A/N: Unlike the first murder case, this chapter is completely optional to the main story. XD But it was fun to adapt! Hope you like it.
Ayano had never been bothered by weather. While she could feel temperature changes, she could not feel the emotional backlash that came with them.
So of course, when she got stuck on a snowy mountain with Saitama and Genos, she didn't feel any kind of fear. She certainly did feel the cold, though. Luckily, she was wearing a heavy snow jacket and snow boots.
She, Genos, and Saitama were walking through the piles of and piles of thick snow. They were well and truly stuck on the mountain. Genos' yellow eyes suddenly lit up.
"Ahead!" he chorused. "There is a villa!"
The villa was a fairly large, cosy two-storey log cabin. Saitama and his disciples made their way inside. To their relief, it was lit up, with a working heater and comfy couches. Included was a small kitchen, a basement, and the second floor had guest rooms.
"Phew," Saitama breathed out in relief, sitting on a couch. "Thank God we-"
He was interrupted by a series of S Class heroes entering the villa: Child Emperor, Metal Bat, Superalloy Darkshine, and Zombieman.
"Oh, hey," Saitama greeted casually, ignoring their surprise. "Are you guys stuck on the mountain too?"
"Tch," said a voice from above. Everyone looked up, seeing Flashy Flash on the second floor. The blonde hero glared down at them.
"No matter what you do, don't ruin my relax time," he grumbled.
A few moments later, the S Class heroes, Saitama and his disciples were sitting around a table, discussing who was staying in which room.
"I'll take the quietest room," Child Emperor decided.
"Hey, don't decide on your own!" Metal Bat snapped.
"Come on, calm down, Metal Bat," Zombieman said, making a face.
Ayano honestly did not care which room she was given, so did not pay much attention to the conversation. The S Class heroes were there to track a monster, and then they would be gone. Instead, Ayano focused on… something outside the window. There was someone standing outside the villa. A strong someone.
She turned her head, activating her Yan-vision. The rather familiar figure glowed a pale red. Ayano narrowed her eyes. It was Speed-O'-Sound Sonic.
He must be here for Saitama, Ayano realised. He is probably waiting for us to disperse so he can attack Saitama…
She was about to confront Sonic, when he suddenly crashed through the window, drenched in ice and snow, lips completely ice blue. Everyone stood up, weapons in hand.
"Hey, it's you," Saitama said, staring Sonic down. "Jack-o'-lantern-panic, right?"
"Speed-O'-Sound Sonic," the villain muttered, before passing out.
A few moments later, Sonic was tied up in the basement. The heroes surrounded him. Ayano stayed near the back, around Saitama.
"He is not the monster you are searching for, so throw him out immediately," Genos declared.
"He'll freeze to death if we throw him out now," Darkshine retorted, offering Sonic some food.
"We can't let someone die, even if he's a wanted criminal," Zombieman agreed, placing a blanket around Sonic's shoulders.
"Here, drink this," Metal Bat offered Sonic a hot drink.
Sonic's brow raised in surprise. "You guys…" He coughed. "Why's it so hot in here?"
"Because it's cold outside," Child Emperor answered.
"Low temperature isn't good for muscles," Darkshine replied.
"So Master doesn't get a cold," Genos answered.
This is the perfect opportunity to eliminate Sonic, Ayano realised. I just have to wait until everyone goes…
Sonic sighed. At least I'm close to my prey… Saitama, it's you and me later.
A few minutes later, everyone had dispersed into their rooms, or elsewhere. Ayano, of course, was focused on finding Sonic, who naturally had broken free. She tracked the villain using her Yan-vision. He was crawling underneath the floor, headed to Saitama's room.
Ayano slid underneath the floor as well, low and stealthy. She grabbed her trusty knife, her Yan-vision leading her right to the snooping Sonic. She hid behind a pole.
Sonic tch-ed. "Don't bother hiding, Saitama's girlfriend. I'm a ninja. I could sense you from a mile aw-"
He was interrupted by a knife slashing down. He slipped away like a shadow. He gritted his teeth, grabbing some kunai. He threw them at Ayano, who dodged. She lunged towards him, clashing with his sword. They clashed back and forth, movements getting faster and faster.
"What the Hell is going on down here?"
Sonic and Ayano stopped, seeing Genos and Saitama poking their heads down.
"That idiot Sonic must have been trying to attack you, Master," Genos declared. "I will assist you, Ayano!" He held out his fiery palms.
Sonic bared his teeth, racing towards Genos. "Exploding shuriken!"
The two clashed, causing smoke to rise.
"Geez," Saitama sighed. He suddenly sniffled, then let out a huge sneeze. The sneeze was enough to send gusts of wind and explosive gas flying out. Fire rose in a gust of energy, causing the living room to explode. The lights went black.
