AN: Welcome back, sorry for the brief hiatus. I was incredibly overrun with a number of things in my personal life. I had this chapter ready for a few days now, but I'm honestly getting so many new readers it's really adding a lot of pressure to everything I drop. I'm glad so many of you like what you've read, and for those that didn't, I still want to thank you for giving it a chance. That being said, someone gave a very good critique on how the romance is more introspective than necessary. Just wanted to say that's an excellent point, and something I will definitely be working on... but there is a lot of introspection in this chapter, lol! But, I did try and implement some of your advice during this chapter. Hopefully, you all enjoy the chapter regardless. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed, and favorited!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Punch Man or any of the characters associated with the title. All rights belong to their respective owners.
(An hour ago)
Tatsumaki stared at her sister through the reflection of the mirror with a confused look as if she didn't understand her words. "... What?"
"... What do you like about him?" Fubuki repeated her question.
Tatsumaki looked away to hide her blush. "... I don't know," she said in an annoyed tone with a shrug. "Why are y-... w-What does that matter?"
"i-I don't mean it in any kinda way, heh," Fubuki said with a reassuring smile. "I just... I guess I'm just curious, ya know...? There's gotta be something about him. I mean... I've kinda had my own theory going for a while, but... since you're actually letting me help, I guess I just figured you can tell me..."
Tatsumaki nervously nibbled on the nail of her thumb for a moment as she considered her words. "... What theory?"
Fubuki flinched at her sudden question. "uh-! i-It's nothing bad or anything, haha! I just..." She nervously twiddled with a strand of hair and looked away. "I'd rather not say, really... in case I'm wrong..."
Tatsumaki slightly narrowed her gaze in suspicion. "... Then, I'm not saying either... I just do..."
Fubuki watched her try and drop the conversation there as she smoothened out the bottom of the plaid winter coat she had on. That was, more or less, what she expected, anyway. In the silence that followed, she watched her sister's expression try and maintain its look of indifference. 'Heh... Always so tough,' she thought with a smirk. "... Do you ever think about those days in the facility...?"
Tatsumaki's gaze shifted back to her sister's reflection.
She didn't respond, but Fubuki knew she had her attention. Again, she found herself aimlessly 'examining' the fabric of one of the dangling outfits. "I remember..." A smile broke out on her face that she tried to shake away. "Heh... You told me about all the times you tried to break out until... until you realized you couldn't..."
Tatsumaki could vividly recount those days. Every unreasonable plot her little ten-year-old mind could conjure was useless against the 'caretakers' of her childhood prison.
"And then, you said you tried to just pretend your powers were gone so they would let you go..."
Didn't work. Those sick bastards who specialized in the study of 'unnatural creatures' weren't exactly that dumb.
"Even before, then... when we were living with... them..."
Tatsumaki's gaze shifted to the side of her face with a daring look in her eyes. "... Fubuki."
"You always wanted to just be normal," she ignored her.
"Why are you talking about this?" Tatsumaki asked in a flat tone.
"Because," she said, "I'm trying to say that, even though you're... different now... I don't think that part of you has changed that much... I think, sometimes, you still kinda just wanna feel like a normal girl... and I think that's how you felt when Blast saved you that day..." She watched her face shift through a number of partial emotions. There was no real indication of whether or not she had it right. "That's how you feel when Saitama saves you..."
"Pfft-! Haha!" Tatsumaki forced a laugh. "That's the dumbest thing you've said all day! I don't want that idiot to save me! I can save myself! I'm not some damsel in distress! I'm-..!"
"I know, you're strong!" Fubuki suddenly shouted, turning to look her in the eye. "Everyone knows that, and that's not the point...!"
Tatsumaki was caught off guard by her sister's flare of rage. Fubuki hardly ever raised her voice at her, and it was clearly hard for her to do, even now. She could see her angry expression crumble under her gaze.
"y-.. You could have died..." Fubuki tried her hardest to hold the confidence in her voice so she could get her point across. "Without Saitama, you'd be dead right now... Stop pretending like that has nothing to do with it..."
