AN: Hello and welcome! Thank you to everyone who commented on my last chapter! I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story, and I hope you continue to do so! This chapter is a bit unpolished at the moment, as I'm kind of tight on time. It's been a while, since I've posted, though. So, I figured I'd post its rough copy now and clean it up a little later. Thanks for reading, and please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Punch Man or any of the characters associated with the title. All rights belong to their respective owners.
(On the television)
"ONE-PUNCH-MAN! ONE-PUNCH-MAN! ONE-PUNCH-MAN!"
Tatsumaki listened to the chant of the crowd funnel through the bathroom door she was sitting against. '... One Punch Man, huh...?' She wondered what Saitama thought about it. It wasn't the best name ever, but it wasn't terrible. Knowing how they usually name heroes, she was surprised it wasn't something stupider... like Caped-Baldy or something...
That was what she was forcing herself to think about... Saitama's stupid hero name...
It was all she could do to try and distract herself from what he had said just a moment ago.
'... Just think she's amazing, I guess...'
"Tch," she scoffed. '... Big deal... A lot of people think that...' So, why did it feel different to hear him say it? On TV, no less... It happened minutes ago, and her heart was still racing...
Truth be told, her face had been red from the moment he started defending her against those media vultures. That was why she barricaded herself in the bathroom. She didn't want Fubuki to get the wrong idea... or the right one, maybe...? With a deep breath, she ran her hands through her hair with a frustrated huff.
'... I don't know what's wrong with me, anymore...'
If Sitch and Sekingar had just given Rank 1 to Saitama, most of her problems would've been solved, but for some reason, those two idiots held some kind of unshakable faith in her power... even when it was clear she wasn't always enough... All that talk about waiting for a pillar of strength and they blatantly chose to ignore it in favor of her history with the organization? It was stupid from any angle she looked at it.
'... And, that idiot Saitama...' Why the hell did he suddenly have so much to say about her...? Why did he even bother defending her in the first place? '... he doesn't even know me...' So what if she impressed him with her little 'twisty thing'? He could've beaten Psychos, Monster King Orochi, Elder Centipede, AND the Hero Hunter, all on his own, and they probably wouldn't have even scratched him... THAT was a true number 1. '... not me... It feels like every other week, I keep losing... and he keeps saving me...'
Why was he always there when she needed him? That's not how it's supposed to be. She's a hero too, but... if he has to keep saving her life, could she really call herself one? How was she any different than the civilians...? How were any of the other S-Class different from the civilians...?
"... Tatsumaki...?"
She visibly flinched when her sister's voice cracked the silence she hadn't even noticed until then. She sounded like she was right on the other side of the door.
"Could you please come out...? I... I promise I'll stop with the whole Sai-... i-I'll stop... I swear..."
Tatsumaki didn't move. She stared at the black tile floor for a long moment. It didn't seem like Fubuki was giving up any time soon.
"... You can't stay in there all night, Tatsumaki... I'm not leaving, so you might as well come-.."
"Why...?" Tatsumaki finally spoke, cutting her off. "... What do you want from me...?" Her tone was a lot softer than her usual shouting.
And that's what scared Fubuki as she stared at the wood of the door with a concerned look on her face. Maybe she did push just a little too hard... As long as she's known her sister, she was only ever quiet when she was really upset. "... I... I don't want anything... I just..."
"Fubuki...? After everything I've done for you... I've never asked you to do anything... but, now... I'm asking... please, could you leave...?"
She almost wanted to comply, but Fubuki knew that there was no need for that anymore. They both already knew what she didn't want to admit. If she were to leave now, there was no telling where she'd fly off and hide. If there were ever a chance to pry her open, it was here and now... so, she sat on the floor with her back to the door. A thick silence settled between them that almost seemed like it would last forever... but Fubuki had something to say.
"... hey... You remember when... when we were in that facility...?" Tatsumaki didn't reply, but Fubuki knew she was listening. "... Do you remember those little toys and stuff they used to give us...?"
"Fubuki..."
"Heh... you wanna know what my favorite was...?" She stared down at her hands with a nostalgic look in her eyes as she thought of those dreadful days. It truly felt like a lifetime ago, now. "... It was that book... Heh... that stupid little book..."
Tatsumaki knew exactly what book she was talking about because it was the only book they were ever given...
"... heh," Fubuki chuckled, softly. "... you used to read it to me... every day... And, I never could imagine anyone being the prince back then because... w-... we didn't know anybody..."
Tatsumaki leaned her frustrated head back against the door.
"... I always made him up in my head... but... the girl in the tower...? You wanna know who I pictured...?"
"Fubuki..." Tatsumaki muttered back. "... please, go away..."
Fubuki smiled and ignored her completely. "... I... I always thought of you... I always saw someone climbing up to the tallest tower... just to rescue you..." Fubuki unknowingly matched her sister's pose from the other side of the door. She too leaned her head back against the wood, staring up at the dangling light fixture above. "... And, when we were finally saved... for a while, I did think Blast was that prince... but, then... I saw what he did to you."
"Fubuki, stop."
"He changed you," she continued, immediately. "y-.. You... you got so mean, so fast... and I didn't like it."
