Tornadoes For Sighs
-Chapter 20-
Kiss Me, the Deluded
TATSUMAKI WANTS TO START A FAMILY EXTERMINATION TEAM! THIS WAS EXHAUSTING!
Kizashi was such a rude but persistent annoyance in her life. Despite all the daily patrols, dispatch calls, and villains popping out of nowhere, Kizashi annoyed her most. She felt no joy from seeing the fellow green-head.
Tatsumaki has been in a snit for the past three days, dealing with Kizashi's presence. Kizashi woke up just as early as Tatsumaki, liked the same shows Tatsumaki did AND was just as cleanly.
Kizashi was at the table at twilight, seated with perfect posture and two cups of aromatic coffee alongside a plate of Tatsumaki's favourite breakfast.
Kizashi looked up and put her phone aside, her arsenic eyes flashing with amusement. "Good morning, Tatsumaki-san," Kizashi said cheerfully.
Can society normalize being quiet in the morning? Tatsumaki just wanted her morning apple. Nevermind. She'll go back to her room, angst a little bit until noon and avoid Kizashi for the rest of the day. But this was her place, she paid for utilities and the water, why was she running away?!
Tatsumaki slid into the seat across from Kizashi with a mean mug and a grunt. "Go home. You should've, like, two days ago," she said with deep hostility.
Kizashi smiled pleasantly. "Good thing I'm already here."
"Y-You—" Tatsumaki slammed her hand on the table. "Leave."
"Later, I'm having fun here. Tatsumaki-san… your father wanted to come. He was busy with an associate. He just invested in the Izuyama Forestry company. You know the one who supplies wood for the Hero Association when the—"
"He's busy with that company and big-brained. I get it." Tatsumaki snapped.
"I wouldn't have married him if not."
Tatsumaki couldn't ignore the lovely wafting scents clouding her angry thoughts. Grilled zucchini and okra with salt from Kizashi's hometown. She loved eating this for breakfast until she moved out. Having morning gym classes was a different type of pain but it was slightly okay with a dose of her favourite breakfast. The crunch of okra and the snapped spines of her enemies sounded the same.
Tatsumaki groaned. "Why make me breakfast? I'm 28. Competent."
"You are my daughter. So of course I'm going to wake up early and make you breakfast or a bento. You aren't a stranger."
Kizashi was an excellent cook. Every day was a lullaby with her food in your stomach. Tatsumaki dined on firefly squid, oysters rich with umami, springy somen noodles with kiriboshi daikon. Her fresh sobagaki followed by crayfish miso soup and cabbage salad with wafu dressing was delicious.
Going from 5-star quality dishes to the tasteless dreck restaurants called "food" was sad. She tried to replicate Kizashi's expertise. It's why she's good at cooking. However, there was always something missing.
Tatsumaki stared at Kizashi instead of touching the breakfast. "I don't want to fight with you and Daruma. Not today."
"When will you make up with Daruma?" Kizashi asked slowly. "Your brother spoke to me on the phone every day while he was here. I've never seen him so excited to be productive with someone, namely you. He misses you."
"He keeps on challenging my lifestyle."
"Yes, that too. I spoke to him about it." She looked at Tatsumaki knowingly. "I think you miss him, too."
Tatsumaki wanted to lash out but she dropped her chin and groaned into the table.
It all started 11 days ago, on a Wednesday night. It was after she got home after eating with Genos and Saitama and that almost kiss she hasn't been obsessing over. No way. She found Atlas's 17-year-old brat on her couch.
Tatsumaki, of course, yelled at him. "Why aren't you at home?! Your mom must be worried about you!"
The teen with brassy hair, golden-brown skin and citrus eyes stared back at her. His boyish proportions equalled out. Funnily, his round specs still didn't fit his face. He was taller than Badd but sat with a slouch. He brought a duffle bag, was rudely listening to rock music or whatever crap he used to ignore her. He even got the drums right, tapping his foot loudly.
He didn't answer her barrage of questions so she pressed him even more. "Do you know how dangerous it is to travel at night? You fell asleep and all those idiot thugs want your valuables. You brought your wallet, your phone, your keys without thinking!"
"There are millions of houses across the 26 cities. Do you think they'd find my house with my key? Sure." Daruma said in that snotty teenage way Tatsumaki despised. "It's not like anyone was here when I came. Your house is always empty AND Fubuki-nee-san moved out."
"Does that mean you just forgo decency and sneak in? You're lucky those curtain twitchers of neighbours didn't call the cops."
"Tch. This feels like a prison anyway."
What a brat! Tatsumaki glared at him.
Daruma turned to scrutinize Badd and Zenko. "Why are they here?"
"Badd, my cool S-Class hero. Zenko, the only angel on earth. They're like you but y'know… invited." Tatsumaki reminded him.
"Oh, fuck you," Daruma rolled his eyes.
Nothing like an f-bomb to secure a place to stay, huh.
Tatsumaki sighed. "Why'd you come here? You've got a lovely life in your city and you've got to go to school. Like tomorrow. You're not getting bullied and I know you've got a girlfriend, too. So what gives? Why come to this place? It's Wednesday."
Daruma glared at the floor. "We broke up. Everything in the city reminds me of her. Dad and Mom love her. I haven't told them we split."
Badd stood suddenly and scooped Zenko into his arms. "Let's give 'em privacy. And you need your bath," he mumbled despite her stentorious protests.
"But I wanna meet Tatsumaki's brother." Zenko squirmed in his arms.
He dipped her and she squealed but whined heavily while presenting some logical reasons to skip her bath.
Badd sensed the temperature in the room and opted out of their conversation. It struck her that Badd was a lot more mature than she initially assumed, hearing them talking in hushed voices as they went up the stairs.
The two Aihara waited until they were in complete silence once again.
Daruma clicked his tongue and yanked his earbuds out. "Besides, I thought you wouldn't care. You don't care about anything we do…"
Tatsumaki stared at Daruma, feeling like an asshole. "I do care." she snapped.
"Go ahead. Lie some more." Daruma scoffed. "You kicked out Fubuki. You guys have a distant, professional relationship. Why do I have to suffer through this useless conversation? Do you want me to go, too?"
"No. I would've liked a notice so the two brats over there wouldn't drop-kick you."
"Huh? He can't do shit to me."
"Badd's in S-Class. Like me. He can kill you. Accidentally." Tatsumaki moved in front of Daruma, hands on her hips. "I thought something really bad happened to you. I don't mind that you're here. Now, at least."
Daruma eyed Tatsumaki for a couple of seconds, disbelieving. "Pfft. Whatever. A couple of months ago, I would've been scratching at the door, never to be let in." Daruma paused thoughtfully, no hint of stubborn cruelty on his face. "Well, Fubuki would've helped."
"Nevermind that! Your mom's gonna kill me."
"You're always at each other's necks anyway." He shrugged.
Tatsumaki couldn't deny that. She didn't like the idea of lying to Kizashi because Daruma was lovesick. Now she'll take the fall for Daruma running away because she's housing him.
"Should I call your mom at least?" she offered.
"I'd rather rip off all of my freckles."
Tatsumaki plopped beside him on the couch. "Y'know, eventually, I'll be running an orphanage if the rest of you brats come here for refuge."
"Oh please no. It's quiet here. Keep it that way." He let out a huge breath of disappointment. "I thought your life was perfect. But you've got the aura of like manure."
"My life's great," she asserted loudly.
Daruma raised a brow. Her self-assuredness trembled out. Like an assassin, he went straight for the jugular. For someone with soft dandelion-like hair, he was so mean!
"Okay. It's, like, manure," she hissed, ignoring his triumphant expression. "Don't victim blame."
"Sure. Just be nicer," Daruma said like that was why her life sucked.
Tatsumaki scowled. "One more word outta you and you'll be getting the couch." Tatsumaki threatened. "Anyway, I'm sorry about your breakup."
Daruma smiled at his loosely clasped hands. "She had a way of making me feel seen. She said I didn't want to show myself, though. I'll get over it. Sometime in the next year." he sighed, whole body slumping into the couch.
"Ah. Wounds from lovers never heal," she told him sarcastically.
He turned to her, face washed with awe. "How'd you know?"
Tatsumaki was joking.
