She was already on the verge of tearing up as she ran through the hallway of the hospital. Pushing open the door to see Mumen in a full body cast was the straw that brokw the camel's back, and the tears came flooding. Yet, even in a full body cast, Mumen somehow managed to radiate pure sunlight, and she stopped crying quite quickly.
"But man, that hero hunter guy was quite tough. Even took down Tank Top Master." Mumen commented, turning his head to the bed beside him.
"He was a different kind of power, Mumen." The S class replied. "He was skilled. And that technique... he was a student of Silverfang's, no doubt."
"Mm. He'll be tough to take down."
"So what now, Mumen? You can't possibly go out there if he's still on the loose." Nozomi placed her hand on Mumen's. "I wouldn't let you."
"I'm sorry for making you worry," The C class said, "but as heroes we can't just let a bad guy go."
"Let the others deal with it so you can focus on recovering, Mumen!"
"But-"
"She is right my friend." Tank Top Master interupted. "It is best you recover quickly. We can't afford to lose a hero as genuine as you." He bowed his head as much as his own casts would allow. "And I again apologise for hitting you with my attack."
"Ah! It's alright, y-you don't have to!"
"Wait, he did what?"
"Nothing! It was an accident, and it was my fault for not thinking properly anywa-"
"I am to blame. That is the truth, Mumen Rider, Miss Nozomi. I will take responsibility for my actions. And please, call me Hideo."
"I... am not winning this arguement, am I?"
Nozomi laughed weakly "No, you aren't. Hey, didn't you say there's some kind of healing potion thingy? Why haven't they used it yet?"
"Uh. I'm guessing they ran out?"
"With so many heroes injured, I wouldn't be surprised." Hideo flinched, now very aware his pain was returning as the ran its course. "I'll make sure they prioritise you over me. You deserve it."
"Thanks... but I still can't rest knowing that Garou guy is still out there."
"Why not call that friend of yours? The Saitama guy? You said he's strong, right?" Nozomi suggested.
"Saitama?" Hideo's eyebrows quirked up, "S class Caped Baldy, boyfriend of Tornado of Terror, Saitama?"
"Yeah." Mumen blushed. "I don't think I'm really his friend or anything. I'm just a C class he saved who bought dinner in return."
"Nonsense! Who wouldn't want you as their friend you ball of sunshine? No talking down yourself, you hear?"
"A-ah. Of course Nozomi."
"Where'd they put your phone?" Nozomi asked as sge started checking the drawers next to Mumen's bed. "I'll call him so you can rest."
"It... It's uhm. Uh."
Nozomi came to a realisation and face palmed. "Right. An attack. You remember his number?"
Mumen told her the number to dial, and it began to ring, so at least she knows he hasn't suffered a concussion bad enough to land him in a similar state to her. She put the call on speaker mode so that Mumen could help her ask the Saitama guy, but what she didn't expect was the cold, deep, and straight up threatening voice of Demon Cyborg to respond.
"Unknown number, most likely a salesperson. Saitama Sensei is not interested in your wares. Hang up, or I'll personally make you."
"Ah, Demon Cyborg? It's Mumen, my girlfriend's using her phone to call since mine got deatroyed. I need to speak to Saitama urgently, is he there?"
A somewhat familiar nasally voice came from the other side, muffled. "That's weird" Nozomi thinks to herself, "where have I heard that voice?"
"Sensei is indeed here. I shall put this conversation on speaker."
"Mumen? S'that you?" The familiar voice is clearer now.
"Saitama! I was attacked by the hero hunter, along with Tank Top Master! I wanted to warn you that he knows the Fist of... uh. S class rank 3's martial arts. Be careful!"
"Whoa, wait, the Garou guy? You okay dude?" She can't quite place it.
"I'm fine, Saitama. Just please, be careful. He's really tough."
"Eh, we figured that much. I'm strong too though, so no worries. I'll avenge ya buddy, get well soon."
"Saita-" the call ended, and Nozomi received a text the instant they hung up, and it's Demon Cyborg apologising for the abrupt cut due to his Sensei's frugality, and that he'd like details about Garou. She shows the text to Mumen and Hideo.
She's wondering though, where she heard that Saitama guy before. Was it on the tele? No, definitely not. The video of the carnival incident Mumen told her about? No, she only watched part of it, and there was no voice from then. Maybe from before she lost her memories?
"Nozomi?"
She snaps back to reality to find Mumen staring at her with a worried expression.
"Is something bothering you, Nozomi?"
"Nothing..." she replies "I just. I thought I remembered aomething."
"Oh dear. Maybe I'm stressing you out too much. Go home and rest Nozomi, I'll be back before you know it."
She opens her mouth to argue, but Mumen shoots her such a sweet smile she can't find it in herself to say no.
"Fine, later. I am so going to cuddle the life out of you when you're back."
Mumen turns bright red, much to her amusement, and Tank Top Master chuckles along with her at how easily embarrassed he is. They began to chat a bit, about why Mumen became a hero in the first place. She's heard this before, about how he always wanted to help others, and about how he was heavily influenced by a student in the same year as him.
He was attacked by bullies when he tried to help someone they were targeting, and they defaced his bicycle. While they tried to rob him, the boy that inspired him just walked up and asked that they stop, redirecting their attention to him. He took a beating which seemed to satisfy them, and they stormed off immediately afterwards, completely forgetting about Mumen's pocket money. Mumen wanted to thank the other student, but he fainted before he could.
When he came to, he was in the sick bay, and the nurse told him he was brought in by the boy who simply walked away afterwards, only stating that he can't be late for class. When he was deemed fit by the nurse to leave, he found his bicycle, all cleaned up waiting for him, with a note attached that just said "get well soon" in big, untidy handwriting.
It wasn't the act itself that was inspiring, but rather the fact that the student didn't even leave his name. He didn't get any thanks for it, and as far as Mumen could tell, he wasn't praised for it. There was nothing said about it, and the principal didn't do the usual of having the boy up on stage to receive an award and recognition like Mumen did once. He acknowledges that it could just be him placing someone he deemed his idol on a high pedestal, but he was sure that the boy only did such a thing because it was right. That was what inspired him to become a hero. The Hero Association just became his way of getting the news of who needs help.
Hideo nodded sagely at the story. "If only more in the association are like that student. Did you figure out who he is?"
Mumen shakes his head. "Sadly, no. I never saw him again after that. Maybe he dropped out, or maybe fate just never wanted us to meet again. I don't know."
"Didn't your school have a yearbook of some kind?" Nozomi asks.
Mumen again shakes his head, frowning. "My school just happened to be low on funds that year, so the yearbook didn't have photographs of the classes. The year after, they cut out the yearbook entirely and just posted photos of awards students received online."
"Damn. That's so coincidental I could swear a higher power was messing with you."
Mumen just nods before asking Tank Top Master to share his story. If she didn't know him, she'd say he wanted to avoid the subject, but she's pretty sure it's actually because he feels guilty he didn't try harder to find the boy, now likely a man if he had not died to the constant monster attacks... Nah, good people don't die, karma exists, and Mumen is walking proof.
Nozomi wishes both men well, before leaving the room. Along the way, she spots a bald man in a hoodie, and gets a small chuckle out of the design. It feels nice, being able to laugh despite what happened to Mumen. Maybe his optimism is crawling its way into her blood.
Good, she could use some of it.
A sudden rise in SaiTatsu stories on the site. More distractions ahoy!
No seriously though, just another three months or so until the damned national exams are over. I'll stop being so lazy then.
