"ONE PUNCH ONE PUNCH ONE PUNCH ONE PUNCH ONE PUNCH ONE PUNCH ONE PUNCH!" The fans outside screamed and cheered though SOMEHOW seeming to be louder and more energetic than usual, which could easily be associated with the events of yesterday.
After having retreated to Saitama's abode the group simply sat around the table and started a conversation. Or at least that was the plan but before they could get into it the horde of people outside which was still growing mind you began to cheer their usual chant which while annoying Saitama per the norm also began to take it's toll on the others even Genos.
"How can you stand that?!" Tatsumaki asked as her annoyance very swiftly evolved into rage.
"It's like bad weather." Saitama answered with a shrug "At first it's annoying but as it keeps happening you just learn to deal with it." He explained.
"Don't they know this is harassment?" Genos asked.
"Do you think they care?" Saitama returned with his own question.
"How come you've never told them to stop before Saitama?" Fubuki asked "I'm sure they would listen." She added.
"Oh they definitely would." He assured her "But the last time I told someone to do something it was blown WAY out of proportion." He explained.
"How so?" She asked.
"Hmm..." He hummed trying to pick but one example out of the countless he could remember "One time when I was shopping I asked a stock boy where I could find this marked down product they had advertised but when I did he got all pale faced and scared before running away." He began.
"Why'd he do that?" Mutsuko asked.
"I'm getting to that." He replied before continuing "So I was just kinda standing there for a few seconds trying to figure out what just happened but in an instant the store's manager had run up to me and began apologizing that the item had quickly been sold out earlier meaning they had none left." He explained.
"Wow that does sound annoying." Tatsumaki commented.
"I'm not done." He told her before resuming "Of course the moment the guy started apologizing to me at light speed I tried to calm him down by saying it was no big deal that I didn't really NEED the item I was just hoping to get it since it was on sale, but he didn't seem to hear me or maybe he just didn't care because after I said that he ran away only to come back with a cart filled with all sorts of different items saying that he'd be honored to give all of that to me for free." He finished leaning back on his hands as he did.
"Wow." Fubuki said as she crossed her arms "That's...incredibly stupid." She admitted earning a nod in agreement from the others.
"Yeah why'd he make such a big deal out of it?" Tatsumaki asked.
"Because I'm me." Saitama simply answered "And the first thing people think about whenever I'm upset or I just don't get what I was hoping to is that I'll hurt them and given my strength that would pretty much mean death." He explained.
"But they should know you'd never hurt them right?" Mutsuko asked.
"You'd think." He replied "But I guess when you're as strong as me it doesn't really matter if you're a hero, villain, or monster everyone's always gonna be a little scared of you even if they cheer your name they'll still fear you." He explained.
Silence filled the air as everyone thought on that response for while it did make sense it at the same time didn't apply to them which they found odd. It was true that with Saitama's strength even if he wasn't a hero but something as harmless as a farmer or even a florist people would still be afraid of him. And maybe just maybe this was why he was loved so much not just because he was a hero and saved lives but also because people thought that if he ever felt like he was underappreciated or even just ignored that he'd use his strength against them. But then there was this lot King included who didn't feel fear even after seeing his strongest punch yesterday they still didn't have an ounce of fear to be found.
Perhaps the reason for this though was they actually KNEW Saitama, he wasn't just a hero on a poster or an action figure in a store he was a person that had hobbies, interests, and a personality. Yet how would anyone really know that, as the only things people ever seemed to care about in regards to him was solely his strength, even in all of the interviews he's done they never once asked him anything about his life or himself, they only seemed to show interest in his hero work and nothing more.
"...Saitama." Tatsumaki spoke being the first to break the silence.
"Yeah?" He responded.
"You said that we're your friends, yet we don't really know anything about you." She said "So would you mind telling us some things about yourself?" She asked.
Upon that question being asked it seemed as though everyone's eyes immediately fixated themselves on him however before he could give a response the sound of his and Tatsumaki's phones ringing filled the air causing them to take them out and look at them.