"I'm like you; loud and annoying. That's why she cheated on me with the bastard from chem 30. We worked on a science lab experiment twice. I should've gutted him instead of that frog." he groaned, burying his face in his hands.
Tatsumaki patted his back. "You're gonna marry someone a hundred times better. High School romance is worthless. If her heart doesn't explode in glitter when she sees you, move on."
Daruma absorbed the information and it was a little while until he spoke again. There was some hoarseness in his voice when he asked, "Is it pathetic I still miss her?"
"Yeah, immeasurably so," said Tatsumaki.
"What the fuck? You're supposed to say no!"
Tatsumaki smirked. "You're pathetic. Everyone is pathetic at 17. Especially your ex."
He chuckled at that and cradled the back of his head in his hands. "It's nice to see your face," he commented distantly.
And oh, that stung. "I called on your birthday. We talked. For an hour."
"That isn't enough. You micro-managed Fubuki but we never got to see you. Then things turn around, you call Mom and you were supposed to come to my birthday party. Everyone was excited."
She turned to face Daruma and met his gaze. Daruma tilted his head to the side, scrutinizing her every twitch and move. She forced herself not to fidget.
She let out a deep breath. "I'm going to do better. I was mad at Atlas and Kizashi. I thought success would be my revenge and… help me figure it all out. It didn't. I will include you guys. Before I make it better, be here with me." she said earnestly.
He observed her for a couple of seconds and nodded like he got what he wanted. "Dope. You know… Dad finally realized my power. Since I don't get physically hurt. I've got indestructibility. But no super strength or other nonsense like that."
Instead of lashing out or cranking out the waterworks, he just… changed the subject, talking about himself, like a self-centred bastard. Tatsumaki stared at him, confused. He waited on her to answer so intently she knew she was forgiven.
"So… you just don't get hurt?" she questioned.
"Yeah. It's wild. Never got a cut. Never bled. Never felt pain. Never… gotten broken bones. It was awful when I had baby teeth. It was hard to get 'em out. I thought I was the only normal one."
"So you're no longer the only one without powers in the family," Tatsumaki concluded. "Congrats. You've joined the circus."
She hoped he didn't have powers. Yeah, powers made her elite but he dated in high school. That's a luxury some people with extraordinary powers don't have. Dealing with powers and puberty, at the same time— ugh, a total nightmare.
Tatsumaki was happy for Daruma, getting the chance to be in love. She glared neurotically at everything at his age. Her presence was enormous and she could easily tear everyone apart. She didn't appeal to first-time beard shavers.
"You're wrong." Daruma shook his head. "I mean… your fiance doesn't have powers either. And he's now in the family."
Tatsumaki winced and her phone felt heavy in her pocket. She forgot the Aihara claimed anyone and everyone. Saitama included.
Tatsumaki sucked on her lip, choosing her words carefully. "He's… He's. I don't bother with normal people. You've guessed that about me? Right?"
"So?"
"So… He's… not normal. I filmed this today upon requests from those two, Badd and Zenko. He's a total headache."
Tatsumaki promptly cast the video of Saitama being kick-ass to the television screen. Daruma was shocked to say the least. He stood there in front of the flashing TV, blinking rapidly. He was overwhelmed. Like she was.
"That! That was real! You aren't working on some movie and you're joking, right?" Daruma yelled.
"Why the hell would I lie? I filmed it on my phone! Mine."
"Take me to this place. This isn't real!" exclaimed the 17-year-old. "He's… like me just a thousand times stronger. Why isn't he in S-Class? How— when did he get so strong?!" Daruma sputtered.
"I don't know." Tatsumaki lamented. Saitama was not even really one to show off. His feats do all the talking for him. It was starting to smite her brain.
"He was holding back. He just recently joined my company and he's C-Class." Tatsumaki groaned.
Daruma nodded. "Who's the blonde in the video? He was pretty good. He lost but he survived, you know? That's gotta count for something."
"He's a newbie in S-Class. He's looking for a master to help him on his journey to greatness," Tatsumaki scoffed.
"Send it to your co-workers! Ask if they also think your fiance is S-Class. Maybe he should foster connections in S-Class. More training from different places would help him win the next time."
Ah! Jack-pot! She could hook Genos up with the different S-Class members so he would spend a disproportionate amount of time on the S-Class members rather than Saitama.
If she asked, Zombieman totally would tutor Genos on critical thinking. Zombieman searches for new talent and tolerates them. Zombieman also has really good deductive skills AND won't leak any of this to the press. He's a good guy and he wants to see Genos' power level rise. If Zombieman steals Genos away, then Tatsumaki gets Saitama back to herself.
She sent Zombieman this text;
Hey, loser. I found you someone to train. You want some minions, right? Here's what he's capable of right now. The blonde cyborg is the only offer. Ignore my fiance, he's a GOD. Isn't my fiance capable? :V
Tatsumaki attached the video with a devious smile. When she looked up, Daruma was still raging over how epic Saitama was. His locks flopped everywhere as he paced around the living room. Then he visibly lost his vibrant smile.
"What's wrong?" she asked, a bit rudely. She was never delicate anyway but she was concerned. Holy shit, he was so high-energy and happy just a few seconds ago.
He clenched his fists. "It just hit me. The first person I wanna show this to hates me. I'm never going to be that happy again. I'll miss all the cute things she does because she cheated." The quiet admission made him shrink. "And for personal reasons, I would like to set myself on fire because of that."
Ah. Maybe his relationship wasn't as shallow as she thought. Daruma… loved deeply. Hell, he still cared about Tatsumaki.
When she gradually stopped longing for Blast, it felt like she was cutting off a limb… Removing his name from her mind was like taking out a splinter with huge metal pliers. Maybe it wasn't love. Maybe it was admiration. Even so, it was gone.
Daruma deserves someone who could pull him close and praise him, make him feel seen. He's a really good kid.
She floated up to him. With a bit of reservation and sadness, she patted him on his soft head. Not too softly.
"You can stay and forget about that trollop. Answer your Mom's calls but say I invited you, okay," she said gruffly. She petted him twice. He didn't recoil as Fubuki would. She was forgiven.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"Oi, don't leave the toilet seat down or play that crap rock music. I'll treat you to castella. You like them, right?"
"Castella cakes kind of taste like farts when they're fresh and I bet they'd taste worse if you tried to bake them at home."
With an offended gasp, she smacked the side of his head.
His laugh wobbled his whole body and he fell. She tried not to smile but the traitorous corner of her mouth twitched at the cheeky boy.
Tatsumaki heard laughter from the stairway chiming in with Daruma's. She took a gander and saw both Badd and Zenko standing there. Badd appeared majorly confused, arms crossed and expression guarded.
"What's wrong with your brother?" Badd asked flatly.
"Breakups are harsh, I think," Tatsumaki explained a bit cluelessly.
"Does he want hot chocolate?" Zenko offered, observing Daruma with a bit of pity. "I make the best hot chocolate in the world and it always makes me feel better. Maybe we can go to the cat cafe. It just opened. They even wear maid costumes!"
Badd scoffed.
Smile fading, Daruma noticed Badd's grilling stare. "What? Got anything against hot chocolate?" he snapped.
"Nah. If you hurt either the hag or my angel, either their feelings, I hurt you— No. I kill you." Badd said, lips quirked up wryly. "Got it?"
"Is that a threat?" Daruma quirked his brow.
"Is it working?" Badd leaned forward, his laser beam stare angry and intense. His bloodlust leaked out.
Tatsumaki watched the verbal tennis match with interest until it was too annoying. She didn't want them fighting. She had a feeling Daruma would be around more.
"No fights. Mr. Invincible and Mr. Baseball bat, if you guys misplace one thing in this house, I'll make you eat a can of hairspray for dinner," she growled. "And your glasses will be on the menu, Daruma. I'm warning you."
They let go of the tension. Daruma sighed and Badd glared to the side.
Tatsumaki looked at Zenko. "Hey. What happened to the bath? I got you those bath salts from City R."
City R was popular because celebrities were based there. It was a rich, powerful and fabulous party place, just like City A. A lot of non-hero celebrities that Amai Mask supported shot films and dramas in City R. More talent liaisons and paparazzi populated the city than students in City R, Tatsumaki was sure. Amai Mask ruled City R. Zenko wanted some merch from Amai Mask's first-ever merch store hence Tatsumaki got the bath salts from there.
