Chapter Seven: Meeting the S Class
Saitama groaned, leaning back in his chair. He had been waiting outside this room, waiting for Genos to be done with whatever super secret S Class meeting he had been called in for. He almost went in with him, but someone asked him to wait outside, promising it wouldn't be long. Saitama had grumbled unintelligently and plopped down in one of the chairs outside. Now he wished he had brought a manga or a videogame with him. He was bored of just sitting here, not when there was a hot spring he hadn't gotten to enjoy yet.
Saitama yawned, ready to doze off when the doors opened. He blinked drearily as someone came up to him. "Mister Saitama? They're ready for you."
"Hm? Oh, ok, thanks," Saitama said, rising from his seat. His cape waved behind him as he strode into the dark room. He hadn't wanted to wear his hero suit, but Genos said that they requested everyone to do it, whoever 'they' was.
All eyes were on him as he walked into the room. Looking around, he noticed all the chairs were full except one at the bottom in the middle of the amphitheater.
Some old guy at a podium near the vacant chair smiled at him. "Hello Mr. Saitama. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Please, take a seat."
Saitama mentally shrugged to himself as he sat down in the chair the guy gestured to. It was a nice chair, not the fold up one he had been expecting. It was cushioned.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Someone shouted. "There's no way this guy is Blast."
There were murmurs of agreement by the others in the room. What were they talking about? And who was this Blast guy? He sounded pretty strong.
"It is," someone remarked quietly, and all the murmuring died. The speaker was some kid with green hair, wearing a black dress with weird straps. She was looking at him with a strange expression on her face. Saitama stared back at her.
"It's uncanny," she whispered. "You haven't aged a day."
Saitama raised an eyebrow. "The crick in my neck says otherwise."
The girl smirked at him. Then she rose to her feet and floated over to him. "I told you earlier that I wanted to thank you for everything you did-especially for me. So here it is. Will you rise to your rightful place as the S Class Rank One Hero, Saitama?"
Saitama tilted his head. "Nah, I'm good."
Several moments of silence ensued. Then it was followed by shouts of disbelief and anger. None were louder than the flying kid right in front of him.
"WHAT!?" she screamed. Saitama flinched at the noise, sticking a finger in his ear. "Oi, brat, take it down a notch why don't you?"
Someone mumbled "Oh fuck" and the rest of the members braced themselves for Tatsumaki's retribution. But it never came. Tatsumaki just shrunk back, embarrassed.
"M-mister Saitama, what I think we're all wondering, why won't you accept the proposition?" The old man at the podium asked. "You certainly meet all the qualifications. I doubt anyone here would object to it."
"Ac-" someone started, but was immediately cut off as they were slammed against the wall.
"Like I was saying, I doubt anyone here to object to it," the old man continued. "We would gladly increase your salary to whatever you want. The Hero Association could use someone like you. We could even change your hero name. Anything you could want. So what makes you say no?"
"Honestly, it sounds like too much work," Saitama said blandly. Someone scoffed, but was also thrown against a wall. Everyone else respectfully paid attention. "Besides, I never really did the whole 'hero' thing as a gig. I became a hero because I wanted to, and to help people, not for fame or glory. Being the biggest name comes with a lot of weight to throw around, but it also comes with a bunch of expectations. I'd probably be asked to go on talk shows, or something stupid like that. And I don't really feel like it, so, yeah."
"B-but," the green kid sputtered. "You're the strongest hero in the world! You deserve the number one spot!"
"Let's face it, I'm not really number one material," Saitama said. "I'm not interested in being the big man anyway. Besides, think about how bad I would be at it. Knowing me, I'd probably destroy a city while killing a monster on my first day on the job. Imagine the backlash then. He gets it."
Saitama pointed his thumb backwards without looking, pointing at Amai Mask, who frowned in surprise.
"But we need you, Saitama," the kid begged. Oh god, it looked like she was on the verge of tears.
"H-hey, it's not like I'm going to stop being a hero. I'm still going to do what's right, no matter what rank or fancy name I have," Saitama said.
