Ok so before we get to this long awaited update, here's some explanation as to why this story has been on Haitus for the past five years. Around 2020 I left my job at a hotel chain for the sake of my mental health. I was being bullied by coworkers younger than me (I was 24 when I started and being bullied by 17 year olds). Around Christmas last year I lost my paternal grandmother, my only living grandparent. My surrogate aunt passed away from cancer the year prior too. I work part time which takes up a lot of my time and I've been focusing on my other works.
I suffer with anxiety which doesn't help when I get asked about updates, it only makes it harder to come back to older works. Staring at a screen and unable to make anything work. I have an account on AO3 under MangaBitch where I also take requests, gift works etc. I'm also under Fictionpress under EmilyRowan as my original stories. I really appreciate your patience and I'm trying to update more older stories etc. But creative block isn't helping and the more people pester me about them the less I want to update.
Also thank you 13fanfic89 and Quijibo7609 for requests and suggestions for chapters, I apologise for how long it took. You helped immensely with my creative block
Madoka stared into the distance, her eyes blank and empty, boredom filling her, she couldn't wait to get out of this place, breathe easier and leave the mundane of this miserable place. She would never understand why people idolised this sort of thing as the best years of their lives, it felt so trivial and exhausting. The endless chatter of people filling her senses, draining her energy, the assistants tapping away on their keyboards, the clutter of the office. Waiting for the guidance councillor to say something, god she wanted to be anywhere else but here right now. She would rather be reading at her desk, cloud watching, listening to music or reading manga, she wanted to be curled up on her bed with headphones cuddling her cat Jet to her chest. She wanted to be with Saitama, enjoying tea and just forgetting about her life, instead of being reminded of what lay ahead of her. She was soon to become seventeen, she was reaching the final years of high school, the time were teachers cracked down and asked all sorts of pointless questions. The most dreaded and mundane parts of her life. Soon she was going to have to start discussing college applications, her future, her careers, all of it made her feel like she was suffocating. Her parents never gave a shit, they were always focused on work, they never asked about her life, never asked about her friendships. She had no idea who she was going to be, what she wanted to be, she just wanted to live her life.
"Madoka Akagi" a voice called, dragging her from thought
She groaned heavily, dragging herself from the seat and into the office, wishing she could just leave. Maybe she could fake being sick, go to the nurses office or sneak out of school, who would even care? Any excuse she could think of so she never had to deal with this again. The office was too bright, to intense, the scent of air freshener, fresh paper and ink, she hated this. She sat in the chair opposite, staring at the person in front of her, frustrated and annoyed. Wishing she could read their mind, wishing she could make them all understand her instead of being labelled a freak. Her intense violet eyes boring into this person, making it clear she didn't want to be here. She didn't need speculation, she didn't need interviewing, she didn't need advice. She just wanted to be left alone.
"Now Miss Akagi, you're currently a senior here..." the advisor explained, eyeing her notes, she wouldn't be with them much longer. She would be the leaving class, attending college, making new memories and growing up. This was something to be taken seriously.
"I'm also the most hated person in my grade, you've probably heard me being called ghost girl, the freak, they change every week" she pressed. She'd had rubbish thrown at her, pushed, abused, name called, harassed and made fun of. She'd endured all sorts of things due to her classmates and never complained once. What was the point? Nobody cared, nobody noticed. She was happy in her own bubble, reading manga and minding her business. Nobody knew her name, nobody remembered it.
The advisor frowned "I'm aware you aren't popular..." she explained, she had heard all her classmates talk about her and the results were mixed. Many said she was an attractive girl, many said she was cute and many of her male peers had an interest in her. Many admired her intellect and good grades, many thought she was strange. She arose mixed feelings in all of her classmates. None of them could understand her which seemed to be the main root of the problem.
"Understatement of the century" Madoka scoffed, nobody ever tried to understand her, they just opted to mocking her instead. She never cared about socialising, social cliques or being popular, she just kept her head down and minded her business. She was good in her cooking classes and other subjects earning praise from many teachers, she worked hard and earned her grades. She liked her own company, she had unusual hobbies. Name it and she was probably hated for it, so long as she never fit into any clique or interest she would always be strange. She knew everyone gossiped about her but she didn't care. Their opinions meant nothing to her.
"Miss Akagi, you won't be here much longer, you're getting closer to graduation and attended further education. You need to consider what's best for your future" the advisor pressed. She wouldn't be able to ask for support, they wouldn't be able to help her and she would become a lost cause. She was running out of time to ask for help and get footing to push herself forward. She would become a face among many who would leave this school and be hurtled into adult life. Not knowing what to do and scared shitless at the prospect of it all. Madoka frowned, wilting in her seat, wishing she could just disappear or make them all just shut up. Why were they all so nosy? So intrusive? So curious? She had always gotten good grades, it was one the many reasons she was bullied relentlessly. She had no friends, so she could focus more on her work, she never had anyone to spend time with to distract her. She turned in her work on time, she took notes and participated in class, her parents never asked about it, so they never complained. She had adapted to living in isolation, nobody ever asked her questions or entered her personal bubble. Nobody bothered her and she was happy to be in her own company. But then she met Saitama, she could speak to someone, feel comfortable around someone. She could see him on her own terms, she could be happy and she could tell him anything. Wishing she had met him sooner.
"I've heard around school that you've made some new friends" the advisor smiled, she had noticed them spending more and more time together. Though Suzume had been the one to approach her, she was still happy for her. She flipped through her notes "Miss Suzume Hayashi and Kaede Nishimiya" she smiled. Madoka blushed, back when she was miss loner nobody cared, but now she was changing her life suddenly she was so interesting. Ayame, the most bubbly, soft spoken and genuinely sweet girl she had ever met; she looked like a lolita doll and had so much energy it scared her. Kaede was even quieter than she was, he had an abrupt and brash way of speaking, he was charming in appearance, having such golden yellow eyes he reminded her of a cat. They made her feel safe, comfortable and at ease with herself, but due to her longstanding outcast nature, she was hesitant to warm up to them. "Hayashi is a lovely girl, she's friendly, hardworking and sociable, she's good for you. She'd help you come out of your shell" The advisor smiled.
"She's well intentioned but she's exhausting" Madoka reflected
"All I'm saying is, work on your friendships, they will help encourage you to better yourself. In terms of your college applications, I'd consider your options and what feels best for you" the advisor pressed
Madoka stalked down the hallway, her head held low and ignoring the chatter of her classmates, her skin felt like it was crawling. She hated the way the advisor acted like she knew her and yet in many ways spoke the truth. She felt vulnerable, exposed, harassed and awkward, like she was being told to make a choice she wasn't ready to. Like someone was trying to dictate on how she should live her life. Occasionally peering out of the corner of her eye to observe those around her., half of them were glued to their phones, gossiping, talking about music or makeup. She had no time nor interest in any of it, useless drivel that made her want to slam her head into her desk. All of them acted like they were better than her, all of them acted like she was strange, when they were no better.
"Madoka-chan!" a voice called out. Madoka shifted, turning to notice a blur of orange headed in her direction, she wasn't in the mood to talk and she wanted to be left alone. But she didn't have the heart to turn Suzume away, especially when this wasn't her fault. She had been patient with her, understanding that not everyone was as lonely or avoidant of people as she was. Suzume hurried towards her, her bright green eyes eager and warm, she was always so cheerful it was off-putting, like someone created a person out of sunshine and sugar. She was admired by a few male students, many often asking for her number or asking for dates. "How was it? What did the advisor want?" she pressed.
She decided to humour her, Suzume had a big heart and she was harmless, trying her hardest to be supportive of Madoka. She saw the stares people sent their way, the black cat loner and the golden retriever who followed her around. "The usual boring crap, asking me what I want to be when I'm older, what my plans are and what I want to make of myself" Madoka scoffed. It was the same repeated crap she had heard before, she'd jus started to tune it out. She'd spent a majority of her time wallowing in her own loneliness, relentlessly harassed by people around her, wishing she was anywhere else. Now she was forced to accept a future where she would be forced to socialise, living in dorms with nosy people. She couldn't think of anything worse.
"You're really intelligent Madoka-chan, you could be a teacher, or a nurse, anything you want" she beamed. She was very intuitive, hardworking and driven, all the teachers praised her for her studies but worried about her socially. She knew that Madoka could achieve anything she wanted, the sky was the limit for her.
Madoka scoffed, reaching out to pinch Suzume's nose "And with how bubbly you are, you'll end up an idol". Suzume had the kind of attitude teachers loved, helpful, bright and easy going, her complete opposite. She made friends wherever she went and nobody had a bad thing to say about her. She was always chatting with other students and complimenting people, which caused her to become popular.
Suzume whined before pouting, just because she was friendly didn't mean she didn't have issues of her own. Sometimes she didn't know how to end a conversation or say something without upsetting someone else. An idol sounded like hell on earth, she couldn't imagine anything worse, hoards of people following her around, endless unwanted attention. For all she had kindness and care in her heart, she couldn't cope with infamy, "I'd rather work in childcare, maybe animals". Caring for children, teaching them, nurturing them, she could manage something like that. Maybe work with animals, it sounded much better. Still dealing with people but in a lesser extent.
Madoka raised an eyebrow, sometimes she thought she had a grasp on Suzume but then she completely changed her attitude. But then she was very awkward and often had difficulty expressing her feelings. As cute as she was, she wasn't perfect either "You continue to surprise me" she sighed.
