Chapter 10 (Smoke Signal)
"You just try to steal some food, Sasha. I'll get Captain Levi to chop you up into nice bite-size pieces." Jean declared to Sasha and she replied with a disparaging tone. "I won't! probably..." Jean didn't heared that the way he wanted and asked. "Say what?" Eren retorted to them with a broom in his hands. "Hey! Did you guys wipe the dust and dirt off your shoes before you came in?"
Jean raised his right eyebrow and said. "Say what? No, we didn't. Can't you see all the stuff we're carrying?" The titan shifter start arguing with Jean. "Do you seriously think that attitude will satisfy Captain Levi? If I hadn't personally given your sheets hospital corners this morning-"
Jean would not allow brat Eren to get cocky any longer and shouted. "Quit nagging! Who are you, my mom?!" Mikasa and Historia walk inside the room with pieces of wood. Mikasa who's holding an axe in her left hand stated. "We're back." Armin came closer with a slightly sad expression and said. "Wait, were you just chopping firewood?" Mikasa shifted her head forward and answer to Armin. "Gotta stay in shape."
Armin raised his right hand a little bit and remind her, about the titan who grabbed her. "You got grabbed by a titan! You should be in bed." Eren whisper next to Armin and told him. "I try to stop her, but she won't listen. I saw her doing sit-ups earlier!" Jean got jealous and shout to Eren furiously. "How dare you, you peeping Tom!"
Armin walk right behind her and retorted. "Mikasa, you do know you're not a wild animal, right?" Sasha said something random, getting everyone's attentions.
"It's almost like we're back in the Cadet Corps. Except this time around is way much greater, mostly for me." Sasha blinked and blushed while she thought of something, or perhaps someone.
"Armin agreed with her and asked with curiosity. "Yeah... Why do you figure we were chosen for the new Levi Squad, Though? Protecting Eren and Historia is such an important mission... I hope Saitama to stick with us, in order to keep them both safe." Sasha swiftly put a potato inside her leather back and responded to Armin.
"Because we're talented, I assume. And I totally agree with you about..." She exhaled and call his name once more. "...Saitama..." Armin change subject with his hair covering his sights. "Sasha... what did you just put in your bag?" She figured out what he's talking about and shifted her gaze to him. "Nothing bread-related."
Everyone's gazes shifted towards Sasha and demand her to put the vegetable back, Jean first and Connie followed after him.
"Why, you!" "Give it back!" Eren remind them about the cleaning they had to do before Captain Levi returns. "Hey, focus! We gotta finish cleaning before the captain gets back!"
Levi and Saitama came inside the room, the hero waved at them behind the short Commander. "Yio, Hi everyone" Levi ask the teenagers about the stealed potato situation.
"What's this commotion about?" Armin and Jean in the background were mad at Sasha and told her again. "Our food reserves are precious!" "Cut the crap, Potato Girl!"
Levi placed his hand under the table, it had plenty fluffes and dust. "I'm quite sure I gave you enough time."
Eren put his left hand upon his face with a disappointed and scared expression. Mikasa hold the axe a little bit tighter and stare the Caped hero.
Sasha is watching Saitama too, but for a different reason, she couldn't hold her happiness and laughed while her face turned red like tomato. Levi respond right after Sasha finished laughing.
"Anyways... We'll discuss your lax cleaning job another time. Eren and Saitama. Hanje is itching to get the experiments started." The Captain took from both Saitama and Eren positive answers.
"R-Right." "Oh? Okay but after that I need food, my stomach is killing me." The hero exclaimed to Levi and everyone else in the room.
The first experiment was with Eren, they wanted to see if in the titan form, he could harden his skin like Annie.
But his titan form was different, he was skinny, he wasn't even ten meters and his legs wasn't able to hold him. The Attack titan falled to the ground like he had ran into a marathon.
