What It Means

by HorrificallyDreadful

After a brush with near-death, Tatsumaki realizes she cannot be the pillar of hope the people need. For the first time in a long time, she is afraid. The only one who can save her from that fear doesn't understand the concept of responsibility. There's more to hero work than a good fight and more to bravery than strength alone. The world needs a true hero, but what does that mean?

35. You're the Problem

AN: Hello, Hello, Hello! To get my apology for the wait out the way early, I'm sorry for the wait. I've had a rough few weeks in my personal life, and it's been a struggle to stay focused enough to write a decent line, let alone an entire chapter. Not gonna get too into it, but the biggest thing is I was recently fired. Sooo yeah, I've kinda been job searching for a while, but I was able to find some time to crank out something pretty decent, I feel. It's a bit longer than I would've liked, but I am sort of pushing things into motion for the final act here in these next few chapters. As you can imagine, we're nearing some interesting plot points. Hopefully, you guys stick around for what I have in store, and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own One Punch Man or any of the characters associated with the title. All rights belong to their respective owners.

---

A few hours later, Tatsumaki found herself at her sister's apartment again. She hovered by her balcony with her back to the room, loosely listening to Fubuki blabber on about some nonsense while she set up her new TV. It was a lot bigger than her old one, and it was supposedly the most advanced flat-screen on the market. Still, it didn't seem like enough to save Tatsumaki from the annoying lecture.

"That's five times this week, ya know," Fubuki said. "My neighbors keep filing noise complaints every time you break something. They probably think some maniac lives here with me..."

Tatsumaki didn't respond.

"And just because you have the money to replace everything doesn't give you free rein to just break whatever you want..."

Still, there was no response.

The younger esper rolled her eyes and focused on her task a little more. "Would it kill you to at least apologize?" she muttered.

Tatsumaki didn't hear a word she said, and she wasn't just taking in the scenery at the balcony. In fact, she wasn't looking at anything in the distance. Her eyes were firmly fixed on the cell phone she kept tucked close to her belly as if she were afraid of her sister trying to sneak a peek. More specifically the message she received over an hour ago. Saitama had sent her a pinned location with an attached message that read, 'We are training here.'

It was pretty bland, but it held her attention firm for some time. They were a few miles away from HQ in the desolate land that used to be City-A; literally, a twenty-minute flight if she decided to go. The problem was, she couldn't tell if she did or not. Being invited by Saitama was obviously a big pull, but she wasn't really fond of the group he was with. From the annoyances of Metal Bat and Flashy Flash to the pink-haired bimbo who seemed primed and ready to take whatever shot she could at attracting Saitama, it didn't really feel like it would even be worth it.

Then again, she couldn't help but think about what Love was planning to do. A situation like this was exactly why she was worried about her joining S-Class, and apparently, she wasn't wasting any time with her scheming. Who knew what could happen if she somehow managed to sneak in a little alone time with Saitama?

"Hey, what's your deal?" Fubuki asked, breaking the brief moment of silence.

Tatsumaki sighed and slipped her phone into the seamless pocket of her dress when she turned around to check her sister's progress. "What?"

"You're not listening to me at all, are you? Don't tell me you're still mad about that joke from earlier."

Tatsumaki furrowed her brow. "What are you talking about?"

"About Saitama and that 'Love' girl having sex," she said.

Tatsumaki scoffed and flew over to her fridge. "Shut up, Fubuki."

"Eh-heh," she chuckled. "I was only kidding... I mean, a little. Who knows, though."

"Could you just hurry up and finish with that stupid thing!?" she suddenly snapped. "Do you really have to program it, right now!?"

Fubuki gave her a curious look. "Geez, you don't have to wait around, ya know. You can go if you have something better to do."

Tatsumaki gave up on her search for a snack and glided back over with her arms crossed. "I'm just making sure it works. Hurry up and finish or whatever so we can go eat. I'm starving."

"So go eat," Fubuki said as if it were obvious. "Tch, I really don't have time for lunch, today. My organization was requested for a big mission."

"What mission?"

Fubuki looked over the instructions that came in the box. "I don't know, yet. We're meeting in about an hour to go over the specifics, but the pay is good."

"... Hmph," Tatsumaki scoffed. "Well, go ahead and call off your friends. I'll go with you instead and handle whatever it is, quickly. Then, we can go eat."

"Uhm... no?" Fubuki said with a confused tone. "Aren't you the one who's always saying I should handle things on my own?"

"If you're with your stupid little group, then you're still not alone," Tatsumaki informed her. "So, how's that different than going with me?"

"Tch, okay." Fubuki shifted around in her seat to stare at her sister entirely. "What is with you?"

"... What!?"

"Why does it seem like you're avoiding something? Did anything happen with Saitama at that meeting?"

Tatsumaki could immediately feel a blush run across the bridge of her nose. How did she always seem to know when something happened? "No!" She absentmindedly traced her cell phone when she said that. She hadn't told Fubuki about giving him her number, and truth be told, she wasn't planning to.

Fubuki narrowed her eyes suspiciously. It was almost like she could smell the deceit. "... Are you sure? Because you're acting super weird, right now."

"I'm not acting weird..." For as much as she wanted to convince her, Tatsumaki could see the doubt on her sister's face. "... h-He... just invited me somewhere, is all..."

"WHAT!?" Fubuki suddenly exclaimed. "He asked you out!? When!?"

"Nuh-! h-He didn't!" she denied. "i-I mean... not really..."

Fubuki looked completely baffled. What could he have invited her to that wouldn't be considered a date? "... w-Well, can you explain, please!?"

"It was just this little stupid... group thingy, or something!" she yelled, bashfully looking away. "They went out to train and get food, it's... not like he was asking me out on a date!"

"And what did you say?" Fubuki asked. She was now leaning over the back of the couch with a worried look on her face.

"... i-I said... maybe I'd meet up with them later or something," she shrugged.

"... Phew," Fubuki sighed in relief for some reason, confusing her sister. "Okay, good job. You didn't deny, but you didn't accept, so you should be off the hook." Fubuki turned back and continued programming her television as she spoke. "I know we haven't established this rule yet, but you should probably avoid date-like outings with Saitama for the time being."

Tatsumaki narrowed her eyes, suspiciously. "... Why?"

"Because we haven't really gotten that far, yet. It's not as easy as the movies make it look, ya know. You can't just look cute and think that's gonna be enough to keep a guy entertained. You have to be engaging and inquisitive without being too pushy, ya know? And the only way to do that is to really pin down exactly what kinda guy Saitama is... which could definitely take a while. If you guys have to be alone together for like a mission or something, that's fine, but other than that, if he asks you to go somewhere, you should make up an excuse, okay...?"

Tatsumaki stared at the back of her head with an irritated scowl. "Mhm..." It almost made her want to laugh. If only Fubuki knew about that practice date. She would probably lose her mind. The smaller esper rolled her eyes and looked at her phone again.

"So... he invited you to a group outing, huh?" Fubuki asked. "That's... pretty weird, actually... I wonder why..."

---

"Master!"

"uh-!" Saitama gasped and quickly changed directions.

(CRASH!)

The ground exploded when something falling from above missed him by an inch. He flipped away and slid to a halt, watching the fading cloud of smoke. When it thinned enough, the speedy hero, Flashy Flash, emerged with an ominous look to his movements. His blade, still in its sheath, was stabbed into the hardened earth right where Saitama had been.

He was zoned out for a moment, and it nearly cost him the match. Though Flashy Flash wasn't pining to be his student or anything, Saitama was giving him the same 'test' as Metal Bat. All he had to do was land a single hit.

"... Hey," the swordsman muttered, pulling his weapon free. He suddenly looked up at him with a comically enraged expression. "That's cheating! No outside interference!"

"... Hm? What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean!" Flashy Flash pointed up to the top of a ridge where they could see their small audience watching them. Genos looked as though he was moments away from stepping in. "Tell your lapdog to shut his mouth! Had he not called out, I would've had you with that last attack!"

"Bullshit!" Metal Bat shouted in a disbelieving tone. "It's been an hour and a half already! Let someone else try!"

Flashy Flash turned back to Saitama with a steaming rage in his eyes. "Shut up...! I'm not done..." Across the way, Saitama was peeking at his phone again, something that Flashy Flash noticed he was doing quite a bit. It infuriated him that Saitama actually believed he had the luxury of checking the time or whatever he was doing... and it pissed him off even more that he apparently did. He was full of openings, but the dead-eyed man was always quick enough to escape. There was no technique to any of his movements. It was all just raw physical ability... and it was completely overwhelming.

Saitama stared at the message he had sent the second they had made it to their make-shift arena. It was really just a big crater a little further out from HQ. He dropped Tatsumaki his pinned location, but so far there was no response. What did that mean? 'Does... she not want to come?'

"Watch out!"

"uh-!" he looked up to see the swordsman was gone. On sheer instinct, he peeked back just enough to catch a glimpse of his shadow approaching from behind him. With the speed of a cat, he jumped aside and watched the slash from the swordsman's sheath split the ground where he stood. It was actually pretty incredible.

Flashy Flash looked furious like he was nearing an aneurysm. "You gonna keep gettin' help from the sidelines!?" he asked. "You promised a fair fight!"

Saitama watched him with a confused look that slowly shifted back up to the top of the ridge where he spotted Love who had called out that time.

