"Deep-Sea Queen, Defender of City J! Deep-Sea Queen, Guardian of the oceans! Deep-Sea Queen, Protector of the beaches!" Deep-Sea Queen rambled on, coming up with a seemingly endless assortment of titles for herself.
The atmosphere of the limousine was much different than before, which is no surprise given how the meeting with the Association's leaders turned out. The moment they left the building and entered their vehicle, all five women couldn't keep from discussing what their futures had in store for them now that they were going to be heroes. The crowd, which hadn't dispersed while they were in the building, was still present and was more active than before. Some people took pictures while others talked and chatted as the group took their leave, which would intensify as things moved forward.
"I thought your name and title were the same things?" Mumen Rider questioned, confused by the fish woman's rapidly growing list of additional monikers.
"He does make a good point, Deep." Sky Queen joined in, feeling the same. "We do not need extra titles. The ones we possess already tell everyone who and what we are. Adding more to them would not only be excessive, but braggadocios." She said.
"Aw, come on, guys! We can't just settle with our standard titles!" Deep-Sea Queen replied, far too lost in the hype to be susceptible to reason.
"You consider the title and position of a queen to be standard?" Bearded Worker inquired, unable to keep himself from joining the conversation.
"Yes! I've been a queen for CENTURIES! And, as all of you could see from my handiwork earlier this morning, I haven't had any among the Seafolk who ever came close to taking my royal status away from me. But being a hero is ENTIRELY new! It's something I've never even thought about nor knew that I wanted until it happened!" She explained.
"Even so, the Deep-Sea Queen has a nice ring to it. It also sums up who you are and your capabilities. I don't know if the Association will give you a different hero name or title." Bespectacled Worker told her.
"But what if I had an actual name, though? Wouldn't they have to give it to me then?" She asked.
"I...suppose they would." He answered, thinking it over for a brief second. "But that begs the question, Deep. Are you planning to acquire a name?" He inquired.
"Indeed I am. I talked about it with my good friend here." She responded while patting Mumen Rider on the shoulder, making sure not to use his real name per his request.
"What?! When did this happen?!" The Subterranean Queen asked with widened eyes, sounding both shocked and offended.
"When we were hiding in the back of the restaurant together. We decided it was time for the Deep-Sea Queen to have a proper name that captured my greatness." She answered while folding her arms and adopting a somewhat smug expression.
"I can't believe this! You were planning to give yourself a name and didn't think to mention it to us?! Or even consult us on the matter?!" The Subterranean Queen questioned.
"...Um...why would I?" She replied, making the other gasp.
"Because we're friends too! AND we've known each other far longer!" The Subterranean Queen exclaimed.
"Didn't you spend most of that time trying to kill each other?" Mumen Rider questioned.
"Semantics!" She responded.
"Alright, girls, put the gloves away." Lady Boros intervened, stepping in as the mediator. "If it means so much to you to be included, Sub. I'm sure Deep would love to have your input alongside...um..." She trailed off, unsure how to address the cyclist for justice.
"Mumen Rider." He said, making her smile.
"Thank you." She replied, grateful for his assistance.
"Yeah! Boros is right! You can help my friend and me figure out my new name. It'll be fun!" Deep-Sea Queen agreed with a grin.
"Ahem." Sky Queen cleared her throat, getting everyone's attention. "If I may interject, I'd like to propose that in addition to finding a name for Deep, we also find names for myself, Sub, and Ancient. After all, it'd be a tad unusual if only she were to have one suddenly." She said. "Assuming that all of us want one, of course." She added, not wanting to force it on her fellow matriarchs.
"Sure! I think a name would suit me just as well as Deep." The Subterranean Queen approved.
"I'm fine. I don't need one." The Ancient Queen replied.
"Are you sure, Ancient?" Saitama asked, receiving a nod from the royal reptile.
"I am, master. Although a name sounds nice, I see no point in it. That might change later, but for now, my title is all I need." She answered.
