Credit to AmericanNumbers over at QQ for Cuha's hero name!
Once again, Yuha thanked the Good Doctor in the privacy of his head, for the genius of Yuha's sort of second father could not be disputed.
In fact, waiting within one of the testing center's many rooms and wracking his brain trying to come up with a hero name, Yuha reckoned that his all but certain great score in the written exam was owed to the Good Doctor, or rather, to the man's foresight in choosing to install a VI within his greatest creation.
Cause Yuha had at least one and a half brain-cells to rub together, but some of the questions he came face to face with earlier today?
…Suffice to say that if he didn't have his trusty companion by, or rather, within him, it was quite likely that he would've emulated Saitama and the man's score on the written part.
At least the physical part of the exam went off without a hitch. Although, curiously, the examiners insisted Yuha test both with and without his boosts, even if they assured him they'd take only his boosted score into account.
Curious, and he had some suspicions why, but, given that at the end of the day this furthered his plans, he found little reason to deny them.
And thus, even if he didn't quite manage to pull off the bullshit that Saitama did in another timeline, he felt he did pretty well for himself, all things considered, and would most likely avoid C-rank.
His fingers tapped on the surface of the smooth, reflective metallic table to the tune of his humming.
He resisted the urge to fidget and scowl.
The fuckers are taking too long!
It would be unbecoming of the image he was trying to cultivate after all.
Still, if they could hurry it up, that would be nice!
He let out a mental sigh and, with nothing better to do, reached out above him with his mind and poked the hanging lightbulb with a mental finger, making it swindle and flicker.
He sighed again.
Too fragile then…
So, telekinetic training was out as well, and considering that after his near encounter with DeeDee he kept, or at least tried to keep, a constant low grade Kaio-ken active when out and about, so was Ki training. For in a sense he was training hi Ki already.
The grind never stops! Boobies are temporary, but the grind is Eternal!
And speaking of training…
A weak chuckle escaped his lips at the memory of Tatsumaki's training.
For just as he hoped…feared, feared, yes! The woman was a taskmaster. And he didn't know what was worse, her mind bending reality over and making Yuha experience a gravity ten times that of earth or her scathing comments after said fact and his inability to keep up, the comments threatening to awaken things within him.
Outside the room, weak, unfamiliar Ki-presences bustled about. And…was that one heading towards him? Finally!
His excitement almost overwhelming him, caused Yuha to pitch forward and start standing up, before protesting aching muscles from all over forced him to wince and sit back down, making the chair under him squeak.
Right, that was the other thing.
Courtesy of Tatsumaki's gentle ministrations he'd also discovered just why Goku had waited until he was an adult and much, much stronger before he underwent gravity training and why Mr 'Insane from earth' couldn't hack it within the hyperbolic time chamber when he was a kid.
To put it bluntly? Ten times, earth's gravity at a low enough power level was a bitch.
And with his meager level, ten times left Yuha gasping, panting, and feeling like he'd run an ultra-marathon after but a few minutes, forcing Tatsumaki to utilize a mere times five gravity, with her sister doing the same, the girl having shown up uninvited but not unwelcome yesterday out of the blue.
Hell, she'd also shown up earlier today and, after close to an hour spent trying to squash him like a bug at his insistence, all but threw him inside that limo of hers and had Lily drive them here…Lily who'd been by her mistress side the whole time Yuha had been training and who hadn't stopped giggling in a frankly creepy manner on the whole drive here.
Cute kid, but she scared him at times.
The weak ki presence stopped outside the door and the handle begun to turn.
Granted, he had no idea why Fubuki had decided to show up and spend some of her precious time helping him train to begin with. But given that Tatsumaki was busy as she'd warned him, Fubuki was a more than welcome replacement.
And besides, even at a mere times five, and even if it was but the third day partially spent under gravity? He could tell his body was beginning to respond and respond marvelously at that!
…not that said fact came as much of a surprise, for Cell, and now he, were more or less the Ichigo of Dbz. What with being part everything and all.