"Get out!"
"i-I know you think you have to be alone to be strong, but that's not true!"
"Fubuki!"
"Why are you so scared to admit it!? i-.. It's okay, Tatsumaki! There's nothing wrong with it!"
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Yes, you do...! And, I understand that this is new to you!"
"Shut up!" The green-haired Esper was verbally seething.
"-but... Tatsumaki, I can feel it!"
"Shut up, Fubuki!"
"I know how scared it makes you, and I know you'd rather forget about it, but if you do that, what if you regret it for the rest of your life!?"
"SHUT UP!"
"Do you WANT to be alone, forever!?"
"NO...!" The entire building seemed to flex at her shout.
Fubuki was startled by the sudden blast of energy. It was strong enough to shake the room around her. The light fixture swung back and forth above her. Her heart was racing, fearing the worst...
Tatsumaki had the power to flatten this building with just a fraction of her power... and if she pushed any harder, maybe she would... As bad a reaction as that was... what followed was even worse... Through the wood of the door, she heard her sniffle... again, her sister was crying...
"... t-... Tatsumaki...?"
Tatsumaki hugged her knees with her arms and hid her face. She couldn't take it anymore. "... Fubuki... please... please-please-PLEASE go away..."
Fubuki didn't move a muscle... she couldn't see her, but the tone of her voice was like nothing she had ever heard... It was so restricted and... frightened... What kind of sister would she be if she did leave? "... Tatsumaki... I just wanna help you..." Her own voice was starting to crack, now. "... but... I need you to tell me... Please..."
Tatsumaki's sniffles were all that she could hear for a while. She wasn't audibly balling her eyes out, but Fubuki could definitely picture her, right now. She could feel the conflict in her humming power.
"... please, Tatsumaki..."
"... I... I can't..."
"Yes, you can... It's just you and me, right now..." Fubuki turned over so that she was talking right into the wood of the door. "... It's just us..." she whispered.
Tatsumaki still had her face buried in her arms. What did it matter if she did say it, at this point? Fubuki clearly already knew... So, why was she pushing so hard for a confession? '... and why can't I say it...? I'm a grown woman... and I can't even just...'
"... h-.. How about if... If I just ask you in a different way...?" Fubuki suggested. A few moments passed and she didn't receive a response. "... I'm just... I'm just gonna ask you, and... y-you can just knock once for no... and twice for yes... Okay...?"
There was a very tense silence that settled in following her plan. Tatsumaki wasn't speaking and she was hardly sniffling anymore. Fubuki doubted she would even comply, but she had to try.
"... Tatsumaki...? Do you... Do you like Saitama...?" For no reason at all, Fubuki held her own breath, desperate for an answer. Her eyes stared intently at the pattern of the wood as if she could see right through it. The anticipation had her locked in place for those long few moments... until she finally realized she wasn't getting a response... Well... it wasn't like she was really expecting one, anyways... Because, it's Tatsumaki... A woman with a heart of stone who could never admit something like that... Not even to her own sis-..
(Knock... knock...)
Fubuki had to suppress her gasp of surprise before it ruined the moment. Her wide eyes stared daggers at the wood of the door for a while before her look began to soften at the relief of the tension. Now... it was her turn to cry. "... Tatsumaki..." A beaming smile slowly crept its way onto her face and she gently laid a hand on the wood of the door. "... you see...? Nothing happened... It's okay... You're okay..."
[Next Day]
Saitama looked down at his feet when he saw his blurry reflection appear in the dark purple blood of the creature he had just defeated. It was some sort of oversized, mutated, worm that appeared at this construction site in City-E. They were in the middle of a huge crater that was surrounded by the construction crew's equipment. All along the top were men in hard hats and neon vests, watching the spectacle with great interest.
The monster had said something about wiping the noisy humans off the face of the earth so that it could sleep in peace or whatever, but Saitama wasn't really paying attention. His busy thoughts clouded his mind.
There was so much happening in his life, now. He barely had time to even think to himself before he was called out to another mission... but, after every defeat, there was a few seconds of peace and quiet... a few seconds for him to breathe before he heard it again...
"heh... He did it!"
His lazy gaze shifted up to one of the construction workers.
"In just ONE PUNCH!"
"Yeah! Guess the name really does fit, huh!?" another said.
"Hey! One Punch Man! Over here!"
"You did it!
"Whew!"
"Thank you for saving us, One Punch Man!"
'... yup,' Saitama mulled as he watched the crowd begin that damn chant again. One person started it, and the others slowly tacked on until it was in full swing.
"ONE-PUNCH-MAN! ONE-PUNCH-MAN! ONE-PUNCH-MAN!"
'... That's my hero name, I guess...' He couldn't express how disappointed he was when he first heard it because everyone seemed to love it. But, when that press conference came to an end, he immediately requested a change. Unfortunately, once a hero's name is issued, it cannot be changed unless voted on by a majority of the public... So, he was basically stuck with it.
It was terrible, for many reasons. It was tacky, childish, and a total mouthful... but, worst of all, it was his biggest issue in life. Now, it felt like everywhere he went, he was being mocked by crowds of strangers. They were throwing his problem right in his face.