"Well, even so, you can still hang out with us, Ancient!" Deep-Sea Queen told her before snapping her fingers as an idea came to mind. "And if Boros joins us, we can make a day of it! A girls' day out! We can go to the city's shops and peruse their wares as we talk about names and other stuff!" She suggested with a smile.
"While that does sound fun, Deep. I'm afraid I'll have to decline." Lady Boros responded, immediately replacing the fish woman's smile with a disappointed frown.
"What? Why?" She asked.
"Because Saitama and I were going to have our first date today before all this excitement and insanity occurred. And there's still plenty of time left for us to do something together." Lady Boros explained.
Upon hearing this, everyone slowly looked at Saitama, who took their wide-eyed gazes with the same nonchalance as he did with anything else.
"Don't listen to her." He said immediately. "I asked Boros if she wanted to hang out with me. Since I thought she'd want to do things she couldn't easily do before. At no point did I say this was a date or a ROMANTIC hang out." He told them.
"Hmm...I suppose that is true." Lady Boros admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. "However, you NEVER said that it WASN'T a date. Or that it COULDN'T become one~" She teased with a smirk.
"I remember saying, word for word, that I wouldn't call it a date." He countered.
"Semantics." She replied, taking a page from the Subterranean Queen's book.
"EXCUSE ME." Deep-Sea Queen spoke up, getting their attention back on her. "Regardless of whether or not you consider this a date, Saitama. YOU and my best gal pal in the world will be spending the ENTIRE day together. Alone. Being a cute couple. You might even get a picture taken. And NEITHER of you thought to inform ME?!" She questioned.
"...Why would we?" Both Saitama and Lady Boros asked, unsure of how that concerned her.
"BECAUSE SHE'S MY GAL PAL! LIKE I JUST SAID!" She shouted in response while pointing at Lady Boros. "And if there is ONE thing I have learned from watching my soaps is that behind every great woman is another woman. And I am that woman! I can't let my bestie spend time with her man looking like that!" She explained as she gestured to Lady Boros.
"...What's wrong with my appearance?" Lady Boros questioned, looking down at herself after hearing that.
"Nothing if it's for a casual time at home or if you're about to throw down. But if you're spending the day with the love of your life, Boros. You NEED to flaunt it! Show this man how LUCKY he is to have you!" She said.
"I don't know, Deep. I like my pants, boots, and my tank top. They're comfortable and practical for any situation." Lady Boros replied.
"Yeah. Plus, I like how Boros looks normally. She doesn't need to go through all that effort." Saitama chimed in.
"Come on, guys! Just let me have this!" She pleaded, her hands clasped together. "What if I promise that it WON'T take long? Thirty to forty-five minutes, POSSIBLY an hour if we get stuck on something, and then after I've worked my magic, you two can have your non-date. Please?" She offered.
"Hmm...I don't know..." Lady Boros hummed. "What do you think, Saitama?" She asked while looking at him.
"It's up to you, Boros. You'll be the one stuck with Deep in a changing room." He answered.
"Don't make it sound so awful!" Deep-Sea Queen interjected, slightly insulted.
"Hmm..." Lady Boros continued to hum as she contemplated her answer. "...Excuse me." She said after a few seconds, addressing the employees. "What time is it?" She inquired.
"It is...ten-thirty. Might be ten forty-five or fifty by the time we get to City J." Bearded Worker replied after checking his wristwatch.
"I see..." She muttered, continuing to think for a few more seconds before speaking again. "Deep, if you can promise me it won't take long and that you WON'T go overboard, then I will agree to let you do...whatever it is you want to do." She decided.
"YES! THANK YOU, BOROS!" Deep-Sea Queen cheered, elated at her victory.
"May we help?" Sky Queen asked, speaking for herself and Sub. "We can converse about our names while we assist you and Boros. Which would be efficient." She said.
"Of course! And with you two helping, we'll get her ready MUCH faster!" Deep-Sea Queen approved.
As the three royals and Lady Boros began to chat about what they would do, Saitama looked over at the Ancient Queen, who remained silent.