The door started to open.
Right, get your game face on, Yuha. Time to woo and dazzle the normies. Woo and dazzle…
He just hoped his bullshit would pass muster, for even though he tried his best, he just couldn't come up with a name worth a damn. And so…
Steven gulped, swallowed and, ignoring the beads of sweat on his brow, took a calming breath.
He opened the door and stepped into the room and there, humming a catchy tune with an easy smile on his face, was the hero who was the talk of the hour.
"Ah! Hello there," Yuha said, voice cheery, and Steven's heart threatened to burst.
Calm down! You're a professional! Act like it!
Indeed.
He could ask for an autograph after their business was concluded!
Slipping into the free seat across from the man and fishing a series of pens and papers from a briefcase, he met the hero's twinkling eyes.
Wait what?
Steven blinked, and found that no, it was no illusion or trick of the light. Rather, Yuha's eyes were…twinkling.
Odd, but then again, heroes were an odd bunch in general, and if the man who'd saved his sister as well as his mother wanted to wear his heart on his sleeve, that was his prerogative.
Although…
Steven felt his cheeks burn and raised a fist, coughing into it. It flattered him that the man was this happy to be meeting a lowly office drone like him.
"S-sir, Y-yuha, it is an honor to meet you and—"
The man, easy smile still in place, raised an arm and stopped him.
"Just Yuha will do, my friend, if you wouldn't mind. Sir makes me feel old and rather more important than I am, and I would rather avoid inflating my already enormous ego any further," the man said with a weak chuckle and rubbed his exposed hair, the curious hat nowhere to be found.
Steven smiled.
"As you wish…Yuha. As for me, I'm Steven, a lowly worker from the department of public relations, here to discuss your hero name as you're no doubt well aware," he said, and the hero nodded.
Ok! So far so good! You didn't make any blunders, nor did you gush like a fanboy. Just…keep…going!
"S-so, while normally this is more of our job than yours, in this case, because of your prior actions as well as to who your sponsors are—"
"Wait, sponsors?" the hero asked with a blink.
"But of course," Steven said with a nod. "Sirs' Metal-Bat, Silver-Fang and of course the Mighty King, as well as the esper sisters, have vouched for you." He blinked and slowly added. "But…of course, you already knew that, sir?"
Yuha blinked and then rubbed the back of his neck.
"Ehehehe…Oh, and drop the sir."
Oh. So, sis and her intuition were right. For all that his heart is in the right place, Yuha's a goof-ball in truth.
For in truth, Steven had wondered why a hero with such sponsors would bother taking the exam in the first place, besides wanting to test himself, that is.
Steven snorted and shook his head, a smile spreading across his lips and the worry in his gut subsiding, for the man at the other end of the table truly was as easygoing as he looked…Unlike some of the other A and S-rank heroes he had to deal with…
"Be that as it may, if you wouldn't mind focusing back on the matter at hand?"
"Of course."
"Anyway. Yuha, as I was saying, normally we choose the name we believe best fits the hero in question with little input from the hero's part. Usually that is. But, in this case, while we have taken the liberty of preparing some names in advance for you…"
He passed a sheet of paper towards the man who took it and with supernatural movements, scanned the contents of the paper, Yuha's eyes turning into a flat line of pink for an instant as his eyes darted left and right and his hand blurring as he flipped to the back of the page.
Finished, the hero set the page down and nodded at him to continue, revealing nothing as to his opinions regarding the prepared names on the list.
"Well, we are more than willing to take your ideas and opinions under advisement."
Yuha hummed.
"In that case…" the man trailed off, and licked his lips, looking to the side. "I've been given to understand that Hero names can be long and if long enough, while on official records the hero's full name is used, in most other cases a shortened version is the unofficial version, a nickname if you will?"
Steven slowly nodded.
"If I am understanding correctly what you're hinting at, then yes."
"Like sir, Superalloy, whose full name is 'Superalloy Darkshine' but more often than not, people use the first part?"
