It took a solid week for a building to be secured. Zenchu was seen escorting an elderly lady wearing a much larger kimono for comfort and movement around the town to look for building furnishings. She was hunched over and her gray hair was in a neat bun. He kept his tail wrapped around his waist like a massive, stylish belt. It was common practice to him, and he didn't mind in the slightest. The grey tank top, cameo pants and boots he wore completed his outfit neatly. Of course, they were altered to fit his incredibly tall frame.
"Where is my walking cane?" the elderly woman sighed.
"You are holding it," Zenchu said. This is the tenth time I told her! She needs to get rid of that snake! I'm starting to think her mind is slowly being lost with each transformation...
"Oh! Yes. That I am. Thank you, child," she chuckled and started to slowly hobble along with him right at her heels like a protective watchdog.
"Of course, Grandmother," he nodded and guided her safely across the street. Many people would stare at his intense height and size, but he ignored them all. His mission was to guard the important woman at his side. When she started to slow down, he was quick to move and scoop her up.
"You need to let me walk," she muttered and let him help secure her walking cane to his makeshift belt. His tail would easily hold it in place and out of the way for easier movements.
"You are getting tired. I don't think you can keep up with me with the sun so high in the sky," Zenchu sighed and adjusted the sunglasses he wore. Then he thought of an idea. :Inichi! Can we get a small cart that I can just put her in to haul behind me? I'm starting to think that she's losing herself with each change.:
:Oh, my! I fear you may be right with your suspicions. Yes, we can procure one post-haste! We could also use it for other purposes, too, come to think of it. We will see about acquiring two of them. One for her and another for supply transfers. Kianna will look into it.: The powerful empathic monster confirmed. When they got to a major street cross-way, the crowd suddenly screamed when a monster resembling a giant stag beetle jumped out of the ground to attack them.
"Hah! I am the great Beetlemeister! I loved collecting beetles so much, that I became one myself! Let me show you what all I can do!" the monster howled and flipped over several cars with his jaws.
"Such a shame..." the old lady sighed.
"I know. Come. We'll go elsewhere..." Zenchu said and turned only to find the massive bug man in his way. "Please go away. Heroes will be here soon to squash you with a giant boot."
"My armor is impenetrable!" the monster boasted.
"You poor thing. I wonder how many family members you left behind when you changed. Don't you have any family?" the old lady frowned.
"Lady Mitsumi..." Zenchu muttered.
"Come now, child. The poor thing is clearly at a loss," she chuckled and smiled gently at the now stunned bug monster.
"Family...?" Beetlemeister seemed to blink his large, black eyes.
"Why, yes. Did you not have children once? A village? A home you once called your own?" the elderly Mitsumi asked.
"I...no! I don't!" the bug man said defiantly.
"Ah. Then we have no further business to discuss. Please be on your way," she said with a soft nod. When the bug man made no move to do as she asked, she seemed to shrug and look at Zenchu. "Grandson, what do you think of this?"
"It appears that I may have to make him move," Zenchu said with a low growl of warning. He had a free hand that was ready to lash out with retractable claws that could easily rend steel to shreds.
"There it is!" a group of men in costumes said on arrival.
"And that's our queue to leave," Zenchu smirked and quickly jumped away with her. Now that the bug man was fighting against a group of C class heroes, Zenchu resumed his walk to the department store for building supplies and appliance needs.
"What do we need again?" Mitsumi asked.
"I have a list. We should hit up a restaurant furnishing store first. I'm just shocked that we were able to find a place along a major street corner! And it's a rather nice place, too," Zenchu mused.
:The previous owners could not pay their rent. And, as always, popular corners means more attacks. I also may have 'nudged' the agreement for a monster-based staff to fully protect certain key parts around there. If it works well, then the city may even protect us in kind to stay. The fact that we were able to hand over a half years' worth of rent also pushed the deal along that much more.: Inichi chuckled in his mind. There was also something else he knew of, but it would have to be revealed when they were ready for it.
:You floating bastard! I figured it was too good to be true!: Zenchu howled with laughter with Inichi. :You see that bug man?:
:I did. A poor, pathetic creature he is. Lady Mitsumi almost had him realize who he once was! But...being in a full monster mindset...it overruled his senses. As it can easily do to any of us. I doubt even the flower would have helped.:
:No. That only helps after we know what we lost before. It may help kick start things, but it's a bit uncommon. Hmm? Oh. She fell asleep on me again...: Zenchu sighed and chuckled.
:She is truly getting older with each change. It is just as you surmised. This...really does worry me now. You will need to be with her at ALL times when she is out and about. We will see about getting something you can pull her around in. I would say a wheelchair, but she so hates feeling old when she truly is not! We may even need to ensure she is strapped down securely to only let you help her out of it!: Inichi said with a touch of worry in his mental tone.
"Hey! You!" a familiar voice shouted out. Zenchu turned to see Beetlemeister zipping at him with his wings out from the carapace on his back. "We weren't done!"
