A gentle breeze blew across a beautiful green pasture. Each blade swayed to the North with the gust. Their bodies glimmered as the morning sun rose and touched them with its warm light. Truly, this was a serene spot in a normally chaotic world.
Sadly, it wasn't safe from that discord. Hidden among the grass was a plethora of corpses. Each one, a cow, drained of all blood and internal organs. The poor creatures were dried husks resting eternally in their grazing grounds.
Fortunately, they would not be left for the scavengers to pick apart. A lone figure walked between them, assessing the situation. Once he was finished, he'd cremate the bovine to complete their departure to the afterlife. But for right now, he needed to focus on his mission.
"It's the same." The stranger stated as he examined the cows. "There are several small puncture wounds across the bodies. There's no mistaking it." He said.
There was no need for further investigation; the stranger was satisfied. With the confirmation he sought obtained, he then held his hand out in front of himself and let loose a massive torrent of flame. In less than five seconds, the cows and the grass they laid on were ash.
"City Z." The stranger determined as he watched the dust being carried by the Northern wind. "That's where they're headed. I'm sure of it." He said before following the gust.
Gray days. Something made them naturally soothing, even if there wasn't any rain. Maybe it was because the day seemed to move slower when the skies were muted with clouds. Perhaps the perfect balance of temperature that typically accompanied these monotone moments helped to make them comforting.
Whatever the reason or reasons were, at the end of it all, gray days were wonderful. At least, that was Saitama's belief. However, a big contribution to that was the absence of people. Be it due to the concern of a storm or not wanting to go out, his fans and general spectators didn't surround his apartment building during these days.
Yet, the same could not be said about the reporters and journalists. The city could be on fire, and they'd persevere to get Saitama's picture. Although, that wasn't the case today. Was it a miracle? Had Saitama's luck finally improved? He didn't know, and he didn't care.
This was a rare opportunity for him to be alone, in his apartment, with no one outside chanting his name or trying their hardest to see or speak with him.
"Here ya go," Saitama said, giving his cactus water. Each apartment in his building possessed a small balcony accessed via a sliding door. On his, Saitama had a tiny cactus.
Once he was finished giving his prickly plant companion some refreshing H2O, Saitama took the watering can inside and placed it in the sink. This wasn't inconvenient for him space-wise since the object was rather small. Additionally, it resembled a cute cartoon elephant.
"Might as well see what's on the news." Saitama decided as he turned his television on. He wasn't particularly hungry this morning and didn't feel like making breakfast.
"So, Mr. Kafetch, what do you think is the cause for this new mosquito species? Is it a sudden evolution or mutation? Or has it always been here, and we've only now discovered its existence?" The news anchor asked when the broadcast appeared on the screen. In total, three people were sitting at the news desk. On the left, from the camera's perspective, was a woman; in the middle was the news anchor, and on the right was the person the news anchor was talking to.
"Honestly, I'd have to say it's a mutation." Mr. Kafetch began. "Evolution takes time; we would've observed a progressing change. As for it being an undiscovered species, that's highly unlikely, as it appeared in an ecosystem close to City Z. New species are only found in areas of the world mankind hasn't encroached. However, while I am confident this is a mutation, I couldn't fathom how that's possible. An outside element would need to be present, but none of the corpses have had any discernable traces to indicate what that might be." He explained.
"Fascinating. Thank you for your expertise, Mr. Kafetch." The news anchor replied. "One more question, if I may. Would you say a monster of some sort could be controlling them? If so, would it also be responsible for the mutation?" He asked.
"A monster would be the best answer. We've seen countless creatures and entities with powers that allow them to manipulate the world. One that controls insects, specifically mosquitos, isn't out of the question. That could be the reason for the Hero Association's involvement." Mr. Kafetch answered.
"Pardon me." The female newscaster interjected. "You mentioned City Z. That's where the mosquitos were found, yes?" She inquired.
"Yes, mam. It was near City Z." Mr. Kafetch confirmed with a nod.
"Then that must mean One Punch Man knows about them. If this is a monster, he'll surely defeat it." The female newscaster said with a twinkle in her eyes. Gee, wonder if she was a fan?
"Of course. That's why the Association hasn't bothered sending any heroes. If anyone can deal with the potential danger of these insects, One Punch Man would-"
Click
Nope. Not today. Today was a gray day. That meant no one was allowed to bother Saitama, even if they were on television.