"She took a bath in the morning. Plus, we heard shouting about the video and castella cake." Badd explained with a frown. "I don't like the cake with cheese."
"It's better with cheese!" Both Daruma and Zenko protested at the same time. And the two laughed, Badd rolling his eyes.
After that, Daruma stayed with the Tatsumaki bunch.
Ironically, Badd and Daruma got along pretty well, for some reason. They played video games and yelled at each other about dumb jokes. They also bonded over protein shake brands and the legend that TankTop Master is (he released a new CD! Wow!). Badd needed to talk to people his own age.
Daruma folded into the Tatsumaki house easily. He ate enough castella the size of a toddler's bed and he was a carefree, cool dude. He was sweet and normal. He liked sneakers, collectible cards and mixtapes. He didn't even want to become a hero. He just wanted to live his life and maybe get a sports car with a good 401k, if his company can afford it.
Daruma, for some reason, didn't hate her. She wasn't sure that she would be scorned, insulted and avoided. No. Daruma was clingy and surprisingly open to talking about their family life. He was chatty. She responded. He was excitable. She was calm and nonchalant. It worked.
Maybe… Maybe she'll call home and they'll be just as gracious. They didn't hate her the same way she hated things. She can breathe, breathe, breathe.
The next week was pretty good. It was interesting. She took care of the garden and invested in a patio that matched the deck. Daruma offered to paint it if the colour wasn't the same as the catalogue. She did some more interviews, a lot of radio shows as there was a festival. She was busy. Badd and Zenko were safe.
Tatsumaki and Daruma often cleaned together. She gave him the spare change they found. They even looked at videos of Daruma's pet snake. The snake was cute.
Everything was fine. It was a good day. Tatsumaki now knows there are no such things as good days. Anything was possible and almost all of it was disappointing.
They were watching Amai Mask's new movie called Princesses Darling. It was a harem based on the fact that Amai was measurably hotter than every other person in the movie. It was like an otome game for pre-teen girls.
Badd and Zenko cuddled on the couch with a million blankets. Daruma did his homework on the floor in front of the TV.
Tatsumaki was at the nearby table, tapping away on her laptop. She was trying to think of an email to send Fubuki and apologize with glasses a sponsor gave her. She needed to make posts later on today otherwise the brand would drop her. She had to get the atmosphere ready. So many more kid-friendly and school brands have approached her and she wanted to encourage Badd and Zenko to go to school and be fabulous while doing it.
"See. Amai Mask isn't too bad! He looks sweet in this." Zenko protested to the teen boys.
Daruma pushed up his glasses. "His name has 'mask' in it for a reason, Zenko. None of us like the way he looks nor do we wanna see it."
Badd slapped the back of Daruma's head. "Shut it. This ain't a… bad movie," he said, unconvincingly. He was busy on his phone. He barely paid attention to any of them.
"It's not good either," Daruma grumbled and sat up with a yawn. "Tatsumaki! How are you not dying? This movie is incomprehensible. The plot is weak and rushed. It was filmed with a toaster and nothing they say makes sense—"
"Tatsumaki, it's a great movie." Zenko interrupted, looking at her with sad eyes. "C'mon, take a break and watch with us."
Tatsumaki didn't acknowledge either of them. They were distracting her from her work. She hated watching romance movies. They made her eyes roll so far back, she could watch her brain.
"Tatsumaki! Hey, I know you see me with your phony glasses." Daruma called out.
"Be quiet." Tatsumaki hissed.
Does no one care about her work? Daruma was a brat! She stuck her tongue out at Daruma then smiled at Zenko.
"Zenko, sweetheart, how about we watch the sequel, twice? Once for the visuals and another for the plot." Tatsumaki suggested sweetly and shot a pointed look to Daruma.
"Yes! Lemme catch you up with everything!" Zenko squealed and ran up to her. Her princess cosplay dress shed glitter on the floor.
Like an old ship, Daruma groaned in pain.
"See, stupid Daruma! It's a good movie!" Zenko hugged Tatsumaki's side and asked her, "Tatsumaki, can we go to the sweets boutique after the movie ends? It closes at 10!"
"Nah, guys, let's go to the park now. I need fresh air." Daruma suggested.
"The park? Why? Princesses Darling is a trilogy!"
"Because we've been on our phones or laptops frying our brains with television. I'm bored!"
Daruma jumped to his feet, picked Zenko up and twirled her around. She squealed that she was dizzy. It was a funny sight. Daruma was tall. He dwarfed Tatsumaki. Zenko looked like a stuffed toy beside him.
"Let's go to the park. City A has such nice parks. Tatsumaki, back me up." Daruma pleaded, sounding much younger than he was.
Tatsumaki took off her glasses and glanced at the TV. Princess Darling was horrendous and her ass throbbed from sitting all day. Does she have bruises that'll show through her dress? Additionally, Daruma hasn't seen much of the city. He missed the sea.
"Come on Zenko, how about we go stretch our legs? Maybe we'll get the slightest bit taller." urged Tatsumaki, patting her cheek.
Daruma's smile lifted his whole face.
Turns out Badd was also disgusted by Princesses Darling and convinced Zenko to join them. As long as Zenko could take cool selfies in her dress, she was willing.
The kids got ready while she got snacks and watched the Disaster Channel. Everything was fine. She could relax. Amped up on unused energy, Badd and Daruma raced to the nearest park.
Zenko was abandoned. When she realized the teens were gone, she looked pitiable and so small. Tatsumaki had to pick up Zenko and zoom over to the park. Zenko and Tatsumaki won.
It was a nice day. The humidity made her hair frizz into a shag carpet. Mosquitoes also attacked her inner left thigh. It was fun. Tatsumaki was at ease and she didn't feel guilty about it. Everything was fine.
They were all laughing when they walked back inside the house. The kids lingered in the doorway, feeding off of each other's laughter. Badd unravelled Zenko's ballet flats while Tatsumaki plucked the grass out of her hair. Zenko didn't roll around, why did she have grass in her hair?
Daruma wanted to finish his homework so he sprinted to the couch. He skipped school for a week. He also approached having good grades with the type of seriousness reserved for nuclear warfare. He still wore the hachimaki Tatsumaki bought for him during these intense studying periods.
Daruma's laughter changed and he made a choked sound. "What. The. Hell."
"Hey! Don't swear." Tatsumaki snapped, voice bouncing off the walls.
Daruma didn't respond, which was weird. The only thing stronger than his body was his need to get the last word. He turned up the volume on the TV. She couldn't make out words, though.
"Tatsumaki. Mom's calling." Daruma called. "You need to get in here."
"Are you going to troll me? Don't bring up that witch. You're gonna make me sweat and then I'm going to explode—"
"Tatsumaki." he interrupted. "You need to get in here."
So she did. She didn't have the time to be offended. The room was frozen with stress. His voice cracked on the last word like there was a potato in his throat. She rushed before the TV. She stumbled back, confused.
BREAKING NEWS: A METEOR STRIKES CITY Z. CITY Z LANDSCAPE PUMMELED AND DEVASTATED.
The city was devastated. Broken buildings. Debris piled where houses should be. Chunks of the meteor were on the street. Everything was in disarray. The gleaming streets sprinkled with pretty glass shards and the ruined parks.
An actual meteor hit City Z? How big was it? Why? Why wasn't she told about this?
Saitama was her first thought. Was he alive? Did anyone die? Did he die? What happened? Why wasn't she called? Jesus Christ.
Why didn't she know? She could've taken care of it right away. Fuck! Fuck! She was at the park with these kids. So many bigger things were happening. Something bad always happens when she looks away.
"Answer it! It's Mom." Daruma ordered.
Tatsumaki paused and whirled around to study him. "What are you on about, Daruma? I have to leave. Your mother will call later on. She's got time. I don't."
"Really?" Daruma scoffed. "Tatsumaki. Don't be such an asshole. Are you a slave to your company?! Just answer the phone for your family. For once! Learn to prioritize!"
You knew I was an asshole before you came here. Now it bothers you? I don't have to deal with this, Tatsumaki scowled.