Child Emperor switched the lights back on, revealing some very confused heroes.
"Did the sound come from the living room?" Saitama asked, emerging from his room.
"It seems that way," Genos agreed, Ayano following him.
The group made their way to the living room, only to be confronted with a dark, exploded mess… and a dead Zombieman.
"Did the monster do it?" Darkshine gasped.
"There's no other life signals here aside from us," Child Emperor held out a tablet. "Which means… the culprit was one of us!"
Everyone gasped, including Zombieman.
"Wait," Child Emperor flashed his torch at Zombieman. "You regenerated yourself already?"
Zombieman shrugged. The group then stood around in the exploded living room, prepared to discuss the crime.
"I never saw the culprit's face," Zombieman admitted.
"Would anyone really want to fight Zombieman?" Darkshine asked.
"I think I know who the culprit is," Genos narrowed his eyes.
"It was not me," Sonic suddenly declared, shirtless and shivering. He had simply appeared out of a waft of smoke.
"Hey, we tied you up!" Metal Bat shouted.
"Those binds couldn't hold me forever," Sonic replied. "I could escape at any time, but I wanted to defeat Saitama first and claim my innocence!" He crosses his shaky arms. "And I know who the real culprit is!"
"Who?" Child Emperor asked.
"Saitama's girlfriend, of course!" Sonic yelled, pointing at Ayano.
"She's not my freaking girlfriend!" Saitama shouted. "She's a child!"
"What makes you think Ayano is guilty?" Genos demanded.
Child Emperor narrowed his eyes at Ayano. Considering what happened at the resort, and at her school, it wouldn't surprise me… that girl is nothing but trouble.
"She attacked me!" Sonic shouted. "And then she blew everything up!"
"She attacked you because you escaped," Genos argued. "And we are not talking about you. We are talking about Zombieman."
"No, this is more important!" Sonic shook his head. "She was trying to kill me! She would've gone after Zombieman too!"
"What evidence do you have to prove this claim?" Genos snapped, getting right in Sonic's face.
"Alright, calm down," Child Emperor raised his hands. "Throwing around blind accusations won't help anyone. But seriously, Sonic, do you have any proof of your claims?"
Admittedly, I don't have any proof of that girl's nefarious deeds either, Child Emperor admitted. But I know she's up to something. Relying on feelings is usually unreliable, but I just know this time.
Sonic's teeth chattered. "Technically, not, but… we were fighting. She attacked me first. You yourself witnessed it, you bucket of bolts!"
Genos' held out his glowing hand. "That is true, but-"
"Genos, just chill out," Darkshine told him. "Come on. I don't think Yan-chan over there was responsible. She's only an A Class hero, after all. She couldn't kill Zombieman."
"Maybe the monster was mind-controlling one of us…" Zombieman mused.
"Hmm," Child Emperor made a face. "Well, if Darkshine was heating up food, Metal Bat was in a video call, I was sleeping, then what exactly were you two doing?" He looked at Saitama and Genos.
"We were fighting him," Genos answered, pointing at Sonic.
"So you two, including Yan-chan, were battling Sonic," Child Emperor stated. He sighed. "So no one has a solid alibi, aside from Zombieman himself."
For some reason, the heroes felt like there was another person too, but couldn't remember who.
"Dammit!" Metal Bat shouted. "Let's just beat everyone up! That'll take care of the monster!"
"Unless the monster is pretending to be one of us," Child Emperor replied. "Which means…"
His tablet began ringing.
"It's the Hero Association," he said. He opened the tablet up, revealing a Hero Association worker.
"We found out the identity of the monster," the worker said. An image of a bear-like monster appeared on display. "His name is Crazy Brown Bear, a demon level threat. He uses fists and kick attacks."
"Only fist and kick attacks?" Genos asked.
"So no one is under mind control?" Darkshine asked.
Saitama suddenly sneezed, dust accumulating around his face. Child Emperor gasped.
"I've got it," he said. "During the fight with Sonic, dust rose, causing Saitama to sneeze. There was also ignition powder in the air that got lit up when Zombieman used his lighter. The sneeze sent the explosive dust into the living room. The living room blew up, taking Zombieman with it!"
The heroes seemed relieved to hear that, mainly because no one was under mind control.
I didn't get to defeat Sonic today, but… Ayano clenched her fists. I will next time.
Suddenly, the wall was knocked down. Standing there was none other than Crazy Brown Bear.
"I turned away from the forces of nature, becoming my own creature," the monster boomed. "I- what?!"
And he was quickly taken out by the group of heroes, who finally got to enjoy a peaceful night. Unfortunately, none of them remembered Flashy Flash was also an accomplice.