Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday. Or, in Ten's case, just being late to class because she slept in. To tell everyone the truth, Ten didn't know how to procrastinate. But today, even though to most the event of her timer failing to wake her up in the morning due to it dying in the middle of the night, wasn't procrastinating, just an honest mishap, but to Ten, she felt like the world's largest procrastinator. Why didn't she have a backup timer?
Whatever. Ten didn't have time to ponder on the know-how's of living, all she was worried about was if her skirt was flying up behind her as she pedaled her bike as fast as she could to J-town where her college resided. She knew she was making a funky face, considering how everyone was staring at her as she passed, but she really didn't give a damn at the moment. She shouldn't have stayed up late studying, she didn't even have a test today and, of course, she was overdoing things again and now she was paying the price. If she was late, she deserved the consequences, she figured. At least then, maybe, she wouldn't be stupid enough to over push herself for no reason.
As she round every corner, everyone watched as the tiny girl flew through town, her tongue sticking out and eyes as wide as saucers, both bloodshot. It was a sight to see, a couple of teens even took a picture as she flew past, her chest heaving from over exertion of pedaling too hard to get to her destination.
And, to tell the truth, she was up half the night on her Hero Association fan profile, defending Saitama. As it turned out, after he'd saved half of Z-town from the meteor, everyone was making him out to be the bad guy, saying it was his fault that half the town was destroyed and he took all the credit for destroying the meteor when Genos and Metal knight did all the work…
What a load of bull. Ten knew with full confidence that Genos and Metal Knight had nothing against Saitama. They wouldn't even be able to lift a finger to him in a one on one confrontation.
She gritted her teeth as she thought more about it, her peddling slowing down as she neared her college. She stopped, waiting for a light to say she could cross the road at a busy intersection. As she stood there and waited, the more she thought about the comments, and it only made her even more peeved. They had no idea how many times Saitama saved them. They all didn't even have a clue…
Then the sirens began to wail, starling everyone around her to look up in scared bewilderment, including herself, effectively distracting her from her chaotic thoughts. When the sirens went off...that was never a good thing. Ten stopped in her unwelcomed brooding and waited for the announcement that was sure to follow. That bad feeling she had before was back again, but this time, it was making her whole body tingle with frigid anticipation.
What was this feeling?
Then, the sirens suddenly stopped and in its place came an automated voice, "Warning, warning, this is an emergency evacuation notice! The disaster level of the ongoing Seafolk invasion has been raised from tiger to demon…"
"Stinger's been defeated!" one of the citizens yelled from behind her. His fingers frantically typing onto his phone. Ten reached into her front pocket of her blouse to pull out her own phone, flipping it open to see the news coverage herself.
"Citizens of J city please evacuate immediately," the announcement continued, "Please stay clear of areas close to the sea as you're more likely to counter the monsters there!"
The warning kept blaring, repeating to seek shelter immediately. Ten didn't hesitate to follow the crowd, she didn't have a choice considering how everyone was pushing her to go in the same direction as them. She sighed inwardly knowing that her class was canceled now, again, due to an emergency. That was another day added to the end of her semester, by the time she was done, two years would have had passed...
"Stop pushing me, please!" Ten yelled to no one in particular, finding that the pushing was becoming a little too much as she made her way into a dome they called a safe zone, or shelter, depending on the person. Ten pulled her bike through the entrance and through the mass of people where she huffed and moved to the right against the wall, wishing to not be close to everyone else as they worried about their way into the shelter.
Pushing her light pink skirt down and fixing the collar of her blouse, Ten watched as everyone filed in, the huge area filling in quick. Reaching into the front pocket of her blouse, Ten pulled out her phone again and after a couple of clicks began watching the recent news feed. It seemed like the current news reporter lost track of the latest monster, but they had an S class hero on the way to take care of the problem.
"Genos…" Ten whispered only to herself as she eyed his profile that popped up into her feed as being the current and closest hero to the monster. She remembered seeing him once before with Saitama. So, did that mean that Saitama was with him right now? Making their way to the monster? She put her phone to her chest, her eyes looking down at the floor in thought. She hoped so. The feeling intensified since entering the sheltered dome and even though she knew there was a possibility that Saitama was with Genos right now, she couldn't, for whatever unfathomable reason, get her spirit up.
She shook her head and closed her phone, placing it back in its rightful spot over her right breast. She was being stupid, thinking nonsense. Saitama was on his way! She should be happy!
