Wrapped in a blanket. Warm and cozy. A serene stillness. These were the mornings that Saitama cherished.

After the events of yesterday, Saitama spent his time destressing. He read some of his backlog of manga. He watched some of his favorite programs. Then, when nighttime came, he made a soothing warm meal and slept on a full stomach and a head full of dreams.

It was the simple things. Being the most popular person on the planet wasn't easy. But whenever Saitama could take it slow, he felt at peace. There were no problems or stress. Everything was as it should be in the haven that was his apartment.

The only other thing that happened was a phone call from King. After Genos' unexpected request to become his disciple, he wanted to ensure Saitama was doing okay. Both men knew in the days that followed and then some that there would be a WHOLE lot to deal with. But surely, nothing could be worse than that bombshell.

Then again, that could just be both men's hopeful optimism rearing its ugly head as it tended to do.

"...Yawn..."

A hefty breath escaped Saitama's lungs. Despite his immense comfort, his body told him it was time to start the day. Slowly unwrapping himself from his blanket cocoon, Saitama would then carry out his morning routine. The first stop was the bathroom, followed by the kitchen. He brushed his teeth at the kitchen sink to simultaneously watch the news.

After wetting his brush and applying the toothpaste, Saitama would use the remote he left on the counter to turn on the TV. Surprisingly, there weren't any major headlines. No monster encounters or sightings. No natural disasters. And most importantly, no mention of what happened the day prior.

Now, one might wonder how that would even be possible. No member of S-Class would EVER betray Saitama's trust by speaking to the press about him. King and Fubuki wouldn't either since they were his closest friends. However, one mustn't underestimate the power of desperate journalism; it rivaled even Saitama's strength.

Back to the news, the only thing Saitama saw was a weather report. Clear blue skies, a refreshing breeze, and a temperature that was warm but not unpleasant. If he could manage it, he'd love to sneak away from the building unnoticed and enjoy the day.

"Hopefully, the Association will be busy with the House of Evolution. There'd be no point in me being there for the meetings. I'd have nothing else to contribute." Saitama thought as he finished his brushing. "If I can slip away, where should I go?" He pondered.

Contemplating his destination as he rinsed his mouth and cleaned his brush, Saitama recalled a perfect location he had stumbled upon. It was FAR away from ANY city. The ONLY people besides himself who knew about it were King and Fubuki, should they need to contact him while he was there.

"Yeah, that's perfect." Saitama decided with a small smile, excited by the idea. "I'll pack some drinks and food, bring a towel to lay on, and have a nice, peaceful time." He continued.

With his day planned out, Saitama got himself ready. Within a few minutes, he was dressed, had a fully-packed cooler, and had a towel draped over one of his arms. His gray day might've been a bust, but Saitama would enjoy today no matter what!

"It's still pretty early..." Saitama thought as he looked at his alarm clock. The time read seven-o-one. Usually, the only people who'd be outside of his apartment building were the extreme fans. News vans and reporters wouldn't show up until around eight. So, if he was stealthy, he could pull this off.

Opening the slider door that led to his balcony, Saitama stepped out. Usually, no one was on this side of the apartment building. So, he could easily leap from here onto a nearby rooftop and proceed to freedom.

However, Saitama's main escape route failed him for the first time. How? Simple. On the nearby rooftops, there were several reporters and news crews. The moment they saw the bald hero, it was all over.

"THERE HE IS!" One of the journalists exclaimed.

After that, it was a bombardment of camera flashes, questions being asked, and that serene peace that once enveloped the building disappearing. Quickly, Saitama retreated into his apartment. When the sliding door was shut, he heard something else. It came from the TV, which he had forgotten to turn off.

