The warmth of the morning sun creeps in through the gaps between the curtains, hitting Saitama's face. The previous night, he didn't even bother getting into bed and proceeded to sleep on the living room floor, partly because he felt lazy, but mainly due to hunger. His eyes squint open when the beam of sunlight hits them. He brings a hand up to rub his eyes and he sits up while yawning. He'll never admit this out loud, but one good thing about being bald is the lack of messy bed hair in the mornings.
His stomach grumbles, reminding him once again of his latest crisis.
He sighs out loud. This situation reminds him of his jobless days back on Earth. Day by day he scraped by on single cups of instant noodles. Shaking his head, he grabs the television control out of sheer habit and presses the button to turn it on. When the device's screen buzzes to life and illuminates his dimly lit room, he blankly stares at it before slowly blinking once. After several moments, he finally processes that his electricity is working again, so he sprints to his kitchen stove and turns the knob with great anticipation. Upon hearing the hiss of gas escaping and sparks igniting a flame, he pumps a fist into the air and uncharacteristically cheers out loud.
"YES!"
The news reporter displayed on the television goes over the previous night's events as Saitama heats up his pot of water and konbu.
"The investigations behind the horrific attack last night are still currently pending, but rest assured, the city officials are doing everything in their power to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible. While we wait for the official reports to be released, we can confirm that several sections of the city are under system lockdown due to infrastructure safety concerns. As such, services such as electrical power, gas, and water have been temporarily shut down in the following city sectors. As per emergency relief policies, all residents in the affected areas will be provided with proper housing and other necessities until further notice."
Saitama switches channels.
"- largest Grimm attack on the city to date. According to multiple witnesses and independent sources, the White Fang appear to be the ones behind the attack. Based on video evidence, creatures of Grimm were apparently being transported through air inside of stolen bullheads operated by the terrorists. How did these criminals manage to penetrate this deeply into Vale airspace without being intercepted? Just what in the world was the Atlas fleet doing? What kind of excuses will the military cook up in order to explain this crisis? All of us have questions, and very soon, we are going to need answers."
As the water comes up to a rolling boil, Saitama lazily clicks the remote to change the channel once again.
"A strange anomaly was spotted in the Emerald Forest. Due to the distance, we are unable to verify what this anomaly is. All we can conclusively say is that it is incredibly large."
"It's been less than a day and they sure are busy on the news stations," Saitama blankly mutters. "I guess this means it wasn't all that bad if that's the case. Hmm, should I add some more konbu?"
"Teacher. While there have been a number of studies that suggest a correlation between seaweed and combatting hair loss, they were all only in the preliminary stages of research. The sample sizes of the subjects were much too small to make any meaningful conclusion. Additionally, the test subjects were all in the process of losing their hair, but none of them were bald. Though there are some key nutritional benefits to consuming seaweed, I think you shouldn't put too much weight into-"
"Kuh!"
Saitama dramatically slams a fist against his counter as he resists the urge to cry while remembering Genos' long speech on the benefits and studies done on seaweed. Feeling thoroughly annoyed, he places another piece of konbu into the boiling pot.
"It's purely for the flavor," he lies to himself while intensely staring at the water.
He haphazardly organizes a variety of vegetables, mushrooms, and thinly sliced meat on a plate before setting it onto his table. Then, he opens a drawer and retrieves a bottle of soy sauce and ponzu. Apparently, one of the continents, Anima, has many cultural similarities to Earth's. Saitama was pleasantly surprised to discover that soy sauce, rice, konbu, and many other familiar culinary ingredients are being sold in a nearby supermarket. Many residents living in Vale have roots tracing back to Mistral. As a result, the importing market of goods from Anima is very healthy.
The pot boiling the konbu broth is missing its handle, which is why Saitama was able to get it for extremely cheap from a store. So with his bare hands, he grabs the sides of the hot surface without a care and brings it over to his table. He sits down and lightly smiles.
"Itadakimasu."
With a pair of chopsticks, he picks out vegetables and mushrooms to place into the broth to cook. As they are cooking, he mixes equal portions of soy sauce and ponzu into a small dish. Finally, he scoops up some meat and dunks it into the hot flavored liquid.
