Early Christmas Present, Enjoy.
Ch.6: A Normal DayIn Tomobiki
As they approached their home, Ataru could feel her eyes stray at his back.
Ever since they left the nurse's office, the silence between them grew.
Lum, who was normally energetic, chewed her lips and crinkled her brows.
Finally, with his home just around the corner, Ataru stopped and peeked over his shoulder.
"You're not going to ask?" He muttered.
Shaking her head, Lum said. "I don't want to intrude, especially since it seems to be a touchy subject. I'll wait until you're ready to talk about it."
"Thanks,"
"Besides, I need to apologize for last night," Lum lamented, lowering her head. "I couldn't control my urges and ended up forcing myself on you. I'm sorry that wasn't the way it should have been."
Looking away, Ataru sighed.
"You didn't force me. I was a willing partner. If I was against it, then I would have been more than able to defend myself. We're both at fault here," Ataru stated.
Then, he blushed lightly.
"And I won't lie, last night was…incredible."
Lum chuckled weakly.
"Yeah."
Looking ahead, Ataru scrunched his lips as his blushing grew.
"Maybe…" Lum raised her head as Ataru struggled.
"Maybe?" She repeated.
With his head tilted downwards, He said. "Maybe next time, we'll do it right. That way, you won't feel guilty about what happened. How does that sound, Lum?"
As he ended with a mumble, there was silence.
Turning back, Ataru found her hair covering her eyes, and her lips were curved downward.
"Lum…" He started before she flew at him. "Wow!"
"YAHOO!" The Oni cheered as she wrapped her arms around her Darling. "Are you sure?! I'm so relieved! Despite how it happened, you were willing to try!? I'll make sure everything will be perfect!"
"Isn't that the man's job?" Ataru joked, making her smirk.
With half-closed eyes, Lum leaned to his ear.
"With your skills. I don't need to worry," She whispered sexily. "Considering how you had me begging, you're quite insatiable."
Steams poured out of his crimson face as Ataru stammered wildly.
Pulling away, Lum floated around him until they were facing each other.
Once she saw his face, her cheek puffed up and turned red.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Holding her stomach and kicking the air, Lum laughed heartily at his reaction.
"You-You…You Witch!" Ataru blurted out, wide eyes.
This made her laugh even harder.
"I-I'm be-being s-serious," She stuttered between laughter. "I thought I would outlast you because I'm from out of town. Instead, I was the one struggling. I'm pretty sure I experienced the ahegao & mind break-"
"Why the hell do you know something like that!?" Ataru yelped.
Lum rolled her eyes.
"I may be an alien, but I'm still a normal girl. It's not bizarre to have urges and I need to keep myself…occupied. I can happily tell you that I will be researching the internet again to improve my bedtime prowess. You won't beat me again!"
Pointing at Ataru, Lum noticed his slack-jaw state and waved at him.
"You're telling me that you've been watching porn and hentai. Just so you can learn more about sex?" Ataru mumbled, stunned.
Lum nodded, completely serious.
"And you told me this, why?"
"I want to make sure that this becomes something we can both enjoy," Lum stated as she crossed her arms, unaware of how strange(and weirdly sweet) it sounded. "Last night proved who was superior. While I loved it, I didn't put any effort for your sake. I should have done more than simply take it. And from now on, I will. I'll show the results of my studies through our passion and make you experience the same pleasure you gave me."
Floating close to his face, Lum declared bravely.
"The battle will be tough, but I will emerge victoriously! Just watch and feel, my Darling! On my pride as an Oni, This I Swear!"
With his face so red that it hurt, Ataru gaped at her statement.
"This girl…"
Although bizarre, it was oddly touching that Lum was willing to do this for him. Despite the subject of her focus, she cared about his happiness so much.
As his blush slowly faded, Ataru pecked her, catching Lum by surprise.
Now blushing, Lum pulled back and covered her mouth.
"W-where did that come from?"
"Just felt like kissing you. You look cute when you're blushing," Ataru said, making her blush brighter. "Glad to see you're not as sex-crazed as I was starting to believe."
"If I was, then it would only be for you. After all, I'm yours." She countered as they reached the door.
As he touched the doorknob, Lum couldn't see his smile.
"We're Home!" Lum called out as they entered the house and she went ahead.
"Welcome back," Cherry greeted them with a nod.
Wait? Cheery?!
Floating backward, she crashed into Ataru and they both fell.
"You seem surprised?" Cherry wondered, calmly.
"WE ARE! WHY ARE YOU HERE!?" They shouted.
Nodding, Cherry held a broken bead necklace.
"There is a great evil inside this house. I tried to exorcise this spirit, but it has proven itself to be powerful." He said before pointing ahead.
"What?" Ataru mumbled while Lum crawled forward and looked to the left.
"TEN!?" She shouted, wide-eyed. "I've been gone for two hours, not even! What is that?!"
Standing up, Ataru peeked past the genkan and blinked at the sight on the stairs.
A giant white cat was sitting on the stairs under a kotatsu.
Also sitting on the kotatsu was Ten, who looked like a kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
…The fact he was holding a cookie jar was ironic, to say the least.
Slowly, Ataru went back to the door. Shutting the door, he locked it and jiggled the knob for reassurance. Taking off his shoes and handing the bag that held his pajamas to Lum, Ataru walked past Cherry and made his way towards the stairs.
Looking ahead, he realized that the Cat was still there.
"Ten," Ataru grunted.