Yes. She was happy. The more she thought about it the more excited she became thinking about seeing Saitama again and his one punch signature move!
Her heart gave a beat with severe anticipation.
"Damn rain…" someone said while sliding in next to her. Ten finally looked up from her contemplation and finally noticed that the area around her was quite crowded. She blinked at the small revelation, then her eyes moved to the guy beside her where she, yet again, blinked.
She recognized him from somewhere...
He was fixing his jacket, sliding his arms into the sleeves, his shirt sprinkled with small droplets of water. He fixed his collar then slid his hands into the pockets, his head slightly tilted up as he regarded the crowds around him. Then, he slightly stiffened, sliding his eyes over to Ten who was, awkwardly, still staring at him.
She blushed and looked away, tightening her grip on the bars of her bike. "S-sorry. Didn't mean to stare."
She heard his clothes ruffled as he shrugged. "You're good. No need to say sorry. You get used to it being in my position."
She turned her head again to look at him. He was no longer looking at her but at the crowd, as he watched them finally close the doors to their sanctuary. "Your…."
"Yeah, I am." Was his only reply as he continued to watch no one in particular. Yes, he was Class C Hero All Back-Man. He waited for her to say something along the lines of why he wasn't out there, fighting, like the rest of the Heroes. But when none came, he looked back at her. She was no longer paying any heed to him, but instead was focusing all her attention back on her phone, the news coverage playing on her screen.
"You won't find anything new on there," he commented, watching as she slowly moved her head up to look back at him with her big, brown eyes. "The reporters never get close to the action. They'll wait till it's over before getting half the facts to report the final results of today's disaster level." All they cared about was giving credit to the wrong guys, most of the time.
"That explains a lot," she said quietly, almost too quietly, for him to hear.
"What was that?" he asked, turning towards her again.
She looked up at him again and blinked her doe-like eyes. Then she smiled. "Explains why they never give credit to the heroes that deserve it. It's because, in truth, they don't care who the victor is as long as they have one, right?"
He blinked at her, then blinked again. He turned his head, a light dust of pink decorating his cheeks. She did have a nice smile. "Glad someone knows the actual truth now…" It did surprise him, however. Any other time he mentioned that little tidbit, everyone else would defend the reporters, saying that they always got all the facts straight before reporting and all of their stupid nonsense. Of course, it wasn't like he wasn't ever on the receiving end of praising from something he didn't do before, in fact, there was a couple of time where he stood back and got the credit for something he didn't even lift a finger to but he never said otherwise...
Ten watched everyone around her settle in for the long hall, a couple passing by were even complaining about having to go to the bathroom but didn't have time before being forcibly evacuated by relatives or friends. Ten watched everyone as they interacted and as the seconds ticked by, the tighter she held onto her handlebars.
She finally released them, however, when a small aching pain gripped her fingers. She lifted her left hand up to look at her palm, imprinted in them were the rubber grips of her handlebars. She tilted her head to the side but stopped suddenly her movements frozen when she felt her heart sink and a rather cold chill suddenly slithered up her spin, freezing her to the spot in its icy cold grip.
Something wasn't right…
She felt her heart skip a beat, a sudden ominous aura engulfing the area, choking Ten. Then, like clockwork, the wall smashed in a few feet away from where she was standing, screams echoing and deafening Ten.
Ten took a step back, dropping her bike as small debris flew her way, but stopped when she felt her back hit someone. She looked back to see the blonde hero. His hands moved to her shoulders as he looked ahead of her, his eyes conveying his fear, not conscious that he was grabbing onto her for support. Ten turned her gaze to her front, looking ahead at the sight before her as the debris dissipated.
Standing only a couple of feet away was a giant fish-like monster with a crown on his head, his smile encompassing his whole face as his eyes roamed over everyone in the large enclosure which now felt a lot smaller with that thing forcibly residing in it.
His smile grew, glistening as lightning flashed behind him. "Nice to meet you all," it began, "And goodbye."
Everyone gasped, taking a step back as fear hung heavy in the air. Ten covered her mouth with her hands, eyes wide with her own fear. Hands tightened around her shoulders then and just like that, let her go. The blonde hero walked around her and headed to the front, sticking his hand up high in the air as he spoke to the monster.
"H-hold on! We surrender!" The blonde hero stepped forward further, his fear evident in his quivering eyes. "If there's anything you want from us, we'll do as you say!" He stood in front of all the civilians, hand still raised. "So, please...Don't attack us!" He was sweating now, his nerves getting the better of him. "I beg you."
