"I'm sure Saitama's going to love this," King said as he walked down the street. In his arms, he carried a bundle of newly-released video games. "I've been building up my One Punch Man lifestyle care package for such an occasion. After all the craziness yesterday, he's probably DYING to destress." He went on.

It was the following day of the whole "new disciple" fiasco. However, just as quickly as it had happened, so too did it blow over. Don't misunderstand, though; people WERE still unhinged lunatics about the situation. Message boards and TV talk shows wouldn't shut up!

Fortunately, King knew Saitama wouldn't worsen the remainder of yesterday by tuning into such programs and visiting those websites. If anything, his best buddy most likely fell face-first onto his mattress when he returned to his apartment. Spending the rest of the day snoozing and dreaming, as he rightfully deserved!

But that is why King was on his way to Saitama's apartment so early in the morn. They'd greet each other, eat breakfast, then spend the rest of the day plowing through these games. Although, secretly, King planned to end the festivities with a fighting game. He just couldn't resist how much those got under Saitama's skin. In his defense, it IS hilarious.

Yet, as King drew closer to Saitama's apartment building, he noticed something peculiar. Usually, at this distance, he'd hear the chattering and general noise of the early-bird fans and journalists. No matter how far back in the morning King tried to come here, they'd always beat him. It made him wonder if they never went home.

But now, there wasn't a single sound. No signs of life besides King in the ghost town. Was his hearing impaired somehow? Or was this the first time Saitama and King could truly be alone to enjoy the endless wonder of digital entertainment fully?

"...What the Hell?" King questioned, coming to an immediate stop as his eyes spotted something...indescribable.

As of now, King was one street away from arriving at the apartment building. While looking around for any evidence of someone else besides himself being present, he saw a most peculiar sight. In the air, on all sides of Saitama's dwelling, there were...flying paintbrushes?

No, that...that couldn't be it. Surely, not. Weird birds? Tiny monsters? UFOs? There had to be a more logical explanation than airborne painting tools.

Continuing his approach, King soon reached the front of the building. Upon closer inspection, he confirmed that they were, in fact, flying paintbrushes. However, there was another baffling discovery awaiting him. Each of the brushes used a different color. The order of which was as follows: Dark Green. Light Blue. Yellow. White. Brick Red. Soothing Gray. Chocolate Brown.

"..." King silently watched the brushes work. What else could he do? What would anyone do or say if they stumbled upon this?

Suddenly, the brushes stopped moving. They remained where they were in the sky but nothing else. What the Hell was happening? Witchcraft? Devil powers? Were angels painting Saitama's apartment building?

"Hello, King."

THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP

Hearing THAT voice inside of his head jumpstarted King's "engine". He knew who was speaking to him. King would've never expected HER to be here.

And yet, there she came. The third-ranked hero of S-Class. The world's strongest Esper, Tornado of Terror.

"H...H...H...H...H..." King stuttered. The fear inside him was actively pushing down his words.

"Hi? Hello? How are you?" Tatsumaki spoke verbally this time, offering him many suggestions as she approached.

"..." King was silent again, fighting against his body to speak. "...Are...Are you...going to kill me?..." He asked.

"Why? For what reason would I EVER want to kill you, King?" Tatsumaki inquired, stopping a few inches away from him.

"I don't know...natural animosity?..." King guessed. "Ever since...we met...you've...never liked me...so...if you're here...when I'm coming here...I can only assume...it's to be my death..." He explained.

"Aww, King. You're SO silly!" Tatsumaki playfully exclaimed. This was out of character. She was deliberately screwing with him. "I have NO reason at ALL to dislike you!" She carried on before putting a finger to her chin. "Although, I DID have a lovely chat with Sweet Mask yesterday..." She trailed off.

Sweet Mask? What did he have to do with this? How did Sweet Mask play any role in-

...

...Oh.

"Tornado, I swear, I said nothing," King promised. His body started shaking. "Sweet Mask approached me once when I was at HQ. He wanted to know what I thought about the other S-Class heroes, and I gave my opinions. OPINIONS. NOT FACTS. NOT STRONGLY BELIEVED ASSUMPTIONS. OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, IN THE MOMENT, IDEAS AND FEELINGS." He told her as his voice got progressively louder.

"Would you mind telling me what you said? Please?" Tatsumaki requested, maintaining this SUPER creepy hyper-friendly version of herself.

"I-I SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T SEEM TO LIKE ANYONE! E-EXCEPT FOR SAITAMA! EVEN THOUGH YOU CONSTANTLY CALLED HIM NAMES, YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE NEAR OR TALK TO HIM! A-ALL I TOLD SWEET MASK IS THAT Y-YOU THOUGHT MORE OF SAITAMA! THAT'S IT!" King yelled.

"Really? That's it? Because Sweet Mask mentioned Fubuki and how you told him we acted similarly in certain ways." Tatsumaki replied, placing the tip of her index finger on his chest. Oh god. WAS SHE GOING TO BLOW HIM UP WITH HER PSYCHIC POWERS?!

