Tatsumaki had NO idea WHAT King's talents and skills were. She knew he was Saitama's disciple, so he had to be strong. She was also aware that King was quite fond of video games. But since she never had an interest in them nor asked him about them, she didn't know the extent of it.
Yet, after finishing their drinks and talking about what color the apartment building looked best in for a while, Tatsumaki and King went to the top floor. This was the level of the structure that she was remodeling for herself.
Upon entering the first apartment outside the stairwell, King was amazed to see how much the Esper had already accomplished. Tatsumaki had done away with all of the walls separating each unit. She also took down the isles that separated the kitchens from the living space and the small walls that concealed the bathrooms.
Tatsumaki then explained that she would handle the kitchens and bathrooms later. Currently, she is trying to figure out the proper layout for everything. The Esper made no plans to remove the balconies, stating that she enjoyed them and could do a lot with some more materials. So, her focus was on the following:
-Do I want multiple rooms? If so, how will they be placed? If not, how would I want the entire room to look?
-Where will the appliances go? Kitchen amenities, a washer, a dryer, a bathtub shower combo, and a television were the essentials. Anything else could be sorted out afterward.
-Remaining furniture. Couches. Tables. Chairs. And, of course, a bed. That last one ultimately depended on the first task. But still, picking one out and deciding its placement was a huge deal.
With this list of objectives provided, Tatsumaki expected King to offer advice and suggestions. She didn't anticipate him creating fully-detailed floor plans and hypothetical room layouts. Although the SECOND strongest hero in the world, King still received abundant attention and fortune like Saitama. Yet, also like the caped baldy, King was an incredibly humble and down to Earth dude.
So, when it came to King's living arrangement, he didn't need or want some extravagant mansion or castle. His apartment in City M was all that was necessary for his lifestyle. However, as King continued to purchase collector's editions and deluxe versions of video games, space became a growing concern. Eventually, he WOULD have to find more spacious accommodations if this continued (which it would), but in the meantime, King became a master of spatial organization.
He wasn't a professional home designer by any means. Yet, despite this, King had all the makings of one. He gave Tatsumaki so many ideas for her new living space. Each one, to her amazement, was FANTASTIC. The Esper was truly struggling to pick between them.
"...You know, King," Tatsumaki spoke. She and King had been silent for the past few minutes as she reviewed his proposals. "If being a hero doesn't work out for you, you should get into interior decoration." She told him.
"...What?" King responded, unsure if he heard her correctly.
"I'm serious. You're a natural at it." Tatsumaki insisted, briefly looking over her shoulder at him. "All of these are great. I would've just moved things around until I was satisfied. But thanks to you, I have an actual vision in mind. That's something to be proud of." She praised him.
"Oh...uh...thanks, Tatsumaki," King replied with a small flattered blush. "I didn't think they were all that impressive. I just used my experience in moving around the stuff in my apartment and applied it here. Really." He explained.
"As I said, you're a natural," Tatsumaki repeated, returning her attention to the designs. "I...think I want to go with the completely open one. As for a bathroom, I'll dedicate a fourth of the space to it at the far end of the floor." She decided.
"Damn. That's a big bathroom." King commented with a surprised expression.
"What can I say? I like to live luxuriously." Tatsumaki said with a smile before continuing. "Now, regarding the balconies. I think one BIG balcony would look nice once we get more supplies. We could even make a garden to liven it." She suggested.
"Hmm..." King hummed, an idea coming to mind.
"What is it?" Tatsumaki inquired, looking back at him again.
"Hm? Oh. Sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt." King apologized.
"No, no. Please, go on." Tatsumaki invited. After seeing his plans, she trusted and wanted ANY input he had to offer.
"Well, I was thinking. If you wanted to start a garden, why not on the roof instead? Saitama has a cactus because, apart from not needing that much water, the sun only hits this side of the building for a certain amount each day. Making a garden on the balcony wouldn't be impossible, but you'd have a far easier time on the roof." King stated.
"Yeah...you're right..." Tatsumaki agreed, thinking about it as well. "Okay, we'll make a garden on the roof. As for the balcony, I'd still like to use some flowers or other plants for it. Maybe more cacti?" She proposed.
"Sure. There are plenty of types; a lot even have flowers. You could spruce up the balcony and not worry about the plants not getting enough sunlight." King said.
