Light blinds Tatsumaki's eyes as she opens them. She was surrounded with nothing but emptiness, a plain white void that surrounds a black dot, her. Tatsumaki looked around the vast uninhabited void but could see nothing as her vision became blurry as blood began dripping down her head. Tatsumaki could sense that she was injured as wounds covered her like the monsters that she had defeated before, but she could not feel it as the numbness forbade her to feel anything anymore. She walked forward as her injured leg buckled each time she stepped forward, but she ignored it as the numbness and adrenaline she is receiving is keeping her moving.
For a while of her moving forward, she slipped and collapsed on the ground. She instinctively clutched her stomach tight to reduce the pain that she should be receiving but she didn't. She stared at her hands wondering if anything she is feeling is real before a dark purple portal appears in front of her. Tatsumaki wiped and rubbed the blood off her eyes as she squinted to see what's in the portal. She could not see anything, it's as if there's a brick black wall blocking anyone from the outside world to see through it and the only way you can see what's behind it, is to enter it yourself.
Tatsumaki is skeptical of the mysterious portal appearing in front of her but there's a sense of curiosity or an invisible force that is attracting her towards it. She slowly pulled herself up as her legs buckled as she struggles to stand up. She could never break her eyes away from it before a familiar voice snapped her back to reality.
"Onee-Chan! Don't go!" The voice desperately yelled, emotional.
Tatsumaki struggled but slowly turned her injured body around before lifting her head up to see a familiar face: Fubuki. Fubuki's forehead was dripping blood as parts of her well-designed and expensive dress were torn and burnt but that didn't stop Fubuki from running towards Tatsumaki at full speed with high heels no less.
"Fubuki! W-Why are you here? Why are you bleeding? I swear I'll destroy everyone who touches you!" Tatsumaki roared. But Fubuki's expression was unfazed as if Fubuki was not intimidated by Tatsumaki. Tatsumaki slowly touched her lips realizing that her words didn't even exit her mouth. It's as if she was not in control of her own body anymore, it's as if she was just a passenger. Before she could say another word, her face instinctively smiled at Fubuki before her lips began to move on their own.
"I have to Fubuki," Her body expressed confidently.
"I know you care about him! But he doesn't need your help!" Fubuki pleaded, as tears began to water down her delicate eyes like a giant waterfall, "You're at your limit! You will die!"
Tatsumaki could only contain her emotions even if she is just a passenger over her body. She has never seen Fubuki this expressive or emotional towards her for this long, even crying desperately for her to be with her no less. But as she stares deep into Fubuki's teary eyes, her body decides to move back towards the now shrunken portal.
"I may be at my limit in power, but who decides where my limit is as a person?" Her body expressed, as her legs began moving forward towards the portal.
"Onee-Chan! Don't! You're the only family member I have lef-" Fubuki pleaded, before her voice slowly fades away as Tatsumaki enters the portal which immediately closed itself when she entered it. It was pitched black. Darkness is the only thing Tatsumaki can see as if hope doesn't exist in the dictionary in this world. She could see nothing but darkness, she couldn't even see her own arms or hands before a small lingering light was floating directly in front of her. It was small, minuscule even, a ray of hope at least is floating in front of her, flashing on and off slowly. The tiny speck of light is slowly but exponentially flashing on and off as each time it turns on, the light inside grows brighter and brighter before a wave of light explodes out from its containment blinding its surroundings and Tatsumaki before…
Tatsumaki bolts right up, sweating profusely, panting even as she grips the blanket as hard as she could over the terrible encounter she has just witnessed. As Tatsumaki was catching back her breath, she slowly glanced around the now unfamiliar room. It was clean, modern, and empty. The only thing that represents the person living here is a small grown cactus at the corner of the room with just a single ray of light shining at it from the gaps of the curtains from the window. A well-ironed and clean yellow jumpsuit, red gloves, and a bright white cape which is hanging from an open closet. Tatsumaki slowly processed the newly acquired information before touching her forehead, feeling the dry crusted blood as if someone has wiped it off recently. She slowly rubbed her temple with both her hands to get rid of the headache she has just received so she could finally understand where she was before a small knock on her door stopped her movement and thinking.
