Saitama was confused when he woke up in his original hero costume. He found himself in the back seat of a black business car from the Hero Association, and it was parked outside a massive building of luxurious standards. Genos was at his side in the car urgently trying to wake him up.
"Master Saitama! Wake up! We're at the event!" Genos said.
"What?" Saitama blinked and grimaced with complete confusion. "Event? What event? What's going on?"
"Did you already forget?!" his disciple asked with a bit of annoyance. "Master Saitama, we were hand-picked to watch over an intensely political event! It is of utmost importance for security detail hosted by the Hero Association! As much as it was requested for just myself to do this, I insisted to have you at my side for support. I convinced the board that it would be excellent exposure for you to learn and understand how these events worked for your own, personal growth as a hero. We must make our way inside. Now!"
"A political party?!" Saitama gaped. Then he paused. What's going on? We were watching a game. Mitsumi and I fell asleep…oh! The dream! With Mitsumi and her dad! YES! It's happening now! Okay, we said we'd pretend to not know each other. This is gonna be fun! And now…to act like my usual, boring self… "Eh…oh, yeah. Fine. Lead the way. I guess."
Genos sighed and shook his head before opening the car door. He let his master out, closed the door behind him and led him up to the main building entrance. A man in a suit with a guest book was there and looked at them silently. He was clearly a first class butler, and he simply rose a brow to expect them to tell him their names. Genos nodded and said, "We are both from the Hero Association to look over the event. We have specialized access."
"Ah! You are from the association? I see…" the butler mused and pulled out a separate book. "S class Demon Cyborg! And…B class…Caped Baldy…?"
"Yeah. I know. My name sucks," Saitama shrugged. "I can't change it."
"Even though he is a B class, his power is unmatched. And widely unrecognized. May we go in now?" Genos asked.
"I can let you in, Demon Cyborg, but I am unsure of…" the man started and paused when Saitama jumped up to the second floor balcony window to let himself in. "Ah…how…?!"
"I shall meet with him inside. We shall scout the floors now," Genos nodded and walked past the speechless butler to get inside quickly. Genos was quick to start scouting for the contact needed for him to protect. Saitama was on a search for Mitsumi.
"Where are you…?" he muttered to himself and ignored the shocked staff completely on his hunt for her. He focused on his newly acquired training senses and recognized the sound of her breathing easily. Wait. She's sleeping next to me. Wrong breathing pattern. I need to find her dream pattern…
"Not on this floor," he mumbled to himself and took the elevator to the first floor. He walked past the spooked greeters in front of the elevator and found himself completely tense. He seemed to glare around calmly and paused at a conversation he heard behind one of the closed hallway doors.
"Did you put the drugs in the wine?" a soft, noble voice whispered.
"Yes. It was done, sir," a man with a whiny voice grunted. "There was only one bottle of white wine in the pantry. It was opened and ready for serving."
"Good. We'll see how much the Takashi family is willing to pay for a cure for their sick daughter," the noble voice snickered. Saitama's eyes narrowed, but he didn't barge in on them right now. He realized that Mitsumi needed him, and he started to dart through the hallways to the main gallery room. As beautiful and intricately designed the room was, he didn't bother to admire the scenery.
He scanned around and finally saw Mitsumi standing alone by the beige marble wall in the back of the massive room. He was able to pick her out from where he stood at the top of the stairs down to the main floor. Several men were mildly crowding around her trying to get her attention. She was easily ignoring them to show she clearly didn't want to be there. Two of the men did try to wave at her and call to her, but none of them dared to stand near her due to her father waiting nearby. Even though he was chatting with another, he was glancing over constantly to see who would be willing to try something stupid or foolish.
Saitama sighed with relief and was quick to run down the stairs and stride right up to her. He ignored the shocked gasps and jealous hissing of the other men when he stood next to her. Mitsumi looked over at him with a small smile and said, "Oh. Hello. Who are you?"
"A hero from the association. My hero name is stupid. You can call me my real name, Saitama," he nodded with a light smile. "And you are…?"
"Your hero name is 'Stupid'?" she blinked. He caught her small wink and she moved her face into her hand to hide soft laughter.
"Nooo…" Saitama said slowly and cleared his throat. "It's Caped Baldy. So, as you can see, that name is stupid. Not my real name."
"Oh! That makes sense, then. I am Mitsumi," she chuckled. He now noticed that she was wearing a single, dark red sheet of silk that flowed down her form beautifully from her shoulders to her golden sandaled feet. Her arms were bare, and the dress almost looked strapless, save for the slender looping it did over her shoulders. Rubies, diamonds and pearls with golden embellishments covered her form. Her hair was looped up with sparkling gold, ruby and diamond pins to gently fall over her neck and shoulders. Her earrings, necklace and small rings perfectly accented her.
