well, when I started that… it was almost impossible for me. I pushed myself beyond my limits as a regular human being and did so daily. I spared no time for leisure, taking down monsters during my training, I probably should have died countless times within… especially when I first started. But, I didn't, and now I am here." He gestures to himself.
"For other people or athletes, what I did was probably well within their scopes and not something that would push them to their limits. I acknowledge that. My system won't work for everyone… and for you, frankly you're a cyborg. I don't think physical training will work on metal… so instead of that, try something else, like a change in mindset, tactics, utilize what you have to be more… versatile. Instead of increasing your raw physical abilities, expand it in a way that isn't limited to the materials used to make it." He says.
The disciple was stunned. He should have known this, no amount of physical training could push him past what his material maximums were. So… "Thank you Sensei! Your advice is exactly what I need… Since I cannot get stronger on my own, expanding my skill set will result in being able to take down threats I would have originally been incapable of doing so!" He proclaims this realization as if it were a concept he'd never heard of before, and before Saitama knew it he was gone. Out the door, even leaving a note. -"Gone to Dr. Stench's laboratory for processing unit and electrical upgrades." It read.
"Although… all he really needs to do is not be so rash to do things." Saitama sighs as he looks out the window, seeing a trail in the air from where the cyborg blasted off into the sky from.
He turned around and looked at the book he once held, and already found it tiring to read further. "I suppose I'll go for a walk then." he says, and prepared to do just that.
.
Walking out of his apartment with his jumpsuit on, he noticed a stellar change to the hallway. New paint, new light bulbs hanging from the ceiling, and it seemed the floors were replaced as well. The other doors were far and inbetween compared to before, so apparently the cyborg really was doing some renovation. "I wonder if he'll do that form my apartment? He wondered aloud, walking down the hall and eventually getting to the ground floor. And the second he stepped outside… the change was immediate. The nice new look was gone, the outside looked as old as it ever was, the sidewalk looked dusty and such, but he did tell the truth, he certainly did fill those holes.
Leisurely strolling from his apartment to the fence, he walked through, and was now in the realm of the living. Already sounds and smells invaded his senses, as he then began roaming around the streets while trying to look as inconspicuous and unnoticeable as possible.
Long story short, it fails. A growing crowd was just getting close to see the man from that video Genos posted on the Hero's Association website, where it was then quickly circulated everywhere due to the lack of a copyright claim. Oddly enough this man had no details on his registry other than he's S class and rank 18, and since he seemingly came out of nowhere added to his… mystique.
Their questions we're simply muddled together, too many to either want to hear or to write out, as then he clapped his hands. A simple gesture, yes, but instead it created a boom just below what was required to shatter glass. It got them all to be silent. "I know you all have questions or whatever, but I was just out for a walk. If you all insist… I guess I can take questions, but one at a time please?"
A single, slender hand raised before anybody else could register what he said. "You, with the black shirt." He calls out, bringing the crowd's attention to the man in question. Or maybe it was a woman? It certainly looked feminine, but was undeniably male. "Saitama… do you… remember me?"
Certainly didn't. "Eeh… I don't remember names well, or faces for that matter. We've met?" He says back, and the man held a neutral expression. "Understandable… but you'll remember me this time… until you die!" He yells the last part, grabbing something on his side and then throwing it at the ground, with it suddenly erupting into many small popping sounds as thick smoke started covering the entire area.
And all at once, twelve throwing stars were at his face. From his point of view, he just swung his hand wide and grabbed as many as possible in one and then did the same with the other, holding seven and five of these small sharp disks in his hands.
"My name is Speed-O-Sound Sonic! Know it!" He declares from the safety of the smoke, then came into view with his sword being swung towards the baldy's neck. Saitama wasn't sure what this guy was trying to achieve, as the crowd was screaming and running away from the smoke… was he a terrorist?
Having that thought in mind, he took hold of the sword by his fingertips and flicked it upwards, effectively ripping it from the Ninja's arms as it went sailing away, to be soon embedded into the side of a building.
Saitama clapped again, dispersing the smoke, and as soon as he saw the guy he got right up to him and stood there with a scolding face. "Don't do that." He says, then stays there.
The people were drawn to looking over to the hero in wonder, and at the one who caused that panic in relative uncertainty. Then the sound of the sword tip tearing into a high-rise Drew their attention, some looking in wonder while unable to make out the object, a few squinting to see the sword plainly stuck there.