The monster took a step forward, snickering all the way. It tilted its head down, its large eyes scanning the blonde hero with careless anticipation. "Surrender, you say? Hehehehehe…" It laughed maniacally, its smile growing impossibly wider by the second. "But you're going to die whether you surrender yourselves or not. Hehehehehe… Because I'll kill you all."
The monster's head pivoted up, regarding everyone in the room. "Something I want from you? How about some really nice death screams? When I tear you into thousand pieces as a warning to the other humans."
Ten watched the hero balk at the monster, trying to find something else to say, to distract it or possibly appease to its better nature but ended up with a blank, defeated stare. Everyone around her began to whine, cry, plead, but that only fueled the thing, making it laugh in triumph. It took a menacing step forward, ready to attack, and Ten just stood there, petrified. Too afraid to move and defend the blonde hero that so bravely stood up for everyone.
They were all going to die and there wasn't anything Ten could do to stop it. She couldn't even move forward to help stall it until Saitama came and saved them all…
She was pathetic…
Why was she always so weak!?
Then, out of nowhere, two heroes came on either side of the blonde hero, taking up a stance and forming a line between the citizens and the monster. The blonde hero looked to them, slight relief clouding his eyes. Then, a third stepped forward, all proclaiming to be heroes. They talked amongst each other, each receiving courage from the other with words alone.
"Are they Heroes?" someone said in the crowd of people.
"Have Heroes come out for our sake?" , "Look! Those Heroes have come out to save us!" , "We're going to be safe now!"
The crowd bellowed and cheered, giving courage to the four heroes that so bravely stepped forward, taking on the monster head on so they could protect the citizens that were helpless and defenseless, just like a hero should do.
Ten smiled, watching as their confidence grew by the second. A glimmer of hope.
The monster took another step, now standing directly in front of the four heroes. Not perturbed in the least by the crowd of people cheering them on. "Hehehehe, so, four little worms decided to challenge me? Hehehehe...pathetic. I doubt I'll be able to feel your punches."
Then, without any warning, the monster blurred and went straight through the chest of one of the heroes, killing him instantly. Everyone gasped, no longer cheering as they watched with dismay and fear as the three remaining heroes courage suddenly disappeared with the life of the one hero so named Jet Nice Guy, Class B Hero. It was so sudden, too quick for everyone to comprehend what exactly had just happened.
And it just kept on laughing, enjoying the kill without any remorse or care…
The three heroes left, however, gathered their wits and stood in a line together, facing their foe again, ready to protect the citizens with their lives…
It was brave...beyond brave. This was what it meant to be a true hero.
But, it was easily short lived when the monster charged forward, hitting the three, including the blonde hero, out of commission, sending their bodies flying into the surrounding walls. Ten watched as the body of the blonde flew over her head and impacted into the wall behind her, no longer breathing or moving. His eyes rolled to the back of his head.
She looked up at him, waiting, seeing, then gravity decided it wanted to kick in, his body slowly sliding out of the hole he created, ready to fall. Ten ran forward without hesitating, in the back of her mind, she knew she at least had to help, even if it meant just catching the blonde hero from hitting the ground and causing more damage to his already broken body.
When his body finally slipped from the crevice he unwillingly made, Ten was below him, her arms open and ready to break his fall. When his body connected with hers, she winced slightly when his shoulder impacted with her chest, and she fell back with him in her arms. When she landed on her bottom and finally settled on the ground, she looked down at the blonde hero, seeing his mouth still open from a silent scream, his eyes still rolled back to the back of his head. He wasn't breathing, she realized. She slides him off of her and hovered over him, grabbing her long dark hair so it wasn't tickling him as she watched any signs of breathing. Her hand reached for his neck, her palms sweating as she placed her fingers to his pulse.
Ba...dump…
It was light, almost unnoticeable, but he had a small beat, barely hanging on.
She started CPR, her lips connecting with his as she gave him her air, then lifted up and began pushing on his chest, pushing the air out of him and forcing him to breathe.
She heard more crashing, gasps, but she refused to look up as she gave him more air, holding her eyes shut as she waited, not wanting to distract herself.
"Come on," she whispered desperately, tears threatening to spill again. "Wake up. Please...wake up…"
Then, just as suddenly, she heard cheering. She looked up, stopping mid-pump to see that the monster was no longer in the huge crater of a hole it created, but in its place was the one named Genos, his arms sporting new black armor compared to his photo in which he was sporting gray metal arms.