She nervously sat back and raised her hand as if to apologize.

"Yeah, uh... everyone on the ridge?" he called out, drawing their focus. "I don't need any help. Thanks, though..."

"Hmph," Flashy Flash grunted. "You say that like you weren't just saved, twice."

Saitama put his phone in his pocket and tucked his arms over his chest. "Yeah, sorry bout that... I mean, I guess I can give you credit and call it a win," he shrugged.

(Metal Bat in the distance)

"What!?

Flashy Flash sunk into his stance. "Tch, I don't need your charity. From here on out, I'm getting serious. I suggest you do the same... because I will not miss another opportunity..."

Saitama covered his mouth with a yawn before tucking his arms again. "Yeah, sure... Let's do it..."

---

Up on the ridge, the others watched Flashy Flash take off in a sprint. The group had grown a bit since leaving HQ. Love, Bang, and his own student, Charanko, sat and watched the battle in relative peace on one side of the line. Relative to the other group, at least, who seemed to be treating it more like a sports event than a sparring match.

Genos, Metal Bat, Pig God, Atomic Samurai, and his student Iaian, were all visibly astonished by the battle that they could hardly see. Even being seasoned combatants themselves, they only caught glimpses of the action, but it was clear Saitama was effortlessly winning their game of cat and mouse. Like watching a bullfight, every time Saitama managed to evade a strike, the group oohed and ahhed in wonder.

"Wow!" Iaian shouted. "Master! One-Punch-Man is truly amazing!"

"Keh-! Right!?" Atomic Samurai praised. "The guy's an animal!"

"An animal!?" Metal Bat exclaimed. "More like a fuckin' monster! How the hell is he that strong!?"

"... How is anyone that strong?" Charanko asked from the other side of the group when he heard the shouted question.

Bang sat a hand on his shoulder. "Through sheer willpower and undeterred focus, Saitama-boy has surpassed his every limit to achieve such boundless abilities. His power may seem beyond comprehension, but if you give yourself a chance, you too can achieve great things."

(Boom!)

"uh-!" Charanko gasped when an impact rocked the ground beneath them. He looked back to the field and did his best to track the fight, but it was like trying to keep an eye on two frenzied gnats. Could someone like him really get that strong through hard work?

"w-.. Will power and undeterred focus?" Love wondered aloud from Bang's other side. "That's... how he got so strong?"

Bang turned to her and gave her a kind smile. "That's his story. Saitama-boy doesn't come off as one to hide the answer to his progression."

(On the battlefield)

The caped-baldy stood still and boringly watched Flashy Flash zip around the field in search of an angle. When it looked like he was taking his time, he figured he had a second to breathe, so naturally, he used it to check his phone again. Still, there was only his own message there. '... She must be busy or something, right...?'

(woosh! BOOM!)

Saitama flipped away and tucked his phone back into his pocket. Before he could fully catch his footing, Flashy Flash was in his face, again. He dodged his quick flurry of slash attempts and gently kicked him away to gain some distance. He'd like to say he could just keep dodging like he usually did with Metal Bat, but it was clear Flashy Flash was a lot trickier with his angles of attack, so the more distance Saitama could keep between them, the better.

"Saitama-boy's strength is a mystery to us all," Bang continued. "His explanation is that, one day, he simply decided to get strong, and exercised until he achieved his goal. As far-fetched as that can sound considering how strong he truly is, it's as much as he is willing to divulge to the world."

Love turned to the kind old man with an intrigued look.

"Is he an inspiration to you?"

"eh-..! i-I mean... yeah," she shrugged. "He's... He's One-Punch-Man, you know? He's... amazing..."

---

Flashy Flash tumbled through the dirt for a few good feet after the baldy's 'gentle kick'. When he regained his bearings, he locked onto him and immediately dashed around for a new angle. 'He's prepared for a direct approach... and fast enough to react to attacks from his blindspots...' the speedy ninja narrowed his eyes when he met the disinterested glare of his opponent. 'What can I do...? Where do I attack from...?'

"... Tch!" he scoffed and suddenly kicked up his speed.

"... Hm?" Saitama watched as the blonde man suddenly unsheathed his blade and, for some reason, started slashing at the ground all around him. He was tearing the field to shreds, completely rearranging the landscape, and whatever he was preparing also had the added benefit of producing something of a smoke screen. 'Hoh, a new move, huh?'

(fwshhhh!)

He leaned his head out of the way when something came whizzing out of the smoke like a bullet. "... Oh," he muttered in a disappointed tone.

Flashy Flash continued zipping around the smoke-covered field in a sporadic pattern while still keeping an eye on the silhouette in the center. 'How's this, Saitama!?' Along the way, he used his sword and sheath to fling sizeable rocks at random angles. 'If he really wants to play keep away, all I've gotta do is extend my range, right!?'

---

"Pfft! Hah!" Metal Bat laughed. "This idiot's done for!"

The others on the ridge looked his way with confused expressions. "*munch* *munch* What do you mean?" Pig God asked for the group. "It seems like a good tactic to vary his range."

Metal Bat waved him off. "Nah, blondie's dead. Saitama really doesn't like it when you throw rocks at him. He's about to get bored." The teen had noticed that the bald man was a lot more willing to keep the fight going as long as he was interested, and nothing seemed to kill his mood more than rock-throwing.

(On the battlefield)

Flashy Flash continued his assault, varying every aspect of each attack as much as possible. He threw different-sized stones from differing angles at drastically staggered speeds, but he could see Saitama reacting to all of it. 'Damn! This isn't working!' He sped up the pace as much as he could and fired off pieces in rapid succession. He shot so many that he actually couldn't even see his target anymore. He stopped attacking but continued zipping around the area, just in case. "Did I... Did I get him...?"

"Nope," a voice muttered over his shoulder.

"Huh!?" Flashy Flash peeked back to see Saitama effortlessly matching him, stride for stride, with a plain grin on his face.

"Eh-heh-heh... Hey," he said in a completely unbothered tone, "is that all you can do?"

"hrrraaaarggghhh!" Flashy Flash cut back and slashed for his neck, completely forgetting his blade was out of its sheath.

Not that it mattered. Saitama was gone before he could even realize it, and the momentum of his swing threw him off balance. He nearly corrected himself, but when he lost sight of his target-turned-pursuant he took a painful fall, and for a man running at such a violent speed, that also meant he took a very painful tumble.

"OOOOHHH!" the group exclaimed.

"Hahah-haah!" Atomic Samurai clapped his hands.

"What happened!?" Iaian asked.

"No idea!" Metal Bat admitted. "But I told you! He's done for!"

---

"... er-...! Ergh!" Flashy Flash groaned as he pushed his face out of the dirt.

Saitama dropped down a few feet away with a concerned look. "Whoa, you okay? How'd you fall like that?"

"Uh-!" the speedy hero immediately grabbed his blade and flipped away with an unnecessarily flashy tumble routine to gain some space.

Saitama watched him slip back into his stance with a flat expression. "Uhhh... Hey, you wanna call it, now? Your forehead is bleeding."

Flashy Flash narrowed his gaze and watched him slipping his phone out again. Did he really think they were done?

Again, Saitama stared at his own message as if he had just sent it out. He couldn't even describe the bitter feeling in the pit of his stomach. It wasn't like she actually agreed to show up. If he remembered correctly, she said she could 'maybe' come later, but that wasn't a guarantee. It's been almost two hours since they parted ways at HQ. That felt like more than enough time to buy a TV, and considering her powers, it didn't seem like the delivery and installation process should take this long. At this point, he was almost frustrated just thinking about what it could mean. With a heavy sigh, he turned back to the ridge to maybe take a little break before his next sparring match. 'I'm starving... I guess if I make these other matches quick, we can get outta here and-..'

(wooosh BANG!)

Saitama leaned back and narrowly avoided the downward slash. His plain glare landed on the enraged eyes of Flashy Flash, and he could immediately tell he wasn't looking to give up any time soon.

The blonde man snarled and immediately went for another strike, but it seemed like before he could even twitch Saitama was gone. Then, he felt an immense pressure on the back of his neck.

Saitama stood behind him with that same disinterested look in his eyes. He raised his hand up and chopped the enraged hero on the back of the head.

(BOOM!)

Flashy Flash crashed into the ground hard enough to crack the surface.

(In the distance)

"OOOOOOHHH!"

Saitama stared at the defeated swordsman with a confused look. "... Oops." He only meant to knock him out, not completely flatten him. A few of their viewers from the sideline were already making their way over. He knelt down beside him and jostled his shoulder a little. "Uhhh... yeah okay?"

"... er-..! Ergh!"

"... Yeah, you're okay." He stood up and pulled his phone out, hoping there was a change, but he was again left disappointed.

(Fshhh! Boom!)

Genos came swooping in with an eager look in his eyes. "Master!"

'It did send this message, right?' They were pretty far from HQ, which was the closest active building around them, so maybe the cell reception was a bit spotty. "... Hey, Genos," he muttered.

The cyborg gave him a deep bow, even though he wasn't paying attention. "You were amazing as always, Master Saitama!"

"... Uhuh."

Genos raised up and smiled at him, briefly glancing down to Flashy Flash who was out cold. "... Master, may I please have the next match?"

"... y-yeah, sure," Saitama muttered again. He lifted his phone into the air as if he were trying to catch a better reception.