"I ONLY DID THAT WHEN HE ASKED ABOUT FUBUKI! I SWEAR! HE MENTIONED THAT THE BLIZZARD GROUP FREQUENTLY VISITS ONE PUNCH MAN! SO I TOLD HIM THAT FUBUKI, ME, AND SAITAMA HANG OUT A LOT! THEN HE ASKED WHAT SHE WAS LIKE, SO I ANSWERED! THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED YOU TWO ACT A LOT LIKE EACH OTHER WHEN AROUND SAITAMA! I SWEAR! THAT'S ALL I KNOW!" King shouted, shutting his eyes tightly in case these were his final moments.

"So, you weren't trying to be nosey, then? And you weren't acting as a rat for that arrogant ass?" Tatsumaki questioned, starting to sound like her usual self.

"NO! NEVER! I'D NEVER DO THAT TO ANYONE! SAITAMA! YOU! ANYONE!" King vowed.

"...Alright," Tatsumaki said, taking her finger off his chest.

The MOMENT that finger was no longer in contact with him, King collapsed. He would've hit the ground, but Tatsumaki caught him with her ESP.

" *HUFF* You're... *WHEEZE* Not... *HUFF* Going to... *WHEEZE* Kill Me?..." King asked, sweating POURING from his face.

"I would've if you turned out to be a spy for Sweet Mask, but you weren't," Tatsumaki answered. "Sorry for scaring you so badly. Honest. I didn't think you'd react so strongly." She confessed.

"Why... *HUFF* Wouldn't... *WHEEZE* I?..." King questioned, slowly but surely regaining his breath. "You... *HUFF* Are... *WHEEZE* Terrifying..." He said.

"Hm, that's true." Tatsumaki agreed, not afraid to own it. "Still, you ARE Saitama's best friend. I wouldn't hurt you UNLESS you were a backstabbing bastard." She promised.

"Oh...yeah...that does make sense..." King admitted. Although still shaken, he found her reasoning to be sound. He just didn't consider that due to his petrifying fear.

"You good? Or will you fall on your face if I release you?" Tatsumaki inquired.

"Nah...I'm good...a little lightheaded...but I'll be fine in a few..." King responded.

Trusting him on that, Tatsumaki set King back on his feet. Although a bit wobbly, the man could stabilize himself and regain composure.

"You want something to drink? It could help." Tatsumaki offered.

"Um...sure. That's very nice of you." King accepted.

Following that, a pitcher of juice and two glasses were brought out of one of the apartments by Tatsumaki. One for her, one for him.

"...Uh...Tornado..." King started as she poured the juice.

"Yes?" Tatsumaki replied.

"...Are you feeling okay?" King asked, sincerely concerned. "I don't mean to be rude, but you're acting so...differently. It's almost a one-eighty to how you usually are." He said.

"Hm? Oh. Do you mean this?" Tatsumaki inquired before clearing her throat. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! ARE YOU STUPID?! WHY AREN'T THERE ANY MONSTERS FOR ME TO DEAL WITH, HUH?! DO YOU KEEP GIVING THEM TO BALDY?! WHY DOES HE GET ALL THE GOOD FIGHTS?! I'M SITTING AT HOME, WATCHING TV, DOING NOTHING! YOU COULD EASILY FIND ME SOMETHING TO FIGHT, SO DO IT! STOP BEING LAZY AND DO YOUR JOBS!" She shouted, all the while filling her cup.

"Yeah. Exactly." King confirmed with wide eyes and a nod. Sincerely, he was impressed by how effortlessly she could do that.

"That's mainly for appearances," Tatsumaki confessed with a shrug as she handed him his drink. To take it, King needed to set his games down first. "Don't get me wrong; I mean every single word. But when I first joined the Association, that's how I presented myself. Loud. Imposing. Fierce. Mess with me, and I'll throw you into outer space. It helped to build a nice reputation, but it's not how I am ALL the time. However, if I suddenly dropped it, do you KNOW how much crap everyone would give me? Especially that bat-wielding jerk?" She explained, ending in a question.

"Why'd you do it at all?" King pressed after taking a sip of his beverage.

"Blast. Plain and simple." Tatsumaki said, briefly pausing to sip as well. "He told me I needed to look after myself and my family. My parents were horrible, and THAT'S putting it lightly. So, I only needed to look after Fubuki. To do that, I had to be strong and aggressive. Take no shit from anyone. Truthfully, it's worked pretty damn flawlessly. Can't argue with results." She told him.

"What changed, then? You seem so much more mellow." King asked, making her chuckle.

"I'll give you a clue. It's the reason we're both standing here." Tatsumaki answered.

"...Correct me if I'm wrong..." King began as his mind worked through its memories. "But when you first met Saitama, didn't you call him a dumbass?" He recalled.

"You were there too, right?" Tatsumaki inquired, receiving a nod.

