Sorry for the wait, the last few weeks were spent on finals and holidays… some procrastination on my part too. Anyway, here's a new chapter.


Chapter 3 - Enter Magus! …the hell is a Magus?

It was a few days after the start of the second year of high school, and the excitement and anticipation that came with it had already mostly died down. There was an air of normalcy as everything had started to come into routine; the same old school days had begun, and students had found themselves acclimated nicely.

The classroom was noisy as students had already formed their respective cliques to be with. A few of the desks were rearranged, and there were a few people from outside the class who had also come to visit to talk to their friends. Normally they'd get scolded for that, but as class has already ended it doesn't really matter.

Saitama stared blankly at the window beside him, letting time pass as he watched the clouds.

...I should be getting home already.

Saitama sighed. Putting his things inside his bag, he then stood up from his seat, and went for the door.

On the way, he caught a few looks directed at him, which was quickly stopped when he made eye contact with them. He shrugged in his mind, before saying "Excuse me." to a student chatting with someone and blocking the door. The student quickly scuttled away when he heard his voice, and Saitama walked past the classroom. He slid the door shut as he exited.

Shouldering his bag, he yawned as he walked.

The school campus was filled with loitering students. Mostly with those who wanted to hang out with each other, and probably some who attend clubs. There were a few who looked like they were already leaving like him, though. Maybe they were people who had nothing better to do.

He made a short trip to his locker to drop off some of his things. After he was done, he went straight to the gate. Before he could exit the campus though, something made him stop.

"Senpai." a familiar soft voice called out to him.

He paused. Turning around, Saitama was met with the sight of an approaching purple-haired girl. "Hm? Oh... hey, Sakura. I was about to go home. You're gonna do that as well?"

She nodded her head. "Yes. Grandfather wanted me to get home early today." she paused, looking away slightly. Saitama saw her taking a deep breath. Then, she looked back at him. "Do... you want to go together?"

Saitama shrugged."Sure." his answer made Sakura smile. He turned around, motioning her to come with. "So, how are things going? Something interesting happening lately?" he said, crossing the gate and walking out to the street.

Sakura went to walk beside him. "Everything is going fine, senpai. I was a bit nervous about my first year of highschool, but things turned out to be fine." she smiled. "I feel a bit silly worrying about it now."

He hummed. "Well, I think things naturally start like that. If you're not at least a bit worried when entering a new stage of life then there must be something wrong." Saitama mused. "Pretty sure high school is one of those moments."

"I guess that's true... How about you, Senpai? It's been a while since we last talked." she asked.

"But we did? At the start of school?"

"It's been days, senpai. That doesn't count." she frowned.

Saitama hummed as he pondered how to answer.

"Well…" he scratched the back of his head. "I guess things are about the same."

Might be even too much. He thought. It's getting boring lately.

Despite the start of a new school year, the monotony is already getting to him. During the break he was training for the majority of the day and spent his free time cleaning the house or watching TV. Sometimes, he'd study whenever he's feeling productive, but other than that he mostly had nothing to do.

Just as he had for the past years, at school terms he'd adjust his schedule to do his push-ups, sit-ups, and squats early in the morning then jog later in the afternoon. The training was pretty much routine already and was boring him. It was... very different from when he started—during that time all he could remember was living a life of hell and constant suffering.

It's been, what, two years already? Those memories seem so far away...

Sure, he had his hero hobby, but moments when he can actually enjoy it seem so few and far in between. The most he encounters these days when he jogs is usually some thief stealing a purse. Though that means that there aren't any dangerous situations happening around, so that's something he probably should be thankful for.

"—Senpai? Senpai, are you listening?" he blinked as he heard Sakura's voice.

"Ah yeah. Sorry, what was that again? Got a bit distracted."

Sakura's eyebrow twitched minutely. "I was asking if you're going to join a club, Senpai."

Now that's a thought. "Hmm... a club, huh? If it's something interesting, I guess I can join." he looked at Sakura. "Why, you thinking on joining one?"

She nodded her head. "A few of my friends invited me to the archery club. The club has a few members and they said they needed more." she looks at Saitama with a hopeful expression. "Senpai, maybe you can go as well?"

He thought about it for a few moments. Will he find archery interesting? Probably; it's a new thing for him. Will he have the time for it? ...Maybe. It might mean he won't have as much free time though.

"I'll think about it." he said instead.

Sakura turns a bit disappointed, before bringing her smile back up. "Just tell me if you want to join senpai, I'll let them know."