"Hey." He whispered to her so that he wouldn't interrupt the others. "I'm guessing you don't care about any of that, huh?" He asked.
"You are correct, master." She answered at the same volume. "And you?" She inquired.
"Same." He replied. "Want to hang out while they're doing all of...that?" He asked, not sure what to call it.
"Of course, master. I'm honored to receive such an invitation from you." She answered with a nod.
A Short While Later, In City J...
Upon their arrival, the reception that awaited the limousine and its occupants was...non-existent. As strange as it may sound, almost impossible, the residents of City J weren't in a frenzy or eagerly waiting for the return of the Deep-Sea Queen and the others. However, this wasn't to say they weren't glad to see her return or weren't excited. Nearly ALL media coverage had focused on the meeting at the Heroes Association HQ and the crowd surrounding the building.
Due to this, the people of City J collectively agreed that bombarding the Deep-Sea Queen with even MORE crowds and general rowdiness would only annoy her after everything she had been through. So, while the city's citizens were glad to see their newly appointed protector come back safe and sound, along with the others she had left with, they were going to do their best to make all of them feel comfortable rather than put them on the spot. This is why as the limousine stopped in front of a shopping center, there wasn't a swarm of onlookers waiting to ambush them with their phones and assault them with a tidal wave of questions. As for the lack of any news vans, reporters, journalists, and other such news types, that was Agoni's doing, for he, just like the people of City J, wanted the Association's newest heroes to feel comfortable after such a hectic experience.
Of course, that last detail still hadn't been announced.
"Alright. Here we are." Bearded Worker said as he stepped out of the vehicle, which confused most of the group.
"Why are you getting out?" Deep-Sea Queen asked.
"Deep. You didn't think we'd be leaving you guys ALONE, did you?" He responded with another question.
"Uh...yeah?..." She said, not seeing anything wrong with that.
"Have you completely forgotten the media circus you caused earlier? Or how everyone in this city now sees you as a hero? Do you think it'd be a good idea for us to let you roam without a chaperone in the event things get crazy again?" He questioned.
"He makes many valid points, Deep." Lady Boros spoke up, agreeing with him. "Besides, we are still unfamiliar with how things work in human society. Something that we'll need to work on if we're to become heroes. But until we do, we need someone with expertise on the matter, such as him." She stated.
"That's what this guy is for!" Deep-Sea Queen exclaimed as she pointed at Mumen Rider. "He's a hero, AND he's responsible! He can look after us while teaching us about heroes and stuff." She argued.
"While that might be true, Deep. Mumen is still only a hero who, to my knowledge, hasn't had much experience when dealing with massive crowds of people or escort duty." Bearded Worker replied before looking at the heroic cyclist. "Am I correct to assume this?" He asked, wanting to be sure.
"Yes, sir. I've been around crowds plenty of times, of course. Usually, when I've dealt with criminals and a few monsters. But never have I had to try and control a rowdy crowd, nor have I been given an assignment by the Association that required me to be security detail or protection for anyone." Mumen Rider answered.
"See? So, if civilians inside the mall start to cause a stir, Mumen Rider will need help to control the situation AND keep them away from all of you as you're helping Boros in the changing area. We can't run the risk of some pervert trying to snap a picture of her or any of you if you're even the slightest bit exposed." He told her.
Although wanting to protest more, the Deep-Sea Queen couldn't deny the points being made.
"Ugh, fiiiiiiiiiiiiiine..." She groaned as she stepped out of the vehicle. "But please don't be weird about it." She requested.
"You won't even know I'm around." Bearded Worker promised as those who were coming began to exit the limousine.
Lady Boros, The Sky Queen, the Subterranean Queen, and Mumen Rider stepped out of the vehicle with quick goodbyes and waves. And once those were through, the limousine drove away at the order of Bespectacled Worker so Saitama and the Ancient Queen could spend their free time elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Back At The Mall...
Shopping mall. A fairly normal location. Typically, only the largest ones in the world have insane attractions like rides or water parks. And while City J was by no means a small metropolis, its focus was primarily on its beaches, seafood, and various goods that could be sold to any tourist.