He leaned back and rubbed his chin with an arm. Even if inside his mind he snorted.
A humble hero? That's rare. He's all but ordering me to be informal with him and then he turns around and acts all respectful towards a hero that's not even in the room…
"Indeed. I take it then that what you have in mind is a tad long then?"
Yuha chuckled.
"You could say that, yes. Now, I know how it might sound at first but hear me out," Yuha said, raising a palm in warning and then smiled. "How does 'Heaven Piercing Perfect Zero' sound? The latter half being the 'nickname', if you will."
He'd been right to warn him, for his first instinct had been to veto the name but, and given both what the man had done for him and the humble nature he'd displayed so far, Steven was more than willing to hear him out.
"You were right to warn me, it sounds a bit…"
"Presumptuous, yes?" Yuha asked with a smile, and Steven shrugged.
"Not the words I would have used, but, if you could please elaborate on the name's meaning…" he gently ordered.
And Yuha sighed, leaning backwards and nodding. "Before I do that, let me just say that I had other ideas as well," he said, crossing his arms and looking wishfully at the lamp above them. "Like say, 'All-Might' or 'Perfect-Cell'." Both fine names and all, but, probably sensing his confusion, Yuha met his eyes. "The second has to do with the nature of my abilities and is something of a tribute to one of my…teachers."
Ah. That would explain it. Still, the question remained, why go for—
"Now, as to why go with 'Heaven Piercing Perfect Zero'?" Yuha met his eyes and Steven could swear that the hero's eyes were blazing.
"Simple. The first half has to do with my goal, my belief that everyone can become better than they were a minute before," the man said with such a burning intensity that Steven's breath hitched as he unconsciously leaned forward a tad. "To surpass all that we were, become better, achieve the impossible and make our own heaven!" Yuha all but shouted and thrust his left hand upwards, fist closed and index pointing towards the sky, and it might've been a trick of the light but for a heartbeat Steven could swear a conical outline glowed around the hero's hand.
But then the hero lowered his arm and sighed, no longer seeming larger than life.
"As for the second part…"
He seemed to wilt and huddle in on himself.
"Well, I'm neither 'Perfect' nor someone who is 'All-mighty' am I?" the man asked with a depreciating chuckle. "Merely someone who is riding on the shoulder of giants, like Sir King, or Tatsumaki, and tries to help others rise to my level and surpass me. In short, a contradiction, a 'perfect zero'…"
Steven, whose heart an instant ago had blazed, now rang with a pang of sympathy towards the hero.
So, despite your superhuman power, you're still mortal at heart, eh? Still harbor doubts…
He opened his mouth and, thinking better of it, closed it and shook his head with a sigh.
No. It was not his place to offer empty platitudes and meaningless advice to a humble man who'd risked life and limb to protect everyone and who intended to continue to do so.
It would be presumptuous of Steven to attempt to do so, for he scarcely knew the man.
He grit his teeth and eyed the hero who was staring at the wall, lost in his thoughts and his nearly always present grin absent for once.
No, despite not liking it, he would keep his mouth shut and do his job…But that didn't mean he couldn't see about slipping an anonymous tip in the form of a message and or e-mail to the hero with the contact details of a trusted therapist.
"Well," he said, clapping and drawing Yuha's startled eyes back onto him. "You were right, there was more to the name than it would seem at first glance," he said and started scribbling on a few sheets.
"Then, that means—"
Nodding and gathering almost all of his papers back into the briefcase, folding it closed with a 'click' he rose and extended a hand towards Yuha.
"While I make no promises. I will say you'll be hearing from the association in a few days with the results and your official hero name."
Yuha shook his hand in a firm handshake and the man's eyes darted to the table and the sheet of paper still on it, accompanied by a pen.
"Err, you forgot—"
Steven blushed and averted his eyes.
"Thank you, but I didn't," he said. "You see, I was wondering if you'd be willing to sign an autograph or two…" or three.
Yuha snorted and let go of his arm, reaching for the pen.