The room was quiet while Tatsumaki contemplated his words. She was at a loss what to do now. For the past three years, her only goal was to find Saitama and help him get his rightful spot at the top of the Hero Association. But now, he didn't even want it. So now what?
"Perhaps he should remain a secret," someone said. Everyone turned towards Amai Mask. "By having Saitama remain hidden, we gain untold tactical advantages in the long run. No one expects much from him. Hell, none of us did. His secrecy could be a deciding factor in a large-scale conflict. And if someone were to prepare to battle the S-Class, they would create countermeasures for Blast, but not Saitama. Unknowns can play a bigger role in plans than knowns."
"Oh yeah? And who put you in charge, huh pretty boy?" Pompadour head yelled.
Amai Mask snarled. "Like you would know, minor league copout."
"Minor-you fucking bastard!"
Metal Bat leaped over his seat, every intention of caving Amai Mask's perfumed face in, but he was stopped when a gloved hand grabbed his bat. Bad looked up in surprise, and gaped at what he saw.
"Metal Bat!" Sitch yelled, way too late.
Bofoi watched as Metal Bat, one of the most aggressive and violent S Class turned pale and started trembling under the bald man's gaze. What he saw in those blank eyes, Bofoi could not say. After a moment, Saitama dropped the bat and returned to his seat, leaving a ghostly white and shivering hero standing in the middle of the room. He didn't move, not until a Hero Association member grabbed him by the shoulders and led him away.
Bofoi smirked. No one would challenge Saitama's bid now, even though he didn't want it. Perhaps they would give it to him anyway. Either way, this was getting far too interesting to leave unattended. This man was worth his time.
"So what now?" Saitama asked, bored again. This meeting was taking too long.
"I-I don't know," Sitch admitted. "I suppose we should call a recess and let everyone dwell on what has transpired."
"Alright, cool," Saitama said, standing. "Cause there's these really nice hot springs that I've been dying to check out."
With those words, Saitama stood, cape swirling behind him as he strode out of the room. Genos stood and ran after him. Saitama smiled. Man, he was really looking forward to taking a dip in those hot springs.
His absence was like a weight being lifted. As soon as he left, several people released breaths they hadn't known they were holding, their minds trying to grasp everything that happened in the last few minutes. For most, it was a relief his presence was gone.
Tatsumaki was not relieved. Her mind was not trying to play catch-up. She understood what happened quite clearly.
He'd said no. After all this time, trying to get him here, to her, to where he deserved, he'd said no. Why? Why did he refuse her? Reject her? Was she not good enough in his eyes? Where did she go wrong? What did she fail to do? Why didn't he want it? The number one spot? He was the strongest hero. He should be at the number one spot. He needed to be at the number one spot. It was his to claim. So why not take it?
One by one, the others left the meeting hall. Tatsumaki left as well, flying out of the meeting hall, back towards her own room. No one dared to stop her as she rocketed her way up to the fourth floor of the hotel section of the resort.
Tatsumaki flopped down on her bed. She wanted to cry. She had dedicated years to finding this one man, wasted countless hours scouring the planet for him in whatever way she could. And when she finally did, he rejected her.
Tatsumaki screamed, waving her hand, sending a psychic wave throughout her room, scattering things across the room. She smashed a hand on her bed, sending another psychic blast into, exploding it to pieces. Tiny shards flew across the room, littering the floor and piercing walls. Tatsumaki floated silently for a moment, breathing heavily despite exerting no energy. Just then, someone knocked on her door.
Tatsumaki glared at it and it opened, revealing a white haired old man. Bang smiled at her, but Tatsumaki just turned away from him. "What do you want old man?"
"I just came to see if you were alright," Bang said, surveying the room. "You are not known for your patience and understanding behavior. And clearly this means a great deal to you."
"What would you know?" Tatsumaki snapped. "Don't pretend to understand me."
"I understand more than you know," Bang said, stepping around broken pieces of everything. "I know what it's like to have your perception of the world destroyed. To have everything you thought you knew become irrelevized in an instant."