Madoka stared at her phone, she'd been looking for any news stories about Saitama, scouring the internet for whatever she could find. She needed to know he was ok, yes while he was the strongest hero and had faced many feats without a scratch. He wasn't immortal, he wasn't inhuman, he could still be killed, weakened and suffer from other issues. If he had bested any villains, been seen in public, anything, just any mention of him where she could find it. She'd missed him so much, realising how focused she'd become in her personal life, how much she'd been ignoring him. He'd been nothing but kind to her, welcoming her into his life, accepting her company and never once complaining. He could have turned her away at any time but he never did. She had become so wrapped up in her personal life she hadn't considered visiting him or even trying to contact him. She felt like an ass, like she was taking out her problems on him even though all she was doing was not communicating with him. Now that she was moving onto the second grade of high school, she was turning seventeen soon, closer to being an adult, she had more pressure on her shoulders. She felt like new roads were opening up, different directions becoming options for her. That prospect frightened her, but also made her excited, creating all forms of new feelings within her. Knowing she wouldn't be a kid anymore, that there were parts of her life she would be forced to abandon. She had long since given up on a normal life, but she would also have to leave her home, forget about small fond memories she still treasured. She felt like she was changing before she could stop herself, before she could enjoy her adolescence, like it was all moving so fast. He'd given her reason to hope again, to be happy again, he understood her in ways nobody else ever had. She had locked her emotions away to protect herself, something in ways he could relate to. He made her feel less like an outcast, less like she was the freak. She always went to him for comfort, she always went to him when she felt low.
"Still trying to snoop around for caped baldy?" Kaede questioned, he'd been on her mind lately. He had to admit he was jealous of how much she cared for him, she was so devoted to him. He wondered how their friendship started, how her crush in him started to develop. She really seemed attached to him, she was a rare fan of him and seemed bored by any of the other popular heroes. Admittedly he wasn't a fan of most of the heroes in Z city, he found himself bored at how they were a common conversation topic above all else. But Madoka's interest in him was different, there was always something behind her eyes, something she wasn't saying. It was like she had secrets about him.
Madoka slammed her phone onto the desk, hiding the screen, Kaede had a habit of being able to sneak up on people. She never heard him coming and he was making a habit of this. His mutual bluntness meant she could never lie to him or keep secrets, he knew her too well. He was perceptive and protective, but for the most part harmless, if not somewhat nosy. Blushing profusely "Were you just snooping?!" she snapped.
Kaede held up his hands in defeat, his expression still casual and carefree "Observing" he protested. He worried about her, he knew she was under a lot of stress lately and it was starting to show. If she needed a distraction, they could always do something fun. Find new comics, go to a cafe, anything she wanted.
Madoka shifted, she knew he meant well but she wasn't in the mood for teasing today "Whatever" she huffed.
"So, you were called to the guidance counsellor, what did they want?" Kaede questioned, he knew the bullying had lessened since he cut off that one girls hair to protect her. They were all wary of him being her guard dog which he had no complaints about. All he had to do was stand nearby her with a looming expression and people backed off instantly. She wasn't the type of person to get into trouble, she was a model student, which made him question things.
Madoka huffed she was done talking about this, she was tired of feeling like everyone was demanding something of her. She wasn't used to anyone taking an interest in her life, anyone giving a shit. She had become adapted to her private life and now everyone was becoming curious. She hoped that in college, she wasn't the person the professor called upon regularly, it would become too annoying. She just wanted to take notes, participate when needed and live her life. But she knew Kaede was just worried, they had only just become friends and they may not be attending the same college. He was just looking out for her in his own way. "Whether or not I plan on growing up and being responsible. The school approves of you two but they want to know if I'll become another worker drone like everyone else" she scoffed.
Kaede hummed, he had no idea why the school would assume Madoka would ever had difficulty in life. She was already mature for her age and she was more than adapted to looking out for herself. When it came to being an adult she was already set for life, "I mean, you're smarter than half the popular assholes in our school, you'll go places. While half of these idiots can't think past now" he reflected. Madoka always had the answers, she always knew what to say and how to hit her bullies where it hurt. But seeing her shy side, knowing she had good qualities and subtle girly tendencies was adorable. How excited she got over new Manga, the way she followed Saitama online and admired him. How much she loved animals, the way she had a weakness for cute things. Madoka softened, she could tell he truly meant it too, just as Saitama did. "You're a really good cook, you make your own lunches, you're really smart, you love animals. You have the world at your fingertips, you could be anyone and anything Madoka" he pressed.
"Wow, hype man are you?" she stated in amusement, but she appreciated his words, he never lied to her or softened the blow.
"You're better than them Madoka, half of these idiots will end up in dead end jobs and reflecting on nostalgia" Kaede stated, none of them were grounded in reality. Half of them cared more about hero gossip, and other trivial stuff. They skipped classes, goofed off, fell asleep, texted on their phones or just made an ass of themselves. They walked through life carefree and thinking they knew better than anyone else. Once reality hit them they would fall apart really fast. Realising on just how little they actually knew. Madoka blushed, pouting sulkily, but she knew he was right.
"Anyway, why are you so obsessed with caped baldy? I mean I know he's a hero but I thought you'd prefer one that looked more like you" Kaede asked. Admittedly he had his own hero he admired, but they weren't male. He knew if his classmates knew about his idol he would just be teased for it. He'd always admired Fubuki, she was the forgotten sibling of the psychic sisters. Underestimated and overlooked, it seemed there was more to her than met the eye. Fubuki or blizzard reminded him of Madoka, she was distant, strong willed, powerful and stubborn. She seemed the perfect idol for someone like Madoka. But instead she was smitten with caped baldy, the underdog and least liked hero.
Madoka glared, she hated every popular hero, they only seemed to care about the attention and ranks of their position. They may have been powerful but all of them were fake, they never respected their fans or the people they protected. "He's better than them! He's not a fake narcissist who only cares about the popularity rankings and how people perceive him!" she snapped. She didn't care how unpopular she was for not following the masses in their idolisation of heroes, she would always choose Saitama. He'd always been a good person, he'd always been kind to her, he never had to try to be a hero, it came naturally. He wasn't fake, he wasn't power hungry and delusional. Kaede stared, he'd never seen Madoka have such an outburst before, it was as if something about this Saitama guy stirred something inside of her. Madoka huffed, grabbing her belongings and storming off, she couldn't be around people anymore, the last of her patience had dried up. She needed to be alone, she just needed to get out of her own head. She was sick of this conversation.
Madoka, I've heard your councillor spoke to you today. I'll call later, there's food at home-mum x
Madoka winced, of course this was what prompted a text, no doubt the councillor had texted her parents as soon as she left. So much for confidentiality, she knew her parents would already be freaking out. If she was anything but perfect, anything but ideal, she would be punished. Like they knew anything about her, like they would ever understand what it was like to live her life. They cared so much about image it sickened her, the two workaholics who never paid any attention to her until it was time to speak to teachers. She never got in fights, she never bullied anyone, she wasn't a delinquent and she never got into trouble. She had never started drama with anyone in her class, she always minded her own business and kept her head down. She enjoyed her own space and time, she liked being able to be her own person. Being able to go at her own pace, being able to express herself without judgement. She couldn't remember the last time her family wanted to spend time with her, when they showed affection. When they had been around when she woke up, making breakfast or having coffee and just talking. When they weren't throwing verbal barbs her way, constantly nitpicking her about improvement. Eat a meal, sit in silence, cuddling her cat, and enduring the endless loneliness. They had no ideas of the intricacies of her life because they never listened to her, the only reminder they existed being the financial support and occasional texts or calls. Her mother spent all her time working, handling meetings, phone calls and seeing clients, prioritising her work over her only child. She was always stressed from work, always talking about work and boasting about her position. She was always talking business, she was always talking about promotions and improvements at work. She was always putting on a fake persona for her clients. She had no idea of how to be a supportive mother, of how to think outside of her work and not speak to Madoka like a robot. Her father always saw Madoka as a disappointment, regardless of how steady and high scoring her grades were. Always looking at her with silent disdain and reminding her of how much of a failure she was. She never had friends, she never socialised, she spent all her time alone, she wasn't the bubbly, popular girl he wanted. She came home to an empty house that made her realise she was never wanted, wondering why her parents even had kids if they were never around. She felt sick every time one of them tried to parent her, wanting to scream at them to leave her alone. She wanted to tell them not to bother, not to call and it didn't matter.
"Miss Akagi" a familiar voice replied, she seemed lost in her own world and he felt bad for interrupting her. But it had been some time since they last spoke. Madoka stiffened, turning her head in panic to see Genos, this had to be fate or some cruel prank by the universe to cause them to cross paths. She knew he cared about Saitama as much as she did. He had a strong sense of responsibility and had a serious nature, driven and headstrong. She hadn't seen him in so long he felt like a ghost, as if she barely knew him.
"I... Genos?" she panicked, she didn't know what to say to him, she had so many questions to ask but was too awkward to say anything. All the girls in her class admired him, talking about how handsome he was, unaware of how awkward he was in real life.
"You appear well, have you finished school for the day?" he asked, he knew she was suffering difficulty at school when they first met but she had since made friends. He hoped that had aided in her improvement socially. He knew she cared deeply for his master and the sentiment was returned. She nodded, bashfully averting her gaze, why now of all times did she lose the ability to speak or use her words? It was like her brain malfunctioned and forgot how to make her form words or act like a person. She had so many questions to ask, how was Saitama? were they doing ok? How was work? She felt like she had been ignoring them.