It didn't piss him off, but it was getting old way faster than he thought it would. It's only been two days, and he was already sick of hearing it. Luckily, the end of the week was coming up soon, so he wouldn't be taking as many missions. The other heroes would get back in full swing, and according to Sitch and Sekingar, he would be allowed a three-day break from any missions... unless it was something big, of course.
"One Punch Man has defeated the target," one of the Association tactical escort agents said from behind him, drawing his attention. "I repeat, One Punch Man has defeated the target... Heh, great work, sir."
"... Uh... yeah... thanks..." he muttered as he watched the workers start to scramble down the scaffolding they had built that led down into the crater. "... guess that's it, huh..."
"Yeah, looks like it... We should take off before they crowd you, again."
"... Yeah, okay..."
King made his way home from work that afternoon, still pondering Saitama's hero name that he started hearing more and more. It felt like every television in town was tuned in on him, more than ever. 'One Punch Man, huh...? Heh, it's so true. Though, I don't know how well that'll do commercially. It's a total mouthful... But, everyone does seem to love it.'
Everywhere he looked on his way home, he could see t-shirts, hoodies, backpacks, and accessories of all kinds with that name printed on them. How they were pumping out merch so fast was astounding. A true testament to just how popular Saitama was becoming. Maybe a little too popular for King to have any influence over pushing those two together. '... I mean, we just play video games, sometimes... I don't know if we're close enough for me to ask him about dating and stuff...'
And even if they were, what the hell would he ask a guy like Saitama? It didn't seem like it'd be as easy as asking anyone else. As one of the top two heroes in the Association, it felt like he was in another bracket of manhood, completely. So, how could King be the one to suggest he start focusing on finding love? 'Heh... I've been single for years, now... It's not like I'm some kind of super cool dude with amazing looks... These days, I'm hardly even recognized...'
"YOU!"
"Uh...!" King gasped. He stopped in his tracks and only then noticed that there was some sort of commotion happening around him. There were people running by him, screaming in fear... They scrambled away from the monster up ahead that was pointing right at him... It looked like a giant rat with human-like muscular arms. It was at least the size of a minivan and it had three eyes on its head. All three stared right at him. "er-..! m-Me!?"
"Heh-heh-! Yeah, you! You're King, ain't ya!? I know who you are!"
"n-n-.. No! Uh- heh-heh! y-You misunderstand, I'm not a-..!"
"Heh-! Don't try and lie! I can tell you're just tryna distract me so you can finish me off with one blow! I can hear that engine roarin' from here!"
(BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP!)
King clutched at his chest, desperately trying to force it to stop. Was this monster living under a rock or something? "n-No! That's not a technique! I swear!"
"You LIE!" The Rat-Monster suddenly started charging right for him. His human-like arms and hands clawed into the concrete of the street and ripped metal from the cars it jumped from.
"huh-! HARRRRGGGHHH!" King took off in a dead sprint until he saw an alley between two buildings. He peeked back for just a second before he darted into the opening... only, it wasn't an opening. It was a short dead-end, bricked off all three sides except for the one he entered through. There were two dumpsters in one of the corners. "hergh!? Oh-.. sh-shit!" With no other options available, he quickly jumped into one of the dumpsters and held his breath.
"TOO LATE, HERO!"
'Shit-shit-shit-shit-!' King panicked as he slapped a hand over his mouth, praying for his life as those booming steps came charging for him.
"YOU CAN'T HIDE FROM M-!"
(BOOM)
King clenched his eyes shut and listened to what sounded like falling rubble trickle down on top of the trashcan's lid. '... h-... huh...?' Did someone save him?
"... Monster eliminated..."
'Huh...? Th-.. that voice...' King crawled up until he could lift the lid a little to see. The smoke obscured his vision for a moment until he saw who it was. It was Genos, staring down at the now-dead rat monster with his ever-present cool-guy look on his face.
"Well done, Genos," an elderly voice said from behind him. It was Bang who still had his head wrapped up from his injuries during the mission. King could see that he had one of the goodie bags that the Association handed out to anyone treated within the medical wing of HQ. He was likely just released. "Heh, I guess I was a step behind you there. That question of yours really had me lost in my own head, for a moment."
Genos turned to him with that stern look of his, and it was clear he was searching for something important. King was curious, but he didn't wanna be accused of eavesdropping on two S-Class heroes.
"I understand," Genos said. "I apologize if my timing was inconvenient."
"Oh-hoh-hoh, no," Bang chuckled, waving him off. "It's fine, boy... It's just a tough question for anyone to ponder... What could a man like Saitama be missing in life...?"
'Uh-!' Just before King climbed out to announce himself, they said something interesting, so... naturally, he tuned back in. '... Saitama...?'
"... Even after gaining such praise, Master Saitama says he's not happy... I would like to help him if I can, but... I don't understand what more he could want...?"
'... Are... are they serious...?' King wondered.
"Yes," Bang muttered as he scratched his chin. "... It is truly a mystery to me..."
'... They're serious...'
"Well," Bang continued, "... I suppose it must be something internal... Something Saitama craves without even realizing it..."
'... Obviously,' King mocked within his head, '... It's love...'