"What!?" Metal Bat came jogging over with his bat in hand. "What the hell is that!? I was next!"

"Master Saitama has granted my request," Genos said in a stern tone. "You will have to wait."

"Tch-! Yeah, bullshit! I was supposed to go first! You're not pushing me back again!"

Saitama sighed and gave up on finding a better connection. His phone usually told him if a message failed to send. Still, he stared at his lonesome text for a long moment. The sound of his two 'students' arguing was reduced to a muffled buzz in his ears until it wasn't.

"Saitama! Tell him I'm going next!"

"Master has already decided!"

He looked between the two bickering young men with an irritated look slowly sinking in with every pestering plea. It felt like he was getting hungrier just listening to them.

"Master!"

"Saitama!"

"Master!"

"Tell him I'm next, goddamnit!"

"Master!"

"ALRIGHT!" Saitama finally exploded. "SHUT UP, ALREADY!"

"Uh-!" Genos gasped before immediately bowing his head. "I apologize, Master!"

"Fuck that!" Metal Bat yelled back. "YOU told me I was next when we got here! We had an agreement, now tell him to get his ass out the arena!"

Saitama rolled his eyes. Metal Bat was so vulgar that he sometimes forgot he was only a teen. "Look, I'm starving. I'm only doing one more match, today, sooo... I don't know, you two fight each other, and whoever wins gets to go next."

"What!?" Metal Bat exclaimed. "That's bullshit!"

Saitama stepped over to Flashy Flashy and slung his limp body over his shoulder without so much as a grimace. "Well, you can forfeit if you don't wanna do it," he shrugged. "... o-Oh, and you only get 15 minutes. If no one wins before then, then... no one wins, I guess..."

The two watched him walk off with drastically different reactions. Genos looked as if he had already come to terms with the requirements and was preparing himself for a quick bout.

Metal Bat, however, watched him go with a completely irritated look on his face. It didn't seem fair that he now had to fight for a chance at a rematch which he was already promised. With a frustrated sigh, he turned back to the annoying kiss-ass and tightened his grip on his bat. "Fuck it..."

---

Saitama laid the passed-out blonde man down behind the group before taking a seat next to Atomic Samurai with a hefty sigh.

On the other side of the middle-aged swordsman, his student was getting antsy with anticipation until he couldn't hold it anymore. "m-Mr. One-Punch-Man, you were really amazing out there! I've never seen anyone outclass Flashy Flash in speed! I sure hope I can become a well-rounded hero like you one day!"

"Mm... Thanks," Saitama muttered before pulling his phone back out.

Atomic Samurai noted his somewhat dismissive tone and quickly reprimanded his student. "Geez, kid. Ease up on the hero worship, would ya? The guy just sat down."

"uh-..! y-Yes, master. I apologize."

"Ah, don't sweat it," he waved him off. "No harm done..."

Saitama confirmed that there was still no response from Tatsumaki before he sighed and stuffed the device back into his pocket. He looked out to the battle to see his students in full swing. Genos was firing blasts at a distance that Metal Bat was expertly avoiding or deflecting with his unbreakable weapon while he tried to close the gap. The entire scene was a spectacular view for those paying attention. The two were fighting with all they had to drop the other before the time expired. Their attacks split the ground and shook the earth to its very core.

And Saitama quickly lost interest...

He peeked over to the middle-aged man next to him with a curious look. "Hey... didn't you wanna fight me, too?"

"Eh-heh-heh!" Atomic Samurai chuckled. "Absolutely not. I think I've seen more than enough to guess how that'd turn out. I ain't pickin' a fight with the almighty One-Punch-Man unless I absolutely have to."

"... Mm," he hummed and looked back to the battle.

"... I sure am dying for that drink, though," he added. "You're not too tired for a round of shots, after this, are you?"

"Nah," Saitama shrugged. "As long as we go somewhere with food. I'm starving."

"h-Well you shouldn't have offered to fight the winner. You're a pretty soft Master if you let your students dictate the training plan, ya know."

Saitama shrugged again and sat back on his palms. "That's why I only gave them fifteen minutes. Neither one of them is ever gonna quit before then."

"... Ah-hahaha!" the samurai laughed. "Nice..."

---

On the other end of the line of spectators, Love continuously shifted her gaze from the miraculous battle of the two seasoned S-Class heroes to Saitama whom she had to peek around Bang to see. She was hoping he would come and sit next to her, but that didn't happen, and she couldn't think of an excuse to move closer.

At this point, she got the feeling that he didn't really notice her; not like other guys typically did, at least. It was a strange feeling. She would never consider herself to be irresistible or anything, despite what others have said, but attracting a guy was never really a tall task for her. Though she'd never had a boyfriend, men in general were usually very willing and eager to at least catch her eye.

Not him, though...

It was oddly both poetic and unreasonably heartbreaking all at once. Poetic because she was quite literally pining for the only man she had ever met who didn't seem to notice her. The heartbreaking part was that she knew exactly why he didn't...

When she ran into him the other night walking the streets with Tornado, she wanted to believe that it was as innocent as two co-workers walking home after a long day, but... so far, she hadn't seen that look on his face anywhere else outside of the presence of that small woman...

That smile...

That big toothy grin he showed when they were laughing together...

Ironically, Love didn't really know much about things like that, but he looked at Tornado the way most people looked at her. And for as much as she despised those looks, it didn't feel good to watch that happen...

She didn't know if she had a chance, anymore. The little moment they had in the meeting room only exacerbated her growing fears. They were a lot closer than they wanted anyone to know...

Or if they weren't, they both definitely wanted to be...

At some point in her silent contemplation, Love completely forgot about being discrete with her glances. She was full-on staring at the aloof-looking baldy, and Bang couldn't help but notice. '... Ah... It was as Genos suspected...' He discretely snuck a glance at Saitama to see him picking his nose and oddly staring at whatever he dug out before flicking it away. 'Hmh... You truly are quite the casanova.'

The old man turned back to the spectacular battle with a smile. Knowing Saitama before his acknowledgment really let Bang appreciate the situation just a bit more. It was only a few months ago when he was just a face in the crowd. The entire world had likely passed him by without even seeing him. Now, he was the most intriguing man in the eyes of many. To Bang, It was proof that the universe is designed to balance itself out. With good deeds, even those gone unnoticed, there are good rewards sure to follow.

"Master Bang?" the voice of his student called out, snapping him awake.

"Yes?"

"i-I... was wondering if..." He blushed and nervously scratched the back of his head.

Bang gave him a curious look. "... Hm? What is it?"

Charanko leaned back and brought Saitama back into the old man's line of sight. "y-You said that I could probably ask for an autograph?"

"Oh-hoh-hoh!" he laughed. "I am sure it's fine, boy. Go on and ask."

"eh-! b-But-..! Master, you said you'd ask him for me!" he harshly whispered in protest. "What if he's busy!?"

Saitama was noticeably bored. He had his head resting in the palm of his hand as he watched the ongoing battle.

Bang chuckled and put a hand on his student's shoulder. "I am sure it's fine, Charanko. Now seems to be the best time."

"But... Master! I don't-.."

"u-Uhm, excuse me?" Love cut in. The two looked her way and she offered them a small wave...

(On the battlefield)

(BOOM!)

Metal Bat slid beneath a huge blast of energy that completely destroyed a massive chunk of the battlefield behind him. He immediately rolled into an all-out sprint, ducking and dodging energy blasts that seemed to be coming from everywhere, all at once. He was only reacting on pure adrenaline and instinct. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough, and he was clipped by a shot along his side. "Argh!"

'Shit! I think this jackass is really tryin' to kill me!'

His panicked gaze zipped in every direction, but he couldn't get a beat on where the shots were coming from. That is until the smoke in front of him parted and the stern-looking cyborg was revealed standing directly in his path with both of his arms held out in front of him. "Uh-!" Metal Bat had no chance of changing directions in time.

"... Lightning Eye!" Genos shouted.

"ARGH!" Metal Bat turned away from the blinding light that hit him in the face like a flashbang. He lost his footing and began tumbling right toward Genos who was already charging a massive blast through both of his arms.

"This next blast will end the fight, either way!" he shouted at the tumbling man. "Do you YIELD!?" He didn't wait for a response. His shot was screeching toward a full-powered blast, and in this game of chicken, he wasn't going to stop until he won the fight, no matter what it took.

'... Heh,' Metal Bat chuckled, in his mind, still tumbling toward the charging blast. 'This idiot's... really gonna say the names of his attacks out loud in a sparring match...? Tch... Alright then...'

(BOOM!)

With a swing of his bat, the teen hero struck the ground hard enough to blast himself into the air.

"SPIRAL INCINERATION CANNO-...!" Genos couldn't stop his blast, and he couldn't hold the weight of the kickback enough to change its direction. He could only watch Metal Bat flip away.

The teen landed in a crouch a few feet away and immediately seized the opportunity to close the gap. 'You wanna earn style points with Saitama, then... you only shout the name when you land a good blow!' Genos was wide open, and his entire torso looked like it was sitting right down the middle of the strike zone. "DRAGON THRASHING!"

"... Oof," Atomic Samurai winced. "Talk about overkill." They all watched in quiet contemplation as Metal Bat beat chunks of scrap off of his cybernetic opponent. Genos couldn't defend himself from the overwhelming barrage of strikes.

"... sh-.. Shouldn't someone stop him?" Iaian asked, directing his question toward his master.

