Dining areas; always brimming with life and sound. The footsteps of the patrons getting their meals and finding their seats at the many tables within the room. The silverware used to eat the food coming into contact with the finely polished plates. The countless voices and occasional bouts of laughter that would flood the air.
Of course, not everyone would enjoy such a lively environment. Fortunately, the world's strongest hero had considered this when Child Emperor and Metal Knight conceived the building plans. He asked the pair of geniuses if it would be possible to add private rooms in the same space or nearby that could also serve as a meeting area. Even if it weren't easy, those two likely would've still said yes and figured out a solution to avoid disappointing their leader.
So, after running a few ideas by One Punch Man, the ideal meal/meeting rooms were added to the schematics and made a reality with the building's erection. Admittedly, they strongly resembled the Hero Association HQ's S-Class conference room. Why attempt something new when what already exists is so perfect in function and comfort?
Currently, most of the S-Class was present for their first official morning gathering. The earliest risers were Superalloy Darkshine and Tanktop Master. Similarly to Captain Mizuki, they always rose in the early hours to start their daily workout regimens. Hopefully, today would FINALLY be the day they got their leader to join them.
Following that pair, Flashy Flash, Drive Knight, and Zombieman. However, regarding the latter two, it was a question among S-Class if either slept. As for Flashy Flash, he actually woke up before anyone else. He wasn't first at the breakfast table because he started his day by meditating and reviewing ALL his notes from his observations of their leader. Additionally, Flashy Flash did that second thing again before going to bed every night.
After those members, the rest came in at a steady and expected pace. Pig God. Silver Fang. Atomic Samurai. King. Child Emperor. Watchdog Man. Tornado.
Genos wasn't here because he had to discuss moving with Doctor Kuseno and work out the details today. Metal Knight didn't need to send a drone since he could communicate via the technology in the room. Pig God was the first of the aforementioned group because he didn't want the best food to be gone. Tornado was the last because she was currently pissed at their leader and didn't want to do him the honor of being there promptly.
Unfortunately, the fiery Esper's plan was a failure. All of the S-Class (that could or would attend) were there except for a bat-swinging delinquent and the most important member of them all.
"Where. Is. He?" Tatsumaki slowly asked. Her brow was so bent in anger you could barely see her eyes.
"Maybe...he's just a bit tired from everything that's happened?" King suggested, hoping to calm her anger before his buddy got there.
"We did spring all of this on him when we learned about the assassin. It'd make sense if he's taking some time to relax." Isamu commented, agreeing with King.
"What else were we supposed to do? There's someone out there bold enough to threaten our leader. We couldn't just sit back and do nothing." Tanktop Master asked.
"Furthermore, this was long overdue." Metal Knight spoke; his voice came from the table. "We've needed a far more comfortable base of operations for ourselves. This'll allow us to communicate and gather more efficiently as well." He stated.
"Plus, the upgrades to our living situations aren't bad either," Zombieman commented as he looked at Pig God. "I bet the extra room's great for you. Even the elevators were made with your size in mind." He said. Believe it or not, he was being genuine. He always wondered how Pig God managed to go anywhere and do anything with his rotundness.
"It is nice. I appreciate how considerate you two were in designing the building." Pig God responded, referring to Child Emperor and Metal Knight.
"It's no trouble at all. We even designed the new train system that'll eventually reach all cities with your size in mind. The Association was concerned by the sheer cost of such a project, but One Punch Man wrote a single check that covered all the expenses. He even included extra in the event of complications or possible additions." Metal Knight informed him.
"That's our leader for you. Always thinking a step ahead." Superalloy said with a proud smile.
Click
The new meeting room of S-Class had two finely carved and polished wooden doors that led into it instead of an automatic mechanical one. That "click" sound was someone grabbing their handles and presumably opening the doors. After a few seconds, the entrance was open, and in came One Punch Man, Metal Bat, and...uh...what?