"Shabu shabu shabu."
In mere seconds, the meat cooks to perfection. Alongside the cooked vegetables, he dunks the combination into his sauce dish and brings the piping hot food up to his face. His nostrils twitch at the rich aroma emanating from the good and he subconsciously gulps due to excitement.
Just as he is about to take his bite, a sudden, loud knock on his apartment door startles him, making him fumble his bite of food onto his service plate.
"Ack! What the hell?!" He curses.
Another loud knock.
"Is anyone home?" A muffled voice calls out.
"... I told the newspaper company that I'm not interested," Saitama grits his teeth in annoyance.
"Are you sure that this is the right place?" A voice asks.
"Yes, I'm quite sure."
Saitama's eye violently twitches as he stands up and storms to his door before flinging it open.
"I don't need whatever you're selling! Get lost, you're bothering-"
He pauses.
Two familiar figures are standing on the other side of his door.
One is Ozpin, and the other is the mean looking blonde woman with glasses.
"Uh..."
Ozpin politely nods.
"Good morning, Mister Saitama."
"Right... good... morning?" He replies. "What's up?"
Glynda immediately feels irked by his nonchalant response. Maybe it is also due to the utterly blank or bored expression on his face.
"We're here due to-" she starts.
"Ah. Wait," Saitama interrupts. "Actually, you two want to just come inside?"
Without waiting for an answer, he turns around to head back inside while leaving the door open. Glynda stands there with her mouth slightly open while Ozpin lightly chuckles.
"Shall we take him up on that offer, Glynda? It would be much more comfortable to discuss the topics of interest while seated."
"... Yes, Professor," Glynda sighs.
The two Beacon professors step inside Saitama's apartment and take their shoes off before inviting themselves into a small living room. Saitama is setting down two canned beverages on the opposite side of the table and glances up at them.
"Here's some tea, if that's alright with you," he simply says before taking his seat.
The professors exchange looks as Saitama reheats the bite of food he'd dropped in the steaming broth.
'Is this some sort of Mistralian cuisine?' Glynda wonders. 'It is nothing like anything I'm familiar with, but the chopsticks and sauces are definitely reminiscent of Mistral...'
Saitama blows on the food to cool it down, not that he really needs to, and finally takes his first bite of food since yesterday's lunch. He chews and hums in satisfaction before swallowing. His mood is instantly uplifted and he is already feeling more energetic. As he reaches for another helping, he looks up at the two professors.
"So what brings you two all the way here?" He bluntly asks.
Glynda winces when she takes a sip of the canned tea. Ozpin, who was glancing at the television playing in the background, looks back at the bald hero.
"Is that not obvious?" He replies.
"Oh. Right. Last night," Saitama simply nods. "Yeah that was kind of crazy compared to how it usually is, I guess."
'... Kind of? ... I guess?' Glynda incredulously thinks.
Ozpin folds his fingers together.
"Your actions last night, Mister Saitama, are a key reason as to why this city is not a pile of rubble right now," he says with a serious expression. "That Tyrant Grimm alone would have destroyed Beacon Academy beyond repair, but I witnessed you defeat that monster with only a single blow. Have you any idea of how incredible of a feat that-"
"Hold up," Saitama interrupts. "... What's a Tyrant Grinch?"
"Grimm," Glynda corrects.
"Right," Saitama nods.
"Tyrants are a category of Grimm that have survived for an incredibly long time," Ozpin patiently explains. "At a certain point, a select few of them may mutate into what we refer as Tyrants. As the name implies, they are far superior to normal Grimm and are especially dangerous. The Wyvern species you defeated yesterday... should be on a level capable of putting a city under threat."
Saitama rubs his chin in thought.
"Guess that makes sense. It's the first one that didn't evaporate after one hit. I was kind of surprised by that."
Glynda's eyes are wide open. Ozpin, on the other hand, is far more composed.