Quickly, Ten explained. "This is my new friend. He doesn't have a name, so I call him Kotatsu-Neko."
Ataru nodded.
"Okay."
Amazed, Lum stood up and rushed over to her Darling.
"That's all you're gonna say!"
Shrugging, Ataru said. "Stuff like this happens all the time around here. Tomobiki is the strangest prefecture there is."
Cherry nodded, while Lum sweatdropped.
"Still," He glanced at the Kotatsu-Neko. "This is the first time that the weirdness was inside my house, especially on my stairs."
Grinning at his friend, Ten said. "Neko is pretty cool. He took down these dogs with one punch and saved a group of cats."
"That doesn't explain why he's here," Lum questioned.
Ataru added. "Or why is he using my kotatsu?"
"It's cold outside and he was shivering, so I brought Neko here. Then, he found this ko-tat-su thing next to the stairs and set it up."
Lifting his damaged beads, Cherry said. "That's where I come in. I sensed immense spiritual power nearby and located its source as this Kotatsu-Neko. After your mother allowed me in, I attempted to exorcise this creature. However, this spirit has proven itself too powerful for my prowess to have any effect."
"And my mother?"
"She left to do some shopping," Cherry sweated slightly. "She was quite…verbal about what shall happen to me should I fail."
"That's because you tried to eat her cookies." Ten revealed.
With his bead, Cherry lamented. "It is sinful for children to spread lies."
"I didn't lie! Ten's a good boy!"
Cherry narrowed his eyes.
"Isn't that the same cookie jar that I tried to sample?"
Ten hid the jar behind him.
"Alright!" Lum interrupted them and Ataru shook his head. "What should we do, Darling?"
"First, I'm going to take a bath, and then, I need to eat something," Ataru said, before staring at Kotatsu-Neko. "I don't mind if you use my kotatsu, but move your furry butt out of the way."
Laying its paws on the kotatsu, Neko squinted at him.
"He doesn't want to leave it," Ten translated, to which the cat nodded.
"And he doesn't have to, but he's blocking the stairs and I need my towel and some clothes," Ataru stated, walking up the stairs.
Reaching for the kotatsu, Ataru quickly jumped back as Kotatsu-Neko swiped at him. Landing at the bottom, Ataru glared at Neko while Lum floated towards Ten.
"Ten, can you ask your friend to move, please?" Lum asked, keeping an eye on Neko.
"If Neko doesn't want to move, then he doesn't have to," Ten pouted and Neko nodded in agreement.
"I'm not dealing with this cat after the day I've had," Ataru scowled as he went through the Omnitrix. "And it's still morning."
"What are you going to do?" Ten asked, floating in front of Kotatsu-Neko. "I won't let you hurt him."
"Hurting this giant furball isn't my goal. Moving his big butt is. He won't leave the kotatsu? Fine."
Slamming the core, a floating metal head glared them down.
"Then, Lodestar will move it for him."
"Lodestar?" Lum raised her brow.
"I believe he is referring to a lodestone, a magnetic fragment found within magnetite. Based on that, this Lodestar must possess magnetic powers."
Glancing at Cherry, Lum sweatdropped.
"Why does he know that?"
Raising his pincer, Lodestar projected green pulses at the kotatsu, causing it to tremble.
As the kotatsu began to rise, Kotatsu-Neko forced it down with his paws, but the table shook violently under Lodestar's magnetism. Pressing his elbows against it, Kotatsu-Neko leaned atop the kotatsu, adding his weight to prevent his beloved kotatsu from leaving him. With a glance at Lodestar, the giant cat grabbed the forgotten cookie jar and flung it at Lodestar, nailing him in the head.
*Clang*
Taking his head off as it rolled across the ground and the headless body fell to its knees.
*Silence*
The house became tense as everyone stared at Lodestar.
Ten covered his mouth, his face turning pale and his eyes bulging.
Cherry stared flatly as he rubbed his chin.
Kotatsu-Neko blinked at the sight, tilting his head as he rested on the kotatsu.
Slowly, Lum raised her head at Kotatsu-Neko, her empty stare did not match the electricity that erupted out.
"You…"
Squealing, Ten flew away from the stairs as quickly as he could while Cherry calmly distanced himself from the rising storm beside him.
Unfazed by Oni's rage, Kotatsu-Neko looked around before pointing to himself.
Snarling at him, Lum raised her electrified hand at the giant cat.
Before she could do anything else, a voice called out from below.
"Lum, a little help?"
Looking behind, she found Lodestar's head staring back at her.
With a spark of life in her eyes, Lum trembled as she turned toward him.
"Darling? You-You're alive?"
"Of course I'm alive. A major weakness of Lodestar is that his head is detachable. His body can't operate with his head, so could you…"
Lum scooped his head and held him close to her chest.
"Oh Shuten Doji! Thank goodness!" Lum laughed hysterically. "I was about to lose it! Don't Scare Me Like That Again!"
"Sorry," Lodestar apologized as Lum placed his head back into place. "I'm always disoriented once his head is removed. It takes me a bit before I'm back to a hundred."
"Just as I thought," Cherry nodded, closing his eyes. "Your soul hadn't left your body, so I figured that you were simply unconscious. It was so obvious that anyone could tell."
Making her way to the monk, Lum crouched down and patted Cherry's head with a loving smile.
"So you knew my Darling was alright and you didn't tell us." Lum smiled.
*Zzzzaaaappp*
"DDDIIIIIEEEEE! MONK!"
