Saitama smiled as Luigi and Genos returned to the apartment. "So...how was Luigi's first day as an S Class Hero?" he asked calmly. He did his best to not show that he was envious of Luigi's rapid acceptance in the Hero Association, or that Luigi would never have to keep up a 'weekly quota' to keep his job, or that no one would ever doubt Luigi's abilities the way his were. After all, he didn't do it for recognition, he did it for fun...and once Luigi's training was complete, he'd be going back to wherever he came from.

Saitama had a very good poker face. Neither Luigi nor Genos noticed any sign of his envy.

"Luigi single-handedly obliterated a Dragon level threat," Genos informed Saitama readily.

Saitama let out an appreciative whistle. "Not bad for your first go."

"Not single-handed," Luigi insisted modestly, trying to pull his hat down over his face as they made much of him.

"Correction, he used both hands," Genos confirmed with a teasing smirk.

"Well, he hasn't even trained for a full year yet," Saitama allowed as he pulled out the takeout boxes for dinner. While not the best food available, it was orders of magnitude better than what he'd been used to when he was living alone, and plentiful.

"Tatsumaki helped too," Luigi insisted defensively. "I don't think I'd have been able to actually finish it off without her."

"True," Genos admitted. "The expression on your face when you leapt to her defense was one I have never seen on you before. It appears fighting to protect others plumbs new depths of your powers and capabilities."

"Sounds about right," Saitama allowed. He then blinked. "Oh, does Luigi have himself a new girlfriend?" He smirked teasingly.

"It's not'a like that!" Luigi insisted defensively.

"You were certainly flirting enough," Genos offered playfully.

"I wasn't flirting!"

"Her increased pheromone production, raised body temperature, and flushed cheeks suggested otherwise," Genos countered as his smirk widened. Luigi buried his face in his cap to hide his embarrassment.

"Oho, sounds like Green Mario's coming in first in the race!" Saitama teased playfully as he ate. He then frowned. "Tatsu...maki? That name sounds familiar. Is that someone I know?"

"2nd rank S Class hero?" Genos clarified.

Saitama frowned and scratched his bald crown. "Not ringing any bells…"

"Powerful esper? Telekinetic abilities? Green hair?"

Saitama shrugged. "Hmm...nope."

"Hates your guts?" Genos added with a frown.

"That's a long list," Saitama pointed out playfully. "Not all of them are dead."

"Why'a would Tatsumaki hate Sensei's guts?" Luigi asked Genos curiously.

"Because he keeps teasing her about her height and...youthful appearance," Genos offered delicately.

"Oh, the spoiled brat!" Saitama declared with a smile as he place his right fist down on his left palm in recognition. He then smirked at Luigi. "Never took you for a lolicon, Luigi, but I suppose the world takes all kinds-"

"She's not a kid!" Luigi insisted defensively, his eyes glittering. "She's a beautiful lady and deserves to be treated as'a such!"

Genos blinked in shock. He had not expected this side to Luigi...though given the stories he'd told between training sessions of 'rescuing the Princess', he probably should have expected chivalry to be a large part of his character.

"Beautiful 'lady', huh?" Saitama joked, patting his chest playfully where he still wore his 'Oppai' shirt. "Sorry, but I just don't see it-"

Luigi's hands slammed down on the table hard enough to make everything leap into the air, somehow not breaking the table in the process despite the floor quivering. "There's more to a lady than the size of her chest, you...you...Roshi!" he snapped out, grasping at something he'd once seen Mario reading for something he could insult his Sensei with over this without being too offensive. His eyes widened as he saw the flying food, quickly snatching it out of the air and setting it back down. "...sorry…"

"Harsh," Saitama observed calmly, but said no more about it.

On the street outside, Tatsumaki did her best to pull her dress up to hide her blushing cheeks even if there wasn't anyone around to see. She hadn't meant to follow 'Green Mario' back to where he was, but she'd been passing through Z City on her way back to her place for the night - she'd taken a roundabout course to clear her head and avoid her sister - and wondered what he was doing there. Seeing him entering the bald idiot's apartment with Genos had piqued her curiosity. After all, Genos frequently referred to that idiot as his teacher, and Green Mario's abilities - aside from fire and lightning manipulation - seemed to be along the same lines as the idiot's, if not quite on the same apparent scale. If Luigi was being trained by him…

And now she'd heard that not only was Genos aware that Luigi's words had left her flustered (she made a mental note to make sure he paid appropriately for that, and for telling Luigi), but when the Baldy had started his usual taunts about her, Luigi had leapt to her defense, when all he could possibly have earned from doing so was his teacher's ire. Admittedly, she hadn't been close enough to hear much beyond what Luigi had shouted and she'd had to logic out what the others had said based on that...but what she did know was enough to set her blushing again. She decided to quickly make her exit before a lucky tabloid photographer got a picture of her peeping into the Baldy's apartment. There were enough rumors about them from the constant fighting, anyway, without adding more fuel to the fire…

As the meal inside the apartment continued in silence, Saitama noticed Luigi sinking lower and lower in his seat. "Look, I'm not mad about the 'Roshi' comment, even if that's more like Silverfang than me-"

"It'sa not that, though I am sorry…" Luigi mumbled morosely as he ate.