"City Z is burning and it has important people there. I can't abandon them. I have to comfort them. It's my job." Tatsumaki said, not unkindly. She just wanted him to get it.
"You can abandon your family for a bunch of strangers?" Daruma shouted. "We also saw this stuff. Me, Zenko and Badd. Don't we matter? Can't you comfort us?! We're your responsibility too! There are other heroes. What about your boyfriend? Is he so weak he couldn't handle this? Relax. Stay here."
Tatsumaki stopped dead in her tracks. She turned to balk at Daruma. She wanted to strangle him so he'd shut up and let her leave. The phone rang, Kizashi's name flashing on the mini screen. She didn't answer. Daruma and Tatsumaki's glares were locked on each other.
"You can't have a safe city and a family when you're a hero." Tatsumaki reasoned in an even voice.
"Then why are you a hero?! What do you do this for?" Daruma whispered, pinning her in his tense gaze. "I thought you changed."
Tatsumaki opened her mouth but her tongue was stiff. She didn't know what to say without disappointing him.
"Daruma." She clicked her tongue. "Let's talk about this after. Later. I have to go."
"There will be no after. I thought you were going to do better."
"This is my better. Can you accept that?" she hissed.
"There won't be a later. If you leave this house to clean up the meteor situation, I will NEVER forgive you! And I'll never talk to you ever again. I want my sister back. Not Tornado of Terror!"
She didn't want to lose him. She couldn't. She wouldn't. All that came out was a startled, "Daruma. You're going to make me do that?"
Badd cleared his throat. "Oi, hag, I've been wondering. Why are all of these people in our backyard?" Badd asked.
"Guys. Come out." Daruma called out randomly. Or not so randomly.
Tatsumaki gasped. He couldn't have done what she so didn't want to happen on her property! Oh, fuck him. She… was… so angry at him. She couldn't BELIEVE him! He invited ALL of them into HER house?!
They all burst into the room through the patio doors, looking like a circus. Everyone looked so different. She felt out of place. This guilt towards what she neglected was a sudden and all-encompassing feeling and she didn't like it.
Sae shot up like a bean sprout. He wore all black and his frighteningly dark hair was pulled back in a small ponytail. He looked like a prince with his high nose and dark amber eyes.
Sizihiro was only 4 but damn. She still had those large kitten eyes, fair skin, Kizashi's bad vision and Atlas's russet hair colour. She was in overalls and her headband matched her cute glasses.
The twins were high-speed blurs of giggles and grabby arms as they barrelled into her. She was knocked over, defences down and eyes staring at Kizashi. Kizashi. What. The. Fuck! Her phone rang once more and she has had it.
And suddenly there were pieces of plastic litter on the floor. Tatsumaki broke her phone?! She bounced it off the wall to stop that sound. Seriously! Fucking FUCK! She usually has such precise and beautiful control of her powers! Why did she lash out like this! In front of Kizashi…
"Surprise?" Kizashi said, awkwardly, with a nervous laugh.
Daruma stormed away. Tatsumaki collapsed on the floor while the twins aggressively kissed her temple and cheeks.
That was 11 days ago. Everything fell apart. So now she's groaning with her forehead on the table.
She's been gridlocked with issues. Daruma did invite her family over. The younger kids (Sizihiro, Tsubasa and Azusa) filled the house with giggling, sobbing and nonsensical photoshoots. Kid shows have no good plot and they made so much noise.
Atlas wasn't here but Kizashi was. Tatsumaki avoided Kizashi along with Daruma because he's barely looked at her since their face-off. Sae was the only inoffensive presence in the house. He was quiet and composed. Zenko and Badd got along with everyone, so that was nice. They were a bit overwhelmed, which was normal.
She couldn't leave the house because she felt like she'd lose something or someone. She couldn't stay either. Tatsumaki hadn't gotten a new phone nor has she responded to her emails. She was failing her job and her family life. She wanted to see Saitama, most of all.
What if… he was dead? He was superhuman but… human, right?
Tatsumaki hated it here. She wanted to help with the reconstruction of City Z. She wanted to investigate and do her job. She had to be good to her fans. They needed support, someone to keep them safe. She couldn't abandon them.
Tatsumaki loved it here. Sae played his violin beautifully and had this deadpan humour that matched hers. He autographed her laptop in permanent marker. The twins and Sizihiro were adorable and entertaining. Kizashi made Zenko laugh and helped Badd with his math homework while they discussed the current state of college baseball. The house had never been so… full of life and commotion. She felt good here.
Daruma and Tatsumaki bonded. He agreed to come to City A every two weeks, that morning. Now he never wanted to see her again.
Tatsumaki left the table and wasted the day, trying to decide what this meant. Was this the best she could be to them? Why can't they accept the bare minimum?
It was about 8 in the evening when the Aihara residence had someone waiting outside of the gates. Tatsumaki had this disproportionate certainty it would be Saitama who came to save her. It wasn't. It was Zombieman. He wore his ratty jacket with too many pockets and an all-black outfit underneath.
She sighed at him on the side-walk, happy that it hadn't rained that day. Her bunny slippers would be ruined.
Instead of showering praise on her, Zombieman held up his smartphone, his face blank but eyes full of his customary angst. "Is the video real?"
Oh. That video. The one of Saitama obliterating multiple mountains. The attempt on Genos's life. The spar.
Tatsumaki nodded and leaned against the cold gate bars. "Yes. However, why are you here—"
He interrupted her, something he rarely did. "Is your fiance this strong?" he demanded.
"Yes!" Tatsumaki stomped her foot. "You have like 8 seconds to redeem yourself. Why are you at my house?" she shrieked.
"Is your fiance here? I believed he was here. I need to question him." he asked instead of responding correctly.
"No. He's in his city."
"Then… he did do it. The organization needs to stop covering…" he muttered to himself then peered at her. "Are you okay? No attempts on your life? Nothing?"
"Yes. I wasn't. I wasn't… at the scene in City Z." Tatsumaki said, shame heating her collar. "I'm fine."
The underlying tension in his posture loosened and he exhaled through his nose. He set his jaw, glancing at her once more until his expression calms into something neutral, searching. He looked… weary. Torn. Zombieman normally doesn't emote or seem… off his rocket.
Tatsumaki straightened her posture and released some anger so she wouldn't murder him on her pretty doorstep. "Fine, I'm a saint so I'll get some water. You seem… to have something going on."
Zombieman looked relieved. "Thanks."
She stuck her tongue out at him.
She grumpily led him to the backyard and they sat on the edge of the patio deck. The wooden panels were still warm. Tatsumaki worked hard to get pretty lights to line the eaves and illuminate the garden at night. She didn't want to show him her bunny slippers or her flipping house but whatever, nothing goes her way.
She's a bit warm in this oversized sweatshirt. Maybe it was the matcha tea she drank at noon. Her cheeks weren't too red, right. Eh, who cared. Saitama wasn't here. He drowned three cups of water. He stopped because she threatened to feed him hose water.
The glass cup settled beside her tea and his beer can. She played with the tab.
The swaying of leaves, the chirp of insects and the perfume of the flowers got too loud. She gave him time to process. Now they were sitting here, wordless.
Tatsumaki snapped her fingers. "I found it."
"Found what?" Zombieman asked curiously.
"The torture method to use if you don't explain why you're here. This could've been a call. Get on with it."
"There are 2 things." He cleared his throat, his expression a bit less intense. "I found out some unsettling news about the Hero Association's enemy."
Tatsumaki stared. "You hear unsettling stuff all the time. Why's this different?"
"I can't tell anyone until I'm sure," he whispered, looking pained. "Besides that… I came here to talk to you about the news that's come out about you lately."
Tatsumaki punched his arm. Hard. "Why do I have to pay attention to these rumours? You know I never do. Why do you have this much free time? Bust your balls a bit. Jeez."
"They're important." He pressed his phone into her open palm with annoyance suffusing from his pores.
These titles were especially nefarious and exploitative.
TORNADO OF TERROR'S PARENTS CLAIM TO HAVE GIVEN HER ASTRONOMICAL STRENGTH WITH THEIR ESPER TALENT. GET TO KNOW HER PARENTS!