Lum squeezed his head like his namesake as she electrocuted him.
"Don't kill him," Lodestar said flatly.
"You're a stupid idiot jerk," Ten glowered tearfully, hovering beside him.
"I said I'm sorry," He shrugged and noticed Kotatsu-Neko nuzzling his face against the kotatsu. "You know, Ten? I just realized something."
"What?" Ten pouted, trying to hide his watery eyes.
Pointed at the pain-in-the-ass cat, Lodestar dropped a bomb on his joy.
"That kotatsu is unplugged, so how is he getting warm?"
Neko stiffened.
Ten blinked.
"Shouldn't it be warm?"
"It's an electric kotatsu. If it isn't plugged in, then it can't be warm." Lodestar revealed. Using his powers, he pulled the plug out.
As the plug hovered before him, Neko placed his quivering paws underneath the kotatsu and his eyes became as wide as plates before face-planting on the wood surface.
"I think Kotatsu-Neko made a mistake," Ten chuckled.
"That one is meant for my room, so there should be an outlet in my room."
As soon as Lodestar said that, the stairs were vacated and the distant slam of a door was heard upstairs.
Sighing, Lodestar changed to Ataru.
"I should've realized that from the start, why didn't I?"
"You wanted to flex your powers?" Ten guessed, to which Ataru glared slightly.
Ataru went to his room, Lum walked next to Ten as smoke drifted behind her.
"Is he still alive?"
Lum looked back at the smoked Cherry and vaguely noticed a possible twitch.
"...I think?" Lum shrugged.
Standing outside, a group of four boys leaned on the stone fence and glanced awkwardly at each other.
"Moroboshi's House. Let's knock on the door," Perm said.
"Should we?" Kakugari doubted, briefly looking at the house. "He might not even be inside."
Snapping his fingers, Chibi said. "I'm picking up four bodies. Ataru's inside….with three others? Even if it's his parents, the last one might be a guest."
Perm grinned.
"Maybe it's the girl I saw this morning."
Chibi rolled his eyes while Kakugari rubbed his neck.
"Lum…."
They sighed and turned towards their friend, Megane, who was smiling eerily.
"What a beautiful name for such a goddess. I'm blessed to witness such a vision. For the first time, I heard the song of an angel and her voice was the choir."
"Dude," Kakugari scoffed, slightly jarred. "You didn't even talk to her."
Closing one eye, Perm rubbed his chin.
"Perm?" Chibi noticed his concentration.
"Something's up," He thought aloud, catching their attention. "I think…I've seen her before."
"WHAT!?" Megane shouted, gripping Perm's collar. "WHERE!? TELL YOU, BASTARD!"
"How about you let go of my collar and let me think," Perm sweatdropped.
While they argued, the front door opened as someone called out.
"Hey!"
Following the voice, the quartet dropped their jaws at the sight.
Wearing a slightly large blue shirt, Lum's tiger-striped underwear was visible to them, just like her long smooth legs.
"So, that's where I've seen her. She was the girl at Ataru's," Perm muttered, eyes wide.
Chibi nodded mindlessly while Kakugari rubbed his eyes.
Megane gaped with pupil-less eyes.
Unaware of their astonishment, Lum glared at them.
"You're too loud and disturbing the neighborhood. Please be considerate of those around you and lower your voices…" Lum chided them before someone scurried past her. "CHERRY! GIVE BACK THAT COOKIE JAR!"
"Payment for my services," Cherry said, leaping over the fence and leaving them with this. "Also, you're being very loud. Please lower your voice. You don't want to disturb these people."
Having her words thrown back, Lum growled viciously, scaring three of the four boys.
Gulping, Perm asked. "Excuse me? But you're Lum Invader, right?"
"Yes," Lum snarled, still irritated.
"We're from your class. Class 2-4."
"Okay?" Lum said, before sighing. "Sorry, I shouldn't talk to you like this. I get emotional pretty easily."
Smiling slightly, Perm said. "No problem. We were hoping to see Ataru, but why are you here?"
"Dressed like that?" They thought
"I live here."
Her casual response shocked them to their core.
"W-Why do y-you live here?" Perm continued.
Lum blinked.
"Cause my stuff is here? Plus, Darling is getting dressed."
"D-D-Darling?" Megane whimpered.
"Lum," Ataru called out as he entered their vision. "What's going…"
He found himself looking at the quartet as they took in his black tank top and dark blue jeans.
"The Stormtroopers? What are you guys doing here?"
"You know them?"
"They're a group that I've known since childhood, they're a part of our class," Ataru explained before he pointed at the frozen Megane. "That's Satoshi, Kosuke, Akira, and Hiroyuki. Most people know them by their nicknames. Megane, Perm, Chibi, and Kakugari."
"Hi?" Chibi mumbled, waving shyly.
Slowly, she waved back.
"Ataru."
The Stormtroopers flinched as Ataru and Lum looked at Megane's blank stare.
"Can you explain this?" Megane whispered, his glasses shined menacingly. "Why is Lum living here?"
Lum narrowed her eyes.
Before Ataru could respond, Lum surprised them by kissing his cheek and hugging his arm.
"He's my h-" Lum started, but she remembered Earth's laws. "-boyfriend. And I'm his loving, protective girlfriend. You got a problem with that?"
Megane turned as white as paper, while the others were shocked.
Lum glared at them, ready to defend their love.
Meanwhile, Ataru blushed softly at her declaration.
"Honestly…" Perm looked at his fellow troopers before smiling at the young couple. "You'll get no problem from me."