"Mosquitos, really?" One Punch Man wondered while setting down the TV's remote. "I mean, sure. If they came here and tried to cause trouble, I'd deal with them then. But are there seriously NO other options? A bunch of swatters? Electric lamps? Good ol' fashioned spray? Come on. I'm a hero. Not an exterminator." He ranted in his mind.
Knock Knock
Oh no. Ooooooooooooooh no. Nu-uh. That wasn't happening. A chill went down Saitama's spine. He knew on the other side of that door was one of the Association's guards stationed in his building. They probably wanted to talk to him about those pesky bloodsuckers.
"Saitama. Are you awake yet?"
...Fubuki? Holy crap! It wasn't one of the guards!
"Uh, yeah! Hold on!" Saitama quickly exclaimed, relieved that it was one of his friends at the door.
Hurrying to the front door and opening it, Saitama was met with the sight of Fubuki...with a few extra accessories. Atop her head was a covering one would use when cleaning. Over her eyes, a set of goggles, and over her mouth, a cloth mask that would be worn if sick. Lastly, a pair of gloves tightly sealed with tape.
As for Fubuki's body, her usual long dress was present. However, the end of it had been tucked into her boots. For a few seconds, neither said a word to the other. They stared in silence, waiting for one of them to say something.
"...Are you...here to clean my apartment?..." Saitama questioned. To him, that was the only logical explanation for the Esper's strange new additions to her appearance.
"Heh, I can see how you might assume that," Fubuki admitted with a laugh, fully aware of the oddness of her attire. "This, Saitama, is the best I could do on such short notice. My group doesn't have full-body suits or outfits for these situations. An issue I was only made painfully aware of when we had to throw something together for myself before coming here." She explained.
"Situation? What situation?" Saitama inquired.
"Didn't you see it on the news? The mosquitos you mentioned the other day are heading for City Z," Fubuki informed him.
"Oh yeah, I saw that," Saitama confirmed. "But it's only a few bugs. There's no reason to panic." He said.
For a moment, Fubuki was silent. She didn't understand why Saitama was behaving so casually.
"...Wait..." Fubuki began, her minding formulating a hypothesis. "Saitama, when did you check the news?" She asked.
"A few minutes ago. Why?" Saitama answered, followed by a question.
"Ah. That explains it." Fubuki deduced. "You missed the part where they talked about the size of the swarm. It's biblical. Almost as if God summoned a modern-day plague." She told him.
Now, it was Saitama's turn to be silent. However, his eyes did widen, letting Fubuki know what was on his mind.
"S...Seriously?" Saitama questioned after a few seconds. "That's...a LOT of mosquitos..." He muttered in disbelief.
"Right? It took me and the others by surprise, too." Fubuki said before folding her arms and making a prideful expression beneath her mask. "That's why I wanted to come and lend my assistance. With my power, I can crush all of those bugs simultaneously. And with the alterations and additions to my outfit, I have taken all the necessary precautions to keep those disease-carrying creatures out of my clothes and off my body." She explained.
"Wow. You thought of everything." Saitama praised her, worsening her pridefulness.
"Naturally. As a leader and the top-ranking hero of Class B, I must set an example." Fubuki stated.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you to it," Saitama responded before turning around.
THUMP
That was the sound of Fubuki's hand slamming onto Saitama's shoulder. He knew he wouldn't be able to walk away, but still, he wanted to try.
"Where do you think YOU'RE going?" Fubuki inquired. Although his back was turned to her, Saitama could feel the Esper shooting him a stinging glare.
"You said you'd be able to crush all of the bugs on your own. I figured I'd go back inside and relax." Saitama nervously explained.
"Yes, the BUGS," Fubuki emphasized. "Saitama, there's NO way a natural swarm of mosquitos is all there is to this phenomenon. There HAS to be a monster behind it. That is where YOU come in." She said, making sure to speak each of her points with a clear sternness.
"But I don't have a cool bug-killing version of my costume like yours," Saitama argued.
In response, Fubuki didn't say anything. She didn't want to acknowledge an excuse so blatantly pathetic and desperate. In fairness, Saitama felt the same about his last statement. However, he REALLY didn't want to deal with mosquitos during one of his gray days. So, he had to come up with something, even if it was pitiful.
