Chapter 2: A feeling of emptiness
When he manifests his request to Bang, he feels strange. It is a rainy, cloudy morning and it has cost him to climb the endless steps that have taken him to the dojo. He's tired, he has not had breakfast yet. Has not been able. He spent the whole night thinking, looking for a way out of the situation. When he finally found it, he was set in motion as quickly as possible. There was no time for breakfast.
Bang looks at him with his usual serious and concentrated gesture. For a moment, he says nothing, he lets the expression of his desires throb in the air and be suspended there, as a strange presence between the two.
Saitama doubts, maybe he has not understood, maybe he has not been clear ..
"Are you sure about this?" The elderly hero finally tells him.
He nods. Yes, he's sure. He has thought a lot about it and is determined. It's the best thing for both of them. Bang nods silently. They discuss the details of the agreement. They do not take long, it's just a matter of specifying dates and not much more.
As he goes down the stairs to return home, a feeling of emptiness begins to echo in his stomach. He says that it is because he has not had breakfast. What other explanation could it have?
After all, he has always been prepared to lose him.
Once again, Genos has destroyed his body in a confrontation. For Saitama, the creature has not even given a good fight. It has been another monster, another enemy that has swelled his imaginary list of defeated villains. However, for the cyborg the cost has been another ...
He has waited until his doctor repaired him. It has not taken too long. Evidently the scientist has already improved his techniques due to frequent repairs. The boy appears in front of his door once he can walk again. He receives him as if nothing. As if he had never felt that disturbing feeling to have seen him destroyed.
That day they do not have activities. They spend the hours together, go to a store looking for sales and Genos helps him carry the bags with the merchandise purchased. They eat a lot and the boy is surprised because the crab meat they eat that night was reserved for a special occasion and that is a normal day. He pretends not to notice it, avoiding his inquisitive looks.
He is unexpectedly nervous. He talks a lot, he jumps from one subject to another. His self-proclaimed disciple follows the conversation without realizing that something is out of place.
Finally, when he can not delay it anymore, he talks. He speaks in a carefree voice. He is like that, nothing can affect him. No, truly. He´s too powerful, this is just a conversation ..
"So... you don´t want me, anymore?" Genos's words are barely audible, insecure.
He does not understand how the cyborg can transmit so much emotion through his metallic vocal cords ... But he does, and his question does not seem to refer to the cessation of their relationship as master-disciple but seems to refer to something else. Something he has sought to avoid. The boy looks at him in a way that seems to scream for an answer and it is his duty to give it.
"No, Genos .." The lapse between one sentence and the next one becomes infinite and Saitama can almost feel the boy fall for it.
"I've talked to Bang. He is a great teacher and is willing to take you as his disciple."
He does not explain more. He doesn´t tell him that it is not that he doesn´t want him, but that there are things that go beyond. Things that have escaped his hands.
He almost expects the boy to rebel, to show off his passionate conviction, to try to convince him not to take him away, to say more than twenty words ... But he does not say anything. He just stands there in front of his plate that still contains the remains of the crab. When he finally moves it is to clear the table. Saitama watches him in silence, until at last he dares to ask.
"Genos, are you okay?"
The other turns his back on him, he has already begun to wash. He does not answer and he thinks it is because he has not heard.
They go to sleep. They have not spoken again. There is nothing to say. It is only, when the lights in the room are turned off, that Genos' voice is heard in the place.
"Is it because of something I did?"
Saitama again feels the emptiness in his stomach. This time he can not lie.
To be continue..