So, this shopping mall, one of a few in City J, didn't have any of those overtop eye-catching attractions. It was, in its entirety, your standard multi-floor shopping center with plenty of stores to peruse. However, this was the first time the Deep-Sea, Subterranean, and Sky Queens had ever entered a place like this. So, even without a massive attraction to call its own, the mall was already one of the most incredible things these royals had ever seen.
"By the stars..." Sky Queen muttered as the trio slowly walked, taking in everything they could see, hear, and smell. "This place is like a palace..." She said.
"Yeah...it's...kinda intimidating..." Deep-Sea Queen admitted.
"Really? I'm sure there are more interesting things that have sunken to the bottom of the ocean." Mumen Rider commented as he, Lady Boros, and Bearded Worker walked alongside the awestruck queens.
"Eh, it's mostly battered ships, those flying machines Sky talked about during the meeting, and some other junk. This is unlike anything I've seen before." She responded.
"But didn't you bring gold coins from the ocean floor to pay for breakfast earlier? That means there must be treasure, too." He inquired.
"I...suppose. There's SO much down there that it's lost a lot of that WOW factor, ya know? When gold is lining nearly every trench and aperture, it stops being special." She said.
"Deep, remind me to come to you if the Association's ever in financial troubles." Bearded Worker requested, his mind now wondering how much wealth the Seafolk were casually sitting on.
"Sure. No problem, Scruffy." She agreed.
Continuing to go deeper into the mall until they reached a fairly open space, only occupied by a single water fountain at the center. Once here, the group looked around to see if a clothing store was nearby, which caught the attention of a bystander.
"Excuse me." The gentleman greeted them with a friendly smile and wave. Speaking to the Subterranean Queen as she was the closest to him. "Are you looking for something? Or someone?" He asked.
"Why, yes. We are, good sir." She politely answered with a smile of her own. Happy to see a surface dweller be as receptive to her as they were towards the Deep-Sea Queen. "We need to find a store that sells clothing. Do you know where we could find one?" She inquired.
"Second floor, straight ahead." He replied as he pointed towards a peculiar-looking set of stairs. "Just take the escalator over there; it'll be the first store you see when you get to the top." He instructed.
"Escalator? What's that?" Deep-See Queen questioned with a puzzled expression.
"A moving staircase." Lady Boros told her before the man could. "More so than an elevator. Which is what Sub said to Ancient back in the other city." She added before walking over to it. "Observe." She stated.
Watching as their mono-eyed companion stepped onto the escalator, all three queens were blown away as it carried her to the second floor.
"That's amazing!" They exclaimed in unison, confusing Mumen Rider.
"Wait, why is that amazing? You guys rode an elevator." He asked.
"So? This is ALL new to us!" Deep-Sea Queen answered before hurrying over to the escalator. "And as Boros said, this is an ACTUAL moving staircase! LOOK AT IT! It's straight for a second but then takes the shape of a stair!" She pointed out.
"Hoo, boy. I am glad I opted to be your guys' chaperone." Bearded Worker said with a chuckle, now excited to see their reactions to everything else the mall had to offer.
With the guidance of the helpful bystander, the group ascended to the second floor to find the clothing store. One-by-one, everyone rode the escalator. All the while, the queens marveled at this wonder of human technology the entire time they were on it. Much to the amusement of Lady Boros, Mumen Rider, and Bearded Worker.
"Easy there." Lady Boros guided, helping the queens step off the moving stairs. "The sudden stop at the top can get you if you're not expecting it. I remember that happening to me the first time I rode one." She shared.
"No way. The all-powerful ruler of the ENTIRE universe stumbled after riding an escalator?" Deep-Sea Queen asked with a grin, needing to know this story.
"Gee, try to share a moment of humility with a friend, only to be met with an audience ready to laugh at you." She replied with an eye roll. Honestly not expecting anything less from her so-called best friend.
"Don't mind her, Boros. It's been centuries, and we're STILL waiting for Deep to mature." Sky Queen said with a smile. "Please, go on. Sub and I will ensure this loose-lipped fish doesn't chortle at your expense." She promised.