Genos put his finger to his chin and seemed to be in heavy thought, even though the answer was so simple. "... You mean like a favorite meal?"
'... really...?'
"Um... Not exactly," Bang replied. "I mean something more internal to his soul... From what I've observed through our few conversations, he seems to think that he simply misses a hard-fought battle, but we often want things that we will never achieve... and we also need things that we may never notice."
Genos was locked in intently. He essentially rephrased Doctor Kuseno's words.
King himself was locked in, as well. Their conversation was intriguing and he could almost see them working toward the answer. 'Hm... These two could definitely make for some interesting side characters...'
"As for what he wants," Bang continued, "I doubt there will ever come a day in which Saitama is to fail his new namesake... So, if he can't reach that, then you must explore other options... To put it simply, he seeks for his life to be an action movie, but perhaps it is actually a drama or a comedy, instead. So... maybe he would enjoy a vacation somewhere..."
'WHAAAAT!?' King mentally shouted.
"Somewhere adventurous and relaxing," Bang suggested, "like a nice resort or a private hot spring up in the mountains."
Genos was studiously scribbling the advice into a notepad as if it were the obvious answer.
'The whole time I thought Silverfang was a wise old man, but... he's actually kinda dumb!?'
"There are also many fantastic comedy clubs around the cities," Genos offered. "Do you think Master would enjoy something like this?"
"Hm-hm, I don't see why he wouldn't," Bang replied. "I think the best option is to introduce him to more of life than he's seen so far..."
(BA-BUMP...! BA-BUMP..! BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP!)
"Uh-!" Genos gasped, his eyes darting to the source of the noise. "That sound... There is another life form in that garbage can. Come out, now! You've been caught!"
"Argh-! i-It's me!" King shouted. He pushed the lid up and quickly scrambled out in a panic, frantically knocking off the two rats that had been sitting on his shoulders. He hadn't even noticed them until one of them tried to crawl down his shirt a moment ago. "hergh-! Hargh!"
Bang and Genos watched him frantically pat around his body, desperately trying to ensure he was rodent-free. "... King...?" Genos muttered.
"h-Hold on!" he said as he scrambled to his feet, putting his hands out as if he were afraid they'd attack him. "i-I wasn't eavesdropping, I swear! i-I... I was being chased by a monster, and... o-Oh you saved me! Thanks!"
"... You're welcome," Genos said with a nod. "I was wondering what it was this monster was chasing."
"Are you alright?" Bang asked.
"o-Oh, heh-! y-... Yes, I am... I... It happens all the time, so... a-Anyways, I kinda overheard you guys talking, just a moment ago, and uh... i-..I know I don't know Saitama as well as you, but... I think what Saitama is missing in life, is a-actually kinda simple..."
"Hm...?" Genos questioned. He knew King and Saitama were occasional acquaintances, but surely he wasn't closer to him than Genos himself, right? "... Did Master tell you?"
"uh-.. No, not... not really, but... we talked about it a little bit while we were gaming, and... I... think Saitama is simply lonely..."
"... Huh...?" Genos gave him a very confused look. "Lonely...? But, Master Saitama has many friends, now... Everyone loves him..."
"y-.. yes, but... I'm just... wondering if maybe he uh... craves a different type of love..."
"Ah..." Bang muttered, drawing Genos' attention. "I did not consider that, but... perhaps King is right. He is a young man, after all..."
"Wait," Genos said. "I do not understand..."
Bang chuckled and placed a hand on his shoulder. "He is saying perhaps Saitama would enjoy the companionship of a significant other."
"Uh-!" Genos gasped. "... but, Master has never mentioned this!" Genos skimmed back through his notes to see if anything like that ever popped up in their conversations.
"I'm sure," Bang continued. "... but, the human heart is truly a tricky thing, Genos. If it beats, it will crave love at some point in life. Sometimes when we least expect it. Perhaps, now that Saitama has reached his peak in every other aspect, he would find peace sharing his story and life with another..."
"... Love..." Genos muttered. '... Master... could that be what is missing from your life...? Will you be happy then...?'
"It's an interesting idea," Bang said, turning his attention back to King, "but Saitama isn't necessarily a man who would find himself hopeless in that department. I'd imagine, with his newfound fame, he could easily find a nice girl to accept an offer from him."
"y-yes, but..." Damn, Bang brought up a good point. King was trying to stir them toward his own agenda, but how could he get them to agree to something so radical?
"Master Saitama likely wouldn't be interested in dating a fan," Genos said. "He once asked me if I would consider it, and when I said no, he agreed it seemed like a weird concept."
"Ah..." Bang mulled. "... that does seem odd, in some way..." Though, he used to do it all the time back when he was an upcoming martial arts star. "... Hm... if he won't date a fan, then this idea may be doomed from the start. I doubt there are many women who aren't a fan..."
"w-... Well, uh... about that..." King started. "I... I doubt you guys use a lot of Internet, huh...?"
"Internet?" Bang muttered.
"w-Well, not that I'm calling you old or anything! Heh-! i-.. I just mean that... well, there's been a lot of buzz around Saitama's reveal conference... Most of the news channels and newspapers are talking about his new name, but if you go on the internet, there are a lot of people talking about what he said about... t-.. Tornado..."