"Ms. Tornado, I see that you are finally awake from your slumber," Genos announced, opening the door with his back as he carries a tray full of food with both his hands.
"T-Tin Can! Why are you here?! Where am I?!" Tatsumaki ordered, frightened as she grabs the blanket to cover herself.
"I see that you do not remember what has happened last night," Genos replied, confidently as he slowly placed the tray full of delicious food on Tatsumaki's covered lap, "Here is a full English breakfast, caramelized french toast, freshly brewed coffee, and a single glazed candy apple."
Tatsumaki slowly looked over the blanket which she used to cover herself before staring at the delicious food that was bestowed on her. She doesn't remember a single thing that has happened last night but she could not think without an empty stomach. She couldn't resist the food as she began to drool before immediately digging in on the food like a giant predator who found its prey.
"W-Why are you doing this?" Tatsumaki questioned as she stuffed more food into her mouth.
"Sensei ordered me to cook you a full breakfast for the morning as he knew that you hadn't eaten anything last night," Genos replied before walking towards the cactus to water it.
"B-Badly?! What happened last night! Did he do something with me?!" Tatsumaki questioned, as she concentrated on Genos, "Oh god, don't tell me he did something with me."
"How much did you remember Ms. Tornado?" Genos asked, as he slowly finished watering the cactus before walking towards the bed, sitting at the end of it.
"I...I-I only remember being on top of Baldy's shoulder for one second, and the next, I was staring at him before blacking out," Tatsumaki replied as her voice trembled.
"I see, well I could tell you that you blacked out due to you consuming two shots of the God Killer Sake," Genos explained, "And shortly after, you uncontrollably tried to kill us all."
"W-What?!" Tatsumaki screamed, as she stared closer at Genos' expressionless face.
"Although it is technically my fault for instigating this type of reaction, but thankfully, Sensei decided to step in and stop you before you destroy anything important," Genos explained before slowly turning his head to face Tatsumaki's shocked one.
"Wait, he stopped me how? Like he knocked me out?" Tatsumaki guessed, "A-And what did you do you worthless Tin-Can?"
"I asked Bang why you became a hero but before Bang could say anything you instinctively lit up and attacked us," Genos revealed, "And no, Sensei didn't knock you out since he stated that it was too cruel."
"So h-how?" Tatsumaki interrogated as she slowly moved closer to Genos with her eyebrows raised.
"I do not understand what he did as this is a human-contact thing," Genos explained as he stared deep into Tatsumaki's emerald green eyes, "My understanding is that he hugged you and patted you like his dog Rover before you dimmed down and collapsed on him."
"W-What?!" Tatsumaki yelled, glowing brighter and brighter by the second as she jumped out of the bed, throwing the tray full of food away from her before Genos quickly caught all of it.
"Calm down Ms. Tornado," Genos exclaimed, placing back down the food on the bed.
"What did he do afterward?!" Tatsumaki demanded, "I never felt this vulnerable and once again, I reached a new limit of vulnerability and I did it in front of him again."
"He placed you into his bed while he slept outside on the sofa," Genos explained, "And ordered me to prepare you a full breakfast."
"H-He gave me his bed?" Tatsumaki replied, shocked by Saitama's sudden generosity towards her, "Is he stupid? Why would he do that?"
"Saitama-Sensei is not stupid, I believed he saw through you and thought you deserved it," Genos revealed, as Tatsumaki slowly dimmed back down, "I believe he cares about your well-being and health so he ordered me to prepare you a breakfast in the morning."