"Well, alright. I suppose with that; I can continue." Lady Boros responded, resuming her story as the group began walking. "It was during one of the few peaceful negotiations my crew and I had with a native species. Their kind lived on a planet that was almost ENTIRELY mountain ranges. Now, you may ask, why didn't I just use my powers to fly to the mountain top? Well, I WOULD have, except these mountains were not the kind you or I are familiar with. Long, sharp, near impassable extensions of the rock formed between and above each one. Ensuring that anyone foolish enough to try and go through them would be dead in seconds or minutes. I COULD have blasted apart these formations if I was fighting the natives, but I wasn't. So, my elites and I had to ride a mountain-long escalator. By the time we got to the top, we were either asleep or dazed, which resulted in a not-so-flattering arrival as we fell over each other when it was over." She recalled.
"Heh, sounds like heaven for you and your people. Huh, Sub?" Deep-Sea Queen suggested with a playful smirk.
"It does sound very interesting. Much different from our world, to be sure." The Subterranean Queen replied.
"I have a question." Mumen Rider said while raising his hand slightly. "How did you even get onto the planet if the terrain was impossible to traverse?" He asked.
"A good question to ask. Remember, I said ALMOST entirely. There were a FEW places that could be considered valleys. And they were fortunately big enough for us to land our ship and begin moving on foot." She answered.
"Sounds like a terrible place to park." Bearded Worker joked, managing to earn a chuckle.
"Believe it or not, doesn't even crack the top five." She said.
As that story from Lady Boros's past ended, the group arrived at the clothing store, bringing them to another stop. Looking into the establishment from its spotless windows, everyone could see a variety of clothes for men and women alike. Although, once the Deep-Sea Queen spotted a certain selection, these other fashionable apparel were completely ignored.
"There! Over there!" She exclaimed, pointing at the section of the store her eyes intensely stared at.
Curious and a bit frightened at what the Deep-Sea Queen was pointing at, everyone's gazes fell upon a mass of fancy-looking dresses.
"Deep. I was being cheeky earlier. Saitama was being truthful when he said this wasn't our ACTUAL first date. It's just meant to be a casual day together." Lady Boros told her.
"...So?" Deep-Sea Queen questioned, making the other sigh.
"So, I'm not going to wear something absurdly fancy. That would intentionally ignore the casual nature of this hangout." She replied.
"I agree with Boros." Sky Queen joined in. "She needs to look relaxed. Neither she nor Saitama will be trying to impress the other or set a romantic atmosphere." She said.
"Relaxed, but not TOO relaxed." The Subterranean Queen interjected. "I think a more...active outfit would be preferable. What if Saitama and Boros want to do something physical later? Like go for a walk or run, maybe even play a sport on the beach?" She suggested.
"Well, if that's the case, Boros will need swimwear. You can't wear regular clothes on a beach; that's just silly." Deep-Sea Queen responded.
"Girls. I think you're putting a bit too much thought into-"
"If we're going to look at swimwear for her, we might as well get other outfits figured out." Sky Queen said, cutting Lady Boros off. "While this isn't their first date, as we've established. I think we'd be doing Boros a great disservice by not helping her with future situations she might need to dress for." She explained.
"Oh! That's a great idea, Sky! We can choose her spring attire, winter clothes, something sporty, something sexy, something that screams I'm crazy, and something for girls' night! If we ever have one." Deep-Sea Queen approved, excited by the possibilities.
"I call dibs on the sporty outfit!" The Subterranean Queen exclaimed with a grin while raising her hand.
"Girls! You are losing sight of the-"
Too late. Before Lady Boros could try and calm the trio down, they grabbed her by her arms and shoulders and then took her into the store. Leaving a bewildered Mumen Rider and an amused Bearded Worker behind.
"Wow. They're excited, huh?" Mumen Rider asked Bearded Worker, whose first response was a chuckle.
"Yup. That they are." He answered as both men followed after the women.