The middle-aged samurai rubbed his neck and sat back on his palms. "Hey, it's not my call."

Saitama watched the beatdown with a very confused look on his face. '... Why are they calling out their attack names...? I mean, I get if it's like a big fight or something...'

He took a moment to admire the two as they were. His bullheaded students, whom he somehow ended up with, sure were a couple of knuckleheads, but he had to admit, it was sort of fun trying to teach someone. Watching them from an outside perspective, he could definitely say he was seeing improvements, specifically in Metal Bat. He was much faster than when he saw him fighting Garou that time. His movements were more explosive. Saitama could tell he was keeping up with his strength training. Even if he didn't feel the results sinking in, he was growing every single day.

'... Yeah, I guess I should stop it, now though. Before Genos self-destructs or something...'

"Hey, Saitama!" Just before he stood up to leave, a bubbly tone caught his ear.

"... Hm?" He turned to see Love gently taking a seat next to him with a kind smile. "Oh... Hey, what's up?"

"n-Nothing much," she chuckled. "Just-.. e-enjoying this amazing battle, I guess? Hmh-...! They're both super good."

"Yeah," he shrugged. "They're alright, I guess..."

Love nodded and nervously settled in. It felt a little awkward, but it was relieving how easy that was. It felt like she had been racking her brain trying to think of some way to approach him. Turns out, all she had to do was walk over. It was so easy that she nearly forgot about the plan of opportunity that she was going to use as cover. "o-Oh!" she exclaimed and turned to Charanko who was standing behind them. "Saitama?"

"Hm?" He looked over to her again before finally noticing the presence looming over him.

"This is Charanko," she needlessly introduced.

Saitama had met him multiple times before. They even greeted each other when he first arrived.

"And... he was wondering if he could have your autograph, maybe? i-I know it's kind of a weird time and all, but-.."

(BOOM!)

"Heads up," Atomic Samurai warned.

The group covered up when a few loose rocks came shooting their way. Saitama spotted Genos trying to regain his momentum from earlier, even though he was missing an arm, now. As long as he was still fighting, he figured he had time. "... Uh, sure." He stood to his feet and turned to the stiff-looking man. "You got a pen or something?"

"u-Uh... i-I don't, sir," he said with a nervous chuckle. "I didn't... think to bring one with me, I guess..."

Saitama stared at him with a flat expression for a very long while, almost as if he were expecting more. When nothing else came, he slowly nodded his head. "... Okay..."

Charanko awkwardly averted his gaze a few times. "... I could... go find one, maybe," he shrugged and started looking around.

Saitama gave him a confused look. "... Heh, out here?" he chuckled. "You think there's just gonna be one stuck in the dirt or somethi-.."

"Found one!"

"Huh!?" He watched him jog over to a little mound of dirt and pull what seemed to be a blue pen from a crack in its surface.

"Mhm-hm!" Love chuckled at his apparent amazement, drawing his gaze.

"... Well, what are the odds of that, right?"

She shrugged and they turned back to Charanko, watching him try it on his hand a few times.

"... Urgh, no ink, though," he muttered. "... Oh-! There's another one!"

"Really!?" Saitama exclaimed.

The kid rushed over and gave him his headband, and Saitama did as he always did when he was handed something to sign. He sloppily started to jot his name down as best he could before he was stopped.

"Oh-! Can you actually put from... One-Punch-Man, instead of Saitama?" Charanko asked. "Just-... ya know, I... like the name, heh..."

Saitama sighed and did as asked. "There ya go," he muttered and shoved it back into his hands. "Thanks for the support er-.. something..."

"Eh-heh!" Charanko smiled. He stared down at the ink marring his headband with a glowing look in his eyes. "Thank you, sir! I'll wear it every day while I'm training! I know it'll inspire me to get even stronger than I am now!"

"Uhhh yeah," he muttered, again checking on his students. To his shock, they both looked like absolute shit. Metal Bat's jacket and shirt were torn to shreds, exposing some pretty severe-looking injuries around his body, and Genos was now missing a leg.

"Uh-!" Love gasped. "They're gonna kill each other!"

---

Metal Bat charged across the field with his bat cocked for a big swing. He could barely see, and he had no feeling left in his fingers, but he could smell a victory with this next clash. 'Oh yeah... I'm fired up! Let's do it!'

Genos was flying straight at him, putting every ounce of energy he had into the thruster of his last leg and the thruster of his elbow rocket. He had his fist cocked back, and he was calculating every aspect of his target's movements, looking for the most vital point of contact to drop him for good, just like Saitama would do. '... Master... Are you watching me...? Am I improving, too...?'

They drew closer and closer, both fueled by an unshakable will to win. They had no intention of stopping. Not until the other could no longer move. To Genos, that meant if he had to break every bone in the kid's body, and Metal Bat had no qualms with dismembering a robot. When they were just close enough, they lunged at each other and a deathly silence flooded the crater like the calm before the storm.

Time almost seemed to slow in anticipation, and the two combatants really got a good look at their opponent for what felt like the first time. They could see the rage, the determination, and the need to grow, and they knew that the other was willing to die before conceding... If it really came to that in a sparring match, then so be it...

"RRAAAAAGGGGHHHH!"

(BOOOOOOM!)

(On the ridge)

The group flinched from the resulting shockwave of the collision that spread from the point of impact in waves of violent tremors. The blast kicked up one hell of a dust cloud that shielded their view of the final devastation.

"HOLY SHIT!" Atomic Samurai yelled. "Heh-HAH! Those idiots!"

"Should we call for a medical team?" Pig God wondered.

Love swiped the cloud of smog away to see what happened. "s-.. Saitama?" she called out. "Are they-... Uh-!" she gasped when she looked around the group to find him missing.

"... No way!" Iaian shouted, pointing down at the center of the blast. "Look!"

To the shock of everyone, Saitama stood right between his students. Genos' rocket-propelled punch seemed to have connected right in his gut, and Metal Bat's club sat on the back of his head. He had apparently tanked both of their final hits, himself.

"... Uh-!" Genos gasped. "Master, I-...!" He froze when he couldn't get a good look at his expression.

"... Genos... What the hell!?"

(Boom!)

With a chop to the top of his head, the cyborg crashed into the ground just like Flashy Flash, earlier.

"I said you two should spar! Not try and kill each other!"

"er-!" With a grunt of effort, he managed to push his face from the dirt with his one good arm. "m-Master! I apologize!"

"Apologize!?" Saitama yelled. "You almost just died, you idiot!"

He crawled his way to a bowing position. "Forgive me! I will try harder next time!"

"Huh!?" Saitama squatted down next to him and slapped the back of his head a few times. "That's not the point, dummy."

"Heh-heh," a hollow chuckle caught his ear.

The bald man turned around to find Metal Bat still standing there holding his bat with two hands.

"... Heh-heh-hah-hah!" he started chuckling again. "HAAH! Hah-hahaha!"

"... Hm?" Saitama stood up to check on him. Hopefully, he didn't have brain damage or something.

"Hahahaha!" Metal Bat looked up to the sky, still cackling like a madman. He tilted his head too far back and ended up stumbling to the ground.

"... Uh, hey," Saitama said, watching him lay out flat. "Are you okay?" Before he could get a response from the cackling teen, the group on the ridge finally made their way over.

"Geez," Atomic Samurai said. "The kid lose a screw or somethin'?"

"*munch* *munch* He could have a concussion," Pig God theorized, waddling over to him. "Do you need to be transported?"

"Heh-haha!" Metal Bat laughed and swatted the big man's hands away. "Get off me, I'm fine. Eh-heh-heh..." He sat up and looked around until he spotted the bald man.

Saitama raised a brow when he suddenly gave him a bloody-toothed smile, still noticeably heaving for air.

"That's a win..."

"... What?"

"That's a win!" he said. "I landed a hit!"

"... Huh? That doesn't count. We weren't even sparring."

"Bullshit it doesn't!" he protested. "You never said it had to be during a spar! That's a win!"

"Well... I'm pretty sure that's implied, right?"

"Yeah, implied my ass! You said you'd give me a match whenever I said I was ready, and now I had to fight that damn psycho toaster oven just to get another chance!? That's bullshit!"

Saitama reeled at his words. '... Huh... Yeah, I guess I did say that, right?'

"h-Yeah, if you can change the rules, then so can I. That's a win," he said in a dismissive tone.

"Eh-heh-heh!" Atomic Samurai chuckled and slung an arm around Saitama's neck. "Ah, just let him have it, One-Punch. Hasn't he worked hard enough? Besides, the kid's obviously just dying to be one of your students."

"Oh," Bang muttered, curiously, "was this some sort of initiation?"

"y-You guys?" Love shyly called out, drawing everyone's attention. "Is... Demon Cyborg okay?"

Saitama turned to the one in question to see him sitting on his ass, fidgeting with some wiring in his neck with his one arm. "Genos, you alright? Do you need like... oil or something?"

"I apologize, Master Saitama... but I did not bring a repair kit with me." His tone was hollow and disappointed. "... I must return to Doctor Kuseno's lab."

Saitama could tell he was upset about losing, but he didn't really know what to say. Especially considering two legitimate Masters were watching. He would usually just say whatever and Genos would take it as some sort of wise lecture, but there's no way he'd be able to pass it off in front of Bang and Atomic Samurai. "... Uhm... Okay, then. Don't worry about it. Just get yourself patched up, okay...?"