"Master Saitama has been asking about you, wondering how you are. He's become very fond of you" Genos smiled. He wondered about her studies, whether her school life was improving, about the friends she made. What had become of her life and whether she was happy. Madoka's cheeks darkened, Saitama was asking about her? That thought alone made her heart flutter and an endless feeling of joy spread within her. Internally freaking out in the best way possible. "Would you like an escort home? After that we can go and meet my master, we're getting ramen" he smiled. Surely she would like to change out of her school uniform and feed her pet, relaxing at home briefly before they had to leave.
Madoka perked up, this was an offer she wouldn't be refusing, she didn't know when it would happen again. Today had already been awful, spending time with people she genuinely considered friends sounded much better. For all she was adapting to Kaede and Suzume being part of her life and she was grateful for that, Genos and Saitama held a special place in her life. She didn't want to think about the future, she didn't want to think about school. She just wanted to forget it all.
Madoka smiled, she often found it funny how she felt more comfortable around the likes of Genos than she ever had her classmates at school. She didn't feel the pressure to create a version of herself he would find appealing, she could lower her walls and be herself. His serious nature made him protective over her in an almost brotherly way, she doubted he understood what it was like to experience a crush. She didn't have to feel awkward about being quiet around him, allowing to her to be alone with her thoughts. Her hair was bound in a black ponytail showing off her face and neck, fastened with a red bow, a casual green tee with a flower pattern on the front and blue skinny jeans.
"How has school been? The last time we visited you had a bucket of garbage water thrown over you?" Genos asked. He knew Saitama worried for her wellbeing, learning how tormented and lonely she was. When he was in the area, he patrolled Madoka's school to ensure she was safe and unharmed. Relaying to Saitama that she was safe. The Hero association knew that Madoka was someone important to Saitama, they couldn't reveal she was a fan, only that she was a close friend. They in return kept close tabs on Madoka to ensure she was safe.
Madoka wilted, she had wanted to avoid this subject, but she would need to get it off her chest at some point. She knew Genos nor Saitama would press the matter but would give her advice when needed. "I had a conversation with my guidance counsellor" she reflected. She had always seen it as trivial, she had never taken any of it to heart and she had never fit in. If anyone in the school cared they would have noticed the bullying ages ago, aiding her during her torment and punishing those who caused her pain. She was tired of oblivious adults telling her what was best for her, when they didn't have a clue.
Genos raised his eyebrow, he sensed that Madoka was stressed, he didn't want to upset her further but he didn't want her to feel alone either. He had come to care for her as Master Saitama had. Losing his family, it made him miss his younger sister. He conveyed that sibling love onto Madoka, seeing her as a younger sister. "If you are having any form of trouble, myself and master Saitama will help in any way we can" he reassured her. They couldn't harm any of the other students, that would earn them both bad reputations as heroes. But they could make her life easier and aid her in other ways, to find a solution.
Madoka chuckled, she could imagine half of her bullies scared out of their mind if Genos appeared and threatened them for bullying her. "I appreciate it but... this isn't something you can fix" she muttered. He couldn't make time stop, he couldn't change her future, he couldn't stop her from growing up. She needed to choose a college eventually, find a career of her choice. She just didn't want her future to come so soon, she had finally found some form of happiness in her life and she didn't want it to end. "I guess... I dunno, thinking about my future, I never saw myself having one. I never had friends, nobody liked me, I was harassed and ostracised by everyone I knew. My parents ignore me, so... I just never saw a future. I'd just be miserable for the rest of my life" she hummed. She was made to feel like an outsider, she was made to feel like a freak, how could she see past school into what college life would be like. She couldn't imagine anyone caring about her.
Genos softened "Before I became a cyborg, I had a family much like yourself, but after they were killed I spent my life trying to find who killed them. Then I became an apprentice to Master Saitama. In the past I never would have seen myself a hero, now it's all I know" he reflected. He missed them everyday and wished more than anything he could have them back. But he was merely able to retain the memory of them, the people he had loved the most. Living as a normal person, living a normal life, it was something he would never have.
Madoka hummed, Genos had once had a life like herself, but it was all ripped away from him. In a way he could understand her conflict and tried to comfort her. "I guess we're both oddballs" she agreed, relieved she had vented her thoughts.
Madoka entered the restaurant with Genos, it was full of couples, middle aged businessmen having finished work, groups of friends, but not many her age. College students and older. All of them drinking beer, laughing and deep in conversation with their companions, some had been out back enjoying a smoke. She felt like such a sore thumb, it was obvious she was the youngest person here, she looked like she was being babysat. Did she even belong here? I mean a free meal was a free meal but she still felt like she should have stayed home.
Genos scanned the rows, before he noticed a familiar bald head in a hoodie, he hoped he hadn't left him waiting long. He had planned on handling business but when he crossed paths with Madoka he knew he couldn't ignore her "Master Saitama" he called.
Saitama turned on his seat with a smile, he had noticed he was taking some time and wondered what was keeping him. Maybe he got lost, maybe he was in a fight, maybe he had an errand? "Yo Genos, you made it" he greeted. Madoka blushed, she was elated to see him again, that warm smile, butterflies forming in her stomach all over again. He may not have been handsome by standard means, he was no looker, no front cover model. But he had intense dark eyes, a warm smile, he was relaxed, trustworthy, and nice cheekbones. All matters aside, where he lacked stereotypical attractiveness, he was by no means ugly. He was just an average attractive guy, but his personality was what made her like him, he'd been kinder to her than anyone else had before. Saitama stared, realising Genos had company, it took him a moment to recognise her, it had been a while since they had seen each other. She had to be in the middle of her exams right now, it would explain why she had been absent. She had to be under a lot of stress right now. "Yo Madoka, been a while, exam season?" he asked. Madoka's face darkened and she nodded shyly, just being around him again brought on butterflies. She could feel her hands becoming clammy and her voice dying in her throat. That empty loneliness that always lingered within her, it was replaced by a warm comforting feeling. She wanted to tell him how happy she was to see him, how much she had missed his company. "Pull up a chair, dinners on us" he smiled.
Madoka panicked, Genos had been the one to ask her and she accepted, but now that it was happening she was freaking out "I... I don't want to be a bother" she protested. She would end up spacing out, tripping over her words, making a fool of herself. She was indeed hungry, she would end up inhaling her meal and they would stare at her. She was worried about embarrassing herself around him. She didn't even know if she had enough money to cover this meal.
Saitama blinked, she spent all her time alone without anyone to watch out for her, she hadn't truly smiled until she met them both. He was making more money as a hero now, but he still chose to save it and buy discounted meals. "It's just noodles" he stated in confusion, she didn't owe them anything. Madoka relented, he was right, it was just noodles, a warm comforting bowl of goodness that would help erase all her worries. She approached, pulling up a chair and sitting beside him at the bench, looking over options. Everything looked delicious and the smells from the kitchen made her mouth water. Saitama raised his hand "Can I get another beer for my blonde friend, and something sweet and non alcoholic for the student" he asked. She had to be thirsty from the long walk here and he wasn't going to let her get dehydrated.
Madoka pouted, while she appreciated him ordering for her she was annoyed that it was something childish. She was mature for her age and painfully perceptive, besides loads of her classmates sneaked around to drink alcohol "I'm nearly seventeen" she protested. She could try one beer, it wasn't that big of a deal. Who was going to know? None of her classmates were here, no teachers, nobody she knew.
Saitama raised his finger "You're still a kid, you may be legal in another two years to do whatever kids these days get up to. But I'm responsible for you so it's strawberry milk for you" he scolded. She was younger than him, she was his responsibility while they were at dinner and he planned on making sure she got home safe. Once she was eighteen she could do whatever she wanted, get her first beer, go to a party, hell she would be in college by then. But while she was under his care she was going to be responsible. She could sulk all she wanted about it but he wouldn't change his mind. Madoka frowned but relented, partially hurt he was treating her like a child, but she knew he meant well so she just sat in silence. "How's school? Still getting trouble from those other kids?" he asked.
"No.. I... I'm looking at colleges, my senior year soon. I guess... I'm still scared of who I'm going to be" she explained. She had so many choices, endless options given how good her grades were, she might even qualify for a scholarship. Her parents would be over the moon at the prospect, her classmates would be jealous of her talents and may turn on her worse than before. But the idea of leaving Z city main, being away from Saitama, making new roots and changing. It scared her shitless, was this what growing up meant? A whole sea of unknown prospects?
Saitama softened, he had gotten an office job straight after school, sitting in a cubicle for hours on end bored off his face. Then he got laid off and was forced to find another job, which led to him being a hero. His current job paid him better than his past ones and he was unbeatable in his spot due to nobody being able to rival him. He knew how confusing it was, how strange it was, how complicated being an adult was. Schools nurturing you, hyping you up for how exciting adult life was supposed to be, only for it to be so disappointing. The carefree days of being a student, there was a reason so many adults were nostalgic about their adolescence, no responsibility. Life was never as easy as that. "You're still young, you don't have to have it all figured out, plenty of adults just wing it. You don't have to have all the answers, just go with what feels right" he reassured had all the time in the world to make mistakes, to learn and grow into who she was supposed to be.
Madoka softened, knowing Saitama was as much of a mess as she was, it was comforting. How did he make more sense than her parents and guidance counsellor? He didn't pressure her into decisions, he didn't make her feel like an idiot, he listened and he offered advice. She had plenty of options for colleges and universities, maybe she could go with the one that felt right. The future that made the most sense and work from there. She then raised her hand "Melon soda please" she called.
Saitama smiled, raising his beer to inform a waiter "You heard the lady! Melon soda" he repeated.