"Alright. It's settled." Tatsumaki decided with a clap of her hands. "Plus, it'll be something Saitama, and I have in common." She added with a smile, only to realize how that could be interpreted afterward. "But it'd be for the sake of the building's appearance! Having more cacti on the balcony is purely for a unified aesthetic! Nothing else!" She asserted.
"Of course." King agreed, not dumb enough to challenge the truthfulness of her reasoning.
"Speaking of Saitama, where the Hell is he?" Tatsumaki questioned, quickly changing the subject. "It's nearly been two hours since he left. Unless City F exploded, there's NO reason he shouldn't be back by now." She said.
"Well, you know, Saitama. Wherever that guy is, trouble follows." King responded.
"I thought that was you?" Tatsumaki asked. However, it was with sincere confusion, not sarcasm.
"Uh...yeah...I...don't have the best luck..." King confirmed with a sigh. Just thinking about all of his troubles took the wind out of him.
Knock Knock
"Tatsumaki? You in there?" The voice of Saitama called from the other side of the door closest to the building stairwell. He asked if she was present because she might've returned to her residence to fetch her things.
"Huh. Speak of the devil." Tatsumaki said. Admittedly, Saitama had a bizarre way of perfectly arriving when it was the most appropriate.
Both the Esper and King walked over to the door. However, when Tatsumaki opened it, the duo's eyes fixated on something other than Saitama.
"Okay, so..." Saitama began as he reached into his shopping bag and pulled out a tile. "I got all of the samples you wanted. I think you'll want something like this. But, just in case, I got as many carpet and rug samples as I did for tiles and hardwood flooring." He told her.
"...Baldy..." Tatsumaki slowly spoke, her brow rapidly furrowing. "I asked you to go shopping for supplies...WHY did you bring back a person?..." She asked.
Standing behind Saitama was Flashy Flash. Yes, THE Flashy Flash. Their colleague and fellow S-Class hero. What the Hell was he doing here?
"Oh! So you noticed him?" Saitama questioned, trying to play it off as no big deal. "I ran into Flashy. He was in the middle of a mission. Stuff happened. And now we're here." He explained. Although, it wasn't in too much detail.
"King. Tornado." Flashy Flash politely greeted.
"..." Tatsumaki was quiet. She stared at Saitama, almost as if trying to melt his head with invisible lasers.
For a few seconds, everyone stood still and did nothing. It was like an Old West gun draw. Instead of bullets, Saitama hoped Tatsumaki would let this go without further explanation while she waited for him to explain himself.
"...I've got an idea!" King exclaimed, hoping to be the mediator. "It's getting close to lunch. Saitama and Flashy Flash were busy in City F. We've been busy here. Why don't we make some food and relax? That'll make it easier to have a conversation." He suggested.
"Wow! What a great idea, King!" Saitama praised with a smile. He was thankful for the assistance from his best friend. "My fridge is full of ingredients. I can make whatever anyone wants. All you'll need to do is-"
"No." Flashy Flash denied, surprising Saitama and King. "I refuse to take advantage of your kindness. If we are to eat, I request that I be the one to prepare it." He stated.
Uh...okay. That was unexpected. But, hey, Flashy Flash's offer to make lunch wasn't a big deal. It didn't-
"A bit rude, don't you think?" Tatsumaki questioned. Oh...no... "Our leader has offered to welcome us into his home AND make us a meal. Yet, you reject his kindness? Isn't that disrespectful?" She asked.
"Um...Tatsumaki...I think-"
Tatsumaki shot King a glare. Don't. Say. Another. Word. The message was received loud and clear.
"Hmph. Your logic is incredibly flawed." Flashy Flash replied, unphased by her words. "I wish to show my gratitude towards our leader by cooking him and us a delicious meal. That is the utmost respect I can show in this situation. To imply otherwise is fairly ignorant." He stated.
"Ah. So, you're calling me stupid?" Tatsumaki challenged.
"I didn't choose the word. But It is rather accurate." Flashy Flash responded.
Oh. Dear. God. King frantically looked back and forth between the two of them. Saitama, now, of ALL times, was the moment to do something!
"Guys, enough," Saitama interjected. When everyone looked at him, he had a serious expression. "A lot is going on. Everybody's got questions and wants answers. If you want them, you're going to be civil. But if your attitudes get in the way, everyone can leave and go home." He firmly told them.
It was rare for Saitama to be strict with his fellow heroes but now was such a time. They were all, at the very least, associates. There was no reason for such hostility.
