Author's note: This is the last chapter for this short fic, thank y'all for reading and reviewing! I hope you enjoyed it!

oOo

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"Ah ok, so that's what it was all about…"

Resting his elbow on the table, and leaning above his bowl, Saitama shoved the udons in his mouth and sucked it up with a loud slurp. Then he ungraciously chewed, his cheeks full.

"Shorry you…"

Saitama swallowed and with the tip of his chopsticks he pointed at his disciple.

"… worried about me, Genos. But you didn't need to. I'm fine, I swear."

Looking gloomy, Genos nodded and poked his udons with his chopsticks. In the artificial light of the small diner, steam rose from the tiny kitchen and crawled on the ceiling. The walls were plastered with advertising posters all crinkled because of air humidity. On each one of them, the same starlet posed with a fake smile, in bikini or in a uniform wearing the colors of this restaurant chain.

Probably because of monsters attacks and meteorites falling from the sky, the diner was in a basement. It was so cramped and confined that the tables and chairs were greasy. Some other clients were here: an old man mumbling in his gyudon bowl an two mafia-style sinister looking men in a corner talked in a low voice.

"You're not hungry? You still haven't touched your udon…" Saitama said, looking disappointed. "I'm inviting you…"

"Sorry, Saitama-sensei." Genos sighed and finally divided his chopsticks. "I'll eat now."

He had been explaining for the last ten minutes everything he tried to do in order to make his teacher smile again, while Saitama was eating and listening patiently.

"There's no use in lying to me now, sensei…" Genos said, warm udon grazing his lips. "You don't have to hide it anymore. I know you're not fine. I know you're suffering. And I want to help you."

While Genos gulped down the udons in one go, Saitama let out a deep sigh, leaning back in his chair. Genos wiped his mouth with his napkin and activated his stomach reactor, burning to ashes everything he just swallowed.

"Oh, don't be overdramatic." Saitama drawled in a phlegmatic tone. "I admit I've been kinda feeling blue after that disappointing fight against the alien dude. But it was nothing worth worrying over that much."

"You stayed in your pajamas for a whole week without going outside, sensei. You looked sad. I was worried."

The cyborg's voice was so stern, Saitama blinked and looked sheepish.

"Did I…? I didn't realize. It's true that I've thought for years of fighting as my only reason for living. It really was the one thing that made me feel alive."

Genos darkened even more, feeling useless and powerless.

Saitama put his hand in his pocket – his jeans were still stained with black blood smelling like oil and Genos reminded himself he would have to clean it when they get back home – and took out his wallet to count the yen coins. He put them on the table one by one next to their empty bowls, until the total amount was there.

"But things are different now." Saitama concluded soberly, and stood up.

Confused, Genos got up from the table and followed his teacher who was leaving the diner. The strong voice of the manager automatically rose to thank them, and the two heroes walked out. It was night. They walked side by side to head back home, and Genos stared at his teacher from the corner of his eye – Saitama looked relaxed, hands in his pockets and a smile on his lips.

Why was he smiling?

"I don't understand, sensei. What is different?"

They walked near a vending machine. It was whirring and flashing light in Saitama's neutral face.

"I ain't gonna lie to you. I miss the ecstasy of a good fight and I would give anything to fight with all my strength against someone strong enough to really put me in danger, but… I've got other things in my life, now. Other things that make me feel alive."

Genos raised his eyebrows, startled.

"What other things? I've been watching you closely and analyzing everything you do 24h/24 for months, sensei." the cyborg pointed out in a doubtful tone. "And I've seen nothing like that since I've been living with you."

"Well…"

Saitama was avoiding his stare, Genos noticed. As they walked in the empty street, he was looking at the stars in the night sky, hands deep in his pockets.

"… I joined the Association, for a start. And even if I've got no fans, it gives me something to look forward to, and a permanent job. And above all, there's you, Genos. Since you've been living with me, I'm not bored anymore and sometimes I catch myself enjoying life, feeling alive, and even feeling emotions again."

"Sensei…?" the cyborg breathed, eyes wide open.

"Different emotions than what I used to feel in a good fight," Saitama specified, shrugging. "Less intense, less strong, more serene. But still emotions. I think I haven't feel so good since… I dunno. Maybe forever."

Speechless, Genos felt his core whir loudly in his torso and myriads of emotions overwhelm him. Did he hear right? Could it be that the answer he had been looking for so desperately… was him?

"Saitama-sensei, are you saying that… I'm your new reason for living?"

"Erm no, don't get all worked up, it ain't what I meant." Saitama pulled a face. "What I'm saying is… I've been alone all my life, I always felt detached from everyone else… and since you've been living with me, I see you every day, you help me interact with people and try new things… it's the first time I feel truly connected to someone. And I dunno… it's nice. I don't feel lonely anymore. I feel human."

Genos felt dark oil fill up his eyes and he had to fought the tears back – Saitama-sensei didn't like watching him cry. For once, the cyborg had no idea what to say, he was speechless and suffocating with feelings. He wasn't even aware he slowed his pace and his teacher was now a few meters ahead. He saw him crouch down to reach for a black cat crossing the street, its tail curved like a question mark.

The cat sniffed his hand with curiosity and mistrust, then licked the palm with a pink tongue. Saitama's smile turned sad. He tried to pet the cat's head, but it avoided the caress and ran away.

"But I know I can't get used to it…" Saitama continued, looking at the cat jumping on the nearest wall to perch. "Because when you'll figure out I've got nothing to teach you, when you'll be strong enough to defeat your enemy and complete your revenge…"

Saitama got up, turning his back on his disciple.