"We're saved!"
Everyone cheered their desperation, tears of joy springing forth as they cried with joy at Genos, calling him their hero.
She heard a sputter below her. She looked down to see the blonde hero blinking his eyes, his irises focusing on her. She smiled down at him, blinking her tears back as she let out a relieved breath. "You're alive!" she exclaimed giddily, cupping the side of his head out of reflex.
The man's cheeks reddened, then he winced, his teeth gritting together as he closed his eyes sharply when pain shot through his body from the small movement.
"I...I hear...cheering…" he sputtered out, breathing heavily. He suspected he had a collapsed lung. "Is it…"
She covered his mouth with her hand. "Enough from you. Reserve your energy until you are properly taken care of."
When she let go of his mouth, he couldn't help but smile. "Were you...just kissing me?"
This time, her own cheeks heated up. "I was giving you CPR…" She looked away from her, her cheeks now flaming.
"That bad, huh?"
She didn't answer him but instead watched at Genos looked at the crowd, asking them if that was the last of the Sea-folk. Everyone continued to cheer, praising Genos for saving them…
That was quick, Ten realized. Did he take it out just like that?
A shadow appeared behind Genos looming over his small figure, making him and everyone freeze from the suddenness of it, disbelief crossing everyone's face. Just as rapidly, Genos went flying when something grabbed his arm, ripping it off of him like it was made of paper.
He impacted into the wall opposite of Ten, everyone looking upon with confused disbelief.
"Now you've ticked me off," growled the shadow, the arm flopped on the floor from the thing throwing it without much care.
The thing stepped into the light, his face bashed in on its right side as he regarded Genos with narrowed eyes. "I'm gonna mess you up bad." It promised.
Something crossed Genos's face before he got up, his shoulder with the missing arm sparking as he moved into a standing position. "Everyone get out while I'm keeping it busy!" he yelled, talking to the crowds around him.
Genos didn't have to say it twice before everyone started to run in the opposite direction, fear driving them forward alone. Half the crowd was coming straight for Ten and the blonde hero, not one seeing them as they ran.
"G-go!" stuttered the blonde hero below her, making her look down at him with worry clear in her doe-like eyes.
"I'm not leaving you here!" she stubbornly objected, narrowing her eyes down at his battered form.
"If you...don't go…" He winced in pain, a trail of blood rolling down his chin. "You'll die...too."
"You're not dead yet."
"I will be...soon enough...now go!"
Her hand shot forward, gripping his jacket as she watched everyone run pass them, her eyes no longer looking at him. "No. You won't." Her voice was low, serious, her mind made up.
The blonde hero opened his mouth to say something, anything but started to cough when more blood filled his mouth. He no longer had the strength to argue with her.
And to think, he began to think to himself, his vision growing blurry, I finally have a cute girl worrying over me. All for nothing, now. Because of me, she's going to die. Why am I so pathetically weak?
The monster took a menacing step forward, looking at all the fleeing humans with a tick forming on the side of his head. "I will not let you get awaaaaaay!" Another step forward, his face morphing to one of a crazed beast. "You are all my prey! All of youuuuuuu!"
Genos suddenly lite up like a Christmas tree, charging up then blasting forward to stop the monster from attacking the citizens. Ten watched in horror as one punch flew after the other, it all a complete blur to her that she only could witness a punch out of ten that were thrown. Her hand tightened around the blonde heroes' jacket as she watched the fight take place, knowing full well that Genos wouldn't win in the state he was in…
Ten looked down at the blond hero. His breathing was ragged but deep, his eyes now closed as the pain took over his senses, now leaving him incapable to talk any longer.
This all reminded her of that one time…
That one day she lost everything…
Was that why she was so weak, incapable of doing anything because it reminded her so much of that one fateful day? It was so long ago...So, so long ago. She should be over it by now…
Her grip tightened to a tight ball around his jacket, her form hunched over as pathetic self-pity took over. Damn it...she was being weak.
She sat up straight again, taking in slow, deep breaths, closing her eyes so she could calm herself down. Now wasn't the time for a panic attack. She had to think. Right now, the blonde hero below her was relying on her. She had to concentrate on him...right?