The next few minutes were spent talking with Sakura about mundane stuff. It usually devolved into topics such as school assignments, housework, or maybe about a sale at the local supermarket store in the Miyama shopping district that Saitama would be very interested in going to. It might be strange for someone who essentially lives inside a japanese mansion scouring sales to save money, but his long-ingrained instincts to save whatever sparse amounts he got are demanding him to do so.

The next thing he knew, it was time for them to split up.

"I'll be going here then." he pointed in the direction of his house. "See you next time, Sakura."

"See you too, senpai." she replied back, smiling softly.

He turned around and walked to the opposite street—

"U-Uhm…!"

—He looked back. "Hm?"

Sakura stood there, looking down on the ground awkwardly. "A-About nii-san…"

The mention of her brother made Saitama frown slightly, before he sighed then faced front again. "I told you Sakura—we made up already. No need to worry about that anymore." he started walking. "Anyway, be careful on your way home, yeah?"

If she replied anything, Saitama wasn't able to hear it because he was too far away already.

...

It didn't take long to arrive at his house. A quick unlocking with his keys and he went inside his home, where he was met with a dark, empty hallway. He set aside his shoes and entered, going to the living room and putting his bag there on the table.

A quick change later and he was already in his tracksuit, ready to go outside.

It was time to do his hobby.


Shinto District; the urban part of Fuyuki.

Built around the 1990s when the place was nothing more than empty land, it had developed into the modernized place that is Shinto of the present as time went by. Tall buildings are erected in largely constructed roads and highways, and the district always seemed so crowded no matter the time.

Tohsaka watched as cars went by, the noise grating her ears as she sat drinking coffee from a cafe which had seats near the sidewalk. Technology and magi don't mix at all—and while she may not harbor the same pathological hate which some magi have with it, she certainly doesn't find the constant urban noise enjoyable.

It was annoying to be here. She has more important things to do, like study, rest, or anything else. But she was stuck here.

She sighed, annoyance seething in her. Why did I have to do this again…?

A familiar face caught her eye, and she turned to look.

On the opposite side of the road, at the edge of a small park, she saw a boy arrive in his tracksuit. With a face perpetually blank that she'd come to associate as the source of all her recent headaches, she watched him do some stretches to warm himself up before running.

Oh, yeah… him.

Emiya Saitama. A normal boy at first glance, if having a less than stellar reputation inside the Homurahara Academy—but it turns out that he was able to beat down many strong opponents that are considered dangerous by magi around the world easily. Many would already consider that as preposterous... but as it turns out, the person himself wasn't even aware of the existence of magi.

She'd be dumb to think that it would be the end of it; Strength like that does not come without the knowledge of the supernatural. That was what made the boy so confusing, though. She prided herself as a person who could read people like an open book and she was sure that Emiya was telling the truth in him not being a magus. He also seemed genuinely confused about the existence of monsters and the like.

So what exactly was with him? In the end, was he lying? Or... is he not telling the full truth?

Which led to her current situation, where she found herself observing him. For the last few days, she had gone straight to Shinto and watched him jog, and jog, and jog… and jog.

She sighed into her coffee. How long is he going to keep jogging? He's done nothing these past few days at all!

At first, she was shocked and a bit awed by the display of endurance—he jogged nonstop for about two hours without showing any fatigue—but now that it's just eating her time and being a bother! If she's going to do nothing but stare at him run around in circles in this stupid, crammed district then she'd rather just go home!

Tohsaka bit her lip in thought as she observed Emiya.

She'd... she'd be wasting time at this rate. There are still plenty of threats in her city and she couldn't afford just sitting around. Her approach right now wouldn't work; it's clear that just observing wouldn't give her the information that she needs. She needed to take a more proactive approach. But... how?

She recalled when Emiya had saved her from the wraith who had pretty much would've been her death. Then, an idea came to mind.

Her brows furrowed. It's... it's risky.

Tohsaka debated the pros and cons in her head. It would be easy... but could she really trust him? Then why would he save her and the girl? It wouldn't just be a ploy to get in her good graces right?

She was unsure, but any attempt of thinking about Emiya's intentions without any clear evidence would lead to a downward spiral of unreliable conclusions. In the end, she only went with her instincts.

She took a deep breath, then went to cross the street to approach Emiya.

Once she reached him, she called out, smiling with her carefully crafted mask. "Good afternoon, Emiya-kun." he glanced at her. "Is it alright for us to talk?"

He stared at her blankly.

"...Who?"

Her eyebrow minutely twitched.

...