TORNADO OF TERROR ADOPTED?! 50 FACTS ABOUT ADOPTION!
REAL REASON TORNADO OF TERROR GOT MARRIED WITHOUT HER PARENTS BLESSING?!
WHAT TORNADO OF TERROR'S MARRIAGE MEANS TO HER BIOLOGICAL PARENTS!
TORNADO OF TERROR'S PARENTS RECEIVE DEATH THREATS. WATCH THEIR INTERVIEW!
WHAT TORNADO OF TERROR'S BEST FRIEND ZOMBIEMAN HAS TO SAY ABOUT TORNADO OF TERROR'S REKINDLING RELATIONSHIP…
TORNADO OF TERROR'S BIOLOGICAL PARENTS DISAPPEAR! ARE THEY IN DANGER? FIND OUT IF THEY'RE SAFE!
TORNADO OF TERROR FIGHTING WITH FIANCE IN RAMEN SHOP? THEY CALLED OFF THE WEDDING.
Tatsumaki sucked on her teeth. Lowlives that have no shame send in these stories and lowlives with no integrity publish them. Of course, these magazines are desperate for a scoop. She wished she could bleach her eyes. She had better things to worry about.
She didn't know where her biological parents were. She didn't want to know because it kept them safe. She would throw them to the asphalt before they got a word out. She handed him his phone back.
"You don't have anything to say about it?" he questioned.
"Why would I?"
His eyes widened.
Tatsumaki got up and stretched. Her joints popped. Their cup and can followed her like lost ducklings. "Bye."
"One more minute." Zombieman glanced at his phone then at her face. "This has been festering for weeks. The media has had a field day about these claims. Fans are mad at you for abandoning your "family". They're worried about the wedding."
"It hasn't come to me because it's stupid. People make claims like this ALL the time," she said icily.
Zombieman gawked at her. "How… do you feel about them, per se, disappearing? Will it impact you?"
Tatsumaki blinked. Now she was aggravated. "No! You've met Kizashi and Atlas. They raised me. I don't care about those people."
Zombieman exhaled, pleased. "Good."
He was being weird about this. Weird. Tatsumaki gave him a side-glance. "Why are you here instead of emailing me? What about training Genos?" she asked instead of cursing him out.
"You weren't answering your phone. No one has heard from you at all. I don't think Genos wants to be trained by me. I approached him. He ignored me and said his "master" is the best fit." Zombieman pocketed his phone and observed her casually. "I was just wondering if everything's alright. If Fubuki told you about this. If you've been approached by strange men."
Fubuki… What does she have to do with this? Her stomach swooped. "Everything's always alright." Tatsumaki snapped. "Why are you bringing Fubuki up? Why are you telling me about this? If I hadn't brought it up to you, it's got nothing to do with you. So annoying."
"You don't know what's been happening." Zombieman scoffed, a little bit of disbelief and irritation in it. "I met your bio-parents. Here's a voicemail your parents left for Bearded Worker and I."
Zombieman played the voicemail. "Hey! Zombieman, thanks for compensating us for our silence. We just don't want to bother Tatsu-nana. She's too successful to bother with us. Don't tell her we were involved in any sort of deal. It'll make her worry about us too much. Bye-bye!" The too-bright voice claimed. Her so-called birth father.
Zombieman smiled grimly. "At least they thanked me."
He sounded sarcastic but she couldn't care less. He… paid… random strangers and came here to be praised by her.
"Zombieman! You asshole! I told you not to interfere." she shouted. "I CAN'T believe you gave them cash! What the actual hell! Why would you get involved in my business like that?! You fucking knew I told you not to do something like this!"
Zombieman put his phone away and his lips pressed into a line. "Tatsumaki, you have to understand I didn't just pay them—"
"No, you understand! They weren't hurting me or my reputation. Those scammers have nothing to do with me. I'm not curious about them. I don't need you to help me with anything. I'm Tatsumaki."
"I knew they would come around but this—"
"You don't know if they were fakes. If all they wanted was my money. If they had esper powers. It's not as rare as people think. Fellow esper users get targeted, that's why some of them hide it. You played into their little games. You wasted your money."
"It isn't a waste if they never bother you or the media again."
Tatsumaki scowled at Zombieman. She was so angry. She wanted to squeeze his head, the scammer and the media's heads like pimples.
"What did you want? Did you want me to pat you on the back? What are you trying to do? They hurt people and leave bones." she spat.
"I didn't want you to worry."
"I was handling it!"
"And I gave a hand. It's over. It's fine now."
She wanted to throw a fit, pluck out ALL of his short hair and peel the skin off of his bones but she was so tired. She let out a frustrated growl between her gasps. She couldn't breathe properly because of these fools.
Tatsumaki sat on the deck and he did so too, mirroring her. She groaned. He overstepped his boundaries. He's trying to make himself self-important. He didn't care for money. He didn't care for fame. He didn't care for his life as he chain-smoked and drank bourbon every night.
The thing is, she would pay off anyone who threatened Saitama. She wouldn't tell him, either. She didn't want any congratulations or acknowledgement. She just wanted Saitama to be safe. She was weaker than him but she would do anything in her power to make him worry less.
She didn't know what Zombieman was trying to do. She mussed up her hair, trying to guess.
She balanced her elbows on her knees and rested her chin in her hands. "What do you want from me, Zombieman? You're killing me here."
Minutes passed and she looked up when her breathing went back to normal and she sucked some bloodlust back into her soul. His eyes travelled over every inch of her face.
They gazed into each other's eyes for too long and she scowled. "Why're you staring at me?"
His Adam's apple bobbed and unglued his probing gaze. "I just want to uncover something you'll hate me for," he whispered into the distance, voice raspy. "It's a dangerous conspiracy."
Tatsumaki pulled a face, cheeks tight. He's already hated. Interfering, being nice for no reason, paying off those scammers, disobeying her, being her friend.
Tatsumaki heaved a dramatic sigh. "Nothing surprises me anymore, you terrible scamp. Let me pay you for your losses. Compensation for helping, you loser."
"I didn't lose anything," Zombieman claimed.
"Zombieman," she groaned.
"Truthfully. Bearded Worker and the company paid your bio-parents off so they would stop chasing media attention and protesting in front of HQ. It was making the Hero Association look bad."
Tatsumaki stared. She threw a tantrum… for no reason. She pursed her lips. Zombieman tried to argue with limited success. Maybe she should have let him explain.
"Oh," said Tatsumaki. She coughed a couple of times. "That's. That's what happened."
Zombieman shrugged. "Your bio-parents acted strange. Almost like they were under someone's orders, possessed. To make it stranger, their story was suddenly picked up by the media and propagated quickly. Your bio-parents were based in City X then had meetings in City Z then came to City A. There are many people who claim to be related to you and Fubuki but they had baby pictures of you, so some people were convinced and also protested with them at HQ."
No wonder… he was so unsettled when he came to talk to her.
"They were dead-set on talking to you again, about being a queen in the new world since you're a monster. I've been investigating… a case so this caught my eye and I got involved." Zombieman shifted. "Bearded Worker didn't like how I was questioning the protesters or adding fuel to the fire."
Tatsumaki was confused. "Why'd the company end up paying them?"
Zombieman scratched his neck, averting his gaze. "That may be my fault. It was Bearded Worker's idea to pay them."
"Couldn't he just escort them off the premises or get them banned from trespassing? That's how you deal with crazy fans. Or haters."
"He claimed I harassed them too much and paid them. They donated the money. I'm trying to trace it."
Harassed? Tatsumaki stared at him. "What'd you do?"
"Left the hatchets in their doors. Sometimes, I left Mysterious Beings on their doorsteps. Then I was off the case and Bearded Worker said they disappeared and the protesters were gone. I left the issue alone until Fubuki came to me. They tried to blackmail her, using one of her underlings. She was having none of it. She told me they were coming after me and Badd. I made it clear you didn't want to be bothered. Maybe one of them lost a limb. Who knows?"
So her biological parents wanted money and attention, which they got. Ridiculous. They even used Fubuki. Gross! She scowled at the ground and said, "About the whole hypnotized thing, they were probably looking for money for drugs. You know how they act when they're in a fix."