However, during all of this, from the moment they entered the mall to just now as the group went into the clothing store, none of them noticed someone trailing them. Although to be fair, that was part of this individual's skill set.
Nearly Half An Hour Later...
"GIRLS. PLEASE. I THINK WE'VE GOT ENOUGH OUTFITS." The defeated, helpless, at her wits' end voice of Lady Boros cried out from a small room hidden behind a curtain.
Things were so much easier for Lady Boros when she was a mostly uncaring warmonger who'd slaughter an entire galaxy if it looked at her funny. But now that she was trying for a more peaceful life, and the people currently "torturing" her were her friends, there was nothing the dominator of the universe could do. As for Mumen Rider and Bearded Worker, they'd been relaxing outside the changing room, listening in on the "madness" the queens were subjecting her to.
"Aw, come on, Boros! One more!" Deep-Sea Queen whined, not wanting this to end so soon.
"NO. I AM PUTTING MY FOOT DOWN. WE ARE DONE." She asserted, literally putting her foot down as she said so.
"I think Boros is right. We have asked her to try on more outfits than intended..." Sky Queen muttered, looking at all of the clothes that surrounded them.
"But what about accessories? She hasn't tried on that many hats." The Subterranean Queen asked.
"Girls, please..." Lady Boros begged at a much softer volume. She was desperate to be done with this so she could FINALLY spend time with Saitama.
"Oh, alright. I guess now's a good time to stop." Deep-Sea Queen relucted, causing Lady Boros to sigh in relief.
"Thank you." She said, followed by the sound of her shuffling around behind the curtain to get ready.
"What outfit are you going with, Boros?" Sky Queen inquired as Lady Boros had kept the clothes she liked with her rather than handing them back.
"You'll see when I get through putting it on." She replied.
"I still think it's unfair to us that you didn't show ANY of the outfits off..." Deep-Sea Queen grumbled while folding her arms, a noticeable pout on her face.
"If I did, Deep. We'd be here longer than we already have been. And I don't want to keep Saitama waiting." She said. "Besides, I know very well when I have my first date with him that the three of you will have me spend an ENTIRE day trying on everything I own," she added.
"Pfft. A day? That's assuming we don't go shopping again before that. Which we most CERTAINLY are." Deep-Sea Queen responded.
Before any more words could be spoken, Lady Boros would pull back the curtain to reveal her chosen attire. Replacing her black tank top was a purple t-shirt with short sleeves that only went past her shoulders. The particular shade of the shirt complemented the blue of Lady Boros's skin very well. As for leg apparel, she wore a pair of jeans that were a darker shade of blue than her skin.
Additionally, they fit Lady Boros's lower half quite well. Not enough to reveal TOO much of her lower half through the material, but enough to where they were equally stylish and comfortable. Lastly, her footwear was now a set of athletic sneakers, perfectly suited for any activities she and Saitama might partake in.
"Ooh! Look at my bestie!" Deep-Sea Queen exclaimed in glee before hurrying over to her. "You are set for a wonderful day in my lovely city." She said.
"YOUR city?" Lady Boros questioned.
"I don't mean it as in I OWN the city, Boros. Geez." She replied with an eye roll.
"I know, Deep. I was just messing with you." Lady Boros assured her with a smile.
"I must say, Boros. You fill out those clothes remarkably well." Sky Queen complimented as she and the Subterranean Queen got closer. "Admittedly, I'm a bit surprised. Given your physique, one would assume the clothes humanity has to offer wouldn't be able to hold together." She said.
"Right? It is impressive. Even when Geryuganshoop needed to make adjustments before my height change, he didn't need to do much. Humans are skilled at making durable clothes." Lady Boros responded.
"Thank you for the compliment!" Bearded Worker called from outside the changing room, having heard that praise given to his species.
"You two can come in now! Boros is decent, and we'll need help gathering all of these clothes!" Deep-Sea Queen called back.
"We will?" The Subterranean Queen asked with a confused look on her face. "But we managed just fine before. I even carried most of it since it was easy for me." She pointed out while showing off her additional pair of arms.