A little while later…

Emiya snapped his fingers, looking at her with bright eyes of recognition. "Oh yeah! I remember you now— you're that girl, right? The one with the exhibitionist guy?" he said, leaning slightly to her from his seat.

E-Exhibitionist…? Does he mean the wraith? Don't tell me that's what he thought of that monster the entire time? Tohsaka thought in her head, sweating slightly. No, wait, Rin. Don't let your guard down. He might be lying!

Her smile was strained as she sat facing him across the table, holding a cup of coffee daintily in her hand. "...Yes, that was me. Your help was invaluable." she said, forcing herself to not let out the incredulity she feels. "I'm... glad, that you remember. And it's Tohsaka Rin."

After taking deep breaths when she realized that Emiya didn't even remember her earlier, she tried to remind him of who she was. It was to no avail and was only met with a blank face. She didn't know how to react to someone that forgot a literal near-death experience for her and struggled on how to go on from there, so she tried to say the first thing that came to her mind and…

"D-Do you want to have a cup of coffee?" she asked, partially desperate to get his attention.

He stopped his stretches, suddenly looking at her intensely. "Free?"

She blinked. "I-I suppose?"

"Lead the way, then." he said, nodding.

Now they were in the cafe she was in earlier, in the furthest place inside where they would be away from prying ears. The two of them sat across each other holding a cup of their own.

She doesn't know what to think of this; It's literally the best outcome she could think of when compared to him potentially being hostile to her. She managed to make him agree to have a talk with her just for the price of a cup of coffee. The whole situation was so absurd that she didn't know whether to be suspicious or not.

Why is he acting like this!? What's his game here!? She tried to think of any reason, and possible reason, for him to act like this. Or... or is it really because…?

"Don't worry about it." he waved off her thanks, sipping the coffee that she bought him. "I'm sorry about being in a hurry at that time, though—A teacher wanted me to get something for her, and you looked like you're fine on your own. So nothing bad happened, did it? Did you call the police?"

Tohsaka stared.

"...Emiya-kun. Do you remember what I said to you during that time?" she asked.

"That time?" he parrotted. He put his coffee on the table, crossing his arms and hummed in thought. "I think you said something about... wraps? No, no wait. It's wraiths! Yeah, it was that." he muttered. Then, he looked at her and nodded. "Ah, I get it."

"Huh?" So he does know.—?

"It's about the chuunibyou thing isn't it?" he asked, looking at her with a sympathetic smile. "I know it's embarrassing, so don't worry. I won't—"

She slammed the table with both hands. "IT'S NOT THAT AT ALL!"

"O-Oi! You almost spilled my coffee!" he said, barely managing to get the coffee off the table in time.

Tohsaka took deep breaths, before realizing that everyone in the cafe was staring at her. She blushed, then immediately sat back down, covering her face. She sank on her seat as the full weight of her actions fell on her. I-I can't believe this... I lost control of myself. Argh, this is too embarrassing!

"What's with you? Why'd you suddenly shout?" he grumbled. "Now that I think about it, you look a bit familiar... yeah, you're that rude girl I sat next to on the first day as well, aren't you? Don't you have some manners—"

She raised her hand. "Emiya-kun, please... just keep quiet for a moment." she said, tone clipped as she considered everything.

This guy... this guy is no magus at all. she begins to realize. He's really just an idiot.

But a strong idiot. Strong enough to beat that powerful wraith in just a single punch. Idiot he may be, but his strength makes him extremely dangerous… though now she could at least rest easy on the thought of having a strong and smart opponent that stays within her city. She didn't know what she would do if they were to come to a fight.

"Emiya-kun, I suppose I should preface this by saying that what I had told you was not, in fact, a delusion born from a teenager seeking attention." she brings up her hand again when he opens his mouth. "Nope, let me finish. Can you look back at that time with the wraith? How he was so fast and broke concrete easily? A person couldn't do that normally.You couldn't do that normally." I can't believe I'll be saying this to someone. "Supernatural things exist. They've always been."

He furrowed his brows when she finished talking and went quiet for a few moments.

"...But they don't, though?" he said, looking at her like she was messed up in the head. "You'll get stronger if you train hard. That guy probably did that."

"Oh, for—! Grrr." she drank her coffee in one go, applied a silencing charm around them. Holding the cup in one hand, Tohsaka stared at Emiya straight in the eyes as she dropped the cup on the floor. Emiya startled as it shattered into pieces.

"O-Oi, what was that for!?" Emiya stood up, eyes wide. "Why'd you—"

"Minuten vor Schweißen."