"... Yes sir," he muttered.

"... Oh, hey, can you even make it on your own?" Saitama suddenly realized. "I can take you if you want."

"The thrusters on my back are still partially functional," he said, firing them up as proof. "I can make it if I reroute my power source."

Saitama clearly didn't believe him. He wanted to take him, but he also told Pig God and Atomic Samurai that he'd go out with them. If he bailed on that, they were probably just gonna ask again sometime soon. '... And I am starving... '

"Pfft, stop trying to gain sympathy points, you jackass," Metal Bat said, suddenly ambling by Saitama.

The bald man stepped aside and watched him limp his way over with a confused look.

Genos' thrusters sputtered out. "I'm fine," he reiterated. "I can get myself t-.."

"Hup!" Before he could finish, Metal Bat grabbed his remaining arm and slung his broken body over his shoulder. "Shut up. I may be your junior now, but I'm not gonna roll over and let you be Master Saitama's favorite forever, damn it!"

"Uh-!" Saitama gasped. '... Did he just...'

Genos was shocked by his proclamation. "... Master's... favorite?"

The bat-wielding teen struggled to get him into a comfortable position, eventually settling for using his arm as a sling for an awkward piggyback. "Tch... Consider this the last favor I'll ever do for you... cause' from here on out, we're rivals, and I'm not gonna be behind forever."

The group watched the two walk off with varying reactions. Most of them were a little touched at seeing the birth of a new student rivalry, but Saitama was more confused than anything. 'Geez... He only landed one hit and he's acting all cool like that?'

"Hmh," Atomic Samurai chuckled. "Gotta say, One-Punch, looks like you've got a lot on your plate. No idea how you're gonna handle those two knuckleheads moving forward."

For a moment, he didn't say anything. He just watched the two go with a flat expression... Then, a little smile crept out. "Yeah... me neither..."

---

An hour later, that smile was gone. Saitama sat at the end of a long table at the barbeque grill Pig God had recommended. The group was pretty much the same aside from Bang's student, Charanko, having to depart for work. They had been there for over an hour already, and the others were in high spirits, chatting about something that he wasn't paying attention to. His eyes were plastered on the drink menu propped up in the center of the table.

The restaurant was nice and seemed to be drawing quite a bit of traffic for being a new location. It was a heroes-only establishment, so of course, everything about it was 'hero-themed', including the various alcoholic drinks. And Saitama's eyes were unsurprisingly drawn to the apparent favorite which was a bright green blend titled the 'Tornado Bomb'.

As soon as they switched locations, he didn't hesitate to send her an update, but the results were basically the same. At first, it was almost understandable, but after two texts he was at least expecting a response. When he finally realized he likely wasn't getting one, he relented in his efforts and did his best to not seem like a total killjoy to the rest of the group. Luckily, that wasn't as hard as it felt like it would be. Because, somehow, he wasn't the focus of the conversation.

It was Love...

The beautiful new addition to the S-Class rank dominated the spotlight at the table, simply by being incredibly inquisitive about every little thing she saw. Love was almost childlike with how little she knew about the modern world, and everyone was eager to show her something new. Pig God was shoving different flavored meats onto her plate that she absolutely loved, Atomic Samurai vehemently ran her through the drink menu, trying to find her 'perfect drink', and Bang and Iaian were just interested in finding out what else she didn't know about.

To be fair, Saitama did find it pretty interesting, but he just couldn't really focus on contributing to the conversation, especially not after the food came out. And he wasn't the only one. His eyes shifted across the table to the other person not paying much attention which was Flashy Flash. The blonde man sat with an impeccable posture and picked around his plate with a frustrated sneer on his face. He was likely still sulking about his loss; or possibly the fact that he awoke inside the belly of Pig God; a disturbing sight for anyone, Saitama assumed.

With a sigh, he took another drink of his beer before his gaze panned around the room. They were at the VIP table at the back of the restaurant, and Saitama had his back to the wall. He could see many leering eyes sneaking giddy glances in their direction. From the other customers to the servers and cooks, everyone seemed eager to catch a glimpse of the strange gathering of S-Class heroes. It only further convinced him that privacy was a privilege he took for granted being a nobody. He didn't really mind the attention, it just felt weird having a handful of people watching you eat. A few of them were even recording.

'Geez, what are they expecting us to do?' he wondered.

On top of that, no one else seemed to notice; or if they did, they didn't care. Atomic Samurai, Pig God, Bang, and even Love were all ignoring it as if they were all used to it. The seasoned members, he understood, but Love really stuck out to him. She seemed so comfortable, especially when he remembered that this was her first day being an S-Class hero. It was strange, but he supposed some people were just better at dealing with a spotlight than others.

"Ah-hahaha!" Atomic Samurai laughed, slamming his emptied glass down. "Come on, you really believe she's never heard of puppies before!? That's impossible!"

"Mhm-hm!" Love chuckled and shyly leaned back in her seat. "It's true. I never did. I saw my first one ever just last week, and they were so adorable!"

"Wait-wait-wait," Iaian cut in. "Just puppies? Or dogs, too?"

"Pretty much every animal, really," she shrugged. "Dogs and cats, and... bears...? I had never heard of them before."

"Hoh man," the young swordsman muttered. "That's... pretty strange, honestly."

"Ah-hah-haaargh! It's bullshit, is what it is," Atomic Samurai continued, lightly shoving his student on the shoulder as if he were in on the joke. "There is no way in hell you didn't know about dogs! Keh-! Cars and trains and all that? Sure, maybe not, but dogs!?"

Love just giggled at his audacious mannerisms. He was quite a different character when he was drunk.

"So... you were locked away for a pretty long time, huh?" Pig God asked.

"y-... Yeah," she shrugged. "For as long as I can remember I guess. Hmh..." The change in topic brought the momentum of the table's joy to a slow halt, and Love nervously shifted in her seat.

"Does that mean you have no memory of your life before your capture?" Bang wondered.

"eh-.. i-I... guess so," she shrugged again. "I don't really... remember much from when I was a kid. Hmh-hmh... My memory was actually... my biggest problem according to Doctor Konami."

"Who?" Iaian asked.

"That was my doctor in the facility. The one who was assigned to... take care of me... Or to study me," she muttered. "He said that he thinks a side-effect of using my powers is memory loss... and that's why I can't remember being little..."

"Tch, geez," Atomic Samurai muttered. "Talk about a drawback. That must be rough, huh?"

She shrugged, "I don't know... I guess I just don't really notice it."

"*munch* *munch* That makes sense," Pig God muttered with a mouthful. "I don't notice when I forget things either."

"Are power drawbacks normal?" Iaian asked.

"Yes," Bang nodded, "quite. Power, like all things, is structured with balance in mind. The law of equivalent exchange demands something of value be taken when something of value is given."

"... Hmph." The table turned their attention to Flashy Flash who scoffed at his words. "That only applies to power that is given. When it's achieved through effort alone, there are no drawbacks. I figured you'd know that being a martial artist."

"Hmh-hmh," Bang chuckled. "There are always drawbacks, even if you are unaware of them. No power comes without consequence."

"w-... Well, I don't know about that, Master Bang," Iaian said, respectfully. "I mean... just look at Tornado and Master Saitama."

'... Hm?' The man in question tuned into the conversation when his name was brought up. Why was he calling him 'master' too?

"They're the two strongest heroes in the world, and they don't seem to have any drawbacks from their power."

"... Eh-heh-heh-heh!" Atomic Samurai suddenly chuckled. He put a hand on his student's shoulder and leaned over to whisper something to him.

Saitama watched the two with a plain look. Iaian's face scrunched up in confusion before slowly slipping into a look of understanding... and then he peeked at the top of his head.

"... Ooooh."

The bald man raised a brow. "... What?"

"Hmph," Flashy Flash grunted. "Saitama's premature balding is not a drawback of his powers... It's more than likely poor genetics."

"Ohoh, please!" Atomic Samurai exclaimed. "You really think bad genetics is to blame? He's more than just bald. That's like... super bald."

"Could it be stress related?" Iaian wondered.

"Hey!" Saitama shouted. "Stop talking about my head, dammit!"

Atomic Samurai, Bang, and Love all laughed at his sudden outburst, finding his defensiveness hilarious. Most of them were tame with their amusement, but Atomic Samurai was wasted.

"Ah-hah-hah-hah!" he laughed, boisterously with his full chest. "Heyyyy! There he is! I forgot you were there, pal! Why so quiet!?"

He scowled at them for a moment more before shrugging and picking around his plate a bit. "Just hungry, I guess."

"Uh, h-yeah," Iaian chuckled. "You must've been r-really hungry. I think you even ate more than Pig God."

Everyone peeked over to Saitama's side of the table and only then noticed that he had multiple stacks of dirtied plates piled up next to him.

He was oblivious to their amazed looks. He sat back in his seat with a satisfied sigh and casually picked at his teeth while he checked his phone again.

"... Hmh," Love chuckled through her pursed lips. She stared at the side of his face until their waiter reached across her view to set a vibrant alcoholic drink down. 'Uh-...!' Suddenly, her eyes were drawn to the rim of that drink, or more specifically, the little plastic white rose used in place of an umbrella for a visual flair. She stared at it with an unreadable look on her face...

Why it drew her focus was a mystery, but she couldn't look away. It was almost... hypnotizing...