"Yeah, but I feel bad that those two just stood outside waiting on us for so long. This'll make them feel included." Deep-Sea Queen answered.
"...Weren't we supposed to talk about our new names with them while Boros was changing clothes?" Sky Queen inquired, having just remembered that from earlier.
"...Ooo...yeah...we forgot about that..." Deep-Sea Queen said slowly. Having forgotten about it due to her excitement, as did the other queens.
"It's alright. You will have time to talk about it while I'm with Saitama." Lady Boros told them right as the men arrived.
Gathering up the clothes now that they were ready to leave, the group led by Bearded Worker headed for the checkout.
"Wait, I just realized something." Mumen Rider said as they reached the counter. "How're we going to pay for all of this?" He asked.
"Don't worry. I've got this." Deep-Sea Queen answered as she...opened her mouth?
But before anyone could question what she was doing, everyone would be left speechless by what happened next. The eel-like appendage that the Deep-Sea Queen had inside her slowly came out of her mouth, opened its own, and from its open maw fell a handful of gold coins which she caught.
"There. That should be enough, right?" She asked as the appendage withdrew into her body.
"What. The hell. Did you just do?" Bearded Worker responded, voicing the confusion and horror everyone was currently feeling.
"Hm? OH! Right. You guys can't do that." She realized, now understanding their reaction. "I use my eel's mouth for storage. Whether it's food, objects, or anything else, it's really handy." She explained.
"Okay...but...how does that work biologically?..." He pressed.
"I dunno." She replied with a casual shrug. "I've just always done it. Don't know how it works; it just does." She said.
"Then...how did you learn you could do it?..." Sky Queen questioned.
"Hmm...good question...it's been a long time..." She muttered, trying to remember. "I...think it was when I finally decided to try and build myself a proper throne room at the bottom of the sea. Even with my speed in the water, it took FOREVER to transport the materials I wanted from different places to the location. So, I started picking things up with my eel's mouth, and I think I must've swallowed some stuff by accident, but it didn't hurt me. And when I tried to cough it back up, it came out without any issues. Ever since then, I've used it as a pouch to carry stuff for me." She recalled.
Needing a few moments to process this information, everyone resumed checking out Lady Boros's clothes not long after. None of them dared to ask or say anything else about this revelation as it would only add more mystery and confoundment to the entity known as the Deep-Sea Queen. Who, as all of her friends silently handed the clothes to the cashier, was unaware of how strange of a creature she continued to prove herself to be. Eventually, everything was rung up, and the Deep-Sea Queen handed the employee behind the counter her gold coins, allowing them to leave with their haul.
"So, what will all of you do as I spend time with Saitama?" Lady Boros asked to get the conversation going again.
"Eat." Deep-Sea Queen answered first while patting her stomach. "From all the stress and excitement this morning, I've already burned away my breakfast. I need food." She said.
"So says the glutton." Sky Queen teased. Much to the annoyance of her fellow royal. "Although, I suppose I am famished as well. And I would like to sample human cuisine to see how it differs from the Skyfolk's." She said.
"What about you, Sub? You hungry?" Bearded Worker asked.
"That's...a tricky thing to answer." The Subterranean Queen began. Trying to think of the best way to explain it. "Since my people are unlike most life on Earth, our needs greatly differ. That isn't to say we don't eat, but we don't have as great of a-"
"Stop." Lady Boros interrupted, coming to a sudden halt. Her right arm was outstretched to keep the others from moving forward.
Caught off guard by the abrupt command, Lady Boros pointed ahead of themselves before anyone could ask what she was doing or why she cut the Subterranean Queen off. Following her direction in the hope it would offer some clarity, at first, no one saw anything. But as they continued to stare at the location she was pointing at; the others made a startling discovery. Stretched across the pathway was a wire, one so thin and blending so well with the light it was nearly invisible.