"...Yeah...I know how stupid that sounded before I even said it..." Saitama assured her with a sigh as his shoulders slumped. "Okay. Let me at least bring some bug spray. It might help out." He requested.
"Of course." Fubuki approved while releasing him. Her eyes changed when she did, going from a fearsome glare to being closed in a friendly way.
Elsewhere, Near The Outskirts Of City Z...
Vacant stores and offices made up most of the buildings found in the outer parts of City Z. Very few were still used, adding more credibility to the city's status as a "Ghost Town." Even if there weren't a looming threat of an unprecedented swarm of mosquitos, nearly no one would be here. Luckily, that was what the city's latest visitor had hoped for.
"This is perfect!" A woman's voice excitedly exclaimed amidst a deafening buzzing sound. "Everyone's gone. I can take my sweet time getting to his apartment!" She continued to carry on, unable to contain her anticipation. "Ooooooh, this is so amazing! I can't believe the doctor chose ME to be the messenger! I would've assumed he'd go for Kabuto or Beast King before me!" She admitted.
Who the voice belonged to couldn't be determined. Its owner was hidden by a mass of mosquitos so plentiful that they looked like a dark cloud moving through the air. At least, that would be the case for anyone with normal eyes should they gaze upon the shifting swarm.
"Target acquired." A male's voice spoke from a rooftop nearby. Its owner's eyes were cybernetic, allowing him to see and detect things a regular person could not.
The enhanced ocular orbs fixated on a bipedal creature at the center of the mosquitos. It was far larger than them and seemed humanoid to a certain extent. Unfortunately for the unknown entity, the only person in the area who intensely stared at them didn't care about these details. All he wanted was to see it and the mosquitos perish.
"Incinerate."
With that one word spoken, a fiery torrent was unleashed. It traveled with remarkable speed and carried a heat that could melt steel. It reached the cloud of mosquitos almost instantly. There wouldn't even be dust left behind once the flames disappeared.
However, the man responsible for the attack didn't celebrate or say he had succeeded. In that brief second of the flames' travel, the entity in the middle of the swarm vanished. Yet the creature didn't escape via teleportation. Rather, it moved with speed equal to or greater than the man's offensive action.
The man knew this was the case as he never stopped tracking the entity, not even when it flew away from the swarm to avoid a blistering death.
"HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, YOU JACKASS!?" A woman's voice, the same as before, shouted from above in anger.
Tilting his head backward to look up into the sky, the man and the woman locked eyes. Hovering in the air was a being that seemed to be half human female and half mosquito. Her body's color was an alluring black and white. As for its attributes, her face, torso, and thighs were human. Her arms, legs from the knees down, the abdomen that sprouted above her posterior, and the proboscis with a set of insect eyes resting atop her head all matched that of a mosquito's.
Regarding the man, he wasn't a typical human being either. In truth, very little could still be considered so. Almost every inch of the man's body was artificial. His brain was the only part that wasn't, making him a cyborg.
The only characteristic that might be his own and not pre-made was the spikey blonde hair on his head. Other than that, everything else was most likely made for him. That is unless he happened to be a super genius, which the mosquito woman didn't assume due to his barbaric attempt at assaulting her.
"Impressive. You were able to dodge." The cyborg complimented her.
"Well, DUH." The mosquito woman replied, clearly mocking him. "If a little bit of fire could kill me, I wouldn't have been sent on this mission." She said.
"Mission? Someone sent you?" The cyborg questioned. Admittedly, he didn't expect her to share any details. But still, he needed to try and learn as much as he could.
"Why, yes. Someone did." The mosquito woman confirmed with a nod and a prideful smirk. Followed by her placing one of her scarily large clawed hands over her chest. "I was sent by the great doctor Genus. Founder of the House of Evolution and my creator." She proudly stated.
"Is that so?" The cyborg responded, taking mental notes. "Tell me, what is your mission? How did killing several wild and farm animals contribute to it?" He asked.
"Oh, those? I was just hungry." The mosquito woman answered with a shrug. "As for my mission, sorry, it's confidential." She said before turning away. "Speaking of, I need to get back to it. See you later, metal man." She told him.
FWOOM
Another torrent of fire. However, the mosquito woman anticipated it. Hence, she turned and dive-bombed the cyborg when it came her way. In reaction, the cyborg dodged, but only barely.
"Ooo, you're quick." The mosquito woman noted after her proboscis stabbed the ground with a scarily high amount of power and ease.