Now, it was Tatsumaki struggling to hold the eye-contact. Fubuki watched her settle her expression on its default look of an angry pout as she looked away.
"Being saved doesn't mean you're weak," she continued. "It just means that... someone cares..."
Back in her disguise, Tatsumaki trudged down the sidewalk of the busy street with her bags in hand and no particular direction in mind. She was alone, now. Fubuki got a call from one of her subordinates and had to take off after their... awkward conversation...
Tatsumaki just didn't feel like going home, right now, so she aimlessly weaved her way through the crowds of people sporting gear with Saitama's face all over.
Beneath the brim of her cap, she furrowed her brow in frustration. '... Stupid Fubuki, putting me on the spot...' Before that very moment, it had never even crossed her mind to slap a reason onto her feelings for Saitama. It was just a fact that she happened to like him, and that's what it was...
'Now, apparently, I just want someone to save me...? I don't want that...' Her eyes locked onto a hoodie with a design of herself on the chest, striking a powerful pose. 'I'm strong, too... I don't want him to save me ever again! I'd rather die...! Fighting...' Her expression softened a bit. 'And... I am a normal girl...'
Why was she starting to feel like having this crush on Saitama, and actively pursuing it, went against everything she was trying to teach her sister? How could she be an example of strength if she was clinging to the safety net of someone like him?
She stopped on the sidewalk and looked up at the giant poster of Saitama on the side of a building. If it had been literally anyone else to catch her eye, none of this would be a problem. '... but it just had to be you...'
As far as she was concerned, it really didn't matter... because every time he crossed her mind, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and every time he was next to her, she always seemed to forget how to breathe...
And, when that girl hugged him the other day, in some strange way, she was more terrified than she had ever been before. Which said a lot, considering she almost died a number of times in the past few months...
So, even if her reason for liking Saitama was wholly illogical and downright wrong, it didn't matter, '... because I do...'
Still, Fubuki's words had her wondering when exactly that apparent 'spark' hit her. It definitely wasn't love at first sight or some stupid rom-com trope like that. She was cringing at the very thought of their first meeting. When he assumed she was too young to be buying cough medicine without an adult. 'Stupid idiot!' she mentally growled, remembering the moment. And the first time they actually met was no better.
She remembered fighting him with all she had only to realize it was hardly even an inconvenience to him. It was a pride-shattering moment, for sure, but there was also something relieving about it. It was like a weight lifted from her shoulders... only to be replaced by another when the boneheads running the organization decided she should remain the number 1 hero. She was secretly amazed by what he could do, of course, but it wasn't then either...
'... Stop pretending that has nothing to do with it,' Fubuki's words recurred to her. It had to be that...
A time when he saved her life...
It was happening so often these days, she almost found it hard to pinpoint a single one as being the most impactful, but... there was one that came to mind.
It was during the Monster Association fiasco when that annoying little multiplying creature combined into that big gold thing. When it was about to 'pop her head like a melon'. She had never felt more helpless than in that moment, specifically because of how easily she could've beaten that thing if she was in fighting shape. Still... the relief that she felt when Saitama showed up was so unfamiliar to her.
She even cried...
All this time she had convinced herself it was the pain that did it, but maybe that wasn't it. Now that she looked back on things, that was the first time he saved her and she knew who it was, so it almost felt like the very first time... and then he asked her that question that she hadn't heard since she was a child...
'Are you okay...?'
The last time she was on the opposite side of that question, she was ten years old. Ever since then, she had been saving so many lives that those words somehow lost their meaning. It was almost a transactional conversation... but in that moment, it was different...
Again, her sister's words flooded her mind, forcing a new possibility that she hadn't yet considered.
'... Being saved doesn't mean you're weak... It just means that... someone cares...'
"It's about to start!?" the voice of a little boy cut through her thoughts as he slipped by her in a jog along with a few of his friends.
"It already started!" another of them yelled.
"Aww man!"
"I told you guys we didn't have time!"
They were all decked out in One-Punch-Man fan gear, bald caps and all. She watched them slither into the light crowd of stragglers funneling into the bunker at the end of the block.
