"I need to eat. Then I wanna go check out some cheap shopping," Saitama said when they got back to their apartment home.
"We can do that," Mitsumi smiled and giggled when her cheek got kissed.
"Lady Mitsumi!" Iwasaki said when she skipped over. Flashy Flash was calmly walking behind her. "What's the plan for now?"
"Saitama and I were going to do some basic food shopping. After that, we'd see about setting up dinner. Is everything okay?" Mitsumi asked.
"Um…I wanted to try something," Iwasaki admitted.
"What's that?" Saitama asked.
"I…overheard Blue Ripple's talk about elemental monsters and such. I think…I'm not sure…but I may be based on light in my monster form. I'd like to test that," she smiled softly. "I never attacked in that form before, so…"
"How fast can we set up a test target?" Flashy Flash asked.
"We can set up a metal structure in the outdoor arena," Inichi said when he hovered over on catching on to the conversation. "Let them do their shopping. When they get back, it should be ready."
"That's so cool!" Mitsumi grinned with excitement. "We'll definitely test it! Oh, we don't want anyone to find your skin, though. Have Tacki make a bag to put it in for Flashy Flash to protect it? Then, when you're ready to change back, he can give it over to you."
"I can do that," Flashy Flash agreed.
"Can we get a full outdoor kitchen built?" Anno asked.
"We have a few abandoned restaurants on our land. We shall see what can be done," Inichi nodded. Kamikaze glanced at Tacki's eager form from where she sat on his shoulders. He knew she was itching to do something. Repairing broken things and testing them is something she can definitely do safely. To a point.
"Good. Also, ah, Mr. Saitama, try and get a good stock of vegetables. We appear to be running a touch low," Anno said.
"Is there anything I can have now?" Saitama asked. "I need to eat."
"Yes! I can make something for you to tide you over," Anno said and was quick to make a quick stir fry dish of fresh fish and vegetables. Saitama was sighing with relief now, and he made sure to give some to Mitsumi. After the small, hearty meal was done, the empty dish was given back.
"Thanks for that! Okay, let's go shopping," Saitama said and scooped up Mitsumi in his arms to carry her.
"I want to go with you," Okada said.
"But…Mom…I just wanted to be with Mitsumi…" Saitama said with a touch of irritation.
"Let them surprise us with what they bring back," Kodama said to his wife. "We can help see what's found here to make an outdoor kitchen. You would know what's really needed, too! I'm sure their chef does, but it wouldn't hurt for another set of eyes, eh?"
"But…oh…alright," Okada sighed and caved in.
"Thanks, Dad," Saitama said with relief and began to walk off.
"You don't want her with us?" Mitsumi grinned.
"She'd be prying into our private life. Constantly," he grumbled.
"Ah. Yeah, I can see how that would be an issue," she chuckled.
"Can I go back to letters with them?" he asked and grinned at her scowl and small chest poke. "Fine. I suppose not."
"I love you," she murmured and pressed into his neck.
"I love you, too," he smiled and kissed her forehead. "Are you feeling okay? You seem tired again."
"I could probably go for a nap when we get back," she said and yawned.
"The push cart will be ready for us," he said on sending Inichi the request. She only nodded and closed her eyes in comfort. He gave her a side-long glance and narrowed his eyes. "You're pregnant. You have to be."
"What?" she asked and looked at him. "I don't know that. It's only been three days. We'd need a good week or so to really see. I just feel tired. We've been on the go a lot lately. And being kept up all night at times by you? I just need a nap at some point. We have something planned to help me. I'll be fine."
"True…" he sighed. "I guess it was like how I was before."
"Right. So, I'll take a nap and be just fine," she smiled and kissed his cheek to hear him chuckle. "I'm still in shock that Wind Crane is going to be a mother."
"Zenchu had better marry her. And I'm only saying that because I will slap the stupid out of him if he doesn't."
"I think just agreeing to a mutual commitment is all a monster needs. They should wear some form of a promise ring, though. Maybe matching rings."
"That can work. If they don't get married, they need rings. I'm sure Tacki can make something for Wind Crane."
"I wonder if she can have a ring go through her beak…"
"If she wants me to poke a hole through it, I could try it."
"With your finger, right?" she grinned a touch mischievously.
"That type of hole poking in your mind is only reserved for you and you know it," he growled and tickled her to get her laughing hard. "Zenchu must have rubbed off on you."
"As long as he hasn't rubbed one on me…" she snickered. Now he stopped in his walking, set her down on her feet and spanked her bottom lightly to hear her squeak. He scooped up her hysterically laughing form and started walking again.
