Peace

by El Cato

Tatsumaki survived a gruesome death battle. Despite being victorious, she was gravely wounded. And is being cared for by the damn baldy. During her fight, she uncovered the final mystery that would close the final chapter of her life. But she found solace in the damn egghead. Troubled, she struggles to overcome her nature and find her inner peace. SaiTatsu (Saitama x Tatsumaki)

5. Chapter 5- Her Nature

Author's Notes: I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK THIS LONG. I never intended it to take me this long to finish. In hindsight, I wrote the last 4-5 thousand words in 7 hours yesterday. It goes to show that I can churn out something fast (although it probably wouldn't be that good).

I feel ashamed I had you guys wait for so long.

I'll explain what happened and why it took so long to update you in more detail. For now, please enjoy! VERY IMPORTANT NEWS AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER.

Saitama x Tatsumaki

Peace

- Chapter 5 -

Her Nature

City A: August 9, 2023 – 1:03 PM

Eleven days. It's been that long since she last saw Saitama when she was under his hospitality.

She took it easy. She was recovering from her internal injuries. She occasionally would slay a random Demon-level threat that happened to be in her vicinity.

She fully recovered a week after her departure.

She talked to her sister almost daily, either on the phone or in person. Hearing her get spooked that a potential threat managed to hurt her made her paranoid.

She waved off her concerns, reassuring her she had dealt with the threat before Saitama arrived.

When she first arrived, she didn't say anything when she returned home. Fubuki simply hugged her tight. She gave her small pecks to her head and small head pats.

She was never that keen on physical affection with or from her sister. She had to be tough for both, but she let it calm her down. She'd been hectic, and it was her fault she was like this.

Then, after a day of talking, the next day, she was busy with her little group… and she started asking so many questions about Saitama.

What they talked about, what they did, if he was gentle… at first, she thought these questions were simply her curiosity getting the best of Fubuki… Then, she started asking very personal and insinuating questions. She could feel the romcom bullcrap oozing out of Fubuki, and it annoyed her to no end.

She thought she had shut that down then and there when she told Fubuki to quit it… but she was resilient and didn't stop for the next nine days or so.

… And while she didn't regret telling her sister that Saitama was catering to her during her short duration… She did not enjoy Fubuki teasing her about it.

It was annoying having to be reminded of her two-day 'vacation' with Saitama. It was nice that she was using it as a distraction, but the constant repetition of her two-day stay started getting on her nerves.

But if she were honest with herself… she enjoyed it… somewhat.

Fubuki was a massive romantic; she's always been. With all the romance movies she was forced to watch while growing up, She never cared about them - and many of them were pretty bad. Though she admitted, some of them were funny.

She found Fubuki's newfound 'obsession' regarding her 'relationship' with Saitama pretty endearing, even if it was annoying. Especially since it was nothing, they were… friends - just that.

Their conversations revolved solely around 'love' this and that nonstop. She knew she shouldn't encourage it… she didn't want to see Saitama again; he made her feel anxious, bashful, weird, and safe.

And she wasn't even fully sure if he liked her the same way. Like she said, friends…

And if he did, there are better women for someone like him. The idea made her chest flare up, it was an uncomfortable heat. But she wasn't fully aware of the reason why.

Regardless, she entertained Fubuki's little games because they distracted her from discussing her gruesome fight. That was until she overstepped her boundaries by wearing her patience.

Asking her if they 'did it,' the nerve on that girl! She got a good smack on the head for that.

Still, it was nice talking to her sister; it made them feel closer.

And it was a good distraction, annoyance be damned.

Speaking of the damned…

She'd been contemplating how to deal with Tsukuyomi… well, not really. She knew she'd demolish the building and its combatants.

If Hermes' was the strongest they had, with his brother Apollo being their 'strongest soldier', then she had nothing to fear.

Not even the bastard Otento.

She faced him years ago, way before the Hero Association was founded. And she fought him to a draw. But this time, it'd be different.

She'd be victorious… like she always was. Victorious…

All she had to do was inform Sitch of her inevitable victory.

She frowned at her private meeting with Sitch… it was still fresh in her mind…

---

"Miss Tatsumaki," old man Sitch called out as he nodded towards the massive projector. It was the news talking about her again, as per usual.

It was again about her destroying the city, buildings, local stores, supermarkets…, and anything that inconvenienced the populace. They painted her in a super passive-aggressive light like they always did. It was never enough for her to step in and ruin their broadcast, but she was not shy about showing the devastation she caused.

This time, it was solely about the destruction of a wealthy subdivision. A massive majority of the populace of City A saw the mushroom cloud explosion she and Hermes created in their battle.

There was actual video footage of the explosion from different angles, ranging from high-viewpoint apartment complexes to video footage taken from a local park at night.

It was visible even from orbit, and there was a single still image. Although blurry, the earth's curvature was visible, even the moon and its massive crack were visible, and the explosion was astronomically large.

"You are one of the greatest pillars in the Hero Association, and we owe all of your hard work and effort throughout your time… although, in the two and a half years we've had you in our service, your place in this world has caused a massive divide, Miss Tatsumaki…" Stitch sighed as he turned off the projector. He then slowly turned towards her with his arms resting on his chin.

"Please tell me anything positive about this whole 'ordeal'..." he pleaded. "A kinetic explosion going off and decimating over 930 miles (1500 kilometers) in diameter, and can be seen from the entirety of City A…" he paused.

"The explosion was estimated to be about 3100 miles (5000 kilometers) high. It was visible even from space… around twenty-eight quadrillion landmass was destroyed in the process…" he gulped. "Such an explosion…" he paused. He had a pale and dreadful expression that consumed his entire being.

"If it had started from the ground, the entire Planet could've been annihilated seven times over instantly."

There was an uncomfortable silence between the both of them. But she remained stoic, unsure of what he was getting at.

"At this rate…" he started.

His tone sent electricity down her core, replaced with growing fury. She finally understood.

"At this rate, what?" she repeated, shutting him up. With a commanding voice that made the old man jolt. "Are you going to threaten me by revoking my hero license?" She snarled. "Is that what you were going to say? Or…" The whole room started to shake. "Are you planning to treat me like a disaster?"

Stitch's eyes widened. "No…!" he corrected quickly. "The executives and the shareholders are simply worried about your image! That's all!" He composed himself.

But she knew he was lying. She'd seen them all, know how they talk, speak, and deflect.

Even Sitch, someone she had a modicum of trust in, was now repeating the mantra she knew all well and hated.

She felt like her lips were about to quiver in pure rage. So, Sitch finally showed his true colors to her. From being one of the few people she could truly trust to being like everyone else…

A monster.

She would not apologize for her nature. She was destructive, but she saved lives.

She loved to fight, but she would lay down her life if need be.

She knew the power that she commanded.

The explosion was vast and powerful, but even with how fast they were fighting, she knew only the things that would be destroyed were the subdivision and the surrounding mountains.

To think this man would doubt her ability to protect the fucking planet…

She thought the old man understood as well.

At some point in every person's life. They have viewed her as a monster. Whether it was out of fear or as a compliment.

When she wasn't a 'Goddess' to them… She was a monster…

It was a nature they wanted to don on her.

She snarled; she felt herself about to burst.

"Miss Tatsumaki," Sitch managed to distract her from her thoughts. "What are your plans regarding this… 'secret' organization that you uncovered with your fight against that monster… what was its name again?"

She huffed, and her anger seeped out of her. A distraction. "Tch. Don't concern yourself with that… and I'M dealing with the organization alone! Got that!?"

He shakily nodded; she huffed in return and crossed her arms.

"I don't need anyone slowing me down."

---

Recalling her meeting with the old fool made her frown, but it was to be expected. Everyone there was afraid of her. Or thought they were better than her, which they weren't.

They saw her as their weapon. And when she strayed too far from her 'leash,' they got scared, she was 'their monster' they thought they could control. They cannot.

She thought Sitch was better than that; she really did. He might've not been a friend, but she trusted his judgment; Blast did when he was around.

It only took two powerful opponents for him to see her like everyone else did.

And speaking of monsters… the bastard Otento…

She thought he'd been hiding underground, unable to be found normally. The Government and the Hero Association had his face. She would have known if a single camera spotted him through facial recognition.

But after their stalemate, a month later - he disappeared.

And to think that he had been hiding in City Q all this time.

That boiled her blood.

She would have assumed that Watchdog Man had ended crime indefinitely under his watch. City Q was regarded as the absolute safest city, period. Monsters were quickly killed, so quickly that even the Hero Association was consistently too slow to assess Disaster levels.