"We now go live to City Z. Where our reporters are on the scene for today's biggest scoop." A female news anchor stated. A live feed of Saitama's apartment building was on the screen beside her. "Late last night, we received word that the World's Strongest Hero might take on a second disciple. At first, there were concerns that this was the usual rumor mill. However, we and several other news outlets have confirmed the legitimacy of these claims. Details are still being sorted as of now, such as the identity of this mysterious new student. Hopefully, One Punch Man himself will offer commentary." She informed.

As the news anchor talked, Saitama walked around his apartment. He put the cooler in the fridge, placed his towel on the counter, and returned to his mattress after turning the TV off. Before bundling himself up in his blankets to go back to sleep, a single question entered Saitama's mind. Who was it that had blabbed about yesterday?


Elsewhere, At The Hero Association HQ...


"WHO DID THIS?!" Sitch angrily questioned, speaking to two of his subordinates.

The Hero Association, unsurprisingly, kept itself aware of what the news outlets of the world were reporting at any given time. However, they weren't omniscient. If a sudden development or announcement blindsided everyone else, they were also blindsided. So, imagine their surprise when EVERY news outlet, almost simultaneously, reported that they had heard of and confirmed the existence of a potential second disciple of One Punch Man.

Sure, they didn't have the specifics. Genos hadn't been named, nor was a description given. But still, something that should've been known ONLY by the Association, the House of Evolution, S-Class, and Genos had managed to slip out into the public. Someone somewhere had MASSIVELY dropped the ball.

Now, one might logically assume it was Genos. After all, he JUST showed up yesterday. However, after his shocking request to become One Punch Man's student, he and Kuseno, the man he mentioned, were brought to HQ for further discussion. So, there was no way at any point in time Genos or Kuseno could've leaked this. They also had no major incentive to do so.

As for the House of Evolution, they, too, were in the clear. After the initial shock of Genos' request subsided, the Association brought in MANY employees to continue their investigation of the facility and further discuss with Genus the details of their eventual alliance. So, he, his clones, and his creations had been actively monitored. It couldn't be them.

This left only two possible suspects. Someone from the Association or someone in S-Class. It was difficult, nigh-impossible, to humor the idea that a hero of ALL people would go behind One Punch Man's back like this. However, the possibility remained. But before the Association caused more trouble by accusing any of its heroes, they would investigate themselves THOROUGHLY.

"We don't know, sir. We're still verifying everyone's movements and actions from yesterday." Busho replied. He and Jinzuren shared their superior's frustration. This was a HUGE blunder on their part.

"What about the source?! Do we know where the outlets are getting their information from?" Sitch asked.

"No, sir. We're trying to contact them, but we're not getting through. Their phone lines are flooded with people calling to ask questions or confirm this is true. In short, it's a communication hell-storm out there." Jinzuren answered.

"Wonderful. JUST wonderful." Sitch sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose. "What about S-Class? Have any of them done anything? And let me be clear; I don't mean anything suspicious. The whole world will be buzzing about this if they aren't already. Every hero, S-Class or otherwise, will catch wind of this." He inquired.

"So far, we haven't heard from them or seen them do anything, sir," Busho responded. "But, remember, S-Class is exceptionally good at going off the radar when they want to. They could already be attempting to contact each other or One Punch Man. They might even go to his apartment." He told him.

"Well, we'll have to worry about that later. Right now, we need to get through examining ourselves." Sitch said, receiving nods from his subordinates in agreement.


Meanwhile, In A Secure And Private Chat Room...


...

...

...