"I knew it. You came to this city looking to cause harm to its citizens. Undoubtedly, you want to drain them of their blood as you did the animals." The cyborg said as he landed on his feet a small distance from her.
"Were you not listening, jackass?" The mosquito woman questioned, deciding that would be how she'd address him. "I'm here on a MISSION. I'm attacking YOU because YOU tried to light me on fire. It's self-defense, nothing more." She explained.
"If that were the case, you wouldn't have killed those animals." The cyborg argued, making her sigh.
"GEEZ. You're SO hung up on that, huh?" The mosquito woman groaned. "Look, jackass, I wanted a little snack before I came here. I might've overindulged, but that's not why I came here. How many times do I have to repeat myself?" She asked.
"If your idea of a snack is to drain a creature of its blood and organs, that says everything. Anything else is an obvious attempt to deceive me and make me lower my guard." The cyborg answered while taking a fighting stance. "A monster will not fool me. Especially one as off-putting as you." He stated.
"...Off-putting?..." The mosquito woman questioned. Her eyes were wide, and her teeth were tightly clenched. "Fine. I can spare a few minutes to reduce you to scrap, jackass. I tried to be polite like the doctor ordered. But I won't let you live after insulting me like that!" She exclaimed before rushing at him again.
Meanwhile, Closer To The Inner City...
"So...how are we going to find them?" Saitama asked. His arms were behind his head as it was tilted back. He looked to the sky to spot a single mosquito buzzing overhead, only to find none.
For the last ten minutes, Saitama and Fubuki had been walking the empty streets of City Z. Alone. Together. Side-by-side. The minimal distance between them.
This, right here, was what Fubuki had planned. However, don't assume her intentions were entirely self-interested. She did want to assist Saitama because he was her friend, and it was the right thing to do. Additionally, it would bring attention not only to her but also to her group.
Sure, getting some quality alone time with Saitama WAS the best part of the situation for Fubuki. She wouldn't deny that if anyone dared to ask her. Yet, in her defense, she needed to do everything she could to have moments like this with him. Ignoring the fans and the journalists, another group sought to keep Saitama to themselves: S Class.
Each member of the same ranking as Saitama wanted something from him. Silver Fang, for example, wanted DESPERATELY to have the single-strike superhero become a disciple of his dojo. Admittedly, of every S-Class hero, Silver Fang had the greatest advantage since he lived outside City Z at the top of a nearby mountain range! Talk about crazy good luck!
Then there was Metal Knight. He took as many opportunities as possible to study Saitama by either fighting his machines for combat data or having him test out new equipment used for Association examinations to try and gauge his strength. If the mechanical genius could create an artificial warrior on par with One Punch Man, dear lord, no force in the world could stand against the heroes. Metal Knight would be able to create an unstoppable robot army!
The list went on from there, but you get the point. Fubuki had to put forward her best effort to have quality experiences with Saitama, especially since there was ONE member of S-Class she feared spending time with him the most. And no matter what that pint-sized mouthy she-devil said or did, Fubuki wouldn't allow her-
Clap
That unexpected noise brought Fubuki back to reality. After a few seconds of blinking and quickly looking around, she discovered they were at a four-way intersection.
"It happened again," Saitama told her with a look of concern while lowering his arms. "You spaced out the same way from a few days ago. Are you sure you're okay?" He asked.
"DAMN IT, WOMAN. GET IT TOGETHER." The Esper angrily screamed at herself in her mind. "No, Saitama. You're mistaken. I was trying to detect the mosquitos for us since you asked how we'd find them." She told him, lying like a pro.
"Oh. Wow. I didn't think detecting other people was one of your psychic abilities. I thought all you could do with it was lift, throw, and crush things." Saitama confessed.
"It's...a form of telepathy!" Fubuki exclaimed, her brain racing to think of an explanation. "Much like how my sister and I can contact one another over long distances, I can sense others' presence through the same method. Think of it as telepathy without the communication aspect." She said.
"Wow. That must come in handy when hunting monsters with your group." Saitama replied.
"It is. It also allows me to know the status of each member and the smaller teams we split into when doing daily patrols or tackling a mission that requires us to separate." Fubuki stated.
"Cool," Saitama responded before taking a look around himself. "So, did you sense anything?" He inquired.
Before Fubuki could answer that question, the serene stillness of the vacant city would be disrupted by an explosion of fire and light. Also, debris. A LOT.