"You won't have any reason left to stay with me. You'll move on and go away."

"YOU'RE WRONG!"

Saitama turned around to face him with a weak smile.

"It wasn't a reproach, Genos. You'll leave someday, that's normal. I'm prepared to it. Or course you're not gonna stay with me all your life…"

"Why not?" Genos answered back ardently, his golden eyes flashing in the dark.

Saitama blinked. He was looking at him like if he was a temperamental child, and the cyborg took offense. He closed his fists with a clicking sound.

"You don't know what you're saying." Saitama sighed. "You're young, you're ambitious and you're destined for great things. You're just having some kind of obsession for the secret of my strength at the moment, but you'll move on sooner or later."

Perched on top of the wall, the cat yawned widely and wrapped itself with its fluffy tail, staring down at them.

"It's true that at first I followed you and wanted to become your disciple for your amazing strength…" Genos hissed through his teeth. "But you're so mistaken about me if you think it's still the case today."

Saitama arched a surprised eyebrow when Genos walked towards him, his anger a burning aura around him.

"I'm not stupid, Saitama-sensei."

"I never said you were, but…" Saitama tried to protest.

Saitama flinched when he firmly grabbed his shoulders, his metallic fingers digging into the hoodie's fabric. Dumbstruck, he held his disciple's intense stare.

"I'm perfectly aware I'll never get your strength, sensei! Do you really think I'd have stayed with you if that was all I cared about?"

"Er…"

"Saitama-sensei. You have probably no idea, but if doctor Kuseno is trying so hard to build me a body allowing me to live like a human, it's because I became worse than a machine after my parents died. All I could think about was revenge and my obsession was progressively destroying everything human that was left in me. I had only one objective: to find the mad cyborg and kill him, exploding myself for this if necessary. Before I met you, I never once considered I could live after I fulfilled my revenge. I considered myself dead already, just surviving long enough to avenge my parents. But now, I know revenge won't be the end, but the beginning of a new life I intend to spend by your side. I'll stay with you forever, Saitama-sensei, be sure of it. You're the most important person in the world to me, and what I feel for you is way too strong to be dismissed because of my age."

Gaping, Saitama stared at the cyborg with wide stunned eyes. Genos realized he came closer to him in his passionate speech, so close he could feel his teacher's warm breath ghosting his synthetic lips.

Saitama blinked and swallowed hard, not even trying to break free from his disciple's grip. Instead, he frowned, looking confused and distraught.

"Genos…"

The cyborg shivered when Saitama put his hand of the metallic fingers gripping his shoulder and squinted suspiciously.

"Are you sure you're not in love with me?"

Genos opened his eyes wide, his pupils retracting, and he released him to take a few steps back hastily, as if he had been punched violently. Arms dangling, Saitama kept staring at him, looking incredulous and curious. Genos looked down, bewildered. He hadn't anticipated this question.

Before Saitama-sensei mentioned the possibility of romantic feelings an hour ago in the apartment, Genos would never have considered… he would never have thought about… about…

But when they were walking to the diner, as he was explaining to the hero everything he did for him, he couldn't help thinking, in a corner of his mind, that maybe that was what he was really feeling for Saitama. No just loyalty, gratitude and admiration, not just affection and attachment like he used to feel for his parents before they died. But something more… intimate. Profound.

He could feel Saitama staring at him, waiting for an answer. So he straightened his back, trying to look as assured and adult as he could, staring back at him bravely.

"Maybe."

"Heh? Maybe?"

Genos nodded seriously.

"I'm not sure. I'm not an expert in that area since I've never been in love before. I'll need to do some research to confirm it."

Saitama's shoulders sagged and he lowered his head, darkness veiling his face. Genos blinked when his teacher made a strange sound, and… burst out laughing. He threw his head back and laughed so hard and loud it resounded in the night and a tiny tear shone at the corner of his eye.

Genos froze, eyes wide open. That was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen in his whole life.

"It's not amusing, sensei…" he tried to protest, but didn't mean it. He couldn't help smiling too.

"Yes, it is!" Saitama laughed wholeheartedly. "You're amazing, Genos!"

He stopped laughing, but there was still a smile lighting up his face. Genos felt his anxiety fade away and steam rise from his metallic torso.

"Wouldn't it bother you if I happen to feel… this kind of feelings for you?" He asked, lowering his eyes shyly.

Saitama casually shrugged, then put his arm on the cyborg's shoulders and warmly squeezed the metallic plate covering one of his reactors.

"Nah, I don't mind. It's kinda funny, in fact."

"Funny?" Genos repeated, blinking.

"Well yeah… You've got a crush on me, the shame!"

Genos pouted when Saitama poked his cheek, grinning like a lunatic. His core started overheating again.

"Sensei…"

"Hey, you think you'll lose your fans if they learn that their Cyborg Prince has a crush on a B class hero?"

"Sensei!"

"Ok, ok, I'll stop now! Come on, let's go home. I'm gonna kick your ass in video games."

Saitama affectionately patted him on the shoulder, then released him to start walking, looking in a very good mood. Genos stayed still a few seconds, watching him walk as a powerful emotion grew in heart substitut. When his teacher turned back to motion him to come, Genos ran to join him and walk by his side.

Curled up in a ball, the black cat lazily opened its eyes to watch the two figures walk away in the street, until they disappeared in the night with their laughters.

THE END