"Yeah. It was right after he saved me from that clawed octopus. Saitama took us to HQ to be treated. That's when you were introduced to each other because you'd been added to the roster that same day." King said.

"THIS is the number one hero?! Is this some kind of joke?! LOOK AT HIM! HE'S BLEEDING ALL OVER AND WEARING A TRACKSUIT!" Tatsumaki reenacted her part of the memory.

"That's it!" King confirmed with a snap. "After that, you jabbed your finger into Saitama's chest and yelled, "BLAST IS WAY STRONGER THAN THIS GUY! HOW CAN HE BE THE NUMBER ONE HERO?! I WANT TO SPEAK TO AGONI!" and then you stormed off." He stated.

"...Do...you think he still remembers?" Tatsumaki asked. Whoa. Another new side of her that King never saw before.

"What? That you insulted him?" King questioned.

"I WASN'T THAT BAD!" Tatsumaki defensively yelled. Although not frightened like before, King did realize he had accidentally touched a sensitive subject. "I mean, I...guess I was." She acknowledged.

"Yeah. You were." King responded but not in a spiteful way. "I mean, even now, you still behave like that. At least, to anyone who ISN'T your sister or Saitama." He said before realizing something. "Then again, you DID slap Saitama in our last meeting." He recalled.

"It's for APPEARANCES," Tatsumaki repeated. "Saitama knows that. We've talked about it before. He says he doesn't mind, and I trust he's being honest." She explained.

"He is. Don't worry." King assured. "Saitama's not the kind of guy to lie to people. He might try and BEND the truth, depending on the scenario. But he wouldn't do something as cruel as telling you he's okay with it and then secretly hate your guts." He explained.

"Are you sure?" Tatsumaki pressed. It was clear she needed there to be no doubts.

"Absolutely. I know Saitama better than anyone." King promised with a nod.

"Then, I'll trust you, too. Thanks, King." Tatsumaki said before taking another sip.

When she was done, the Esper noticed something. King now stared at her with wide eyes and a shocked expression.

"Is something wrong?" Tatsumaki inquired.

"You're...being so nice to me," King stated.

"Well, yeah. Do you WANT me to be a bitch to you? Are you one of THOSE people?" Tatsumaki questioned.

"No, no. I just wasn't sure if your attitude towards me was for maintaining appearances or if you genuinely disliked me." King clarified.

"I mean, at first, I did. Like with Saitama." Tatsumaki admitted. "But as time went on and stuff happened, any aggressiveness towards you has been for my reputation. I give you my word. I don't want to throw you into a wall or crush you like a soda can." She told him.

"Oh, what a relief." King sighed with a smile, taking a celebratory drink from his glass. "Does...that mean I can call you Tatsumaki, then?" He asked.

"Sure. I'm going to be around Saitama more. So, it'd be weird if you kept using my hero name." Tatsumaki answered.

"Could I also say it when we're around the others? Like Saitama does?" King continued, testing his boundaries.

"Don't push it," Tatsumaki warned, followed by a sip.

"Right. Sorry. That was a hopeful hail mary." King replied. "So, Tatsumaki. What're you doing here so early in the morning? And why are you painting Saitama's apartment building?" He inquired, going back to the initial mystery.

"I'm living here now," Tatsumaki responded, nearly causing King's eyes to shoot out of his head. "But, before you freak out, let me explain. Saitama and I made a deal. In exchange for keeping people away from his property, I live here. The reason why is that the Association pays for it. I'll be able to throw my feet up and stockpile my money, even more than I already do since I won't have monthly expenses or bills. It's a win-win for both of us." She said.

"Ah. Clever." King praised her. "How come I've never thought of that?" He wondered aloud.

"Probably because you'd see it as taking advantage of Saitama's hospitality." Tatsumaki guessed.

"Yeah. That sounds about right." King agreed. "As for the paintbrushes?" He asked, getting back on topic.

"Part of the agreement is that I get to remodel. Nothing extreme, a few walls here and there and a new coat of paint for the building. I'm currently testing which color I think will work the best." Tatsumaki answered. "Would you like to help? I'd love the input." She offered.

"Sure." King accepted. "What about Saitama, though? Isn't he helping?" He asked.

"He is. I asked if he could get some more supplies. Paint samples for indoors. Wallpaper samples. Floor and carpet samples. I'm taking my accommodations VERY seriously." Tatsumaki answered.

"Heh, wow." King chuckled. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you two were married." He joked.

King took another sip of his drink and expected an earful from the Esper. However, no words came from Tatsumaki. When he looked over to see what was happening, he discovered a shocked look on her face. And...was that a small blush on her cheeks?

"...Pfft. Get real." Tatsumaki soon scoffed, dismissing that idea with a wave of her hand. "Me? Baldy? PUH-LEASE." She went on, using one of Saitama's nicknames. "If anything, that egghead would be LUCKY to have someone like ME be interested in him! WHO in the WORLD would think that way about the guy? He's so bland, boring, and has NO sense about him. Terrible love interest. Being strong doesn't make you attractive. I feel bad for him." She rambled.