"Morning, everyone." Saitama greeted as the trio walked into the room, each member holding a plate of food.
"Um...morning, One Punch man..." Tanktop Master replied while the trio took their seats.
Watching in silence, everyone's eyes moved to Metal Bat once he was seated. Well, more precisely, the person who had entered alongside him, who was also now seated beside him.
"...Baldy," Tatsumaki spoke, getting his attention.
"Yeah?" Saitama responded.
"Why is there a girl sitting next to bats-for-brains?" Tatsumaki asked.
Sure enough, a little girl was right there next to Metal Bat. No one in S-Class knew who she was. Although, truthfully, one member apart from Saitama did. However, since he was seated next to Tornado, he kept his mouth shut to avoid incurring her fury.
"...Wait..." Saitama began, his mind realizing something. "Did none of you know that Bad has a sister?..." He questioned.
Upon hearing that, everyone's (except for King's) eyes widened. Metal Bat had a little sister? What? Had they suddenly entered an alternate dimension?!
"What the Hell's with those looks, huh?" Bad inquired, annoyed by their shock. "This is Zenko. She's my baby sis. If you've got a problem with that, you'll OW OW OW OW OW OW!"
Before he could properly finish his sentence, Bad was PAINFULLY pinched on his right arm by his sibling.
"There you go again, being rude." Zenko scolded as she released him from her iron grip. "As my thick-headed brother said, my name is Zenko. I'm sorry for his behavior." She introduced herself while simultaneously apologizing.
"Heh, I like her," Zombieman commented with a smirk. "Plus, we finally know where all the manners and intelligence went." He added as a jab to his colleague.
"Aw, thank you," Zenko replied with a smile. She didn't intend to stick up for her brother. She could only IMAGINE how terrible he acted when she wasn't around to correct him.
"So, we just letting anyone into these meetings now, Baldy?" Tatsumaki asked as she looked back at him.
"Hey, it's Bad's sister. On top of that, she lives in the building now. If Zenko were a spy for our enemies, she'd be terrible at it." Saitama answered.
"I can eat in the dining area with everyone else if you want me to." Zenko offered, not wanting to cause problems.
"No, please, stay. If our leader has no issue with your presence, that's that." Flashy Flash said, being surprisingly polite. "If anything, you being here makes Metal Bat more tolerable. I see no negatives, only positives." He added. There it was, his usual snark.
"Oh...you are SO lucky she's here, ninja boy..." Bad muttered through gritted teeth.
"Excuse me." Metal Knight spoke again. "I don't mean to interrupt, but now that One Punch Man is here, we should proceed with the morning meeting." He suggested.
"Good call, Metal Knight." Saitama agreed, now looking at all of S-Class. "Okay. So. This is the first day of our new living arrangement. But also, I'd like to talk about the stuff that's happened recently since it'll be important moving forward." He started.
"You're talking about the House of Evolution, right?" Zombieman guessed.
"That's one of the things, yeah," Saitama confirmed before proceeding. "Things are going to get a LOT crazier soon. Zombieman will keep a close eye on Genus to ensure he's honest. But as he does, we're going to be assessing his creations. Should everything work out, they'll become heroes. Both the other heroes in the Association and the public are going to react to this in a LOT of different ways. So, I'd like to ask if we can stand as a united front. If we assure everyone this isn't something to be scared of, it'll help to ease their concerns." He told them.
"You can count on us, One Punch Man!" Superalloy proudly proclaimed.
"No matter what, we'll stand beside you." Tanktop Master chimed in, sharing his colleague's sentiment.
"Even if we didn't, it's not like we'd suddenly turn on you, Baldy," Tatsumaki commented, showing her support in her unique way.
"Cool. Thanks, guys." Saitama said appreciatively. "Just so you know, I wouldn't have forced you." He added.
"We'd never suspect that of you. It's not in your character." Silver Fang assured, which was a genuine relief for him to hear.