Then, in the back of her mind, there was a high-pitched screeching noise that made her visibly cringe. She shut her eyes tightly and rubbed at her forehead, trying to soothe the incoming headache. The others were talking again, but their voices were muffled. Flashy Flash was arguing his point to Bang about Saitama not having any drawbacks while Atomic Samurai cracked a joke whenever he could. She blinked away the headrush for a moment and tried her best to smile through it, but it was agonizing.

Bang was the first to notice Love's apparent discomfort out the side of his eye. "Hm...? Ms. Love? Are you feeling okay?"

"uh-!" she gasped and looked up to see they were all staring at her, now. "y-Yes, I'm fine!" she said, quickly scooting out of her seat. "i-I just... have to go to the bathroom, excuse me."

Though she left in a bit of a hurry, she was still very poised and graceful with her walk, and she drew the eyes of nearly everyone in the restaurant along the way.

The group at the table watched her until she disappeared into the crowd. "Sheesh," Atomic Samurai muttered. "What's up with her?"

"You're only asking that now?" Flashy Flash asked.

Atomic Samurai turned to him with a curious look. "Huh? What the hell are you talkin' about?"

"She's odd," he stated, harshly. "Her story doesn't make sense. She was supposedly locked away in some facility and escaped because one of the 'doctors' grew a heart, but she can't remember where it is because a side-effect of her power is a spotty memory... Convenient."

"Convenience does not always mean someone is being deceitful," Bang said. "The truth can be tricky like that."

"Hmph. I don't operate on 'not always'. I ask questions... She was being hunted by multiple monsters when she was first discovered. What were they after her for?"

"... Well, she escaped," Iaian said. "They were... trying to get her back."

"You don't send three mindless beasts to capture a single target."

"Unless capture wasn't the plan," Pig God added. "What if they were trying to kill her?"

"Then they would've sent a second assault..." Most of the group seemed to understand where he was going with this. "She seems to be acclimating well to freedom. Almost too well... I'd say she's pretty carefree for someone who was just hunted by a pack of Dragon-level threats sent by an organization that, to our knowledge, is still operational..."

"You gonna actually accuse her of something, or just keep dropping vague hints?" Atomic Samurai asked.

Flashy Flash's glare shifted in his direction, clearly irritated by his cluelessness. "Maybe... Maybe not... Maybe I'm accusing someone else."

"Flash," Bang said, stopping his ominously cryptic rant. "... What exactly are you trying to say?"

The hero in question used a napkin to dab at the corner of his mouth. "I'm not saying anything... Especially not in a place like this..."

The others looked at each other with shifting glances, all wondering what the hell he was talking about...

Well, everyone but Saitama, of course, who wasn't paying attention. He had his head in his phone again. '... Hmm... Still nothing...' For some reason, Tatsumaki not replying at all was sucking all of the joy out of this group outing. If she at least responded and said she wasn't going to come then he'd probably be able to set it aside and enjoy the moment. The anticipation of her 'maybe' was driving him crazy. '... Should I call her? Maybe she just missed my texts or something... Would it be weird if I called? Would it seem like I'm too eager, or something...?'

He was so caught up in his phone that he didn't notice the waitress walking over to him until she was close enough to tap him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, Mr. One-Punch-Man?"

"Huh?"

The young woman immediately crumbled under his gaze. "ah-! th-There's someone here that would like to come over and speak with you, I think? They said it's urgent..."

"... Hm? Well, who is it?"

"i-.. It's-.."

"Well-well-well," a new voice sang from behind her.

When she stepped aside, Saitama got a view of his unexpected visitor... and he had no idea who he was.

"Hmph," Flashy Flash grunted. "You again..."

The man didn't acknowledge him. His focus was strictly on Saitama. "One-Punch-Man... in the flesh..." He put his hands behind his back and swayed, innocently, on his feet. "Hmh... No offense, but you look a lot smaller in person..."

"... Umm... Okay...?" Saitama was confused by so many things that were happening. Mainly the notable silence that seemed to be sinking in around the room as if everyone was tuning into this random encounter. "... Youuu want an autograph or something?"

The man looked taken aback by the sudden question. "uh-... Eh-heh-heh, no. No, I... I'm just delighted to finally meet you, is all..."

"... oookay...?"

The two stared at each other for a long moment, and there was a weight to the silence; a pressure that filled the room felt by almost everyone... except for Saitama, of course.

"Well, yeah," he shrugged. "Nice to... meet you, I guess...? Did you need my help or something?"

"Eh-heh-hah-hah," he laughed. "Uhhh... Alright, I'm guessing you don't know who I am, huh?"

Saitama gave him a good look. '... Ah crap... Have we met before or something? Should I know his name?'

"I'm Blue," he gave it to him. "The top hero of the Neo-Hero Organization."

"... The what?"

"Ah," Bang spoke up. "Is that really you? You've grown much since I last saw you, Blue."

"Yeah," he shrugged. "Time tends to do that, doesn't it?"

"So, what the hell do you want?" Atomic Samurai asked. "Aren't these places supposed to be privacy assured? Kinda unprofessional to just approach another hero's table like that."

"Oh-hoh," Blue chuckled. "My apologies. I didn't realize the S-Class heroes of the Hero Association were so strict on professionalism... In fact, I assumed the opposite."

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!?" Iaian yelled.

Atomic Samurai lazily waved his student's anger off. "Relax, kid. It means exactly what he said..." The middle-aged man sat back in his seat and took another sip of his beer, eyeing their unexpected visitor down over the brim of his glass. "I'm assuming you're not here to try the barbeque, so whatever you got to say, you should make it quick. Saitama's not really one for talking."

"Mhm," Blue chuckled. "Yes... So I've heard..."

His eyes never left Saitama who was growing more and more confused by the second.

"I can see you're... very busy," he said in a sarcastic tone, "so I'll keep it brief... A few weeks ago, you encountered a man with supernatural abilities, correct?"

"... Hm?"

"A man with supernatural abilities," he urged him on. "Something uh... lightning based, probably..."

"... Uhhh... yyyeah, I think I remember that," he said. "Why?"

'Uh-!' Flashy Flashy was shocked. He wasn't made aware of that fact, himself, and judging by that first question, he knew exactly what this was about.

"You reported to your superiors that you killed this man yet there was no body recovered, is that correct?"

Flashy Flash turned his sharp gaze back to the intruding presence looming over their table. "How are you getting this information?"

Blue glanced over his shoulder but ignored him. "You also reported that this man was able to change his physical appearance. Is that true as well?"

Saitama raised a curious brow. Why did it feel like he was on trial for something? Before he could answer, his gaze shifted over to Atomic Samurai who suddenly stood to his feet. "Look, pal. I don't know what kinda trouble you're tryna start here, but this isn't exactly the time or place to be discussing sensitive information."

"Hoh, I don't intend to start any trouble," Blue said in an unnaturally sweet tone, putting his hands up defensively. When he did, his sleeves rolled back a bit, giving them a view of the odd gauntlets he wore. "I'm just following a lead to a crime the Hero Association is apparently too busy to pursue... That's all."

"And what crime would that be?" Pig God jumped in, still shoveling meat slices into his mouth.

Blue glanced over to him with that same mocking smile set in place.

"A mass murder," Flashy Flash answered before he could. His statement seemed to plunge the room into an even thicker silence. "During the attack by that multiplying creature a few weeks ago, there was a bunker in City-B's financial district that was breached by a hoard... And there were no survivors."

"Ah, the bunker by Yamato Park," Bang spoke in a solemn tone. "I saw the memorial service on the news."

"That incident was considered an unfortunate tragedy," Atomic Samurai noted. "Not a mass murder..."

"Mhm," Blue smiled his way. "Well, that just goes to show you how tight-lipped those executives of yours are. Hell, I understand withholding information from the public during an investigation, but choosing not to inform their own trusted heroes...? The top brass, no less?"

"The investigation showed signs that three of the A-Class heroes present at the time were killed prior to the collapse of the bunker," Flashy Flash immediately brought his co-workers up to speed. "Their wounds suggested that they were killed using some sort of lightning-based technique..."

"uh-!" Saitama gasped, suddenly connecting the dots. Were they saying that the man he fought was responsible for that?

Blue seemed to notice his reaction, and it only made him smile more. "Shocking... isn't it?"

"Oh, that's nice," Atomic Samurai sarcastically muttered. "You're clearly quite the professional, yourself, huh?"

"Professional enough to notice when the people need help," he said, rolling his gaze over to the middle-aged man. "You guys just show up wherever they point and kill anything that moves."

"Yup!" the samurai replied in a chippy tone, stretching his neck out. "And I'd say we're pretty damn good at it."

"Eh-heh-heh... Yeah, I'm sure everyone's thrilled when you all heroically show up to have your amazing battles where you... topple their homes and trample over their businesses..."

Again, his statement hung in the air, amplifying the tension in the room.

Atomic Samurai looked stumped for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders. "We reimburse."

Blue scoffed and rolled his eyes before returning his mocking glare to Saitama. "Yeah, I'm sure... You're all so clearly passionate about what you do... So, why not help me out a little by telling me what you know about that man? That's all... Then you can get back to enjoying your meal..."