"It's from the association." They said in unison before proceeding to answer the call "Hello?" They answered once again in unison.
Letting whoever was on each end speak to them Genos, Fubuki, and Mutsuko exchanged a quick glance to one another wondering what was going on.
"Uh huh...uh huh...okay...bye." They said in unison for the third time in a row before hanging up.
"What was that about?" Fubuki asked unsure as to why the association would be calling them both.
"Apparently there's a meteor heading straight for City Z." Tatsumaki answered in a nonchalant tone ending their unison streak as she did.
"Wait what?!" Both she and Mutsuko asked with widened eyes though Genos seemed to be unaffected.
"Yeah it suddenly changed course and now it's coming here." Saitama explained with a shrug.
"And the association called you to deal with it?" Genos asked receiving a nod in response.
"Yup." Saitama simply answered.
"Then shouldn't you two be going to try and stop it?" Mutsuko asked
"Eh we could." Tatsumaki replied as she looked to the ceiling "But it's just a giant rock I'm sure someone else can deal with it." She added.
"But if they called you that means only S class heroes can handle it so you have to go!" Fubuki argued.
"The way I see it." Saitama began as to get their attention "Metal Knight's probably gonna test a weapon or something on it so we should be fine." He reasoned.
"Yeah but he's always just blowing stuff up he might somehow screw it up." Tatsumaki chimed in.
"Wait." He said before looking to her "Now you suddenly want to go?" He asked.
"No, but it's like I said all Metal Knight ever does is blow things up he might actually do more harm than good, given how much firepower he'd need to destroy the meteor." She explained.
Taking a moment to think on that Saitama found himself agreeing with that argument as there wasn't a single time he could recall where Metal Knight hadn't just gone all out and decimated everything in sight.
"Yeah you're right." He agreed "I guess that means we should go then?" He suggested.
"Eh we'll watch from the ground." She said before rising to her feet "And if he screws it up THEN we'll step in." She added.
"Alright." He agreed as he too rose from his seat "Let me get changed and then we'll leave." He told her before picking his costume up from the floor and going to the bathroom.
Once he was inside and the door was closed shut Tatsumaki looked to the others who returned her gaze with their own.
"You guys wanna come?" She asked causing Mutsuko and Fubuki's eyes to widen but just as before Genos seemed to be unaffected.
"You want us to come?" Her sister asked causing her to make an annoyed face in response.
"Yes that's why I just ASKED you." Tatsumaki answered.
"But won't we get in the way?" Mutsuko asked.
"Do you PLAN to get in our way?" Tatsumaki asked in return.
"No." Both women answered.
"Then we have no issue." Tatsumaki assured them before looking to Genos "How bout you?" She asked.
"If it really is no issue." He replied "I need to try and witness every display of strength Saitama shows so I can gain more precise measurements of his abilities." He explained.
Just then the sound of the bathroom's door sliding open was heard and as they looked towards the cause they of course found Saitama now fully dressed in his costume.
"Alright let's go." He said while looking to them pulling on one of his gloves as he did.
One might think that upon being notified that a massive meteor was hurtling towards the planet that the air would be filled with honking of horns and the screams of the masses. But as Saitama and friends made their way further into the city they noticed that it was surprisingly quiet.
"You'd think it'd be really noisy out here." Saitama commented as he looked around.
"They're probably all jammed up on the outskirts of the city trying to get out." Fubuki suggested.
"Or maybe Metal Knight's already fired his missiles and it killed everyone." Tatsumaki suggested which caused everyone except for Genos to look at her with a bit of a surprised expression.
"That's a little dark don't you think?" Mutsuko asked "And why would he kill any civilians, even if it is by accident?" She added.
"Because he simply doesn't care." Tatsumaki answered with a shrug "Sure he might call himself a hero but that's only so he can blow up and shoot anything he wants to without getting in trouble." She explained.