But what of the other three? She looked over to the body of...Jet Nice Guy, seeing that he was almost in two before looking away. When she tried searching for the others, she suddenly heard a horrible scream. Her head whipped to where the fighting ensued and almost screamed herself at the sight before her.
Genos's other arm fell off, steam coming off of him as his armor, his body, was melting. Somehow, he was still alive when she saw him look at his arm, but he didn't have a moment to do anything but that when the fish monster came up from behind and punched him, his body flying through the wall and to the outside.
Damn it!
Ten looked back down to the blonde, seeing his breathing was still strong, then stood up. Her fists tightened at her side as she ran over to the hole the monster created, looking out to see it looming over Genos's destroyed body.
"You're a fool, but I was impressed that you actually managed to put a scratch on me," the monster said. "That scratch already healed up, though." And to everyone's dismay, the monsters face was indeed healed and looking like nothing even touched it in the first place. The monsters cold eyes stared down at Geno's beaten body, looking down at the cyborg with disgust.
He's going to kill him...Ten's fist tightened at her sides again. Then her body responded before she could think to do such a thing in the first place…
"Now die." The monster loomed over Genos, lifting its arm ever so slowly, prepared to strike, but suddenly stopped, its eyes growing wide in wonderment and slight amusement.
There she stood, her arms stretched out, standing in front of Genos, blocking his body from the monster with her own frail one. She looked up at the monster, her chocolate eyes narrowed as she glared it down. Not even daring to show that she feared it.
All she could do now...was distract it until…
"What's this?" the creature began, leaning forward till its face was close enough for Ten to smell its disgusting rotten fish breath. "Another pathetic little worm bait for me to smoosh, eh?"
"You're the pathetic one," Ten whispered, barely audible.
"Eh? What did you say?"
"I said you're the pathetic one!" This time, she screamed it, her eyes wide with anger as she stared down the monster before her.
It smiled, wide and big, the rain now beating down faster than what it was just a moment ago.
"Get away!" Genos warned from behind her. She could hear him trying to move, but he wasn't succeeding. "You have no chance against him! Get out of the way! Now!"
"No." Was her only reply. "I won't move." Genos looked at her with wide, bewildered eyes, but she finally turned her head to look at him, a small smile playing on her lips. "Who else will distract him until Saitama comes along, right?"
"You're…" He didn't finish, however, when another unexpected event happened.
"Justice Crash!"
A bike flew into the back of the monster, effectively distracting it as it looked behind him. Both Ten and Genos looked at the same time behind the monster in wide-eyed astonishment.
"Riding the bicycle of Justice! Mumen rider enters the scene!"
And there he was, with his fists raised, was Mumen rider wearing his traditional black and brown garb and goggles and bicycle helmet, no hint of fear evident, taking on the monster head on.
"No, don't!" Genos said from behind her. Ten took a step back and crouched next to Genos, looking down at him with deep worry in her eyes. Her eyes scanned over his body, taking note of how badly damaged he was. Ten, without thinking, reached forward and wrapped her arm around his torso, helping him up in a sitting position, leaning on her for support. He didn't fight it, only looked at her from the side as she watched the monster and Mumen rider face off from one another.
"You should leave now while you still have a chance," Genos tried one last and final time.
"I'm not leaving you guys here…"
And then, Mumen rider suddenly charged toward the monster, screaming all the way.
"I am so sick of you small fries," the monster said, exasperation clear in his monstrous voice.
Mumen rider threw a punch. "Take this!" he yelled, throwing his fist forward, but only to have it caught in the grasp of the monster.
"Oh no!" Ten whispered.
The fishy monster brought his arm up, Mumen riders' body following up until his feet were dangling off the ground, and then he slammed him to the ground…
Over and over and over again until finally, his sleeve ripped, sending him flying back and behind the sea monster. He then turned back to Ten and Genos, eyeing them both with a bored look, figuring that was all said and done with the third interruption he didn't care for.
Now he just had to take care of the first and second interruptions.
"Ahh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you guys wait for the death blow. And look," he said, a smile growing on his face, "You two are in line for a single punch, now I…"
"Ju-justice…Tackle…"
Mumen rider came up behind the creature, his arms around its back as he tried to wrestle the thing to the ground. (Or hump it, Ten couldn't really tell what he was doing, twerking behind it and all.)
"Huh?"
"Ugh…I know that no one really expects me to win…" Mumen rider began but was cut short when the monster turned and swatted him away. He landed ways away with a loud thud making Ten brace tighter onto Genos with a death grip of a hold, watching with complete helplessness.