"I would imagine," he lightly laughs. "Then, there is that woman you subdued. She is an extremely dangerous terrorist that wields great and terrible power. In terms of threat level, she is at around the same as the Tyrant. Perhaps even beyond. Yet, just like with the Tyrant, you defeated her with utter ease, Mister Saitama. Quite frankly, you are-"
"Stop for a moment," Saitama interrupts again with a serious expression.
A chill runs down the spines of Ozpin and Glynda when they feel an intense pressure radiating from Saitama. How can such heaviness be induced by a bald man wearing nothing but light blue pajamas?
"Can you stop calling me mister? That makes me sounds really old. I'm only 25 years old, you know."
"..."
"..."
Ozpin and Glynda can do nothing but blink in response.
'I'll... admit that it is hard to determine how old or young he is due to... his lack of hair. Only 25? That is barely any older than Academy graduates.'
Saitama suddenly feels irked. Somehow, he feels like someone is commentating about his head.
Ozpin clears his throat.
"On another note, I recall you mentioning that you are a refugee. No... you specifically said that you are a refugee of sorts. If you don't mind, can you clarify what you mean by that?"
Saitama lazily answers.
"Well, I'm not from this city originally, and when I came here I had nowhere to go. That makes me a refugee, right?"
Glynda resists the urge to pinch her brow.
"It is not that simple, Mist- Saitama. By those standards, tourists would fall under the category of refugees."
"Oh. Yeah, I guess you're right. My bad."
Glynda is at a loss for words upon hearing his nonchalant response.
From the side, Ozpin looks on with an amused look in his eyes. The personalities of Saitama and Glynda appears to be like water and oil. What makes it truly entertaining to watch is that Saitama is not acting this way on purpose for the sake of annoying Glynda, and she is painfully aware of that. Hence why she has yet to snap like she would when dealing with someone like Qrow, for example.
"Your profile states that you've been living in Vale for several months now. Unless you suddenly became this strong just recently, I find it hard to believe that no one has heard of you before," Ozpin says.
"But I'm not a celebrity," Saitama blankly responds. "Am I supposed to be well known here?"
"Well, when taking into account what you accomplished last night... Yes," Ozpin bluntly says. "What... have you been doing these last few months?"
"Um. I've been living in this apartment."
"I see... Then can you describe your daily routine?"
Saitama looks up in thought with a relaxed face.
"I wake up at around 9AM. Brush my teeth. Shower. Then have some breakfast. Usually, it includes some milk, because calcium is important, you know? Then at around noon, I'll have lunch. What I make depends on what's in the refrigerator. If I'm low on groceries, I'll head to the supermarket. When the sun starts to set, I'll start thinking about dinner. In my free time, I guess I'll watch some TV, read comics, or play games. Then, I go to sleep."
Ozpin merely stares at Saitama with an unreadable expression while Glynda is visibly baffled by how dull of a lifestyle this man lives.
"And... there is nothing else in particular that you might do?" The headmaster slowly asks.
Saitama thinks for a moment.
"Oh! Yeah, I almost forgot something."
The two professors slightly lean forward.
"If there's a bargain sale, I go to the supermarket even if my fridge is stocked up," Saitama says with a small, satisfied smile. "They really have some good deals sometimes."
"... Professor, I am not fully convinced that this man is completely sane," Glynda whispers under her breath.
Ozpin raises a hand to her while maintaining an amicable expression.
"So what was different last night? What made you deviate from what you normally do daily?"
"I dunno," Saitama shrugs. "I wanted a slight change of pace. It's not everyday you can go to a festival, and I wanted to check it out. Get some food. Watch some shows. Just festival things. Anyways, I just happened to be there when those Grinch things started attacking. It's not like I can just ignore something happening right in front of me. Normally, the police and hunter guys seem to have it under control, but it seems a little worse than usual yesterday night."
'This man must be doing this on purpose... Grinch and hunter guys... Or he's incredibly stupid...' Glynda thinks to herself.
"Only a little worse? She says in disbelief. "Last night's attack was one of, if not, the worst attack on Vale since the War. To say that it is only a little worse is an absurd claim to make Mist- Saitama."
'She keeps almost calling me mister. Is she messing around with me? The heck is wrong with her? Did she eat something wrong?'