"... Tornado...?" Genos muttered. He was trying to think back to what he was talking about, but it didn't really ring a bell. When had Saitama ever said something about her...?
King was already pulling up a video as proof on his phone. "s-See, this is just one of the examples, but..."
Bang and Genos leaned in closer to see what was going on. It was a video of Saitama at the press conference.
(On the phone)
"I guess my question is... Do you believe that Tornado should be the number 1 hero?"
Saitama gave one of the reporters a confused look. "... well... yeah. She's really strong, right? I mean... didn't she take out the big bosses in that last mission...?"
"Well... yes, but considering her state, after the fact. She seemed like she struggled quite a bit, whereas you effortlessly defeated Elder Centipede. A creature that seemed to be a similar threat."
"Who cares? She won, right? Isn't that what matters? And, all I did was throw a punch. I think that twisty thing she did was way cooler, right?"
"You seem to hold Tornado in high regard," another reporter noted. "Is there a reason for that?"
Saitama put a hand to his chin as he pondered that question for a moment. "... Mm... not really... Just, think she's amazing, I guess..."
Suddenly, the video paused, and a girl with a Saitama sweater on stepped into the view as if she were on a green screen. "Did you hear that!? One Punch Man says that he thinks Tornado is AMAZING! Could this be a power couple on the rise!? The strongest male hero and the strongest female hero!? Oh, that would be SO CUTE! I, personally, have always been team Tatsu-Mask, but I have to say that ever since his debut, Saitama just keeps getting cooler and cooler! And, I think that this couple totally makes sense! Comment down below what you think about this!"
"... Team Tatsu-mask?" Bang wondered.
"It's a mash-up name," King informed him. "It means she thinks Tornado and Amai Mask would make a nice couple."
"Ah... interesting..."
"Wait," Genos said, pondering all of this new information. "... You're saying Master Saitama is interested in courting Tornado?"
"w-Well, I'm not saying that, for sure, but... it just seems like... I haven't heard Saitama talk very highly about anyone before... He seems a little more interested in her than anyone else..."
Genos wondered about that. His mind swam through memories trying to find something to discredit that, but it was kinda true. The way he was talking about Tornado in that clip was pretty out of character for him. Genos had seen him defend heroes before, but not the way he did there... Personally, however, he couldn't really see the appeal. 'It doesn't make sense... From what I can tell, Tornado has been nothing but disrespectful to Master Saitama since they've met. If he really does have some sort of infatuation with her, then, '... why...?' If anything, this opened his eyes to another truth. '... I guess I don't know Master Saitama as well as I thought...'
"Well then," Bang said, drawing their attention, "if that is the case, perhaps Genos should suggest he invite Tatsumaki out to dinner or perhaps for a nice stroll through a par-.."
"No," King said firmly.
Genos and Bang reeled at the sudden shift in his demeanor. He looked so intense and determined. "Oh-!" Bang exclaimed. "Why not, King?"
"Because... though we have our speculations, it's not certain Saitama is romantically attracted to Tornado. If we tell him to do something like that when it isn't the case, most guys tend to close off and avoid all contact with said girl. We have to first be sure... And even if we were sure, we'd have no way of knowing if Tornado herself would be willing to accept his proposal. The female heart is a tricky maze to navigate. One wrong move and you could lose any chance at achieving a happy ending."
"Happy ending?" Bang muttered.
"The number one key to success," King continued, "is to form a deep connection that doesn't seem forced or artificial. So, something as plain as simply asking a girl out on a date is simply too shallow for this type of story, especially considering how powerful they both are."
Bang and Genos shared a confused glance as they listened to his mumbling rant. He was saying some very odd things.
"If it's to live up to the hype, there must be higher stakes, drama, passion and conflict, but above all else, there has to be a natural flow from bitter rival to destined lover..."
"Wow..." Bang muttered, stopping the bumbling man's murmurs. "You really seem quite knowledgeable about this stuff, King."
He stared at the two S-Class heroes with his face suddenly heating up in embarrassment. "er-! Uh-! Hah-hah! y-You know, that's... how they do it in the movies and on TV shows and stuff!"
"King..." Genos called out to him after he had been silent for so long. "... You are a friend to Master Saitama... Do you too wish to truly help him find what he is missing in life...?"
King reeled at the cyborg's words. That was a really good question. '... Why am I doing this...? Is it for Saitama...? Or is it just for me...?'
He could speculate all he wanted, but he was in no way completely convinced that Saitama had a thing for Tornado... On the other hand, after seeing their interaction in the hall that day, he was a little closer to certain about Tornado's feelings. When they first saw each other in the building, she was her usual self. Rude, abrasive, and all around completely terrible... but when Saitama was there, she was noticeably softer. It was the most obvious tsundere attitude switch he had ever seen IRL.