"We're almost there. Behave," he grinned and kissed her ravenously. "I still find it amazing that I can be normal with you. It's like…my power knows not to hurt you. I said it before. All others would have gotten slammed through a building. But you? I'm still amazed."
"And I'm still just as amazed that you believed me in the very beginning," she said with a soft blush. He kissed her gently now and hugged her while rounding the corner. He saw the grocery store and set her down on her feet again. When they walked in, they were both quickly recognized and swarmed for their autographs. The manager finally had to walk out from the back with a few employees to set up roped lines for a form of order. Only after the fanfare was appeased did Saitama and Mitsumi get a chance to look through the produce.
"Is there anything on sale?" Saitama asked the manager.
"A few things, but we are a bit low on fish and meat," he admitted.
"Hmm. Want to trade? We just got an excess of fish," Mitsumi beamed.
"What do you have?!" the man asked with joy. Inichi sent Zenchu over with a small wagon of various prepared fillets and whole fish. Anno had labeled what each one was neatly on the various bags they were stored in. The manager was amazed at how organized everything was and readily agreed to the trade for produce. When he learned that a talented chef prepared everything, he was overjoyed.
"Thank you!" she chuckled. Zenchu was able to fit all the vegetables in the emptied wagon with no problems at all.
"I would be willing to do a weekly trade off with you. We get more vegetables than proteins. I'd even be willing to pay a bit extra for rarer meats due to how high in demand they are," the manager sighed. Mitsumi paused at this and had Inichi come to them.
"I am Inichi, and I willingly serve Lady Mitsumi. Fan Dancer, that is, to you. We can draw up a contract exclusively for this endeavor. Just give me a day. You will be here tomorrow?" the floating blue monster asked.
"I will be. Ah, thank you!" the manager smiled and nodded.
"I shall have Rendor appear with me, too. Miss Tatsumaki may also be present to ensure things go well," Inichi chuckled. "So you know, she is Terrible Tornado. Don't worry. She will not do anything rash."
"Oh! Hmm. I know how her temper can be. I may want you to meet with me in my back office. If people want autographs and swarm her…well…" the manager seemed to wince. Mitsumi frowned at this and rose up her hand.
"You arrange a quiet meeting place. I know Rendor will keep her stable, but you are right in how we don't know what she'll be like in a crowd. We will need to take it slow with her. Everything will be fine," Mitsumi assured him. Inichi suddenly blinked, grinned and focused slightly.
"Hey! We're here!" Rendor said when he landed with Tatsumaki outside the store. He was in his human form to keep people from panicking.
"Why were we called here?" Tatsumaki asked.
"We need to do something. It's a possible contract, and you'll want to be with me when it happens. I want to know how you are when it comes to autographs and fanfare," Rendor smiled warmly and kissed her cheek. "It would make me very happy if you are calm and answered a few questions with me to the people that shop here. I want to try today with Lady Mitsumi and Saitama here."
"Autographs?!" she winced.
"All you have to do is levitate pens and sign a book. It's easy. You've done it before. And I'll be with you. I can even sign my name with yours to show I'm with you if you want that. It'll be fun!" he chuckled.
"Ah…" the manager was just in shock that he was staring at Terrible Tornado in the flesh standing just outside his grocery store. She sighed and grumbled, but then she blushed hard at the growling whisper given her. Now she looked at Rendor with a grin of her own. Inichi coughed and slapped a small hand over his mouth to keep quiet.
"Fine. When you put it that way, I'll see how it goes," she said. Rendor nodded and walked her into the grocery store. The moment she was seen, there was a silent hush through the crowd.
"If any of you would like an autograph from Terrible Tornado, please open your books and hold up your pens!" Rendor announced. She focused to let each of the offered pens turn green before making them hover and simultaneously autograph each opened book.
"Okay. I'm jealous now," Saitama admitted. Mitsumi snickered and got squeezed by him. Only one small girl walked up to Tatsumaki and held out her pen and opened book with a bit of anxious hopefulness.
"Um…can you sign it? Without powers?" she asked a bit nervously.
"Eh. I suppose," Tatsumaki sighed and gave a physical autograph. It matched all the others, but she noticed that it made Rendor smile warmly at her. Then she handed him the pen to sign his name next to hers. "He's pretty much my significant other. He's a strong monster when he wants to be."
"Thank you!" the girl said with a blush and ran back over to her mother.