"Why does he do this? Does he think I'm weak and he's doing this to humiliate me or does he care about me?" Tatsumaki wondered. "We just fought a few days ago and he's treating me like I'm paying him to do this. Is this his way of getting back at me? I think it is but I don't feel like he's doing this to humiliate me."
"Sigh, give this idiot Baldy my t-thanks and leave the room," Tatsumaki hesitantly ordered, as she slowly plopped herself back down before grabbing her fork, "I'll leave after this meal and I hope I will never see his bald head again."
Genos nodded, before slowly getting up and exiting the room. Tatsumaki now satisfied began finishing his meal as she rubbed her head to stop her aching headache. She slowly left the bedroom as she starts to struggle to keep herself afloat. "Dammit, I'm still recovering and what happened last night is putting me at my limit," Tatsumaki cursed herself before floating towards the front door and exiting it before staring at the person she wished she didn't have to see today.
"Good morning, Ms. Tornado of Terror," Amai Mask announced with a bright smile on his face.
"What do you want Sour Mask?" Tatsumaki demanded, annoyed that she had to even hear his voice.
"I'm here on a trip to visit Saitama aka Caped Baldy as I heard he moved here in this apartment," Amai Mask confidently explained, before looking over Tatsumaki shoulder to see the apartment number, "Now that you mentioned it, what were you doing in his apartment, did you and Saitama do something?"
Tatsumaki's cheeks started to glow bright red over what Amai Mask said. She knew it was a misunderstanding and knew Amai Mask is going to spread rumors if Tatsumaki said the wrong words but even so, Amai Mask is going to spread it in his way anyways.
"Hmph! I'm only here to visit Genos and talk about some Class S assignments that you aren't a part of," Tatsumaki boasted, crossing her arms.
"Really? I wouldn't be surprised if that was a lie," Amai Mask claimed, with his eyebrows raised, "It'll make sense if you found an interest in Saitama as I also have."
"Hmph! You have an interest in Saitama?" Tatsumaki questioned, curiosity flowing through her.
"Obviously! After the battle with the Monster Association, I took a keen interest in Saitama, and with my help, I will create a magnificent hero out of him," Amai Mask explained, cheerfully, "And with him getting with you, well, you won't be much of a Tornado of Terror."
"What?!" Tatsumaki replied, furiously as she started to glow before ascending to the air.
"Why are you so angry? Is it because what I said was the truth?" Amai Mask questioned, curiously, "Don't tell me something happened with you and Saitama last night? Well, he is strong so it might happe-"
"Shut u-" Tatsumaki screamed with her glowing aura on maximum before instantly dimming down as she collapsed on the ground in front of Amai Mask.
"Well, even without him you're still not much of a Tornado of Terror anyways," Amai Mask chuckled over how weak Tatsumaki is looking in front of him.
"Shut it! I swear if I was fully recovered, I will destroy that face of yours!" Tatsumaki cursed as blood begins to drip down her forehead over her overuse of power.
"Sure! If you don't want to play hero again? I will gladly take it from the ex-Tornado of Terror," Amai Mask laughed before leaning down in front of her, ready to make another joke before a loud Ding was heard behind them.
The elevator slowly begins to open before a familiar bald-headed hero is seen, wearing his signature Oppai hoodie while holding two big bags of groceries with both his hands, looking expressionless as always. He slowly stared at the two before giving a wave.
"Yo Tats! Why are you out here? Are you okay?" Saitama exclaimed.
"T-Tats? That just makes me confirm my speculations even more!" Amai Mask laughed, before leaning down towards Tatsumaki, "I'm glad someone like you can see the beauty of love."
"I will kill you!" Tatsumaki muttered.
As Saitama slowly walked towards the two with his expressionless face, Amai Mask stopped him by walking in front of him to introduce himself.
"Good Morning Saitama aka Caped Baldy, I'm Sweet Mask, Class A Rank 1," Amai Mask announced, giving his signature bow, "I like to discuss something with you that the Hero Association is planning to do."