"No. I think it's bigger than that."
Tatsumaki sighed. "You're looking into it too much."
That bothered look was in his eyes again. "No. I feel like something big will happen."
"Maybe it's your delusions of grandeur." Tatsumaki rolled her eyes.
Did he threaten them? For her? No wonder the family sounded horrified but tried to cover the fear up with enthusiasm. They were harassing Fubuki.
"Let me see the articles again. They never know the true story. Ever." Tatsumaki said. "My anti-fans work harder than the devil."
She looked over them again and froze at the last article title.
TORNADO OF TERROR FIANCE SEEN AT ADACHI HOTELS… CLAN AND YASUNARI AIMI WALKS OUT WITH HIM.
Hotel? They were in a hotel. Together and then walked out. Together.
This wasn't, like, a rumour. There was a photo. Before this photo, they were probably kissing, Saitama pulling Aimi in, forgetting everything he told tatsumaki about being her partner. Together. Saving the world. Saving each other. Saitama and Tatsumaki almost kissed in the apartment and he came out of the best hotel in City A with Aimi… They probably fucked in that hotel.
Tatsumaki was jealous. Her brain was a slippery mess but she was convinced they went to that hotel to rekindle that relationship they had.
She swore. She's going to make Saitama feel worse, worse than this.
With a new reason to be a menace to society, she returned Zombieman's phone. "I'll take you out. Somewhere in town after we harass the neighbours. Then I'll compensate you. You'll finally be able to buy a better coat and faster bullets. My," she winced, "bio-parents were probably difficult people to reason with and I don't want you to worry about them forever, you immortal dumbass. Can't I help you, too?"
Tatsumaki turned to check his expression. There was a slight difference in his face. He seemed unrestrained, open, velvety. She could smell his distinctive cologne and she felt the slide of his jacket on her bare leg.
She laughed, looking at him. "What? You're being so awkward!"
"You're just special. Please stay safe." Zombieman pleaded. "Be careful."
Did Aimi and Saitama sit close like this? Probably, they did. There was a moment of eye contact. Of doubts. Of malicious anger. If Saitama can kiss Aimi then she will too. If Aimi is her rival, she'll kiss Zombieman.
"You should kiss me. Show me how special you think I am," she told him seriously.
Zombieman stared at her. "What?"
"Kiss me. Right now. I need to test something. Help me out." she said, bull-headed and angry but do determined to hurt Saitama. Somehow.
"Your fiance?" he questioned lightly.
"Means nothing right now. And that's just fake." she snarled.
His brows furrowed. "What do you mean fake?"
She was too angry to process his questions. "Zombieman. Can you just kiss me, right here, right now? I want to. Either you do it or I'll find someone else. You can't help me out—"
"I want to— help you," Zombieman whispered, voice raspy.
"Will you kiss me? Please?"
"Okay," Zombieman whispered.
"Kiss me. Now. Do it," Tatsumaki commanded.
Zombieman tilted his head. "Are you sure? I'll help you but be sure you want this. Before that, can I ask questions?"
"No. God fucking damn that, let's get on with it." She pulled his collar with both hands and she kissed him.
Barely moisturized lips on her lips. His lips were on her lips. Soft. This… it felt kind of good, the revenge. The kiss felt wrong. It felt good.
She pulled away and stared at him for a moment. She realized what she did.
Tatsumaki blasted him to the other side of the field. He unpotted a bunch of her marigolds and twisted their stems. He didn't even get up. He laid there like a zombie, dirt and golden petals smattered on his clothes.
Why did she do that? Now Zombieman got kissed. Saitama slept with Aimi at the hotel. She really used Zombieman to get back at Saitama… who slept with Aimi because he didn't care about Tatsumaki?! What?! Saitama just single-handedly, no he mouthed his way into a special place in her brain where she designed murder scenarios— why did she use Zombieman?
God. She wasn't supposed to be this type of person.
She felt angrier than she's ever felt, not mollified, not satisfied, angry that she did that. Tatsumaki shrieked. She just— she. She stood over him with an arsenal of garden tools hovering behind her. She unravelled the beer can and it curled around his neck.
"I'm gonna kill everything. You and Fubuki start this media shit-storm then you come to my house and now we kiss. In my backyard." she screeched.
"We did."
"I have Saitama!"
"I know."
"I'm in love with him!"
"I know," He looked lost. "Then why ask for the kiss?"
"I wanted to take revenge on him."
"Revenge?" he frowned. "By kissing me? I thought you wanted… to kiss me. I wanted to. I'm confused."
She stared at him, puzzled. "You wanted to kiss me?" There was a horror-induced paralysis, her limbs and mind stuck. "Stop that shit. It sounds like you love me."
"I do."
Something untangled within her. "You love me." The words drifted from Tatsumaki with wonder, still too startled to believe it all herself. "Me? Aihara Tatsumaki."
Zombieman stared at her for a moment then laughed. "For a while. Your fiance just beat me to proposing. I didn't want to sacrifice the little time we spent so I stopped investigating him. I was going to just kill him but you care a bit about him. You and him are quite a match, despite his family situation. They are a pack of dogs."
"What family situation?"
Zombieman raised a brow. "That's for him to disclose. You guys need to talk. He shouldn't make you want to take revenge by… kissing me." he looked at her with a funny expression. "I just want you to be happy. I want to apologize, too. I should have checked once more."
"Damn right."
"Tatsumaki— I didn't—"
"Shut UP! Be quiet. How can you like me? Like at all?! But you— You dated Fubuki! You met my REAL parents. We work together, you dildo! You inbred mosquito."
He sucked his teeth. "I thought I liked her. Then I met you and we talked about machetes and how work sucked. You were so honest and brutal. Then we worked together and it was like life meant something for a little. I knew you didn't care but it… didn't matter."
She always knew he was on the flirty side. He was there to let her do anything. He let her abuse him, laugh with him and rely on him a bit. She didn't know she was feeding this… attachment.
"Zombieman. Why didn't you let me reject you BEFORE?! Zombieman, you manatee cunt. I am so gonna chug contact solution because of this." She sighed again. "You're not supposed to love me. Or say 'yes' or help me."
"It's so easy, Tatsumaki," he declared. "I'm sorry this happened. I got caught in the moment. Got obsessive. I'm sorry."
Her lips are still wet. "Does that mean anything?!" Tatsumaki grumbled. "I'm going to chase you down, throw you in the ocean and make you swallow a fucking whale THEN I'm going to make you EAT SALT WITH YOUR FUCKING DICK BECAUSE YOU GODDAMN KISSED ME! Repent! Say it was gross! Say you hated it— your pro-active pining! So I stop feeling bad about this."
"It's polite to say I did… but I can't." Zombieman frowned.
"Leave, now," she demanded.
"Can we talk about this?"
"NO!"
A shower of flowers dropped from his clothes when he stood but he was taking so long! She picked him up and shot him across the city. She kicked the dirt where he was. Has he ever considered joining the clown industry?! Argh!
Gasp!
Kizashi was there, a cigarette hanging from her fingers and her jaw on the grass. Why was SHE WATCHING? Why was she smoking? Kizashi and Atlas grounded her when she was 16 for smoking. Hypocrite. And Kizashi witnessed one of her biggest failures.
Everything was a mess and she was being so obnoxious. "What?!" Tatsumaki snapped.
Kizashi stomped out her cigarette and ran over. She shoved her screen in Tatsumaki's face. "Honey, paparazzi followed Zombieman here. The press thinks you cheated. There's a video of you and your fiance arguing in a ramen shop," she said. "Do you want me to call the publications and stop this?"
How the— what?! There was a picture of her in a sweatshirt AND Zombieman's close. It was HER! So close.
"Why was the press here?"
"Don't you remember, they're filming here. Maekawa Sora was taking a walk with the up and coming star Miyu and someone tipped off her location so—"
"What?!" She shoved her bangs out of her face. "I'm GOING to kill EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!" Tatsumaki screamed, kicking the marigolds.
She should've kept Zombieman here so she could torture him! But this was— her fault. Why'd she use him and then kiss him? Now everyone knew because of Maekawa.
"Tatsumaki, your fiance… will understand. You can explain that Zombieman's just… unimportant and you're not interested—"
"Saitama's not my fiance! We never even dated! He'll probably be happy for me once he sees this and set me up WITH Zombieman!"