"I have a question." Drive Knight spoke. "Even with the assurance of S-Class that these non-humans won't threaten public safety, there will still be an outcry about their trustworthiness. The arguments will focus on when Doctor Genus's creations are not in public view. What're they doing when we're not watching? Are they secretly working with other monsters? Do they plan to sabotage the Association? These questions are unavoidable. How do you plan to deal with them?" He inquired.
"I've been thinking about that," Saitama admitted as he folded his arms. "I've come up with an idea. But I don't think anyone here will approve of it." He said rather ominously.
"Oh? What is it?" Atomic Samurai questioned.
"...I...was thinking...that maybe...you guys could...take some on...as apprentices..." Saitama revealed, doing it slowly since he needed to brace for their reaction.
Silence followed. Those still getting through their meals set down their silverware. The sole exceptions were Zenko, since she didn't have all the details, and Metal Knight since they couldn't see him. Eventually, someone would say something.
"One Punch Man." Silver Fang spoke, lightly rubbing his chin in thought. "If we accept these non-humans as apprentices, would we have full jurisdiction over their training? Could we enforce rules that, while not unfair, still met our preference for guidance?" He asked.
"Of course. You'd not only be showing them how to be heroes, but also how to live and function in society. I trust everyone's judgment, so you wouldn't have to call or constantly talk to me to verify every decision. So long as you treat them like you would anyone else, neither harsher nor nicer than a human, then you can do whatever you want." Saitama answered.
"I see..." Silver Fang hummed. "Well then, I'll gladly take the burden of mentoring all of them." He offered.
"WHAT?!" Most of the S-Class shouted in surprise. Saitama, King, Drive Knight, and Zenko were the only ones who didn't.
"...I understand." Drive Knight began as he pointed at the martial arts master. "You want to increase the number of students in your dojo. Currently, you only have one pupil." He deduced.
"Oh, you sneaky bastard." Atomic Samurai said with a smirk, impressed by his friend's wit.
"I have no idea what either of you are talking about." Silver Fang denied the accusation, maintaining his usual calm demeanor. "Of everyone in S-Class, only myself, Atomic Samurai, Tanktop Master, the absent Blast, and our leader are fit to be mentors. I do not say the following as an insult, but the rest of you don't know the first thing about teaching. If faced with an obstacle or problem in these non-humans training, you'd be quick to let your tempers get the better of you. Furthermore, my dojo is secluded in the mountains near our new base. It would easily prevent prying eyes from harassing them. There's also immense free space within the mountains where they could practice their abilities and not cause damage to any property. In the end, I'm the most sensible choice." He explained. "Still, I will respect and listen to whatever our leader chooses." He added, directing the attention back to One Punch Man.
"I'll admit, I did consider asking only you, Silver Fang. But I chose not to because I didn't want to force it all on you." Saitama confessed.
"I appreciate your consideration." Silver Fang said with a sincere smile. "However, as I've stated, I am the best equipped to handle this scenario. Atomic Samurai would also be a good candidate, but factors like his current body of students and distance from City Z should be acknowledged. It would truly be no inconvenience to me." He told him.
"I mean, the old man makes a solid case." Bad chimed in, impressed by his reasoning.
"There are a few issues, though," Isamu started, getting everyone's attention. "Not all of Doctor Genus's creations, even after their modifications, will be appropriate for a martial arts mentor. Silver Fang can offer much more, sure. But still, they'd be on the sidelines while those who can receive a greater benefit get the most out of the experience." He pointed out.
"I thought about that, so I made a list," Saitama revealed. "The most obvious one is Armored Gorilla. Being a cyborg like Genos, I think it'd be best if you, Drive Knight, or Metal Knight were his mentor. Metal Knight's always busy with reconstruction efforts from monster attacks, so it's understandable if he can't do it. Drive Knight might be perfect, but I know you prefer privacy above all else. So, if he has no objections, and you have no problems, you could be his mentor." He proposed.
"R-Really? You'd trust me with something so important?" Isamu questioned, honored and surprised by that.