"...My apologies, One Punch Man." Flashy Flash apologized with a bow. "You have my word; I will be polite from here on." He vowed.
"Tatsumaki?" Saitama asked, not hearing anything from her.
"..." Tatsumaki stayed silent, debating what she should say. "...Ugh. Okay. The ninja can stay..." She reluctantly agreed. That was the best they were going to get out of her.
"Cool," Saitama said, his face immediately reverting to its usual state.
With that, the four heroes headed for the stairwell. There was food to eat and a story to tell.
A Short While Ago, On A Train Bound For City Z...
A bullet train. It doesn't need to be said how fast these things go. It's the entire point of their existence. Yet, despite the impressive speed, there was still a lot of time to pass in the transit between cities.
Luckily, not many people rode this train at this time of day. Pretty much everyone worked in the cities they lived. Primarily, the occupants of this train were heroes who needed a fast way to get to situations to lend their aid.
But for now, there was no crisis to attend to. At least, not on a scale big enough to warrant a call to action by the Association. So, only two people rode this train. One was Flashy Flash; the other was a re-disguised Saitama.
After solving the issue of the Paradisers and Speed O' Sound Sonic, Saitama gathered his sunglasses, facemask, and shopping bag before the duo departed. He left the items he bought for Tatsumaki outside of the warehouse in case a fight broke out, which it did.
Now, both men sat next to each other on this vacant train. Saitama waited for Flashy Flash to start a conversation since he wanted to talk.
"...One Punch Man." Flashy Flash started. FINALLY, enough of the awkward silence.
"Yeah?" Saitama responded.
"Just to confirm, you saw everything, didn't you?" Flashy Flash asked.
"Are you referring to how you acted when confronting the Paradisers?" Saitama guessed.
"...Yes..." Flashy Flash hesitantly confirmed.
"Yup. I saw it all." Saitama answered, causing the ninja to sigh.
"I...can explain..." Flashy Flash started. "I've...been trying to be more expressive. I want to show more emotion when confronting monsters and villains and interacting with the public." He confessed.
"Ah. Okay. That makes a LOT more sense." Saitama said. "If you don't mind my asking, why do you want to do that? Did something happen to make you not be as stoic?" He inquired.
"..." Flashy Flash was silent. Uh oh. Did Saitama overstep?
"Sorry." Saitama quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to pry. Forgive me. I let curiosity get the better-"
"It's you."
...Huh? Did Saitama hear that? It's you. That's what it sounded like.
Now, one might immediately assume something weird like romantic interest. But Saitama wasn't some crazy fan FAR too obsessed with pairing heroes together. So, what did the ninja mean by that?
"Could...you elaborate?" Saitama requested, not wanting to make assumptions.
"If I do, prepare for an earful." Flashy Flash warned. "To fully explain everything, I'll need to say a lot. Is that okay?" He asked.
"Sure. We've got plenty of time." Saitama permitted.
"Very well." Flashy Flash said as he closed his eyes. "To paint the full picture, we need to look back. When you and I first met, One Punch Man." He began.
"HOLD ON!"
Briefly, In Saitama's Apartment...
Tatsumaki had slammed her hands onto the table. King jumped slightly from the sudden impact and loud sound it created. Saitama, although unaffected, looked at her in confusion. Flashy Flash ignored the outburst; he was busy cooking in his leader's kitchen.
"What?" Saitama questioned, unsure of her outburst.
"Are we SERIOUSLY going to have a flashback within a flashback?" Tatsumaki asked. "Can't you just give us a summary? Don't you HATE long-winded crap?" She added.
"I do. But Flashy didn't waste time with pointless details. He was straight to the point with everything that mattered." Saitama answered.
"...Ugh. FINE." Tatsumaki groaned, sitting back down. "Continue." She said with a wave of her hand.
A Few Years Ago, During The Early Age Of The Association...
"HAHAHA! RUN! RUN, YOU PLEBIANS! YOU CANNOT FATHOM MY POWER! YOUR MINDS ARE FAR TOO FEEBLE TO APPRECIATE ITS GREATNESS!"
The shouting voice belonged to a giant eyeball. No, that wasn't a joke. A massive eyeball that moved around on long red tendrils terrorized City E. No one was sure of where it came from, only that it was, at minimum, a dragon-level threat.
Apart from the grotesque nature of its appearance, another detail about it was immensely unsettling. Often, eyeball-focused monsters are depicted as having a multitude of them, each looking in a different direction for a full three-hundred-and-sixty-degree vision.