King watched and listened in silence as Tatsumaki continued ranting. This would go on, seriously, for another ten minutes. She listed every single reason why no one would love Saitama. She explained in a surprising amount of detail why he was unappealing. Etc. Etc.

However, King noticed that Tatsumaki started smiling as she carried on. That light blush he saw on her face remained. And, despite the harsh words, the look in her eyes was one of fondness and joy. Yet, King didn't dare say or think anything about these observations. He let Tatsumaki get it out of her system so they could resume talking.


Meanwhile, In City F...


"Holy crap. Tatsumaki was right!" Saitama mentally exclaimed as he walked out of a hardware store. "No one recognized me! I can't believe it was so simple!" He continued.

There weren't many home improvement stores in City Z. The few present were small and might not have everything Tatsumaki wanted for the remodel. So, Saitama traveled to City F. But not before his new neighbor helped him with a disguise.

Unjokingly, Saitama had never considered this idea before. He figured he was SO damn famous that it wouldn't help. Honestly, you can't fault the man for his thinking. If you were, objectively, the most famous person across the globe, would you consider a few articles of clothing to be enough to conceal your identity?

Yet, as it turns out, they were. A baseball cap. A face mask. A pair of sunglasses. And a questionable hoodie that Saitama owned that Tatsumaki had a few choice words about.

With their powers combined, these items formed a perfect masquerade for Saitama. He was able to stroll through the streets casually. No one paid him any attention. Some even said he was a bum or a prick when they bumped into him! FINALLY! AT LAST! NORMALCY!

However, Saitama couldn't let his guard down. He managed to get through his shopping without any issues. But now, there was the trek back home. Focus, Saitama. Keep your eyes on the prize. Ensure this beautiful disguise wasn't ruined, and you could use it more!

"Let's see..." Saitama began in his mind, looking into the bag he carried. "I think Tatsumaki will like the tiles I picked. Although, maybe she's a carpet person. They had a nice selection." He thought, examining the items.

thud

A collision caused that tiny thud. Saitama, while perusing his acquired goods, had bumped into someone. Saitama's entire body stiffened as he moved his eyes from the plastic satchel upward to learn who it was.

"Excuse you." Flashy Flash said with a sneer. Of ALL people, WHY was an S-Class hero here?!

Saitama didn't say anything. His mind was exploding. Was this payback, universe? Did he wrong you in some way? What ethereal trickster decided to pull such a cruel prank?

"Well?" Flashy Flash spoke again, this time folding his arms. "Are you not going to apologize?" He asked.

"...Sorry." Saitama managed to get out, still trying to recover from this shock.

"Hmph, good enough." Flashy Flash said before walking past him.

Watching the ninja go on his way, Saitama had an inner conflict. On the one hand, Flashy Flash might have been just walking around. On the other, no, he wasn't. Flashy Flash was a "specialty" hero. Meaning that the Association only deployed him for specific tasks and situations.

Furthermore, when not deployed, Flashy Flash was a hero who stayed where he was comfortable. Other examples in S-Class included Silver Fang and his dojo, Atomic Samurai and his swordsmanship school, Pig God and his home, and Child Emperor with his laboratory. Metal Knight wasn't considered since he NEVER left wherever he lived, and someone like Watchdog Man legitimately NEVER moved from his spot in his city unless it was S-Class business.

So, for Flashy Flash to be out and about meant something was happening. Saitama COULD just keep walking. This wasn't his problem; it was Flashy's. But, as the leader of S-Class, if something went wrong during his mission and Saitama could've helped but chose not to, he'd feel like the world's strongest ass rather than its hero.

"...Tatsumaki's going to throw me to Mars..." Saitama thought before sneakily following the ninja.


Minutes Later, At An Abandoned Warehouse...


"LISTEN UP!" An intimidatingly tall, muscular bald man shouted. "WE'RE GOING TO HEAD OUT SOON! WHEN WE DO, OUR TARGETS ARE POSH HOTELS! FANCY RESTAURANTS! HIGH-END SHOPPING MALLS AND STORES! THOSE ABSTRACT SCULPTURES THAT KEEP POPPING UP EVERYWHERE! FANCY FOUNTAINS! EXPENSIVE CARS! AND ANYONE WEARING DESIGNER CLOTHES!" He yelled. "DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?" He asked.

Within the confines of this unused building was a large group of men. They each wore an identical suit of black armor with a peculiar design. They almost resembled bombs or wrecking balls. The only other uniform feature across the men was their shaven heads.

Standing at the front of the gathering was their leader. The previously mentioned tall, muscular man with a lack of hair. This individual was known as Hammerhead, a low-class criminal often associated with bank robberies and other thug-like activities. However, recently, it seemed he wanted to move up in the world since he escalated from theft to terrorism.