"I'm proud of you, Tatsi," Rendor smiled and let Tatsumaki snuggle into him. "I know you want to be with me at all times, and there may be people that want to meet with you. You're a famous hero. Just be calm like today. I'll be with you to help you."
"Okay," she smiled and let him hug her close. He carried her out of the store now with Saitama and Mitsumi following them. Zenchu was still standing with the cart of vegetables to show he was ready for transport, too.
"No kids yet?" Saitama asked them to get Mitsumi gasping with surprise at the comment. "What? I'm just asking."
"What am I going to do with you?!" she scowled at his neutral gaze.
"Do you really want me to answer that?" he asked and pulled her close with a small smile. "Anyways, are we done here?"
"I guess so," Mitsumi said and shook her head at him.
"What?" he asked to get her laughing softly. Tatsumaki looked at him before looking back at Rendor. At her small smile, Rendor could only look at her curiously. When she glanced away, he began to stutter.
"Tatsi?! Tatsi…what…what are you…?!" Rendor asked.
"Well…I don't know…but…a feeling…I think…" Tatsumaki seemed to smile. Rendor began to pale. A fan set came out from Mitsumi's belt to have her hold them and move them over Tatsumaki's body. When they vibrated, Inichi paused with complete shock.
"Rendor…" Inichi said with a slow, calm tone. "She's pregnant."
"WHAT?!" Rendor gaped at him.
"How many?" Saitama asked.
"Just one. The gender is unknown for now, but she is definitely pregnant," Inichi sighed and chuckled. "Congratulations, my brother."
"How far along?" Saitama asked.
"Saitama!" Mitsumi hissed at him.
"I'm genuinely curious," he said.
"Same…" Rendor said and pulled Tatsumaki's form to him all the more. He was giving out an intensely protective vibe now.
"It appears to have just taken. So about a week. That's what the fans are reporting," Inichi said when the fans vibrated from Mitsumi's hands. "We'll know more in the coming days."
"I don't know how I'll be as a mother. But…well…with everyone else having kids…it may not be so bad," Tatsumaki admitted.
"Tatsi…" Rendor grimaced and had her look into his eyes. "I need you to promise me this. You won't do anything rash with our child growing in you. Because, right now, if anything happens to you, I will not hold back to keep you safe. I know. You're intensely strong. But I don't want you to put our child at risk. And that reminds me. Blue Ripple's lake. I know you can probably pull it off, but I will want you to be careful at all times. For me."
"Okay," she nodded and snuggled into him to let him squeeze her.
"We'd better get back," Zenchu said. "I need to check on Wind Crane."
"And Mitsumi needs a nap. Yeah. Let's go," Saitama said. Inichi lifted them all up in his blue bubble to swiftly carry them back. Tacki was already there to praise Tatsumaki. Even Fubuki was floored at the news and thrilled that she was going to be an aunt.
"We'll double up a bit on her meals," Kamikaze muttered to Rendor.
"Just enough," Rendor nodded.
"We should start planning a nursery," Kianna said. "How much longer until Neutral Grounds is done for the day?"
"It's only early afternoon. They have a few more hours," Inichi said.
"Genos is there?" Saitama asked.
"Yes. With Suiryu and Kamiko. Tanktop Girl and Tsuruga are also there as a form of security," Inichi said.
"I wondered where they went off to! Okay," Mitsumi smiled. "I thought they wanted to go fishing with us."
"Tsuruga was too worried about the lack of security there. Even though heroes go there frequently, well…we know how he is," Zenchu said.
"True," Mitsumi said and yawned.
"Where's the push cart?" Saitama asked. It was brought over for him to settle in it with her. Just as she was about to slip into it, the fan set she had out vibrated and gestured towards Kianna.
"What?!" Inichi blinked. Mitsumi's jaw dropped. Kianna blinked with confusion. Inichi looked at her and said, "Go up to Lady Mitsumi. Now."
"Ah…okay?" Kianna frowned and walked over. The fans in Mitsumi's hands were moved over her body before vibrating fiercely.
"King, you're going to be a father," Inichi said. "Looks like one is there."
"Ah…WHAT?!" King's jaw dropped.
"But…we were being careful…!" Kianna winced.
"Not that first night…" King sighed and rested his head in his hand. "Shit!"
"You don't wanna be a dad?" Saitama asked.
"It's not that I don't want to be a dad. I wasn't ready yet," King admitted.