BOOM
The surprise of the incident made it seem like time had slowed. A building on the road in front of them erupted in destructive delight. Amidst the many chunks and the raging inferno that flew from it, a single figure could be seen. It was initially difficult to discern who or what they were, but soon, Saitama and Fubuki could tell it was a man.
Yet before the Esper could try to catch the individual with her power, the casually-dressed powerhouse standing next to her was already in the air. The speed at which he moved and jumped was extraordinary. Fubuki's attention was diverted from the unknown man to him because it was so spectacular. But fortunately, before she could have another "spell" of lightheadedness come over her, Saitama caught the falling person in his arms and safely landed on the ground.
Once back on the street, Saitama, even as fiery rubble rained around him, examined the status of the mysterious man. He looked a good number of years younger than him, around twenty, Saitama estimated. The young adult possessed a headful of blonde hair and, more interestingly, a fully robotic body. Unfortunately, as Saitama expected, the cyborg in his arms had been rendered unconscious after his violent collision with the building.
...Or...was he deactivated? Rebooting? Updating his operating system? Come to think of it, Saitama didn't know anything about cyborgs. Uh oh. What if he was dead and Saitama couldn't tell?
"Uh...Fubuki!" Saitama exclaimed as he looked over his shoulder. "Could you come over here? I need you to tell me if this guy's still alive!" He requested.
Not bothering with a verbal reply due to the urgency of that statement, Fubuki hurried to Saitama's side. Like him, she was amazed to discover that the man was mostly a machine; however, that lasted only a moment before she quickly began assessing his condition.
"...He's alive. I'm sure of it." Fubuki informed Saitama after a few seconds. "He's only unconscious. If he were dead, I wouldn't be able to try and connect with his mind." She added.
"Oh. That's good." Saitama said with a smile and a sigh of relief. "So, that means he has a brain then, right?" He asked.
"Correct," Fubuki confirmed with a nod as she started to look at the cyborg's body. "He's badly damaged, but it's also focused on his arms, legs, and chest. I don't think there's any doubt that he was in a fight." She determined.
"Yeah. I was thinking the same thing." Saitama shared. "But who was he fighting? They'd have to be pretty strong to send him through a building." He wondered.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
That sound sent a shiver through Fubuki's spine. Saitama was unaffected. Both slowly looked up at the ruins of the building the cyborg came from. Emerging out of the destroyed structure was a dark cloud moving at an incredible speed.
"Huh. How about that? It's the mosquitos." Saitama commented before looking at the Esper next to him. "Alright. Do your thing." He said.
"Uh...right," Fubuki replied. She didn't have a phobia of insects. Yet seeing so many parasitic creepy crawlers all buzzing in the sky did unsettle her.
Despite this uneasiness, the Hellish Blizzard wasn't about to be bested by pests. After a quick inhale and exhale to steady herself, Fubuki handled their tiny foes with little issue. A simple barrier to contain them, followed by its collapse to crush them.
CRUNCH
The sound of every mosquito's body being squished combined to form a rather distressing noise. A few seconds later, the mass that was their corpses landed on the Earth below. If only frogs or lizards were nearby, they'd happily clean this mess in no time.
"Ugh..." Fubuki groaned with a full-body shiver. "Even though I didn't physically touch them, that was still uncomfortable." She admitted.
"I bet," Saitama responded as he looked down at the still-slumbering cyborg in his possession. "Honestly though, it's impressive a swarm of bugs was able to be a challenge for someone like this dude, let alone be strong enough to force him through a building." He said.
Suddenly, from above, yet again, a new disruption interrupted the duo's conversation. But unlike before, it wasn't something as flashy as an explosion. Instead, it was hearty laughter.
"Oh, how hilarious that is! Do you ACTUALLY believe those drones are responsible?" A woman's voice questioned after the chortling. "They're good for gathering food, don't get me wrong. But if you're looking for who sent that jackass flying, that'd be me." It claimed.
Looking to the sky a second time, Saitama and Fubuki saw what appeared to be a half-human half-insect person. Furthermore, even if she hadn't spoken, revealing herself to be female with her voice. The duo would've immediately learned that as the hybrid had impressive "features" on full display. Fubuki, in particular, was bothered by this for a few reasons.
"Ah. So, it was you." Saitama casually said. As expected, there was no reaction of alarm or surprise from him.