Hanje shout from a higher ground with Levi, Moblit and Saitama next to her. "What's wrong, Eren?! Get up! The future of humanity is riding on you and Saitama! Get up, dammit!" Levi said to Hanje with a 'I don't give a damn' expression on his face.
"Hey, four eyes. You should start with Saitama now cause Eren... He's not quite the same this time. He's not even 10 meters, and some of his body doesn't have muscle. Plus, Eren's ass is hanging out."
Hanje retorted to Levi and shouted to Eren. "I can see that! Eren! Can you still move?! Give us a signal or something!"
Jean and Mikasa came to Eren. Mikasa jumped from her horse and shouted. "Eren!" Jean shout back to her "Mikasa!" Levi saw Mikasa running to Eren and declared.
"Hey... That gloomy brat is acting on her own again. Time to think up a punishment?" Hanje got nervous and answer back to Levi before She and Moblit head down there to Eren.
"No, there's no signal... We're done with Eren!" She shouted with a desperate tone "Eren!" Levi's head shifted towards Saitama and exclaimed.
"It's your turn now, show us your priceless power. As you can see, we've got a long road ahead... ...before we can use the titan hardening ability to seal the Wall." Saitama rised his finger and got Levi's and Armin's gazes.
"This hardening ability Eren has, is similar to the little gizmo I accidentally broke?" Levi answered the hero with a small nod and Armin spoke next to Saitama.
"It's the same thing Saitama, but what you did back on the carriage... ...Well nobody except you is able to do that."
Levi shifted his head back down to Hanje and the others. "Strategically, it's not a bad plan. Instead of luggin tons of supplies, all we need is to get Eren there. With your brutal strength we'll be able to accomplish our mission Saitama, all depends on Eren and You."
Hanje said and ordered to the scouts. "The experiment with Eren is over! The experiments with Saitama will now commence!" She shook her head in excitement and shouted to the hero.
"Saitama! You're up next!" The hero jump and landed front of them and said with a neutral expression. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. I'm hungry so let's get on with it."
All the others except Hanje stayed down with Saitama to give him instructions of what to do. "You see those trees over there?"
Saitama nodded to her and she continued. "I want you to punch one of them, All I want is to test your strength. "Oh? Okay" Hanje flew back to Levi and Armin while everyone were watching from the distance.
Saitama thought in his mind before lauching his punch. 'Alright, here goes nothing' The hero punched the tree and with a single punch, it took more than twenty more trees flying several hundred meters into the air with their roots still attached to them.
Everyone's jaws dropped by seeing such display of power! They're glad they have Saitama on their side." Hanje screamed with a big smile on her face.
"Woo Hoo! Success! You're a walking wrecking ball! Levi! Levi! Did you saw what he just did!?" Captain Levi was not as shocked as everyone, specially Armin who still didn't believe what they witnessed again.
"Like I told him, Armin." The Captain's attention turned on the blond and finished by saying. "His brutal strength is a key, that humanity will use to unlock many doors."
"We're not done here Saitama, I have more tests for you." The hero said to Hanje with chastity on his face. "Fine, bring it so I can go eat." Hanje placed her hands on Saitama's shoulder and whispered in his ear with a creepy smile.
"Can you lift that huge boulder over there for me? I have faith you can do it in no time." Saitama nodded to Hanje and did as she ordered, the scouts around excluding Eren, Mikasa and Levi were clearing and blinking theirs eyes from Saitama's display.
"Can I let go now?" Saitama had lifted the gigantic boulder one handed and didn't break a sweat, the hero's face showed that he doesn't even care.
Sasha and Connie watch from a safe spot with Eren in Mikasa's hands. All of them had different thoughts about the hero. 'He's even stronger than my titan form, no doubt about it.'
Mikasa glared daggers at the bald hero, Saitama still hadn't gained her trust. 'Damn you... ...go back to your own freak world Baldy!'
'That... Power... With him we'll be able to defeat Reiner and Bertholdt' 'Ahhhhh Saitama... You' re so handsome with that cute and innocent face of yours, You will be mine, just like the precious meat they hiding in the cellars.'