He stopped in shock as the shattered glass floated back up, then reassembled itself off the floor and returned to its previous place on top of the table with a mere flick of her hand.

She crossed her arms and leaned back on her seat. "Is that good enough evidence for you?"

"W-Wait, so you're serious?"

"Why is it so hard to believe? If anything, you're the unbelievable one here." she sighed. "Yes. I'm being completely serious. Now, getting back on track—Emiya-kun, do you remember what I said to you last time? I asked you if you were a magus."

Emiya seemed to shake off his shock slightly, shaking his head and leaning back to his seat again. "...I guess you did say that. So what's that 'magus' thing supposed to be?"

"I'll get straight to the point: a magus is someone who practices magecraft—in other words, magic." she brought up her hand again as he opened his mouth, forestalling his questions. "I advise you to listen to me first, Emiya-kun. You're in a very delicate position right now, and many people would use your ignorance for their own benefit. What you'll decide from now would affect the rest of your life."

He shut his mouth.

"Good. For starters, the supernatural has always been present in the world. It's presence is only wiped from the public by various organizations whose interests are found in keeping it secret. I'm part of one of those organizations. Specifically, one that goes by the name of the Mage's Association." she stares at him levelly. "Are you following so far?"

He nodded his head.

"Good. Moving on, a member of that organization is called a magus. There are many reasons why a person is a magus, but generally, these are people who want to reach the source of everything in this world—a phenomenon we call the Swirl of the Root, or the Root of all things. These magi usually stop at nothing just to obtain any research for that. Granted, paths to it are all very obscure and hard to reach as it is… hey, what's with that face!? Are you even listening!?"

Emiya looked at her like he sucked a lemon. "Can't you just summarize it or something? I don't want a lecture."

She ignored the urge to hit him in the head. "I'm giving you a lecture because you need it, idiot!" she shouted, then paused as she found herself losing control again. She quelled the anger inside her and forced herself to breathe out. "Fine. You want a summary? I'll give you one."

She stared at him in the eye. "Fuyuki City is under my jurisdiction, and since you're here I want to know what you're trying to do. What are your intentions? What do you plan to do?"

"What I'm planning to do...? I'm not really planning anything though. I live here."

She sighed. "Please don't play dumb. I can accept not knowing what a magus is, or not being familiar with the supernatural, but I can tell you want something." she leaned in, pointing a finger at him. "I know you're responsible for bringing down some of my targets from before. You're strong, but that doesn't justify actively hunting those targets down. Why do you keep doing it?"

"Targets?" he asked.

"Supernatural creatures, like werewolves, ghosts, or maybe just like the other day, a rogue magus." she supplied.

Tohsaka saw his eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh, yeah, I think I remember that as well... so that was a real werewolf. I thought it was some guy cosplaying in a fursuit." he nodded his head.

Tohsaka waited for him to answer as he went back to sip his coffee. "...So?"

"Hm?" he looked up.

Her eyebrow twitched. "Why did you do it?"

"Ah, right." he sipped his coffee. "It's a hobby. I'm a hero for a hobby."

...Huh?

Before she could say anything though, the ground shook, rattling the table and her cup on it. She stopped, and from the edge of her vision saw the other customers inside the cafe look around in confusion from the sudden tremor. Bemused, she turned to look outside the glass pane window, and was immediately greeted by a sight of a panicked crowd running away from... something.

The sound of the countless footfalls and the muffled shouting from the outside causes some of the people inside the cafe to panic. Suddenly, people were standing up from their seats as they reacted in fear from the crowd. The quiet cafe was now filled with murmurs and questioned shouting.

She hears the sound of a chair scraping across the floor, and she barely registers the already moving Emiya from the edge of her vision, going straight outside the door. She stares for a moment before she starts, as she realizes that he was headed opposite the direction the people were running from—going straight to wherever the danger was.

What is going on!? Where is he going!? What is he planning to do!?

Thoughts swirl inside her head as she begins to think of what could possibly have caused this. In the end, she can only draw a blank.

...No! Rin, get a hold of yourself!

"Damn it!" she cursed, running after him.

Like she'll let him get away that easily!


A little earlier, just a few blocks away from the cafe and near a junction between two roads, is a small two-story building. The pane windows near the entrance reveal the various exercise equipment inside, making any passerby think of it as a gym with a quick look. The people walking across the sidewalk don't give it a spare glance, however, either uncaring or just being too busy.

