Luigi smiled happily as he thought about how things had changed since that fateful day. While almost entirely positive, there had been a few unexpected bumps and hurdles. Thinking back, he let his mind go over events as they'd happened.

Once Fubuki's dress had been cleaned, she'd bid farewell to Tatsumaki and Luigi, giving a passing comment to her sister that had confused Luigi, both from its content and Tatsumaki's reaction.

"This guy's an absolute keeper, sis. Don't bother with the pills and rubbers with him."

For some reason, this resulted in Tatsumaki having an expression somewhere between horrified and mortified on her face, which resulted in Fubuki getting a look of wicked glee as she left. Tatsumaki had stayed physically distant from him for a couple of weeks which had left him confused - especially since she insisted he stay with her in her apartment rather than finding his own, not that he really objected - until a conversation that only left him even more confused.

"Finally got a straight answer," she muttered as she came back into the apartment after a long day, looking disheveled but happy.

"From who?" Luigi asked curiously.

"My doctor," Tatsumaki answered easily as she floated down to a resting state.

"Your doctor?" Luigi asked worriedly. "Are you sick, Maki-chan?"

"Nah," Tatsumaki hastened to assure him. "My sis just made me a little paranoid is all."

"Huh?"

Tatsumaki chuckled softly as she slipped herself into his lap. "Don't worry about it," she assured him before pressing her lips to his.

While he still didn't know what that had all been about, it had been the end to any awkwardness they'd had from the few weeks she kept her distance, and she'd become quite affectionate since, happily snuggling into his lap to exchange kisses and cuddles whatever the situation...especially after their relationship wound up going public.

It hadn't been intentional, admittedly. The tabloid article had circulated for a while, and eventually someone got access to information that wasn't strictly public access about Luigi's official correspondence from the Hero Association being sent to Tatsumaki's apartment rather than anywhere else that Luigi might have been officially staying...and one lucky - and possibly suicidal - reporter had managed to ambush Tatsumaki and demand of her why 'Green Mario' had been staying with her and for how long.

Due to a particularly brave camera crew, her reaction had been immortalized.

Tatsumaki stared at the reporter, who was now sweating bullets and yet managing to not drop either notebook, pen, or microphone. In fact, despite the nerves and animal panic running through them as the Tornado of Terror's eyes glowed green and her aura manifested, they didn't even shake in their grip.

After a time, the glow in Tatsumaki's eyes faded and she muttered, "You know what? Fuck it. Why do I care?" before looking the reporter dead in the eye and firmly stating, "What happens between me and my boyfriend is nobody's business but our own," before flying off.

The reporter had promptly fainted...though whether from nerves or excitement at the story that literally dropped into their lap was anyone's guess.

That story had exploded over all 26 cities the Hero Association protected, and had all but blotted out literally every other news story for several months. Much to the annoyance of several fame and recognition hungry heroes, all anyone from the media wanted to talk about was their opinion on this surprise revelation. Still, none were crazy enough to try and complain to Tatsumaki and face her reaction...or try anything with 'Green Mario' and have whatever was left await Tatsumaki's displeasure. Reporters had tried to question both Tatsumaki and Luigi about it - though far more delicately than that first one - only to be stonewalled. Tatsumaki had stuck to her "It's no one's business but ours" stance, while Luigi himself had only had a brief moment of startlement that the relationship was now public before responding, "A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell," and refusing to say any more than that.

Fubuki had, expectedly, been overjoyed at the relationship going public, and the pair of siblings could now frequently be found chatting together whenever they weren't involved in other aspects of their lives, work related or otherwise. The other S Class Heroes had surprised Tatsumaki by showing only support and congratulations, rather than any of the teasing or judging she had expected. Also to Tatsumaki's surprise, the Association itself had no official comment on their relationship, but the higher ups had sent her an unofficial congratulations note as well as links to the proper paperwork to file for 'joint time off' and other similar things she might need to request regarding how their relationship might affect their Hero Work.

...she privately suspected the massive jump in the popularity of merchandise related to herself and Luigi might have had something to do with their attitude, but she decided not to think about that.

The only other major change their relationship going public had caused was that they could now go to restaurants together without being in disguise and be taken seriously as a couple. Admittedly, neither of them were certain that was an improvement based on their few attempts at doing so. On the one hand, they always drew a crowd of gawkers, though they mostly had the sense to keep their distance. On top of that, the rather excessive way most sit down restaurant went about trying to ensure that everything was perfect for them - plainly terrified of Tatsumaki's legendary temper - often killed her appetite. On the other hand, the few restaurants that actually had the spine to treat them like ordinary guests had been enjoyable experiences...as long as they had male wait staff. The female wait staff frequently eyed or flaunted at Luigi...and while Tatsumaki tried to stick to being okay with Luigi looking at other girls, other girls trying to flirt with Luigi right in front of her when they were on a date was definitely pushing it.

...besides, they'd yet to find a restaurant that - in her opinion - served anything better than what Luigi could cook, and she found the experience of cooking with him back in her own kitchen to be rather enjoyable.

...Luigi still felt awkward about what had happened that one time she'd tried the 'nude apron' look while they were making themselves breakfast. Even with the amount they were both paid as S Class Heroes, he still hated when food wound up wasted. Thankfully, the Hero Association had declared the area now surrounding Tatsumaki's apartment building a 'Variable Terrain Hero Training Course', so they no longer had to worry about Tatsumaki's uncontrolled psychic discharges at those times, since there was nothing to break out there anymore.

Yes, as Luigi now lay back in bed holding his girlfriend close against him, he knew that he'd faced down just about everything that the 26 cities could throw at him to test him. He'd faced down the fears that plagued his life, and knew he would be alright no matter what happened. His fears were still there...but they could no longer cripple him. Life...was good...

Tatsumaki was awoken in the middle of the night to a rapid pounding on her door. Groaning irritably, she slipped out of Luigi's warm, comfortable embrace and slipped on a robe. She heard Luigi stirring. "Maki-chan?" he asked sleepily.

"I'll get it," she assured him with a groan. "Easier for me...and if it's not as important as it sounds, easier for me to send them on their way." With that assurance, she floated over to the door as she pulled her robe closed...then jerked the door open, ready to strike down whoever had interrupted her happy night.

Much to her surprise, a short man wearing what looked like a white hat covered in red spots stumbled in, his torn blue waistcoat barely hanging onto his body as he all but fell on his face. "Luigi!" he screamed out in a high-pitched, somewhat scratchy voice. "Luigi, it's terrible!"

"Toad?" Luigi gasped in surprise as he shot to his feet. "Toad, what's wrong? Has something happened to the Mushroom Kingdom? What about Mario?"

"It's Bowser!" Toad screamed out in despair. "He's...he's conquered the Mushroom Kingdom and Sarasaland, laying waste to most of the countryside! He...he has a new weapon, some sort of Negative Beast that shrugs off everything thrown at it. It...It..." Toad shuddered as he tried to get the words out. "...it got Mario..."

Luigi's face went stony, his fists clenched. It seemed his vacation was at an end...