"That it was!" The insect lady confirmed while placing a clawed hand over her ample bosom. "I, Mosquito Girl, am responsible for putting that rude metal jackass in his proper-"
She stopped. As Mosquito Girl looked down at the man and woman on the ground, she studied their notable features. Regarding the woman, she was mostly green and dressed in such a way that gave off the impression she was on her way to clean something. As for the man, Mosquito Girl recognized him INSTANTLY.
"...Shit..." Saitama cursed under his breath with widened eyes.
"Saitama? What's wrong?" Fubuki inquired, having heard him. "Is she going to attack us? Do I need to erect a barrier?" She pressed.
"No, it's worse than that." Saitama began, a noticeable fear present in his voice. "I know that look. I know what's coming. She's...She's..." He stammered, unable to get the words out.
As if time was on a repeating loop, a sound came from above, interrupting their conversation. It wasn't an explosion this time. Nor was it the buzzing of a swarm. The noise was high-pitched and pierced the air like a sharpened arrow.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Mosquito Girl squealed in delight with an ear-to-ear grin.
"Fubuki! Take him!" Saitama exclaimed with panic while handing the unconscious cyborg to her.
Stunned by the squealing and the unexpected action, Fubuki couldn't say anything while accepting the limp man from Saitama. This unintended silence on her part would continue, and her shock would worsen. Why? Because the reason Saitama seemed so frightened and desperate to get rid of the cyborg revealed itself in the following seconds.
In the blink of an eye, Mosquito Girl dove from the sky, aiming right for Saitama. In reaction, he held out one of his hands. However, it wasn't balled into a fist. The hand was open, and the fingers were outstretched, forming the universally recognized sign for "stop."
Sadly, this attempt was in vain. Although Saitama assumed it would be. After all, that look Mosquito Girl had on her face belonged to a specific type of person. One that Saitama dreaded above any other. An Ultimate Fan.
"ONE PUNCH MAN!" Mosquito Girl gleefully shouted as she hugged him, ignoring his non-verbal command to halt. Due to their height difference, she lifted him from the ground for the embrace. "I FOUND YOU! NO, WAIT, YOU CAME TO SEE ME! YOU KNEW I WAS HERE LOOKING FOR YOU!" She "deduced" while continuing to squeeze the world's strongest hero.
There was a time in Saitama's life when he'd have something to say about this interaction. Something like "Could you please give me some space?" or "It's nice to meet a fan, but this is a little awkward." However, due to several factors, such as his immeasurable strength, Saitama could only be silent whenever this happened. Saying or doing ANYTHING brought with it MUCH worse situations of misunderstanding or people fearing for their lives because they assumed they pissed him off to the point of murderous rage.
So, Saitama chose to let the Ultimate Fans tire themselves out or get through their initial outburst of energy. Afterward, it'd be FAR easier to converse with them and establish proper boundaries. Which, if he were being truthful, had faired much better in improving his interactions with fans than the earlier presented examples. Once these fans got to speak with him one-on-one and calm themselves down, they were happy to be calmer and more collected.
Unluckily, this would not be how things played out. Because, unlike the other times, Saitama wasn't alone. Right next to him and the still-hugging Mosquito Girl was another person. A VERY powerful Esper, to be precise.
"Saitama..." Fubuki spoke with closed eyes. The cloth mask covering most of her face hid her expression. Despite this, he could FEEL the hostile smile hidden behind it. "Why is this bug hugging you?" She asked.
To make things worse, Saitama wouldn't be the one to respond. Unamused by how she was referred, Mosquito Girl finally released her beloved hero and turned her attention toward Fubuki.
"It's simple, greenie." Mosquito Girl began, coming up with a nickname for the other woman. Simultaneously, she released Saitama from her arms. "I am One Punch Man's NUMBER ONE fan. I know and love EVERYTHING about him. Upon finally seeing and meeting him, I was overcome with a pure and beautiful joy that could only be expressed through a loving embrace." She explained.
"Ah. Okay. It all makes sense now." Fubuki said as she opened her eyes. "You're a stalker. You probably dumpster dive through his garbage because you're so pathetic." She determined.
Ooooooooooooh. That was RUTHLESS. However, Mosquito Girl wasn't fragile like her servants. This level of snark couldn't even scratch her.