Chibi and Kakugari looked at each other before they nodded.
"Neither from us," Chibi agreed while Kakugari's smile reached his eyes.
Megane chewed on his lips and trembled as his friends caught the veins in his neck popping out.
Tightening her grip, Lum focused her glare on Satoshi, while Ataru raised his brow.
Ultimately, he deflated with a sigh as he pushed his glasses.
"With how much shit he deals with, I can't say he doesn't deserve some happiness," Megane thought before saying, "I guess it's alright with me."
While keeping a close eye on Megane, Lum asked, "You wanted to see my Darling?"
The Stormtroopers nodded.
"We wanted to see if you'd come with us to Yoshinoya. They're having a special discount today. A hundred yen per bowl!" Perm exclaimed.
"So, you're inviting me?" Ataru frowned, closing his eyes.
They grimaced, but they pushed on.
"We thought you'd come with us," Chibi rubbed his head. "We used to hang out a lot when we were kids and now you always isolate yourself at school…"
"…Or you used to," Megane added, catching a glimpse of Lum, who was glanced between Darling and his friends.
After elbowing him, Perm went on.
"It's just not healthy, spending so much time by yourself," Perm stressed to him, only for Lum to stare at Ataru as he raised his eyebrow. "So…just come with us. You haven't been the same since…"
Perm stopped himself, but Lum could feel the sorrow within everyone.
Especially her Darling.
"That does it."
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to -"
"Accept."
Snapping his head at Lum, Ataru went silent under her stern glare.
"I'm coming too. I'll even bring Ten with us. Please wait outside while we prepare ourselves." Lum stated as she pulled him inside.
After shutting the door, Ataru opened his mouth, but his wife lifted her finger.
"I know you wanted to refuse because you were focused on being Omni and don't you try to deny it, we both know it's true," Lum argued, catching him by surprise. "I understand that you want to protect these people, but you have to remember that you're not just Omni. You're Ataru Moroboshi, a young man with a life of his own. As your wife, I will not standby and allow you to waste your life away with your other-self. You have friends who are worried about you and want to make you feel better."
Marching up to him, she poked his chest and declared. "So, you are going to spend time with them. Even if I force you myself."
Narrowing his eyes, Ataru leaned closer to her face and glared at Lum, to which she did the same.
Neither of them bulged until Lum softened her gaze, showing him how worried she was.
He sighed but nodded.
Lum smiled and hugged him, which he slowly reciprocated.
"I just want to make sure you're happy," She whispered.
"I know," Ataru mumbled. "You're coming with?"
Pulling away, Lum smirked.
"Of course. I'm interested to see what Tomobiki has to offer and Ten has been cooped up inside for two days, he needs some fresh air."
"The fact he's two years old doesn't help either," Ataru mentioned, but she rolled her eyes. "Also, they don't know my secret, so can Ten keep quiet about that?"
"I'll make sure he doesn't talk. Besides, Ten's more than capable of handling himself, but I can understand why you'd think that" She acknowledged with a smirk. "It's sweet that you care about him. Now, upstairs and shoes, mister. On the double."
"I'm a servant, now?" Ataru chuckled.
"No. If you were, then you'd be wearing a speedo and a bowtie, like the porn I've been researching," Lum said, before floating towards their room.
Leaving Ataru to process what she just told him.
"What kind of porn is she watching?"
"So, you've been living with Ataru for the past week?" Megane inquired as the Stormtroopers marched ahead of them.
"Yes. My parents know about my Darling and they were more than happy to allow me to live here in Tomobiki," Lum explained before looking at her cousin, who she was holding. "Ten's here because his parents are busy with their jobs and they wanted me to take care of him."
Lum wore a short-sleeved yellow crop top with dark-yellow city shorts and orange sneakers. Lastly, she had a pair of large headphones around her neck.
"Speaking of which, is Ten awake? He hasn't said a word," Ataru peeked at him and found the Oni glaring back with half-open eyes. "You look like you're hating this."
Ten was wearing a green shirt with matching pants and shoes. The shirt had the image of a rocket ship flying.
"That is because I do hate this. I want to fly."
"Little dude can fly? Is that his quirk?" Chibi asked, glancing back.
"Sorta. His quirk is Heat Control, which allows him to control his body heat for various effects. Like controlling his heat to imitate flight. Like a controlled hot air balloon," Lum revealed, having memorized their MIB credentials.
"And yours?" Megane asked, only to see sparks coming out of her horns. "Electricity?"
"Bio-Electro," Lum reinstated. "And yes, I can fly using my electricity power."
The Stormtroopers stared at Lum before turning their gaze on Ataru, who was walking next to her.
"Dude, you scored big time in the girlfriend department," Kakugari said, but Ataru rolled his eyes.
"I'm not interested in her powers."
Lum nodded, before covering Ten's ears with her headphones and playing some music.
Once he was distracted by the music, Lum smirked proudly.
"He was interested in my charming personality and my super sexy body."
"Let's not forget her modesty," Ataru said sarcastically.
"You love me." She declared cheerfully, to which he smirked.
Megane scowled.
"Ok lovebirds. If you're done third-wheeling us single men, then let's get some damn beef bowls."
Patting his back, Kakugari consoled him.
"It's alright, Megane. We're almost there. We can drown our sorrows soon."
While they were distracted, Lum leaned towards Ataru.
"Was it smart to leave Kotatsu-Neko at your home?" She whispered.