She respected Watchdog Man for his swiftness and his hold on crime.

Until she found out Otento had been hiding in that City for years.

Hermes's revelation that every single mob, cartel, and syndicate was hiding and secretly conducting their operations under every hero's nose made her realize why she was the only one capable of defending this world.

She had given many heroes the benefit of the doubt.

Bang, King, Genos, Watchdog Man, Atomic Samurai, and even Darkshine benefited from respect.

But Bang had fumbled the Garou situation… and while she heard through the grapevine that he was doing wonders reintroducing Garou back into society, the fact he even rampaged heavily against the rest of the heroes was an absolute sham.

King was a massive conundrum. While he did leave Psykos for her to deal with while escorting the kid away, he took a massively long time to get back onto the battlefield. She heard he was a lightspeeder like Flashy Flash… to what degree and how fast? No one knows. But she knew that he should have gotten his ass into the battlefield after he safely escorted the hostages to safety.

Then there was that extremely weird testimony from King, Child Emperor, and Metal Bat.

In their reports, the two kid dorks claimed that King had fended off three cadres simultaneously… She couldn't remember the two by name. King also claimed something similar in his report.

But then there was the contradictory claim that Flashy Flash and Genos stated Flashy had gone up against one of the cadres King 'supposedly' dispatched.

She could have written off Flashy's report as trying to ease his ego, but she trusted Genos' recount (mainly because he blasted everyone with their faults and shortcomings… bastard!) more than anyone there.

Atomic Samurai and Darkshine… she let out a massive sigh. Their performance was pitiful and brought to question their current ranks.

Moreso Darkshine. The absolute pathetic wimp didn't even want to fight after meeting strong monsters.

Atomic, for all his boasts about being extremely powerful, proved almost useless against an enemy he couldn't cut.

And Watchdog Man…

She knew extremely little of that man. All he did was kill monsters at an incredibly rapid pace, and she respected him for being so consistent, unlike many of the heroes in the S-Class and below.

But when he didn't show up during the alien invasion, Child Emperor did not consider Watchdog Man a raid candidate because he was unreliable, which might have been the truth.

She needed to know if it was true, however… she couldn't just blindly take the bastard Hermes' word for it.

So two days ago, for two days straight - she went incognito to City Q… and sensed the entirety of the City.

From building to building. From the earth to the sky. And from the depths down below.

And she felt them.

Not compared to the millions of inhabitants on the surface. But there were hundreds of carved tunnels. Multiple energy signatures, with various movements and activities.

An underground link system. Hermes was correct.

And from almost the edge of City Q, it held the largest amounts of energy signature and activities she's felt. Even more than the signatures she felt from the monster association.

They tried to hide it, and they did super well. Masked by complicated whirlwind energy. It was an energy plant, after all… if she didn't already know they were there.

Hermes was right about everything.

City Q was just as plagued as every other City. The only difference was that these were humans in monster clothing.

She tapped her fingers together. Silent in her living room, in her rebuilt home.

It was comfier than it was. Much more colorful. It has better-looking furniture, decorated to look far more pleasant than it used to look.

And yet, she felt so alone.

As a kid, she trusted Blast and completely believed in him. That he had vanquished the entirety of Tsukuyomi. She had nothing to fear.

And when Otento showed up on her doorstep to take Fubuki. She believed he was the only survivor. He's strong, or when she was a young adult, he was strong. The strong survived, and the weak fell behind. It was why she defended them.

But the idea that they recuperated their numbers… She knew it was possible. And she shouldn't have been so shocked about it… hell, she wasn't so shocked when that bastard Apollo infiltrated her sister's group.

It's the fact that they've been around for close to six years… maybe even more, and only now feel comfortable enough to make their move.

If Hermes was any indication of how strong they could be…

She needed to kill them all.

'Down to the last one…'

She gritted her teeth. Hermes's dark voice had yet to leave her mind. She balled her fist in anger.

She sighed and stared at her front door.

Blast had entrusted her to save herself and her sister no matter the cost.

And bringing down Tsukuyomi was her mission. It was her birthright to destroy them and everything they stood for.

Just like how it was Hermes'.

She hated that man with an absolute passion. He was her worst reflection, but that's what he was: her reflection.

She had to take responsibility for what Blast had failed to do.

"The nightmare can finally be over…" she said in labored breath.

"When the time comes…" she paused as she fiddled with the sleeves of her dress. "Don't go expecting someone to come save you."

It's what he taught her, the mantra she used to protect her and Fubuki.

What inspired her to be strong, independent, and dependable?

It had never failed her once in her life. Even when Genos helped her and King got her out of harm's way. She had defeated the main threat and could have escaped without a scratch if she didn't have to hold back.

Even when Saitama saved her from humiliation from the news… she defeated Hermes on her own…

Blast's words sound true; she received help but was never saved.

So why was it that she was struggling to believe it? To feel inspired to fight another day? To kill the demons that have haunted her? To finally be liberated from this hell?

She clenched her fists once more.

'Blast sends his regards.'

Saitama's voice… in the past ten days, having dealt with Fubuki's teasing… and her subsequent impromptu stay with him.

She came to accept that she liked him.

Her emotions whenever she thought of him made her feel light and at ease and confused her. His voice in her mind brought her a semblance of tranquility.

But she wished he hadn't said that. She wished he hadn't brought him up…

Because the only things on her mind aside from him and her sister… were the inevitable raid and destruction of Tsukuyomi. And Blast's advice, which would often give her strength, made her feel dread.

For the first time in her life, she was going blind. With no direction, with no purpose.

She had dreamt of the day these nightmares would stop, where she and Fubuki could finally be free from ridicule, torment, and loneliness.

But was she naive? Fubuki seems to be living her best life… with that vile woman Psykos, whom she had to tolerate alongside her cronies.

She should be happy for her sister in finding a partner in Psykos. Even if she despises that woman with every fiber of her soul.

It seems she was the only one reliving these nightmares. Her hero's purpose, her hero's journey - might have reached its end.

'You've never shared this with anyone, right? This stuff's important to you, so I'm listening.'

Her eyes widened when a translucent image of Saitama appeared in her mind.

'You mothered Fubuki.'

His understanding.

'Yet, with all the destruction, the first thing you did was save all those people.'

His praise.

'You're definitely a great hero. I don't think I could've done any better.'

His belief.

'You looked like you were asking for help.'

His heroism.

She felt her eyes become misty and wiped off the wet from her face.

The image of his soft smile wouldn't leave her mind.

He was standing in front of her, within arm's reach. Like he was inviting her in.

She reached out her hand to cup his face, but the image of him vanished like vapor.

…

If she was going to end this nightmare…

If she was finally going to end this despair…

Pushing through this darkness…

To see the light…

Something in her mind was commanding her to see him; her inevitable battle with Otento unnerved her. She could feel something would happen, but she didn't know what.

It could be that her purpose on this earth was running out. With Otento gone, what would come of her nature?

In an endless cycle of heroism. She found solace in the one Bald dork that differed in the hero's path.

In that case, then she'll meet him again. She wants to. At least…

One last time.

---

Reaching his place took no effort on her part. She didn't even take long to get there… she just stood outside his door for an indeterminate amount of time. She didn't know what she was going to say or do.

She just wanted to see him.

She knocked.

After a few seconds, she heard him say, 'Come in!'

She opened the door. She was surprised by how flimsy the door was. She gave it a curious gaze before shaking her head and stepping inside.

She noticed that he was sitting on his futon watching the news.

The news channel was talking about her.

"Whether you want to believe it or not, everywhere she goes, she does irreparable damage to her surroundings!" a woman said loudly while sitting on a white marble table with dozens of papers in her hand. "She may be the number two hero, but heroes are supposed to make us feel safe! And whenever she appears to stop a disaster, I feel nothing but fear!"

She heard Saitama 'tsk' loudly. But otherwise, I didn't say anything.

"I agree-"

She heard a flick, and she noticed him turn off the TV.

"Tch, it's not like she was facing a normal foe… can you believe that Genos?" He turned around.

And his eyes widened.

His frown turned into a massive smile.

Her heart started fluttering; her face became much hotter.

"Hey Tats!" He stood up. "I wasn't expecting you to visit."

She smirked, looking around. "If you did, would you have cleaned up?"

He looked around sheepishly. "Sorry… that was yesterday's mess. It got pretty heated yesterday with King and Genos. We played this party game, and I got last, even against the computer."

She giggled. "As expected."

"Oi…" he gave her a deadpan stare, and she laughed it off.

