They were dropped off a short ways away to keep from causing a stir. Saitama scooped up Mitsumi to carry her now, and Fumio made sure to walk right next to them. Zenchu stood behind them all and kept a good lookout from his height. As they started to walk into the main street of the market, they heard someone calling for them.
"Wait up!" Lightning Max said when he ran over. "I found out about that thing that changed Rendor!"
"What?" Rendor asked with surprise.
"Yeah! What he said!" Tatsumaki frowned.
"It's guarded by cultists or fanatics now, but I was able to sneak around them to write down what I could find," Max said and handed Inichi a paper.
"Hmm..." Inichi read it over. "So...it was an altar to a...beast god? Of sorts? Interesting. Apparently, it only activates on a full moon. It just passed. Only one chosen person in a hundred years is given the form of the beast god. So...I bet the cultists don't know that you already activated it."
"I was using the light of the moon to find my way..." Rendor sighed. "So...yes, it was a full moon that night."
"We need to go back to it!" Tatsumaki said.
"We will go there first thing tomorrow," Mitsumi nodded. "If the place is swarmed by people, we don't want to give ourselves away. And if we go at night where they gather, it can be damaging. If there are fewer people there during the day, then it will be easier to work with them. A crowd of people is too risky."
"She's right," Zenchu said. "First thing tomorrow."
"Okay," Tatsumaki said.
"Also, um...I think that altar really is sentient," Max frowned. "It was...telling me things. It knew I wasn't like the ones there at all. It...sensed I knew Rendor. Since it lost its power to transform another in full, it wants the cultists gone. There was other stuff, too...but I don't know how to explain it."
"What?!" Inichi asked now.
"Ah...how?" Saitama asked.
"I don't know!" Max said.
"Send me your memories," Inichi said. On getting them, he filtered them out to piece it all together. "Okay...this is fascinating..."
"What is it?" Fubuki asked.
"The altar...it does commune with something. It wasn't glowing, but it was...alert. It knew it was going to be under attack and picked Rendor out of necessity. It was trying to tell you...if you brought Rendor back, it would give a choice. To let Rendor change back and forth from monster to human at will. Or completely remove the form. But...there may be a drawback should he choose to become the monster form at will. Every time he changes back to a monster, Lady Mitsumi will need to show him the flower to help him remember his past humanity to free him. It would be like a fresh monster transformation each time. He will need to remember who he was," Inichi was able to explain.
"Huh. I mean..." Rendor thought it over. "I don't know."
"You have until tomorrow to think about it," King said.
"Like he said," Kamikaze nodded.
"Right. On one hand, it would be nice knowing I can easily protect my family. But...to always have that flower...Tatsi, if I go that route, you'll need to carry one on you. To help me," Rendor said.
"I can do that," Tatsumaki said with a nod. "I want you around. So...I'll do what I can. We'll talk about it later. We said we'd go in the morning, so we'll go in the morning. Um...can I call those people idiots, though?"
"Only if they don't work with us," Rendor chuckled.
"Good!" she nodded and floated up to sit on his shoulder. "I like your mane, anyways. It's nice to pet."
"I'm glad," he chuckled again.
"Hmm..." Mitsumi frowned in thought. "Bane?"
"Yes?" he asked and moved towards her to talk better.
"The fans you wish to study. I...think I need them back," she said.
"What is this?!" Inichi asked her now.
"Oh?" Bane asked. Now Saitama looked at her curiously.
"I think those fans can attach to mine to make them...even stronger," Mitsumi frowned on thinking back. "My mentor hinted something to me that, should I find another set of fans, to test it. The fans were made over five hundred years ago. From what I was told, only ten sets of them were made. Also, I don't think Tacki can recreate them. The metal in the blades...it's not...a natural metal. Mami...she said there was an ancient script that explained what they were made of. She was starting to believe they were made from an asteroid. A falling star."
"What?!" Kamikaze gaped.
"Really?" Tacki asked with amazement.
"It's all I know. Even she wasn't sure. From what she also told me from what was passed down to her from her mentor was that...the fans were separated out because they were too strong when used together. She did...tell me a few other things. But..." Mitsumi hesitated.
"Say nothing," Inichi nodded. "Your secrets are always safe with me, but we will watch what happens when we are able to test."
"Hmm. I would like to have such a thing tested at my dojo. But...if you say the fans get stronger...why not at the area we can see about building your dojo? Near the foot of where my dojo is on top of the small mountain? If you end up clearing the land away, then that would be fine," Bane suggested. Then he took out the fans he was carrying. "Here."