"As long as he stayed in my room and didn't bother my parents, then it's good. If he doesn't, I told him that I'd break the Kotatsu. That made him compliant real quick."
"If you say so."
Walking through the shopping district, the voices around them filled their ears.
"25% discount on all meats!"
"Spin the wheel for a chance of an all-expense-paid vacation!"
"New Omni Accessories! Ready for Purchase!"
Hold up, wait a minute?
To his left, there was a new store. The front had a black brick with green windows. From the inside, Ataru could make out several types of plushies, clothing, and accessories. On top of the store held a sign with a familiar symbol.
Omni's.
"Oh yeah," Chibi said, as they faced the store. "Forgot about this. This store was built recently. I don't remember the company, but it has something to do with baseball."
"T-The M-Mizunokoji Clan."
Chibi nodded but paused when he didn't recognize the voice.
They quickly found the speaker peeking from inside the store.
At around 16-year-old, a beautiful girl with a black ponytail tied by a green bow reached the middle of her back. She wore a white blouse with an Omni symbol and a long black skirt with matching loafers. She kept her eyes closed as she spoke
"W-W-We w-wanted to have an s-statue or something m-more honorable to c-commemorate his heroism, but the H-Hero Public S-Safety Commission would always intervene. T-They said w-we shouldn't because it w-would discredit the Pro-Heroes and motivate more criminals," She stuttered, scrunching her face.
However, the girl slowly opened her eyes, revealing her star-like pupils.
"However, we were indebted to him for what he's done for us, for this town, for me. So, we built this store and all the money is going to various charities and help centers. And we were going to have something special for Omni soon…"
"Sorry to interrupt, but who are you?" Ataru asked.
Squeezing her eyes shut again, she squealed with fear.
"Asuka Mizunokoji!"
"I love the design, how much for this and the toys?"
Lum examined the Omni button-badge, while Ten played with action figures of Four Arms and Wildmutt.
Looking between the Stormtroopers and the Onis, Ataru exclaimed, "When did you…"
"While she was talking. What's the largest size for this button?" Lum asked, holding it up.
With a shaking smile, Asuka said softly. "That w-would be six inches. The toys would be $20 in total."
As they entered, Megane noticed a pair of black and green sneakers that were just calling him.
"Excuse me, but how much is…" Megane tapped her shoulder.
"AAAAAAH!" Asuka screamed as she rushed toward the checkout and ducked under the counter.
Stunned, they just stood as an employee rubbed her head.
"Apologies. Lady Asuka has androphobia(Fear of Men) and has trouble socializing with anyone except her family."
"That would explain why there are only women working around here," Perm muttered as he glanced around. "Anyway, this entire store is dedicated to Omni? What about All Might or Crust?"
"The Mizunokoji Family has other establishments across Japan that are more subtle than this one. Supporting Omni is considered illegal outside of Tomobiki. So, those stores will sell products like these under the radar. Having some Omni memorabilia alongside the All Might plushies and such."
Chibi and Kakugari looked at each other.
"All Might Plushies?"
The employee shrugged.
"If you're so afraid of men, then why are you here? Furthermore, why would you even build something like this?" Ataru said, frowning at the counter. "Your family will get into trouble with the government for supporting a vigilante."
For a while, there was nothing.
"…he saved me," Asuka said quietly from under the counter. "Two y-years a-ago, I was kid-kidnapped by the-these awful m-me-men. They-they w-wanted m-money from my f-family and…"
"…they were going to do awful things to me."
They could hear the fear and horror coming from her voice.
The Stormtroopers were uncomfortable hearing this, while Ten lowered his head and Lum glanced at Ataru, who was deep in thought.
Then, Asuka smiled softly as her voice became brighter.
"But, he appeared and bested them all. My knight in shiny armor. My hero."
"Diamondhead," Ataru whispered, but she managed to hear him.
"Yes. He told them, ``My Name Is Diamondhead and I'm Omni."
"I remember now, that was the first time Omni showed himself. Back when everyone thought they were a group." Ataru stated, staring at his watch. "It was a kidnapping and no one knew where the victim was. While the police were trying to find leads, everyone was surprised when the missing girl called her family. When they found her, the criminals had their bodies encased in crystals while the girl was waiting outside."
"You were that girl, Asuka," Lum concluded.
"It made me terrified of men, but Omni saved my life and he was a man. As he protected Tomobiki, I realized he didn't scare me and I felt happy to see him like he was my brother," Asuka said clearly, no longer stuttering. "Omni does his best for everyone, but I always hear people insulting him, saying that he isn't a hero, but he is! If it was for him, then I don't know what would've happened to me and I would have never seen my family again."
"Y-You asked why I'm here? This store was my idea and I wanted to be here on its o-opening day. I-I'm going to work here because I want to show Omni how much he means to him. That I'm going to-to overcome my fears and get better. That the girl he rescued is here and she is thankful for everything he's done."
Slowly, she peeked over the counter and while she didn't fully reveal herself, her eyes shined brightly.
Sighing softly, Ataru hid his true feelings behind indifference.
"I think Omni would just be happy to know that you're trying to live your life, but it's your life and you should live it how you want to." Ataru shrugged before tossing his wallet at Lum, who caught it. "Buy what you want. I'll wait outside."
However, Lum grabbed his shoulder with a gleam in her eye that worried him.
Without looking away, Lum asked. "I noticed that you sell clothes here. Would I be right in thinking that you sell…underwear?"