The ninja was shocked. He didn't even feel the sword leave his grip, let alone see Saitama's movements, and his own movements would be invisible to standard people to boot… so with Saitama being able to do that to him? It was… groundbreaking.
Looking to the bald man who held a neutral expression, all of his senses screamed RUN but no, he stayed there…
*Thwack!* The ninja fell forward and hit the ground with a light thud, but the baldy wasn't the one who did it. Actually, he was scowling at the one who did. "Well that's that." He declares rather loudly, picking up the ninja like nothing. The guy who did this was wearing a striped tank top with a tiger design on it. He was, blandly, called 'tanktop tiger' as that's what he resembled.
"You didn't have to break the guy's neck." Saitama says, finally catching the tanktopper's attention. "Eh?" He stared at the baldy in wonder, then shrugged. "Well you weren't doing anything about the guy, are you supposed to be a hero? Whatever."
The crowd was NOT amused.
"That's Saitama! S class rank 18!" The first one shouted.
"Yeah! Look, he flicked the guy's sword over there like nothing!" Another yelled at the man.
"Did you not see the video Genos posted a week ago?! This guy's like King!"
Mixed yells and uproar, all the while Tank top Tiger was now figuratively shitting himself. He didn't pay attention to the news, more indulging on getting more fame for himself. But how the hell was this bland guy an S class? He looks weak as hell!
Anyways, he ran like hell to get away from there. He'd be lucky not to get public backlash for this disrespect.
"It's alright. The guy doesn't know me, just chill." Saitama says, though the resentment going through the crowd didn't die down… well, maybe it did a little.
.
City A, Hero's Association HQ. "The man apprehended by C class Hero Tanktop Tiger was reportedly defeated by the new S class hero Saitama… some video evidence is available, however it seems he has not claimed anything as of yet." A worker stated as he read a news update on his holographic screen.
"He was Convicted of multiple heinous crimes including assassination." He continued.
"City Z…" The man overlooking the others repeated, then pulled up a new screen. It appeared on the other worker's panel as well.
"What's the status of the Investigation I requested? He asked.
"The one of the ghost town?" A female worker asked back.
"Yes."
"Let's see… ah? We've submitted an official request, and the two new S class heroes appear to live within the zone as well." She finished.
"Ah? Well isn't that interesting. Want me to go? Or are you going to send the newbies?" The worker almost jumped at hearing that ever familiar voice erupt from right next to him, though managed to not.
"Tornado? How'd you get here?" Deciding to ask a question, any question being the wrong one he decided to ask this.
Despite her looking like a child, floating in the air in a fashion that resembled lying comfortably on a couch, and sounding like a child, this was no ordinary person. "What? Aren't I allowed in here?" She asked, righting herself in her… floatiness.
"Well of course, but for City Z, the investigation is just a formality.." he answered her, knowing that soon she'd show her wrath. If only they could find something worthwhile for her to do… her being the S class rank 2, world's strongest ESPer as well as the 'generally strongest' hero in the association.
"So you're saying it's not worth sending me?" She changed her tone to a more threatening one, not sounding like the little lovable girl she was a few seconds ago.
"Not at all. The association decided that this was not an S class matter." The female employee saves the day, appearing from a door behind the one that miss tornado was interrogating.
"Then send me." She demanded, cutting off the one worker before he could agree with his savior. "Erm, well.. you're free to do so, but I fear it may be a waste of your time, miss tornado." He says, accepting her request.
"Thank you." She said, in a tone that made it clear that she didn't care. Well, more triumphant, actually. She was thankful a bit, but she hides it remarkably well.
"I'll inform the A classes that've been assigned of this change." The female worked said, and with that, the green haired ESPer flew out the door.
"Thank God… I thought she was going to tear this place apart…"
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In Z city, Spring Mustachio and Golden Ball were taking a look around a square. It was rather busy, with people going about their devices, mostly seeming calm and relaxed as their presence was well appreciated. They didn't get confronted or showered with praise, but the people were certainly aware they were there.
"Here we are in City Z. Shall we begin our inquiry?" Spring Mustachio asked his compatriot while grooming his mustache, the likely culprit behind his persona.
"Yeah. Let's get on with it." Golden Ball replied, shifting the lollipop in his mouth around as he stepped forward. Frankly, this guy probably looks arrogant to most people. Probably.
"Z city is quite expansive, but what lies ahead is the uninhabited area we were told about. And compared to other areas, City Z has an unnaturally high rate of monster related incidents. The frequency has been gradually increasing over the past ten years, while the last few have seen more and more highly advanced monsters appearing. The residence have completely fled the city center." The mustache man explained.
