Tatsumaki had little doubt that the sight of a tiny woman rocketing through the air with a by comparison, gigantic man slung over her shoulder would cause those who saw her either to burst in laughter or to stare uncomprehendingly.
And yet she cared little, her potent green aura roaring all around her and the unconscious man on her shoulder—with said aura and power being stronger than they were a day before.
As she made her way towards Z-city and Bang's Dojo, she raised a hand and patted the front of her now repaired dress.
I almost died…
The thought came unbidden, as it had many times the day and night before.
At the anxious thought, a pool of power surged to life almost without input. Making her already brilliant aura blaze into a bonfire of green before her iron will took control, the new power acquiescing like a well-trained dog before its beloved master. The power different and yet, with her decades of experience and its similarity to her esper gifts, about as easy to control as said gifts.
Buildings, roads, trees and cars flashed on the ground below into what to anyone else would seem a dizzying blur, but Tatsumaki had eyes only for her tiny hand. Pulling away from the spot where a deadly wound had been, she stared and made a fist. Feeling this new strength surge again at her command, as well as her esper gift, which also seemed to flow…more freely?
And for both her new strength and her survival, she owed to the same person.
Her other arm unconsciously squeezed a tad.
I almost died. The only reason I yet still draw breath is thanks to Yuha and his stupid self-sacrificial nature. Idiot!
The unconscious man remained unresponsive as Tatsumaki huffed to herself.
Granted, in this case, he'd been right to worry and try to protect her. But at any other time, his stunt would have been both pointless and foolish. For the attack had merely caught her with her metaphorical pants down…not that she wore pants, but it was the principle of the matter!
…and yet. Wasn't this what she was usually berating her brat of a sister over.
"Intent doesn't matter, Fubuki! Only the results of your actions do!"
She twitched and glared at the Idiot…or rather the part of him she could see.
This was his fault!
She huffed.
No…Not really. The Idiot is not to blame for all this, and I am better. Should be better than Fubuki. I can't afford to pretend that this was merely back luck. No. Yuha saved me, yes. But the fact that I needed saving in the first place means I need to be better. I can't let my guard down again.
In the distance, the familiar form of Z-city was rapidly growing closer.
I can't drop my guard, for the world depends on me. Blast…Blast comes and goes at his whims and the heroes below me in rank…
Yeah.
Aside from the man whose Dojo she was currently heading towards? The rest, while strong by normal people's standards, were not people she could depend on in the heat of the moment. Not against the foes that mattered.
Approaching the building nestled in the slopes of a mountain, Tatsumaki flexed her will and bled momentum in a maneuver that would had left the pilots of old fighter planes mumbling 'Ufo'.
But by this point, she was an old hand at this and thus paid little attention to her actions.
No, what she noticed yet again though, was her esper power flowing so much easier.
A smile spread across her lips before she ruthlessly squashed it.
For even if the unconscious man she was carrying was too weak to be able to help her just yet. If he maintained his meteoric rise in power, he'd be able to do so soon enough. But even aside from that, the new wellspring of strength he unlocked within her was a much bigger boon.
For with it she could do the job no one else could, and continue protecting this world.
She started descending towards the building.
Her raised arm squeezed again.
So, I need to thank the Idiot when he wakes up…and slap him for his idiotic stunt! She huffed again, glaring momentarily at her passenger. Still, despite how…disquieting seeing his mind being practically non-existent when he is unconscious is… Her arm squeezed again of its volition.
The Dojo's door opened.
He has a nice ass.
"Ah, young Tornado," Bang said, smiling and craning his neck upwards.
Tatsumaki froze. Eyes wide and glanced at her traitorous arm, which proceeded to cop another feel before a wheezing sound escaped her lips.
"Ah. I see that I might be interrupting—"
The wheeze started resembling a kettle and Tatsumaki shook her shoulder forward and, alongside a tiny flex of will, the unconscious form of Yuha tumbled through the air, a startled Bang jumping to catch his pupil.
With something small glinting and dangling from the corners of her palm, Tatsumaki, cheeks flaming, averted her eyes and started rising, picking up speed as she did.
"The Idiot's fine according to the eggheads. He's merely resting! I'mofftosaveC-citybye!"
Even though Bang had a clear view of both of his students, his mind was not on the pair. Not truly.
Instead, seated in a corner of a room, close enough to intervene if needed, but also far away enough to not be a bother, he sat thinking.
Oho?
Although, watching Yuha raise a hand in a stalling gesture with Charanko, probably due to how much his now oldest pupil was sweating, obliging the rising star…Before with a groan of effort and a surge of this curious new power. Another pair of arms manifested out of Yuha's side and the fight was on once again at his nod and Charanko's grimace.
That's new…
Still, despite his curiosity, Bang did not pressure the youth in divulging his secrets.
He could wait until his new pupil was well and ready to share.
And besides. They had more important matters to deal with other than satisfying an once young and prideful man's curiosities.