'... I guess it's more like I'm helping Tornado at this point...' Even still, hearing what Genos said, perhaps there was more to his motives that he himself hadn't noticed. '... Me and Saitama... we're friends, huh...?' He looked back to the intent-looking Cyborg, ready to give his answer. "... Saitama saved my life... He's always saving my life... I don't know why he chooses to hang out with me of all people when he has free time, but I'm also grateful for that... Even though the whole world hates me for lying all these years, Saitama still walked to work with me every day. He protected me from monsters along the way, and... he would even protect me from the harsh words people would say, just by having a normal conversation with me and talking over everyone else... So, yes. If this could bring some level of happiness to the man who saved my life, I will help him!"
Genos and Bang smiled at him, completely ignoring the sound of his blaring heartbeat. In a way, that was how they felt as well.
For Genos, he was grateful that Saitama even allowed him to become his disciple. If he had never met him, his story would've ended in a last-ditch effort against that mosquito monster. They've only known each other a few months, and already his goal seemed that much closer. He could feel his steady improvement every single day.
Bang owed Saitama a great debt for stopping that foolish student of his before he could do something completely irredeemable. He knew that any other hero who had gotten that chance would've struck Garou down on the spot. Yet, Saitama spared him... In his heart of hearts, Bang still had faith that the boy he decided to guide had not fully diverted from his path... and had it not been for Saitama, he would've never gotten the chance to return... wherever he was...
They all had their own reasons that all seemed to coincide with each other into one truth that no one could deny.
Saitama is a hero, and even heroes deserve to be happy.
(Ba-bump... Ba-bump.. Ba-Bump-Ba-Bump-Ba-Bump!)
"Uh-!" Genos gasped as he stared at King who suddenly seemed extremely frightened for some reason. "King! What is it!?"
"uh-! Heh-heh-!" the terrified man chuckled nervously as he tried to calm his raging heart. "i-I was just gonna say, that...! i-I may know a way to fully prepare for this mission! i-It's something I read about online actually!"
"Really?" Genos wondered. "If you think it'll help us achieve success, I will do whatever it takes. For Master Saitama's sake... I can't fail this mission...!"
"Profits...?" Saitama muttered, staring blankly at the paper in his hands. He was sitting in Sitch's office along with Sekingar. They had called him in as soon as he made it home from that last mission. So far, they had been doing their usual spiel of boring company projections and public appeal ratings, but the conversation was quickly nearing its end, and they had one other matter to discuss with him.
"Yes," Sekingar replied. "In just 24 hours, One-Punch-Man merch has outsold nearly every hero on our roster for the year, save for four others. As it stands, the only heroes selling more merch than you are Tornado, Amai Mask, Demon Cyborg, and Watchdog Man, but three of their spreads date back to the beginning of the year... and Demon Cyborg is a hit with our biggest target demographic."
Saitama's gaze traveled over the page full of numbers until they landed on the overall total. 'Whoa.. Guess I'm kinda rich, now, huh...?' He slid the form back onto the desk and casually leaned back in his seat, his eyes shifting over to the television.
"At the rate your products are moving," Sitch continued, "You'll soon eclipse them all in sales within the first week of your reveal."
"... Wow, that's crazy," he muttered, his lazy gaze locked onto the television that was showing a few highlights of the Class-A and Class-B heroes working to clear City-Z of any remaining villains.
"y-.. Yes..." Sekingar muttered. "So, the way Hero merch works in regard to profits is, the Sponsors supply the merch and patent the specific name and visual image of the hero. When that merch is sold, the Sponsors receive a 50% share in the earnings. This money is used to assist in maintaining the everyday functioning of the association as a whole. 10% goes to the manufacturing companies producing the product, and the remaining 40% is profit for your personal use, all loaded onto the black debit card you should have received with your welcome kit."
"... Oh," Saitama muttered. "Think I lost that, already..."
"Oh uh-.. No problem," Sitch said. "We can get you a new one. This card is also what will hold any and all bonuses from defeating monsters above threat level Tiger. The higher the level, the higher the bonus. So... it's safe to say you're already a pretty wealthy man, Saitama." He and Sekingar smiled at him. For some reason, they thought he'd likely be happy about the news considering he was a convenience store clerk just two weeks prior.
"That large number at the bottom of that page," Sekingar said, drawing his attention to the file in front of him. "That's just your profits from your first 24 hours of merchandise sales. It doesn't even make up a third of what your actual balance likely is. Considering the bonuses from Elder Centipede, Golden Sperm, and the Hero Hunter, you're likely already nearing the upper echelon of wealth within the cities."
"... huh..."
Sitch and Sekingar glanced at each other, confused by his complete disinterest. How was he not elated at this news? It was basically like he won the lottery three times over.
Sekingar eyed him down for a moment before he coughed into his hand to get his attention. "Saitama... I don't mean to imply anything negative, but... Are you okay...?
"Huh...? Me?"
Sitch seemed to catch onto what he was saying. He had noticed it too, but he didn't really know Saitama well enough to actually tell a difference. "I believe he is referring to your overall mood. As he said, we don't mean to imply anything negative, but you seem to be a bit downtrodden these past few days."
"Oh... Really...?" Saitama replied with a curious look on his face. 'I had no idea. This is how I always am, right?'
"Well, not to an immediately concerning degree, but... yes," Sekingar added.
"Hm... well, I don't think anything's wrong..." Saitama put a finger to his chin as if he were in deep thought trying to solve the riddle. "In fact, it's almost like nothing ever is, anymore... I don't know why I would seem sad about it... Maybe it's just all these monsters I've been fighting..."