"A Class C Hero like me won't be of much help," he sputtered out on the ground. "I know that better than anyone!"
Mumen rider turned over and placed both hands below its chest, lifting his beaten body up with great effort that everyone could clearly see. "I know that I'm not fit to be a Class B hero. I know that I'm weak. I know it all too well!"
He finally got up to his feet, shaking but standing proud. "I can't even hope to beat you. I know that better than anyone…!" He looked at the monster straight on, his breathing heavy.
"And yet…I don't have a choice…but to do it. Because if I don't, who else will?"
Then he took a step forward, swiping his weak fist in defiance in front of him. "It doesn't matter if I stand a chance or not!" he yelled at the monster, his emotions overwhelming him and to anyone that was listening, making everyone wait with baited breath for what he was going to say next. For what he was going to do next.
"I have to fight you here and now!"
The monster cocked his head to the side, clearly not caring. "Quit spouting all that nonsense and drop dead already."
Then, the crowd started off small, shouting praises, then the noise grew louder, turning into a small riot of praise as they cheered on Mumen rider.
The people pinned their last hopes on him…
With the crowd cheering him on, Mumen rider fixed his stance, no longer wobbling as he suddenly found strength in the praising cheers he was hearing. Feeling the spirit of the people moving through him and giving strength he never knew existed
"Wooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!"
He ran forward, and just like that, he was smacked away. Like he was only tissue to the monster. The spirits of the people fading away in a quiet, awww.
"Nope," the monster sneered. "Not a chance."
Everyone watched as he flew back, all their hopes gone within a flash.
When Mumen rider flew back, an arm appeared out of nowhere and caught him. There, standing in the pouring rain, stood Saitama, in all his shiny bald glory.
"You did well," Saitama said, a small encouraging smile directed at Mumen rider. "Nice fight."
"Aaaand another unwanted piece of trash pops up," the monster said with a sigh in his voice as he turned his hulking body to the newcomer that decided to take his own gander at the monster king.
When placing the battered Mumen rider on the ground, he finally looked up and noticed Ten and Genos, his eyes lingering on the form of Ten before eyeing his friend. "Wh-whoa, Genos! Dude, look at you…how are you even alive!?"
"Tea…cher…" , "Saitama!" both Ten and Genos said at the same time. Genos eyed her again, his eyes roaming over her facial features.
"You finally came!" Ten exclaimed, her joy evident on her wet, dripping face. Her smile was so big, so soulful, that it looked like it wanted to jump off and die in a pool of farting rainbows…
"Are you going to one punch the sea monster now?" Ten couldn't help but ask, her eyes sparkling as she couldn't wait to see such a feat.
Saitama blinked at her, pointing his thumb at the monster behind him as he said, "You want me to quickly whoop this seafreak or whatever it was –"
He was stopped short when a shadow suddenly appeared behind him, the sea monsters fist raised for a blow. "I can hear you, you know?" And he whacked him against the head, his head vibrating like...nevermind...
But to everyone's shock, Saitama didn't budge from that single death blow.
Then, very slowly, Saitama turned his head, narrowing his eyes at the sea monster, his features nice and sharp.
Everyone seemed to stir in the dome, all looking toward Saitama and wondering who he was. That made Ten a little worried. What if someone recognized him as the "man who destroyed half a Z city and took credit for other people's work"? She looked down, Genos catching the small movement from the unknown girl instantly. She didn't think she could bear everyone accusing him of being a cheat. Her hand suddenly tightened around Geno's torso as she came to the conclusion that she wouldn't allow that to happen.
The sea monster, proclaiming to be the sea kind, began monolog about why he was up there terrorizing the humans and whatnot. After watching Saitama fight, a lot, she realized monsters like to monolog a lot…
"And those who dare oppose me-"
"Yeah, yeah," Saitama cut him off, sticking his finger in his ear to actively itch it, a bored looked crossing his features, "You're great, I get it. It's raining so skip all the talk and come at me, would you?"
The sea monster wouldn't allow such impudence from a mere human, it seemed, because he instantly went in for a strong and powerful punch, but it didn't connect when, you know, there was a sudden giant, massive hole now going straight through his chest cavity and all…
A shock wave followed behind the sea monster after Saitama punched him, Ten watched with unblinking eyes and a large, bright smile plastered on her face. Even Genos smiled at his teacher triumphant punch.