It was the reason that no one noticed a large figure from the inside until the entrance exploded, sending shattered glass and parts of the now destroyed wall everywhere as it kicked up dust. The people in the sidewalk remained frozen as they failed to register what had just happened, and they looked, wide-eyed, at the visage of the figure revealing itself as it walked out of the cloud of dust calmly.

Height reaching the second story of the building he came out from, and a grotesquely muscled body looking like an exaggerated caricature of body builders, it wore too tight shorts and a tank top that barely reached its abdomen. The creature breathed in the air, then exhaled.

"Aaah... oxygen. This would be good for my muscles after doing a hard workout!" it spoke.

Then suddenly, all hell went loose.

"Monster!"

"What is that!?"

"Run away!"

"Now, to go on with my routine." the creature stated, uncaring of the chaos. He moved to a car, whose driver was not able to drive away in time. With a hand, he gripped onto the car's back, bending the metal out of shape under his fingers, and stopping it from moving no matter how frantically the driver stepped on the pedal.

"To start—lifting weights!" the creature, stated. He lifted the car easily, then began to move it up and down as he used it for his curls. "Ohhh! This is just the right load!"

The driver screamed from inside his car, as he was lifted and dropped. He managed to open the door with a few fumbles, then fell on the asphalt road and immediately scrambled away.

"Help! Help!" he shouted in fear, running away desperately.

The creature paused. "Hm? It suddenly became lighter..."

The driver panted as he ducked beside an abandoned car from the formed traffic. Hiding away from the sight of the creature, the driver began to say his prayers as he begged for anyone to save him.

"Now where do you think you're going?"

The driver screamed again as the car he was hiding behind was lifted away, leaving him uncovered as he stared upwards at the giant form of the creature.

"If I was training strength, I wouldn't need something to practice cardio." the driver shivered as the monster smiled cruelly. "Weights don't need to move. But if you keep doing it… I'm going to make you not to."

It reached out with it's hand, gripping the shaking driver's collar, and—

"Oi."

—It paused, the driver in his hands going slack as he fainted in fright.

The monster craned its head to look behind, then blinked. There was a boy wearing a tracksuit running towards its direction and there doesn't seem like there is anything else on the street except him. It turned around fully to face the boy.

"Hm?"

The boy stepped forward. "You the one causing trouble here?"

The monster smiled.

"Hoh hoh…" The monster tilted its head. "And if I am?"

"Well, if you are…" he brought up a hand, balling it into a fist. "I'll just beat you up."

"..."

The monster didn't say anything for a moment, before its shoulders started shaking. "Ufufufu. How amusing… You truly think you can beat me? The arrogance of youth truly knows no bounds. Very well, if you truly think that way..."

The monster flexed, curling his biceps up in front of him.

"Then I shall tell you who I am!" the monster beat its chest with a hand. "I am Masssuuru Man! Human beings are composed of muscle, but they are still too weak despite it! Human beings have wasted their muscles potential and haven't used it to the very limit! I have naively thought that way myself, even when I frequent the gym, until one day…"

The now-named Muscle man clenched its fist in passion. "Until one day, when I tried to open a bottle for a girl I liked for a long time and impress her, I found myself not opening it! Despite all my strength I was not able to make it budge in a single inch! And this guy that looked like a twig next to me opened it without even any effort! I felt insulted—it was clear that it was due to my efforts that he was able to do it, but in the end, it was him that got the girl!"

"I was forced to face a reality where my efforts of gaining strength were all for nothing! It was unfair… but then, after weeks of staying inside my apartment and thinking, I had thought—what if I had actually opened it? What if I managed to do it myself? It was not because the guy that spindly guy I broke on the way here used my strength to win, no. It was because I was too weak! That I had not been strong enough!"

"Then the next morning after my epiphany, I mistook the protein powder that I bought for sugar and put it into my coffee. When I drank it, it changed me, and I have acquired strength!" the monster flexed its muscles again, striking a pose. "It was as if the gods of muscles had chosen to reward me for reaching my conclusion. A chosen champion to spread the word of the muscle gospel!"

It leaned toward Saitama. "You—have you ever given a bit of effort in your life to better yourself? I bet you haven't, living a life of decadence. You're only doing this to impress someone, aren't you? A teenager, cockily trying to challenge someone looking strong so that they may show their dominance and strength, thinking arrogantly that the world couldn't handle them! Someone like you who hasn't put up the effort to gain strength cannot beat me!" then he pointed at him. "Well, what do you have to say to yourself?"

Saitama stood, not saying anything.

"...Well, what is it? Speechless?" the monster asked, smug.

