A/N: Note: this chapter actually takes place before the series began. It probably happened a week before the school year began, so, most likely, around a month before the series began. That means it takes place before Saitama joined the HA or met Genos and Ayano.

Also, I want to make some of the s2 OVAs into extra chapters, but half of them haven't come out yet. Or at least, they aren't anywhere I can find them. There is the one with Garou vs Suiryu (games and rivals), maybe you guys would like to see Ayano vs Suiryu or something? XD In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"Big bro, do we have to?"

Taro nodded, sighing at his sister's slumped shoulders.

"Yeah, we do," he said, as the siblings went onto the escalator. "You need all of this for school next year. Mom and Dad said so."

"Why can't I just go to Akademi like you?" Hanako asked, eyes pleading.

Taro tried to figure out the nicest way to tell the truth to his sister. Truthfully, her grades had not been good enough to get her into the prestigious academy. But how was Taro going to tell her that? It would break her heart.

"Well, that's because you're special, and you need to go to a special school," Taro explained, gently. "Now, let's go and see all the cool pencil cases, huh?"

Hanako nodded, face lighting up at the thought of a cute pencil case. As the escalator reached the floor, the siblings got off, headed to the stationary store. Thankfully, the mall was not too crowded, which was good for Hanako, who did not enjoy crowds.

"Hey, big bro, look!" Hanako pointed at a man. "That weirdo is bald!"

Taro looked in the direction she was pointing, and indeed, saw a strangely dressed bald man holding some cheap groceries, standing outside a store with a massive sale. He looked like a knock-off hero.

"Hanako," Taro scolded, "it's very rude to point out someone's physical appearance like that! He could've had cancer or something!"

"Huh?" the guy turned and stared at them. "Are you talking about me?"

Taro waved his hands. "Um-"

"Yeah!" Hanako chirped. "You look like a bald weirdo!"

"Hanako!" Taro grumbled.

The man glowered. "Hey! It's not my fault I'm bald! No need to point it out!"

"We're really sorry, sir," Taro said, bowing. He grabbed his sister's head. "Hanako! Apologise!"

"Sorry, Mr. Bald man," Hanako said.

Tarp decided to drag himself and his sister away after that. As much as he loved her, she could be incredibly embarrassing at times.

"He was funny," Hanako giggled. "He looked like a weirdo."

"Hanako, honestly," Taro sighed.

The two made it to the stationary store. Inside, there were multiple stationery items on display. Hanako, of course, chose a cute pink pencil case, and some sparkly pink pencils. They purchased the objects and left the store.

"Now for the folders," Taro said. "They've got some really good ones at the store down this way…"

He trailed off, eyes widening.

"Big bro?" Hanako tugged his sleeve. "What's wrong?"

"Is that… Blizzard of Hell?" he asked.

Indeed, up ahead was a woman in a green dress. The woman had short, dark green hair in a bob, and wore a fur coat. Beside her was a girl who looked around 14. They were looking at some expensive clothes.

"Who's she?" Hanako asked.

"Class B rank 1," Taro told her. "She's an esper, and leader of the Blizzard Group."

The woman turned around, noticing their stare. The younger girl beside her stared as well.

Why do they always look at me when I don't want them to? Taro thought, cursing himself. He was about to walk off again, but the woman was making her way towards them.

Great, Taro thought, sighing internally.

"Ah, some fans of mine," Blizzard of Hell said, smiling sweetly. "Are you two looking for an autograph?"

"I have no idea who you are!" Hanako said, cheerfully.

There was an awkward silence.

"Time to go!" Taro said, grabbing Hanako's hand and leading her off. He breathed out in relief once they were far away.

"Big bro, she had really big boobs," Hanako said.

"Hanako," Taro scolded, trying to focus back on the store they needed to go to.

"Big bro, do I have big boobs?" Hanako asked.

Taro spluttered. "Hanako, that's not a question you should ask your brother!"

"But do I?" Hanako asked.

"Oh, look, it's the store!" Taro said, pointing ahead. Hanako was immediately distracted by all the vibrant colours and went racing inside. Taro breathed out in relief, again.

Please don't let anyone else show up, he thought. There's only so much of this I can take!

After Hanako got all of her folders - tons of them - the siblings decided to head to the food court for lunch. Taro was struggling with the weight of all the folders.

"Are you okay, bro?" Hanako asked, staring at all the folders her brother was carrying.

He smiled at her. "I'll be fine!"

As he said that, he proceeded to drop all of the folders.

"Big bro!" Hanako shrieked.

"Fantastic," Taro grumbled. He kneeled down to pick them up.

"Let me help you with that," said another voice. A man wearing armoured plates and a bicycle helmet kneeled beside Taro, helping him pick up the folders.

"Thank you so much," Taro said, bowing at the man.

The man smiled at him, handing him the folders. "No problem! All in a day's work!"