Saitama thinks back on the countless times Z-City was destroyed by monsters on pretty much a weekly basis. Compared to what he saw last night, the two are not even remotely comparable.
'... Maybe I shouldn't even bother bringing that up. They might end up calling me Crazy Baldy or something.'
So, he decides to give his default answer.
"Okay."
"... E-Excuse me?"
Glynda is so taken aback that she forgets to be angry.
It is at this moment that Ozpin's pocket buzzes. The headmaster reaches in and checks his Scroll, breaking the silence. After reading the message, he looks back up at Saitama.
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid that we will have to end it here for today. We simply wanted to check up on you with this unannounced meeting," he says. "Glynda. The Council has called for an emergency meeting. Again."
Glynda sighs out.
"I'll have the reports ready for you as soon as we get back."
"Thank you for the tea and your time, Saitama," Ozpin nods as he and Glynda stand up. He hands a hand out towards the bald man.
"Perhaps we can arrange a proper meeting some time in the future?"
Saitama stares at the hand before taking it and standing up.
"Uh. Sure," he nods. "I have a lot of free time anyways. Lunch or dinner work for you? I still owe you a meal."
Ozpin's eyes flicker down onto the hand grasping Saitama's, and a curious glint flashes across his glasses for a brief moment.
"Yes. That sounds agreeable. Now, if you'll excuse us."
The two professors put their shoes on and leave Saitama's apartment unit. Once they are back out on the streets, Glynda glances at the headmaster.
"Is something bothering you, Professor?" She asks.
Ozpin strokes his chin as he continues to stare down at his hand.
"How... curious."
Glynda tilts her head.
"What is?"
"During my brief contact with Saitama, I attempted to probe the strength of his Aura with my own," he mutters.
"And what did you find?"
Ozpin chuckles.
"That is precisely why I am so puzzled. It is not what I found, but rather what I did not find."
Glynda's eyes grow wide as she processes what Ozpin just said.
"That man's Aura is not unlocked? You are telling me that he performed those feats without the aid of Aura?!"
Ozpin slowly shakes his head.
"You misunderstand, Glynda. Every living thing will display traces of Aura, whether it is locked or unlocked. With enough experience, anyone is capable of sensing these trace amounts no matter how faint. No... This instance with Saitama is very different."
"A-Are... you saying..."
Ozpin nods with a glint in his eyes.
"I sense nothing from him. Not a single spark of Aura was to be found. It felt like I was staring into a vast space, and I was nothing but a speck of dust."
"But that's impossible!" Glynda denies. "The only instances where Aura is not present is within inert objects like rocks or..."
"Creatures of Grimm," Ozpin finishes. "However, he is no Grimm, and I am fairly certain that he is not a rock either. This is why I am at a loss for words. What in the world is he?"
"Would... you like me to keep tabs on him?"
"... Yes, that may be for the best," Ozpin sighs. "My intuition tells me that he holds no malicious intent towards us or the city, but let us keep a close eye on our new acquaintance. The world truly is vast. Wouldn't you agree, Glynda?"
Saitama loudly sneezes as he'd cleaning dishes at the sink.
"Allergies?" He sniffs. "I hope it's not a cold or something. Or... maybe someone's gossiping about me. Just kidding."
In the background, the television continues to report about the previous night's events.
"Multiple eye witnesses have reported that an certain individual greatly reduced casualties on Beacon's festival grounds during the attack. For now, little is know about the man, but we have a single video clip that has been spreading through the net. The footage depicts this unknown man eradicating a swarm of Beowolves... in a split second."
Saitama turns towards the television. For some odd reason, this sounds vaguely familiar. On the screen, the reporter is doing her best in maintaining a professional and neutral expression, but the shock and awe is clear in her eyes. On the bottom right of the screen, an unfocused clip of Beowolves being evaporated in midair is repeating on a loop.
"A-As of now, the only major clues we have about this individual is his shiny, bald head, and-"
The reporter pauses and takes another look down at her notes.
"Bald... Menace? Um, are you sure that this is correct?"
The controller slips out from Saitama's hand and lands on the floor with a loud thud.
"... You're kidding me, right?"