Yet this monster was different. It only had one ocular sphere, but it was covered in countless pupils. So, it still accomplishes the same effect. But honestly, it was more disturbing than multiple eyes. It was almost a giant black void that stared at you.
If left unchecked, this monster could easily reduce City E to rubble. Thankfully, the Hero Association existed. Furthermore, they had dispatched a recently enlisted S-Class hero. One that they were certain would swiftly kill this monster.
Slowly, a lone figure walked past the fleeing populace. His body was clad in a white garb. On his hip, a sheathed blade.
"Hm?" The monster noticed the approaching individual even before they were separated from the crowd. "Who might you be? A cosplayer?" It asked.
Upon being addressed, the figure stopped. Waiting another minute for the civilians to be out of harm's way, he'd reveal his identity.
"I am from the Hero Association." The figure spoke calmly, unaffected by the monster's visage. "I will serve as your executioner. If it eases you, I am Flashy Flash. Now, you know the name of your death." He stated.
"...PFFT, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The monster roared in laughter. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?! YOU LOOK LIKE THE PROTAGONIST OF AN RPG! WHAT A JOKE! A RIOT!" It chortled.
Unaffected by the monster's mockery, Flashy Flash drew his sword. He then entered a stance; he intended to end this with one strike.
"Flashy Slash."
FWOOSH
At speeds that could not be perceived, Flashy Flash attacked his opponent. He saw no point in spending more time on this than there needed to be. Looking over his shoulder, he expected to see the eyeball severed from its tendrils.
"Ooh! Nice try! Seriously!" The monster praised. Did it dodge that attack? How? "I didn't think anyone could move that fast. You might put up a challenge." It admitted.
"Tsk, how annoying." Flashy Flash commented with a click of his tongue. "Tell me, how did you evade that strike? Teleportation? Immense speed?" He inquired.
"Nah, I just knew what you would do." The monster began as it pointed at its pupils. "I see everything. I transformed into what you see now because I appreciated the details of everything I ever saw. Books. Movies. Games. The world. Etc. Nothing escaped my flawless gaze." It continued, now pointing at Flashy Flash. "I see it all. Every slight twitch or movement of your muscles. The way your feet flexed indicated that you were about to move. All I needed to do was dodge at the right time. Additionally, as you were in motion, my pupils could track and process the information. So, while you are impressively quick, it won't matter. There's NOTHING you can do that I won't notice." It concluded.
"Hm, interesting." Flashy Flash said, genuinely fascinated. "Perhaps you'll require some effort. For that, I promise to respect you in your final moments. So long as you continue not to bore me." He told him.
"Ha! Sure." The monster responded, eager for the fight to continue. "Try as you might, you'll NEVER land a blow! But defeating someone like you will be a great start to the reputation of Oculon the Observant!" It exclaimed.
From there, a fight ensued. Flashy Flash assaulted Oculon with everything he had. Yet, with no effort, the monster evaded. Its vision could perceive the world as if it were going frame-by-frame. Nothing the ninja could do would ever meet its mark, regardless of power or speed.
Minutes went by, eventually nearing an hour. Flashy Flash's stamina never faltered, but no progress was made. The same was true for Oculon. With the same ease that it could dodge the ninja, so too did its attacks miss.
"Ugh, this is boring, now." Oculon groaned. "Neither one of us is getting anywhere. How about we call it here and fight another day?" It suggested.
"Not a chance." Flashy Flash rejected, pointing his sword at the creature. "This fight doesn't end until you're dead." He firmly stated.
"Ugh. You're one of THOSE..." Oculon groaned again. "...Hm..." It hummed, an idea forming in its mind.
Suddenly, Oculon sent all of its tendrils into the ground. Really? This was its next attack?
"Pathetic." Flashy Flash thought, closing his eyes and focusing on his hearing. "Their movements are audible. Once they appear, I'll slash them in a single action. Even if it can see my movements, if I wait until when the attack is near its completion, it won't be able to stop. That'll be the end of this." He reasoned.
Listening closely, Flashy Flash tracked each tendril's path. They were spreading far, undoubtedly trying to surround him. But then, something happened that managed to surprise Flashy Flash. Unfortunately, it also was the window Oculon hoped for.
Instead of using the tendrils to attack the ninja, the monster devastated the surrounding environment. The streets and sidewalks were shattered. Buildings crumbled and began to fall. From below and above, Flashy Flash was surrounded by concrete and steel.