Alright, who talked? -Nuclear Swordsman

Wow. Real nice. Blaming one of us. -Bat Fanatic

Calm down, pompadour. He's only asking to get it out of the way. -Undead Detective

Yeah. We all know that none of us would do something like this. If any of us ever did, they'd get a beatdown. -T-Shirt Enthusiast

I'm currently trying to track down the cause. But it's going to take a while. The internet is EXPLODING right now. -Youthful Genius

The source might not be from the internet. If you'd like, I could assist by checking other likely origins. -Mechanical Mastermind

That'd be great! Thanks. -Youthful Genius

Should those of us capable of stealth infiltrate the News stations? Or, at the very least, investigate the public? There could be potential leads there. -Shining Ninja Star

A waste of time. The Association will already be looking into them. We should put our attention elsewhere. -Adaptive Combatant

I think we should check on One Punch Man. His apartment building's swarmed right now. -Fitness Lover

Agreed. He's used to the usual crowds, but this goes beyond that. Plus, this is all happening at seven in the morning. I can't think of a worse way to start the day. -Animal Dude

What about King? Has anyone heard from him? -T-Shirt Enthusiast

I don't think he'll be able to help. I'm watching this one channel's coverage, and they've got people at King's apartment building, too. He might be able to call One Punch Man, assuming he answers. -Super Snacker

What about Silver Fang? He lives nearby. -Bat Fanatic

I don't know if he even has a TV at the dojo. He might not be aware. -Nuclear Swordsman

True. He doesn't even use the chat room despite having a phone like the rest of us. -Undead Detective

Silver Fang's not the best with technology. Hope that isn't rude to say. -Youthful Genius

Nah, you're good. As someone who hangs out with him often, I'll be the first to confirm he could use a refresher on modern conveniences. -Nuclear Swordsman

OH, MY GOD, WILL ALL OF YOU SHUT UP?! MY NOTIFICATIONS WON'T STOP GOING OFF! -Tornado

Oh, wow. Look who decided to grace us with her presence. -Shining Ninja Star

Also, why is your username still Tornado? I thought you said you were going to change it. -Animal Dude

DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT! STOP FLOODING MY PHONE WITH NOTIFICATIONS! -Tornado

How about you turn them off? Or just leave the chat room while we're talking? -Undead Detective

HOW ABOUT YOU MIND YOUR BUSINESS?! -Tornado

Despite her attitude, Tornado makes a good point. There's not much more for us to talk about right now. We should focus on figuring out the situation and finding the culprit. -T-Shirt Enthusiast

Hmph. At least ONE of you is using their brain. Finally. -Tornado

You know, Tornado, you could be a big help! Would you mind lending a hand? -Fitness Lover

PLEASE. As if I'd WANT to get involved in this mess. Just sign off and stop polluting the chat room already! -Tornado

Alright. We'll all head out and reconvene later. Just lay off the all-caps, please. -Nuclear Swordsman

BITE ME. -Tornado

Sheesh. She's in a mood. More than usual. -Bat Fanatic

Yeah. But we should get moving. Talk to all of you in a bit. -Undead Detective


Meanwhile, At Saitama's Apartment...


So. Much. Noise. So. Many. Voices. Why did this have to happen? Was Saitama's life not stressful enough? Now he had to deal with all of this?

Try as he might, Saitama couldn't understand why Genos would have done what he did. Make him his disciple? Was there a screw-loose in his brain? Was he secretly one of Saitama's stalkers? It just didn't add up.

Then again, this mess wasn't Genos' fault. Saitama couldn't blame him. It was the bastard responsible for telling the public. Whoever they were, wherever they were, Saitama vowed he'd get his revenge someday. Mark his words; this wouldn't go unpunished!

For now, though, Saitama focused solely on blocking the audio overload. He wasn't hyper-sensitive to noise or anything. But wouldn't YOU be overwhelmed by so many people talking and walking outside YOUR apartment building?

This reminded Saitama to ask Child Emperor and Metal Knight about soundproofing his abode. He didn't want massive renovations to his home, but something to ensure it would be peaceful no matter the circumstance was important to him, especially at times like this. Giving it more thought, Saitama felt bad for the Association employees assigned to his building. He had the advantage of being able to hide while they did not.

"I should do something nice for them..." Saitama pondered, thinking about it while covering his head with his pillow. "I know! I'll give them enough money to cover their shopping expenses for a few months. It's not like I'm doing much with it. I'm sure they'll appreciate that. I know I would." He decided.