"Think Tacki can remake this…?" he muttered in her ear.
"Possibly…" she whispered back and cleared her throat to talk. His eyes shamelessly trailed to the slight, plunging cleavage the dress gave her, and the golden looped belt fit over her hips snugly. "So, what brings you here?"
"Eh…" he shrugged. "I was told to be here to help watch the event. I'm bored already. You wanna go hang out somewhere else?"
"I don't know. That depends on Father," she said softly. "I told him I'd remain here for him. He's in a business meeting."
"A drink for you?" a waiter asked. He moved a silver platter before her with a crystal fluted glass with white wine. She was about to reach for it, but Saitama was quick to knock it off the tray and let it smash on the floor.
"Sorry. I heard the wine may have been drugged," Saitama said knowingly.
"What?!" Mitsumi blinked at this.
"Yeah. I was coming over here and overheard that drugs were put in a bottle of white wine. Then it was asked how much someone would pay from the Takashi family to cure their sick daughter," Saitama said loudly and glared out at the group of men. He saw the two guilty ones by the back door and pointed at them. "Yep. They said it. That's them."
"You have no proof!" the portly noble said in the same voice from earlier. As much as he was whispering before, Saitama recognized it easily.
"Master Saitama! I'm here!" Genos said and was quick to apprehend the two men. "I shall escort these two away and return!"
"Good," Saitama nodded. He looked over to see Etsuji rushing over after being informed of what happened. "Hey."
"Mitsumi! Are you well?!" her father asked quickly.
"I'm fine, Father. Saitama is from the Hero Association. He uncovered a plot that was meant to make me ill and have you pay for medical expenses," Mitsumi frowned. "He knocked away the glass."
"Don't throw out the pieces. I want that liquid examined for what was in it," Etsuji ordered the security staff. The cleaning girl was quickly moved aside gently to let security take away the evidence. He sighed and shook his head. "Come. It's time to go to another room."
"Okay. I'll escort her," Saitama nodded.
"Alone with me. You stay here," Etsuji warned.
"Eh…no," Saitama nodded again and proceeded to show he was ready to follow. The other doting men there were outraged at this. Saitama showed he didn't care one bit about them at all.
"I will pay you ten million yen to leave my daughter alone," Etsuji said calmly. That got the crowd to hush around them.
"As much as I'd love the money…no. I don't want it," Saitama said with a small smile. "Your daughter has no price. Money is nothing in comparison to what and who she is. She's priceless. Money can be replaced. She can't be replaced at all."
"Saitama…" Mitsumi blinked with awe. Etsuji found himself speechless at this. Now he studied the bald man before him with intense scrutiny.
"You're from the Hero Association? What rank are you?" Etsuji asked.
"B class," Saitama said with a neutral stare.
"How…?" Etsuji started before watching Saitama walk over to a blank wall and punch a hole straight through it. Etsuji went speechless at the sight of the kitchen staff now peering through the three foot wide hole.
"Yeah. I can do that. To anything, really. It's boring to me now," Saitama said. Then he turned to glare at the other men to see them cringe. "And I'll gladly slap all of them to prove a point. That none of them are worthy of touching Mitsumi. Unless it's me."
"Really? You would make such an outlandish statement?!" Etsuji blinked at this. "Do you even know who I am?!"
"Nope. And I don't care," Saitama nodded and shrugged again. "I like Mitsumi. I never liked anyone before. She's different. I don't care if she's rich, either. I just want to know her for who she is."
"Wow…" Mitsumi said with a blushing smile.
"Miss Takashi! I came all the way here to give you this!" a groveling noble strode up to her to present her with a superb diamond necklace.
"Ah…no thanks. I don't need it," she smiled pleasantly. "I'm already wearing one that's worth far more. I'm sure you can give that to another. Thanks for the thought, though!"
"Did that always happen?" Saitama asked with a puzzled look.
"Yes. It has," she rolled her eyes and ignored the pouting noble. "I don't need items like that. They just don't understand! I don't want any of that!"
"I think I know something you do need. And he's a pet of mine that I'll gladly let you help care for," Saitama grinned and made a mental call to one of the pets. Tangled Vine was able to appear in the dream, and he lifted up the cat-like monster to show her. She squealed and snatched up Tangled Vine with complete delight. He purred and snuggled into her happily. He even gave a glowing, green eyed wink at Etsuji to get the man pausing with complete humor. He knew her father was also helping play the part that he knew nothing to make everything as authentic as possible.