She sighed, "Sorry about the jacket thing. Been meaning to hand it off, but I've been busy." She said as she extended her arm and offered it back to him… and his boxer…

He took them, "Don't worry about that. I get it."

It grew silent for the both of them, and she felt awkward just standing there.

She got her wish, she saw him. But she didn't know why she wanted to see him… she knew her feelings for him were confusing. But she had come here for a reason, and now that she was here, she was at a loss as to what it was.

"I'm glad you came."

She breathed in, feeling anxious. Face red, "happy to see me?" she teased.

"Yup, actually. A nice surprise."

She chuckled breathlessly, so damn earnest and truthful.

"The news has been painting you in a terrible light…" he frowned. "Not cool at all."

She shook her head. "Don't concern yourself with that," she crossed her arms. "I don't care what the people think of me, so long as I'm a hero and their savior… their safety is the only thing that matters."

She watched his eyes sparkle in understanding and nodded vigorously.

She curled an eyebrow and looked around his room. "Where's your dog?" she hummed. "You told me he was sleeping in Demon Cyborg's room while he was away, and I was a guest." Did he lie about having a dog? No… he wouldn't.

He looked at her quizzically, "Oh? Fubuki didn't tell you?"

She raised her eyebrow higher. "Tell me what?"

"She took Rover out of my hands. She's taking care of it with her group now." He waved her off. "I'm not too bummed about it. Buying big chunks of beef for him to eat was taxing my wallet."

Her eyes widened. "Fubuki came here?"

"Hmm? Yeah, I guess. Four days after you left, actually. She just showed up and wanted to recruit me again, but I wasn't having it. And she brought a treat for Rover, and I guess she took him off my hands like I said."

She hummed, and suddenly, she felt herself relax. And she caught her breath, not knowing she'd been holding it in.

"Yeah… lots of things happened while you were gone, actually." He scratched his head. "Some guy in the S-Class came by as well… Forelocks in the Face, I think… or was it Clavicle Smash?" He let out a frustrated hum. "He was a bit annoying and kicked open my door. Had to fix it on my own."

Was that why it was loose?

"But enough about that. What about you?"

His sudden change in topics caught her off guard. She expected him to keep telling her about his escapades. She pressed her hands on her chest.

Her cheeks were colored with a tint of rose. He was happy she came.

"Nothing out of the ordinary really…" she huffed. "Just killing monsters here and there, saving the citizen's lives. They praise me at the moment but aren't afraid to go online and complain that monster guts rained on their car or a monster ruined their car… you know, the whole shebang."

"Hmm, I see. I think I remember someone complaining to me that I inadvertently destroyed their car with a flying boulder or something like that."

She chuckled at that. "It's annoying seeing them act so two-faced. Like they already expect a hero to save them. And yes, they're thankful, but don't take their safety seriously!" She unknowingly started ranting.

Her rants lasted over thirty minutes, and she hadn't even noticed when Saitama guided her to his living room. He even sat her down and brought her tea. She hadn't realized how much she was talking until she finished her tea!

She tried hiding her embarrassment with an annoyed expression.

He didn't seem to mind. She also found it endearing. She was 'told' by Fubuki to keep it to less than twenty words. She said his retention span was that of a goldfish. But he didn't seem that way with her. She even voiced her opinion about it to him. He was just attentive to her.

And the idea that he was like that only with her made her heart soar.

Despite it all, she let out a tired sigh. "Listen, Saitama," that managed to get his attention. "I'm going off on a mission… and I just wanted to let you know."

"Oh, um," he paused. "Do you want me to come with you?"

She shook her head, she couldn't.

This was her mission, her fight, and her problem. The only one strong enough to see it through to the end… and even if he was stronger or her equal - she couldn't drag him down with her. No… she needed to do this alone.

"It's something I have to do for myself."

He gazed into her eyes; he was expressionless. She tried to match his eyes, but she found it impossible.

She pushed forward, though; this was her goodbye for now. And if it was her last… for a multitude of reasons - then she wanted to end it with a ki-

"Why is it that you have to do it alone?"

…

His question puzzled her. Not because she didn't have an answer but because she wasn't expecting him to ask.

She thought he'd simply nod and let her deal with it.

Was this insulting? She honestly couldn't tell. If it were anyone other than him, she'd blow a fuse.

So she felt compelled to ask:

"Yes. Why does it matter If it has to be me?"

He didn't respond instantly. He took his time, looking deep into her emerald eyes. And she gazed into his soft amber ones.

She was on edge, waiting for him to respond. Everything before this felt magical.

She dreaded what he'd say because she didn't want the last thing she said to him to destroy what they had.

She was okay with destroying anything; it was her nature. But him… Not-

"It's just. It feels like you're saying goodbye."

She felt herself lose breath, his words surprising her.

He somehow had caught on to her turmoil.

"Is it because you're going to fight that secret society? Or whatever that thing is called."

She inhaled deeply before letting out a soft, audible, long sigh.

He somehow could see right through her.

"Yeah…" she admitted. He was already aware of it, though he knew no specific details. He never asked; he trusted her.

It was peculiar. She could feel and interpret his words correctly. He did not doubt her strength or might.

He was asking why she was saying goodbye.

It made her heart churn.

He saw the 'farewell' in her eyes.

He didn't want her to leave.

She jolted when he gently held her hand.

His hand was rough, yet soft. The same paradox was felt whenever he held her and touched her.

The feeling was electric.

"Is it today?"

She let out another sigh, "yeah."

"You said you're doing this alone? Is there a hostage in there?"

She stared at him and shook her head. "No. I don't believe so."

"... Is this a personal vendetta?"

She flared her nostrils.

Of course, it was. Their very existence needed to end for the sake of everyone.

But she knew better. Saving others from their clutches justified her actions—a pass. She knew better, though; she knew the truth.

She just wanted them gone. For everything THEY did for life, her family.

"They… deserve their end."

She simply told him the truth, her truth.

He was silent.

A profound aura surrounded him. It was a peculiar sensation. She didn't know what he was thinking. She could read his mind, but she wouldn't. His eyes still locked onto hers. His serious expression added to the silence unnerved her.

Until his eyes softened, and he took a deep breath.

"Vengeance will not make you whole."

She grit her teeth. This was not what she wanted to hear.

"I won't stop you from achieving it."

Her eyes widened, and she felt the heat inside her subside. Replaced with the warmth that he always gave, welcoming.

"This is your thing. I won't stop you. I don't think I could anyways," he admitted while rubbing the back of his head.

"It doesn't have to be today? Right?"

He gripped her hand tight, though it wasn't an uncomfortable sensation. She had forgotten that he still held her hand. She gulped at the realization.

She then stared back into his eyes and shook her head. "No…" she tested slowly. "It doesn't have to be today."

Before she could elaborate. She saw his worried expression brighten. The sun practically shined when he smiled.

He was beaming.

"Then, come with me," he said as he guided her outside his apartment. Taking hasty steps.

She needed clarification. She stammered her words as she had no idea what was going on. "Where are you taking me?" she asked, resisting his hold.

He stopped walking and turned to her. His grin made her heart skip a beat.

"I'm taking you out to eat."

!

She felt heat quickly rise onto her cheeks. She refused to say anything, not trusting her words. She would stammer and stutter. Probably… but she wouldn't risk than ever.

"You're not saying goodbye without having at least a few memories."

His hand was soft, and she gripped him.

Her heart was beating rapidly.

She could feel herself heat up.

"Plus, you kinda still owe me for wrecking my home."

She burst out laughing.

It took a few moments, but he did the same.

The laughing was painful, the type of pain one gets after laughing for so long. Her jaw hurt, and she did her best to soothe the sensation.

She placed her head onto his shoulder, nuzzling it gently.

"Sure, stupid," she said with a playful inflection.

She knew what he was doing. It was selfish of him. She came to him to say goodbye. She felt compelled to. But here he was, dragging her around because he wanted her around.

It made her heart soar and her body tremble.

The feeling of being desired… it was exhilarating.

Even if he probably didn't see it romantically… she did.

'You stupid idiot…' she mentally thought. 'The things you do to me.' She smiled and gazed into his eyes.

He smiled in response, looking directly at her emerald eyes.

"So… where are you taking me?"

His smile turned into a grin.

"I got a place in mind."

---

City A: August 9, 2023 – 7:03 PM

It was a dainty little stand. It had noodles, ramen and udon types, assorted oden, and mozuku?

He ordered the udon, and so did she, simply because she'd never eaten anything the stand had offered.