As Saitama figured out how much he should give each person, he noticed something. The abrupt absence of sound. What the Hell? Everything was quiet now, to the point he could hear himself breathing.

"Uh...what?..." Saitama questioned while sitting up. Try as he might, he couldn't detect the slightest noise.

Knock Knock

...Okay. This was freaky. First, everything gets quiet, then a sudden knock at the door. Saitama could ignore it, but this was so strange that he had to investigate it.

"Coming!" Saitama called out to whoever was at his door as he rose from his mattress.

Walking to his apartment's entrance, Saitama looked through his door's peephole upon arrival. When he did, he discovered the LAST person he would've anticipated to be on the other side.

"I know you're there." She told him. "Are you going to stand there and stare at me all day?" She asked.

"Sorry." Saitama apologized while opening the door. "I just didn't expect to have any visitors today. Especially not you." He said.

Standing there, outside of Saitama's apartment, was the Tornado of Terror. However, her demeanor was slightly different than usual. She still had her stern stare, but there was a sort of softness to her expression and body language.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tatsumaki questioned, yet didn't sound upset. "Are you saying I'm not allowed to be here?" She added.

"No. Not at all." Saitama replied, followed by a smile. "If anything, it's good to see you. This is the first time you've even come to my apartment." He said.

"I'd come over more, but KING is always here. Two's a fine number, but three's a crowd." Tatsumaki explained.

"Well, what about Fubuki? You could come over when she's here." Saitama suggested.

"That's...complicated. Personal reasons." Tatsumaki responded, briefly averting her gaze.

"Ah. Gotcha. Family stuff. Sorry for asking." Saitama apologized.

"No. It's fine. Geez." Tatsumaki assured with a sigh. "I swear, you're quick to apologize even if something's not your fault. Doesn't that get exhausting?" She asked.

"Not really. Besides, it prevents misunderstandings. Unfortunately, given who I am, that happens ALL the time." Saitama answered.

"Yeah. I bet." Tatsumaki replied. For a moment, her face seemed to soften more. But it quickly returned to its usual stern state. "So, baldy. Want to get out of here?" She inquired.

"What?" Saitama responded with a confused expression.

"LEAVE. GO SOMEWHERE. GET AWAY FROM THE LUNATICS." Tatsumaki said slowly, sounding as if he should've known why she had come here.

"...Wait..." Saitama began, his brain thinking of something. "...Tatsumaki. You...didn't do something to the crowd, did you?" He asked.

"Are you serious?" Tatsumaki questioned while folding her arms.

"Well, it's just that before you knocked, everything got quiet. Even now, I don't hear anyone besides us." Saitama explained, causing her to roll her eyes.

"DUH. I formed a barrier around the building. It's blocking the noise, genius." Tatsumaki told him.

"Ah. That makes sense." Saitama said. "So, does that mean you came to check on me? Or because you were concerned that the crowd was bothering me?" He inquired.

"Please, don't flatter yourself too much. You're a grown man; you can handle your problems by yourself." Tatsumaki scoffed. "I was just bored and decided to come for a visit. But then I noticed your fanatics were crazier than usual AND in greater abundance. Maintaining the barrier for the rest of the day wouldn't be an issue, but getting away from here would ensure we wouldn't be disturbed." She stated.

"Well, if you wouldn't care, I have a destination in mind. Be warned; it won't be exciting." Saitama said.

"That's fine. So long as we're far from your psychotic fanbase and the general populace of idiots, any place works for me." Tatsumaki replied.

"Cool. Just let me get a few things." Saitama requested before heading back inside.

"Don't take too long! I don't have all day!" Tatsumaki exclaimed.

Fortunately for the Esper, Saitama took less than a minute to return. He brought with him a cooler and two towels.

"Are we going to the beach?" Tatsumaki questioned with a raised brow.

"No. But you'll see why the towels are necessary." Saitama promised.