"A kitty! You got me a kitty! I always wanted a pet! I accept!" she said with sheer delight. The men trying to vie for her had their jaws dropped. Etsuji ran his hand over his face and found himself laughing at the whole thing. "Father! He got me a kitty! And he rescued me! Please let him date me!"
"Hold on!" Etsuji said quickly before catching Saitama's chuckle.
"See? I know what she likes. She doesn't need gems or treasures. She looked like someone that wanted a pet," Saitama said with a small nod. "And you know I'll always be there to protect her no matter what."
"That's not an ordinary cat…" Etsuji said on studying Tangled Vine. The GOD monster twitched his fuzzy orange tail to expose small spines hiding amidst the luxurious fur. Mitsumi clearly didn't care from the loving snuggles she was getting.
"You're right. My pet is a GOD monster. Over plants," Saitama grinned. Etsuji found himself speechless. "Yes. I have GOD monster pets. Even dragon rank pets. I treat them with respect and they do the same with me. Tangled Vine, here, is very old, too. And he's very friendly, as you can see. At least to those he knows he can trust. Apparently, he definitely trusts Mitsumi."
"Really?!" Mitsumi blinked. Then she gasped at the small potted rose plant that was set for decorations to suddenly enhance in full bloom. She was quick to pluck a brilliantly red rose to set in her hair. She blushed and snuggled Tangled Vine with appreciation. The monster pet looked at the other staring men and growled to show he clearly didn't like them before accepting a head scratch from Saitama. Etsuji kept watching things calmly before sighing.
"And you likely won't leave her alone, will you?" Etsuji grimaced.
"Nope! I will be there for her every single day. Heck, I may even move in with her…" Saitama blinked at the thought.
"I beg your pardon?!" Etsuji seemed to fume.
"Father, I'm sure things will be fine," Mitsumi soothed and continued to cuddle Tangled Vine. "Such a sweet kitty! And, if this one is his pet, I'll want him to come over as much as he wants to ensure he can help me with him."
"Like hell will I let him into the main doors of my home!" Etsuji growled.
"You have a window, right, Mitsumi? Just leave it open," Saitama nodded. Etsuji blinked and dropped his jaw. "I can jump into it. I won't have to come through the main doors at all that way."
"She's on the sixth floor of my home!" Etsuji argued.
"That's fine. I jumped up into the second balcony window here with no issues. Six floors is fine," Saitama said and waved off the issue. The older man just blinked at this with complete surprise.
"Master Saitama! Ah…oh! Mr. Etsuji Takashi?!" Genos blinked his surprise at this. "What's…?"
"Hey. I'm making arrangements to date his daughter," Saitama nodded.
"Master Saitama, are you sure you know what to do on a date with such a prestigious girl?" Genos asked to get Etsuji smirking. "I can definitely get you several dating simulators to help with this!"
"Genos. Shut. Up," Saitama warned.
"He called you master?" Etsuji asked.
"Yes! I am his disciple!" Genos nodded with pride.
"He's a B class hero. You are an S class hero. And he…trains you…?" Etsuji found himself at a complete loss for words on this.
"Do not underestimate Master Saitama's abilities," Genos said carefully. "He should be in S class with me. I have witnessed many things that he does that surpasses even the normal person for daily means."
"Impossible! I challenge you for the permission date Miss Takashi!" a brash nobleman finally strode over. "A peasant like you is nothing!"
"Eh…no?" Saitama said with a blank stare. The man took out his white silk glove and struck Saitama over the face with it. Mitsumi gasped with a bit of outrage, but then she paused with surprise. The bald man didn't even budge or blink much less show a mark that he was injured. That got the faulty nobleman stammering with shock. "Oh! You slap with gloves? Huh. Let me try that…"
"Back away…" Genos warned Etsuji. Tangled Vine had settled himself protectively over Mitsumi's shoulders and snickered at how Saitama removed his left red glove. He slapped the other man across the face with it. Then everyone watched the man fly out of his shoes and smash into the back wall.
"Not bad! Who's next?" Saitama asked and cut his glare to the other cringing men.
"Fine. Saitama…I will allow you to court my daughter. There will be rules, though," Etsuji finally said when he gave in.
"Cool! Let's talk," Saitama grinned and put his glove back on. As the small group walked off into another room, the dream finally ended…
"THAT WAS AWESOME!" Saitama said when he bolted up from the bed. "Continuation! We must have one!"