"uh- Oh," Sitch muttered. "Is that so? Perhaps we have been overworking you. If that is the case, then we can-.."
"Nah, it's nothing like that," Saitama stopped him. "It's fine and all, but... Don't they all seem a little weak...? I mean, the monsters during that mission were kinda interesting, right? It feels like they're getting weaker and weaker..."
Sekingar chuckled, "Heh, to be honest, it's gettin' hard to tell with you around... Even so, that's a good thing, right?"
"uh... Yeah, I guess so," Saitama replied as he again sunk back in his seat as if he were planning on falling asleep. "... just gets kinda boring, sometimes..."
Again, the two Association execs shared a concerned glance. There were many things they were prepared to deal with when it came to heroes and their personal issues. They had specialized help on stand-by for everything from depression and anxiety to PTSD... There was nothing they could do about boredom...
'Boredom could become a very dangerous thing for a man as strong as Saitama,' Sitch mulled. '... One bad day for him where he loses patience could mean the end of the organization itself... or the end of the world...'
Sekingar was thinking along the same line, 'We need to find out what Saitama's true motives are for hero work. A hero with no moral convictions is one step away from a villain with no morals...'
"Well," Sitch said as he rose to his feet, "we thank you for coming in on such short notice, Saitama. I... don't know what it is we could possibly do to stave your boredom, but if there is anything you would request of us, we could surely get it done..."
Saitama thought about it for a moment before he stood from his seat. "Nah, I don't think so... I'm sure something exciting will happen again." He turned and made his way to the door. "Thanks, anyways..."
Sitch and Sekingar watched him leave before they turned to each other with a serious atmosphere filling the room. "So," Sitch started. "... What do you make of that...? He's bored..."
Sekingar shrugged his shoulders. "Well, wouldn't you be if you finished every fight in a single blow?"
Sitch shook his head and stared at the empty seat in front of them. "... I've always hated being weak... I couldn't beat a monster with my bare hands if I could land a thousand blows... So, I don't know how I'd feel if I could do it in one..."
Saitama walked down the hall of the Hero Association HQ on the way back to the helipad. It's been a very long and uninteresting day, so far, and all he could think about was what he wanted for dinner. '... I could go out for something fancy or exotic, now that I'm rich or whatever... but I probably couldn't go anywhere and eat in peace... So, I guess I'll just have to order in again...'
What good was having money if he didn't need it for anything? Since the Association was paying his rent, they flew him anywhere he wanted, and he could always order food free of charge from the front desk, he literally didn't have a single expense. What the hell did they expect him to do with his pay?
Truth be told, Saitama's had a few different goals all throughout his life. In grade school, he just wanted to be strong enough to defeat every monster in a single punch... In high school, he wanted to be rich, and in his earlier twenties, he wanted to find love...
It felt like he was suddenly achieving all of his life's goals, one by one. So, why did it all suck so much...? Being that strong was a nightmare, and now that he had all that money, he didn't need it... Would that always be the outcome of achieving things for him...? More disappointment...? If so then, '... what's the point...?'
It felt like a bad manga or a terrible fanfiction plot where the main character just gets everything they could ever need. Where the hell could the story possibly go without any obstacles? '... Oh man... if this is a manga or something, it still feels like I'm a side character... and I can't really tell who the main character is...' There were a lot of possibilities all around him. Genos had his whole revenge plot, Bang was committed to helping an evil former disciple, and Tatsumaki wanted to be a strong example for her sister. '... seems like they all have some kind of big goal they're trying to reach... I don't have anything like that... I'm just a hero by financial circumstance...'
The job was no more or less demanding than his cashier position, but at least when he was a cashier, he could still worry about things, and feel relief when everything worked out...
Now, he couldn't even seem to have that...
Everything he's ever achieved has been a major disappointment. It was like his goals were almost too easy, now... Back then, it all seemed impossible, yet here he is just three years later, thriving in a world that just felt so empty... He could kill a thousand monsters in a day, and by the next, there'd be a thousand more... He could spend millions, and make it back just as fast...
Still, it didn't make him happy... if anything, it made it worse, somehow... That in itself was also new to him. Before recently, he was never really worried about being happy. Yeah, he wanted to have fun in a fight every now and then, but he was never really concerned with finding happiness itself. Not until Genos had asked him that question on the roof the other night...
Now, it was all he could think about...
Genos was definitely on the annoying side when they had first met, but Saitama couldn't deny the fact that he loved being around him. Before Genos, there was really no one who cared about his well-being. That disciple of his was now actively trying to help him achieve happiness. He was always there to help however he could.
Saitama wasn't sure what he expected of him as a Master, but he put a lot of trust in him... and he didn't want to let him down. If there is a way to make Genos even a little stronger, despite his mechanical limitations, Saitama was determined to help. '... I wonder what he's up to... Haven't heard from him today...'
(On the television)
"Hey, big guy!" an anime girl cooed with a cutesy wink. "Welcome to Heartbeat Hotties 6! Why don't you tell me your name, so we can get started? I hope it's as cute as you!"