Saitama blinked. "...huh?" he scratched his head, then looked at the monster again. "Sorry, what was that? I kinda tuned you out when you started talking."

"..."

"Anyway, you done? Then let's start fighting." Saitama brought a fist up. "I still have some things to do—"

"Finn shot!"

He blinked as he felt his collar pulled by Tohsaka, who was dragging him away from the ensuing smoke made by the magical spell that hit the monster. W-Wait, what is this girl doing here?

Before he could ask what she was doing here, the girl had already preceded him. "What are you doing chatting with that monster!? Are you trying to get yourself killed!?" she shouted. "I know you're an idiot but isn't this too much!?"

"Wait a minute—what are you doing here!? It's dangerous!" he asked.

"That should be my line, damn it! Why did you go here!? It's my job to deal with these things!"

Her job? "I mean, it's my hobby." Tohsaka looked like she swallowed something sour. "Look, I—"

"No, you be—!"

"GRAHHHH!"

The two of them shut their mouths. Tohsaka glares at him.

"We'll continue this later." she bit out.

The large figure of the monster lumbers out of the smoke, face marred in rage. "Insignificant weaklings. I was doing you a favor of learning something, and you only spit in the face in return! I'll make a punching bag out of both of you and show you the power of muscles until I blow you into smithereens!"

Tohsaka blinked.

Suddenly, the monster loomed in front of her.

Saitama startled at the sudden display of speed from the monster. "Look out!"

"I will obliterate you into dust!" it reared a fist back. "Take this! Right Macho Punch!"

Tohsaka watched, unable to even react, as the large fist neared her face, her death imminent—

She felt her body being pushed aside. Before she knew it, she was on the ground, staring at the wide eyes of Saitama, watching as the fist not hit her but rather her savior. The ground quaked as the monster hit him, and the nearby glass in cars and buildings shattered. Tohska watched as Saitama was bodily blown away, smashing through the cars, and crashing into a building at the end of the street.

Tohsaka stared at the hole he crashed into in a daze. E-Emiya…?

"Hm. A payment for his arrogance. He's no match for my muscles." the monster turned to her. "You must be the one he's trying to impress. I should get rid of you as well, as a reminder of his mistakes if he still lived."

She didn't respond. The monster loomed in front of her.

"...No reaction? Whatever."

The monster reared its fist back again—

Then the wall exploded.

The monster was barely able to turn and block a fist coming into its way. It struck its biceps, rippling its large muscles as the hit made a boom of noise. "Wha—!"

It was cut off with another hit, making it gasp its air out of its lungs. This time it struck the abdomen; The hit so fast that the monster wasn't able to anticipate it, and it carried enough power to lift the gargantuan body of the monster off the ground for a moment. The monster felt the pain even through its tough muscles.

"It hurts! Bastard, so you really are strong—guh!"

Then a final hit, and the monster was bodily thrown away in a parody of the way it had with its earlier opponent. The monster immediately crashed into a building shortly after.

Saitama immediately distanced himself and took the still dazed Tohsaka in his arms. He jumped back a few meters, keeping a close eye on the hole. A drop of blood slowly trickled from his head as he panted slightly.

It was then that Tohsaka decided to snap out of her daze.

"You—you're— I thought you were—!" she stuttered. She thought he died, that dolt! A multitude of thoughts went through her head, but all of them came to a halt when she realized her position. "W-Wait, put me down!"

He blinked, then looked at Tohsaka as if he registered her for the first time.

"Ah yeah. Sorry." Saitama put her down gently, letting her stand on her own feet.

Tohsaka wobbled slightly as she stood on her own. She smoothed out her skirt, before looking at the hole the monster came from. "T-Thank you."

"You're welcome. Look, it's getting dangerous here. So maybe you should go ahead?"

Her head whipped back into him. "No." she snarled.

"...Seriously, you should go. Don't worry, I'll deal with this and—"

"Deal with this!? You're a civilian!" she shouted, rounding on him. She opened her mouth but paused at the sight of blood flowing out of his head. She frowned. "I can't leave you alone here when it isn't even your job to do this. How about you leave instead? You're strong, but you don't need to be here. Look at you—you're bleeding. This is different from the wraith from before."

Saitama unconsciously touched the part Tohsaka was looking at. He stared at the blood on his hands. "Huh, you're right." he said simply.

Tohsaka sighed out in relief. "You see?"

"No, no, this is usually how it goes!" he said, grinning, much to Tohsaka's surprise. "It's, it's been a while since I fought like this… it's getting my blood pumping." he said, clenching a fist up while turning to the monster's direction with an eager grin.