"Out of curiosity, greenie. Why exactly are you dressed like a toilet washer?" Mosquito Girl inquired while leaning forward so they could be face to face. "Do you clean up the dead monsters One Punch Man leaves behind? I bet that's it. You can't muster the courage to show your appreciation like me, so you settle for disgusting piles of crap. Although, I suppose that makes sense since you're greener than snot." She told her.
THUD
Without any care, Fubuki dropped the cyborg in her arms. These two ladies were about to throw hands. Well, claws and psychic abilities. Honestly, that was WAY better than a typical catfight that'd be over after a couple of scratches, punches, and hair pulls.
Both women were raring to go. They each had sinister grins with their teeth bared. Mosquito Girl pulled back her claws while Fubuki began levitating nearby objects. In short, it was about to go DOWN.
POOMF
That new sound came from close by. Different from the previous noises, it wasn't in the sky. As Mosquito Girl, Fubuki, and Saitama looked at the source, their gazes fell onto a part of the road a few feet away. Emerging from below in a small eruption of dirt was...a mole?
"What the? Ground Dragon?!" Mosquito Girl reacted in alarm. To Saitama and Fubuki's surprise, she seemed to know this creature.
"Yup. It's me." The being, apparently named "Ground Dragon," replied. Its tone conveyed a relaxed attitude.
"What are you doing here?!" Mosquito Girl demanded to know as she stomped to him, forgetting about her impending brawl with the Esper. "This is MY mission! Did you follow me?!" She asked.
"Follow you, yes. But I did so because I had a mission of my own." Ground Dragon revealed.
"...You...did?..." Mosquito Girl inquired. Her anger had swiftly vanished, replaced with confusion and slight nervousness.
"Mhm. The doctor was worried you might get carried away once you came into contact with One Punch Man. If that happened, I was to intervene to keep things from getting out of hand. Although, he did say that applied to any escalation. Such as picking a fight with anyone else you ran into. Like that cyborg over there." Ground Dragon explained.
"But...But...he attacked me first! I was only defending myself!" Mosquito Girl exclaimed.
"Hey, you don't have to explain anything to me. I saw it play out. You're in the clear on that one." Ground Dragon assured with a small wave of his hand. "However, you were about to throw down with that woman, and in the presence of One Punch Man, no less. That's one of the worst-case scenarios the doctor told me might happen." He said.
"What...does that mean?..." Mosquito Girl asked, now looking down at her feet. "Did...the doctor...expect me to fail?..." She added.
"Aww, geez..." Ground Dragon thought, noticing her declining mood. "The doctor said this would happen, too. Crap. What did he say I should do if she got like this?" He wondered.
"Excuse me," Saitama spoke.
During their conversation, Saitama somehow managed to stealthily move closer to Ground Dragon AND crouch next to him so they could talk.
"GAH!" Ground Dragon shouted in surprise.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. That's becoming a bad habit of mine." Saitama apologized, recalling when he snuck up on the other heroes a few days prior.
"N-No! Not at all." Ground Dragon lied, trying to save face. "If anything, it's a pleasure and an honor to speak to you, One Punch Man. I never thought I'd get the opportunity." He confessed.
"Thanks. That's nice of you to say." Saitama replied while offering his hand.
Baffled, yet again honored, to have the world's strongest hero wanting to shake his hand, Ground Dragon happily and politely accepted the gesture.
"Sorry about the dirt." Ground Dragon said afterward once the handshake was finished.
"It's cool. No big deal." Saitama assured him while shaking it off. "So, if you've got a minute, I'd like to ask some questions." He requested.
"Of course! Please! Ask away!" Ground Dragon enthusiastically encouraged.
"Where'd you guys come from?" Saitama began as he looked between Ground Dragon and Mosquito Girl. "You know each other and keep referring to a doctor. From how it sounds, he's your leader or something similar." He noted.
"Ah, you're very astute, sir. As expected." Ground Dragon praised before responding. "We come from the House of Evolution. It's an institution founded by a man named Genus. We call him a doctor because, as you guessed, he's our creator and leader." He informed.
"House of Evolution?..." Saitama muttered while putting a hand to his chin. "I think I've heard that name before...who was it?..." He pondered aloud before snapping his fingers. "Zombieman!" He exclaimed.
"You're referring to your fellow S-Class hero, yes?" Ground Dragon inquired.