"The Paradisers". That was the name of the group Hammerhead had formed. Its members were all men who were fed up with the status quo. They wanted to change the world for the better and tear down the barriers of inequality. They hoped to make a world where everyone could relax, enjoy life, and be happy.

Not a bad goal, to be honest. Yet, their methods and REAL reasons behind this drive weren't so noble. First of all, they stole their high-tech suits. Second, they planned to use them to cause mass destruction. Third, they were all a bunch of lazy bums. Finally, they were idiots. That last point had little to do with anything, but it's still true.

Regardless, the Paradisers were about to begin their crusade. They'd tear down all of City F if they had to. NOTHING, and NO ONE, would stand in their way! Well, if you didn't count the heroes. Or the suspicious man who was currently watching them from the shadows.

"Really? A bunch of idiots?" The man wondered while spectating. Truly, this couldn't be the reason for Flashy Flash's appearance, could it? "A B-Class hero could handle these guys. Heck, maybe even someone from C. Why would the Association send an S-Class?" He questioned.

"YES! YOU THERE IN THE BACK!" Hammerhead called upon one of his members as he raised his hand.

"Sir! What will we do if we encounter heroes? C and B-Class should be fine. But if someone from A or S gets called in, we'll be in trouble!" The member pointed out.

"AH! A FAIR QUESTION!" Hammerhead praised his subordinate. Geez, did this guy have no volume control? "I HAVE SOUGHT THE HELP OF A MERCENARY! HE WASN'T CHEAP, BUT HE'S ASSURED ME HE CAN HANDLE ANY HERO! EVEN THOSE IN S-CLASS WITHOUT ISSUE!" He revealed.

A myriad of excited chatter came from the Paradisers. Of COURSE, their boss was smart enough to do something like that! Nothing could stop them now!

"A mercenary who can take on S-Class?..." The man pondered. "Maybe that's why Flashy Flash is here. If someone like that does exist, then they'd be a big-"

"Don't. Move."

A voice whispered to the shrouded man from behind himself. Accompanying the words was a well-sharpened sword wrapping itself around the man's neck.

"...Shit..." The man thought as the blade was lightly pressed against his throat.

"Answer my questions with head movements. Make any noise, and you're dead." The voice demanded. "Tell me, are you their mercenary?" It asked.

In response, the man shook his head. Additionally, that confirmed to him who this voice belonged to if that was their first question.

"If that's true, who are you? Why are you dressed so suspiciously?" The voice inquired.

...Dude. What the Hell? HOW was the man supposed to answer that with a nod or a shake? Thinking quickly, the man raised one of his hands slowly, then formed a C with his fingers and thumb.

"A C-Class? Makes sense. You guys are always punching above your weight." The voice said, slowly withdrawing the sword. "Listen, I will confront the men you see in a few seconds. When I do, run. That'll be your best chance of surviving the fight that will ensue. If you die because you're ignorant and stick around, that's not on me." It told him before its owner faded into the shadows.

Great. Super. Well done, mysterious man. The WHOLE point was to come here and watch in secret. You were discovered by the ONLY person you DIDN'T want to learn of your presence. Maybe you should take Flashy Flash up on his ninjutsu lessons.

But that was an idea to be considered later. The man waited to see how Flashy Flash would handle the situation. It's not that he didn't have faith in him; he just didn't want to leave him without backup. You know, in case things got weird.

"ALRIGHT! IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS, IT'S TIME TO MOVE OUT!" Hammerhead commanded while pointing to the front of the warehouse. "MARCH ONWARD, MEN! LET US CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER! LET US MAKE PARADISE!" He passionately shouted.

Roaring in agreement, the group of men turned around and began their departure. Step by step, they approached the entrance. When they were ten feet away, that is when they'd be confronted.

FWOOSH

Like a specter appearing from nowhere, the shining visage of Flashy Flash appeared before the Paradisers. His cape fluttered from his speed, and his body shimmered like a star.

"HALT!" Flashy Flash commanded, pointing his sword at the men. "You will take no further steps! Evildoers, prepare to meet your justice!" He proclaimed.

...What? What was going on? That IS Flashy Flash, right? The man wondered that as he watched the S-Class hero perform so expressively.

"What's this now?" Hammerhead questioned as he moved to the front of the group. "Huh? Wait a second. Aren't you..."

"Flashy Flash? Yes. I am." Flashy Flash confirmed with a proud smile. "I, the S-Class hero, have arrived to defeat you. You will know loss by the edge of my sword should you not surrender immediately." He warned.

...Okay. Seriously. Who the Hell was this guy? This wasn't the Flashy Flash the man knew. The white-clad ninja was reserved, mostly stoic, and rarely showed emotion beyond annoyance. What was going on here?!

"Heh, I thought that's who you were," Hammerhead smirked. "To think, the Association's already sent one of their best after us. See, men? I told you we'd be taken seriously." He said.