"She does have a point." Saitama agreed "Even when it's something as simple as a tiger level threat if he has some new invention to test he'll do it regardless if he leaves a crater or not." He explained.
"Shouldn't the association take more action against this then?" Genos asked "If he's doing more harm than good with his actions he should be punished or demoted." He added.
"Yeah but the association's run by a bunch of idiots, excluding Agoni of course." Tatsumaki answered "But since he's busy with all sorts of junk like law enforcement agencies and politics he doesn't really have any time to deal with decisions regarding heroes even S class." She explained.
However before their conversation could continue the sound of an explosion which could only be compared to a nuclear detonation reached their ears followed by the sounds of breaking glass and even breaking concrete. Looking towards the origin of the sound which was the sky above they saw a massive black cloud of smoke with a touch of red here and there filling the air with only but a few dissipating trails of smoke leading to it as an explanation.
"Whoa..." Fubuki and Mutsuko said in unison as they stared in awe at the sight above.
"From the sheer size of the smoke cloud it is safe to assume the detonation consisted of several nuclear devices." Genos stated as he was busy scanning it for information.
"Yup that sounds about right." Both Saitama and Tatsumaki said in unison.
Unfortunately though after a few seconds went by the smoke was cleared by the meteor which was no doubt the target.
"Aaaaaand he screwed up." Tatsumaki said with a scoff "How predictable." She added.
"Whelp guess I'll have to deal with it then." Saitama said as he continued walking "And here I was hoping to just go back home." He added.
"What should we do?" Mutusko asked as they began to follow.
"I'm pretty sure I can just punch that thing and that'll be it." He replied.
"But what if it breaks apart?" Genos asked "Will you be able to deal with the pieces that separate?" He added.
"That's why I'M here." Tatsumaki answered "Should the meteor not be completely obliterated by Saitama I'll just catch whatever's left." She explained.
"Are you sure you'll be able to get it all Tatsumaki?" Fubuki asked which seemed to set her sister off.
"OF COURSE I WILL!" She shouted before pointing to her sibling "DO YOU THINK SOME STUPID ROCK IS TOO MUCH FOR ME?!" She questioned which caused her sister to sigh.
"No of course not Tatsumaki." Fubuki answered immediately regretting her question "It's just that you don't know how many pieces are going to split off so you might not get them all." She explained.
"I'LL GET THEM ALL JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE!" Tatsumaki shouted before looking to Saitama "COME ON SAITAMA LET'S HURRY UP AND-" She began to say before stopping mid sentence.
For you see although it took her a moment due to her angered state she noticed that where Saitama was supposed to be he wasn't.
"What the, where'd he go?!" She asked not looking to the others for an answer.
"Um...we...honestly don't know..." Mutsuko answered for the group though reluctantly as she knew the answer would no doubt anger her again.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?!" Tatsumaki questioned angrily as Mutsuko predicted.
"It seemed like he saw someone." Genos answered as he pointed to a building down the street "He was looking at the meteor but then his gaze shifted and in an instant he vanished." He explained.
"WELL LET'S GO AFTER HIM THEN!" She ordered as she lifted Genos into the air with her ESP "LEAD THE WAY BLONDIE!" She added.
"Blondie?" He wondered as the nickname was highly unoriginal.
"So you're the only other one to show up huh Bang?" Saitama asked earning a nod in response from the other.
"It seems that way, though to be fair Metal Knight never really shows up he just sends one of his machines." Bang answered.
"Yeah that's true." Saitama agreed as he brought a hand to his chin "Come to think of it I don't think I've ever even seen him in person." He admitted.
"No one has." Bang replied "Metal Knight keeps to himself, even more so than Zombieman, Drive Knight, or even you for that matter." He continued before shifting his gaze to the meteor which was still coming towards the planet "By the way Saitama you are planning on punching the meteor right? because I don't think there's too much that I can do." He asked.
"I'm just waiting for my friends to get here." Saitama answered as he too looked towards the massive object "But it is getting pretty close...I'll give them a few more seconds THEN I'll punch it." He decided.