Ten snickered at the Stormtroopers, who were gaping like fishes.
Asuka turned bright red and dived back into the counter with a small squeak.
Glancing between the amused Oni and stammering human, the employee giggled and pointed to the back.
"Surprisingly we do sell lingerie. Our Lady Mizunokoji thought that some people would like such products," She revealed, ignoring the coughing underneath. "You can try them in our dressing room. Would assistance be needed?"
"Thanks, but I'll have my boyfriend help me," Lum said, cheerfully pulling Ataru with her. "I need a judge after all."
"WHAT!?" The Stormtroopers screamed.
"Of course," She bowed with a smile. "Please take your time."
Leering at Ataru, Lum replied. "Oh, I will. Trust me."
Ataru gulped.
"Maybe coming here wasn't a good idea."
"You bastard," Kakugari scowled.
"Lucky bastard," Chibi glared.
"So to be a dead bastard," Megane growled.
Perm looked at Ataru, who had a glossy look as he carried Lum's bag while she held his arm.
"I like their designs," She smiled. "And they fit like a glove. What do you think?"
"…You're evil."
"You mean beautiful."
"Why do you do this to me?"
"Because it's fun to drive you wild. You look cute when you're red. Remember?"
Floating beside them, Ten played with his new toys until he saw a building with cow horns.
"Finally, the beef bowls are waiting for us," Perm said before sighing at his friends. "You can't blame him."
"Can You Blame Us!?"
Opening his mouth, Perm looked Lum over before shutting his mouth.
"That's what I thought."
Once they entered the Yoshinoya, they noticed a crowd in the front.
"Looks like everyone wants a beef bowl," Ten said, staying close to Lum. "Is it that good?"
"Old Man Ricky makes the best food around, but there's never been a crowd like this," Perm said. "And is it just me, or is that crowd filled with girls?"
"And all of the men seem frustrated," Megane questioned, adjusting his glasses.
Floating above everyone, Ten managed to see a familiar face and quickly dived down when that person turned around.
"Lum, we have a problem."
"A problem?"
Nodding, Ten said. "It's-"
"Lum."
Lum went stiff as the crowd made space for the familiar man to make his way toward her.
Standing in front of her, Ataru scowled. "Rei."
The Oni narrowed his eyes and sniffed.
Suddenly, the veins in his neck began to throb violently as his breathing quickened.
In the background, the Stormtroopers glanced warily between the couple and the new guy.
"You remember what happened last time. Don't try your luck." Ataru hissed silently.
With a beastly growl, Rei stepped forward and towered over the human.
"Extra-Large Grilled Steak Bowl! No. 34's Order Is Ready!"
Gritting his teeth, Rei twirled around and stomped away for his meal, his admirers following as they jeered at Ataru.
As the tension slowly faded, the troopers watched as they went to the front.
"A knife couldn't even cut through this," Chibi whimpered.
Kakugari nodded.
"Who was that guy?" Megane asked.
Floating their way, Ten leaned in.
"That's Rei, Lum's ex-fiance before she met Ataru," He answered, much to their shock.
"Fiance!" They shouted, looking between Rei and Ataru. "She dumped a guy like him? For Ataru?"
"We should leave. I don't like the idea of Rei being anywhere near you," Ataru said, turning his head at Lum.
Shaking her head, she held his hand and glared at Rei.
"I'm not going to let Rei ruin this. If he tries anything, then we call Delta and the M.I.B will handle him." Lum whispered.
"Even with his harem?"
"Trust me. Those girls are more of a bother for Rei than you think."
At his raised brow, she explained. "He never showed much interest in girls other than me. To be honest, it was my fault that he started liking me, and not…"
Lum lowered her head.
"I…I just can't let my actions hurt those I care about. Not again." She vowed quietly.
Gently, Ataru squeezed her hand and led her to a nearby table. It was close to the door and far from where Rei was sitting. Once they took their seats, the others quickly followed and sat next to them.
"How are we supposed to order?" Ten muttered, only for Megane to raise his hand.
"Perm and I can handle that." He said. "Ataru, you'll take the usual?"
"Yeah. What about you and Ten, Lum?"
"I'll think we'll try what you're having."
Resting on the table, Ten shrugged. "As long as it's good."
"It will be. Back in a minute."
As they left, Chibi tapped the table and stared at Lum until she stared back.
To her curiosity, he looked away with red cheeks.
From the corner of her eye, she noticed Kakugari was also sneaking peeks at her.
Narrowing her eyes, she hummed.
Once Megane and Perm returned, she made her thoughts known.
"Now that I think about it. I've never asked how you guys knew my Darling."
The Stormtroopers grimaced while Perm glanced at Ataru, his eyes asking for permission.
Ataru sighed before tapping her shoulder.
"They didn't know me," Ataru said gently. "They knew…"
He struggled, someone did it for him.
"Nagi," Megane lamented, lowering his head.
Before the Onis could ask, Perm explained. "Nagi was Ataru's twin brother, and the nicest guy you'll ever lay eyes on."
With his eyes to the table, Chibi continued. "We met him back when we're in elementary school. We only knew Ataru through his brother. Even then, It was hard not to when they were nearly inseparable."
"Was Nagi like Ataru?" Lum asked, glancing at his solemn stare.
Kakaguri nodded.
"He was Quirkless, but it was never a problem for Nagi. I think he liked not having powers."
"It didn't stop him from helping others. Clearing trash from the park. Finding missing toys for little kids. Even feeding stray animals. It didn't matter what he had to do, Nagi just wanted to help others." Perm smiled softly.