"Hmph, please." Flashy Flash scoffed. "I'm not here because of the pathetic little group you call a terrorist organization. After the Association told me about you, I knew I had to strike you down for another reason." He stated.

"Oh? And what reason is that?" Hammerhead asked.

"Your heads!" Flashy Flash answered, pointing to their shiny domes with his weapon. "You dare bare the look of my leader! If you were to commit ANY villainous act, it would reflect badly on him! I won't allow such a great man's reputation to be dragged through the mud by cretins like you!" He explained.

Wow. The man never knew Flashy Flash had so much respect for One Punch Man. Sure, he always praised him like the others. But still, it was rather flattering to learn how highly Flashy Flash thought of his leader. Although, it also added more pressure on One Punch Man to live up to his expectations.

"Heh. Are you serious?" A new voice spoke. However, it seemed to come from all directions. "THIS is what has become of you, Flashy?" It asked.

Following that, a strange phenomenon occurred. From the shadows of the warehouse, a silhouette extended. It soon took the form of a man, and from it, a person emerged.

This individual wore a full-body black suit with silver armor and a long purple scarf. A sheathed blade on their backside could be easily seen. Yet, even without noticing it, they emitted an aura of death. There was no denying this person was a killer.

"Sonic. It's been a while." Flashy Flash greeted. Wait. Did they know each other?

"Speed O' Sound Sonic." The mysterious stranger corrected with a smirk. "You should address me properly, considering I'm your better." He said.

"My better? How?" Flashy Flash questioned. For a moment, his expression shifted. The man noticed a look of familiarity on the ninja. One that went beyond simple association.

"Look at us. That's all you need to do to have your answer." Sonic began. "I've spent every day making a name for myself. Honing my skills and perfecting my techniques. But you? You became a hero. Worst of all, you've become theatrical. Seriously, what was with that performance just now? Are you trying to act cool?" He explained, ending in a question.

"T-That's not important." Flashy Flash responded. Was he embarrassed? "As for what you've said, I don't understand how becoming a hero makes me lesser. Do you think I've grown lazy? That I've allowed my skills to dull?" He questioned.

"How could you not?" Sonic challenged. "Face it. There's NOTHING to be gained from killing monsters and helping the weak. Both are equally mindless; they don't make you work for your victories. Plus, there's all the showboating and other crap that heroes do. Not even One Punch Man's exempt from this. Did you see how crazy everyone got yesterday when they heard some other moron would become his student? It was-"

KLANG

In an instant, Flashy Flash was on top of Sonic. However, their speeds were practically the same. So, without any issue, Sonic could draw his sword and easily block the other's attack.

"Do not speak ill of my leader." Flashy Flash scolded. His tone was cold, and his expression unfriendly.

"Whoa! Struck a nerve." Sonic taunted with a smirk. "Don't tell me you're one of his fans, Flashy. Sure, I'll admit, the guy's strong. The whole "One Punch Man" name isn't just for show. But I've seen enough of that guy's face plastered everywhere to form an impression of him. The man's a fool. Barely seems to know or care about what's happening whenever you see him." He said.

In response, Flashy Flash attempted to deliver a kick to Sonic's abdomen. Of course, the black-clad ninja jumped backward and evaded the swift strike.

"Enough!" Flashy Flash exclaimed, his sword aimed at Sonic. "One Punch Man has done more for me than you can imagine. The same applies to all heroes, be they S-Class or otherwise. I won't allow anyone, even you, to insult him like this!" He stated.

...He has? That's what the man wondered. Sure, One Punch Man's done a lot for everybody. He DID consider himself helpful and tried to be considerate when he could. But was his impact on Flashy Flash and so many others so significant? If so, One Punch Man had NO idea that was the case.

"Heh, fine then. If you want me to shut up, then make me." Sonic invited, beckoning him to approach with a gesture of his hand.

"Gladly." Flashy Flash accepted with a determined glare.

After that, the men disappeared. Well, to the Paradisers, at least. The man, who was still hidden, could track them just fine. But for the Paradisers, all they could see and hear were flashes of light and metal clashing.

"Boss? Should we help him out?" One of the members asked Hammerhead.

"Nah. THIS is why I hired him. He'll keep Flashy Flash busy long enough for us to go and do what we need to. If Sonic's not done by the time more heroes, maybe another S-Class, show up, we'll retreat and regroup." Hammerhead answered.

"Understood." The member replied with a nod of his head.

With Flashy Flash and Sonic duking it out, the Paradisers returned their focus to the-

...

...

"Who the Hell are you?" Hammerhead asked. Out of nowhere, ANOTHER person appeared to block their path.

However, unlike Flashy Flash, this individual was...nobody. None of the Paradisers recognized them. They wore a ball cap, sunglasses, a face mask, and a questionable hoodie. This was some random jackass from off the street.

"..." The stranger didn't say anything. Were they scared?

"Boss, I think this is a C-Class hero." One of the members suggested. "They probably followed Flashy Flash, hoping to make a name for themselves." They explained.