"Well, I'll give you young ones a bit of advice," Kodama said when he walked over. Saitama rolled his eyes, but he moved back over to Mitsumi's side to help set her fans back on her belt. "Sometimes, you're never ready. And that tends to be the best time, too. I noticed that a lot of you are well into your prime. I didn't even have Saitama as my son until my mid-twenties. I knew I wasn't ready. But the moment he was born, I realized that I could be ready."
"It's true," Okada chuckled. "The moment I said I was pregnant, he swore up and down and all over! We had just gotten married, and he thought there was no way I'd have a kid so quick. It was a month later when it happened. We rushed to get a nursery room set up, baby supplies…all of it! And we didn't have all the funds that you all have. It'll be easier to gather with you. No need to hire baby sitters, either!"
"I do hate to admit that they are correct, Mr. Saitama," Inichi mused.
"Anyways, Mitsumi needs to nap. We'll be in the cart," Saitama said and finally moved her into the cart and closed the curtains. He let her snuggle into him and close her eyes. He listened to the idle gossip and excitement of the newly discovered pregnancies. After twenty minutes, Mitsumi jolted awake with a sharp cry before bursting into tears. "Mitsumi?! Okay! Okay. I'm right here…easy…"
"I…I…can't…!" she gasped and pressed into him.
"Calm down. When you're ready…okay?" he soothed and calmed her with soft, reassuring squeezes and soft kisses to her forehead. "It's obvious you had a nightmare. Just tell me what happened in it, okay?"
She nodded weakly and couldn't stop crying. As much as he was tempted to get Inichi, he realized he wanted her to be able to speak for herself first. It was five more minutes of gently calming her down before she was able to whimper out hoarsely, "I saw him…"
"Who?" he asked carefully. "The asshole?"
"No…" she shivered and shook her head. "My father. When I found him dead. Slumped over the table…"
"Oh. Hmm. Well, I can't get pissed at that…" Saitama frowned. He leaned over to open the curtains. "Hey! Zenchu!"
"Something wrong?" he asked and peered in to see how Mitsumi was struggling with tears. With a single glance to Saitama, he knew exactly what was going to happen next. "You're not touching me."
"But she's sad! Can I at least pinch you?" Saitama asked.
"Fuck you," Zenchu said to get Mitsumi covering her face to hide the new laughter. "I'll get Garou. You can pinch him."
"Excuse me?" Garou asked from where he was sitting with Lily in his lap.
"Lady Mitsumi is sad. She has to be made happy. Let Saitama smack you to make her laugh," Zenchu said.
"What?! Ah, no. He asked for you. You can get slapped. You need it, anyways," Garou said with a small shrug. Then he looked at Lily. "Can you believe this guy? He's too chicken shit to take a slap!"
"That is absolute bullshit and you know it!" Zenchu scowled to get the others there laughing. "We both got slapped by him. Hell, you got a fucking head-butt from him! Like hell would I even want that! I'm surprised you can still think after all that. I thought your brain would be scrambled."
"Like you, I regenerate fast. But, I will admit, I was stunned for a good five minutes," Garou sighed. "Much like you, I have a thick skull. And it was Lady Mitsumi that kept Saitama from fucking me up even more."
"She did?" Lily smiled.
"Yep. He was ready to kick my ass through the tree I was against. I called her a bitch. He got ultra-pissed. I wasn't thinking at the time. I deserved every bit of what he dished out on me," he said with a sharp nod.
"We were all ready to rip you a new one," Rendor said with a raised brow.
"Anyways," Garou started before pressing a kiss to Lily's forehead. He got up to set her down on his chair and walked over to the cart. "I want to know what made her sad. How bad was it?"
"She was in tears when she woke up. She…had a dream of finding her father again. After he was murdered," Saitama sighed and ran his hand over Mitsumi's back gently. "Easy. I know…"
"What?!" Zenchu paused at this. Now he looked at Inichi to get the floating blue monster to move straight over and peer into Mitsumi's mind to find the dream. He hissed and grimaced with his own form of pain.
"That wasn't just a normal murder scene! I…remember the photographs. His body was moved around after you saw it," Inichi said with a form of outrage. "It was a staged finding for the officials!"
"What?!" Mitsumi gasped.
"What's this?" Himiko had to ask now from where she was with Zombieman. "I mean…I saw him a couple hours after…but…"
"Lady Mitsumi…what you saw…it wasn't just the tea. Your false mother outright strangled him…!" Inichi shivered. "I recall the photos from the autopsy when I was asked to review notations for the paper. He didn't have a necktie on in the photos. He did in your dream. You didn't realize it…but you saw him in a different way. I don't think he drank the tea. He obviously knew it was poisoned.