Saitama continued to stare at him with a plain look on his face as if he were mentally trying to decide what to do. At this point, he realized this was no friendly visit. He was still lost on who this was, but the message was clear. He didn't like them, and from the feeling he was gleaming from the others, they didn't like him, either. "... He didn't say much before I punched him," he finally spoke. "... I don't even think he told me his name... "

"Hmh, really...? No monologue?"

"Well, yeah he was talking a lot, but he wasn't making any sense... He said that he made those monsters and that he... wanted to know what kinda hero I am or something," he shrugged. "I don't know. He was super weird, though..."

Blue considered his words for a moment, trying to piece the facts together. The other S-Class members shared a few glances between each other. Saitama may not have realized what he was doing, but they knew they couldn't let this go on. He was divulging sensitive information to an outside company.

"That's enough, Saitama," Flashy Flash said. "We are not obligated to discuss mission details with the general public."

"... Hm? But he's a hero, too, right?" At least he looked like one.

"Not one of ours," Atomic Samurai answered. "You got what you came here for, kid. So, unless you're gonna offer to buy the next round, I suggest you scram..."

Blue still seemed to be considering the facts for a moment. When he either came to his conclusion or gave up on trying, he scratched his chin and looked around at the table of S-Class heroes for a moment until his eyes landed back on that plain face of Saitama. "... You're a bad hero..."

If at all possible, the thickness of the silence jumped up another notch, or perhaps it only seemed that way when the few gasps of surprise came and went. Saitama didn't say anything in response. He just stared at the odd man across from him.

"That bunker...? I think that's on you... I don't know for sure, but that man, whoever he was or... is to you... he killed three of your company's A-Class heroes and let those monsters in to feast... And if what you're saying is true, then I think he only did it to test your mettle as a hero... and you failed, miserably."

(THUD!)

Iaian slammed his hands down on the table and pushed himself up to his feet. "Hey! What the hell are you talking about!? Who do you think you're-.." He was cut off when Atomic Samurai raised his hand. "uh-...! But Master!"

Blue ignored him. "I've been watching you since your official debut, and unlike the hoards of sheep that worship your every move, I see more than just your record of victories... I see the aftermath, the devastation... I see just how reckless you really are... Hmh... Don't get me wrong, I'm not blind... With power like yours, you could be amazing... You could be worthy of the top ranks... h-You could even be the greatest hero to ever live, but... you're an idiot... A clown in a bright yellow suit."

(Creak!)

Suddenly, Flashy Flash, Pig God, and Bang all stood up at once as if they were ready to fight. They didn't make any move that suggested that, but the threat was implied.

Seeing the rising tension, the owner, who had greeted them all at the front, stepped up to the group. "i-I'm... terribly sorry, sir," he said to Blue, "but I'm... gonna have to ask you to leave, now..."

Still, he only looked at Saitama with that same mocking grin. If this was the only chance he got to speak with him, he wanted to make sure he was heard. "That strength is wasted on a man like you."

"Sir," the owner said, respectfully.

Blue turned around and started on his way to the door with one final statement. "You're not the answer, Saitama... you're the problem..."

The silence in the room was deafening. Every on-looker watched the uninvited guest leave with a bitter look. Most, if not, all of them were fans of the highly touted hero he just besmirched, and they weren't afraid to speak, it just felt like the right move to let the bastard leave without further incident. They were all heroes, after all...

The only one who didn't watch him go with a distasteful look was, unsurprisingly, the very man he came to berate. Saitama's look was still plain. He just sat back in his seat and took the whole thing in...

"Tch! Hey, screw that guy, One-Punch," Atomic Samurai said, retaking his seat along with the others. "Don't waste a second of your time thinking about anything he said."

"He's right, Saitama-boy. Blue's words were merely speculative."

"Speculative or not, you shouldn't have divulged that information," Flashy Flash reprimanded. "Especially not in a place like this."

"Geez, give him a break, Flash," Atomic Samurai jumped to his defense.

"*munch* *munch* He's probably right about that, though." Pig God shoveled more meat in his mouth as he spoke. "I mean, we didn't even know about this mysterious man Saitama fought."

"I'm sure there is a good reason," Bang theorized.

"Hoh, yeah," Flashy Flash scoffed. "I'm sure the association had our best interests in mind when they failed to mention Saitama's encounter with a potential suspect in these recent attacks."

"Well, hold on a sec," Atomic Samurai said. "How exactly did you know about the supposed mass murder at that bunker?"

"I went to investigate the massacre the day after it happened along with Zombieman and Metal Bat," he said. "We reported our findings to Sitch. I figured he'd clue you all in, eventually, but..." He turned his gaze to Saitama again and found him barely paying attention, as usual. "I guess that's just not how they operate..."

The bald man was zoned out, completely. He could hear all of their voices but it felt like they were speaking a completely different language...

"Hey, Saitama...?" Iaian called out. "Who was that guy you fought...? Did you know him...?"

The room was spinning...

---

(Flashback)

(BOOM...!)

Just like that, Saitama punched a hole through the chest of the cosplaying weirdo who was attacking him.

"... Glergh-!" Code spat a glob of blood out and stumbled back.

Saitama pulled his hand free and glanced down at the blood covering his glove, almost changing its shade of red. The devastation of their brief little battle was prevalent in the surrounding area. From the burning and toppled buildings to the unrecognizably scorched streets, it was a warzone.

There was an itchy feeling that was still running down Saitama's spine from the strange lightning power the cosplaying weirdo was using. If he had any hair, he was sure it'd be standing at attention.

"ergh-! Keh-argh!" Code was coughing up blood by the pint. It was almost amazing to see him still standing after such a devastating injury, but it didn't last long. With an exhausted sigh, he dropped to his knees and took a few heaving breaths.

And Saitama stood across from him, waiting to see if this was really over...

Code stared at his bright red boots with an unreadable expression. Then, he fell to his back and laid out flat.

(... boom!)

A distant blast caught Saitama's attention, and he peeked over his shoulder to see what looked like a giant pink tornado in the distance. '... Okay... Looks like I can still make it if I-..'

"You're a terrible hero."

"uh-...!" The bald man turned back and looked down at his fallen enemy, shocked to see him still talking. He couldn't even tell if he was still breathing anymore.

"... One-Punch-Man... is a terrible hero... Heh-heh-heh... It's almost like a bad fuckin' joke, ya know...? I've... been waiting on someone like you for years... For so long that I couldn't wait another second to come and meet you... But you're... not ready, yet... are you...?"

"... Ready?" he repeated. "... What are you talking about?"

"... Hmh-hmh... Someday... you're gonna have to be a real hero, Saitama... Someday, you're gonna have to make a choice... and as you are now, I... I know you'd choose wrong."

"Okay," Saitama sighed and turned to leave, but he stopped when the man spoke again.

"I can give you what you really want..." He didn't turn around, but Code knew he had his attention, again. "That rush that you're looking for...?" He watched him glance over his shoulder. "That's what it is, right...? A good fight...? I can give that to you..."

Saitama was quickly getting annoyed again, but he turned back to listen once more now that he was starting to pique his interest. Why did this guy seem to know so much about his life struggles? How did he know what's been plaguing his mind for years? '... He's gotta be a psychic, for sure... And how is he gonna give me a good fight? That lightning power was cool, I guess, but it wasn't really all that impressive...'

"I can challenge you like no one ever has... But I can't just let you have it... Not for free... You want that from me and... I want... something... from you..."

"What do you want from me?" he asked... but he never got an answer.

Code's head fell limply to the side, signifying the last ounce of life fading from his corpse.

Saitama stared at him with a confused look for a moment more before taking off for the pink tornado. 'That was... weird...'

---

Up on the roof of the building that the barbeque restaurant was in, the caped baldy sat on the ledge and stared out at the section of City-B where that fight happened with a longing look in his eyes. It was at least a mile away, but he could see the cranes of the construction crew hard at work.

He hadn't thought about that moment since it happened. To be completely honest, it didn't even really faze him back then. What did he care if a villain thought he was a bad hero? Hearing it from someone in the same profession just struck a different cord, somehow...

Now, all he could seem to do was sit and think about everything their uninvited visitor had said.

Was he really the cause of that bunker massacre...?

Despite the others throwing out words of reasoning and encouragement, Saitama wasn't so sure... That cosplaying weirdo was talking like he was obsessed with him, even during their fight. He was saying things like, 'I exist only because you do,' and 'We were destined to face each other, eventually.' It wasn't the typical villain jargon he was used to. There was no long drawn-out backstory or clearly stated motive for taking over the world. It was all him rambling about how long he'd been waiting to fight someone like Saitama. So, if Blue's theory was true, and that crazy bastard killed those three heroes in that bunker, then... he was responsible for that tragedy, no matter how indirect it seemed...

With an exhausted sigh, he watched the setting sun with so many questions running through his mind... Then, he checked his phone again.

Even with all of the new issues brought to his attention, Tatsumaki not replying was still somehow at the top of his list. He stared at his two lone messages with a disappointed look on his face. Now, he was almost convinced that she must have given him the wrong number. Why else would she tell him to text her and not even bother to respond? It was pretty obvious that she wasn't going to make it, but he was still considering calling her anyway; if nothing else to confirm that it was actually her...

His eyes lingered on her name for a beat before he clicked it and brought up her full contact page. The call button came into view and his eyes locked in on it as he scratched at his nose and tried to convince himself to press it.