"Yes you can throw it away!'" She shouted with blushed cheeks to Saitama and reply again. "And now the hot stuff! Hehehe... I want you to break Annie's crystal!" Levi heared that and decided to prevent four eyes.
"Oi Four Eyes! It's to early for that, keep it inside of the overthinking brain of yours." Hanje sighed and respond back to Saitama. "You heared him, the experiments are over for today! Go fill your stomach."
The Caped baldy scratch his head and walked to Eren and the others. "Let's go eat, everyone." "Don't you see? Eren is exhausted baldy!" Mikasa shifted her gaze to Eren and head back with him.
"Awwww I'll pass too. Sorry for leaving you, but you're amazing Saitama." Connie followed right after Eren and Mikasa. "I can come with you... ...If y-you don't mind..."
Saitama gave Sasha a small smirk on his goofy face and said. "Come on, Sasha stop babbling. Of course you can come for lunch with me."
Saitama begun walking next to Sasha, but Levi stood in their way. "Don't be late, Erwin want you to discuss something."
Saitama nodded to the short Captain and him with Sasha continued their way back to eat.
In the one punch man world
Geno's pov
'Thanks to Doctor Kuseno, I got repaired back to my normal state. But I have lack of knowledge about Sensei's location.'
'I must head back to the hero association and ask for help! I need some S class heroes to assist me, in order to find Sensei.'
'I don't want to admit it but that 'God' being could be the only way to get me where Sensei is. Me and the other S classes.'
'I reached the HQ but it wasn't anyone there, even the streets were silent, not even a single citizen. Doctor Kuseno was right, all the livings organisms had been vanished. It must be that 'God's' doing for all this. I'm running out of options, I need to find that 'God' and negotiate with him, it's the only way!'
'I know the exact place to look for him, at the scene of 'crime' he will look for Cat girl's dead body, I must go there now!' "Accelerate!"
Genos left the abandoned city and flew with his fire cannon hands towards where they were fighting God.
Saitama and Sasha sat next to each other front of the table. And start devouring pieces of bread and cooked potatoes, Sasha's heartbeats increase speed and she crawled closer to the hero.
"S-Saitama I have something to tell you..." She blushed to him while they made eye contact. "Yeah Sasha I need to tell you something too." Sasha thought he would confess his love for her but Saitama had a neutral expression and said.
"I should tell you more about me, where I came from and how I ended up here." Sasha asked the Caped baldy with huge awe. "Te-Tell me about it..."
Captain Levi observing them in a stalking way, since Erwin wanted to speak with Saitama. He heared their conversation from a corner.
"I became a hero long time ago in my world after I completed a training routine for 3 years, but I became too strong. Regardless of fear or joy, or anger... I can't feel it slowly. I'm pretty sure this happened while I'm was gaining strength. And I lost something important as a human being, my feelings that is, Sasha." The Caped hero exclaimed.
Sasha's eyes widen in awe while she couldn't take them off Saitama. The hero replied, tapping his chin. "I am a hero, purely as a hobby. In other words, as long as I am happy that is enough for me, this will never change, doesn't matter if I'm in a different world or not." Sasha grab his attention, stiffening a giggle towards him. "What is it, Sasha? Do I have a mosquito on my head?!"
She respond with a litte bit of shiver befalling her. "N-no it's just, your kindness I'd yet to learn Saitama." Saitama rised an eyebrow and replied, looking next to him as Sasha's giggling came to a halt as she gazed inside his blank eyes, her face turn bright red again.
"Are you alright? You acting different that the others." The hero exclaimed and finished what he's saying.
"At least you didn't tried to decapitate me." Saitama exhaled "I have a disciple too, back to my own world, his name's Genos and he's half human half robot. Cyborg that is, as I noticed you people have a huge lack of technology but I'm not into those fancy weapons either, I only use my punches." Saitama retorted while Sasha nodded to him.