Sonic growled, he was supposed to be one of the strongest villains in the city, feared, respected, unbeatable, better than anyone. He was so fast nobody saw him coming, he had managed to overthrow plenty of heroes and mutual villains alike without breaking a sweat. But then caped baldy came along, an enemy he couldn't predict that somehow caught him off guard. Someone who wasn't just stronger than him, but stronger than any hero or villain in the city, he was almost too strong. He had no idea where he came from or who was the one to train him, but he was a beast; the raw power and potential he harboured was dangerous. Everyone knew about Saitama, nobody was stupid enough to get on his wrong side. "Damn that bald weirdo, but I'll be sure he never forgets me". He heard laughter coming from a restaurant, the scent of food wafting up his nose, his stomach growled loudly, reminding him he needed to eat. He had become so distracted in his everyday life he forgot about food, but then his stamina was superhuman and he lasted longer than the average human. Reminding him that he needed energy. "A quick pitstop wouldn't hurt, then I can finally hunt him down" Sonic reflected. He entered the front door silently, glaring down anyone he saw, warning them not to try anything and he was a threat. He didn't willingly attack people for no reason, he knew nobody in this place would be able to beat him. All of them pathetically weak, none of them were a match for him, he had better things to do. He may as well grab a bowl and be on his way, then he could consider his next attacks, nobody thought rationally on an empty stomach.
"So, you made any new friends? Me and Genos can't be the only people in your life?" Saitama asked, she seemed like a sweet girl under her social awkwardness. Surely there had to be someone who took a shine to her. He could see her being very popular among college students, she just needed to find the right crowd. While her friendship with them was something they appreciated and enjoyed, they were working heroes, they couldn't always be in her life.
"You make that sound like a bad thing" Madoka protested, she didn't need anyone else, people were disappointing. She had enough hobbies in her life to keep her occupied, so why bother getting close to anyone. Kaede never minded if she didn't contact him outside of school all that much, but Suzume was the most attached to her. They gave her space which she appreciated, but they remained in balanced contact. Saitama didn't have many friends, so she didn't understand why he was giving her a lecture about making the same choices.
Saitama gently tapped her on the head with a small fist, making her wince "You need friends, don't you know any girls? Y'know buy stuffed toys, get comics, or go shopping with, what sort of thing do teenagers like these days" Saitama reflected. She needed that companionship, she needed healthy dynamics in her life. People she could be herself around, people who understood her. People who would go to comic-cons with her. People who would go to events with her, people she could make memories. with. He didn't know what the modern generation did in terms of entertainment, but he knew that she needed to find people she could relate to. She needed to branch out and find more people like herself instead of creating a bigger bubble.
Madoka snorted, she hated to admit it but when Saitama showed his age it was amusing, reminding her of how mature he was. He had no idea of what to say to her, but he tried and he cared. The interests of her classmates often bored her, she had drowned out enough of their conversations more than once. She took headphones to school for a reason. "I mean I'm an otaku so I'm already unpopular in school, I hate shopping and make-up, idols don't interest me. So I guess you're stuck with me" she teased. Her interests in manga and anime already meant she would be teased about it, projecting their delusions of her being some kind of freakish pervert. She never cared about fashion or clothes, so she just wore what she was comfortable with. She enjoyed music, just not to the extent of being obsessed with the singers.
"You really don't like anyone?" Saitama pressed, there had to be someone out there she cared about. He recalled seeing her with companions once before but then maybe they weren't speaking anymore. Surely she couldn't keep isolating herself forever, it would be too lonely.
Madoka huffed, he was going to keep asking, she knew she couldn't avoid this conversation and Saitama wasn't going to drop it. It was so hard for her to let people in, after how many times she had been hurt. From a fake date, to the abuse she endured at school, her own parents didn't want to be around her. Nobody tried to understand her so she kept her distance, it was just easier that way. "I.. I mean there are two people... " she trailed off.
"Me and Genos don't count" Saitama interjected, she needed to meet people who weren't heroes, who weren't the people she idolised. She needed to speak to other civilians and live her life. She needed to adapt to normality instead of trying to wedge her way into the life of heroes in order to see him, it wasn't a healthy coping mechanism by any means.
"One is called Suzume, she's a girl in my year, she looks old enough to be a first year but she's my age. She's got this lolita appearance, redhead. She's so bubbly, it's like someone took a stuffed toy and made it human. She's soft spoken and bubbly but... she respects my boundaries. Sometimes she's a bit much when I'm flat but... she's nice" she admitted. Suzume had approached her first and asked for her help, though she was by no means an idiot she wasn't as smart as Madoka. It went from sharing notes to Suzume following her around like a shadow. She tolerated her company until she relented that they were now friends. Suzume had a lot to speak about, she had so much on her mind. She often shared her snacks with Madoka and asked to eat lunch with her, she never minded if Madoka was silent the whole time, just enjoying her company. Sometimes they would communicate via instant messages.
"That's still something, she sounds nice" Saitama praised, this girl had noticed Madoka and reached out to her, she was trying to understand her. They may have been opposites but then those kinds of people attracted naturally. He was interested in meeting Madoka's friends, what kind of people they were and whether they were good for her.
Madoka blushed, this one was awkward, they weren't dating, they weren't even a couple, she was the one with a crush. But she still felt awkward saying this aloud in front of him. She hadn't told Saitama about Kaede, that she had a male friend, someone who would consider him a rival. A guy who would be interested in her, someone her age, hell, aside from Saitama she had never really liked anyone. They had met once before when she visited Saitama's house, Kaede knew she had a crush on him and said nothing about it. Everyone hated her and she felt indifferent to them in return, she was merely a stranger passing by in their lives and never tried to be anything different. She'd never had a healthy or sustainable relationship, she never tried to form bonds with anyone or even get to know them. Nobody ever really liked her or noticed her, she was a forgettable face. Her first date she was set up and made fun of. "I mean... it's nothing but... there's a guy..." she muttered, he was different, he was taller dark and brooding. If a black cat was a person, but he was a caring person.
Saitama raised his eyebrow, he could see how awkward this was for her to talk about and it was rather endearing "I see..." he trailed off. Madoka was nearly seventeen, she was a teenager, crushes happened all the time. Experiencing love, experiencing crushes, it was part of the teenage experience, admiring and idolising another person. He'd lost count of how many women he had once had crushes on.
"He... he kinda reminds me of you, he has dark hair, he has a long fringe which he brushes to the side. His eyes are really bright amber but they remind me of honey. He's quieter than me, he's never once complained about anything. Even when people annoy him, when he's bored, he endures all his emotions in silence. Sometimes people think he's being rude but he's actually thoughtful. He shows his feelings in gestures, he notices small things about me. He studies with me, he's nice company" she admitted. His eyes said so much and yet he said so little, he was like her silent bodyguard but she appreciated him for it. He didn't care about gossip or drama, but he always made sure she was safe. Such as when he cut off that girls hair when she was bullying Madoka.
Saitama smiled, he doubted Madoka was aware of it but this boy had a crush on her and it sounded almost mutual. She noticed things in his appearance and qualities that others most likely hadn't. Whether it would come to fruition and anything would come of it was unknown. But she did care for this boy. "You'll figure it out eventually Madoka, but at least you have people who care about you" he soothed. Madoka smiled, sipping her drink.
Sonic sat silently, slurping noodles and staring into the distance, his mind wandering as he balanced plans and considered options. He needed to consider where Saitama would be hiding, whether his apprentice Genos would be with him. Both of them were strong but equally had their own weaknesses, neither of them were immortal. How he would beat him, how he would find him, how he would fight him. Saitama was stronger than he looked, he couldn't be hasty, if he messed up and underestimated him, he could end up regretting it. No matter how much training he focused on, no matter how much he improved, Saitama would always be better.
"Man you must have been hungry, the Ramen here is the best though" a familiar voice rang through the room
Sonic stiffened, it couldn't be, he had to be delusional, he'd been so focused on Saitama he was imagining his voice. It couldn't possibly be him, luck wasn't that fortuitous, crossing paths like this unexpectedly, of all the places, of all the times. He had craved to see Saitama again, get revenge on how he lost their previous fight and show off his improved skills.
"Call it dinner on me, you're still a student"
Dinner on me? He had company? Saitama had brought someone with him, but then he had many connections in the hero world after becoming infamous. Loved or hated everyone knew who he was. Sonic couldn't help but smirk, was his enemy on a date? With a friend? He had foolishly brought someone with him that he could use against Saitama for him to bend to his wishes. How perfect. He slowly climbed from his seat, leaving a note beside his bowl to pay for his meal, not that he cared if he never paid or not. Approaching the sound of the voice with a wild manic smile.
"So... how have you been? Hero work has to keep you occupied?" Madoka questioned, enjoying the broth of her noodles. Why was it so comforting? Delicious? Like a warm flavour hug? She had some idea of what being a hero entailed, facing dangers and catastrophes, avoiding damage and warding off enemies. Depending on the level of the danger it would either be a minimal job and just another day of the week. Or a full on battle with evacuations, casualties and more. Saitama was in high demand right now so he had to have a lot of stories to tell.