"Hm? Not interested," Saitama plainly replied before walking by him to see Tatsumaki. Saitama then slowly placed his two groceries bags leaning against his apartment door before pulling out some tissue paper to treat Tatsumaki's bleeding forehead.
"I didn't ask for your help Badly," Tatsumaki quietly stated as she is too weak to even move.
"You don't need to ask to receive help," Saitama plainly explained as he kept wiping the blood off her.
"I'm surprised that someone cares for you, Tornado of Terror," Amai Mask expressed, "That's the kind of person I would like to train."
Saitama crunched up the bloody tissue paper before putting it in his pocket. He then slowly got back up to face Amai Mask's chuckling face. Amai Mask then starts to walk towards Saitama and Tatsumaki, chuckling along the way before exclaiming,
"This will give me much credibility when the Hero Association hears about Tatsumaki being saved by a Class A no les-" Amai Mask exclaimed before being cut off.
"Shut up," Saitama plainly stated, standing right up in front of Amai Mask as Tatsumaki's eyes begin to widen as she hears Saitama being for once serious and it's because of her. Tatsumaki could feel the room change as she could see the powerful red aura emitting from Saitama's body. Amai Mask could feel the sudden change as well as he becomes hesitant in his movements and words as he slowly walks up to Saitama.
"Saitama, I am willing to talk to you about training you into an ideal hero," Amai Mask explained, handing out a contract paper in front of him.
"Not interested," Saitama stated.
"Saitama please reconsider your thoughts, I'm here to give people hope of a well-respected hero like me," Amai Mask explained, "With me helping you, I guarantee you'll be the definition of justice in the world."
"Sorry, but I'm not interested in all of this," Saitama once again plainly stated.
"B-But what about your status-quo? Your hero name? Popularity? Fan mail? E-Even money?" Amai Mask explained desperately, "I can make you into a superhero! I can make you a lot of money, famous even, even more popular than me! An ideal hero that the world needs!"
"Why did you become a hero?" Saitama plainly questioned, his growing red aura screaming strength and justice encasing Amai Mask inside, "Did you do it for something in return? If you're helping people for that then you're doing a business rather than kindness. Even telemarketers are better than that."
"I-I, No that is not the reason on why I became a hero, but forget about me," Amai Mask hesitantly explained, wiping the sweat off his forehead, "I came here to help you because I believed that someone like you deserves fame as in the future, I won't be myself anymore."
Tatsumaki couldn't believe her eyes. Amai Mask struggling to even speak coherently towards someone and Saitama standing up for her when she's down. She didn't need his help and no one will even bother to help her as she is the most powerful Esper in the world but Saitama? Saitama causally stood up for her and for the first time, being serious about his surroundings.
"Why does he even do this? Why doesn't he hate me?" Tatsumaki wondered, staring at Saitama's serious expression as he stood in front of her, "It doesn't make sense! Why does he even care?"
"Stop caring about what your surroundings think of you," Saitama stated, putting his hand on Amai Mask's shoulder as he reverts back to his expressionless face, "Besides, someone needs my help."
Saitama then slowly lets go of his hand on Amai Mask before turning his back on him to walk towards Tatsumaki still on the ground and shocked by what Saitama did. The room is still encased with Saitama's red fiery aura, still screaming strength and justice but it's slowly dimming down.
"Wait! I'm not don-" Amai Mask exclaimed, pulling out his arm to grab Saitama before Saitama turned his head around staring deep into Amai Mask's bright blue eyes with his serious face as the aura around him begins to grow as the room tension starts to become too intense for Amai Mask to handle.
"I...I-I'll let you take care of her, but I would like you to come talk to me when you're done at the Grand Amusement Park in I-City," Amai Mask hesitantly explained, hoping that Saitama will at least give him a positive answer.
"Sure!" Saitama exclaimed, as the aura around him instantly disappeared.