Tohsaka stiffened. Is he—is he serious!?

She opened her mouth, but then decided to call it off. Shaking her head, she spoke. "I'm not leaving, and that's final. I have a duty to be here."

He looked at her weirdly. "Well if you say so."

"Graaaaahhhh! Thaaaat huuuuuurt!"

The wall exploded, and the enraged monster came out. Its muscles bulged and its veins showed. The monster gained more height than what it originally was as it stepped out of the destroyed wall of the building. Tohsaka noticed that the monster's eyes were white, and had started frothing at the mouth.

"I can feel it in my muscles, the adrenaline coursing in my veins! This overwhelming power is intense!" Muscle man shouted. It then began to run towards them, mere steps digging through the concrete. "I'm going to kill both of you!"

Saitama ran towards—"Wait! We need a plan!" Tohsaka raised a hand to stop him but was too late to do so, already on his way to meet the monster head-on. "Damn it! Can't he just...!"

Tohsaka bit her lip.

I can't go there. If I try to follow him, I'll just become a liability. She winced in the sound of the monster's fist hitting asphalt as Saitama dodged it barely, dishing out punches in its abdomen that made the monster roar out in rage. Much as I loathe to think of it, only Emiya-kun can deal with the monster. But I have to think of something…!

She thought for a moment, before her eyes widened. That's it!

"—Grah! Stay still!" the monster shouted as it started to hit all around it in a frenzy, maddened look in its eyes. It punched in a flurry, speed increasing to the point that his arms became blurs, and coming to the point that Saitama can't even manage to evade them all. "I'll beat you until your muscles are gone in this world!"

Saitama grunted as he tanked each shot. Each hit felt like he was going to keel over with how painful it was. It was different from his recent fights, where he usually beats his opponents in one or two hits. It was… it was like when he first started.

His heart was beating like crazy, and his lungs were burning from the inside. His body felt sore from never moving this much before, and… he never felt more alive.

He continued punching the monster when he could afford to, putting everything he could in each hit. He got hit in retaliation though, and he grit his teeth as he pushed through the pain. He rolled under the monster's legs when it executed a downwards strike, then jumped as he went in for a strike on its back—

In surprising speed, the monster turned around and with an outstretched hand, grabbed him midair. He felt air leave his lungs as the monster squeezed hard, but before he could do anything, the monster began to punch his head consecutively.

"Die! Die! Die! Die!" the monster shouted between each punch. Each made his consciousness waver. His vision was already blurring, and it was taking his all to just even stay awake. "Take this!" the monster reared back an arm, then it descended towards his head again.

"Head Crushing Punch!"

He felt his perception slow, focusing only on the approaching fist on his face as he hung limp in the monster's grip. He could barely see from his blurred vision but it was the one thing he could identify. Then, Saitama registered something in his concussed head.

Shit, am I going to die?

Just like that, all his excitement was replaced and filled with something else. Crap, he might've gotten a bit too excited and got reckless. Now he's going to get his head splattered all over the street because he went off like an idiot.

He's losing consciousness already. Everything feels so tired, and he just wants to close his eyes and sleep. Well, if he was going to die anyways… why not do it in comfort? No one could blame him if he just got some shut eye, right?

Like hell...!

He felt something in him fire up.

In a bout of increased vigor he roared and broke free of the grip of the monster, then met the approaching fist of the monster with a punch that he put all—no, beyond his strength. He felt something in his wrist snap, as the hit made a tremendous 'boom!' that reverberated throughout the street and the arm of the monster.

The monster was blown back a couple meters, roaring in pain. Then, it stared in shock as it creadled its arm, which was broken in different directions and looked mangled beyond belief. "Wha—my powerful muscles are…!?"

Saitama grit his teeth, then pushed through the pain as he stood back up on his feet and ran straight to the monster, his intact fist up high.

The monster startled. "How are you still—" it started to take a few steps back. "No, stay back, I'll—!"

"Graaaah!" with a roar, he jumped and reached the face of the monster, staring straight in its eyes.

Then he punched.

The world shook. Glass from nearby cars and buildings shattered into pieces. The ground broke as the body of the monster buried deep inside it.

"Haah… haah…"

"..."

Saitama stood, panting and bleeding. A cloud of dust and debris surrounded him, obstructing his vision from seeing anything around him. He felt like his heart was going to explode, and he's doing his all to just stand up even now.

Saitama looked to the sky as he tried to catch his breath. Is it, is it over?