Tatsumaki covered her mouth with both hands.
"Oh." Kizashi brushed the hair behind her ear and nodded. Her facial expression was calm. "It's not a real engagement? That's okay. The media spins things and marriages aren't easy, take your time—"
"I wish it were real." Tatsumaki sighed, burying her face in her hands.
"Oh. Tatsumaki," Kizashi gentled her voice.
"Go ahead." Tatsumaki sneered. "Tell me how wrong I've been, how I'm a liar, how you pity me right now. I know you came from City H just to do that! Do it. Just leave. Kizashi. Please. I don't need your advice on relationships. You and Atlas have ruined relationships BY cheating—"
"Tatsumaki," she cuts her off, voice firm but not harsh. "No lashing out, okay? I want to help you. I'll stay. If you want me to leave, I will but I won't let you feel alone. You can run away but you won't burn this bridge. Let me support you."
Kizashi's big, understanding eyes and words, for once, didn't bother Tatsumaki. All of her adrenaline turned her blood to cement. This was so annoying!
"Aish." Tatsumaki crumpled down into a mortified squat. "There are lots of problems. I don't know how to fix any of them."
"You're very smart. You will find a way." Kizashi crouched to Tatsumaki's level.
Tatsumaki glared at her. Why did Kizashi have to joke around right now?
"I may not be able to take your burden away. But I'll always be on your side. No matter who you choose and what you want." Kizashi continued.
"Why are you comforting me? I've been fighting you for four years."
Kizashi laughed. "What, you thought we'd ever stop being a family?"
"Quite literally. You guys didn't support me using my powers. You hated it." Tatsumaki growled.
"Tatsumaki—"
And the floodgates accidentally opened. "You let Dad abandon me! You abandoned me! How can my own mother DO THAT?! I was on the cover of magazines and Dad said he wouldn't even use them as potholders! Me! My face! What kind of parent doesn't support their child's dreams? I didn't want to work for you or Dad. I don't care about shipping times and universities or libraries! He… He's such a hypocrite. You and Dad deceived me ALL those years. I wanted to be good at something and then you guys couldn't handle it because I wasn't Fubuki! It was always "Fubuki this. Fubuki that." She was normal! I get it! So what if I'm not Fubuki, you were supposed to love me—"
"I do love you. I don't want you to be Fubuki!" Kizashi insisted, almost desperately.
Tatsumaki was shell-shocked. "What?"
"I want you to be Tatsumaki. My Tatsumaki who can save everyone in the world and has the biggest heart. I don't want you to be Fubuki. Listen, your father and I made a mistake."
"You think? Huh? You didn't come to the Hero Exams!" she barked.
Kizashi lowered her pretty eyes. "Your dad didn't want me to come. I was angry about you choosing heroism and I—"
"I know! But you didn't show anyway and I felt like a lame-ass loser because YOU never turned your back on me despite the favouritism! And then you kept on lying. About everything." she spat bitterly.
"I said some things I didn't mean. You adopted your hero philosophy and I was busy with Suzihiro, Tsubasa and Azusa. You were an adult and I should've let you make your own choices without flack." She grabbed Tatsumaki's hand. "I didn't trust you. I regret it. I didn't know how to handle losing you. You were too young to know the truth. We didn't want to hurt you. Or for you to get hurt. You can die, being a hero is dangerous. And I'd lose you. So I thought you'd come back home in a little and then I wanted to support you but… I didn't know how to do it right. I wanted to make it right and we'd be a family again. Then we both got stubborn."
Tatsumaki nodded and looked at her hand. "Stubborn. Yeah."
Tatsumaki knew it wasn't all Kizashi's fault. They could've talked about this years ago. Tatsumaki didn't want to hear it. Tatsumaki was a brick wall. An idiot brick wall. She avoided her family and then she clung to Fubuki because she was an Esper, the only one who wanted more for herself, to be a hero.
All this suffering for what, complicated fame and monster gore under her nails? She was just as miserable as before. Just as confused. Just as lost.
Tatsumaki frowned. "Everyone is scared of what I've become. You wanted to make it right. I didn't want to because I knew it'd hurt you."
Kizashi laughed softly like what Tatsumaki said was preposterous. Tatsumaki looked at Kizashi, shocked.
"I didn't respect you enough and should've understood you more. I thought it'd be okay, to give you independence and let you come to me." Kizashi admitted morosely. "I wanted to give you space… I didn't do it right."
Tatsumaki averted her gaze, praying to whatever deity that her voice doesn't crack. "A lot of the things you and I did… I'm doing with Zenko. We spent a lot of time together. Even with all the other brats around." Tatsumaki whispered wetly. "I think… I know you weren't a completely bad mom. I shouldn't have said you ruined my life and that Tsumugi should've stayed."
Kizashi squeezed her arm. "It's already forgotten. I'm grateful you came my way. I didn't mean to separate you from Tsumugi," she added a bit cautiously. "It was for the best."
"Why'd she leave and never come back?" Tatsumaki asked.
Kizashi shifted, visibly uncomfortably. "The pediatric doctor you went to for checkups and the like was a part of the Alis Association. Your father didn't know. They had spies everywhere. When Tsumugi found out, she didn't call the cops or tell Atlas. She collaborated with the Alis Association. I believe she was getting threatened or brainwashed by Saimin."
Tatsumaki gasped. Saimin was a feared monster when she was growing up. She was notorious for hypnotizing her victims and slipping into their subconscious and taking control of their thoughts. She injected her blood into her victims and controlled them like a puppet. She was very highly regarded in the Alis Association.
"Under Saimin's control, Tsumugi was getting income from the Alis Association to keep tabs on your development," Kizashi told her.
Now she understood why Atlas got so angry when she asked about Tsumugi. "She was putting my life in danger. For money?" Tatsumaki gasped.
"Not her, Saimin was," Kizashi corrected quietly, looking ashamed. "I'm a Mysterious Being expert. I worked with your father on the field and I heard about him adopting a child from the Alis Association bust. I was curious because you and Fubuki were the youngest but also the strongest to escape." Kizashi recounted.
"I was? But… What happened afterwards?"
Kizashi folded her arms, a line in between her brows. "Afterwards, I heard some of my former colleagues were taking cash incentives for retrieving information on former experiments or kidnapping them entirely. So I became an informant for the Alis Association and gave conflicting information about you and Fubuki. I didn't mean to fall in love with your father. He wasn't even my type but it didn't matter. When you know, you know." Kizashi laughed. "I'm sorry we didn't support your dreams to be a hero because we thought they'd come. They'd always been chasing us. Your dad fought them off but… you can never be too careful."
Suddenly… it made sense. Atlas didn't want to thrust her into a world where the Alis Association would see her and catch her. And they loved her. Kizashi loves her. Damn it.
Tatsumaki threw her arms around and hugged Kizashi. "Thank you," Tatsumaki whispered.
Surprise overtakes them both. Tatsumaki never showed affection to anyone. She was normally forced into it. But she meant this.
"Thank you," Tatsumaki emphasized.
She felt so grateful. Things soured between them after she turned 22, when she wasn't particularly good at anything and getting at an age where people paid for cars, started saving for their jobs and getting promoted or finding the company they stay with until they die. She decided to be a hero. Kizashi and Atlas vehemently opposed her choices but she made a name for herself and shot up to the top and breathed fire. She couldn't forgive them. At the same time, Atlas couldn't forgive her either, huh.
"I thought you didn't like me using my powers or doing something great with my life! That I was being too troublesome." Tatsumaki exclaimed, her voice gross and scratchy. "You gave that impression so I thought you didn't care so I didn't care!"
"No. No. Never." Kizashi pulled back and wiped away the tears springing from Tatsumaki's eyes. "I didn't want the Alis Association looking for you and seeing you. You're so special and I love you for who you are. You could have three heads and I'd adore you. I care."
Tatsumaki settled into Kizashi's embrace. She had so many things to apologize for. All the awful things she said. The way she didn't come to the holidays. When she ignored Kizashi's calls. Being a significant person in this world gave her access to almost everything. However, something within her started to disappear.