"Love…?" Mitsumi asked on waking up and found herself laughing at his snuggling embrace. Tangled Vine jumped over to purr into them both despite Overgrown Rover's whining complaint about it. The other pets were shown the dream and were vastly impressed. Stable Rock grunted and saw that not even ten minutes went by when the two of them fell asleep. Bright Bolt was nickering with excitement at the whole thing. Blue Ripple was pleased at the outcome, but he was also a bit disgruntled that he couldn't get into the dream.
"I like this. I can protect her in her dream that way. And we should have Tacki recreate her red garments," Tangled Vine chuckled in his wheezing tone. He watched Saitama move to check the time before unmuting his microphone.
"HEY!" he shouted to get everyone's attention.
"What?!" King asked and paused the game.
"Are we under attack?!" Genos asked.
"What…?" Kamikaze answered on his microphone.
"Yeah. What's going on?" Garou asked. As others started to filter in with alarm, Saitama cleared his throat for them all to calm down.
"Tacki, I'm going to have Inichi send you an image to get something made for Mitsumi. I just had a dream with her. One that was if I was at one of those crappy events in her past with her dad still alive. The dream will be shown to all of you…now…"
"Ah!" Inichi said with surprise and was quick to send out the dream vision.
"Your name was 'Stupid'?" Zenchu had to ask.
"Better than a sneeze," Saitama retorted back quickly to get everyone dying with laughter in the live chat. Zenchu sighed hard at it to get Garou laughing harder at him. Even Lily was in tears laughing next to Garou.
"Master, I do recall something from that event. There was an attempted drugging, but it was not on Miss Mitsumi," Genos said. "It appears it was used as a way to assist in helping you get close."
"Interesting. Anyways, I know I'm likely gonna get some kind of a continuation. I can only hope that her fake mom won't be in any of them," Saitama said lightly. "It won't go well if she is."
"No…" Starlight said softly in Zenchu's microphone. "It's…okay…"
"You'll make sure we're good?" Mitsumi asked.
"Yeah…" Starlight said softly and giggled at the hug Zenchu gave her.
"I've been home most of the time, though I did check on my people during the day. While the game is paused, do we know of any plans for the morning?" Deep Sea Prince asked from his microphone.
"That's something I would like to know," Flashy Flash agreed from where he was with Iwasaki.
"Oh! You never told me if you were staying here and in what room, Flashy Flash," Mitsumi chuckled. "Did you claim a room?"
"Ah…yes…" Flashy Flash chuckled back.
"We're on the first floor in the middle," Iwasaki said.
"I claimed the first floor left corner!" Akiyama piped in for Deep Sea Prince. "I think Anno and Takeda are on the opposite side."
"Anno and Takeda are on the third floor, actually. I have made note of the claimed rooms and adding in the new listing," Genos said.
"I…moved in with Suiryu for now…" Do-S said from her microphone with Suiryu. "I hope that's okay?"
"Perfectly fine," Mitsumi said with a genuine show of delight.
"Make sure to whip him to help him train!" Garou said to hear Suiryu coughing in the background with embarrassment.
"Can you hear me?" Sweet Mask asked from his microphone.
"Oh. You're allowed access," Saitama said neutrally.
"Stop it," Mitsumi said softly.
"I wanted to say that I recognized that building from your dream," Sweet Mask said lightly. "It was a major focus point for politics, funding ventures and high class social gatherings. I think we need to go there to check it out."
"Whatever for?" Mitsumi asked. Saitama tensed a bit, but he kissed her forehead to show he was fully paying attention.
"Your father had a room there that only he could access. Do you remember? It was like a study. Or a library," Sweet Mask asked carefully. Mitsumi thought back before gasping with recognition. Inichi was quick to pick up on the thought, and he chimed in.
"Lady Mitsumi, he's correct. We need to visit that building. I can book a visit tomorrow evening. It's also in a city that we do not have a home in. The location is City H. I do recall a few things there, too, that would be of a key interest for us," he said and kept Fubuki close.
"Not tomorrow. Day after. We have a lot going on tomorrow already. I did want to visit the restaurant, too, and see if we can expand it into a luxury hotel. So, here's the plan for tomorrow," Saitama said and sat up a bit. Mitsumi was pulled up gently to recline against his chest, and Overgrown Rover ensured his hand rested on her belly. "After Mitsumi and I wake up, we're going to the house that was bought and built for us by the spa place. I wanted to look it over during the day. After that, we need to join up with Fumio and Cold Snap at the flower field by City N. Then we head home to City Z to check out a few things before we go to Neutral Grounds. That's the plan right now."
"Of course, Master Saitama," Genos confirmed.
"How much more of the game is left?" Kamiko asked from where she rested in Genos's lap. Kianna was heard flipping through something to help judge the time on where the game was at.
"The game is only halfway done. So, a couple more hours at the most," King said. "I can keep going, or we can stop here."