Saitama laughed "You'd think so, most villains are so easy to beat, that or they have me doing patrol work and working with civilians, my life is as mundane as ever" he joked. He didn't even have to strain himself to beat them, though he had something to keep him distracted he was as bored as ever. He was yet to meet an enemy that actually gave him a decent fight. Genos was becoming stronger and he enjoyed their sparring moments, but he would always be stronger than Genos. At least with patrol work they could get food, have a conversation and find ways to distract themselves before danger occurred. Madoka smiled, it seemed that hero work wasn't as glamorous or ideal as people made it out to be. At the end of the day it was a job and full time, the hype would become boring very fast. "But... my life has improved in other ways" he admitted, there were small blessings involved that he was indeed grateful for. While he was still bored he had people in his life that made it entertaining. "Until now, I've not had that many friends, but I've met all kinds of people, Mumen rider, Bang, King, all of them are good people" he admitted. Sometimes they went for Ramen, sometimes they played his gaming system or read manga together. Sometimes they just joked around together. Madoka softened, so not all heroes were bad people, not all of them were narcissistic attention seekers. She knew that depending on the rank or status of the heroes, they were either down to earth and friendly, or pretty much popular assholes who loved to show off their status. She was glad he had someone who appreciated him as much as she did, people who saw the good in him and wanted to learn from him. "We read manga, we play games, we just hang out" he smiled.
Madoka reflected, she had always found comfort in Saitama, they shared a disconnection from people but still tried to be better. The day he came into her life she had changed, she had been ready to give it all up and just make all the pain stop. But Saitama protected her, shielded her, made her feel seen. He made her world seem less boring, less mundane, less empty. He meant the world to her and more, she would always believe in him, always admire him and always root for him. When people made fun of him, spread gossip or spoke badly of him, she would always defend him. She hated thinking that anyone could possibly hate him, just because he was an unknown hero who became infamous because of his abilities.
"But I've improved because of you too" he admitted, somehow their meeting had bettered him as a person. She spent all her time trying to disassociate from reality because of how overwhelming and unhappy she had been. Knowing he was a role model to someone like her, someone she looked up to, he tried to have healthier habits in his life. He was even looking into therapy, reading self help books and trying to find his emotions. Madoka choked on her noodles, cupping her face as she wiped her lips, staring at him in surprise. She wondered if she had heard him wrong, confusion apparent in her expressions. How could someone like her inspire a hero?. "You're always alone, I've never seen you with friends, I've never seen you in a crowd. You always march to your own beat, you always seem to shine in your own way. You're a good cook, you're nerdy, you're unashamed to be yourself. You speak your mind and you have your heart on your sleeve" he praised. She preferred her own company, but she somehow found meaning in it, she kept fighting even though all of her classmates isolated her. Spiting them that she wasn't going to give up. She cared little for the opinion of others or how people perceived her, never falling into crowds just to be seen or appear interesting. She was right where she needed to be and she would grow up to be an amazing person.
Madoka blushed, Saitama had noticed all these things about her during such a brief period of time. Picking up on all these observations that not even her parents knew about. It made her feel special, knowing that someone like him knew her better than anyone else in her life.
"You take care of yourself, even during the hardships you face you never give up" he smiled, she kept going, she had a functioning life and she never gave up. She wanted to prove everyone else wrong, she wanted to prove she was someone. She never transferred schools, she never cried in front of her bullies, she never broke down and she never quit. She kept going, she kept bouncing back, she came back stronger than ever. She was truly an admirable person, she should feel proud of the fact that she inspired one person even if it was him.
Madoka felt her chest tighten, keeping these words close to her heart where nobody could reach them. She had wanted to give up so many times before, she had thought about just giving in and letting it all be over. Believing nobody would miss her, nobody needed her, nobody cared about her. That day she was nearly attacked and Saitama saved her, if not for him she would never have hope at all. She found herself happy when they crossed paths, she found herself hoping they would see each other again.
"In some odd way you motivated me, I no longer laze about with manga. I actually found cook books, I try recipes, I clean up more, I try and be an adult. I made friends, I'm more responsible" he admitted. He cleaned his house more, he didn't just sit around reading comics, he tried new hobbies, he tried new recipes and he even asked some of his hero friends over for dinner. He realised how his actions would effect others, trying to work as a team instead of a solo act which wasn't easy given how long he'd been alone. Meeting this teenage fan had given him a wake-up call he never knew he needed.
Madoka licked her lips, she didn't know what to say, nobody would ever believe her if she told them. She never saw herself as an interesting person, someone anyone would ever notice or recognise. That the roles would be switched was beyond her comprehension. A Hero, an S rank of all people saw a common civilian like her as an inspiration? He admired her? How was she supposed to act? She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks but she could always lie and blame it on the ramen. She was flattered, surprised and in awe. Her crush telling her she was a role model to him, telling her his life had improved because he met her. She felt elated, the happiest moment of her life. "I..." she stammered. She wanted to tell him she had changed for the better because of him too, she had so much to say but couldn't find the words.
"Well, well, my old foe. How fortuitous that we should cross paths in this very restaurant, you truly are my nemesis" a familiar voice boasted loudly.
Madoka blinked, the words she wanted to say dying in her throat, snapping out of her state, the previous pleasant mood shifting to sour. Sighing in frustration, she knew what was happening and to say she was disappointed was an understatement. Of all times to happen, but then what did she expect? Her life was anything but normal these days and she was used to the interventions that ruined her positive moments. She was finally alone with Saitama, she had thought nothing could get in the way, she had finally seen him again after months and someone had to interrupt. She felt the anger simmering within her, slowly growing stronger and stronger by the moment, she knew he was a hero with enemies, but this felt ridiculous.
Genos turned in his seat, glaring angrily and immediately getting to his feet, shielding Madoka from Sonic's gaze. He knew she was vulnerable, by association with them it would make her a target. Enemies often used tactics of hurting the people closest to a hero to make them waver in battle "Speed of sound Sonic" he stated.
Saitama smiled "Oh hey, come for dinner? The food is pretty good" he stated, did he want to join them for dinner? They weren't on the clock, they didn't have to fight. I mean he understood if he was bored but there was a time and a place for everything.
Sonic scoffed, how could he sit there so casually while someone else took his place in a fight? Had he no shame? No pride? Why couldn't he face him alone for once? "Using your apprentice as a shield, what a coward" he mocked. Genos was not his enemy, Genos was not his rival, he had nothing to say to him.
"My master came here of his own volition, he wanted to enjoy some dinner, you had no right to intrude" Genos warned. He had wanted nothing more than to enjoy a simple meal, have an evening of shared conversation before heading home. The mood had been pleasant and he had Miss Akagi had been able to reminisce and bond. He had probably been searching for Saitama and found them by chance, that or he had most likely been following them and chose now of all times to strike.
Madoka stiffened, slowly processing all of this information, realising she was in danger. This guy was Saitama's enemy? Since when did Saitama have an enemy? She had heard nothing about this on the news or the forums. None of her classmates had said anything about this either, this was the first she was hearing of it. Speed o sound Sonic? The Ninja? I mean he did look intimidating but it was hard to take him seriously in all black latex. He couldn't be that much older than Saitama, around the same age to be exact. What exactly did this guy do in his free time?
"Whatever, like I'm supposed to care" Sonic huffed, what heroes did in their spare time meant nothing to him. He was a villain, inconveniencing others came with the territory. He pointed at Saitama "You humiliated me in a fight and for that you owe me" he growled. Their first meeting he had punched him in the groin, the second time they met he cut off his hair. He had bested him twice and embarrassed him for many reasons, for that he wanted revenge.
Saitama sighed, while he appreciated the enthusiasm his timing was terrible. If he was willing to be patient he would entertain him later, besides fighting on a full stomach just caused stomach aches and stitches "In the middle of dinner, can we pay the cheque first?" he asked. Sonic may have been a villain but he needed to learn manners.
Sonic scoffed, was he really going to ignore him after he had issues a challenge? Any other hero would have accepted his fight without hesitation. "You would choose dinner over my challenge?" he growled. Of all times he was thinking about his stomach?
"The ramen is really good" Saitama argued, they were the best in town and he was a regular, they had even given him coupons. Madoka sighed, finishing her drink and leaning back in her seat, she was bored with this already and just wanted it to be over. Sonic had conveniently ignored her but she had no complaints on the matter. This guy had an attitude problem, he was acting like a brat who wasn't getting what he wanted and not realising he was being a pain in the ass. He seemed intent on getting Saitama's attention in an unhealthy way, it was like he got off on this or something. He really had to have self confidence issues or something with how intent he was on fighting him. What did he have to prove?
Sonic peered over Saitama's shoulder curiously, he knew that Saitama had company but he hadn't realised that Genos was blocking a companion from his view. A girl, no older than sixteen, maybe seventeen, she had to be a senior in high school, one local to the city. She was cute, intense violet eyes, long black hair, he'd never seen her around before. What was she doing with his nemesis? He smirked in amusement, a wicked smile forming on his lips, it seemed luck was truly on his side today, he could use this to his advantage to get a rise out of Saitama. He instantly vanished, disappearing before Saitama and Genos.
"He's gone" Genos stated in confusion, had he made his leave and decided to fight with his master another time? But he still sensed him within the building.
Madoka yelped loudly, the clatter of her stool ringing through the restaurant, a few people gasping in surprise and panic. Sonic appeared behind her, yanking her arm fast and holding it in the air, gripping her wrist. The second held the other behind her back tightly, squeezing her wrist and twisting her arm. Pulling her from the table before she could think, her chopsticks clattering on the counter. Holding her close, within proximity so neither could hit him without hurting Madoka in the process. Madoka panicked, her arm held high above her, stretching her off the floor slightly, the grip on her wrists tight and sharp. This guy was strong, not as powerful as Saitama but indeed more so than he looked. When she bumped into Genos this wasn't what she expected to happen whatsoever, she had thought this would be a quiet evening. The arm behind her back twisted slightly, held tightly in place, wincing in pain at how uncomfortable she was. Just what did this guy have in mind and why was she the bait?