Before he could decide, the door to the roof opened behind him. When he turned to see who it was, he was a bit shocked to see Love of all people looking around until she spotted him on the ledge.

"... o-Oh," she muttered. "Hey... th-There you are..."

"... Hey," he greeted her back in an unusually flatter tone.

Love forced a little smile and casually strolled toward him. "... i-I was... wondering where you ran off to."

"Yeah, I jus-.. had to make a phone call," he lied.

Love hesitated to approach. "o-Oh, I'm sorry. Am I... intruding?"

"... Uhhh..." he looked down at his phone again before shaking his head and shoving it back in his pocket. "Nah, it's fine... I'm just... enjoying the breeze, now, I guess..."

Love could hear the subtle shift in his tone from earlier. She didn't see what happened while she was in the bathroom, but when she got back to the table the others said enough for her to pick up on the mood. Then someone mentioned Saitama stepping outside for some air. Considering the hoard of civilians that crowded the entrance when they arrived, she pretty much figured he'd be on the roof.

"It-.. does feel pretty good out, today, huh?"

"-t's okay," he shrugged, and needlessly shifted over a bit when she joined him on the ledge and sat a little too close.

Love noticed, and awkwardly looked down at the space between them. "... a-..Are you okay?"

"... Hm?" He turned her way with a confused look. "Yeah, why?"

"t-The others were saying that... you might be upset?"

"... Oh, uh... I don't know," he shrugged and looked down to the street below. "I guess I'm alright..."

Love slowly nodded and readjusted in her spot until she was sitting with her hands under her thighs. She could hear the trouble in his voice, even though he sounded about as plain as always. She could even see it on his face somehow. "... Are you sure? i-I... know I'm kinda new to the group and... you don't really know me that well, but... even I can tell that something's bothering you..."

Saitama gave her a cautious glance out the side of his eye. Was he really that easy to read? He turned away and took a deep breath that he pushed out through his nose in an exhausted sigh. "... Do you think I'm a bad hero?" he suddenly asked, clearly shocking the girl.

"w-What? Heh!" she sputtered. "Not at all! You're... One-Punch-Man. You're the best..."

Saitama watched her for a beat before he turned back to the city and locked in on the construction crew in the distance, again. It suddenly felt like he replayed the entire conversation he had that day in his mind again. "... Right," he muttered, just loud enough to be heard.

"... Do you not think you're a good hero?"

Her question almost made him flinch for some reason. That was something he had never thought to ask himself. "... I never thought I was the best or anything, but... I didn't think I was a bad one..."

"Why are you asking that...? Did someone say that?"

"Uh, yeah, that... guy in there," he said with a confused look, pointing over his shoulder. "You were there, right?"

"o-Oh, I... was in the bathroom when that happened, I think," she said with a blush, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"... Oh," he muttered. "Well... yeah, it was some hero from another hero group, I guess... I did hear that from a bad guy, one time too, though... but..." He shrugged again and never finished his thought.

Love bit her lip and desperately tried to conjure up something comforting to say. No one had ever come to her for advice on anything, so she wasn't really prepared for the moment. And the fact that it was Saitama made it all the more nerve-racking.
"... I don't think you're a bad hero, at all..." Her heart skipped a beat when he turned her way, and she quickly looked out to the skyline in an attempt to hide her blush. "y-You're... incredibly strong and... you have a really good heart... That doesn't sound like a bad hero to me..."

"... But it takes more than that... right?" he asked. "I mean, yeah, you should probably be pretty strong to fight the monsters, and stuff. And having a good heart seems right, but... I don't know," he shrugged. "It just feels like there's... something I'm missing as a hero... Something important..."

He waited for a reply, but when he looked over to the pink-haired girl it was clear she had nothing to say. And he didn't really expect her to. His unasked question was sure to have an answer she wouldn't know considering how new she is to their profession.

If he really thought about it, there were only two people that he felt could possibly give him the advice he needed to hear. One of them was a wise old man who had seen a lot. Though he could hardly understand him half the time, Bang occasionally had a clever thought or angle to just about everything. And the other person he was still debating on calling...

"You know what I think...?" Love suddenly asked, cracking the brief moment of silence.

Saitama glanced over and patiently waited for more.

"i-I think that you're so strong that... everyone expects so much from you... so you expect a lot from yourself, too..." Did that sound right? She couldn't tell if she was even making sense. He looked confused. "m-.. Maybe you're just expecting too much...?"

Saitama's blank stare was too much for her to bear, so Love turned away and tried not to crumble under his pensive look.

When she did, Saitama turned away and thought her words through. At face value, he wanted to agree, but was he really expecting too much of himself as a hero...? That didn't sound right. In fact, if he were honest, he didn't really expect anything...

And maybe that was the problem, right there. Maybe everyone else's expectations were higher than his own...

"o-Or maybe you just... think that you have to do it all alone?" Love tried again. "I don't... h-really know what to say," she said with a chuckle. "I mean... I couldn't even imagine what it's like to be the strongest man alive."

Saitama gave her comment a dry snort and looked out at the skyline just as the sun dropped beneath the horizon. "Yeah... Not really as fun as it sounds, I guess..."

"... Hmh," she chuckled slightly, just loud enough for him to hear.

"What?"

"Huh? o-Oh, nothing," she waved him off. "... You're just... a little different than I imagined you'd be is all..."

"I'm different?" he asked.

"n-Not in a bad way or anything," she quickly fumbled out. "I jus-... That day when you saved me...? I remember you smiled a lot... and you seemed really... happy to be doing what you were doing... And I guess I just thought that you would be like that when I saw you again..."

"... Mm," he hummed. "... Ya know, I really don't remember that."

"i-I know," she shrugged. "I... I guess it's because you've saved so many people."

"... Yeah, I guess so, but... honestly, I feel like I definitely would've remembered someone like you... Hmh, not that I make it a point to only remember pretty girls or anything."

"uh-!" Love quietly gasped and turned to him with a shocked look. Did he just unintentionally call her pretty? Of course, it wasn't a new experience, but hearing it from him of all people had her heart beating at a different rhythm... until he spoke again.

"You're kinda weird, though..."

Her budding smile immediately faltered. "... o-Oh... I'm sorry..."

"Hm...? Oh, uh... No, I didn't mean it in a bad way or anything," he said. "I just meant... you're kinda weird, ya know...?"

"Eh-heh... i-I don't understand."

He thought it over for a moment before shrugging his shoulders and humming I-don't-know. "... You're just weird..."

Love wasn't sure how to take that. Any way she looked at it, it sounded like an insult.

And Saitama seemed to notice her discomfort. "... I guess that's why you fit in with the S-Class so much... Heh, everyone's pretty weird there..."

Love stared at the side of his face with a look of wonder. Apparently being weird was a good thing? "... Hmh..."

Saitama almost flinched when she suddenly reached over and gently poked his cheek with her pointer finger.

"You're pretty weird, too..."

"... Hmh," he chuckled...

(bzzz-bzzzzz)

"Uh-!" he gasped when he suddenly felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Without a second thought to who was around, he immediately pulled it out to check it.

Love watched him curiously. She knew he must've been waiting on something important because his demeanor shifted to a strange feeling of giddy excitement almost immediately. She almost wanted to peek over and see, but she didn't want to be too intrusive... And it wasn't hard to guess who it was likely from. Whatever he read made him smile...

(thud!)

"uh-!" Love gasped and the two turned around when someone came busting out of the rooftop door behind them.

It was Atomic Samurai stumbling out with his arm slung over his apprentice's shoulder. "Where the hell did that guy run off t-..!" He stopped when he spotted them on the ledge. "Heyyy! There he is! Saitama, buddy! Tabs on you tonight, right!?"

"... Huh?"

"Master Saitama," Iaian said, respectfully. "Please, excuse Master's rudeness. He's a little drunk."

"A little?" he muttered.

"I ain't drunk!" the middle-aged man said bopping the younger swordsman on the head. "I'm sleepy! There's a different!"

"A difference, Master," he corrected him. "I'm gonna get him home before he loses his blade again."

"... Uh... Sure," Saitama shrugged.

"And Mr. Flashy Flash picked up the check for the table. He said to tell you that he'll be training for a rematch or something."

Saitama wasn't sure how to take that. Hopefully he wasn't trying to worm his way into being his third student. Two was already two too many. "... Yeah, okay... Well, get home safe," he said, turning and walking toward the opposite side of the building.

"a-Are you leaving?" Love asked.

"Yeah, I'm going home. I'm pretty beat."

"o-Oh... okay," she muttered. "I... guess I'll see you later, then...?"

"Yup, see you around..."

She watched him go for a moment before he turned back with a smile.

"Oh, and uh... Welcome to the team, Love..."

When her initial shock wore off, she smiled and gave him a curt nod of appreciation.

Saitama turned back and continued toward the ledge on the other side. Before he took off, he looked at his phone again to read the message he had been waiting for all day. It wasn't anything more than an excuse for missing out on the group activity, but it still had him smiling like an absolute idiot... because, now, at least he knew he had her number...

(received message)

'Sorry, my phone died.'

AN: There we are! Another one in the books! Suspicions are rising, and patience is wearing thin! Thank you for reading as always, and I have a quick question, completely unrelated to the story...

Is anyone an American Football fan? If so, what's your favorite team?

Mine is the New York Football Giants... I know~I know, we suck, but I'm a fan regardless. Haha! Thanks for reading! See you next time!