It was not a place she expected, but it made sense.

Udon was cheap and was good (apparently). He was cheap and good.

It's a match made in heaven.

She noticed the old man preparing their dishes. He was bald from the top but always had a perpetual smile. He responded with short grunts.

If she was on a date with someone and they brought her here, she would've dumped them on the spot (and maybe crammed them into the ground.)

It didn't even have to go that far. She'd do that to anyone who even tried to ask her out. Almost everyone around her was weak compared to her.

She stared at Saitama's side. Her ever-growing feelings for the damn bald dork had nothing to do with his strength.

She was interested in testing him when he showed immense resilience to her abilities. She was simply curious about his power.

Then, almost 2 weeks ago, he showed her a soft side.

The tenderness of someone who could wipe away mountains with the swift of his wrist tended her hair and body with surprising delicacy.

He was an enigma. Like the entire concept of his existence didn't make sense.

Maybe it was an extra reason for the many things she compiled in two days.

She didn't even know he existed, and he changed her so much so quickly.

It was scary and thrilling.

So here she was, in a dingy food stand, about to eat noodles for the first time… with a man she really liked.

She gulped; she knew this wasn't a date. He didn't say as much, and she doubted he even saw it like that. But this was pretty damn close to one.

"Ah, foods ready."

She perked up, knocked out of her thoughts. She watched as the old man set both their plates in front of them. He gave them a respectful nod and retreated to the makeshift kitchen.

"He used to have a stand in City-Z, you know?"

She looked at him and shook her head. "No, I don't, actually."

She beat him to it before he could say anything, "How'd you know he relocated here?"

They both know the aftermath of City-Z, which didn't need any explaining.

"A colleague?" he asked, but it seemed more so to himself. "Invite me out to eat here when the old man relocated. Foods really good." He then turned to his plate and grabbed a pair of chopsticks. "You know," he started as he broke them apart.

"In my three years of my career as a hero… I had very few good memories of it."

She perked up, blowing away the heat from her Udon. "Now?"

"Yeah, I can probably count all my good experiences with one hand… four. Four good memories," He twisted the Udon to his chopsticks and guided it to his mouth. It's not even blowing to cool it off.

"Show off," she said under her breath with a smile on her face.

She noticed his ears wiggle but didn't respond. Taking a few seconds to eat his food.

"I remember having this conversation with his kid. He was scared of the future for some reason. An odd thing to say for a little dude, but he did have a point. The future seemed dark back then, and it hasn't improved."

She nodded while taking more of her Udon.

"Then there's the time Genos forced himself into my life."

Pfft!

"Heh, yeah. At the time, I wouldn't call it a good memory. But he's grown on me. I don't think I would've even known about the whole Hero Association without his help."

"He's still a bit too aggressive about things. Needs to cool off in that regard. But he's a good kid. And I'm glad he knocked on my door that day."

She nodded as she took a sip from her glass drink. The damn cyborg was a huge asshole, but otherwise a good kid.

A smile crept on his face, "my third good memory is when I stumbled onto this place by coincidence in City-Z." His gaze trailed down to his plate before slurping down his udon. "It's where I met that colleague I talked about, Mumen Rider."

She nodded, but that name didn't ring any bells.

"I met him during the fiasco about some underwater fish people. Lots of people got hurt, Genos did, some S-Rank I can't recall at the top of my head… and Mumen. They all got hurt trying to fight the thing."

She hummed. She had vaguely heard about that incident but had yet to read the full report or the details.

It was a PR disaster, however. Many eyes were on the two S-Class defeated by a Demon-level threat: Puri Puri and Demon Cyborg. The rest were some fodder, no heroes who were destroyed or killed.

The monster was so exhausted that it took everyone just to weaken it. And some nobody tried to take all the credit-

Her eyes widened.

She stared at him, but he didn't turn to meet her gaze.

"Mumen tried his best to take on the big fish. But he wasn't strong enough, so he did his best to stall as much as possible until someone arrived to kill it."

"And you did."

He simply nodded.

She felt her adrenaline spike.

"... I think I remembered newspapers saying you tried to take all the credit?"

He chuckled, "They probably did. I never bothered to check, to be honest."

She stayed silent. She knew it had to be a lie, a fabrication. He was the real deal, after all.

So…

"You just let them run their mouths?"

He finally turned to her.

He ruffled her hair.

"Hey!" she stammered, her cheeks rosy. "Answer the question!"

"The heroes were all hurt fighting a monster they weren't ready to handle."

"Tch, yeah. Obvious!"

"They still gave it their all. And someone in the crowd started spreading doubt. And people were starting to believe his crap."

"So I stepped in and took the fall for them, just so the public wouldn't look down on them."

Now, her eyes felt like they might've popped out of her sockets. "You took media downfall for all of them!?"

Despite having no discernable expression, he hummed in confirmation.

"Why!?" She yelled. "You risked being fired as a hero for people who couldn't handle a Demon? Your reputation could've tanked! Why?"

Saitama chuckled dryly, "reputation, she says." He said in a whisper.

She stared at him in confusion, 'what did he mean by that?' Did it have to do with why he was so unknown to everyone?

Before she could ask, he responded: "The people need a symbol. Something they can look at and say: 'Yeah, we're safe'."

"But why did it have to be you?"

He stared at her, "I guess you can say I simply took one for the team." He answered it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

She gnashed her teeth. She didn't know the full extent of what Saitama was saying. So she needed to see it for herself.

She pulled out her phone and searched for an article about it. She stumbled onto a YouTube video; it was relatively poor quality and filmed at a super awkward angle, but it was serviceable.

She could feel his eyes on her, but he remained silent.

She decided to watch on double speed. She had no patience for all the weak heroes getting their shit rocked and Demon Cyborg fighting with one hand.

The damn fish was a monster in a sense, but a damn coward for targeting a kid, forcing Demon Cyborg to shield the girl.

And watching a cyclist civilian(?) trying to take on the fish pathetically. She could hardly hear what he said because of the poor video quality and heavy rain, but the people were crying and cheering him on—only for him to get sent flying with a single punch.

She took notice of Saitama appearing in the video and catching the civilian. Slowing down the video to its original speed so she could analyze it thoroughly.

Saitama told the guy something, not sure what. But it must've pissed off the fish because it attacked Saitama, but it did no damage.

It started to monologue. She almost felt compelled to speed it up because the damn fish was dragging it on. But she didn't need to because, for once, she could hear Saitama's voice, and he told the monster to hurry it up as well.

That pissed it off enough to throw a punch, but it died pretty much in the next frame.

The rest was a blur. Cheering, then silence. A nasally male voice started spewing nonsense.

The crowd surrounding him was mixed with anger and doubt, and it looked like a fight was about to break out.

Until she heard faux laughter, blatant fake laughter; it was Saitama's voice.

Despite the poor quality, she could hear everything perfectly.

Plus, she knew what his real laughter sounded like.

Saying the monster was weakened, he'd get all the credit and ushered the people to spread the word.

Mumbling was heard, though it was faint.

The last thing she heard before the video ended was someone saying, 'That's the fraud.'

…

She felt a pit in her stomach. A disgusted feeling, followed by rage.

She did her best to compose herself. They were mostly alone, but she didn't want to say anything.

He must've noticed that she was seething because he touched her head and started slowly ruffling her hair.

The contact made her lean to his hand, and her anger was subsiding… slowly.

"You took media downfall for them. Did any of them apologize to you? Or thank you?"

He smirked, "Aside from Genos, just one. Mumen"

She tilted her head in confusion.

"Ah, the cyclist. The guy I caught at the end."

Her eyes widen, "that weakling? But he's a literal civilian!" She felt her anger rise, "what rank is he in?"

"I think he's still in C-Rank."

Steam escaped her nostrils, and a growl escaped her lips. "How irresponsible-"

'Even though they're weak now… No one can tell where their limit is.'

Saitama's words on that day quickly filled her mind. Tempering her rage. She was about to voice her concerns about such a low-

"He said some things to me that stuck ya' know? After basically taking the blame, he sent me a letter. It's one of the good few I've ever received. I don't know if I'd consider him a friend, but he made a great impression on me."

"He's also someone that I think is the definition of a true hero."

There was silence between them—a thoughtful one, taking in everything he had said and how he had been treated by the masses.

'That's the fraud,' replayed in her mind repeatedly. Every time it sprung, it made her fume.

Such an obvious display of power, being completely discredited by a simple act?

How were the people this stupid? Who would fall for that terrible act?