Yuha tilted to the side and one of Charanko's arms shot forth in a downward chop.
Bang's eyes narrowed.
For in truth, Charanko's push had been but a faint setting up—
A pair of Yuha's palms covered one another and shot downwards like a descending waterfall, meeting with a resounding bang Charanko's knee rising like a roaring tide.
The two forces canceling each other out.
This is it!
But even that had been yet another faint!
For Charanko, rather than divert, opted to convert the force of the clash slamming into him into a mix of forward and downward momentum, tilting the youth forward, propelling his forehead towards a wide eyed Yuha.
But the man, to his credit, managed to raise his second right arm in a sweeping motion, pushing Charanko away and making him grunt as Yuha, utilizing his momentum, rose into a whirlpool like spin and floated a few meters backwards.
And Bang nodded, a pleased smile on his face.
Good. He is learning—
Before, Yuha landed but misplaced his rear foot's position and almost slipped.
Bang sighed even as Charanko snorted.
…And yet he still has a long way to go.
And wasn't that the truth and the reason for Bang's worries both. For his newest pupil had been front and center in a series of deadly battles, all in the span of a single week!
Granted, Yuha might not have won said battles by his lonesome…or even played a major part in one of them, if young Tatsumaki's words were to be believed.
But even so, the fact that he chose to place himself in such peril just so he could protect people and fight strong opponents—if anything, the battle-lust Bang sensed emanating from the youth had grown stronger—all but confirmed to the old martial artist that he'd need to speed up his pupil's training.
For he had little hope of dissuading the youth from risking life and limb. He knew that much at least.
As his pupils started another discussion with their fists and their focus turned entirely upon one another, Bang's face seemed to age a decade.
He's learning fast and has grown even stronger, at least. That much was true. For the kid clearly had some kind of prior training and no small amount of natural talent. But even so, compared to the monsters that besieged mankind each day and could threaten even Bang, or, even worse, his shame… But he'll need to be better if he is to survive. If we are all to survive…
For even if he wouldn't dare voice such a thought. Deep in his bones, Bang knew it to be true. The heroes were and had been fighting a losing battle for a good long while. The creation of the association had helped, yes. But only for a short while, for if anything, the monsters had seemed to take that as a challenge and only ramped up their numbers.
Oh, don't get him wrong, for some time everything had seemed to be going well, what with the emergence of King, young Tatsumaki stepping into the fore, Blast and so many others…
And yet. Even those titans in mortal flesh could only do so much, be in so many places at a time and in the end, as some of the previous and now replaced S-ranks showed…they too, were in the end, but mortal.
Bang knew it.
No doubt, Tatsumaki and King did as well. But none of them dared say it. None of them dared put it into words lest said words, like a curse of old, acquire a power of their own and turn from an old man's nightmare into cold reality.
And in the last month or so? The attacks had increased, the heroes failing more and more often against more and more deadly foes. Stretching their already straining forces to near their breaking point.
They were balancing on a knife's edge.
Yuha ducked underneath another series of blows and, at Charanko's chiding, sighed and retracted his extra pair of limbs, setting into a deflective stance, this time one without obvious mistakes, unlike the ones he'd utilized against the monster faced but a few days prior.
So, Bang, even though he knew it to be a mistake and a fool's folly, felt a spark of hope blossom to life within his chest as he watched Yuha flow.
For the youth represented a chance. A way to turn the tide.
As Yuha flowed like a young river, Bang felt his chest almost burst and a proud smile split his face even as Charanko was repelled, his oldest pupil wincing and shaking his aching arm, before scowling and conjuring a tiny flickering ball of Ki and sending it Yuha's way, the pair meeting in the middle once more.
For Yuha's already prodigious strength seemingly had limitless potential to grow, and Bang had become as 'strong' as he had on the back of mere martial arts. In truth, he was but a normal human. All of his strength owed to his honed techniques and body.
So, if the young bloodthirsty man with the heart of a hero learned to temper his blood-lust and learned Bang's techniques, coupled with his wondrous physiology and that new energy of his then, perhaps, soon enough, Tatsumaki might have a peer to help shoulder her burdens.
Yes. Bang felt hope again. Foolish of him perhaps, and yet, it was the prerogative of the old to be fools.
Besides.
His mustache twitched alongside his lips.
Watching Yuha and his antics with the two sisters was proving an excellent source of amusement for a world-weary old man such as he.
A chuckle escaped unbidden at the memory of a groggy Yuha waking up after Tornado dropped him off, as well as the youth's momentary excitement and the disappointment that promptly followed when he realized that the thighs he'd been resting on were those of his fellow pupil and not those of his 'green dommy mommy'.
With a single week under his belt in this new world, Yuha had to say that, despite first impressions, he was beginning to like it here!
Granted, yes, there'd been a few…mishaps here and there. But overall, he'd settled in just fine!
His spot in the heroes association was all but guaranteed. His training was going well and he had all the time in the world to get ready for Boros and divert this timeline from its path and disconnect it from the rest of its kin.
