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interlude: duty

{ - 3 days ago - }

"We must locate Demon Cyborg!" Minister official Sitch shouted, his command barely heard above frenzied mayhem that took place on the platform below him. The shrill blaring of numerous phones bounced off the walls of the Hero Association HQ; one ring overlapping another like some twisted cacophonic symphony. Calls from citizens, victims' families, heroes, reporters-

There was no end.

"I want a staff member on each line now!" The HA minister ordered brusquely, "Alert all heroes and hospitals in the area; tell them to be on the lookout for any injured personnel. And what the hell is Public Relations doing?! They're supposed to be keeping the press at bay, not leaking photos like some damn teenage gossip-tainment talkshow!"

He whirls to a phone operator with round-rimmed glasses. "Ueda! What's the status?"

The office worker adjusts his glasses uneasily, "We have not been able to find any leads on Demon Cyborg's whereabouts. It's like he's disappeared."

The minister curses. "Is no one capable of doing their job?" He mutters in exasperation. "What about Lightning Max and Stinger? They were the last heroes assigned to engage the Demon Cyborg."

A head shake.

"They've been hospitalized. Their wounds are superficial, but both of them are temporarily out of commission."

"He didn't kill them?" Sitch demanded. Given the cases of the other injured heroes, it was a miracle the A-Class duo had kept all their limbs.

"It wasn't the Cyborg who injured them."

The HA minister sucked in a breath. Another threat?

Sitch sputtered, "Then who—?!"

" Saitama."

The answer came from a figure half-hidden in the shadows. Azure locks expertly styled to frame pale, beautifully cold eyes. Amai Mask approaches the center of the room, a white scarf draped fashionably around his neck. There's a noticeable drop in all activity: voices hushed, hurried steps slowed, heads turned. The air heavies with a tension that comes less from reverence than wariness.

The Minister Officer swallows thickly. "A-Amai-san. Who is this Saitama you speak of?"

"Saitama." Ueda hastily pulls up a file on his screen, "Hero name: Caped Baldy. Class B, rank 2. He's had a hand in stopping several major catastrophes including the Z-City meteor, the Sea King incident, and a few other Dragon-level threats. But there are speculations of him cheating his way into B-rank by stealing credit from other heroes. His track record is patchy at best."

Sitch twists his tie nervously in his sweaty hands. "With all due respect, Amai-san, we don't have time to nitpick the file of a third-rate hero. We need to focus on preventing Demon Cyborg from causing any more collateral damage."

He turns to the bespectacled office worker. "Are there no S-heroes we can call? King?"

Another shake of the head. "He refused."

The nerve-!

"What? He can't just—what about Silver Fang? He's older, he has more experience. Maybe he—"

"Also refused. All of the S-Class heroes have turned down this assignment."

"Why!?"

BAM!

Without warning, Amai Mask slams a hand on the dashboard. The shockwaves shake the computers; rattle the phones. A few coffee cups fall and shatter.

All movements cease.

Silence.

"Because Saitama," The name is uttered like a condemnation, "Told them not to get involved. He wants to deal with this matter personally and has the audacity to not only go against HA regulations, but also interfere with our mission to subdue the Cyborg."

Quiet murmurs ripple throughout the room.

Ueda clears his throat hesitantly.

"E-Even if he is interfering, there haven't been any reports of attacks since then..."

Amai waves his hand dismissively.

"He's only prolonging the inevitable. He refuses to see the truth: that his precious pet has become a villain. And is it not our duty as heroes to stop villains? After all, someone who protects criminals can hardly be considered a hero."

The A-class hero leans forward, bewitching yellow eyes sharpened in hungry anticipation. Faded, discolored bruises peek through the lining of his scarf like an ugly blemish.

"He must be dealt with."

a/n: when i said 'new update soon', i meant like in a year. i made a tumblr! esivo/tumblr/com (replace / with .) follow me for latest updates, previews, and commentary on future chapters :) or if you just wanna cry about opm w/ me haha. i will also reply to questions/reviews there.

as always, feedback is appreciated! thank you for reading.