"I was done," Zenchu said and kept Mitsumi's sleeping form secured on his shoulder. Just as the bug man was closing in to charge at him, several golden balls zipped past Zenchu to slam into the bug man.
"You okay?" a dark man with a slight chin beard and wearing a hoodie asked him. Zenchu looked at the felled bug man and smiled lightly.
"I'm fine. I was taking my grandmother out for some air and she fell asleep on me. She does this all the time now. Thanks for the help," Zenchu nodded. "I could have handled him, but I have some important business to do."
"That's fine. I'll help clean this up," the hero nodded and watched Zenchu walk off with the sleeping old woman on his shoulder.
:That was Golden Ball. A class A hero. Interesting. He likely got the call about Beetlemeister and was in the area to assist.: Inichi mused.
:Eh. I don't care. As long as he doesn't hurt Lady Mitsumi. Anyways, where is the furnishing store?: Zenchu asked. Inichi was able to guide him easily, and Zenchu gently woke up Mitsumi with a soft whisper.
"Oh. We are here now?" she asked and got set on the ground. He gave her back the walking cane to help her move around better.
"Yep! Let's see. New counters...dishwasher...a refrigerator and freezer..." he started to read off the list. He glanced up to see her start to flag down one of the workers. "And here we go with watching over her..."
For an hour, they went over furniture, sizes needed and pricing with delivery options. On judging it would be done by the next day, it was decided to head to the local market to start making some good ties. They also needed to restock on their own personal food supply. On walking into the grocery store, he noticed an odd man with a blank stare watching him at a distance.
He was bald and had black colored eyes. He was wearing what appeared to be a yellow jumpsuit with a white cape attached to his suit with two black buttons on each side of his collar. A white trim was seen along the neckline, and it supported a metal zipper with a large loop in the main part. His outfit was completed with a black belt, red gloves and boots. A large bronze buckle kept it all together. On giving a small nod, he simply continued to move through the store with Mitsumi shuffling before him.
"Child, I need to get some flour," Mitsumi said with a heavy sigh. "We need to test some of the recipes...and...oh...what was I saying?"
"You are getting tired again, Grandmother," Zenchu chuckled and gently guided her to the correct aisle. His senses kept telling him that he was still being watched by the odd man. He was quick to mentally poke at Inichi to get more information. :What is with that guy?:
:Which one? Oh! Hmm...ah...oh, dear...Zenchu...be on your BEST behavior around that one! He is the B class hero, Caped Baldy. And he has won every...single...battle...: Inichi expressed with a form of intense worry and sent over a few images from what was known on this one from the thoughts of others that were gleaned. Now Zenchu seemed to freeze up with shock. And we're in the same city as this guy...?!
"Child? Zenchu?" Mitsumi frowned and finally smacked him in the shin with her cane. That got an instant yelp from him.
"Ow!" Zenchu grimaced and looked at her with a humorous smile. Only she would EVER be the only one able to hit me and live!
"What is going on, eh?" she frowned and watched him shrewdly.
"Nothing, Grandmother," he sighed and found himself looking down at Caped Baldy standing in front of them.
"You look familiar," the caped man said. "I think. Did we fight once?"
"Ah. No, we never fought. But, yes, we had a warehouse in City Y. It was taken from us from jealous rivals. We hope to start a new business here. Either in City Z or in City D. We would like to open a restaurant," Zenchu said respectfully. "You may have seen me from our prior location if you stopped by for building materials. I was one of the lifters for wood and such."
"Oh. Huh. A restaurant? That would be nice," the bald man blinked.
"Young man, what is your name?" Mitsumi asked.
"Oh. I'm Saitama," the man said neutrally.
"A pleasure. I am Mitsumi. This is Zenchu, my grandson. When we open up in full, please come by the restaurant. We plan to call it Neutral Grounds. It will be a specialty themed restaurant, and you will be given a free meal for being so kind. Zenchu can vouch that I agreed to this," Mitsumi beamed in her elderly way. Saitama's eyes widened, and he found himself smiling at the thought.
"Tell me when you open!" he nodded and walked off to do his shopping.
"Ah...Grandmother...why did you...?" Zenchu asked with a frown.
"Inichi told me just now that he was a rather intricate hero. So, if he is there now and then to see how we are, then it is another that can easily vouch that all is well," Mitsumi said with a knowing chuckle. "And, if we can cater to him, then we can also cater to other strong heroes. Can you see it? Monsters and heroes eating and conversing calmly in such a neutral atmosphere?"
"Neutral Grounds. The true testing place for...I see..." Zenchu mused.
"And if any other monsters show up, I can help the heroes see how I try to get monsters to turn good gently. Of course, if the monsters refuse and the heroes are already there..." she seemed to shrug. That got Zenchu grinning widely at the thought. Ah, Lady Mitsumi! You know so much in any age!
"We'll see how it goes. Shall we finish our food shopping?" he asked. She nodded and they were quick to finish off their list for the day.