Of course, Flashy Flash could evade all of this using his speed. This was barely a concern. So, that's precisely what he-
THWAP
The sound of the destruction masked the movement of the tendrils still underground. As a result, Flashy Flash didn't hear two of them move beneath him. In an instant, they emerged and wrapped themselves around his legs. The ninja was stuck.
And, before Flashy Flash could strike at them with his sword, he was buried in the rubble.
...
...
Everything was dark. Everything was quiet. Was Flashy Flash dead? No. He could feel several stones on every side and at every angle.
Unfortunately, this meant that Flashy Flash couldn't move. The slightest error in judgment could snap one of his bones. He had to remain perfectly still. However, the ninja did hear the stones shifting.
"Ah, there you are," Oculon spoke as the rock covering Flashy Flash's face was moved. "What'd you think? Pretty clever, huh?" It asked.
"..." Flashy Flash gave no reply. He would not honor this creature with acknowledgment or praise.
"No feedback? Seriously? Fine. Be that way." Oculon said, slowly raising a tendril to the front of the ninja's face. "I guess we'll skip the chit-chat and get straight to the part where I kill you. It's been fun, and thanks for the experience." It told him.
At that moment, Flashy Flash went through his options. He could lunge forward, likely breaking all his limbs but landing a headbutt. He could free his right arm and hand, which held his sword, and maybe stab Oculon. However, doing so would surely break Flashy Flash's left arm, and there was a high possibility of damaging his legs.
Any action that could be taken would carry a sacrifice of some sort. What could Flashy Flash spare? His arms, legs, or one of each?
"Hey! You! The giant eyeball!"
A voice suddenly called out behind Oculon. Both the monster and the ninja looked to see who it was. Standing on the other end of the street was a man with messy black hair and a...blue tracksuit?
"...Wait..." Flashy Flash started as he squinted his eyes. "...No. It can't be. It's not." He said in disbelief.
"Hey, do you know that guy?" Oculon questioned.
"...That's...the number one hero..." Flashy Flash revealed with a sigh. Goddamn, it. WHY was this dumbass here?
"...No..." Oculon said, having the same shock as Flashy Flash. "THAT'S the top hero? Some idiot in workout clothes?" He asked.
"...Unfortunately..." Flashy Flash reluctantly confirmed.
"You guys know I can hear you, right?" The man called out to them. "You're being pretty rude." He added.
"Hold on. I'll be back." Oculon told the ninja before leaving to deal with the "top hero".
"Hey!" Flashy Flash exclaimed, speaking to the man. "Get out of here, you idiot! You're going to die!" He warned.
"Hm? You want me to leave?" The man questioned with a puzzled expression. "But you're buried in debris. What kind of person would abandon you?" He inquired.
"Eh, this guy makes a solid point," Oculon confessed as he reached the man. "Still, I get where Flashy Flash is coming from. YOU are going to die. There is NO chance at victory." He told him.
"Oh? You think so?" The man challenged.
"Ehehe, yes, I do," Oculon confirmed as it pointed to its pupils. "I see everything from the minute to the massive. There's nothing you can do that I won't see coming." He said.
"Oh. Is that so?" The man questioned.
"It is. That's how that ninja back there ended up beneath the street." Oculon explained.
"Huh...okay..." The man said, his mind working something out.
"Scared? Terrified? Feeling the weight of despair crashing down on top of you?" Oculon asked.
"No. I'm just wondering how Flashy Flash struggled against you. You're INSANELY easy to beat." The man answered.
Wow. Impressive. In one go, this guy managed to insult two people simultaneously. Luckily for him, the one with the sword was still incapacitated.
"Okay, there's being stupid, and then there's just not having a brain," Oculon stated, pointing a tendril at the man. "Do you HONESTLY believe I'm SO easy to defeat?" He pressed, wanting to be sure.
"Yeah. I could do it in one move." The man promised.
"Then, let's see it." Oculon requested. "Show us how you'll defeat me in ONE move." He insisted.
"Okay." The man accepted. After all, that WAS why he came here.
Flashy Flash and Oculon watched the man carefully. With his hands in his pockets, the man reared back his left leg.
"A kick? Are you KIDDING me?!" Flashy Flash thought with widened eyes. "He's dumber than I thought! Does he think I wouldn't have tried that?! What the Hell is wrong with him?!" He wondered.