However, as the group began following the wire to see where it was coming from, they made another shocking discovery, a grenade set to go off if the wire was pulled. Unfortunately, their discovery was noticed by the person who placed the deadly trap, and they had no intention of it being ruined by the awareness of Lady Boros. From above, faster than any normal individual could see or react, a throwing knife was thrown with incredible power and precision at the grenade. Of course, the intended target of this explosive was not normal, as like a chameleon catching a buzzing fly with its tongue, so too did Lady Boros grab the blade from the air.
And within that same incredible instant, she crushed the weapon in her palm, releasing the shards it'd been reduced to afterward.
"Are you insane?" Lady Boros asked as she titled her head back to look at the ceiling.
Doing the same as her, the group titled their heads back to see who or what she was speaking to. High above them, standing on top of a part of the mall's architecture, was a man wearing fairly inconspicuous clothing. But that was the only part of the man's appearance that could be described that way, for the markings on his face and the sword sheathed on his hip were the exact opposite.
"Tsk, damn. I thought I could surprise you." He said with a click of his tongue. "Although with how our first encounter went, I guess I should've done better." He added.
"Boros, do you know this person?" Deep-Sea Queen inquired, voicing the question everyone had on their minds right now.
"Remember how I mentioned I fought a ninja before?" She asked as she crossed her arms. "Well, you're looking at him." She informed.
"Aww, so you've talked about me to your friends? How touching." The ninja taunted, maintaining his high ground. "Honestly, I'm surprised to see you have any, which isn't an insult, by the way. I just wasn't expecting to see other people like yourself." He said. "Or...kind of close, I should say." He corrected with a smirk.
"They're not like me." She replied, returning her focus to him. "Yet, even so, any of them could handle you with the same level of ease as I did. This means YOU are outnumbered by four people who can easily kick your ass. So I STRONGLY advise you to get down here, disarm this grenade, and leave while you still have all your limbs in an unbroken state." She told him, making the ninja laugh.
"Wow. Strong, fast, and a good sense of humor. What talents don't you have?" He asked, now folding his arms as well.
"I'm serious. You've already gone too far by trying to ambush me in a public place. I don't know how powerful your explosive is, but I know even with a small blast, you could potentially hurt or kill someone who isn't part of this. Is that the kind of warrior you are?" She questioned, hoping that'd get under his skin.
"Heh, this coming from the woman who killed a man right in front of me? I would've killed him, but you did the job for me. And you didn't seem to care then." He countered, unfazed by her words.
"Wait, what? Lady Boros, have you killed someone?" Bearded Worker asked as he looked at her.
"Yes, I did. But it wasn't a civilian. It was an idiot leading a group of other idiots who went around destroying buildings while calling themselves some ridiculous name that I can't remember." She answered.
"So what?" The ninja questioned. "Does that matter in the end? Civilian, terrorist, hero, villain, good guys, bad guys, it's all pointless bullshit. You can be the nicest or meanest person around, but none of that matters if you die the moment someone or something stronger than yourself comes along and kills you. And if it does, you deserve to die for being so weak." He said.
"Alright. That's it. I'm done." She stated, sighing out of frustration. "I hoped you wouldn't disappoint me the next time we met. But it's apparent that my hope was misplaced. And now I have to clean up this mess you've made after dealing with you." She told him.
"Yeah, you know, I remember you saying that to me. It stuck." He replied as he unfolded his arms. "Every day since we fought, in addition to increasing my training, I thought long and hard about how I would approach you now that I knew about your speed." He shared with her before raising his left hand, revealing a full set of kunai. "And I figured it'd be easier to hit you if your focus wasn't on me." He said.
Before Lady Boros could ask him what he meant or try and stop whatever he was planning to do, the ninja threw the kunai with the same power and precision he had with the knife. However, they were not aimed at Lady Boros or any of her companions; each kunai was flung at a different part of the mall, with their intended targets being more explosives the ninja had prepared. It was only as the weapons hit their marks and a series of blinding lights filled the mall that the group realized the reality of the situation.
The tripwire was nothing more than a decoy, a distraction to get their attention and keep it focused on him, so they wouldn't notice the actual trap the ninja had laid all around them.