"Then what is distressing you, Luigi?" Genos asked in concern.

"Are...are you'a sure she thought I was'a flirting with her?" Luigi asked nervously.

"Absolutely," Genos confirmed readily. "And you did a very good job as well. It all sounded completely natural, not at all like you were putting on airs or behaviors to try and win her over-"

"Mama Mia…" Luigi groaned as he put his food down and buried his face in both hands.

"Nothing to be embarrassed about, Casanova," Saitama teased playfully. "And if anything happens with you two, I promise not to tease her about her looks while you're da-"

"Her boyfriend'sa gonna kill me…" Luigi moaned out as he sunk under the table.

"Boyfriend?" Saitama asked in surprise. He turned to Genos. "The brat has a boyfriend?"

"To my knowledge, she's single," Genos pointed out thoughtfully.

"Eh?" Luigi asked in shock, shooting back upright. "No way! I refuse to believe a girl as'a pretty as that doesn't have a boyfriend!"

Genos leaned back as he tapped the information networks. "From my understanding and research...those who would be in her 'dating pool' generally fall into one of two categories. The first are too terrified of her powers to try anything, since her powers are strongly influenced by her emotional state."

"Yeah, who'd want to risk dating a girl who might accidentally tear you in half if you're ten minutes late?" Saitama joked easily.

"The second group are those who are strong enough to not have to fear accidental destruction by her powers, but…" Genos hesitated, then sighed. "For whatever reason, are of Sensei's mindset regarding her appearance."

"If you are that high in Hero ranks, you generally have your fair share of fangirls - or boys, depending on preference - to pursue for fun or romance," Saitama pointed out, the slightest hint of envy in his voice.

Luigi blinked in shock. "Ya...ya mean she's...never had a boyfriend?"

Genos frowned thoughtfully. "Her personnel records show her as having no exes to be concerned about, so I would assume so."

Luigi frowned sadly. "That'sa just not right. She deserves a chance at romance if that'sa what she wants…"

"In that case, why don't you ask her out?" Saitama suggested jokingly. "I'll be happy to watch the fireworks from here."

Luigi frowned thoughtfully as he stroked his mustache. "You know'a what? I think'a I will!" he stated firmly as he walked over to the computer. Logging onto his Hero Association profile, he began composing a message.

Tatsumaki sighed to herself as she reached home. The cool air had done wonders for her blush, managing to calm her down so she was no longer flustered and could manage to think clearly about things. It didn't matter how sweet, or handsome, or chivalrous 'Green Mario' was, or how he was obviously attracted to her, or how bushy his mustache was...that perfect 'stache…

She quickly smacked her cheeks with her hands to clear those thoughts. This just proved she didn't have a clear perspective on this, and she would need to keep her distance from Luigi until she had full control of herself. Even if he could walk through her psychic storms like they were cool breezes, she could not start acting giddy as a schoolgirl with a 'Sempai notice me' attitude! That would destroy her reputation, and she'd be the butt of every tabloid joke for months, if not longer!

"You have 'one' new personal message!" her computer beeped at her as her HA account became active at her approach.

She blinked in confusion. She'd never actually had a 'Personal Message' from her HA account before. Everything from the Association itself was classified as business messages, and anything from her sister was marked as 'Family Message'...not that she'd gotten one of those in a long while. She idly wondered who would be sending her a 'Personal Message' through HA instead of the mail or something similar. According to her sister, love letters and the like usually came through the mail for extra security...not that she'd ever gotten one. Floating over, she opened the message. It was apparently an 'E-vite' in format, where she could just click 'Yes' or 'No' to whatever was offered, but the content...

Hey, Tatsumaki!

There's a really pretty park off the beaten path between Z-City and Y-City. If it's still there come Friday afternoon, wanna meat there for a picnic so we can talk and get to know each other a bit? I'll bring the pasta!

Luigi 'Green Mario' Mario

"Is...is he...is he asking me on a date?" Tatsumaki gasped out. "W-what am I supposed to-why did I just say yes?!" While she'd been struggling through it mentally, some part of her mind had acted through her powers to respond with a click.