…as well as try and woo the tiny dommy mommy of his dreams, but there was little chance of that happening. Still, a man could dream and then contend himself with Marika's plump thighs.
And going from a powerlevel of 7 to just over 30—his computer kept pestering Yuha about decimal places, he liked whole numbers dammit!—at any rate, such a jump in a single week was more than fine by him and he was not at all salty about how tiny, if justifiably so, his zenkais had been.
No, sir. Not at all.
Dammit! I want my numbers to go up! I wanna I wanna I wanna!
Not salty at all!
But still, seated as he was on the porch outside Bang's dojo due to the old man all but ordering him to do so, the silly old coot was probably worried Yuha might over-train or something.
Silly Bang, that's something for those not perfect to worry about.
Still, sitting with his legs folded under him in almost a meditative stance and watching the sun westering, Yuha grinned.
For life was pretty good at the moment.
Even if he needed to prepare for his hero exam in a few days.
Aaaand pick a hero name for himself. Now yes, he could keep his 'true' name but Bang insisted he think it through.
As well as find a way to get into the association and meet with Superalloy to start properly training. The fellow bro and follower of the grind and the swole had a budget gravity chamber or something, did he not? So, if Yuha could hit it off with the man, even a paltry ten times gravity would be enough to increase Yuha's power to absurd amounts in pretty short order!
The old man was curiously obstinate and evasive when Yuha brought it up. It was almost as if he didn't want Yuha hanging out with Superalloy or something, but that couldn't be it, surely!
…and he needed to find a way to contact Tatsumaki and find out what he did that angered her so and fix it so that she could step on him…Yuha could ensure her ki was flowing well and there were no complications, yes.
"Hmf! Idiot!"
Speak of the—
He blinked and glanced upwards, a smile splitting his face.
"Mommy!"
"Not out-loud you fool!" the flustered woman shouted, but Yuha did not care, for he was doing his best to catch a glimpse of the treasures beyond her swaying dress' front. To no avail.
Closing her eyes and sighing, Tatsumaki composed herself and, opening them, fixed Yuha with a steely gaze.
"I heard from Bang that you were pestering him about getting access to the association's facilities so that you could train."
He scowled.
So the old man is indeed trying to keep me away from my fellow gym buddy—
"But the prototype equipment you want to utilize is already being used by another hero."
I know! Damn you, old man—
"And so, and also so I can keep an eye on you, you…you Idiot! I'll come by when I have some free time and help you with your training."
Immediately, Yuha's growing scowl disappeared, and, within the privacy of his mind, was busy bowing towards a majestic picture of Bang, the shrine accompanied by epic music, candles, the works.
Thank you Bang-Sensei! I'll build you a ten, no! A hundred foot tall statue as thanks for your bottomless kindness and generosity! Sasuga!
"After all, what you wanted was mere gravity training, yes?" Tatsumaki huffed and, with a hand, flicked a few strands of hair backwards. "Hmf! Simple work for one such as me."
"Sasuga…"
The girl's cheeks colored, and she coughed into her fist before she tried to glare at Yuha.
"A-and as payment for my services, I expect your help with this new power you've awakened within me."
"But of course momm—Tatsumaki."
"Idiot!" the girl growled before shaking her head. "Anyway, here," she said and pushed forth her arm, making Yuha blink and momentarily stop in his attempts at peeking behind her dress.
"Eh?"
Only for the floating girl's hand to open and from within it a small chain, a familiar chain to slowly drift downwards, wrapped in an ethereal green glow.
"This is…"
"I fixed it for you," Tatsumaki said in a small voice as Yuha's hands slowly closed around the Quincy chain, the hole in the center of the pendant, courtesy of the lasers, gone.
Gone like the piece of silver that'd been lodged in his heart and which Yuha had removed after he woke up. You never know when a magneto expy would decide to play murder blender with your insides after all.
He swallowed and tried to speak, his mouth and tongue failing him for some reason as he stared at the piece of silver occupying the center of the pendant, its coloration slightly different from the larger surrounding piece.
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
For even if this tiny store bought thing was of little value to him, objectively speaking, and should be off little import at the end of the day…
Yuha, even if only within the confines of his mind, could confess to some…disappointment to have woken up and found it gone. Yes, disappointment and nothing else.
So, to hold in his hand the gift of the first…friends? Yeah. Friends, he'd made in something like a decade? It meant more than he wanted to say, than he dared say.
"…Thank you…" he choked out at last.
For a moment, Tatsumaki remained silent, and Yuha continued staring at the pendant before raising his hand and clipping the chain around his neck, but as he did…
"H-Hmf! D-don't think I searched for a pure silver deposit and scooped up a piece from a kilometer underground, for your sake! I-Idiot! It was merely so Fubuki wouldn't be sad! Hmf!"
Yuha smiled.
"Thank you nonetheless."
"…You're welcome. N-now, let's start with your training! After all, I don't have all day to waste on the likes of you!"