Taro blinked. He realised... the man was familiar.

"Are you... Mumen Rider?" Taro asked, brow raised. "The Class C hero?"

The man nodded. "Yeah, I am indeed! Just doing a patrol around this mall."

"Oh, great!" Taro grinned. Then his grin faltered. "Y'know, I've always appreciated your dedication to heroism… you're really brave, Mumen Rider. So much braver than I'll ever be."

The hero smiled, gently grabbing Taro's shoulder. "Don't knock yourself down, kid! You can be a great hero. Anyone can!"

Mumen Rider then walked off, leaving the siblings alone once again.

Taro stood there, eyes glazed over. "Wow…"

"Big bro!" Hanako tugged on his arm. "Food!"

"Oh, right!" Taro said, jumping. "Let's go!"

"You stay here, and I'll be back with the food, okay?" Taro told his sister, who was sitting on the marble plating around a water fountain. It had a large statue of Traveller. Taro sighed, gazing at the statue. That woman was really something.

Hanako nodded. "Got it!"

Taro breathed out in relief, waiting in the que. He was relieved to get a break from his sister, though he would never admit it.

Once Taro had got the food, he walked back over to the waterfall. To his intrigue, though, his sister was talking to someone. This someone appeared to be a young girl with short, black hair in a Show-era hairstyle, and a frilly cardigan and skirt. She had rather intense-looking eyes for a child. Taro had seen eyes like that somewhere before, but he couldn't recall where.

"... and so, that's why we can't have a cat," Hanako told the girl. "Because my big bro got a big rash all over his body and had to go to hospital!"

And of course she's talking about that, Taro grumbled, taking a sip out of his smoothie. Fantastic.

"There he is now!" Hanako said, turning to stare at her brother. "Hi, big bro! This is Zenko! We met just now!"

"Hi, Taro-san!" Zenko waved at him.

"Oh, uh, nice to meet you, Zenko," Taro said, smiling at the young girl. He took another sip of his smoothie, using his other hand to her Hanako her kakigori.

"Zenko is Metal Bat's little sister!" Hanako exclaimed.

Taro choked on his smoothie. "Excuse me?!"

"She really is!" Hanako said, grinning. "Show him the pics, Zenko!"

Zenko held out her phone. Taro made his way over to her, leaning over the girl's shoulder to see the phone.

Surely she's just bluffing, Taro thought. There's no way she could actually be-

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!" a furious voice yelled. "GET AWAY FROM MY SISTER!"

Taro jumped, and was no less than surprised to see Metal Bat himself storming over to them, bat in hand.

"Holy crap," Taro breathed. "You weren't lying after all…"

"Big bro, don't!" Zenko yelled, standing up before Metal Bat could pummel Taro. "They're my friends!"

Hanako hid behind her brother as Metal Bat glared at them, suspiciously. To Taro's surprise, he found himself looking down at Metal Bat... literally. He was not one to judge people's appearances as noted before, but he couldn't help but feel very tall.

He's still a delinquent though, Taro thought, with a slight bitterness.

"Yer friends?" Metal Bat asked.

Zenko nodded. "Yeah! Even though we just met, we're already friends!"

"Yeah!" Hanako agreed.

"No!" Taro shouted. "Uhh, I mean, time to go!" he said, grabbing Hanako's arm. He used his other arm to pick up the folders, and began to march away.

"Wait, bro!" Hanako said, but Taro was dead-set on leaving.

"Byyyeeeee!" Zenko shouted, waving.

"BYE BYE!" Hanako replied, waving as well. Taro hid his face as the entire mall stared at him.

"Ugh…" Taro cringed, once they were far away. "Thank God that's over."

Hanako frowned at him. "Why? What's wrong, Taro?" She whimpered. "Are you upset that I'm making friends?"

"No, not that," Taro sighed. "It's just… look, Metal Bat isn't really my favourite hero. He's… a delinquent." He scowled, saying the word with disgust. "You know what they're like. They're dangerous troublemakers who cause problems and they shouldn't be allowed to go to school. Nothing good comes from them."

"But he's a hero," Hanako said.

"That's true," Taro agreed. "I can respect him as a hero. But I can't respect him as a person."

There was a silence as the siblings continued walking through the mall.

"Big bro, what do you think will happen this year?" Hanako asked. "Anything big?"

Taro looked back, seeing the silhouette of Traveller's statue in the distance.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "But for some reason, I get the feeling something… life-changing is going to happen."

"'Life-changing'?" Hanako asked.

Taro shrugged. "Who knows? I guess we'll have to find out."

A/N: Kind of ironic that Taro says that when one of the rivals is a delinquent, huh? He's pretty much the epitome of a good student, so it's certainly interesting. Also, I wanted to have Hanako and Zenko meet. Just because. XD And yes, Taro is allergic to cats. RIP