"Of course. You might be the youngest member, but that does not affect your capableness. Whenever I've needed your help or insight on something complicated, you've never let me down. So, I don't need to debate whether or not you can handle this. You've already proven it more than enough." Saitama assured.
Hearing such praise from his role model brightened Isamu's face. He couldn't contain his pride and joy from hearing those words. Of course, many of his fellow heroes subtly glared at the prodigy. Not because they disagreed with One Punch Man but because they also wanted such acknowledgment.
"Up next, Frog Man and Ground Dragon." Saitama began before looking at Flashy Flash. "Doctor Genus told me that these two would be best utilized as stealth-focused heroes. There's no one better in the entire Association than you, Flashy Flash. Although, I know much like Drive Knight, you prefer-"
"I accept." Flashy Flash cut him off. There wasn't an ounce of hesitation in his voice. "This is the perfect opportunity for me to show you the merit of my methods. I'll ensure Frog Man and Ground Dragon reach S-Class status." He vowed.
"...Uh...cool. I look forward to it." Saitama responded, taken aback by the swiftness and resolve of his statement. "Next, there's Carnage Kabuto. The guy's a muscle powerhouse. The same can be said about Beast King, but he's open to new fighting styles and techniques. Hence Silver Fang's the best fit. Kabuto mainly wants to punch things and use his overwhelming strength to beat his opponents. The problem is the guy, even after his rework, will struggle with restraint. So, I figured Superalloy and Tanktop Master would be the best candidates since they know how to control their strength." He reasoned.
"Oh, yeah! I accept!" Superalloy exclaimed, not needing to think about it. "This way, like Flashy Flash, I can show you the benefits of my workout regimen!" He said.
"I'll act as a co-teacher. Not because I don't want to do my part but because of my students. They don't know about the House of Evolution or that we'll be working to rehabilitate non-humans. I don't want to surprise them by suddenly showing up with a giant beetle-man." Tanktop Master explained.
"Nah, that makes sense. No worries." Saitama replied. "On that note, though. There's one more thing I'd like to discuss." He said.
"Oh? Has something happened?" Zombieman asked.
"Uh, yes and no. It needs a bit of explanation." Saitama began. "See, yesterday, I snuck off with King to get some peace from the construction. While we were gone, we ran into two heroes. B-Rank Captain Mizuki, and C-Rank Mumen Rider. The thing is, I know these guys personally. They're the president and vice president of my official fan club. They were hoping to have an interview with me to talk about all the stuff that's happened lately, like Genos, the renovations in City Z, Etc. However, I didn't conduct the interview right there and then because I wanted to hear what all of you think. I also wanted to suggest having those two be the first members of a new PR team for S-Class, not just myself." He informed them.
"Heh, trying to cut out, Sweet Mask? I don't blame you if you are." Bad questioned with a smirk.
"No, nothing like that. It's just...Sweet Mask's intentions are well-placed. It's not as if I hate the guy or think he's bad at his job. But he's focused on the Association as a whole. Status and news updates. Announcements. You know, official stuff. What I'm thinking of is something more personal. To help keep the other ranks updated on how we're doing and what's happening. That way, we won't have sudden media frenzies where so many people are blindsided by unexpected developments." Saitama explained.
"Hm, the idea has potential." Metal Knight commented. "Admittedly, it would be nice not to do damage control every single time one of us does something. An official outlet for hero news and nothing else would be substantially useful." He went one.
"It could also be extended to all of the ranks." Isamu joined in. "We created a private chatroom for us so we could talk whenever the need arises. If we made a similar service for all heroes, there'd be no communication barriers or delays." He said.
"To that point, have we considered allowing the other heroes to use the train system we're building? Unlike public transport, it's being constructed with our best technology. This will make hero deployments far easier and ensure those who require emergency support won't have to wait. We'll also be able to dispatch heroes best suited for certain situations, further optimizing our ability to aid the people and deal with disasters or conflicts." Drive Knight mentioned.