"Thank you Saitama," Amai Mask exclaimed, relieved that his encounter with him has at least a positive return. As Amai Mask finishes his thanks, he turns around and quickly entered the elevator before anything happens again.
Saitama then slowly kneels down in front of Tatsumaki's stunned and embarrassed face before Saitama gently picked her up. "H-Hey! Let go of me! I don't need your help! Stupid Badly!" Tatsumaki yelled, but it was useless as she was too weak to even retaliate.
"You're literally too weak to even move and I'm not letting someone, much less a child be by herself in the hallway," Saitama explained, wiping more of the blood off her forehead, "Plus, that guy was a bit annoying towards you so I want to deal with that as well."
Tatsumaki was stunned. First his generosity of giving up his bed to her and even ordering Genos to cook her a full breakfast meal, and next, him standing up for her and dealing with that annoying Sweet Mask. Tatsumaki couldn't even hold her laugh over how vulnerable Sweet Mask is when talking to someone like Saitama but she could say the same thing to herself. But for now, she is starting to enjoy Saitama's company.
"T-Thanks," Tatsumaki quietly muttered as she leaned back towards Saitama's chest. Saitama, now satisfied with his cleaning service of Tatsumaki's forehead, opens the door and gives a big wave to Genos' shocked face.
"Yo Genos! Could you bring my groceries inside? It's in the hallway. I have a little problem on my hands that I have to deal with," Saitama exclaimed, holding the tired and weak Tornado of Terror in his hands.
"Yes Sensei!" Genos acknowledge before running outside to the hallway.
Saitama then slowly walked into his room before gently putting Tatsumaki in bed before some unfortunate resistance. "H-Hey! I'm not a baby, I don't need more rest! I rested enough already!" Tatsumaki protested, moving around in his arms to resist him.
"You collapsed more than twice in a few days, It'll be better if you just rest and not move," Saitama explained, as Tatsumaki is still moving around in his arms, "I'll let you leave once you healed but you're staying right here before then, I don't want to see a bleeding girl out in the hallway."
"Sigh, Why do you even do this to me," Tatsumaki questioned as she relaxes before being slowly placed back into bed, "I'm not even nice to you, or even friends with you; not to mention, we fought before, why don't you hate me?"
"I don't hate you. That incident with Fubuki is nothing, it's just you letting off some steam and I understand that," Saitama explained, as he begins covering Tatsumaki with a blanket, "You're not much different to Genos, or anyone else really, sometimes you just need to accept the fact that you need some help."
Tatsumaki sighed as she started to give up hope in understanding him. "He helps people when they are down. This I hope Saitama will be able to explain to you." Tatsumaki wondered back to Bang's word. "Maybe that old fool is right," Tatsumaki silently muttered, before Saitama heard her voice.
"Hm? Did you say something?" Saitama questioned.
"U-Uh no it's nothing. T-Thank you Bal-Saitama," Tatsumaki hesitantly exclaimed, embarrassed over the fact that someone has to see her like this.
"No problem Tats, I'm going to go see that Sweet Mask person now," Saitama explained, opening the bedroom door, "I'll tell Genos to cook you lunch later, but now get some rest." Before pointing directly at Tatsumaki's pouting face.
"W-Wait you're seeing him? Didn't you say he's annoying?" Tatsumaki questioned, confused.
"I'll see him anyways," Saitama plainly stated, before slowly closing the door behind him, "Besides, he's not much different to anyone else."
Author's note:
Well, another chapter is done, that was an interesting chapter to write, even though I have been anticipating this chapter for a while. But an important question that I would like you all to give your opinion on is: Do you think it'll be right for me to explain what happens between Amai Mask and Saitama even though it's honestly just in the webcomic? Is it better for me to explain a bit of it and adapt parts of it or not say anything about it at all and just skip it? Since I'd expect you all reading this to have read up to the latest chapter of the webcomic. My plan is to explain it but just vaguely so I don't know.
Anyways that's all I got to say so see you all in the next chapter.