"Yeah. He's constantly asking me to go on investigations with him. The one he's always talked about since he joined the Association was the House of Evolution. It sounded like it was personal." Saitama replied. "Do you know anything about that?" He asked.
"Sorry. That was before I was created. You'd have to ask the doctor about it." Ground Dragon answered.
"Ah. Alright. No worries." Saitama said before moving on. "Next question, why did you guys come here? It's clear you wanted to see me, but why?" He inquired.
"One moment, please." Ground Dragon requested before going back into his hole. "I was given something to deliver to you, One Punch Man. If I became involved, that is." He explained.
Giving the mole the seconds he needed, soon Ground Dragon would resurface with a metal capsule. It resembled the kind you'd use in a pneumatic tube system.
"Inside this is a video the doctor made. It'll explain everything and then some." Ground Dragon stated as he handed it to Saitama. "Also, it has the doctor's contact information. In case you want to talk with him over the phone afterward." He added.
"Huh, neat," Saitama said, examining the capsule. "So, is this it, then? You guys were sent to deliver a message?" He questioned.
"Yes, sir. That's all." Ground Dragon confirmed with a nod.
"Hold on." Mosquito Girl spoke up, getting their attention. "Why didn't the doctor give me one of those? Was my mission just a lie? Were you meant to be the messenger?" She asked.
"No, not at all. The doctor meant it when he said you were the best person to establish contact with One Punch Man. I was only sent as an in-case measure. Honest." Ground Dragon answered.
Sadly, both Ground Dragon and Saitama could tell that Mosquito Girl didn't believe him. Her expression showed doubt and hurt. Then, without a word, she took off into the sky. Everyone watched as she flew fast and far from City Z.
"Craaaaaaaaaaap..." Ground Dragon groaned, ending in a sigh. "Sorry about that, One Punch Man." He apologized, feeling guilty for creating such an awkward situation.
"It's fine," Saitama responded, still looking in the direction Mosquito Girl disappeared into. "She seems self-conscious. My best friend is like that. So, I know how it can be." He said.
"Understanding, too. Man, you really ARE the perfect hero." Ground Dragon complimented him. "Well, I better get after her. Thank you for your time, One Punch Man." He stated before disappearing into his hole.
"See ya." Saitama bid farewell with a wave. "Huh, those guys were unexpectedly friendly. I think that's the first time I've encountered a non-human where they didn't immediately try to kill me." He admitted while turning to look at Fubuki.
However, when looking at the Esper, Saitama discovered a set of widened eyes staring at him in disbelief.
"Fubuki? Are you spacing again?" Saitama asked, assuming that to be the case.
"Saitama...did...you just...talk to monsters?..." Fubuki replied with a question of her own.
"I...guess?" Saitama said with an uncertain shrug. "I don't know if I'd call them monsters. Non-humans? Definitely. But monsters attack and destroy everything around them without reason or cause. Those two only wanted to see me. Sure, one of them was a bit too excited about it. But all-in-all, I wouldn't call that a monster encounter." He told her.
"Even so, that was an unprecedented situation. I'm not sure the Association even has plans or protocols for something like that." Fubuki said.
"Oh, right, the Association..." Saitama mumbled, now thinking about it. "Do you think I should tell them about this? Maybe show them this capsule?" He inquired.
"Why is that even a question?!" Fubuki responded in shock before grabbing his hand. "We are heading back to the Blizzard Group's HQ, and THEN we're heading to the Hero Association's HQ!" She exclaimed.
"Is that necessary, though? This seems like a personal matter for me. I'd hate to cause a stir over it." Saitama asked. Although his consideration for the Association and fellow S-Class heroes was genuine, he also didn't want to get caught up in a hectic mess.
"Saitama, as your friend, I'm putting my foot down on this." Fubuki sternly asserted. "Two non-human entities have reached out to you. This is not normal. We will inform my group, the Association, and S Class. This isn't up for debate." She stated.
If he wanted to, Saitama could effortlessly pull himself free of Fubuki and elect to go back to his apartment. But he knew she was acting like this because she was worried about him. Whenever she, King, or anyone else showed this level of concern despite his invulnerability and immunity to literally everything, Saitama was touched. So, he allowed himself to be dragged by the Esper without resistance.
...
...Wait...wasn't there a cyborg? A blonde-haired one who'd been fighting Mosquito Girl? I...could've sworn there was...Eh. It was probably a figment of mine and your imagination.