"If you say so," Tatsumaki responded before lifting herself and him into the air.

Then, in an instant, the pair were gone. Tatsumaki didn't teleport them; she could simply move that fast with her powers. The only thing anyone could've seen was a rapidly-moving blur. But they were too focused on themselves to even notice.


A Few Minutes Later, In The Middle Of Nowhere...


Throughout the world, there are many places that nature has created, which could be called inhospitable. Some of these environments were jungles overflowing with life that evolution had been very kind to in the way of natural defenses and offenses. Others were so cold or hot that it was a miracle ANYTHING called these places home. Then, there was the ocean and its countless unknown horrors.

However, there were a few locations that were simply barren. No vegetation grew here. There weren't any nearby sources of natural water. The only things that existed were rocks, jacked formations of the Earth, and dirt accompanied by dust.

Very few, if ANY, people would appreciate these environments. What was there to like about them? They had NOTHING. Who could be fond of that?

How about someone whose life had progressively gotten so busy and noisy that they needed a secluded spot like this? An individual so desperate for isolation that they'd actively seek out these empty paradises? Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: One Punch Man.

"THIS is where you wanted to go?" Tatsumaki asked as she and Saitama landed in the middle of a vast ravine. On either side of the duo, there were imposing walls of stone.

"Yup," Saitama confirmed, taking a look around. "I stumbled across this place when I first became strong. I needed somewhere to test my strength to see how much there was." He informed her.

"Wait. So, you threw punches here?" Tatsumaki inquired with a surprising amount of interest. "Is the damage still around? Like craters or something? Or did you fix them?" She added.

"You're standing in it," Saitama revealed, causing her eyes to widen. "This ravine? I made it. It used to be one big flat mountain. But then, as a joke, I punched it. I figured I'd make a decent impact, but nothing that surpassed what you or the others could do. Imagine how surprised I was when the entire middle section evaporated." He told her.

"I...don't think I need to..." Tatsumaki quietly replied, now properly taking in the surroundings.

"Anyway, let's settle in," Saitama said before he set down the cooler he carried.

With the container on the ground, Saitama carefully laid down the towels he had brought. They were side-by-side, but not to an uncomfortable degree. When he did this, Saitama expected to get an earful from Tatsumaki. This is what we're doing? Are you serious? What the Hell, baldy? You're joking, right?

But no. Instead, Tatsumaki watched him lay down on the towel to the left, then did the same on the other.

"Wow," Saitama said as she lowered herself.

"What?" Tatsumaki questioned, now looking at him.

"No comments? No remarks? I figured you'd protest to this." Saitama confessed.

"Why? I'm not some dainty princess." Tatsumaki responded before turning her attention to the sky. "Besides, I immediately understand the appeal of this place to you. No people. No annoyances. Clear skies and nice temperature. The perfect escape from the world." She told him.

"Yeah. It is." Saitama agreed, now looking at the sky too.

"How often do you come here?" Tatsumaki asked.

"A fair amount. Apart from relaxing, I can continue gauging my strength without putting anyone in danger." Saitama answered.

"How much is it now? Do you know?" Tatsumaki inquired.

"No. Because, honestly, I'm scared of going all out." Saitama admitted.

"Come on, you might be powerful, but surely your strongest punch wouldn't do THAT much damage," Tatsumaki argued.

"Looking beyond killing monsters in one blow, any normal action I'm not careful with can cause a lot of destruction. For example, if I put a small amount of force into a jump, I'll create a crater. Clap my hands too hard; I'll cause a gust that could match yours. At this point, I'm genuinely worried that if I SNEEZED too hard, I could take out half of a city. Because of that, I haven't put all my strength into a punch in a LONG time. Not even half or a fourth. It's too dangerous." Saitama told her.

For a moment, silence came between them. Each kept their gaze fixated on the sky as Tatsumaki considered her response.