"Hey... ...Saitama... I still didn't told you what... ...I... wanted..." She said to him, An idea came in her mind.
"Y-You know what? I'll demonstrate..." Her lips came closer to Saitama's. "I lost everything, cause of the titans but now you're a light that leads me home again..." Sasha said, glaring at his eyes with a shade of red on her face. Saitama took a few seconds to process this, Sasha continue.
"Y-yo-you said that you came from another world... ...right?" She asked the hero while she biting her lips. "Y-Yeah. I fell from the sky and ended up here, I wandered the lands a little bit and then I saw the Wall." Sasha's determination had reached it's climax. "Th-Then how about we'll let our worlds... ...collide."
They shared a kiss. Saitama didn't resist to her, he still had the neutral expression though. Sasha hugged the hero at the same time she were kissing him.
Levi saw them behind the corner. "Lookie Lookie even mister has a girlfriend now." Captain mumbled to himself.
Sasha unleashed her lips from Saitama's and her gaze faced the table with embarrassment. "Saitama, I- I lo-" He cut her off, Saitama's expression changed into a serious one.
"I know but my feelings like I told you before, are almost completely numb. If I can satisfy you like this so be it, I just don't want to hurt your feelings accidentally."
He stated to her wth chastity. Sasha shifted her head towards to him with red cheeks once more. "I will honnor thee, you are my hero Saitama." She replied to him while trembling.
Saitama patted her head gently and made the tremble fade away. "I'll try my best to keep you happy Sasha." She smiled towards the Caped baldy, suddenly they heared a voice from behind them.
"Mind telling me what the hell is going on here?" Both hero and potato girl turned their heads to the source of the voice. Sasha's eyes widened in shock as she saw who the voice belonged to. Quickly stood up from her chair and standing at attention, she saluted. "Captain Levi, sir! What are you doing here?" She greeted their Captain.
"Calm down, brat I didn't came for you." Levi said, turning to face Saitama. "I couldn't help but to overhear your conversation. Saitama, I gave you enough time. Erwin is waiting for you, this way." Levi rescripted and pointed the way for Saitama.
"Sasha, I'll see you later" Saitama replied to her "Let's go" He stated and waling past them, heading at Erwin's direction.
At the Trost District
"I see... Another failure with Eren." Levi shifted his gaze to Erwin "Not with this guy though, He managed to punch a tree several hundred meters into the air, with the roots still attached to the tree. And there's more! Due to the impact of his punch even more trees were sent flying, along with their roots, too!" Saitama shaking his head up and down to them.
"I'm telling you, this guy is capable of things we cannot possibly imagine. Erwin, have faith in him." Rubbing his temples, Erwin spoke up. "I do have faith in him, I saw what he did to the titans when we were pursuing the Armored titan to rescue Eren, I even witnessed his unreal speed. Am I right Saitama?"
Erwin asked the hero, cocking his eyebrow.
"Yep, these titans are pretty weak, every single one of them explode on impact with my punches." Erwin's expression turned serious "It's good to have a miracle like you Saitama. But if the plan with Eren would have worked out, we could have plugged the hole in Shiganshina District in less than a day." Levi's gaze shifted to one handed Erwin.
"It's because we lack information. Might be a different story if there was a book about the hardening ability. But to think I would ever hear this coming out of my mouth. I think it's safe to say Saitama can pretty much take on anything thrown at him, including titans and huge objects that weigh tons. I forgot to inform you about the second experiment Hanje did with him." The Captain stated, shaking his head.
"He lifted a massive boulder, so big that even Eren's titan form would had problem lifting it. One handed too." Saitama nodded and let Levi continue with another subject.
"But we have Christa too. No, Historia Reiss... Maybe we learn about the Wall through her?" Levi asked Erwin, Saitama scratched his cheek. "I read the entire report about her upbringing. She's the illegitimate daughter of Lord Reiss, and it's by no means a happy story." Erwin replied "So she's someone special?" Saitama holded his chin in curiosity.