"Of course," he said with a grin, "but, I have to warn you, I've never had to give one out before and so—"
Steven's eyes widened.
These were the hero's first ever autographs?!
His heart started beating like mad again.
"So, who am I addressing these to?"
Steven's cheeks flustered, refused to meet the hero's eyes, staring instead at the table.
"My mom and my sister," he said, and then felt like smacking himself. For the man would have no idea who those were. "Err, that is, my sister, Sarah, the girl you saved when you distracted Vaccine man and then my mom who was on the press briefing the other day—"
Bloody hell!
Smile still in place, on the outside at least, Yuha made his way out of the room a minute or so after the clerk left and started making his way towards the building's lounge where Fubuki no doubt still waited.
Perfect Zero? Heaven piercing? He snorted. More like I had no idea what I was talking about and went with the first things that came to mind! Heaven Piercing cause I. Am. A Spiral! And Perfect Zero cause I could come up with exactly Zero names worth a damn! And I wasn't about to risk picking Cell's name, cause no doubt there are a bazillion versions of the man out there, most of them with a chip on their shoulder and I don't want them after me.
He nodded pleasantly towards a pair of passing normies, causing them to blush and giggle.
And I don't know where half of the bullshit I sprouted came from and I don't want to know either. For it was just that, mere bullshit, and in no way, shape or form did he mean even half of it. No sir! Definitely not!
Still, this was treading towards dangerous grounds and so.
Back to thinking about Tatsumommy's thighs, it is!
But despite most of his brainpower being concentrated on said task of vital importance, he still couldn't help but frown.
Did the technique work or not? He wondered. I'm pretty sure it did, but the nitwit did not react at all. How the fuck does Dumbledore make his eyes twinkle?! Still, if nothing else, it was another way to train his ki control and thus follow the holy teachings of the grind.
"Neh, neh! Mistress!"
She sighed, uncrossed and recrossed her legs, making a few passerby's stumble, but she paid them no heed as she turned to her left, and where an excited Lily was leaning towards her.
"What is it, Lily?"
"How do you think sir Yuha is doing?"
She sighed again and instead of answering, or pinching her nose, leaned forward and snatched her glass of coffee from the low table, raising it to her lips and taking a sip as she observed her surroundings.
From the polished marble squares serving as the floor upon which throes of both heroes and normal people walked, to the gleaming walls and the roof hanging overhead fitted with crystalline chandeliers.
All of it expensive, all of it over the top and funded by the donations of normal people, hoping that their donations would somehow help the heroes do better.
She snorted and swirled her cup, the ice-cubes within clashing with each other and the glass producing a pleasant clinking noise.
But…much as she disliked all this pompous nonsense…could she really fault the association for it?
After all, the heroes were humanity's last line of defense, and people needed hope, did they not? And, as she very well knew, presentation was important. Image mattered.
Fubuki imagined for a moment the strongest hero, Blast, dressed in a hideous green track suit with a plain cape trailing behind him and a stupid expression on his face as he went about saving people.
And promptly shuddered.
Oh, he would still be effective and his strength would remain unchanged, and yet…People needed hope, and when it came to inspiring said hope, looks mattered.
"Mistress?"
At the sound of Lily's voice, she sighed and set her glass back on the table.
"I don't know, Lily," she offered at last. "No doubt well enough, but as for the specifics…Time will tell," she offered with a shrug which caused her mounds to dance and threaten to pop out of her black dress' low neckline, resulting in another series of stumbles.
She knew she was good looking. In fact, she'd been banking on it when she wore said dress as a result of yesterday's visit to Bang's Dojo and her offer to train the man who by hook or by crook would join her group.
It was a matter of pride by this point…even if the dress failed to have quite the intended effect.
For Yuha had saved both her and her sister but, even worse, the man seemed smitten with Tatsumaki of all people! And that she could not accept!