She felt so guilty. She just had to, you know, get it out there. "I just, I'm—" Tatsumaki struggled with it.
"Don't you even dare, Tatsumaki-san," Kizashi whispered. "You don't need to."
"But—"
"Ah. Be quiet." Kizashi ordered, her voice incrementally sterner.
"Okay," she said against the lump in her throat. God. She must look pathetic. Her eyes were red, her face blotchy and her throat was a bit sore. It was a good kind of pathetic.
Her eyes blurred and welled up. She didn't want to lose this again. Tatsumaki just hugged her tighter. Kizashi was always so warm. She did have a question; "Did you dye your hair green for my opening ceremony?"
"Yes. The stares I got from the other ladies. Ridiculous." Kizashi laughed lightly. "I've dyed it for 23 years. It looks better this way. All the girls in the Aihara family have beautiful hair. I had to keep up."
Tatsumaki smiled, feeling settled. Kizashi… really did… care and believed in her. Tatsumaki hesitated then slowly, just slowly rested her forehead on Kizashi's shoulder. "You've been dying your hair for so long. Your hair is gonna fall out." she snarked, just to make the situation seem normal and not as sentimental.
Kizashi hummed. "I'd paint the whole sky green just for you even if I didn't have arms."
Tatsumaki accepted it.
"Why do bad things happen all at once?" asked Tatsumaki.
"Because they leave all at once," Kizashi responded after some time. She patted Tatsumaki's back. There was so much tenderness poured into the action. She couldn't be lying.
Tatsumaki opened her mouth to argue but Kizashi didn't need more grief. So she gave up and shut the hell up for once. She was done arguing with this woman. It was so exhausting. Battling on endlessly, incapable of backing down. She doesn't remember the last time she was hugged by Atlas or Kizashi. It felt good. Precious. Kind of gross but she was comforted.
They hugged until her knees got all prickly. They moved to the deck and brought out a portable heater because the weather was pretty cool. She aggressively devoured the plate of grilled zucchini and okra.
She's never had sake with Kizashi. Only Atlas. She missed him. Tatsumaki coughed when the sake hit the back of her throat. God. It tasted horrible and it burned like being dropped into a molten bath. The darkness and levity settled in her lap like a purring cat. She missed Atlas.
"Why are you still angry?" Kizashi wondered, snapping a Monika wafer in half. She offered some to Tatsumaki.
Tatsumaki took it and ate it. "Zombieman's still alive, that's why I'm mad."
Kizashi laughed shrewdly. "I knew Zombieman was interested in you but I didn't think you liked him."
A lot of Tatsumaki's nonsense didn't bother him. He approached her. He gave her his spare pens so she didn't steal from the higher-ups during meetings. He reached out to her in the darkness like a hand. He made her feel important.
He loved her in a flailing way that she ignored. On this ball of water and rock, he loved her and her stubs for legs and her thick lower lashes. The first confession from a friend, who bought a sleek black motorcycle that looked like an ant, loved her. Her.
And she never loved him. Or saw him that way. And now everyone knows. He wanted to be her friend. Saitama wants to be her friend, too. She believes Saitama's idea of friendship was very different from Zombieman's idea of it. God, does Saitama see her like a sister?
"Me too," whispered Tatsumaki when she allowed the silence to go on for too long. She snapped a zucchini in half and took a big bite. "I don't. At that moment, I just wanted to… make Saitama feel horrible. All I wanted was Saitama. I'm madder at myself and he knew that. Zombieman was just there and took it like he always does."
"That makes sense."
Tatsumaki was relieved she understood. "You're the only person I told that Saitama wasn't my beloved." Tatsumaki disclosed because she'd get it.
Tatsumaki knew now that Kizashi would be the last one to judge her about this. Kizashi would defend her before anyone would.
Kizashi looked startled and confused. There was one big knot on her forehead. "No one else knows? Oh." Kizashi's delighted laughter was warmer than baked goods.
"I'm lying to everyone about everything all the time. Myself included. I'm risking it all for someone who can't understand my clothes can pay for a nice apartment and a second one to sit on top of it. I just wanna have him and he's still… not mine."
"What's special about this young man? How did this happen at all?"
Tatsumaki told her everything. She knew she wasn't drunk nor tipsy nor caught unaware, she wanted to tell Kizashi. Kizashi nodded and listened very intently.
"Am I being nosy when I ask, why haven't you told him any of your feelings?" Kizashi asked. "Something's wrong with his eyes and his head. He already let you drag him along for all of this. He feels something."
"Feels what?"
"Yearning."
"Get out of here. He couldn't. He has Aimi. They're childhood friends." Tatsumaki grunted. "Have you watched any dramas? I'm the second lead."
Kizashi squinted at her. "What's a second lead?"
Tatsumaki groaned. "You're too old! Kizashi, it's— never mind. I'm not a choice. I'm just there because of circumstances. Not fate."
Kizashi contemplated it for a moment. "If Aimi loved him, would she have let him move to City Z? Alone?" Kizashi asked mildly.
"She loved him enough to let him go." Tatsumaki challenged. "If he said he wanted to, I'd move to City Z for him… but I'd also stay in my city if he asked me to. Nothing he asked at this moment could be too much." Tatsumaki looked down, picking at her cuticles.
"He's too lenient with this."
"He's empty. Of course, he'd let me do this media-ploy-scheme thing. He's bored."
"I don't think he's like that. Forgive me but he's yearning."
"Things change. He'll be curious then get bored again. He's younger than me. You know how young men are. Indecisive. Vacant. Active." Tatsumaki explained.
"I think he's interested in you."
Tatsumaki made a discontented noise but otherwise didn't protest. Despite how much she shit on Kizashi's marriage, snakes grew out of her head when she thought of her parents. They were so damn good for each other. They still went on dates and share smoothies and he bends down to lace up her shoes.
Tatsumaki cleared her throat, playing with her food more than eating it. "Can I call you 'Mom' again? I'm almost 30. I can't have people thinking you're my sister." she deadpanned.
"Ah. Yeah. That did happen quite a lot." Kizashi grimaced.
"It was embarrassing! The track teacher kept on hitting on you that day. Creepy asshole."
"Language," Kizashi said without any motherly scolding. She patted her cheek. "I shouldn't look older than you. I used an expensive cream you sent home during one of your first sponsorships."
"Really?" Tatsumaki laughed. "No way!"
She sent it home because the cream was for elderly women and their turkey necks. Why they thought Tatsumaki would promote wrinkle cream as a beautiful 25-year-old was beyond her. She wanted to call Kizashi elderly and Kizashi didn't get the message.
"Yeah. I've been a loyal customer ever since. Are the crow's feet noticeable?" Kizashi queried a bit self-consciously.
Tatsumaki squinted. "No."
Kizashi glowed.
"They're very noticeable. You wasted a lot of money." Tatsumaki cackled.
Kizashi's face scrunched up like a kitten's. It was, quite indeed, adorable.
Kizashi rolled her eyes and started talking about a colleague who shrunk her nephew's cashmere in the wash. The colleague lied and hasn't told her sister. The colleague said her sister's dog ate it. So the sister brought the dog to the vet because she was worried. The large bill was for nothing and now the sister and colleague have been arguing online, for the whole community to see.
Kizashi held onto the drama like it was a lifeline because it was funny. Tatsumaki found it funny and hung onto every word.
####
-End Chapter-
Ovidae— Heyo. Ah. This is awkward. I've been neglecting this story. Ahaha. Welp. Heres 11k words. also I haven't leaned into self-sabotaging tatsumaki in a while. Like babes. This woman is ridiculously self-destructive. and I wanted to settle that family angst ahhhhh. well. one parent. that's on mommy issues, lol. forgot about this for a lil. got bored and read my chapters again. I wrote up until episode 12 of the first season so that's finished. there's like 4 or 5 chapters left in the story. so yay. thanks for sticking with me. well onwards.
VOCAB
An otome game is a story-based video game that is targeted towards women. In my experience, there's romance or some type of plot involving a harem you choose from and of course, pay. I still have the emails from a character I picked in middle school.
Hachimaki is a Japanese headband, usually red or white cloth with a kanji on its front. It has a symbol of effort or courage. Students wear it or people in the military wear it too.