"No, I'd need approval from One Punch Man first." Metal Knight replied. "Do I?" He asked.
"Absolutely. If we can make life better and easier for every hero, we should." Saitama answered.
"Then I'll need to take my leave of the meeting. I must consult those working beneath me on the project." Metal Knight stated before disconnecting.
"I think it'd be wise to end it as well." Flashy Flash suggested. "We've all finished our meals, and I assume you'll need to speak with the B and C rank heroes about their new responsibilities." He said, speaking to One Punch Man.
"Yeah. I told them I'd get back to them as soon as possible. So, unless there's anything else that we need to discuss, we can call it here." Saitama told them.
Everyone waited for a few seconds, but no one spoke. Afterward, they got up and headed for the dining room to return their plates and silverware. Yet, Saitama didn't leave the building nor return to his abode. Instead, once he was sure no one was watching him, the leader of S-Class went to someone else's apartment. With a few knocks on their door, he was greeted by the inhabitant.
"Good morning, Saitama." Fubuki welcomed with a warm smile.
"Morning, Fubuki," Saitama replied. "Sorry for asking to see you so early. I hope I didn't make you rush through breakfast with your group." He apologized.
"Not at all. We wrapped up long before S-Class did. I've just been watching TV while waiting for you." Fubuki said. "So, why'd you need to see me?" She asked.
"To be honest, it's a pretty big favor." Saitama began with a sigh. "So, something I talked about with the others was the House of Evolution and its members becoming heroes. Long story short, I thought it'd be best if they became disciples of other S-Class heroes." He explained.
"That makes sense. We can't just throw them out into the world. The public and probably some other heroes wouldn't be too pleased." Fubuki responded, agreeing with his logic.
"Right. So, I did my best to figure out who would be the best mentor to who. Turns out, I knocked it out of the park. But there was one member I didn't mention because I knew the reaction would be nuclear." Saitama said.
"My sister, no doubt." Fubuki guessed, not needing to consider the identity.
"Yup. See, one of the members is an Esper. However, Doctor Genus told me he planned to make this member more psychically powerful. So, the only people I know that'd be fitting as mentors are you and Tatsumaki." Saitama concluded.
"And to avoid getting thrown through a wall from one of my sister's lovely tantrums, you opted to speak with me and avoid her altogether." Fubuki deduced. "I don't blame you. The mere thought of being close to a non-human would be enough to make her crush a car like a soda can. In reality, I was your only real option." She told him.
"If you put it that way, yeah," Saitama replied with another sigh. "Still, I'll understand if you say no. I'm not forcing you to do this. I'd just appreciate the help." He said.
In response, Fubuki chuckled with a smile. A reaction the bald hero wasn't expecting.
"Saitama, you're so sweet." Fubuki complimented him. "But really, this isn't anything to be so worried about. I appreciate your concern, but I'll talk it over with my people, and we'll happily accept this non-human as another member of the Blizzard Group. Plus, if there is a bit of uneasiness from them, I'll just say this is your personal request. That'll smooth over ANY reservations." She promised.
"Wow. Thanks, Fubuki. You're a lifesaver." Saitama responded with a third sigh, this time of relief. "If you ever need anything, just let me know." He offered.
"Hm, now that you mention it..." Fubuki hummed, immediately making good on that. "This new apartment of mine is VERY big. I've filled it with all my belongings and decorations, but it still feels empty. When we get a chance, do you mind shopping with me for more stuff? It's no secret that you're the best shopper in the world." She requested.
"Sure. That sounds like it could be a fun day out." Saitama agreed with a smile. "I know the best stores around, not just in City Z. We'll get your apartment full before you know it." He assured.
"I look forward to it," Fubuki said.
With that, Saitama's business was done for now. He happily headed back to his apartment to relax for a while. As for Fubuki, she'd seek out her group again to talk to them. If there were anyone around, they'd notice a bit more pep in her step.