After all, even if it took a lot more work from her part than it usually did with anyone with a still working libido. Fubuki could detect flashes of indecent thoughts and lust aimed at her from Yuha…even if they lasted for but a few brief instants before the man's mind was once again focused on her sister.
Tatsumaki had taken everything from her. She would not take her ticket to S-rank from her as well. Hell, her sister had even dared to repair the pendant she and Lily had bought for the dense idiot as well!
Excited murmurs broke all around them, but she ignored them as she growled.
You might have won a few battles, sis, but I will win this war!
And she'd start by making sure the man would turn to her for training instead of Tatsumaki…Not that it was that big of a deal, for by helping the Idiot train she strengthened her powers and got some very nice eye-candy.
She glanced at her subordinate, the girl tilting her head like a corgi in confusion.
Fubuki shook her head.
And unlike Lily, she could be discreet about it.
The girl gasped.
"Mistress!" she said and pointed with a finger towards an entrance on the other side of the room.
Following her finger, Fubuki's eyes widened.
"The hell is the Idiot doing?!"
Did he have no sense of self preservation?!
A few steps from the entrance to the building's lounge, Yuha blinked and then his smile widened, step quickened.
"Sir! Sir King!" he shouted.
'Ba-dump!'
Causing the man to turn towards him and the tall blond's face to scrunch up. To anyone else, the man no doubt seeming angry.
But Yuha knew better, and so, stepping close to the man, he extended a hand.
'Ba-dump! Ba-dump!'
"I wish to thank you for your help the other day and I must say that it's been an honour fighting by your side!" he said, hoping that the man would—
He grasped his arm, and Yuha grinned.
Score!
Eyes narrowing, Yuha focused and directed his will in a way just so, where, in tandem with his ki, his mind slammed into—
'Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!'
Holy shit! That's loud!
No wonder nobody tried reading the man's mind.
Still, even if he lacked the skill to do so, his nascent psychic powers, and Tatsu and Fubooty 's training helped in at least making contact, which was all he needed.
"Can you hear me?" He asked, sending a probe into the dark. "If you can, merely nod."
King, his grip tight around his hand, merely nodded.
"Mmh. I enjoyed your performance," the blond offered out-loud.
"Good. Thank you," Yuha offered down their connection.
'Ba-dump! Ba-dump!'
Where the eponymously named, 'king engine' was still making it all but impossible for Yuha to hear King's thoughts.
"Now, as to what I wanted…I know."
An all but silent inhale of breath was the answer, which Yuha only caught due to his superior senses before.
'Ba-dump!Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!'
"Worry not!" He hastened to add. "I want nothing. I merely have an…offer. An offer to help!" he added. "Just contact me when you can and we'll talk in private," he sent and raised an arm, tapping the sides of his head, caring little for how it'd look to the surrounding crowd, hoping King got his meaning.
'Ba-dump!Ba-dump!'
"Still, be that as it may, it's been my privilege and I hope to one day train with you again, sir King!"
The man nodded. Letting no part of his confusion, and no doubt, hidden worry show.
"Mmh, we'll see," he growled instead, and Yuha let go of the man's arm and offered him a curt bow while the scary-looking man turned and stomped away. While no doubt panicking inside.
Yuha grimaced. He felt for the man, but this was the best he could do out in the open and with mind-readers about. He'd make it up to the fellow nerd later.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of clacking heels against the marble floor, and he turned—
"Are you out of your mind?!" Fubuki, wide eyed, hissed, coming to a stop an inch from him and reaching up with her pale delicate arms, proceeding to shake him back and forth. "Do you have a death wish or something?" the panicking woman half-shouted, half-sobbed. "You don't just walk up to the Strongest Man! Why, given how bloodthirsty he is, you're lucky he didn't—"
"M-Mistress!" Lily squeaked by the woman's side and Fubuki paled and glanced at the retreating form of King.
"E-er, I-I mean…"
But King did not stop nor turn and the woman breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yuha you idiot…"
He opened his mouth but the sudden shouts and panicked screams made him stop and his neck to swivel towards said sounds.