"Pfft. Oh my god." Oculon thought, suppressing a snicker. "I won't even have to move to dodge this. I'll just grab his leg when he extends it and-"
POOF
In one motion, the man kicked up a MASSIVE cloud of dirt, dust, and small debris. Even if Oculon expected that to be the outcome, there was no direction he could've gone to evade every particle, pebble, and piece of concrete.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Oculon yelled at the top of his...lungs? Did he still have those?
Falling to the ground, Oculon squirmed and writhed in agony. However, the man's genius tactics weren't finished. From his pocket, he drew a deadly weapon. Well, to anyone who was a giant eyeball. In retrospect, this was a very specific weapon.
"Serious Series. Serious Pepper."
A small jar of crushed pepper came from the man's pants pocket. He unscrewed the cap and dumped all of it onto Oculon.
The monster emitted a noise that was so high-pitched it couldn't be described. It no longer wiggled or thrashed. Instead, it lay still. The only motion that remained was a spasm or twitch every few seconds.
"SAITAMA'S SUBDUED THE MONSTER!" A man's voice from somewhere else shouted. "MOVE IN! QUICKLY! CAPTURE IT!" It ordered.
Suddenly, the street flooded with armored men and women. All of them were employees of the Association. These brave and capable individuals were part of the Association's "Monster Acquisition Force".
"Hey." The man, whose name was Saitama, spoke to one of the agents. "Flashy Flash could use some help. He's buried under that rubble." He told them while pointing to the pile of debris the ninja was trapped in.
"Understood, sir!" The agent exclaimed. "Hey! I need some hands! We got a hero down!" They told the others.
Swiftly, a small group of agents formed. They hurried over to the rubble. In no time, Flashy Flash was extracted.
"Don't move! We won't know how many injuries you have until the medics arrive." One of them instructed as they gently lowered the ninja onto the flattest ground they could find.
"..." Flashy Flash didn't say a word. Most of his being boiled with anger. A cloud of dust and a jar of pepper. That's it. That's all the man used. Are. You. Kidding?
Yet, the parts of Flashy Flash that weren't pissed off were impressed by the man. A dragon-level threat, taken out in two moves. Despite this "Saitama" looking simple and uninteresting, perhaps there was more to him. It demanded more investigation.
Back On The Train...
"After that, I studied you from afar. Not like a stalker, though. I promise. I merely observed each of your fights. I wanted to know what made Agoni place you at the top. Was it favoritism for saving his grandson? Or was there something more?" Flashy Flash stated, nearing the end of his story. "However, as time passed, I saw something happen to you. You started to change as you got stronger, even before you became One Punch Man. The fire that once burned in your eyes was fading. But then, when you reached your godly strength, it disappeared altogether. Not only that, but you became distant. Your voice and face lost all emotion. Forgive the following statement, but it's like you turned into a ghost of yourself. Seeing that happen to someone like you was difficult. Especially since I've seen it before, but if it's alright, I'd like to avoid talking about that. It's from my past, and it's not pleasant." He concluded.
City Z was only a few more stops away. Saitama and Flashy Flash hadn't been interrupted by new passengers. The train ride had only been the two of them.
This allowed Saitama to hang onto every word. He listened intently and made sure to understand what was being said. Yet, even with this effort put forth, Saitama found himself confused. This didn't clarify everything.
"Well, thanks for sharing that, Flashy." Saitama began as he turned to look at him. "But...that doesn't explain your behavior in the warehouse. Or, if it did, I missed it. Sorry if that's the case." He said, offering an apology at the end.
"No. You're correct. There's no need to say sorry." Flashy Flash assured. "But I needed to tell you of our first meeting so that this next part would make sense. As I mentioned, after our initial encounter, I started studying you. The purpose of these observations was to learn your thinking process. Essentially, I wanted to know how you handled the many monsters you dealt with and other situations. But, in doing so, I also watched how you conducted yourself.
You were never rude or insensitive to other heroes or people. You always did your best to help, even if it was simple, like helping an old woman cross the road or getting a cat from a tree. In short, I became inspired. However, I also felt regret. Even during this period, I held you in contempt. Granted, I believed you were somewhat clever and had some strength and skill. But with time, this ignorant and arrogant mindset faded.