Tatsumaki sneered. "Is that what you think this is? You're senile, old fool. I knew Saitama and his strength before the Hero Association existed. I knew a long time ago that I would never become as powerful as he is. So no, I am not mourning over the loss of my status as the Hero Association's strongest member. If that's all, you're welcome to leave."
Bang sighed. "Well, it was worth a try. What is bothering you then? Don't bother trying to dissuade me. I may be senile, but I'm no fool."
"Shut up. I'm in no mood for your counseling."
Bang did not leave. After a few moments, he spoke up again. "Do you feel rejected then?"
"You just don't know when to quit, do you?"
"It is one of the skills the Fist of Flowing Water Crushing Rock does not employ."
Tatsumaki shook her head. Bang waited patiently, but Tatsumaki continued to ignore him. Bang sighed, growing closer. "I can't force you to heal. But if you don't let go of whatever's bothering you, it will destroy you."
"Destroy me?" Tatsumaki scoffed. "Nothing can destroy me. I survived every kind of monster the world can throw at me. I defy the very laws of physics on a daily basis. Nothing can destroy me. Not you, not Sitch, not everyone who looks at me and sees nothing more than a ticking time bomb, not my parents who hated and were disgusted by me, not my sister who hates and fears me, or anyone else who ever doubted me! I have survived every torment and hell this world could conjure up and I'm still standing! My own powers are a curse and I'm still here! My own body was mutilated and guess what Bang!? I'm still fucking standing! And I'll fight this world alone until the day I die if I have to! If Saitama is the only one who doesn't see me as a bomb or weapon, then so fucking be it!"
Bang stayed silent for a long moment. "You're not angry at all, are you Tornado? You're lonely."
"Get out."
Bang turned and left without another word, the first wise decision he made today.
Saitama sighed in contentment, finally relaxing in the hot springs. The warm water soothed his muscles, and the steam added to the tranquility of the environment. The whole place was perfect for laying back and taking it easy.
"Hey! Mister Saitama!"
Saitama opened an eye to look at who called to him. It was a large man, whose body gleamed with a dark shine. He was bald and wore nothing but speedos around his waist.
"Huh?" Saitama asked. "Who're you?"
Genos leaned over. "Master, that is S Class Rank 11, Superalloy Darkshine. He is known for his impressively durable skin and superhuman strength. He is often regarded as the physically strongest hero, besides King, who is known as the strongest man alive."
"Really?" Saitama asked.
"Indeed!" Darkshine said. "I must say your strength was awe inspiring. What is your workout regimen? Maybe we can meet up sometime and lift weights together."
"Oh, my workout regimen? I just-"
"It is a very intense workout," Genos interceded. "And even powerhouses like yourself would likely not be able to keep up with my Master."
"Is that so? Then I must know so I can one day achieve the same strength!" Darkshine said.
"Oh yeah, sure, I do-"
"Sensei," Genos whispered, leaning in close. "I know your training regimen is not very impressive compared to what Darkshine does. If you tell him, he may take offense."
"The truth should always be preserved, even if it is not what others want to hear," Saitama told Genos.
"Of course Sensei! I will write your words of wisdom down!"
Genos pulled a notebook up from underneath the steaming water and began writing furiously. "Genos, is that a waterproof notebook!"
"Hai Sensei!"
"How did you get that? And why do you have it?"
"I asked Dr. Kuseno to make this for me. And I have it in case of emergencies like this one, where I do not have any other way to transcribe your teachings!"
"Your disciple is very dedicated," Darkshine noted. "You must have had a significant impact on him."
Genos looked up. "You would like to hear the story of how Master Saitama and I met?"
"Genos," Saitama warned.
"I would! This sounds like a fascinating tale!" Darkshine said, sitting down in the bubbling water.