The monster crippled over and fell to the ground, lifeless. It was only momentarily quiet as everyone took in the event that didn't even last a second to the human eye…
The people cried their astonishment, finally, not believing what they just adamantly witnessed. Questions that didn't have any solid answers to sprung out, but all Ten could do was smile. Now most saw the power that Saitama held. No more calling him a cheat, everyone saw him as the true hero that he was…
"Ya know, maybe the monster just wasn't all that strong?" said a snobby voice in the back of the crowd, his voice echoing the area around them.
The crowd began to question Saitama's power…
"What's happening?" Ten questioned to no one in particular. Genos stayed quiet as he hung his head low and watched with narrowed eyes to the citizen who spoke first.
The snobby voice began to question the ranking of heroes, saying that maybe they weren't that strong, to begin with…
Ten felt her anger rising, billowing over to the precipice of her self-control…
Someone stepped forward, grabbing the snobby boy by his collar and telling the little prick to shut up, but the nut-job kept drilling on about how they pay them to protect them, the citizens, and how they better do it, no matter the cost and if they couldn't fit the bill then maybe they weren't cut out to be heroes in the first place.
But…the blonde hero, Ten saw how he gave it his all and how the monster just swiped him away like he was nothing. Didn't that guy see how hard they fought! How much they sacrificed to buy them some time!?
"You have to admit that the other heroes were totally useless this time since the bald guy over there defeated the monster all by himself."
"I said, cut it out!"
"And don't tell me they were buying time! Anyone could've done that! Did the other heroes do anything heroic this time at all?"
"We're all saved! Let's just leave it at that!"
"Yeah, just leave it! The other heroes may not have been of much use this time, but it's not nice to point it out like that!"
What the heck were they talking about!? Didn't they see the gigantic hole they were standing in and still had the gall to say that any plain old citizen could have easily defeated it themselves - just like that?
Ten fisted her left hand, opening her mouth to say something but stopped when laughter suddenly rang out. She looked over toward the source to see Saitama shoulders shaking as he laughed at nothing in particular.
Saitama lifted his arms and shrugged nonchalantly. "Boy, am I a lucky guy or what? The other heroes had weakened the monster so much it was a piece of cake to defeat it. I'm so glad I arrived late! Now I'll get the credits even though I didn't do shit!"
Saitama turned and looked at the crowd with a crooked smile. "Ah! You guys better play along and tell your friends that I defeated it! I don't care if I profited from others' efforts, it was me who finished it! But don't you snitch on me and tell everyone I was only lucky because I arrived late!"
Oh…Saitama…
What have you done?
"Eh…? What does he mean?" , "The monster was weakened?" , "That's what the guy who defeated it says." , "Well, I guess fighting all those heroes in a row must have taken its toll."
That was when someone finally noticed who Saitama 'was'. The word cheat spread fast like wildfire and before long everyone was accusing Saitama of being a fraud, a liar, a scumbag.
But, as they continued to berate Saitama, they began to look at the other heroes in a new, friendlier light, calling them the true heroes. It didn't take a genius to figure out what Saitama was doing and Ten knew that, despite his incredible strength, he was still human, could still feel, despite his otherwise indifferent look he usually carried around, even now.
"Hey guys, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and look after the wounded heroes," Saitama continued, seemingly unfazed by what everyone was making him out to be. "It'd be bad if they actually croaked 'cause you can't make any profit from dead heroes."
That got everyone going, listening to him to a certain degree. Everyone was on the phone, others began running back into the dome to help out the wounded and others…continued to berate Saitama.
Ten was glad to see how a group of people ran over to help Mumen rider, congratulating him on his hard work for helping to stop the monster that was terrorizing the town.
Her gaze moved over to Saitama, watching as he looked up toward the sky with mildly bored amusement as the rain stopped, commenting on it as he ignored the onslaught of insults. Ten sighed before making sure that Genos could sit up on his own, noticing how Genos kept his dark eyes on Saitama. She could practically see the conflict in his eyes, the same thoughts most likely surfacing in his mind, mirroring her own.
"Are you going to be okay, Genos?" Ten asked.
Genos looked over at Ten, nodding his head. His eyes never blinking as he stared at her. "Once I get back to the lab I'll be back to my normal self by tomorrow."
Ten smiled. "I'm glad. You fought hard, you know. I saw the whole thing." To a certain extent, at least.