"Thank you," she smiled and set them on the holders with her other fans. "It's too dark to test things now. We can test it after we check on that thing for Rendor tomorrow."
"That can be done," Saitama nodded. The others agreed to this.
"You know, I think I'm gonna try and track down what I can for you, Mitsumi. An old manuscript about the crane fans. Hmm. I'll be back the moment I get some information," Max said and was quick to jog off to start his search. When they walked onto the main market street, many of the civilians shopping paused to point at the group. Now Zenchu was quick to have lines form for autographs and handshakes with the various heroes.
"Fan Dancer! You're so pretty!" a young woman said. "I'm going to start a fan club for you!"
"Oh. That would be nice," Mitsumi smiled. "May I suggest it be a fan club for my fiancée and I, then? Caped Baldy is S class and rank 3. It wouldn't be right to me to have something made for me without him included."
"Eh...I'm fine with it," Saitama rolled his eyes.
"Saitama, I'm trying to be nice," she smiled and got kissed by him.
"I know," he said and gave a small nod.
"Oh! That's why you both look alike! I thought you were brother and sister," the woman admitted. Zenchu cracked a grin and hid his laugh.
"No, no," Mitsumi said with a soft laugh. "He saved my life and helped me discover a hidden ability I had. I owe everything to him. Of course, I love him dearly. I'd still be tortured by something if it wasn't for his help."
"You could say that she's marrying her hero," Kamiko chuckled.
"Oh! That's...romantic!" the woman blinked. At this, Saitama pulled Mitsumi a bit more into his arms to kiss her fully and let her press into him.
"This is a bit of a date night. We don't mind if you make a fan club. It's perfectly fine," Saitama said calmly.
"Well...I'll need to get some information," the woman started.
"I can assist," Genos said with a small nod. "I am Demon Cyborg. Master Saitama is my master. I am his disciple."
"Oh! Ah...sure!" the woman smiled.
"Hey, Kamikaze," Tacki said.
"Hmm?" Kamikaze looked down at her. She had him bend down to whisper in his ear and he grinned. Now he let her climb up to sit on his shoulders with her stomach against the back of his head.
"Once again, you're carrying her the wrong way..." Zenchu muttered.
"That's...something I'll have to try later..." Kamikaze found himself musing at the thought to get Tacki's jaw to drop before massively blushing hard. Saitama now looked over at them and back to Mitsumi's shocked look. Inichi was struggling hard to keep quiet, but then his eyes darted to Fubuki when she gave a small sound of amusement. Inichi calmly shielded Fumio from such things with a small explanation that he wasn't old enough to know.
"We'll talk later," Inichi said to Fubuki and cleared his throat.
"Depends on if talking can be done," Fubuki snickered softly.
"Zenchu? What am I missing?" Saitama asked.
"Zenchu, I will smack you with that walking cane if you say anything!" Mitsumi warned. Zenchu paused and glanced at Inichi. "Inichi! Don't you dare!"
"Ah...oh...sorry..." Inichi chuckled and seemed to shrug.
"Huh. That's...something I haven't tried..." Saitama mused now.
"Inichi!" Mitsumi hissed out at him.
"I wanted to know. I got told. He's not in trouble," Saitama grinned and kissed her to calm her down.
"Well...you know I heard it can work both ways..." Mitsumi smirked and whispered to him. Now his jaw dropped with shock. Inichi cringed with laughter at this with the others.
"Ah...maybe we should go home..." he said to get everyone around them dying with laughter. The woman with them was confused, but Genos was quick to recover to keep talking to her. Fumio was still being shielded by Inichi until the talk about it was done.
"No. We should find new ingredients," Mitsumi said. Saitama sighed, but he continued with the group to check out the markets. She got more Peking duck on a stick, some new spices and sauce flavors were purchased, and Bane was quick to point out where the other shops were for people selling crafted wares. Several things were now purchased for Inichi to transport them away. At the sight of a stage for amateur performances with a cash prize, she chuckled and pressed into Saitama. He hadn't set her down, and now he looked at her.
"Did you want to try out?" he asked.
"I'm good," she smiled. "I don't need the money, anyways."
"What do you do that's so special?" a haughty blond-haired bombshell in a tight red mini dress and high-heels asked. "And don't need the money?! Are you kidding?! Who doesn't want money?"
"Mom and Dad are heroes. And they run a restaurant," Fumio said with a small huff. Saitama looked at him and made a gesture to calm down.
"He's right. So, you can continue and have fun," Saitama said in a blank way. "We aren't here to start anything. Have a nice night."