That started to beg the question: How many times had this happened? Was it just an isolated incident? Or were his accomplishments constantly discredited?

She did know that the heroes that got hurt received credit, not Saitama, though, because it was the first time she was aware of his contribution.

"Do you report your monster kills to the hero association?" she asked softly.

He was silent for a moment, "we're supposed to do that?"

That almost sounded like he was being exploited without even knowing. "Yes, you're supposed to. How else will people know about your deeds?"

He sheepishly scritched his cheeks, "I guess that makes sense. But I suppose phoning them about my monster kills would distract me from saving other people."

She chuckled, "Sounds to me like you're just lazy."

"Yeah, that's also true."

Both of them shared loud waves of laughter.

"I feel like if I constantly sought validation for my success… then I'd just be someone that would clout chase… if that makes any sense?"

She looked puzzled and nudged him to explain.

"Hmm… what I mean is, If I make it my mission to always report my monster kills. Then it sorta defeats the purpose of me being a casual hero. It would be more like a job than a hobby. That would just be too stressful."

"Besides," he looked down at his half-empty bowl. "I'd still be a hero even if everyone was against me."

"I just, like this, you know?"

She remained silent, a small smile quivered to her lips.

Letting out a content sigh, all her anger subsiding.

He was infuriating, but he was so good. She'd let it go; it was just some of the things that didn't bother him. She couldn't imagine herself being okay with that—letting people take credit for her accomplishments. She didn't care, but she would not let some weakling try to claim something he didn't do. It just sounded so in tune with human nature.

He wasn't a doormat either. He clearly could set his boundaries, and nobody could force him to do anything he didn't want to.

He took the blame because he thought it was the right thing to do, even if he didn't need to. Even if no one was there to support him.

She couldn't imagine a world where she'd be ok with that.

But him being living proof of such a bizarre world… That was just so him.

Letting out a haughty huff, she replied, "Yeah, I 'know'." She said playfully.

He scoffed, "Making fun of me?"

"Yes," a smirk was plastered on her face.

"HAH! So unapologetic." he chuckled softly.

"If I was there, I wouldn't have let you take the blame."

He stared at her confusingly. "You sure?"

She stared back in confusion, "of course. If I saw you beat the fish up. That means you were strong enough to kill it in a single blow, which you did. Even if I didn't know you back then - that would still mean something. I'm not blind." she huffed. "Credit where credit is due."

He hummed; she could sense a hint of glee in his tone. She jolted slightly when he patted her head.

She leaned into his hand.

"Thank you," he said.

"Whatever, Baldy."

She ate the last of her sublimely delicious udon and was content with her dinner.

Taking in everything he's said, she noticed something that wasn't mentioned.

"Hey…" she called.

"Hmm?" he responded, though he was slurping down the bowl of udon, close to finishing up.

"You said you had four good memories but only talked about three."

"Huh," he worded out. Drinking from his glass of water, setting it down. "I did, didn't I?"

"Yeah, so, spill it."

He chuckled softly.

His demeanor changed. That stoic face was now replaced with a sheepish smile. "It's a bit embarrassing to admit." He scratched the left side of his cheek.

"Hmph! Just say it already! You brought it up!"

"Heh, I could always just not say it. Just to spite you."

"I'll annoy you till the end of time!"

He laughed, "I wouldn't doubt it."

He got her to smile at that, and she tried to hide it by puckering her lips and pretending to look mad.

"Tell you what, why don't you tell me about a few of your happy memories, and I'll spill my last one."

An uncomfortable silence enveloped both of them. So much so that Saitama ended up scratching his cheek again.

She noticed that it was one of his ticks. He'd do that if he were uncomfortable or embarrassed.

For her, the thought of reliving or recalling her past made her stomach churn. There wasn't much she could recall at all. Everything was just her forced into a role she didn't ask for.

But… there were a few…

"You don't have to share. Sorry for asking," his voice was soft and reassuring. "No need to-"

"It's fine… One of my most cherished memories has to do with Fubuki." She let out a soft smile.

"Hoh?"

"Yeah, it was her 17th birthday." The fondness of that memory was returning to her. "We never really celebrated our birthdays, or at the very least, I never celebrated mine. And for a long time, I believed that neither did Fubuki after she turned into a teenager."

She fiddled her thumbs around, "I was called to pick up Fubuki because she got hit with a major fever. When I got to the school infirmary, I chatted with the nurse, and she let it slip that Fubuki vented to her about being expected never to celebrate her birthdays because 'I' didn't."

She let out a jagged breath, "Fubuki never really talked to me about anything. I can see why now, but I didn't really know then - and I probably didn't care. I was simply doing what I believed was best for Fubuki…"

There was a silence that followed. Saitama could tell that she was struggling to finish her tale. He simply patted her back. "It's okay. Take your time—you don't need to force yourself."

She nodded weakly and sighed. "The nurse convinced me to take somewhere nice for her 17th birthday. And I did plan it, a week later, I took her to an extravagant restaurant that was WAY above my paygrade at the time - and she had fun!" She smiled brightly. "It's a place we occasionally go to when we hang out now."

"Heh…"

"Hmm?" she paused to stare at him. "What's so funny?"

"I dunno. Fubuki dragging you to places at your behest sounds more like you."

"Gah! No!" She playfully punched his shoulders with her tiny fists. "I know how to have fun!"

Saitama was snickering mad.

"Jerk!"

His snickers turned into heartfelt laughter, and she laughed with him. All one could hear from the makeshift stand was the laughter of two people.

She was gleaming; she caught herself swooning, though she righted herself before he noticed. When she looked up to see his expression, she found that he was also gleaming.

He was having fun. And admittedly, so was she. Once their laughter subsided, she continued with her tale.

"The first time was special… at least I think it was. She had a lot of fun picking out luxurious food. It's a bit embarrassing to admit that she's gotten used to such extravagant dishes… considering our upbringing."

He waved off her concerns, "If she can afford it, I don't see an issue with treating yourself well." He admitted, "Her action figure royalties pay well, I guess?"

She rolled her eyes in amusement and disgust, "You don't know the half of it. Fubuki also has the highest gross sales for merchandise. Action Figures, clothing brands, you name it. It's the only sales numbers that we beat Amai Mask in."

He quirked his eyebrow, "who?"

She waved him off, "some A-Class nobody."

"Hmm, gotcha."

She nodded, "After we had what she dubbed 'best dinner ever,' we went to the local mall, and she splurged on clothes and makeup."

"I remember how the day ended vividly." She smiled, "we were eating vanilla ice cream."

"Best flavor."

"Damn right, it is!" she smirked. "Anyways, it was around 8 PM and was pretty dark. She was quiet on the trip back home. It wasn't until I told her I was going to shower that she hugged me tightly and thanked me over and over."

"She thanked me for giving her the best birthday experience yet."

Recalling such fond memories almost made her tear up. She steeled herself, not wanting to show that much vulnerability. Never to anyone again. He might've seen it, but she wouldn't make it a repeated pattern.

Nevertheless, she caught his expression through the glossy reflection of her bowl. He was smiling at her with such fondness.

She quivered her lips, and it was the most she would show. "It was-" her voice cracked, and she calmed herself before continuing. "It was the best memory I've ever had in my life. Something I shared dearly with Fubuki."

The smiles her sister shared with her, her ecstatic expression, and her gleeful waves of laughter. All hitting her back like a raging torrent. She had tasked herself to be her sister's keeper. Because nobody would be able to protect her if it wasn't her.

Then, memories of months later filled her mind. Bad memories of what happened afterward. Despite wanting to keep things close to her chest, she felt compelled to share her thoughts:

"Then… a day later. Fubuki was being targeted by some shady people," it wasn't quite a lie, but it also wasn't the exact truth. "I fended them off, and I guess my paranoia got the best of me. I started giving Fubuki stricter curfews. When I found out she had 'friends,' I asked her to cut them out of her life because I didn't trust anyone. Back then, I thought that anyone who could've gotten close to Fubuki was out to use her for her abilities."

"She became extremely rebellious and feared me, but she argued back constantly. And whenever we communicated, it usually resulted in a screaming match."

"She moved out at eighteen. She had to anyway because of University… but she looked happy just being away from me."

"I don't regret it." She voiced. "I did what I had to so Fubuki would be safe from anyone. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

"Did you ever tell Fubuki about the people who tried to attack her?"

She perked up at hearing his voice, but otherwise, she shook her head. "No. I think it never crossed my mind to tell her." She admitted, "But, I don't think it would've mattered If I did. I think It would've made her resentment against me even greater. She probably would've tried to fight them herself."