"Miss Akagi" Genos panicked, he didn't consider he would do this, that he merely wanted his masters attention and would take this outside. Sonic had never met Madoka before, thus wouldn't know her relationship with them. This was low even for Sonic, of course he would use such a thing against his master. Like this neither of them could get a hit on Sonic, not without hurting her in the process. Saitama frowned, interrupting his dinner was one thing, he would have just ignored him or complained about his disruption to staff and left it at would have moved past this and never given it a second thought. But bringing Madoka into this was a mistake, hurting someone innocent to get a rise out of him wasn't just low, it was bullying. Madoka had no idea of his enemies, his self proclaimed rivals and interactions with people at work. She wasn't involved, she had no idea who Sonic even was, she had come here of her own volition. She was just a kid, she was a lonely teenager who looked up to him.
"You think you're sly caped baldy" Sonic mocked, he had managed to keep her under the radar for quite a while, impressive of him. But he had managed to reveal his secret, did he think he could hide something like this from him? Now that he knew Saitama had a weakness like this, he could use it against him whenever he wanted. He would find out all of his secrets.
"Who's he calling Baldy?" Saitama and Madoka questioned simultaneously
"I should have known better, for all you have strength, I didn't consider your other weaknesses" Sonic mocked. Saitama may have been the physically strongest hero in Z city, but that didn't mean he was immortal. He had things important to him, just as anyone else in life did. Madoka frowned, first he insulted Saitama and now he was insinuating that she was a weakness to Saitama. That she could be used against him and would willingly let this happen? Was this idiot really going to use her as bait? He underestimated her, she had faced worse than this at school on a regular basis. Like hell she was going to play damsel in distress. She wriggled angrily, trying to get free, pulling away from Sonic and trying to free herself. Sonic tightened his grip, twisting her arm, making her yelp, she wouldn't be escaping him so trying to defy him wouldn't work. She had spirit however, most people would have given up or started crying. "She's a cute one Baldy, can't be more than a teenager, where did you find her huh? You have fans now?" he mocked.
Saitama frowned, Sonic had an ego bigger than a planet, he was so entitled he couldn't realise that nobody actually cared about him. Most of the time he forgot about their interactions completely. But he had made a bad decision involving Madoka in all of this. Madoka was just a teenager, she didn't know any better, she was lonely. She'd never had anyone care about her, everyone in her life just forgot about her, they never put in any effort to care or even bond with her. She took any attention or validation she could get because she craved it. Treated as an eyesore, an outcast, wishing she could be different. "She's just a kid sonic, what's she got to do with this?" he questioned sharply.
Sonic snorted, for all he was a hero he was oblivious to how this dynamic worked, surely he had read enough comics? "She's important to you right? I mean what else would a girl like this be doing here? Is she your kid sister?" he mocked.
Madoka panicked, her cheeks darkening, this had to be the most embarrassing situation she had been in before. Wishing she could vanish right now so she wouldn't feel as exposed. As if she could mention she was a fangirl with the biggest crush known to man on him, she would die of embarrassment. She knew the expression on her face made it obvious, and she was trying so hard to hide it. Anger bursting out of her as she began to project her frustration onto Sonic for ruining her evening. "Says the cosplay dork who looks like a character from Naruto. I wanted a free dinner, what's so wrong about that?" Madoka snapped. He looked like a ninja cosplayer, someone who belonged at a convention that people took pictures with. He was so attention seeking he would probably enjoy himself.
Saitama bit back a snort, trying not to laugh, Sonic hadn't expected that Madoka would become sassy on him. She had a mischievous streak and a temper on her, she was able to think on her feet and would delay him as much as possible. However, he couldn't lie watching her insult Sonic to his face was highly entertaining, wishing he could take videos. Genos coughed into his hand, trying to focus and not burst into laughter, trembling from amusement. A few customers and staff stifled laughter despite the tense situation.
Sonic's gaze sharpened, this girl needed to learn some manners, did she know who she was talking to? He was a highly respected Ninja and the strongest in his village "What did you just say?" he growled.
Madoka snorted, was he really that oblivious or just too embarrassed to admit how ridiculous he looked? "Skintight suit, I'm sure you have loads of fans, though I'd check your mail before it arrives, I bet they'll be sticky" she mocked. She knew loads of her classmates who had secret crushes on villains, they loved a bad boy. But given how he was moderately attractive and had an attitude problem, fans would go wild for him. The suit he wore did a good job of showing off his physique, she could imagine many people had taken suggestive pictures of him in battle. Someone burst into laughter, amused by her words.
Sonic glared, was she mocking him? She had no idea what he was capable of and how strong he was. If he chose to he could make her feel an immense amount of pain. She was no match for his sword and his skills. "She has a mouth on her baldy, she must get it from you" he huffed. She had spent enough time around him to get an attitude problem, clearly it had rubbed off.
Saitama frowned, Madoka was fighting, she was defying Sonic and refusing to be the damsel in distress which he admired. She refused to give up which was why she was avoiding bullying at school. But he refused to ignore someone in help, someone in need. Yes she was reckless but most teenagers had that mentality, believing they were immortal and nothing in the world could hurt them. "She's my ward for the afternoon Sonic, just leave her alone, don't you know bullying is for losers" he mocked. Sonic glared, growling under his breath. Saitama gazed at Madoka, he could see the underlying fear in her eyes, putting on a brave front. He owed her big time for this and he would make it up to her any way he could "I'm sorry..." he apologised.
Madoka softened, struggling impatiently, she imagined complications like this were just a regular day for him. "He's just a jack-ass, how were you to know some obsessive wannabe ninja freak was going to show up" she pressed. This guy wanted attention and he got it, he just wanted to use her to get his point across. Saitama wasn't psychic, he never predicted this was going to happen, he was blameless in all of this. Sonic irked, just where the hell did he get this sass?
Saitama approached slowly, his eyes never once leaving Madoka's as he got closer. This was supposed to be his evening off but plans had changed, a few people clamouring in the background. He knew some would be filming this so his higher ups would hear about this. He could handle the paperwork later but right now he had more pressing matters. Raising his fist in the blink of an eye, punching Sonic in the face, his fist moving before Sonic could think. Saitama gripped Madoka by the waist, pulling her towards him as Sonic went flying, switching her position and moving her out of harms way. Sonic released a small yelp as he was hit with the contact of Saitama's fist, his body lunged through the wall, creating a hole. Sonic was sent screaming through the town as his body went hurtling through buildings. Madoka was flung into Saitama's arms in a panic, pressed against him, everything happening so fast a wave of adrenaline hit her. Breathing in his scent, the warmth of his body and the outline of his muscles. She tried not to become distracted at the close contact, how nice it felt to be held in his arms. He held her close briefly as he watched Sonic's body be hurtled into the distance.
Genos approached in a panic, his master had handled this perfectly, minimising any damage and casualties. He had used quick thinking to separate them before making sure Sonic was removed. She would still be rather startled by all of this. "Miss Akagi? Are you harmed?" he questioned.
Madoka blinked, still in surprise, flustered by Saitama holding her like that, being so close to him. She wouldn't be able to get this moment out of her head. Internally screaming with happiness as she tried to keep a calm expression. She barely realised that her arms were a little red from Sonic's grip on her "My um... my wrists ache a little, but nothing is broken or sprained" she mumbled. She appreciated their concern but it wasn't worth worrying about.
Genos softened, relieved that she was unharmed before turning to Saitama "Master, do you wish for me to take care of Sonic, or shall I guard Miss Akagi?" he questioned. He would protect her with his life and ensure no further harm came to her.
Saitama turned to Genos, Sonic had made this personal and he wouldn't allow him to get away with threatening Madoka. He had no tolerance for bullies and he would regret this. "Genos, you take care of Madoka, we owe her dessert after all this too. Make sure everyone inside is ok and Madoka isn't hurt too bad. I have to put Sonic in his place" he warned. He knew some cafes and cake shops that would still be open late so she could spoil herself with whatever treat she wanted. After all of this was over she had more than earned it. The worst was she would need some ice or something cool on her wrists to take down the swelling. Madoka blushed, she had never seen Saitama angry before, his usual demeanour shifted into something protective. Was he really that worried about her? He was about to beat up someone like Sonic up for her sake?This was every girls dream come true, their crush beating up a bully to protect them. She didn't know what to say.
Sonic slowly crawled from the rubble, his entire body ached in pain, coughing lightly, dust and dirt covering his suit. Saitama had caught him off guard with that punch and gotten a hit in, but he was merely lucky. He wasn't defeated and he would still win this fight. He had to make sure nothing was broken, sprained or bruised later, Saitama wouldn't be coming out of this easy. He had trained for months, prepared for this moment so he would have the upper hand. But somehow Saitama was still stronger than him, that punch was worse than before "You..." Sonic muttered.
Saitama approached with a frown, Madoka had been scared, he could see the fear in her eyes and the embarrassment. Whatever he had implied or insinuated had made her uncomfortable and she wasn't happy about being made the centre of attention. She was a shy person and hated unwanted attention. Sonic forgot the age old rule that you never hit girls and you never picked on them. He needed to learn his lesson and better himself so that he could change "I don't know what your issue with me is, but you involved Madoka, I can't forgive you for that" he warned. He would be smart to stay away from Madoka in the future or there would be consequences, "She's a teenager, she's a kid, she's not involved" Saitama scolded.
Sonic scoffed, why was Saitama trying to be all serious and adult? Usually he was so composed, indifferent, emotionless, but this girl had really gotten to him. Something about her had sparked some residual humanity in Saitama. "You're really soft on that girl" he laughed.