"Hmm..." King frowned at the woman.
"I'll go start the fan club! So awesome to walk with you all!" the woman with them said and was quick to run off to do just that.
"A fan club? Please. Don't make me laugh!" the blond woman sneered.
"Huh. Rendor? Can I say something?" Tatsumaki asked.
"Eh...no. She's not worth it," Rendor chuckled.
"Okay," she sighed softly and pat his head.
"If you really are heroes, then why do you wander around here with monsters?!" the blond gaped now at the sight of Rendor, Inichi and Kianna. At the sight of Zenchu when he flicked his tail, she gasped with shock and disgust.
"They are my family," Mitsumi said calmly. "They don't attack. They just want to live in peace. Enjoy your night."
"What rank hero are you?" the blond had to ask.
"I am in S class and ranked at 4. My fiancée holding me is S class and ranked at 3. In fact, the girl on Rendor's shoulder is also S class and ranked at 2. Pretty much all of us except for her sister and a few others here are in S class. Please be respectful of us. I'm sure you would also want to be treated with the same respect," Mitsumi said softly.
"I am respect!" the woman scoffed.
"Wow. Um...I'm gonna keep walking," Kamikaze cringed. That got the woman's jaw to drop. Bane shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Indeed. An attitude like that does not give respect or gain any," Inichi agreed. "Should she be introduced to Pete?"
"Ah..." Mitsumi blinked to get the others sniggering.
"If you win the contest, then I'll give you respect," the blond challenged.
"I...no," Mitsumi shook her head. "Have a nice night."
"Are you afraid of being in front of a crowd?" the blond asked.
"I'm saying 'no' because I know you won't give an ounce of respect even if I do win. It's why I'm not catering to your childish antics," Mitsumi said with a glare. "You have been warned."
"You're pissing off my fiancée. Yeah. We're done. Good-bye," Saitama said and now started to walk away from the stammering woman. Zenchu bit back his laugh, but then he suddenly darted in front of Mitsumi to block a shoe that was thrown at them. He now took the red high-heel and tore it to pieces with his claws. He looked at Mitsumi for her next order.
"I hope she can move around with one shoe," Mitsumi smiled. "Maybe she can use the prize money to buy a new pair."
"True," Zenchu grinned.
"What a waste of a designer shoe!" Tacki sighed and shook her head. Kamikaze smirked and turned at the sound of Tacki hissing with fury. Now the blond was running at them after taking off her other shoe. "Ugh! What does she want? Look, lady! We want nothing to do with you and your stupid contest! Go away and do your own thing!"
"You owe me a new shoe!" the blond huffed.
"No. You threw it. You lost it. Your fault. Own up to it," Zenchu glowed and snapped his tail with irritation. "Leave."
"For all that, she can win the contest and pay me the money!" the blond argued. "If it's so easy for a class S to do anything, then why not that?"
"And now I see your true motives," Inichi sighed. "You egg people around and get them to do things for you to appease you. That is what a 'user' does to others. You badger until you get your way. If you don't get your way, then you continue to bother and bicker until something breaks. You know what? Lady Mitsumi, let's join the contest. Should you win it, we will pay her back the money for the shoe. But...she must earn the money."
"What?" the blond blinked her blue eyes at them.
"Oh. She can work in the restaurant?" Saitama asked.
"Why not? We need more waitresses and servers," Mitsumi smiled. "But...I don't think she's ever worked a day in her life."
"Ah...well..." the blond swallowed.
"You surmised correctly," Inichi sighed.
"I don't want to join a contest to prove a point. That's fruitless," Mitsumi said. "You know? I think I just want to go home."
"But...my shoe...!" the blond said again.
"Here. I'll pay you to go away," Mitsumi said and had Zenchu give her a small wad of cash. "Now we're done."
"Waste of money, but..." Saitama sighed and shook his head.
"I...oh..." the blond simply blinked in shock. King sighed with dismissal, and even Genos was showing complete disregard for the woman.
"She should be grateful for what she has," Kamiko frowned and got squeezed by Genos. "Maybe this will help her learn a lesson."
"She really did remind me of Pete," Tacki sighed and got pulled down into Kamikaze's arms to get held and squeezed to comfort her. Now Inichi turned and paused with a look of small alarm at the woman walking away lost in thought.
"Inichi?" Fubuki frowned to get them all to look at him.
"That girl...hmm. She's the daughter of the one that is running the talent show. I see now..." Inichi frowned hard. "She purposely tries to find others to join it to help gather contestants. The problem she has is that she gets slighted easily and pushes others away. There are currently ten contestants. One of them really does need the money. Lady Mitsumi, may I propose something?"