Genos sat next to King on the couch in his living room staring blankly at the oddly flamboyant graphics. Everything was so flashy, glittery, and... pink. Bang stood behind them, squinting at the bright screen. Television always seemed to give him a headache after a while.
King's face was as red as could be as he tried to force himself to speak. He couldn't even move, he was so embarrassed. 'th-... This was a terrible idea...!'
"Hmm," Bang muttered, cracking the silence between them.
"Is this some sort of simulation?" Genos asked.
"uh-! y-Yeah! Heh-heh! That's exactly what it is! I ran across it months ago when I accidentally bought it instead of the shooting game I was going to get! I think it'd be a good start for us to understand the modern dating world before we plan our first move, ya know!?"
"Ah," Bang said. "That is a wise tactic... Know thy enemy."
"Exactly! Ah-ha-ha!" King couldn't control the volume of his voice.
Genos didn't seem completely convinced, just yet. He picked up the controller and typed in his name in all caps.
'Uh-!' King mentally exclaimed, 'He's going with his actual name!? How shameless!'
(On the television)
"GENOS? So, that's your name, huh? I'm Himiko! I hope you're ready for your first day at the company, GENOS! Maybe I'll see you around the office!" The animated girl blew an air kiss at the screen before it faded to black with a flourish. Soon, the video faded in, opening with a character monologuing to himself in his room.
King peeked over to see Genos intently focused on the screen as if he were truly prepared to study it. He wasn't sure how they'd take this, but it felt necessary considering their idiotic idea of simply telling Saitama to ask out Tornado. They obviously had absolutely no clue how modern dating works. A flimsy start like that was terrible in a story. Every time the Heartbeat Hottie's games started off with such a simple scenario, it was because the first girl is always bound to be the ex toward the end of the game. If they really wanted to help Saitama find happiness, then it definitely couldn't start like that. It had to be a completely authentic romance story. '... They have to fall in love!'
(On the television)
"o-Oh, excuse me!" There was a still shot of a beautiful female businesswoman on her butt on the sidewalk. She ran into GENOS in a rush to get to work. "i-I didn't see you there! I'm sorry!"
King watched the boxes of dialogue options pop up and quickly read through each of them before he made his mental selection. Of course, he already knew the proper paths to take for each and every outcome. This was the deluxe, limited edition, copy in which the player could romance any of the female characters they chose to. The girls all had different personalities, interests, and pet peeves and it was the player's mission to successfully date, and marry, at least one of them. If you played your cards right, you could even end up courting all of them at once, but that was a surefire way to lose in the long run once they all found out. Point is, there were multiple chances to secure a victory, but King had a suspicion that the Cyborg, while handsome... was terrible with women.
(On the television)
"... You should watch where you're going next time!" GENOS shouted before carelessly walking away.
'Gah!' King exclaimed. 'That was the worst option!' He peeked over to the Cyborg who was oblivious to the fact that he likely killed his chances with Yuri, a fan favorite, right out the gate. "... Uh... Genos...?"
"Yeah...?"
"Why'd you just pick that first option?"
"Huh...? She was in the wrong for blindly running into me. I told her she should watch where she's going."
"Sounds reasonable," Bang said from behind the couch. "Surely, the young lady will be more careful, now..."
"er-... yeah..." King muttered as his gaze slid back to the screen. "... t-Though, I should say that the point of this g-.. simulation!" he quickly corrected, "i-Is for you as the player to mingle and get to know these women in order to eventually court one."
"... Ah," Genos nodded. "I understand. I should choose more carefully, then."
(On the television)
"o-Oh!" Another beautiful woman was working as a barista in a coffee shop. "Hey! I think I know you! You're GENOS, right?"
"That's right," GENOS replied.
"Heh, I bet you don't remember me, but... we actually used to date in high school... d-... Do you remember that...? GENOS...?"
"Nope. Could I also get a bagel? I heard they were the best in town."
"Ah," Bang muttered. "Astute observation. You remembered your character saying he was hungry before. Eating a bagel should solve this issue."
Genos gave a curt nod. "Now, when we attempt to mingle with a woman, we can do so with a clear mind..."
King stared at the screen with a very stern look in his eyes. '... They can't be serious...' He knew the two were clueless, but there was no way they were this clueless. Part of the game was recognizing possible romantic routes to take. This one in particular was the original storyline. The only possible route for those who didn't own the deluxe special edition copy. So, in a way, it was the most obvious and gave quite a bit of leeway with correctly or incorrectly answering the first few dialogue options. If you wanted to fail this route, you almost had to try and tank it.
(On the television)
"o-Oh," the barista muttered, clearly disappointed by the response. "... Are you sure we don't know each other...? I'm pretty sure you were my f-... first kiss..." She blushed and poked at the tips of her pointer fingers.
"Nope... So, are the bagels made fresh...?"
"She sure is chatty," Bang remarked. Genos immediately began rapidly skipping through their dialogue as if she were a useless side-quest.
'... They're serious,' King realized. He silently huffed a frustrated sigh. This was definitely starting to feel like a bad idea...
AN: Another chapter in the books! Look at this! Finally, a confession from the icy woman! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! See you next time!