Saitama frowned, this wasn't something to laugh about, he could have seriously hurt her. Madoka was still a student, she was still learning about life and had memories to make. Making fun of girls, mistreating them or making them cry, only jerks did that. Why would he intentionally make someone else unhappy to make himself feel better? Madoka was a person, she had feelings and her own troubles, but she never projected them onto others. "We don't hit girls, we don't threaten girls and we don't bully them" Saitama scolded.
"What are you gonna do?" Sonic scoffed, rolling his eyes, he didn't come here to be lectured by a hero. He didn't care how much he upset Saitama or his friends, he didn't care how much he inconvenienced them. He was his rival, his enemy, his whole life was to be a problem, to harass Saitama.
Saitama loomed over him with a dark expression, his eyes hardened, he had tried to be patient. He had seen Madoka's life, how tormented she was, how lonely she was. Her negligent parents and lack of friends. She was trying so hard to change, to meet people and become happier. She was in the middle of her exams, she was working herself ragged, stressed about her future. Sonic wasn't helping by making matters complicated. Sonic felt a shiver of fear run down him, a small dribble of something running down his leg, he had seen the shift in Saitama. The death glare, the silent rage, the warning. He wasn't just playing around, he was being serious. This would be his end, he'd faced foes before but nothing like Saitama. Saitama raised his hand, before quickly lowering it onto Sonic's head, knocking him unconscious with a quick hit. This would teach him a lesson and he wouldn't be moving anytime soon. He then straightened up, patting his hands "There, now you can't do more property damage" he huffed.
Saitama re-entered the restaurant with a heavy sigh, tired and now hungry all over again, he wondered if they would give him a meal to go that he could eat at home. At least he hadn't gotten his clothes dirty, he didn't want to have to do washing.
Madoka approached him in a panic, he had been gone a while making her wonder if they had fought. She was relieved to see he was seemingly unharmed but rightfully annoyed "Saitama, are you ok? Did he hurt you?" she questioned. If she hadn't been here, if she hadn't joined Genos, this wouldn't have happened. She felt partially responsible for the events that took place.
Saitama smiled, reaching out to pat her head affectionately, he appreciated her worry for him but he had handled worse. He had protected her from harm and that was what mattered. He felt guilty that their first reunion after so long had ended up this way but Sonic wouldn't be bothering her anytime soon. She didn't have to worry about him bothering her or following her home "I gave him a scolding and knocked him out, he'll be out cold for a while" he reassured her. She could go about her life without him giving her any trouble for the foreseeable future. Madoka softened, an expression of relief forming on her lips. Saitama nodded at her hands, she had been visibly uncomfortable when Sonic grabbed her, wondering if she would need first aid. "How are your wrists? He was holding you pretty hard and it looked painful" he asked.
Madoka blushed, rubbing her wrists softly, having forgotten all about it, they were slightly red from his grip and her struggling. She didn't want him to worry unnecessarily and she had endured worse than this before. The way he worried about her, took notice of her wellbeing meant the most. But they were mere chafing, nothing was sprained or broken, if anything she would just have inflamed skin for while, nothing serious. "I've had worse" she brushed off.
Saitama softened, she always brushed off her injuries or made it seem like it didn't matter. Teachers most likely ignored most of the bullying she endured so she stopped asking for help. Knowing she handled this all on her own made him sad, she deserved better than that. It was no wonder she was so attached to him, he was the first person to show her any form of care. "That doesn't make it ok, nobody should bully someone like that, it's a coward's move" he pressed. Madoka softened, she wanted to jump into his arms all over again, she didn't care who stared or whispered. She loved him so much, she loved being around him. He wasn't just a hero, he was her hero and he always would be.
"Master Saitama proposed we take you for dessert as an apology, if you are comfortable, we have a first aid pack at his flat" Genos offered. Desserts often helped improve ones mood and acted as a comfort after stressful situations. There were plenty he could locate, including the closest ones to their location. He understood if she merely wanted to head straight home, but the offer was still optional.
Madoka shifted, if she was ever going to ask, it was now or never, when would she get another chance? She felt as if she owed them for dinner but also the mishaps that occurred. She had become a regular companion of Saitama and a guest at his home, the least she could do was return the favour for once. She mustered up her courage, she couldn't look back now "Um... actually, I have one at home, if we get dessert on the way I can make tea" she stammered. She never had guests, the neighbours wouldn't mind and they wouldn't tell her parents. Sometimes they offered for her to come in for tea or gave her presents, sending support boxes. Some had even called welfare services to check on her given how often she was alone, but her parents always managed to deter them.
Saitama smiled, he had bought her dinner so returning the favour with cake sounded like a great idea "Cool, tea party is is" he agreed.
"Um..." a customer muttered, he had managed to handle that enemy with ease without so much as batting an eye or breaking a sweat. They all expected a fight but it had been over in an instant. They had all worried that the girl accompanying them would be hurt but she was mostly unscathed. They were all very appreciative of his services.
Saitama looked around the shop, customers and waiters alike were still panicked by the massive hole in the wall and the fight that ensued. He just hadn't realised it at the time, being so lost in the moment. Restraining his strength was of great difficulty to him, god this would be property damage on his status as a hero. He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly "Sorry about that, I didn't mean to hit him so hard, I just hate bullies" he apologised.
The waiter smiled politely, accidents happened all the time in Z city, you never knew what villains would show up. The fight had ended quickly with no casualties whatsoever. They were all lucky he had been here by chance. "It's no bother, we were worried about the young lady being hurt" a waiter reassured her. The way the ninja had grabbed her, threatened her and intimidated her, they assumed the worst would happen.
"She looked awful scared" another customer agreed, she had held her ground bravely and even insulted him, but it could have gotten ugly had he not stepped in.
"You saved her, you defeated him and now she's safe" another called out
"Hooray for the caped baldy" someone cheered, before long the entire restaurant was cheering happily.
Saitama, Genos and Madoka walked home in content silence with smiles on their faces, this was not how they planned the night would go but none of them had any complaints. Being able to look back on this and laugh would become familiar. They had gotten a free meal out of it which had saved them money and earned them a good reputation. This would spread around the hero circles.
"The owners were very reasonable, they were appreciative of you breaking up the fight and explained they had insurance" Genos explained. Nothing had been damaged, they merely needed to replace the wall panelling and find some temporary sealing. No customers had been harmed and everyone was safe. This had been a minor attack with no casualties, they got off rather well and the hero society had been informed. This would do well for Saitama's reputation as a hero. This could have gone a lot worse but in the end things had worked out better than expected.
"Still I feel bad, they let us have dinner for free but I feel like we took advantage" Saitama reflected, he had more than enough money to pay, he hated owing debts and they had so much more they could give. They had come for a quiet night out and Sonic had instead threatened Madoka and scared the guests. He would be sure to check in with them as much as possible and help where he could.
"You saved me, you protected a lot of people, you were owed that dinner" Madoka pressed, damages and accidents were part of being a hero, it came with the job. People were safe and that was what mattered here. He had prevented Sonic from using her as bait, as a hostage. He had once again protected her from harm as he had the first day they met, showing him in a good light to others. He was getting more exposure as a hero meaning that he would gain positive feedback and more fans.
Saitama sighed, this had been a long evening and he just wanted to put it behind him. He had to admit in the nearly year that he had known Madoka he had become protective over her. She had become such a regular part of his life in such a short period of time. He had never had kids of his own and he'd never been popular with dating, these days as a hero, no matter who showed him an interest he had no time for such a thing. He had seen that Fubuki was becoming friendlier with him after their previous dispute but she was so hard to understand sometimes. His lack of emotion due to his powers made it hard to form relationships of any kind, he just couldn't connect with those around him, by becoming as powerful as he was, he'd become numb on the inside. Battling with the depression that came with it, he was the strongest man alive so nobody could ever compare to him which became boring. But Madoka looked at him as if he was the moon, she was always in awe of his capabilities as a person and his endless kindness. She wanted to be around him, she wanted to spend time with him. She truly admired him and felt safe with him, she had sent him letters confessing herself to be a fan, devoted and sincere. She lacked any stable relationships in her personal life, everyone disappointed her, everyone let her down. Scared for her future and what lay ahead of her, but she projected that onto him. Helping to grow and change as a person because of him, becoming a better person because of the other. Saitama had to admit he had developed a fondness for her, a paternal affection for her, worrying about her wellbeing. The lonely life he had once known felt more fulfilled by her and Genos's presence. He knew she had feelings for him, she was trying to hide it but he had sensed something. The way she became so flustered around him, the way she became awkward about romance. Though he was aware of her possible crush on him he saw no harm in it, he would never requite those feelings and he would never take advantage of her in that way. She was a teenager, she was just having a brief crush, as all girls her age did, she admired him, she looked up to him and she was learning about what romance was growing up, she would move past this as most girls her age inevitably did. She would look back on this with embarrassment and nostalgia as she got older. But if things went too far, he would put up boundaries and mentor her into understanding. He didn't mind her companionship but he was an adult, she was not, taking care of her, watching over her, protecting her, that was his responsibility. "Sorry for messing up your night, we were the ones who invited you, but instead pulled you into this" he apologised, it seemed he could never separate his work from his personal life. Villains followed him no matter where he went.
Madoka held up her hands frantically, she didn't want him to blame himself or carry guilt over something beyond his control "No, I mean... my night would have been boring anyway, at least I can say I watched you defeat your nemesis" she pressed. She had planned on sulking at home, cuddling her cat and watching anime until she fell asleep. This was the best outcome that could have happened, even if things went awry. She had no idea Saitama even had a nemesis, she had never heard of him having a rivalry before.