"Are these shady people the same ones you planned on confronting today?"

In hindsight, she shouldn't have been so surprised that he figured it out so much for masking the truth. "...Yeah," she admitted.

She exhaled.

"Tsukuyomi…" she said.

He quirked his eyebrows.

"That's the name of the organization that…" she gulped, finding it hard to share such dreadful history. "Experimented on me and Fubuki as kids…"

Silence. An uncomfortable silence. Her palms were starting to sweat, and she was regretting opening up.

That was until she felt his hand shift, reaching out to her.

And he held her hand.

Haah…

The anxious feeling that she felt was instantly gone. His hand was soft. She locked her hold on his firmly, fingers closed and intertwined.

His hand was warm, and it made her feel at ease.

"You don't have to continue," he assured.

She sighed long and gave him a weak smile, "Thank you…" She trailed her fingers onto his.

It made her feel comfortable.

"It was terrible there. They stuck needles to me, injecting me with God knows what. When that didn't work…" She grit her teeth in anger, "They would electrocute me."

"I noticed one day that they would take out kids that didn't have much or any psychic abilities… so I pleaded for them day by day to let me free… that I didn't have any powers."

"...So I endured the pain, so one day I could leave and maybe reunite with my family." She grits her teeth, thinking about her parents, how they sold her first, then Fubuki.

She gripped Saitama's hand harder. "I thought I had made progress. Because I believed I was fooling the scientists that I didn't have any powers."

"But then…" shadows downcasted through her eyes. "A horrible man came to see my cell. And he wasn't fooled. He could sense my power."

"That man was the leader of Tsukuyomi, Otento."

Neither of them spoke as they took in the silence. The only sound that could be heard was the sizzling of food inside the owner's makeshift kitchen.

This time, Saitama gripped her hand firmly. And sent her a reassuring smile.

She gulped and sighed, her breath labored.

"Everything got worse when I met him, and the experiments became harder to bear. He made my life there a living hell, and I hated him for it… with every fiber of my being."

"Much more when I knew that they got their hands on Fubuki. But I couldn't do anything. If I rebelled… I probably would never see Fubuki again, and I didn't want that."

She felt Saitama reassure her by trailing his fingers on hers.

It helped a lot, and it calmed her nerves.

"I was lonely," she said. "Being experimented on for years. Not being able to see my sister for long periods."

"I almost gave up. I almost couldn't take it."

Tears were flowing down.

"It was hell. My parents gave us away. I wanted to die."

She started sniffling, and she was struggling to contain her voice.

"He broke me!" she almost yelled. "I was afraid of people touching me! I was afraid of people getting close to me!" She grit her teeth, trying to suppress her voice. "He made me hate everything. He made me distrust everyone…!"

With her open arm, she tried to wipe away her tears. "Unless it was completely necessary, I never allowed anyone to get close to me. I was afraid if a repeat of the past would happen…"

"I just… couldn't allow that, and I didn't want the same thing to happen to Fubuki… I just couldn't…"

She felt mentally drained, and she pressed her body and head onto Saitama's chest. He let her do what she pleased. She tried to press closer to his chest, and he was warm and soothing.

"Days went by there, I couldn't tell time. I was also the only one in the sector I was in. Every other of my nearby cellmates… kids…" she took a moment to pause. "Died from brutal torture they inflicted on us. But eventually, I was freed. Blast, he freed me."

"He gave me sound advice…" she stopped. "...Sound advice that I still use to this day. He saved me… and you know the rest." She said, nudging her head on his chest further. "I saved my sister. We were adopted months later. We ran away from home and lived alone until Fubuki turned eighteen."

There was no verbal response from Saitama, but she could feel her gaze on her. But a few seconds later, he touched her head and played with her hair.

Her cheeks were tinted rosy just a bit, and she hummed to his touch.

"I never told you about who I fought that day, didn't I?" she asked. She couldn't believe such a detail had escaped her mind for so long.

She'd been replaying the events of her fight every odd day since it happened. And she just realized she never actually talked about it in detail.

He just took her in to heal, with nothing in return.

That was just the type of person he was.

"Hmm… no, I don't think so. I know it caused a huge explosion, and the monster was pretty tough. But that's the extent that I know."

She let out a long sigh, and she decided to take the final part from his chest. Her head using him as a pillow was nice. But it wasn't that comfortable… it was also a tad embarrassing.

"He was an esper known as Hermes…" she started, "he was there in the same facility with me. We were on opposite sides of it. We suffered the same torture."

"The only difference was that… I was saved; he was not."

She could recall the hatred in Hermes' voice and his eyes. "Whatever survived of Tsukuyomi, he was dragged with them."

"I'm guessing… at some point, he knew of my existence. Of my escape, and he had to continue living their torture."

"...Don't tell me you're blaming yourself for that?" he asked, interrupting her.

She was a tad too stunned to respond quickly.

"You were a kid. You were also alone. You couldn't have known."

She gazed into his amber eyes, and her stunned expression turned into a smile. She sighed, "Yeah… I know I'm not responsible for it. But," she shook her head.

"It's not that."

She looked forward, looking at nothing, seemingly spacing out. "It's that… I could've become Hermes."

Saitama's eyes widened.

"He had a brother who was captured by Tsukuyomi. And like Fubuki, he was also experimented."

"Like I said, I was lucky enough to escape with help. I escaped alongside Fubuki. We survived that horrible nightmare."

She turned her gaze to his. "They didn't. They succumbed to darkness. Broken by Tsukuyomi."

"I almost broke. I almost gave in to their demands, and I almost allowed myself to show them my psychic powers… just so they would stop torturing me."

"I almost became their weapon!" she shouted. Noticing her slip-up. She calmed herself. "So… seeing him, a reflection of who I could've become…"

"He was the embodiment of everything I hated. Because he was MY reflection."

"He trained for… I think he said six years? Six years to take me down."

She grit her teeth, "and he almost did." It enraged her to admit it.

Saitama's eyes widened again.

"How?" he asked. "You're really tough."

She twirled strands of hair behind her ear, pleased with his compliment. Though her eyes downcasted. "It was so sudden, and I almost didn't prepare myself to counter it."

"His main goal was to destroy my soul."

Saitama looked at her and nudged her a bit to explain further.

"Hmm, the easiest way I could describe it is… If my soul were to be destroyed, even If I were to be completely healthy - I would die on the spot."

"He wanted to blindside me by entering into my soul space - the place where the soul resides," she clarified before he could ask. "And destroy my soul before I could do anything about it."

"Hermes almost succeeded, but during our fight… he constantly talked about the soul. And it tipped me off, especially when he shot his soul into my body to destroy me."

"I survived because I calmed my mind at the last second to let me enter my soul space around the same time he did." She fidgeted her fingers, memories of the fight reliving again in her mind. "I was able to overwhelm him with my willpower. And in the soul space, I snapped his soul away. Killing him in the process."

Their eyes kept locked onto each other, neither of them breaking their line of sight. An intense gaze as they both analyzed each other's feelings.

Until he blinked.

"That sounds like an intense fight." There was something to those words. Was it longing? It was a faint feeling, but it also held concern. "I'm glad you came out of that safe."

She smiled, "Thank you."

She sighed, "Even if I despise Hermes with my entire heart. In his last moments, he thought about his younger brother."

"...I probably would've had the same mental space… I would've worried about Fubuki. How would she react? Would she be safe? Could she handle herself?"

"So many questions I would've asked myself then, but he went through it."

"Do you regret killing him?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Not even a little. One would kill the other; It was just an inevitable truth."

"What spooks me is the 'what if' I lost?" she rested her arm on the table, hand on her cheek. "What if I just didn't react in time? What would death look like? Is there an afterlife or an empty void? Maybe there's both."

"It scares me because when it comes down to it… we were virtually the same person; we just walked different paths."

She glimpsed further into his life while he invaded her soul space. It was just the inevitable side effect of two souls in one body—their whole lives become a movie you can watch.

She thankfully chose just to forget and discard as much information of his life after he died. But some stuck to her mind.

Everything he went through was a carbon copy of her life. Some of his actions hit close to home, and she hated that she even had anything in common with that monster.

"You lived to fight another day," he said.

She turned her gaze towards him.

"That's all that matters now. You survived, and you have your life and your sister."

He pets her head, "We may be heroes, but we're also human." He smiled, "It's ok to want to survive for the sake of another, family, or loved ones."

"No one should take that liberty. So you did what you had must to ensure your future Tats."

She looked down and gulped. She knew that already. It's not like the damn bastard Hermes gave her a choice.