"Then, where is he? I haven't seen Nagi around the house?" Ten asked, crossing his arms.
"Ten!" Lum hissed.
"Nagi isn't around anymore."Ataru sighed.
"What?" Ten blinked until it hit him. "Sorry!"
Waving him off, Ataru noticed their orders being called and got up with Kakugari.
"It's alright. He's been gone for six years. I've…gotten over it."
As they left, Perm scoffed.
"Gotten over it, my ass. You saw that watch he's wearing."
Once Lum nodded, he added. "It once belonged to Nagi."
At their shocked expressions, Megane nodded. "Nagi found it when he was 10 and wore it all the time. When he passed away, Ataru started wearing it in his stead."
"The Omnitrix," Lum thought, but she remembered.
"But that wouldn't bring him back. It would only shame his memory. So when I received this power, I decided to become the man I knew he would've been. A man who would stand by others when none would. A man who would protect those who couldn't protect themselves. A man who would fight against injustice, even when they were protected by a corrupt justice."
Curiously, She asked. "So, how did you learn about Darling's secret?"
"He told me about it," Sakura revealed coolly.
"Why?" She asked.
"We both cared about him," Sakura whispered, regret dripping from her lips.
"I see," Lum muttered, lowering her head. "Looks like I won't need to ask him anymore."
"Good."
A large beef bowl entered her vision as Ataru handed another bowl to her cousin, while Kakugari served the others.
When she looked at him, Ataru smiled softly and shook his head.
She sighed, relieved.
Without looking, Ataru said. "I don't think I could've talked about this. So, thanks for telling them."
"It wasn't hard to figure out, dumbass," Perm scoffed sympathetically. "That's what friends are for. That's what Nagi would've done."
"You're right."
Megane tapped his chopsticks together.
"Come on. The food's going to get cold."
"And if you're willing, we can do something else," Perm offered, with the others looking hopeful.
Looking at his food, Ataru smiled.
"Sure."
"Everything is set?"
"Good work. Now, return to base and get some rest. You've earned it."
Collapsing into a chair, Shutaro Mendo quietly groaned as one arm covered his eyes and held in a black telephone with the other.
However, he smiled through his exhaustion.
"Tomorrow will be a new day. Things are going to change."
Holding his hand before him, with eyes like a hawk, Shutaro watched as it started to glow blue.
"The day of our battle is approaching. I've planned for every contingency, but you've proven that this will be nothing more than a minor hurdle. No matter, the Mendo Clan shall never accept defeat, for as long as I draw breath, victory is possible. No matter how long it takes, I will emerge victoriously against you."
Staring into the starry night, Shutaro smirked.
"Let us see which of our prowess is superior," He whispered.
"Omni."
Frowning, Dansui turned away from the stove and found Ryunosuke watching TV as he finished setting their chabudai.
"Welcome to the Star Press, where we discuss the latest trends going through the world. I'm your host, Chizu Narisawa." Chizu smiled.
A 29-year-old woman with water-like hair and a blue sleeveless dress.
Normally, he'd tell his son to turn it off since they were going to have dinner…
"Tonight's topic is an old one, but it always comes back with a vengeance. Tomobiki's Vigilante: Omni."
…but that changed his mind.
"Ever seen their initial debut two years ago, Omni has kept people on the edge of their seats with their numerous operatives, being considered the largest vigilante team since the rise of Quirks. However, Omni has managed to blow everyone away with his latest reveal. Yes, I said his, not theirs." Chizu stated before an image of a young man appeared. "About a week ago, social media was blowing up with photos and videos of this young man facing off with several criminals or saving those who were in danger. For those who haven't been keeping up with the news, we've got you covered. This video was taken three days ago. It depicts a fight between the Rabbit Hero: Mirko and the mysterious youngster. Please keep your eyes on him."
As they fight, Mirko sends him flying, but he manages to roll onto his feet. After a short break, his body became green energy before changing shape until a new being took his place.
"Brainstorm!"
"Oh man," Ryunosuke muttered, resting her head on her hand. "I was hoping for Rath."
"As you just saw, this young man just turned into Brainstorm, a well-known member of Omni. For the past week, he has been seen taking on various forms of those we've recognized as Omni. Various sources from Tomobiki have confirmed this young man is not Omni's latest member but is Omni itself."
Suddenly, A list of comments appeared next to Chizu.
"This revelation has led to various discussions on his actions. On one hand, many are still condemning his actions as juvenile and interfering with issues that are commonly handled by the Police and Heros alike and that Omni is just a criminal himself. On the other hand, several individuals are expressing their concerns towards Omni, hoping that he'll be stopped for his safety since many have speculated Omni to be in his mid to late teens."
"From what I saw, we might be the same age," Ryunosuke thought aloud, her cheeks turning faint red. "I wish I could've talked to him more."
Dansui growled quietly.
As a new list appeared, Chizu continued,
"Despite this, there have been many who have expressed gratitude towards Omni, especially from his usual turf, Tomobiki. Surprisingly, it would seem that many prefer their vigilante over government-licensed Heroes," Chizu said before reading some of the comments. "There are tons of texts in support of Omni. Such as Omni 4 Life, The Hero 4 Every Problem, Things Around Here Have Been Peaceful Thanks Omni!, My Little Angels Can Walk The Streets Safe Knowing You're Looking After Us. This next comment has been most viewed throughout the year and has created nearly dozens of forums."