Then, when you obtained your power, there was not a shred left to be found. You could've become a tyrant. A dictator who ruled with an unstoppable fist. You could've enacted revenge on everyone, including myself, who had been unkind and disrespectful toward you. But you didn't. You remained the same. From that moment onward, I've dedicated myself to atoning for my past transgression. I wish to live up to your standard and become a better person. Yet, as I do that, I want to repay your kindness and all you've done for me, such as saving my life. My first act of repayment is to help you regain your emotions. But, to do that, I must work on fixing mine." He explained.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Back To Saitama's Apartment...
"OH MY GOD!" Tatsumaki shouted, her head thrown back in laughter.
By now, Flashy Flash had finished cooking the food. He had brought it to the table, and everyone was eating it. Thankfully, when she began howling, Tatsumaki's mouth wasn't full of food. It would've gone everywhere had it been.
"Is something funny, Tornado?" Flashy Flash inquired. He didn't seem annoyed or angry. Then again, the man was exceptionally good at hiding his emotions.
"YOU! YOU'RE HILARIOUS!" Tatsumaki carried on, tears forming in her eyes. "YOU'RE SAITAMA'S FIRST FANBOY! OH MY GOD! THIS IS AMAZING!" She taunted.
"I. Am not. A fanboy." Flashy Flash scowled. "I only wanted to know why One Punch Man was our leader. In the pursuit of this knowledge, I learned so much more and came to understand the kind of person he was." He stated.
"UH, HUH! SURE!" Tatsumaki responded, continuing her laughter.
"Hey, Flashy," King spoke, getting his attention. "I'm still a little confused. You said that Saitama had done a lot for you. What else did he do besides save you from the eyeball monster?" He asked.
"Well, there's the times he's helped us individually and when we've come together as a team." Flashy Flash started as he reached into his cloak. "However, our leader has given me the greatest gift of all. Knowledge." He told them before pulling out a small book.
Intrigued by this, the others watched closely as Flashy Flash opened the book. When he did...dear lord. Page after page. Oceans of insanely detailed records. All of it...about One Punch Man.
"Through my observations, I've become the unofficial record keeper of our leader." Flashy Flash proudly stated. There was even a smile on his face. "Since that faithful day, I've not missed or ignored any of his significant moments and wise words. I've got them all." He told them.
For a few seconds, there was silence. But then, Tatsumaki erupted again.
"OH MY GOD!" Tatsumaki repeated, now on her back with her arms gripping her sides. "YOU ARE A FANBOY! HOLY SHIT! THIS IS INCREDIBLE!" She yelled.
"I AM NOT A FANBOY!" Flashy Flash yelled back at her, now letting loose his anger. "I AM A DEVOTED STUDENT OF OUR LEADER! AND THROUGH HIS TEACHINGS, I WILL BECOME A HERO WORTHY OF WORKING ALONGSIDE HIM!" He proclaimed.
King watched as Flashy Flashy continued to shout at a chortling Tatsumaki. Contrastly, Saitama continued staring at the book with a thousand-yard stare.
BEEP BEEP. BEEP BEEP. BEEP BEEP. BEEP BEEP.
That sharp beeping noise brought everything to a halt. Everyone recognized it. The sound of an Association-issued phone or communicator. However, only one was heard. And it came from Flashy Flash.
"Hello?" Flashy Flash calmly answered the device after pulling it out. It was impressive how quickly he could shift from irritation to serene. "...You're sure?" He asked after a few seconds, responding to the person on the other end.
Saitama, Tatsumaki, and King watched with intrigue as the call continued. Why was Flashy Flash called and not them? His mission was long over; what could the Association want or need?
"...Understood. Thank you for notifying me." Flashy Flash stated before ending the call.
"Everything okay?" King was the first to inquire as the phone was put away.
"I'm afraid not. Speed O' Sound Sonic, the mercenary hired by the criminals I dealt with earlier, was not at the scene when the Association arrived to arrest them. His location and status are unknown." Flashy Flash informed. He closed his eyes to think and folded his arms over his chest. "Most likely, he's returned to wherever he's currently staying. He'll rest, recover, and make plans to take revenge on the person who defeated him. Which means he'll be targeting our leader." He told them.
"Huh. Interesting." Saitama said, returning his focus to the food. "A ninja wants to kill me. Maybe that'll stir some excitement." He proposed.
"It most certainly will." Flashy Flash confirmed, reopening his eyes. "As such, I will stay by your side from here on. I will ensure Sonic doesn't disturb you or cause you trouble." He decided.
...
...What?