The dust slowly began to clear, and gradually, he saw the body of the monster. It was completely limp, with its limbs broken in multiple ways and tongue comically hanging out of its mouth.

He… he won.

He let out a relieved breath. "That was tough." he looked around the destruction of the street and relaxed, posture deflating as the adrenaline left his body. "What a mess... time to go home."

He turned around and walked—

"Gyahaha, got you!" the monster rose, limbs snapping into place as it reared its fist at Saitama's back. "Back-breaking Macho strike—!"

"Anfang, Absaugung von Körperenergie."

"—gyaaaahh!"

Saitama blinked when he turned back and saw the monster engulfed in a flash of bright light. After a few short moments of the monster screaming, the bright light disappeared, leaving the unconscious body of the monster. Its body was smoking slightly and the muscles that it had earlier shrank into nonexistence, leaving a bony and weak-looking man.

Tohsaka held a brightly glowing jewel in her hand. With a muttered 'Aufspeichern.', the bright glow disappeared. She pocketed the jewel then looked at Saitama. She hesitated at first, looking at him with caution, before seemingly shaking out of it and hurriedly approaching him.

Saitama opened his mouth. "Thanks—"

"Shut up." he shut his mouth. The girl stood in front of him and looked at his hand. "Is it responsive?"

He took a glance, then winced. His arm looked like it's seen better days, with how broken it looks and all. It looks even worse than what he saw with the monster's. "I… think I can move it." Damn it, this'll be hard to hide from Taiga. He tried to move it in a circle—

"—Stop." Tohsaka laid a hand on his forearm when he tried to check whether it moved. "Just…don't try to make any sudden movements. Anfang, neu ausrichten und schweißen." her hands glowed bright green and he felt something prod on his hand. There was a reflex to resist, but he allowed it.

Saitama watched in awe as his hand healed right in front of him. So this is magic…

Tohsaka brought down her hands when it finally finished. "Done. Don't force it and let it heal for a few days—unless if you want it broken again." she took a handkerchief out of her pocket, then dabbed his face with it, much to his surprise. Then, she went to hand the handkerchief to him—which he now noticed had blood in it. "Your nose is bleeding by the way, keep pressure on it so it won't get any worse."

He nodded his head, taking the offered handkerchief. "I'll go do that." he looked at the setting sun in the distance. "Hey, it's getting late. Mind if I go home now? Wouldn't want my guardian to worry."

An odd look passed Tohsaka's face that moment.

He tilted his head. "What is it?"

She seemed like she was going to say it for a moment, before she sighed. "You can go ahead, Emiya-kun. No one is keeping you here." she turned around, moving towards the body of the monster. "Be careful on your way home."

He shrugged. "Alright."

With that gone, Saitama walked away, leaving the Tohsaka behind in the ruined street full of broken cars and buildings. Tohsaka watched as he disappeared, before sighing and taking a phone out of her pocket. She dialed a number then waited.

"Yeah?" a voice answered.

"I need your men to fix something." she said, looking around the destroyed place, then focused as her eye spotted an unconscious driver who was still on the street. Suddenly, she was reminded of the crowds of people that definitely witnessed the monster. "...And probably to manipulate the news."

She needed to act quickly lest rumors go out of control.

Tohsaka frowned as she recounted the past few meetings with Saitama.

I hope me cleaning up his messes won't be a regular occurrence from now on.


The sun had set in Fuyuki, and was replaced with a black, starless sky that had blanketed the busy district that is Shinto. One might think there was nothing amiss, but far away from the sights of the people, on top of a multi-story building, one hooded figure stood overseeing the entire area.

Their face were unreadable due to being concealed, yet it was clear they were waiting for someone. That someone being another hooded figure walking behind them as they arrive from the rooftop. The hooded figure overlooking the city turned around to face the other.

"Did you retrieve the body?" they stated.

"Yes. We swapped it with a fake one." the other one affirmed.

"And the Yakuza?"

"I made sure to… dispose, of them."

"Good. Let us move on, then." they declared, before starting to walk. The hooded figure passed by the other, stopping when they stood shoulder by shoulder. "Our benefactor would be… most displeased if we didn't abide by his instructions. We wouldn't want to gain his disappointment, would we?"

Chuckling, the hooded figure disappeared amidst the wind, leaving the silent one behind.

"I wouldn't dream of it." they muttered, before disappearing as well.


I try to post a chapter every two weeks, but it might get delayed a bit more. Just so that I can think more about which direction this story should go.

Thank you for the praises in the reviews. I really appreciated them.