"It all started four years ago, when a rampaging cyborg attacked my city. I was only fifteen years old at the time, and my family was struggling to make ends meet. We did not have much, but we made it work. But the mad cyborg appeared one day out of nowhere and destroyed everything I knew. He killed my family and destroyed my home. Everything I knew was obliterated in an instant due to the power of this mad cyborg. As a weak fifteen year old boy, I could do nothing as the mad cyborg laid waste to my city and killed my family. I laid in the ruins of my city, which was destroyed by the mad cyborg, when a traveling scientist for justice by the name of Doctor Kuseno found me. I begged him to turn me into a cyborg so I could avenge my family, who were killed by the mad cyborg. He agreed and took me into his lab where he replaced most of my organs and body parts with machinery. Ever since, Dr. Kuseno and I have been searching for the mad cyborg. Along my way, I have killed many monsters and thwarted numerous evil organizations, but have failed to find the mad cyborg who destroyed my city and killed my family. One day, I engaged a monster who controlled a horde of mosquitoes that was draining the blood of humans and animals. From a distance, I ascertained her as the leader of the mosquitoes and assumed that if I killed her, the swarm would disperse. We battled for some time, and she managed to take my arm while I rid her off her legs. She then absorbed all the blood the mosquitoes had collected and regenerated her legs and became even more powerful. While before we had been on an equal level of strength, she was able to defeat me easily. As I prepared to accept my defeat and self-destruct in a final attempt to destroy the mosquito monster, Master Saitama saved my life, killing the monster in a single slap. Amazed by the power I had witnessed, I asked him if I could be his disciple. Master Saitama graciously agreed, and later we joined the Hero Association together. I will be forever grateful for Master Saitama, who has already taught me so much about what it means to be a hero. Even though I may never reach his power, I will always strive to be the hero Master Saitama is. But I have not forgotten the purpose of why I became a cyborg. I continue to hunt for the mad cyborg who destroyed my city and killed my family. And when I find him, I will take my revenge with the help of Dr. Kuseno. I will always be grateful for the two of them, the two people I respect above all others in this world. Both have saved my life on various occasions, Dr. Kuseno first when I was but a meek fifteen year old boy, and then later Saitama-"
"WHAT HAPPENED TO THE TWENTY WORD LIMIT!"
"My apologies Sensei!"
"Ok, we need to work on your backstorying. How about this: 'I became a cyborg after my city was destroyed. I saved you and made you my disciple.' That's like everything you said in two sentences. You don't need to keep droning on like that."
"Yes Sensei! I have recorded your improved version of my backstory! I apologize for not thinking of the importance of your first lesson!"
Darkshine cleared his throat. "I see. Thank you for sharing this with me, Genos-san. Saitama, I was perhaps wondering if you would spar with me, as you did with Genos."
"Yeah sure," Saitama answered.
"Excellent! How about we meet behind the resort at five o'clock?"
"Sounds good."
"Whatcha talking about?" The middle aged hero asked, approaching with several other heroes.
"Atomic Samurai! Saitama just agreed to a sparring match," Darkshine said, standing in the spring to greet Kamikaze.
"A sparring match, eh? That goes double for me," Atomic Samurai said.
"I would also like to test myself against Saitama," the blond ninja declared.
"The more the merrier," Saitama said nonchalantly.
"Oh? A sparring match? This will be most interesting. Would you all mind if I joined in as well?" Amai Mask asked, entering the spring.
"Like an A Class would be able to keep up with any of us," Atomic Samurai scoffed.
"Count on it," Amai Mask purred, eyes narrowing.
"Hmph. We'll see about that," Atomic Samurai doubted.
"Anyone else while we're here?" Saitama asked. The remaining S Class present looked at one another. Zombieman, Child Emperor, Drive Knight and Bofoi were excited at the prospect of gathering more data on Saitama. Pig God and Watchdog Man were uninterested. Bang and Tank Top Master were dubious about collateral damage but interested about how Saitama would handle the S Class. Puri Puri Prisoner was ecstatic about seeing his boys get down and sweaty, battling each other with their gleaming muscles and cute abilities.
"Guess we're settled then. I'll see you all in an hour," Saitama said, rising from the pool to dry off.