"Ah! That makes sense! Good thinking." Hammerhead praised his subordinate.

"DAMN IT!" Flashy Flash thought with a grimace. "What's that idiot thinking?! He had plenty of time to escape!" He angrily yelled in his mind.

"Pay attention, Flashy!" Sonic ordered as their blades clashed again. "Don't worry about those guys!" He added.

"Hey, listen," Hammerhead spoke, slowly approaching the stranger. "I get it. You're a hero, and we're the bad guys in your eyes. It's understandable." He said, stopping once he was right in front of them. "But, I promise we won't tell anyone if you leave. Plus, we won't have to break all of your bones. How's that sound?" He offered.

In reply, the stranger held up their hand. They then brought their middle finger and thumb together. Almost as if they were about to-

BOOM

Human bowling. That's what just happened. Hammerhead was the ball, and the Paradisers were the pins. Each man went flying in a different direction. They all hit the ground, ceiling, or walls hard enough to render them unconscious, including Hammerhead, who went face-first into the wall on the OTHER side of the building.

When that transpired, Flashy Flash and Sonic came to an immediate stop. Both stared at the stranger in amazement. What did they just do? HOW did they do that?

A few seconds then went by. The stranger lowered their arm and noticed the two ninjas staring at them. So, they turned around and headed for the exit.

"HOLD ON!"

Flashy Flash and Sonic simultaneously shouted. Before the stranger could attempt to book it, Flashy Flash reached them and placed his hand on their shoulder.

"Explain yourself!" Flashy Flash demanded. "There's NO way that you're C-Class! You'd be A, no, S-Class with that strength!" He exclaimed.

"..." The stranger made no noises. They were busy trying to figure out how to get through this.

Unfortunately, not the patient type, Flashy Flash ripped off the face mask and sunglasses.

"Answer me!" Flashy Flash demanded. "Who in the world are-"

Ever seen a man's heart stop? Depending on the context, it could be mortifying. But for this situation, admittedly, it was very funny. Flashy Flash, like a deer in headlights, stared in horror at the stranger's identity.

"...Whelp," Saitama said, trying to think of something to say. "I...guess you figured it out...good job..." He praised his fellow S-Class hero. Hoping that will make this less awkward.

Sadly, it did not. Flashy Flash dropped the sunglasses, face mask, and even his sword.

"One...One Punch...Man..." Flashy Flash stuttered out before suddenly falling to his knees. "I...I can't believe...oh my god..." He went on, hanging his head in shame.

"Whoa! Flashy Flash! Calm down!" Saitama frantically exclaimed. "It's no big deal! This is a HUGE misunderstanding! I swear!" He said.

"I...was so rude to you...I...I...I put my sword to your throat!" Flashy Flash shouted. That realization hit him like a freight train.

"Yes! Yes, you did! But you thought I was the mercenary those guys were talking about! It's cool, Flashy Flash! Honest!" Saitama insisted.

"Ahem."

Sonic, who was now standing closer to them, cleared his throat.

"So, you're One Punch Man." Sonic began, sizing up Saitama. "The strongest hero in the world. People say you're fast, as well. I wonder, are you faster than me?" He inquired.

"Don't. You. Dare." Flashy Flash warned while getting to his feet. His usual cool attitude had returned.

"What? Are you scared I might be the one to do it? To finally deal a blow to One Punch Man that'll wound him?" Sonic asked with a smirk.

"Please. One Punch Man could end you without even trying. You are simply beneath him. Unworthy of his time." Flashy Flash answered. As things continued, it became more and more apparent to Saitama just how HIGHLY regarded he was to Flashy Flash.

"Why don't you let him speak for himself? Or is all of this respect you're showing just that? A show?" Sonic suggested.

"One Punch Man." Flashy Flash started, turning to face his leader. "You don't need to humor him. Let me fight in your place." He stated, ending with a request.

"No. It's fine." Saitama permitted, surprising them both. "From what I saw, Sonic's as fast as you are and is as skilled with a sword. It'll be interesting to see if he is better than you or if that was just big talk from someone with a fragile ego." He said.

"Fragile ego?" Sonic questioned, clearly annoyed by that.

"Yeah. What else would you call it?" Saitama asked. His hands were now in his hoodie's pockets. "The first thing you said to Flashy Flash was how you're better than him. Yet, when you guys started fighting, he blocked all of your attacks, and you his. It's embarrassing to talk so much smack and not make good on it." He told him.

To that, Flashy Flash smirked. Perhaps this was a good thing after all. Sonic did seem too prideful. A nice serving of humility from his leader would help to improve Sonic's character.

However, Sonic didn't see it that way. This arrogant son of bitch was talking down to him. So what if he was the number one hero? Heroes were pathetic. Surely, even with his well-known strength, One Punch Man couldn't beat him. Sonic had techniques, weapons, and skills. All he could do was throw punches!