Saitama softened, he had no idea what he'd done to upset Sonic and why he was so upset with him. "One sided more like, I don't get his obsession with me" he could have faced off with much more enthusiastic enemies, Tatsumaki, drive knight, Zombieman. They were by far higher in rank than him and could have become better enemies to him.
"Bored?" she suggested, plenty of villains ran out of potential rivals, finding themselves too strong and many heroes gave up and moved it seemed Sonic was a prisoner of his own pride.
Saitama shrugged "Who knows"
Madoka opened her front door, Genos carefully holding a box of some strawberry shortcake. She felt awkward at the awareness she was arriving home with company for once, she just hoped the neighbours didn't press the matter. This was the first she had anyone but her parents in the home, she never any friends to bring over, they wouldn't expect much, it was rather boring. "Uh... sorry it's so quiet, it's usually only me" she apologised, hoping they didn't become bored. She found ways to amuse herself but it meant she never had to worry about anyone interrupting her, she could do whatever she liked without consequences. You'd think it would be fun but after a while it became rather tedious.
Saitama whistled, taking it all in, he had to admit he was a little envious of her "Woah, this is bigger than my whole flat" he admired. He had considered maybe using his hero money to get a more spacious flat, but there was nothing wrong with his current residence.
Madoka blushed, it wasn't as fun as people would assume, the loneliness of having such a big house was rather overwhelming. Sat at a table with no company, nobody to converse with. "My parents aren't home, they'll be off on work trips or working late, they rarely come home" she explained. She would get updates on their progress, how their business trips were going and gifts sent over. But she had become used to them never being around.
"Isn't that worrying, work aside surely they contact you" he asked, she was still a kid, she still needed that parental guidance, someone to mentor her. Praise her hard work, help her learn life lessons. She was raising herself and she had nobody to take care of her. If this was part of her average life, coming home to an empty house, no wonder she preferred his flat.
Madoka wilted, she had just forgotten they were ever part of her life, speaking to them was just exhausting. Pretending they ever cared about her, pretending they ever loved her "I... I'm fine, I have Jet and I like my space, so... I never care" she lied. As she grew up, their attention towards her became less and less, fighting to be seen and be heard. Over time she just gave in, accepting that she didn't exist to them. She stopped seeking validation from them and just ignored them. She ignored their calls, communication and other forms of reaching out, it was just such a huge relief to unburden.
"Jet?" Saitama questioned, she had never mentioned any siblings or a roommate before.
Madoka smiled softly, the one thing in life she cared about, the one thing she couldn't live without "My cat, he'll be upstairs on my bed right now, but he likes meeting people" she hummed. He would recognise her voice, her footsteps, her scent, he would come running as soon as she was home. There was a loud meow to break the silence. A small black face appeared in the doorway, green eyes inspecting them curiously. Madoka's eyes lit up with warm tenderness, her awkward body language melting into happiness, she knelt down, lowering to his level, her purple eyes gentle and patient. "Hey little guy, mama's home and I brought guests" she smiled. Jet watched her curiously, taking in Genos and Saitama curiously, sniffing the air before walking down the kitchen floor and approaching them. Madoka tickled his chin affectionately, scratching his ears with a soft smile. She could always come home to him, no matter how bad her day was he would always be there to greet her. Soon allowing her to scoop him into her arms and hold him close to her, nuzzling against his soft fur.
Saitama couldn't help the squeeze in his chest as he observed the interaction, seeing such a tender side of Madoka. The way they bonded, the way he instinctively sought her out and trusted her. They needed each other, they loved one another. "Miss Akagi, should I prepare the tea?" Genos questioned, breaking the silence.
Madoka nodded, still stroking Jet "Kitchen, top cabinet" she explained
"Wow, he really is a cute little guy" Saitama reflected, scratching Jet's head with amusement. His flat wasn't allowed animals but then his hero job kept him too busy to be able to keep one. But then Genos living as his roommate kept him entertained. The small creature mewled happily, loving all the attention he was getting.
"My parents got him for me as a present for my grades, unknowingly giving me someone who needs me more than they do" she reflected. She remembered the first day they met, bonding instantly. She dearly cared for Jet, for all she had a disconnection to the world around her, she loved her cat. She could talk to him for hours, tell him all her secrets and know he would always keep them.
Saitama softened, he couldn't imagine how lonely it would be for a cat to be your first and only friend "Y'know, it's not your fault your parents are assholes, they're supposed to take care of you" he pressed. They failed at the one job expected of them, to raise their child into being a person, to help nurture and guide her through life. No wonder Madoka ended up the way she was, she had never received any positive affirmation or affection her whole life.
Madoka softened, sometimes she was jealous of other people's happier lives, better relationships with her parents. But she made the most of her life and could live by her own rules. She never would have met Genos or Saitama, she never would have formed bonds with them. She wouldn't change what she had now for anything. "I know..." she trailed off.
"So I know it sounds strange, being strangers an all, but.. if you ever need anything, you know where I am" Saitama reassured her. He didn't like the idea of her being by herself all the time, having nobody to check on her or keep an eye on her. If she needed help with shopping, if she wanted to go and buy manga, if she was just bored or lonely. Whatever she needed, whenever she needed him he would be there for her as much as he could. She was a brave person, most people would have broken down and cried, becoming an emotional wreck and knowing how unwanted they were.
Madoka blushed, Saitama didn't owe her anything, he was just a good person who was looking out for others. Helping her navigate the complexities of her life and teaching her valuable lessons. He had plenty of things to keep him busy in his own life, adulting, but he still made time for her regardless. He saw her as a priority. "Thank you" she mumbled
"However, you can't neglect your studies, you need to focus on your exams. If you need to bring them with you when you visit, you can study at mine. You aren't going to ignore your future" he scolded. Her studies would help solidify her position in a decent college and help her move towards any future career goals. She was a bright girl and she deserved to have the career she earned after everyone doubted her. He would happily make her dinner, he would prepare snacks, he would help her focus etc. But she couldn't slack off, there would be consequences.
Madoka pouted but nodded "Fine" she relented, but the idea of being able to go back to Saitama's flat and study with him sounded nice. Like old times, like how they used to be. She didn't care what they did together, she didn't care what happened, she just wanted to be with him. She hated having to work, she hated having to think about a life where Saitama wouldn't be around, but she knew it would happen eventually.
"Good, you're a smart girl and you know better than that" he praised, she had a good head on her shoulders, she knew better than to act recklessly. She had so much potential within her and it couldn't be wasted. He wanted to see her achieve, he wanted to see her become an achieved and admirable person. Madoka shifted, hugging a pillow shyly, her heart warmed by how much he cared about her. Someday when she was older, when she figured out who she wanted to be. She would thank Saitama for believing in her as much as he did.
Genos entered the room, holding a tray of tea and cake, deciding to give them privacy until he felt it was appropriate to enter. Placing them in front of them. He knew that Saitama would be able to give her the push she needed to achieve. "I placed the rest of the cake in the fridge in case you have other guests or wish for it to be used as a snack" he explained. Now she could have some when she came home from school or needed something to make her feel better when stressed.
Madoka smiled, it was such a small gesture but thoughtful of him "Thanks Genos"
"The tea is still brewing but I placed the correct water temperature needed to balance it" Genos informed. The better tea tasted was when it was properly blended and brewed, it gave a more satisfying experience.
"Man, look at you being all domestic Genos, you learned from the best" Saitama joked, ever since he took him under his wing he had learned all sorts. Who knew crossing paths by chance would lead to such a thing. Madoka smiled, this was the sort of dynamic she had always craved, the friendly banter, comforting feeling and natural chemistry. Never forced interactions, respecting boundaries and giving advice. This truly felt like a home, the heartbeat had returned, two of the people she cared for most keeping her company. The home felt brighter, happier, fulfilled.
Saitama handed her a plate, she had earned this after all they had been through today, pressured by her teachers, harassed by Sonic and after all this she had invited them into her home. She needed this more than they did "You're the host, you deserve the first piece" he smiled. Madoka took the cake appreciatively, strawberry shortcake, her favourite, she'd always had a sweet tooth, but she never admitted it to others. She always sneaked some home when she could, able to enjoy the small things in life. Saitama handed genos a slice before helping himself, enjoying the sweetness and fluffiness of the cake.
Madoka picked up a fork, slicing through the sponge before taking a forkful, taking a bite, the taste of it dancing on her tongue like magic. The feeling filling all of her senses, easing her stresses and unhappiness, her eyes sparkled happily, a light flush of happiness forming on her face. A soft hum and squeal of happiness escaping her lips, it was the perfect combination she would never get sick of. The soft fluffiness of the cake, the gentle taste of vanilla in the sponge and cream, filled and balanced perfectly with strawberries. It was so delicious, she could never get enough.
Genos stared at her in awe, the way her eyes lit up, the innate smile that formed from within her, such a positive response to a mere slice of cake. He wondered how many positive experiences she had in life. It was heartwarming and endearing, was this what was referred to as "cute?".
Saitama blushed lightly, seeing Madoka interact with that cat so lovingly, showing such a sweet side to herself. Innately lowering her guard and showing such happiness. The delight of being able to enjoy a piece of cake and know she wouldn't be judged. Reacting as endearingly as she had towards a piece of cake, the way her eyes lit up, the way she was nearly crying over the taste. She looked like a small child at Christmas just learning about presents for the first time. A sense of childlike wonder and utter happiness. He couldn't deny it was the sweetest thing he had ever seen. "Cute" he mentally reflected, absentmindedly eating his own cake.