Still… It was nice to hear it from him. She didn't need her actions validated, but knowing he could understand her position felt good.

"It's getting pretty late," he noted. The night sky looked beautiful from where they were placed. Pulling out her phone, she noticed that it was… 10:27 PM!?

They've been here for three hours!? Time flew by so fast!

"Oh," she just noticed several missed calls and texts from Fubuki.

Reading them, it wasn't anything urgent. Her sister said she'd stay late for training and 'team bonding.'

Before she could reply, she received another text asking where she was and if she was coming home.

[I'm heading back home now. Give me a few minutes.] She sent the text.

Her eyes perked when Saitama returned to their table and offered his hand to her. "Paid the bill. Let's go Tats."

She smiled, "You taking me home?" She asked coyly.

"Yeah."

His bluntness tinted her cheeks rosy. "You don't have to go that far. I can go home by myself."

He rolled his eyes, "humor me by letting me walk you halfway."

She blushed a bit harder; his forwardness was an attractive trait.

Not that she'd ever say that out loud.

"Hmph!" she crossed her arms haughtily. "I'll give you the privilege of 'walking' me halfway. Be honored I even entertained the idea."

He rolled his eyes again, "I feel sooo honored."

She couldn't help but laugh at that.

Her peals of laughter became louder when she heard him laughing, too.

They exited the makeshift restaurant. And their waves of laughter reverberated for at least a mile.

---

"So you're telling me your hair caught on fire, turned red, and you became more powerful?" He asked. She retold him about her fight with Hermes. This time, she told him more details about the fight and what happened. She shared with him the unique transformation that she unlocked during her battle.

She balled her right hand, "Mhmm, I got a lot stronger."

"Oh?" he sounded intrigued, "By how much?"

"By a lot," she admitted. "I don't know how much exactly." She didn't need to test the egghead anymore. He was definitely on her level before the upgrade, and she doubted that even Blast could keep up with her now… granted she'd never seen him fight, but she still recalled how powerful his aura was.

"Stronger than me?" he asked with a grin.

"Naturally of course!" she voiced haughtily. Crossing her arms on her chest. "I can wipe the shine from your head with you all day!"

"Why did my bald head catch a stray Shorty!?" he cried angrily.

"Who the hell are you calling Shorty, baldy!?" She huffed.

"Geez, you're the one who started it." he huffed.

He heard her giggles, and his frown turned into a smile.

The walk back was silent, with both of them smiling.

Tatsumaki felt serene. Relaxed and lighter than before. The weight of Tsukuyomi and its imminent destruction has had its toll on her mind ever since she fought Hermes. Thirteen days, she's had that hell on her mind.

Spending her entire day with Saitama gave her some clarity. The whole fiasco with Tsukuyomi had been put at the back of her mind. She enjoyed her dinner with Saitama, and that's all that mattered.

She had no worries the entire night.

As time passed, they got closer to her drop-off destination. They both noticed vibrant, colorful light-emitting in the distance.

Once they got close enough, they recognized it. "That's a fair…" she voiced out.

From a distance, she could see they were still testing the rides. It wasn't open just yet. Looking around, she noticed a sign that said they'd be open on the 10th.

"That's tomorrow…" she voiced.

Her eyes were fixated on everything she could see. Stands, rides. It was also massive.

"Yeah, they've been setting this up for over a month. It's pretty huge." He said; she quickly turned to face him. She hadn't realized she was talking out loud. She composed herself quickly.

"I didn't take you for the type of person to like fairs and festivals." He voiced.

She wanted to retort, but she'd been enjoying her time and didn't want to end it sourly. "Fubuki doesn't remember, but our parents used to take us to these places whenever they had time." Despite her hatred of her parents, she still held fond memories of them.

"I always had a blast," she said. "My dad would take me on all the rides and games I was allowed to play. And he would try to get me some plushies that I wanted. He failed every time, though." She smiled.

"My favorite treat was the candy apple. My dad bought one for Fubuki so she could taste it, but Fubuki ended up throwing it because she was a baby." She giggled at that distinct memory. "So instead, I tasted it and fell in love ever since." She smiled fondly.

"Those are the only good memories I have of my parents. The ones before they sold me away," she said solemnly.

The soft, chilly winds hit her body and flowed her hair to the west. Silence took over.

She could see visions of her past self playing happily, the only era of her life in which she could say she truly felt happy.

It was when she had everything.

This world was not kind to her.

She was a child forced to endure torments no one should've been victim to.

She was given a second chance at life, and to ensure this life could never be taken away from her, she adopted the philosophy of the man who saved her, the man who gave her a reason to fight for her family.

Blast was another father figure for her. Although she did not often see him, he never abandoned her. He had his own life and his own mission, and even a little ten-year-old could see that.

She used the scars that Otento and Tsukuyomi inflicted on her and turned those into strengths.

Fubuki was all she needed. And she would protect that world for as long as she drew breath.

She could admit that her overprotectiveness had pushed Fubuki away from her, and life for her became more bitter; back then, she couldn't understand why her baby sister just didn't listen or understand.

That was when she was given a third chance. For her to fix her relationship with her sister.

Fubuki was back in her life and eager to repair what was broken. She couldn't be happier.

Thanks to the person who was right beside her.

…

Then, when she finally thought that life was turning around for her. She could escape Tsukuyomi's chains, no longer tied to their torment. Where she could freely live her life…

They return to her life and threaten not just her but Fubuki.

She was brought back to that hell. This cancer would never let go of her, of them, as long as they lived.

It reminded her that she could never settle down because someone would always be looking for her.

They could've waited until she was old and frail, and she would struggle to defend herself…

No… they chose to attack her when she was in her prime, at her current peak.

The more she thought about it. The more she sided with Hermes.

If she wanted to move on, she needed to kill them.

'All of them.'

Down to the last one…

"You want to go?"

Huh?

She hadn't noticed that her vision had darkened substantially. She had spaced out and hadn't been aware.

But hearing his voice woke her up. She didn't know if she heard him correctly. "Can you repeat that?"

He gazed back at her, "I asked if you wanted to go? We can come here tomorrow."

She could feel her cheeks turning red. This doofus was asking her out again.

She still didn't forget that the reason she even went to see him was to cut him out of her life. So he wouldn't have to deal with her broken self, and here he was, inviting her to another 'date.' She noticed that he was pretty dense, but this was a different level.

"You know," she said, her voice cracking a bit. She bit her lip, "you're basically asking me out on a date now." She joked and laughed it off awkwardly.

But Saitama didn't laugh. He simply turned from her and stared at the fair before them. He was frozen in time, and the only indication she had that she heard him and was moving was through his soft breathing and clothes dancing with the wind.

Before she could ask him what was wrong, what he said next caught her off guard.

"Yeah, actually, I think I am asking you out," he said with the most nonchalant expression.

He turned to her, "Would you like to go on a date with me?" His voice wasn't filled with excitement but wasn't dreadfully monotone either.

This time, she was the one frozen in time. She couldn't believe what she just heard. And it almost didn't feel real.

She gulped audibly and composed herself as much as she could. She could feel her palms getting sweatier. And her breath was labored.

Her face was atomic red, and she had the sudden urge to hide her face.

This wasn't the first time she's ever been asked out or confessed to.

But it was the first time it was from someone she liked.

Her eyes were misty, and the chilly breeze cooled her face. She was still slightly red, but everything felt so calm—so surreal. Her heart was beating fast.

She gave him a beautiful, soft smile.

---

She arrived home now. Her heartbeat hadn't slowed down. It was still beating as fast as when Saitama asked her on a date.

The first thing she did was take off her heels.

And she felt the sudden urge to twirl in the air.

She was swooning, her cheeks on her face, and doing little dances.

She was beyond ecstatic and incredibly embarrassed—not at anything or anyone mainly, but because she knew how girly she was acting.

But she couldn't help it. She hadn't felt this happy in ages. Decades even.

'Saitama…!' she voiced in her head. She was gushing, and she couldn't help it or stop it. Not that she wanted to.

Was this how people reacted when their crushes accepted their feelings? She guessed it was different for guys.

This was such a surreal experience. She didn't know what to do or what to say.

She levitated to her room and rushed into the shower.

She cleaned herself thoroughly and hummed while bathing.

It was just random noise to keep her mind occupied. She never sang or hummed while she bathed, but it felt right.

When she finished, she dried herself and put on her pajamas, wrapping a towel around her head once she was done.

She was feeling a bit thirsty. She went to the fridge to warm up a glass of milk.