"It's a game night. Keep it going," Saitama chuckled. "I just wanted to inform of what just happened with me and Mitsumi with the dream. Only ten minutes went by, but it was too epic not to share."
"Totally!" Garou chuckled. "Eh…think any of us could sneak in?"
"That I'm not sure of. We'll have to see if it happens again, and even if it's possible to bring others in. We were able to sneak in Tangled Vine. Saitama gave him to me as my new kitty!" Mitsumi giggled and squeaked at the loving, purring snuggle she got now.
"You must also remember, Garou. The dream took place before you were freed of your monster rage. Even before you realized you no longer wished to harm others. You'd have to be freed of that mindset again to be a bit authentic. If you do not want Mr. Saitama to help you with that…be careful on what you wish for," Inichi warned. Garou went completely quiet and let Lily cuddle him.
"Oh! Get Zenchu in! I could easily slap him!" Saitama said with a bit of hopefulness in his voice.
"Shut up!" Zenchu spat out to get them all dying with laughter. Wind Crane looked over from where she was on the nest to hide her beak under her wing to laugh softly. She knew he couldn't outright swear just yet.
"I want to get in!" Blue Ripple grumbled and purred at the caress she gave over his neck. Stable Rock yawned and rolled onto his side to rumble at the belly scratch Saitama gave him. Now that the game was back in motion, Saitama lay back against the soft pillows. Mitsumi ran a finger up and down his chest leisurely and gave out a contented sigh.
"Hey!" Tacki said over the microphone. "Saitama!"
"Oh? What's up, Tacki?" he asked.
"I noticed you were in your original costume. I want to look it over and ensure it's still good. I won't redo it. Just repair any damages and make it stronger. Is that okay?" Tacki asked.
"Yeah. That's fine," Saitama agreed.
"You know…you always find it nostalgic with me in my purple kimono and my hair up. It was…the same with me in your original suit…" Mitsumi said softly. Saitama muted the microphone and looked at her. "You rescued me in that suit…"
"Hmm. Tomorrow night. We'll dress like we did when we first met. And we'll go to a quiet spot and…reminisce…" he said with a small nod.
"I'd like that," she smiled and got hugged tight. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and they looked back at the screen to watch the game.
"We'd have to make sure the bench is replaced…" Saitama mused and grinned at her small poke to his side. "But, I did have a question."
"Hmm?" she looked at him.
"Is there…anything about me you'd want me to change…?"
"No. Nothing at all."
"Really?"
"That's right. You saved me as you are now. Granted, you can get a little mouthy here and there. Maybe a bit clueless. And even a little annoyed…"
"So…?"
"Don't change it," she chuckled and kissed him lovingly. "If there was one thing, though, I'd say to lay off of slapping Zenchu around Starlight for now. Even mentioning it. She still needs to learn a lot about things, and we don't want her to think it's okay to slap people."
"Ah. Yeah. I can get that. Likely why he didn't swear at me for wanting to slap him, too."
"Yes."
"When he starts to swear around her, I'll know it's safe to ask about slapping him. What?" he looked at her and grinned.
"So impossible! But I wouldn't have it any other way," she said with a soft smile. He gazed back into her eyes and kissed her passionately. With them settling down again, Inichi found himself lost in intense thought. He sighed hard internally to keep Fubuki calm. On thinking over various things, he reached out to Cold Snap for insight. :It is I, Inichi. Can we talk for a moment?:
:OH? WHAT'S GOING ON?:
:I have been thinking on various things, and something dire has made itself known to me. I may outlive Fubuki on being a monster. I really…well…I don't want to live without her. I have heard of a possibility to extend the life of a human. I mean…I don't really want to bother you so much on this…:
:I SEE WHY YOU ASKED. WIND CRANE DID HELP YOU OUT. HMM. WHAT IS FUBUKI'S MAIN POWER?:
:She can create intense ESP blizzard storms.:
:OH?! SHE CAN USE ICE, TOO?:
:To an extent, yes.:
:YOU KNOW, I THINK I HAVE AN IDEA. DON'T WORRY RIGHT NOW. WE'LL TALK THE MOMENT WE SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN. I KNOW MOM VALUES HER GREATLY AS A FRIEND, TOO, AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HER AS AN AUNT! SO, WE'LL DISCUSS MORE TOMORROW. OKAY?:
:Done!: Inichi sighed with a bit of relief and accepted a piece of fruit when it was presented to him. Fubuki smiled, let him hug her and cradle her close. He sensed the others were resting and pleasantly watching the game. He yawned, stretched and reclined a bit more to join them to let the rest of the night move on.