"What's that?" she asked.
"As you will likely win the contest, and you are a hero, we can gift the money to the one that needs it the most. It will show that, as a hero, you care about the people around you. It will boost morale," Inichi said. "And, should the money not be enough, we can have that one do a private meeting at the restaurant for...other means of pay. Even if you don't win, we can still help that one."
"Huh," Saitama blinked at that.
"Well...okay," Mitsumi smiled. "If it is to genuinely help another, then that I can accept. Let's go back."
Saitama nodded with the others and approached the small stage area again. Now the blond looked at them with shock from where she was sitting at the entry post. That was when Zenchu said, "We're gonna try this again. Be nicer to people and you'll get better responses. We have decided to have Lady Mitsumi join the contest. Where can she sign up?"
"Oh!" the blond gasped and shivered. "I...yeah. Here."
"Thank you," Mitsumi said and was set down to sign up.
"Add my name as a dancing partner," Saitama said. She smiled and let him kiss her before doing so.
"How long is the wait?" King asked.
"Ah...it's starting in thirty minutes. So...just come back by then," the blond said. "And...I'm sorry for before..."
"Your apology is accepted," Mitsumi said with a small nod. "If you treat others around you with kindness, you get kindness in return. There are already too many nasty people around as it is. Be snarky when you know it's warranted. Just keep this in mind."
"Oh...I will. Thank you," the blond nodded. Mitsumi nodded back and Saitama gathered her up in his arms to take her back to the crafting shops. Thirty minutes later, she found herself back in front of the talent show booth. The other contestants were there, and seats were now set up.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen!" the large man said to the small audience of onlookers. "Our amateur night talent show is about to begin! The prize is fifty-thousand yen!"
Saitama yawned and pressed a kiss to Mitsumi's forehead. He was able to sit in a chair with her in his lap to watch on the contestant side. Each contestant had five minutes to show off a talent for the audience to vote on. Mitsumi was the last one to perform. Child Emperor was still with them and had various recording devices set up around the stage to catch everything. As it got closer to her time to perform, word had already spread that an S class hero was joining the talent show. The moment her hero name was called, the announcer paused with extreme shock.
"Ready?" Mitsumi smiled.
"Yep," Saitama nodded and now carried her up to the stage. He stood alongside her and let her take out her performance fans to slowly start to flick them out and mesmerize. Inichi was able to bring a violin from the home while they were waiting to start up a tune for her. Then he had an idea for Saitama to try.
:I'm going to guide you to do some acrobatic moves with her. It will be easy for you to do. Follow my thought pattern.: Inichi said. Saitama gave a mental confirmation. Now he was dancing with her and flipping her in the air to hold her in place by her feet before letting her somersault in the air with her fans flicking around her. Right after she twirled around him, he pulled her close to press a kiss to her mouth. The applause was deafening.
"We have a winner!" the announcer said.
"Excuse me," Mitsumi said and gestured to a thin, brown haired man with brown eyes that was working with fire eating earlier in the contest. Inichi had informed her that this was the one that needed the money the most. "I honestly do not need the money. I feel that you need it more than me. I would like to gift the reward money to you."
"Ah...you would?!" the man gasped with shock and burst into tears. "Thank you! Thank you so much! I...I can pay my rent...and..."
"It's fine. Should you need a job, please come by Neutral Grounds," Mitsumi smiled. "I am the owner of the restaurant, and we desperately need servers from how busy we get."
"Oh! Yes! I can do that," the man said and wiped the tears away. She was quick to sign over the prize check to the needy man. The blond woman had watched the whole thing and was just in shock that a hero could be so kind to a stranger. She had no idea that such kindness still existed.
"You can also show this kindness," Mitsumi said with a small smile to her from what Inichi told her. "Have a nice night."
"You, too..." the blond woman swallowed. She did recall the name of the restaurant and now had plans to visit it.
"That was a bit fun," Zenchu chuckled and claimed the violin to hold onto.
"That it was. What's next? If there is nothing further, I may need to go to my dojo to organize the new items I bought," Bane said. Fumio was already yawning to show he was exhausted. King had plans to start moving into a second story floor with Kianna's help.
"Home?" Saitama asked. "We have a very busy day tomorrow."
"Yes. We do," Mitsumi agreed.
"And, eh...we have some...testing to do on the bed..." he growled in her ear to make her blush hard. That got Inichi cracking up with laughter before sending Bane off in a separate bubble while taking the others back to their home apartment.