"Tha'ts one way to summarize it Saitama. But the real mystery here... is why a mere regional lord would know the secrets of the Wall." Erwin stated, Saitama was bored and wanted to go get some sleep. But the Commander stopped him from leaving.
"Saitama, in the incident with Eren. We lost dozens of soldiers to rescue him... what I mean is th-" Saitama cut him off "I apologize." Both Levi and Erwin looked Saitama with raised eyebrows.
"Come again?" They said in union. "I apologize for my actions. I didn't think them through and people died because of it. As a hero I prefer to do things alone. If it's possible leave me out of any business involving lots of people in groups. I don't wan't to be responsible for this ever again." Saitama declared, his eyes serious and his fist clenched tightly.
Erwin nodded his head "Agreed. Saitama it wasn't entirely your fault. Although there is few things I must know... first, how far are you willing to go to assure humanity's survival?" He asked.
Levi looked at Erwin and then back at Saitama, curious as to what the hero's answer would be.
"If people won't get hurt, then I'm in." Saitama said.
"But people will get hurt" Erwin answered, plaicing his hand on the table and looking at the window. "Before you act people were already dying from the titans. As we speak someone is currently getting murdered in the lower levels of Wall Sina, or dying because of a disease or starvation. People die and get hurt every day. Saitama. You cannot blame yourself for not being able to save everyone." Erwin spoke determined.
"But what you can do is to secure a better tommorow for the people who are still alive as we speak." Erwin placed his hand on Saitama's shoulder and continued.
"You can't be in several places at the same time. But remember this: what you did to protect and helped us rescuing Eren saved thousands of lives. Sometimes the death of ten is enough to prevent the death of a hundred." The Commander replied, Levi stared at Erwin.
"Now the second thing I must know. Give us some details about yourself." Saitama sighed "Fine, fine" The hero started.
"After 3 years of hard hero training I became so powerful, no one can beat me. I'm the hero I dreamed of being, but I'm seeing my hero work as a hobby. age of 25 years old. Although I'm troubled by my invincibility, I lost my own feelings, my heart feels so empty inside." Levi cut him off.
"Not that empty, Saitama. I saw what you did with Sasha Braus, you little lovebirds." Saitama looked away and didn't answer to Captain's reply. Erwin took an empty document and write everything about the invincible hero.
"I lost all of my hair cause of my 3 years intense training. I cannot find a worthy opponent to have a challenge with, I did actually before I arrive in your world but he's gone now... I guess"
Erwin holded the document and started reading out loud. "Name:Saitama. Age:25. Height:175 centimeters. He appeared seemingly from the sky. He has inhuman strength. He is able to punch titans and turn them into shreds. His other capabilities consists of: Jumping to heights physically and scientifically impossible" The Commander switched page and read more.
"Saitama is a bald, ordinary looking man with thin, but well-built physique and of average height and weight. He claims to have lost all of his hair suddenly and prematurely as a result of the toll taken on his body by his intense hero training. Saitama is the most powerful hero alive. Saitama faces a self-imposed existential crisis, as he is now too powerful to gain any thrill from his deeds. Saitama has take his hero work as a hobby. He is constantly searching for an opponent that can challenge him. The lack of any such opponents had led him to suffer from an existential crisis and he claims that his ability to feel most of the emotions has dulled considerably. It seems only love for female individuals/procreating and joy for food has remained in the hero's emotion depository." The Commander exhaled in satisfaction.
"You had to add the part with the female individuals?" Saitama asked with a blank expression planted on his face. "Yes, every information is really important, Saitama."
The hero yawned loud, placing a hand on his mouth. "Can I go sleep now?" Both Erwin and Levi Nodded, Saitama left the room tired, in his way back he saw Sasha and Jean on two towers looking out for any threats. Sasha smiled and waved at the hero. "Oh? Sasha" Saitama waved back
Jean smacked his forehead in disbelief. "Jeez... potato girl."