Thankfully he wouldn't need to wait long as without warning the roof's access door was sent flying from it's frame and as both men looked to said frame to find the cause they found none other than Mutsuko standing where it once did with the others behind her.
"We could've just opened it." Fubuki told her unsure as to why she needed to send the door across the roof.
"Yeah but that was way more fun." Mutsuko replied with a shrug of her shoulders causing the other to sigh.
"Hey guys." Saitama greeted but was unable to say more as Tatsumaki was suddenly in his face.
"WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO JUST RUN OFF LIKE THAT?! She asked with her hands on her hips.
"I saw Bang standing up here and I wanted to say hi." Saitama answered which only seemed to anger her more.
"SERIOUSLY?!" She asked ready to give him an earful.
"Excuse me." Bang spoke causing her to move her enraged stare onto him.
"WHAT?!" She replied.
Choosing not to respond with words Bang simply pointed to the sky which caused everyone to look up and see the meteor nearly upon them.
"I think we have more pressing matters to attend to." He said as he to now looked to the sky.
"Sounds good to me." Saitama replied before jumping into the air.
Though to call what Saitama did jumping wasn't really accurate, more so it was like a rocket meant for space had taken off as the moment he left the roof the force and power behind the jump nearly shattered the roof. Watching on with wide eyed expressions at how fast and high he was going they saw him begin to rear back his fist as he and the meteor got closer.
"You are not..." He began to say as he tightened his fist "Gonna fall..." He continued as the muscles in his arm flexed "ON MY TOWN!" He shouted as but mere inches away from the flaming rock he threw his fist forward making contact with it.
Yet instead of shattering it immediately as everyone was expecting their eyes were widened even more and there mouths now hung open as what transpired they couldn't believe. While the actual speed of the meteor none of them could have know except for Genos if he so desired the fact remains it was traveling at very high speeds yet with a single jump and punch Saitama went straight through showing that the speed in which he was going was far greater. Sadly they didn't have long to revel in this astounding sight as the moment their friend had broken through the meteor a blue light seemed to shine from within just before it shattered lighting up the sky as it did. Unfortunately while this moment was one to behold both due to what led up to it and the simple beauty of the light everyone noticed that while the meteor itself had been destroyed several pieces had been sent flying in all directions threatening to still destroy the city.
"Tsk if only Metal Knight saved those stupid missiles of his..." Tatsumaki thought as she closed her eyes a sigh escaping her as she did "But luckily I'm here." She said to herself as she began to use her powers.
Before they could even get close to any of the buildings including the tall office buildings nearby all of the pieces suddenly had a green aura encase them which caused them to stop in mid air.
"Nice work Tornado." Bang complimented earning a small scoff from her in response.
"This isn't even something I'd consider child's play." She replied before looking over her shoulder "Hey, you guys wanna destroy them?" She asked causing Mutsuko and Fubuki but of course not Genos to look at her surprised.
"Wait really?" Fubuki asked earning a nod from her sister.
"Like I said this isn't even something I'd care enough to deal with personally." She explained "Plus you guys didn't really do anything so I figured you might want SOMETHING to do." She added.
Not seeming to need a moment or so to think upon it Mutsuko, Genos, and Fubuki all in their own way began to destroy the floating pieces. Though as Bang and Tatsumaki watched on and waited for the task to be complete neither they nor the trio once wondered what became of Saitama after he destroyed the meteor. Which in all fairness wouldn't have been the most mind boggling of questions as the moment Saitama landed on the ground he took a moment to make sure his clothes hadn't been damaged before proceeding to walk away and head back home. And so as Genos continues to disintegrate the pieces with his flames, Mustsuko sliced them to pieces, Fubuki using her own ESP broke them apart into pebbles, and Tatsumaki ensuring that the pieces would stay in place the citizens of City Z had not only Saitama to thank for saving the day but them as well.
Which in no way, shape, or form could POSSIBLY come back to bite them on the butt later...right?