She was startled when she saw Fubuki rummaging through the fridge.

"Out of the shower, Onee-chan? Where have you been?" Fubuki didn't turn to face her; she was still looking through the fridge.

"What are you looking for?" she asked.

Fubuki sighed and closed it. "Nothing, there isn't anything I want to snack on." she pouted. She then stepped aside.

Tatsumaki levitated the milk gallon from the fridge and a saucepan from the cupboard.

She was heating her milk.

"Careful not to burn down the house, Onee-chan," Fubuki joked.

Tatsumaki would've retorted back. But she was in too high spirits to respond.

Fubuki furrowed her eyebrows when she didn't hear her sister's retort. She watched her happily hum and fidget around as she boiled her glass of milk.

"Okay, what's with you?" she interrogated.

Tatsumaki served herself and drank her warm milk slowly.

"You've been gone ALL day, and it's almost twelve. AND you're way too happy. You're not an imposter, are you? Did something happen?" she questioned while grabbing a bottle of water from a cabinet.

Tatsumaki debated telling her. But she honestly couldn't contain it anymore.

She had to tell someone, lest she'd explode (figuratively).

She tried to find a way to make it more approachable, but blurting it out was easier.

"Tomorrow, I have a date with Saitama!" She beamed!

Fubuki stared at her with no discernable expression.

Until her water bottle hit their marble floor.

"WHAT!?" she screamed.

To her credit, Fubuki's shocked expression turned to excitement. And she attempted to dash towards her older sister.

Only for her to slip from the water on the floor.

Tatsumaki caught her mid-air before she made contact with their marble tiles.

Fubuki composed herself midair and ensured she was not standing on any wet surface. When she was done inspecting, she grabbed Tatsumaki and hugged her excitedly.

She spoke incredibly fast, but Tatsumaki wasn't precisely listening—something about being so proud and about what to wear.

They both hugged each other.

She had a lot to plan for tomorrow.

Because, of course, that egghead never told her what his fourth good memory was. He was good at pivoting away from subjects he brought up.

She laughed and smiled. She was going to give him hell for that.

---

He arrived home.

To his small, dainty apartment. Dropping off the keys, he quickly took his clothes off to shower.

While warm water hit his core, he was reminded of what happened an hour ago.

He asked out Tatsumaki on a date.

…

He didn't know why he did it. All he knew was that it felt right to ask.

He was glad she brought it up, even if she meant it as a joke.

He didn't even know why she accepted. She was world-famous; she could've chosen anyone. He knew WHY she never dated or had any romantic partners.

He was shocked she accepted HIS companionship.

Seeing such a happy expression on her after he asked…

He felt his heartbeat rise from just gazing at her. And when she said 'yes,' he felt a swirl of emotions he'd never experienced.

He felt heat creep up his face, even if it were just for a few seconds.

… It was like an avenue opened up for him.

There was this lingering feeling that wouldn't go away.

But every time, he looked to understand it.

He could feel his lips quiver into a smile for a split second.

Closing his eyes, he kept picturing Tatsumaki.

She couldn't escape his mind.

Her smile. Her haughty nature. Her small stature. Her confidence. Her pretty face.

Whatever this feeling was… it was intoxicating. He didn't understand it at all.

But he knew he wanted more of whatever this was.

Was it selfish of him to ask that?

She originally went to him because she would take down Tsukuyomi when she confirmed that she could do it whenever she wanted.

Was it right for him to take her to dinner? Then, ask her out on a date to a festival.

She seemed so happy when he asked her, though…?

Maybe she wanted this outcome as well?

…

Why?

Why was this happening to him?

He knew what entailed a date. It was romantic.

But aside from some lingering feeling… he mostly felt the same.

So why was she on his mind? And why was he constantly smiling around her?

He gulped audibly. He was still trying to figure out what to do.

"Tatsumaki…" he grinned.

Whatever was going on with him, he'd have an answer tomorrow.

This was his first date ever. So, he would make an effort to dress up.

Maybe he'd ask Genos and King for help. The fair wouldn't be open until about eight.

This was new to him.

And honestly, it was exciting.

He lay on his futon when he got out of the shower and put on his pajamas.

He thought about everything that's happened to him.

Tatsumaki trusted him with so much of her life. Stuff that she'd never share with anyone.

He didn't know that meant so much to him, but it made him feel… unique.

Tatsumaki's visage appeared again in his mind when he closed his eyes.

Down to every perfect detail: her bouncy green hair, the reflectiveness of those emerald eyes, her fair skin, and her black dress that complimented her perfectly.

Surrendering to his sleep, his final thoughts on her form were…

'Beautiful.'

---

Unknown: August 10, 2023 – 12:01 PM

She should've been here.

August 9th, 3:25 PM, was supposed to be the day Tatsumaki fell to the bonds of infinity.

The day that the universe became one.

Where mankind could finally live with one singular choice, one singular life.

Where everyone was the master of their destiny.

He hummed to himself. Pondering.

But he shook his head.

Her fate was sealed the moment she was born. The moment her story truly started. She was predestined to walk this path.

There was no outcome where the timeline would change. There was no universe where she could overcome her fate.

Her defeat was destined to happen.

He would defeat her.

To think that the girl who tried to break out of his facility would be the same girl who would unravel all of creation.

Such a small world they live in.

By now, he would've tasted victory.

The world would have changed for the better.

But it didn't matter in the end.

Because Tatsumaki's nature would take over.

She was wrath incarnate. She would seek him out to claim his life.

It was her nature.

She was a destroyer, like him.

She so desperately wanted to change that, and so did he.

He smiled and sighed.

In front of him were ten spheres that warped space around them. He marveled at their power, the power of the universe inside those ten spheres. And he had them in his grasp.

His smile turned into a devilish grin, and the spheres disappeared with a snap of his fingers. Leaving no trace of their existence.

Clapping his hands, the lights flickered off. And he was surrounded by darkness.

What he was experiencing was a complex feeling, but he was excited. He did not have to worry, and he didn't have to move because he knew that his prisoner, his property, would come to kill him.

She could not change. No matter how much she tried. It was an impossibility for her. She would succumb to her nature.

The many visions of the future foretold her defeat when she sought him out.

In every timeline she sought him out, death would claim her.

He sat on his concrete throne in the dark.

He couldn't wait; he was already anticipating their final fight.

She'll throw everything she has against him, and it won't matter in the end.

Because he already knew how she'd lose. He's seen her defeat across infinite visions.

She would try to break fate; she would try her hardest. She would try even in her dying breath. It was her nature, after all.

But nothing could break what was already set in stone.

So he'd be patient and wait for her to come to him. It was her nature, after all.

She was a destroyer, like him.

He closed his eyes and smirked.

Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

-End of Chapter-

Author's Notes: SO! Chapter 5 is finished. How'd you like it? Was it any good? I hope so because I have mixed feelings about it.

But I do owe you all an explanation. Without going into massive detail, and do not want to sound like I'm looking for pity:

I had a depressive episode when it came to writing chapter 5 and thinking of the future.

For some reason, it dawned on me that adding extra content to an already 'finished' story made me feel inadequate as a writer.

I understand that the relationship between Saitama and Tatsumaki was going a bit too fast in this story—that is a critique I even acknowledged myself because I was masking this story as slow-burn (when it's pretty fast, all things considered).

I didn't know what to write because… well… chapter 5 was supposed to segway to the final confrontation.

And I promised that Chapter 5 would flesh out their relationship just a bit.

The current struggle was finding a way to improve their relationship… so while brainstorming and scripting their interactions…

I realized that I couldn't write just one chapter. I would have to divide this into two parts.

So basically… There is one chapter left I have to write before the final 2 chapters can be posted.

This means that I have to write another chapter, with no determined date, just to keep the story's flow intact and make sense.

Which made me question my skills as a writer.

I slumped badly. I was dreading writing Peace because I didn't know if I was good enough anymore or if you would even enjoy this chapter.

But all of you from the SaiTatsu Subreddit, the SaiTatsu Discord, and my peers on Twitter.

You all were so patient and understanding. It gave me the strength to continue writing.

I genuinely love all of you and the support you show not only to me but also to SaiTatsu…

I couldn't have asked to be in a more welcoming community.

Much love to all of you. You all and SaiTatsu changed my life.

I can't give another date for when Chapter 6 will be posted. Hopefully, it will be soonish at best… but I can't really give a date.

I'm currently working, too. That's never really been a factor in my writing (that much, at least), but I also have some responsibilities I have to attend to.

Until next time. Love you all!