Genos looked away, staring at Saitama who just so happened to be making his way to the two. "Not hard enough, apparently." A look crossed his eyes, a look Ten couldn't comprehend before it vanished when Saitama finally made it to the two.
Ten could feel her heart racing when Saitama sauntered over to them. She didn't know why she felt so nervous all of the sudden. She talked to him once before so it shouldn't be a big deal now, right? Right.
"Ah, looks like you got your ass kicked again, Genos." Saitama didn't waste a moment in pointing out the obvious. Genos dropped his head down while offering a sorry to his teacher and that next time he'll try harder. In a way, Ten thought, he did, at the moment in time, looked rather cute...
Saitama's bored gaze shifted to Ten, his eyes wondering her face. "Ah, looks like you caught up with me again this time, eh? Didn't think you'd make this fight considering the disaster level and all."
Ten looked away, standing up from her crouching position and pulling down her wet blouse. (She was more than happy to be the type who wore more than one layer of clothing or she'd be embarrassed right about now.) She doubled checked to make sure all her buttons were buttoned and her skirt was in a decent position before shyly glancing up at Saitama, then, of course, looking away when she realized he was watching her fuss over nothing. "Y-yeah. I got caught up in this one. Didn't have a choice on my matter." She laughed awkwardly.
He was talking to her so freely. She knew she was making a scene in front of him, her embarrassment quite evident, but he didn't seem to acknowledge it, or he just didn't even notice.
Genos watched the exchange, his eyes zooming in on her blush, then a thought suddenly sprung to mind. "Is your name Ten, by any chance?"
Ten blinked down at him. "Y-yes. Why do you ask?"
"Oh," Saitama began, hitting his left fist into his right hand as realization finally struck him. "So you've been stalking me at the hero association as well, huh?"
"S-stalking!?"
"I'm okay with you stalking me and all, but don't go stealing any of my French fries or you'll regret it. Got it?"
"Why would I steal the strongest man I know french fries!?"
"I'm not saying you would, I'm just saying."
"You're not saying it really well if you ask me…" Ten mumbled.
"Am I not saying it clearly? Let me try again… I'm okay with you stalking me but don't steal anything while I have my back turned, okay?"
"I'm not stalking you! I swear…"
"Oh…you're not? …are you sure?"
"I'm sure!"
"Oh…"
"You sound disappointed, Teacher. If it'll make you feel better, I can start stalking you."
"Don't be a creep, Genos. No one's asking you…"
Ten fidgeted with her fingers, looking down, anywhere, other than Saitama. She was glad, however, that no one was paying any heed to Saitama anymore. They were all too busy trying to help each other or the heroes that so bravely tried to protect them in their time of need, no longer paying attention to the supposed cheater…
She also wondered, on a more personal level, if he acted this friendly to everyone. He was treating her no different than a friend would treat another friend...
"Is there anything wrong, Ten?" Saitama asked, noticing how her mood suddenly turned.
"O-oh, it's nothing just…" She looked up at him, her lips pressed into a thin line as she thought about what everyone said about Saitama earlier. How cruel they all were to him. "How can you let everyone talk down to you like that? It's not right. I know you took down that sea monster with one punch, why can't anyone else see that!? And...I get why you said all that. I really do. But I still don't think it's right..."
Saitama titled his head to the right, wondering where that suddenly came from. "Why do you care? It's just talking. I know that I took down that monster, that's all I really care about."
She thought about his words, something flashing in her eyes. "All you care about, huh." She looked away, contemplating his words, watching as someone helped Mumen rider into the sitting position before she suddenly smiled, her cheeks warming to a fine blush. "Saitama, you're a true hero, aren't you?" She turned her warm, chocolate eyes to Saitama again, watching him as a new light danced in her irises.
That startled Saitama, in a way. He wasn't expecting that. "A true hero?" he questioned. His eyes grew wide as he repeated it. No one ever called him a true hero before. It was only a hobby for him, nothing too serious…
"Yeah." Her cheeks grew warmer as she took a step forward. "No matter what anyone thinks about you, you just do what you do, knowing that what you do is always in everyone's best interest, even if it's not in your interest whatsoever. That, alone, makes you a true Hero, Saitama."
Suddenly, she bowed, startling Saitama further as he took a step back in astonishment, arms wide and taught. "Thank you, Saitama, for saving me and everyone else here today." She stood up, pulling her long dark brown hair behind her ears as she continued, "You will always be my True Hero, Saitama, despite what everyone might think of you."
"…Okay."