"i know all that. The place is a real ghost town, just with the water and electricity still intact, yeah?" He asked.
"On the lookout for a cheap house?" Mustachio joked.
"Nah. People say something real nasty's living around here. Even you must've heard." Ball replied.
"But of course. I assume that's why we've been assigned this investigation." Mustachio says, just as they reach the abandoned area's fence.
Suddenly, a buzzing came from their pockets. They pulled out their communicators, being phones of lesser value than S class versions, and answered.
"We didn't come out here for nothing. I'm going in." Golden ball angrily says after hanging up, much the same with Mustachio.
"I usually don't turn down the Association's advice… but being ripped from an investigation as soon as it starts… by Tornado nonetheless." Mustachio says, carefully pocketing his phone.
Silently the two agree on going in.
And unbeknownst to the two A class heroes, a certain green haired girl, a little one at that, was watching them. "Idiots. I suppose it's be fun messing with their little minds while they 'investigate' my job." She thinks, and then followed them in.
And it was quiet. Way. Too. Quiet. Walking amongst the ruin and destruction the two heroes trekked further into the zone, silently noting certain damages.. and a particular huge bloodstain coating the top corner of one of the high-rises… and eventually, they stopped completely when they saw a few perfectly circular portions of the street that looked brand new. Like, days old new.
And it was right in front of a certain high-rise that seemed to be more… intact than the others. There was even a light burning away at the metal entrance gate.
"I thought this place was abandoned?" Golden Ball said, just soaking in the whole building. There was even one room that had lights on in it.
"Perhaps the Association had it wrong? Though, looking around would give a very contradictory opinion." Mustachio walked up to the gate, and… quickly released it as he touched it. Visibly, he got hurt.
"Go away. This is your only warning." A voice seemingly came out of nowhere, startling the heroes. This, mildly interested Tatsumaki.
Deciding not to feel the wrath of the scary voice, the two backed up a bit and looked to the balcony of that one room. There stared back at them two fiery, mechanical eyes. It was certainly entertaining, seeing Genos stare at them with such malice. And seeing that the new S class does in fact live in the abandoned zone was interesting as well.
It took the two a while to figure out who he was, but the cyborg had already left back to the inside of the apartment. All was silent, until they were suddenly drawn somewhere else by a noise. They started running after whatever it was they heard, not that Tatsumaki could hear whatever it was from her position on a nearby roof.
The men kept at it, running around a few corners following 'it' and then finally saw it. It was seemingly just talking to itself, until it heard the two behind it.
"Golden ball, are you ready?" The mustache man asked, the other was already pulling out a sling shot as he bit down hard on his lollipop.
"Hell yeah!" He pulls back on the slingshot, then boasts about being able to penetrate a plate of steel with it. Whatever, guns could do that without costing even a fraction as much.
"Fucking boasters." She mentally said, watching as the guy let the overly complicated and expensive ball of metal fly through the air with a dazzling display of 'power' of sorts.
The fucking thing, the monster, simply bats it away with what seemed to be a seaweed tentacle or the like. And of course the guy was surprised, seeing his attack failed.
Tis the way of the idiot, yeah.
The monster wasted no time, as it had already sent a few if it's grabby seaweed hair strands off through a gutter, and within a second pulled the guy down through said gutter, forcing his body to crush the concrete it was made out of as it pulled him though. Then as he finally was all the way through, it forcibly hit him against the building.
"Idiot." She said, knowing nobody would hear it. But that wasn't all!
The monster instantly moved more strands to attack the other one, who instinctively jumped back and moved to perform a flashy way of taking out his sword.
And the following onslaught he fended off was genuinely impressive. Unlike Golden Ball, this guy has a bit of skill.
And with it over, he slammed hit foot into the ground as well. His sword did something she was intrigued with - it curled up much like a snake, and he held it pointing right at the monster. She already figured what it was going to do, but was metal really able to do that? It was pretty interesting.
"Tomboy… thrust!" He did exactly what she thought he would do. The sword shot forward, rather… the blade extended far down the alleyway with deadly accuracy, puncturing multiple objects before hitting it's limit. But, he didn't hit the monster how he wanted to. Instead, he merely destroyed one of it's strands.
At this point there was a pause, and as he reached Into his pocket, Tatsumaki already knew what he was doing. "At least he knows when he's beat. I guess I'll intervene if it tries to kill him outright…"
.
Well, it was a well fought, one sided battle. The monster beat the poor swordsman with ease. It was toying with him. Alas, it didn't kill him. It merely let the mustache man drop, at least he was fearless.