"Tomobiki's Very Own All Might."
While Dansai scoffed, his son nodded in agreement.
"We'll go over those in further detail later," Chizu added before moving on. "The Japanese government has repeatedly demanded his arrest, but Police have been unable to locate any information relating to Omni, despite his large exposure. Likewise, the newly appointed president of Hero Public Safety Commission, Ichibei Haruno had decided to rescind Omni's bounty of $500000, which was initiated by the previous President. Furthermore, President Haruno has announced that Omni should be left alone until he's committed an actual crime, even stating that ``There are more important issues that need to be addressed and a single vigilante is not one of them."
"While this hasn't stopped several Heroes from attempting to arrest him, there are some who are indifferent or even friendly towards Omni," She remarked as the screen suddenly displayed two familiar Heroes. "The Rabbit Hero: Mirko and The Wing Hero: Hawks are two clear examples. This morning, they fought against Ronin and later a mysterious assailant, who has yet to be identified by the Police. In past months, these young heroes have had minimal contact with the vigilante outside of temporary team-ups against evil and neither has made any attempts to arrest him. Despite the obvious disapproval from their superiors and fellow Heroes, their popularity has increased with many people creating team names for them, something that Mirko has denied venomously."
"It's almost like everything is revolving around Omni," Chizu giggled. "Everyone is waiting for his next big move with one question on their mind. Who Is Omni and What Is His Quirk? How can he do all of this, but no one can locate him? Till then, this has been Chizu Narisawa and you've been watching Star Press."
"His quirk ain't what I'm thinking," Ryunosuke smirked as she turned the TV off.
"Tomorrow," Dansui scowled, gripping his kitchen knife tightly. "Omni will perish tomorrow! I will destroy him!"
Suddenly, smoke brushed past him and it suddenly got warmer behind him.
"DAD, THE FOOD'S BURNING!"
"OH, CRAP!"
"Wow," Ten stared at the television, before looking at Ataru, who was sitting at his desk. "You're famous."
"Omni is famous," Ataru declared, glancing outside as the Stormtroopers walked away from his house. "I doubt I could accomplish half of what Omni does regularly."
"Why are you-"
"Chibi's quirk allows him to use echolocation by snapping his fingers. While he can detect things, I don't know if he can hear us with his quirk," Ataru whispered.
"Gotcha," Ten nodded, zipping his lips.
As Lum posed in front of their closet mirror, she stared at their reflection.
"Today was pretty fun. I'm glad we got to spend some time together as normal people do. I hope we can do it again," She smiled.
"Who knows," Ataru stretched his arms. "Tomobiki is a strange place."
"Today wasn't bizarre at all," Lum argued before thinking back. "Except for that giant cat. Speaking of which…?"
"He's staying downstairs in the living room. I managed to convince them to let him stay. It helps that he doesn't eat and only wants the kotatsu," Ten smiled proudly.
"Great."
"Moving on," Ataru called out as he looked at the night sky from his window. "I'll give you that, today was surprisingly normal. However, in Tomobiki, that means tomorrow will be making up for the slack. Mark my words."
"Alright," Lum nodded, before smiling. "By the way, how do you like my new clothes?"
Twirling around, Lum showed off her new underwear. A dark green sports bra and panties with a black outline. Omni's symbol was stitched into the left breast.
While they weren't erotic at all, the person wearing them…
"You're amazing, Lum." Ten said, clapping his hand before blinking. "Doesn't the bra hurt? It looks tight."
Ataru grimaced, glancing briefly only to snap his eyes away.
The bra looked like it was one jump away from breaking off.
Staring her Darling down, Lum smirked.
"It's supposed to look this way, Ten. The material clings to my body for a second without causing chest pains. It's meant to, as we adults call it, place emphasis on our strengths."
"Emphasis?" Ten cocked his head.
Rubbing his head, Lum said. "You'll understand when you're older, now get ready for bed."
"Ten is old enough to know," Ten muttered, before declaring. "I'll show you! I'm brushing my teeth! That's the emphasis!"
As Lum waved her cousin off, she smiled coyly at her Darling once she caught him peeking at her ass as it stretched her new panties.
"That's a good example." She started as she slowly closed the door.
Whipping his head away, Ataru gulped as Lum strutted toward him, emphasizing her wide hips, and sat atop of his desk. Crossing her legs, she entered his vision with a curl of her lips.
"But I think we know what is a better example," Lum whispered, as his eyes trailed down.
"I-Is this a message for…"
Leaning close, Lum watched him struggle with himself as she licked her lips….
… and pecked his forehead.
Pulling away, she giggled at his stupefied expression.
"Yeah. I make a living out of making you blush and I'm a major pervert towards my Darling," Lum stated cheerfully.
"You…"
"And I'm not just interested in having sex with my Darling. Doing anything with him is thrilling to me. So, whatever we do. As long as we're together, then I'm happy." Lum smiled lovingly.
Looking at Lum, he couldn't help but be amazed by her boldness.
"…from sexy to loving. You are something you know that" Ataru chuckled softly.
"Only for you," Lum walked towards her dresser.
"I got to learn a bit about your past, even if it wasn't the way I hoped."
"Yeah," Ataru frowned softly, staring at the Omnitrix.
"But you know what I think?" Lum started as she grabbed her clothes. "I think he'd be proud of who you are."
Lifting his head, Ataru found himself alone as Lum left the room.
For a moment, he looked around the room before smiling.
"I hope so."