"The way his necktie was found with the decorative strand around the back of his neck instead of the front…the color of his skin to show suffocation…she planted the cup carefully in his hand after emptying the contents. She murdered him in cold blood and removed the necktie after. You saw him slumped over. He was set to be in a sitting back way as though to struggle for air. I'm sure she put some of the poisoned tea down his throat, though. To ensure some would be found later on examination for autopsy of death. But…"
"I'm sure others knew…but she paid them all to go with the lie…" Himiko whispered with a trembling dread of shock.
"Stop it! Shut up! Now!" Saitama snapped and closed up the curtains to comfort Mitsumi even more. They had all just heard her painful gasp of shocked sorrow before the feathered curtains boxed in the rest of her grieving sobs. The others there could just stare in speechless shock at each other.
"Is there anything else I can help tear out to build this kitchen?" Garou asked with a form of quiet rage.
"Mr. Inichi, I have enough here to make something. And the equipment works. Please get me…these ingredients…" Anno said and sent over the mental list. The items were retrieved swiftly for another chocolate lava cake to be made.
"Teach me!" Tacki said and hopped over to learn.
"Me too!" Lily said. He soon had a bunch of eager people and monsters wanting to learn how to make Mitsumi's favorite treat. He showed how he first made the chocolate batter and put it into a specialized bowl for baking in. He placed the small, chocolate pieces into the center just enough to keep it from overflowing. After it lightly baked for ten minutes, he tested the sides of the cake to ensure it was firm enough to hold everything. He inverted the cake onto a plate and dusted it with powdered sugar when it was done.
"That is awesome!" Tacki said with delight.
"It's quite easy to make once you have it down," Anno chuckled and took the delicate cake up. He was handed a fork by Takeda while walking to the cart. On lightly opening up the curtains, he simply pushed the cake through. Inichi had already alerted Saitama to expect the dessert.
"Thanks!" Saitama said. He saw Mitsumi's eyes widen with sheer delight, and he chuckled before feeding her a piece of it. "That's it. See? Everything is fine now. Hmm. He added more chocolate to this…"
"Mine!" she grinned to get him laughing. She still shared it with him, though. At the next plate of Peking duck on a stick, she gasped and snatched it up to share with him next. After the small, decadent feast, the empty dishes were taken back by Inichi's blue bubbles, and Saitama pulled her close.
"Do you feel better?" he asked softly.
"I do. It's just…you know. Shocking," she frowned and leaned into him.
"Yeah," he nodded. Then he had an idea and opened the curtains. "Hey!"
"What?" Zenchu asked.
"Get some bananas out for the two monkey men we have to meet and have a friendship meal!" Saitama ordered to get Fubuki dying with laughter at the thought. Zenchu ran a hand over his face at the idea.
"You mean…Mountain Gorilla and that other chef that's to be here soon…?" Lily asked.
"Yeah. He means them," Zenchu nodded. Garou was laughing as hard as the others now.
"And give more bananas to the super powered monkey club!" Saitama said.
"Stop it!" Mitsumi hissed at him.
"Eh…Lily already has my banana. She's good," Garou grinned and blocked a slap from Lily. "What? It's true!"
"Hmm. I haven't shown you how I can eat a banana. Have I?" Lily now countered at him. He stopped and stared at her with complete shock. "Yeah. I can play that game, too."
"Um…can we do that now? In our room?" Garou asked. Fubuki was in absolute tears. Himiko was blushing an intense beat red. Zenchu was at a point that he couldn't breathe.
"You need to be careful, then. I might bite down," Lily smirked to get the guys wincing hard and the girls dying with even more laughter.
"You are awesome!" Tacki said to Lily with one of the largest grins she'd ever have. Kamikaze was cringing and laughing in his palm.
"I don't get it," Saitama said to get the others dying with laughter all over again. Mitsumi whispered softly to get him to look at her with intense neutral thought. "Okay. Let us know when they get here."
"Seriously?!" Mitsumi gasped when he closed the curtains to tackle her.
"You told me how it works," he growled with a small grin and kissed her ravenously. "We have to wait for Neutral Grounds to close up, anyways. We need to pass some time. Now I want you to show me how it works to pass the time…"
"What about checking Iwasaki's attack?" she asked. "To test for light?"
"When the others get here. I need you too much right now," he muttered and pressed another kiss to her mouth. "Now show me what you told me."
"Saitama…" she found herself laughing and getting pulled into a loving kiss to do just that.