It talked to itself for a bit before looking behind itself to see another person, this one bald wearing a tracksuit while carrying a plastic bag of groceries.
Tatsumaki got a bit closer. Not that she needed to, but who knows. Maybe this was a civilian? But that head looked familiar…
"I forgot to buy kombu stock…" the guy said as all of the monster's strands came forward, and right before she froze them in place using her powers…
"GHHAAAAA?! NOO, WHAT THE?!" the monster screams out, all but a short amount of it's seaweed hair still remaining. "You monster!" It yelled at the baldy, who Tatsumaki had trouble tracking. If it weren't for her ability to detect changes in gravity and objects, she would have not known he moved at all. This guy was fast. Insanely fast.
"Eh? But you're the monster. And you were going to attack me with your… kombu." He replied, rather calmly.
"Okay what the fuck dude?" Tatsumaki mentally said to herself, was this guy talking with a monster? Well the other one was too but he was buying time, this egg head simply talked to it when he could easily kill it.
"Do you know how long it took to grow that much? You should have just killed me if you were capable of that!" It spat back at him, malice and sorrow mixed smoothly with it's voice now.
"You think I chose to be bald? Be happy I left you with any! And yes, I suppose since your hair is made of real kombu I'll be enjoying it for a while." He was actually having an argument with a monster. Grand.
All the more reason for Tatsumaki to be interested in this guy. Or disgusted. Probably both.
"..." It was silent. It wasn't sure what to say to that. This guy was already picking up it's hair and draping it over his shoulder. It was left with just enough to cover itself. It could defend itself, but it definitely wasn't going to be able to do so against a regular hero now.
"Since you've given me dinner and haven't monologued yet, I'll let ya go. So if you leave here, don't hurt people. Or I'll take the rest of it." He threatened, and soon the thing was gone.
She flew down to street level, though floated a few inches above the ground. She hovered over to him, to which he looked at her oddly.
He pulled out his phone, unmistakably an S class version, and scrolled. He then looked up to her with a questioning look. He repeated the action of looking between the screen and herself a few times, until just asking. "You're… tat .. Tatsumaki?" He said her name as if he's never heard of her. But, he apparently seen her on his phone. But that begged the question. Did he live under a rock?
"Yes, Caped Baldy. I'm Senritsu no Tatsumaki. S Class rank 2. Who do you think I am?!" saying this in a very aggressive manner, she especially venomized the 'Caped Baldy' part.
"Not cool. And to be honest, you look like a little kid. I was going to ask where your parents were actually." How he managed to sound completely truthful and not dickish in that was startling.
"I'm 28, for your information, Baldy." She retorted. She flew closer to him with a scowl, maintaining a few inches above him to seem… bigger?
"That's what the thing says too. You're a psychic, so I guess that would make more sense." he says, scratching his neck while looking around the place a bit. Seems he didn't forget anything.
"You want some Kombu soup? I love just a block down from here." He says, lightly lifting the long strands on his shoulder.
Her face soured at that offer. "No? Well… I guess I'll be going then." How the man can be so carefree, both socially awkward and incredibly easy to talk to all at once baffled her.
Though she couldn't get her grips around it. Was he disrespecting her or not? It was very, very hard to tell. "See Ya later, Tats."
.
In City A, Hero's Association HQ. "The investigation into Z city went rather roughly. Spring Mustachio and Golden Ball were hospitalized due to their actions. Though, they've reported that there is nothing particularly noteworthy about the abandoned district, they've located Genos's place of residence and confronted a rather powerful monster. According to said monster, there's a rumor amongst them that there's a collection of powerful beings in the area as well." The man said, reading off of a holographic screen.
"Saitama lives there too." Tatsumaki interjected. "Frankly, he's a weirdo, but I saw what he did to that monster that whooped those A class's asses. He's fast." She added.
"Erm… You watched what happened to them?" He asked her cautiously, thinking that she may have actually done that..
"Yeah, so what? I wasn't gonna let em die, the monster wasn't even wanting to do that. And then the baldy came in and it attacked him, and ended up running for it's life.". She replied.
"So it's still alive?" He asked. She shrugged, then left. Probably not wanting to hear any more questions from him.
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A/N: took a day longer than expected to post this. Will likely not post the next one until my other story is updated, so do be patient!
Will soon go independent of the story, can't keep the same events going on forever. Will see you guys here in probably a ten, twelve days. Maybe sooner! Ciao!