"Middle of the room. Now." Sonic ordered before heading there himself.

Having no issues with that, Saitama followed. Flashy Flash remained where he was to act as a spectator. Even if the compulsion struck him, he would not interfere.

Soon, Sonic and Saitama stood opposite of each other. Sonic prepared himself by entering a stance. Saitama did nothing and kept his hands in his hoodie's pockets.

"You know, you're the only thing anyone talks about in the circles I hang around," Sonic informed him.

"Oh? Is that so?" Saitama inquired.

"Mhm. Assassins. Crime syndicates. Monsters. Every member of the underworld won't shut up about One Punch Man. It's irritating." Sonic explained.

"Huh, good to know," Saitama said. Truthfully, he expected as much. "Want me to count down?" He offered, getting back to the fight at hand.

"Heh, sure." Sonic accepted.

"Okay. One."

BANG

That wasn't the sound of a gun being fired. That was Sonic's sword. It shattered into countless pieces when it came into contact with Saitama's neck. Resulting in several metal shards clattering as they hit the floor.

Sonic, of course, was shocked by this. He stood still for a moment, processing what had happened. The other ninja in the room, however, had a few words.

"Sonic!" Flashy Flash exclaimed in outrage. "Are you so disrespectful that you would attempt something so underhanded?!" He questioned.

"Yeah. That was pretty sneaky. Then again, that sounds about right for a ninja." Saitama said.

"...Heh...impressive." Sonic complimented his opponent, sheathing what was left of his sword. "So, a weapon won't be enough. But how about THIS?" He asked before disappearing.

Now, Sonic moved around the warehouse at blinding speed. Faster and faster, he went, to the point that Flashy Flash started to question if he was seeing the real Sonic or his afterimages.

"Credit where it's due; he's continued his training." Flashy Flash thought, admittedly impressed. "Even so, it's no match for One Punch Man. I wonder what he'll do?" He contemplated.

"Are you afraid yet, One Punch Man?" Sonic asked while leaping. "No one has EVER survived this next attack!" He proudly exclaimed.

"Oh. A finishing move? Neat. I haven't experienced one of those in a while." Saitama replied with a smile, genuinely excited to see what would happen.

Although unintentional, this worsened Sonic's annoyance. This cocky bastard. With this next strike, he'd be put in his place!

FWOOSH

In an instant, Sonic was behind and above Saitama. From a downward diagonal angle, the ninja intended to deliver a powerful kick that could cut a man in half. However, Saitama wanted to see what the move was. So, he turned around.

Unfortunately, given the positioning, the first thing Saitama saw was Sonic's crotch. So, out of instinct, he held up one of his fists to protect himself. He didn't want to have another man's privates touching him. Sadly, for Sonic's poor, sensitive area, he was moving at blinding speeds and about to hit an immovable road bump.

What followed truly can't be described. Time seemed to slow down for everyone present. Saitama and Flashy Flash watched in horror as the collision unfolded. Sonic, on the other hand, felt a pain he had never experienced in his life.

Immediately, the ninja fell to the floor with a violent THUD. Sonic's mouth was open, but nothing came out. He lay there, unmoving, with an anguished expression on his face.

"Oh, crap! I'm SO sorry!" Saitama apologized, feeling immediate regret.

"One Punch Man, you have nothing to be sorry for." Flashy Flash assured as he approached the duo. "Sonic should've been more careful. This humiliating defeat is of his own making." He said.

"Sure, but I didn't mean to hit him! Especially not THERE!" Saitama exclaimed, still feeling guilty.

"Don't worry. Sonic's been through a lot. He'll bounce back from this in no time." Flashy Flash insisted. "But before he and the Paradisers recover, we should hand them over to the authorities." He suggested.

"No need. I've already called the Association. They've got people on the way." Saitama revealed as he took out and held up his phone.

"Of course you have. I should expect nothing less." Flashy Flash replied, feeling foolish for not considering that.

"Yup." Saitama said, making the "p" pop. "...Well, I guess I'll head out. Don't want to cause another media frenzy like yesterday." He decided, trying to find a polite way of saying he wanted to leave since this was getting awkward.

"One Punch Man." Flashy Flash began, preventing his departure.

"Yes?" Saitama responded.

"Would it be alright if I accompany you? I'd like to discuss some things with you." Flashy Flash requested.

Oh. God. No. Saitama didn't need more of this. Yes, he did this to himself. But all he wanted to do was go back home. NOTHING good could come of this.

"...Sure." Saitama permitted. Damn it. He wanted to say no. He did! But he didn't want to make things uncomfortable between him and Flashy Flash. Well, more than they already were.

"Thank you." Flashy Flash said with a smile, sheathing his sword.

"Yeah...no problem..." Saitama assured, even though he wasn't being entirely honest.

And with that, the pair of S-Class heroes left. Leaving all of the unconscious Paradisers and a seemingly comatose Sonic to the Association employees that would arrive shortly.