"...It must be tough for you, constantly having to hold back," Tatsumaki said.

"It weighs me down. I can't deny that." Saitama confirmed. "It might also be why I'm always so bored. I can do anything. Well, physically, anyway. I don't have to put forward any effort anymore. Then there's my fame, my riches, and my influence. Each is always increasing, and with them, greater expectations. Everyone looks at me like I have all the answers and can solve every problem. I could certainly do without having that pressure on me all the time." He stated.

"You need to relax more. That's your problem." Tatsumaki reasoned. "I know you play games with King and have this place to yourself. But you have to do more." She told him.

"I'd love to. But I'm never alone. If I'm not stealthy, the paparazzi will follow me everywhere. So will the fans. I'd need Isamu or Metal Knight to make me a cloaking device or something." Saitama responded.

"Here's a thought. Tell them to buzz off like the pests they are." Tatsumaki suggested.

"Nope. Can't do that. They'll get paranoid and think that they've angered me. Then on all the broadcasts, be it radio or TV, hysteria will spread that the most powerful person in the world is displeased with everyone. Is he going to turn on us? Have we incurred his wrath?" Saitama replied.

"Pfft. Okay. Now you're just being dramatic." Tatsumaki said with an eye roll and a rare smirk.

"You'd think, wouldn't you? But that's how it goes." Saitama insisted. "Maybe not to that extreme. At least, not yet. But I guarantee that's in the ballpark of how they'd react. Every decision I make, every move I take, has a massive impact. It's why, stealthy or not, I rarely leave my apartment. Less stress for me." He explained.

Again, silence came between them. Tatsumaki, after hearing that, contemplated what the solution could be.

"...Then, why don't I do it?" Tatsumaki proposed. "I'll tell them to leave you alone. I won't threaten them, so don't even say I would. I'll make it clear that if they don't stop bothering you, it'll be WAY harder for them to hang around." She said.

"How so?" Saitama pressed, wanting to hear more.

"Strong gusts of wind blowing them over. Random appearances of invisible walls that they'll constantly run into. A mysterious force, tripping them over and over again. Etc." Tatsumaki described.

"You'd do that? For me?" Saitama asked. On the one hand, he was flattered. On the other, it was admittedly suspicious.

"I wouldn't do it for free," Tatsumaki answered before looking at him again. "I'd want to live in your apartment building. That will be the price of my security." She told him.

"...Seriously?" Saitama questioned, looking at her with widened eyes. "You're not joking, right? You would be willing to solve a HUGE chunk of my problems for an apartment?" He inquired.

"Well, there'd be some other conditions, too." Tatsumaki started, holding up her hand to begin counting. "First, I'd like to knock down some walls. The units in that place are tiny, and I want more room. Second, I get to have input on how the building looks. Nothing extreme, but it is just so BLAND. A few decorations and plants would do a LOT. And maybe, if you're up for it, a fresh coat of paint. Lastly, if I am staying there, the Association employees have to go. They're annoying as it is; I DON'T need them next to me." She listed.

"Hmm..." Saitama hummed, considering the conditions. "I have no issues with the first two. But I can't just force the employees away. That'd be rude. Plus, they've always done a lot for me." He said.

"Hmm..." Tatsumaki hummed as well, pondering his counteroffer. "I will allow them to remain so long as it isn't in the apartment building. They can be next door or across the street. Because, as you said, they DO have their uses." She stated.

"Then, Tatsumaki, we have a deal," Saitama responded, offering his hand for a shake. "I'm guessing you want to live in the building because the Association pays for it, right?" He asked.

"Wow. There IS a brain in that shiny head of yours." Tatsumaki joked as she took his hand and shook it.

And with that, their pact was made. Saitama and Tatsumaki returned their gazes to the sky, each with a smile on their face. Saitama because peace would FINALLY be restored to his life. Tatsumaki, well, it's not wise to try and see the thoughts of an Esper.