'... Right... the Fanclub event...' With a sigh, she continued, weaving, and dipping her way through the crowd, wishing she could fly away... and she almost kept going when she made it to the edge of the curb, but her curiosity was wrestling with her boredom. With another frustrated huff, she turned around and her feet trudged behind the crowd of stragglers into the venue. '... Whatever... It's just because I'm bored...'
The bunker, repurposed as an event venue, was bustling with One-Punch-Man fanatics in every direction. The first floor of the bunker was like a makeshift festival in Saitama's honor. There were food vendors, carnival-style games (mainly tailored to testing one's strength), and a slew of other fun activities. The actual event was on the second floor.
The big spacious room was filled with rows of chairs surrounding the makeshift stage set up along the back wall. The screens hanging around the room were all showing highlight clips of some of One-Punch-Man's greatest 'recorded' victories. Most of the crowd was watching along and cheering when he destroyed whatever creature he was facing in one blow, but there was also a good amount of chatter flooding around as people had their own debates on what his most impressive feat was.
Unbeknownst to any of them, the man himself, Saitama, sat slouched down in a seat in the very back row with his bucket hat pulled down low to further conceal his identity. His blank stare was focused on nothing in particular. A slight redness still ran across the bridge of his nose, but it wasn't as noticeable as before.
Another less-than-ideal side-effect of his training was that he never really stayed drunk too long, anymore. He could get absolutely wasted if he wanted, just for it to wear off in about an hour or two. It wasn't a huge deal, really. Not like he was a super heavy drinker before or anything...
Still, he couldn't deny how nice it was to spend some time at the bar with Genos and King. They drank, they laughed, they ate, and they had some deep conversations, just like real friends. His only complaint was the way it ended. He never got an answer from Genos to his question, and he was really hoping for a second opinion.
(An hour ago)
"Anything," Genos said, wiping at his face. "Ask me anything..."
Saitama stared down at the surface of the bar as he thought of how to word it. "... Do you..." After a moment, his gaze drifted back up to the screen, and like a sign from the universe, there was Tatsumaki's face again. "... Do you think it's wrong to... like a co-worker...?"
"Uh-..!" Genos gasped lightly. '... Master...'
"I mean... I know it's not illegal or anything," Saitama continued, "but... do you think it can be weird...?"
Genos was so shocked by the moment that he couldn't think of what to say. 'Is this... a confession...?' It was sort of vague if it was. He couldn't tell if he was talking about himself or someone else. Either way, they were right on topic. If there were ever a time to ask, it was now, but... how would he do it? "... Master... I-.."
(THUD!)
They both turned around at the sound of a commotion to see some random guy dragging King out of the bathroom by the collar of his shirt.
(In the distance)
"You jackass!" the bulky man yelled, throwing him across a nearby table. "What the hell's your problem!?"
"Urgh-! Heh-heh!" King chuckled on his way back to his feet. "Hey, buddy! I (hick) didn't see ya there, I swear!"
"Yeah, bullshit asshole! I should kick your fuckin' ass!"
After taking a few seconds to process the situation, the few other patrons nearby jumped in to help.
"Whoa-whoa-whoa," one of the men said, stepping between the two. "What's going on?"
"He just fuckin' pissed on my leg! Look at this shit!" The back of his khaki pants had a big splash of evidence running from the back of his hip down to his ankle as if King had mistaken him for a urinal."I'm gonna kick his ass!"
"Oh, (hick) I don't think so, tough guy," King slurred out through his fit of hiccups as he approached him with a sway to his steps. "I guess you don't know who I am, huh?"
"... Hey, that's KING!" one of them shouted.
"Yeah, it is!"
"The S-Class phony!"
"I can't believe it!"
The guy he peed on smiled when he connected the dots. "Oh-hoh, that's fuckin' perfect! Now, I'm really gonna lay your ass out, you coward!"
Recognizing the situation, Genos leaned over to whisper in Saitama's ear. "Master, he might blow your cover. You should leave before they spot you."
(In the distance)
"Well, that's the thing!" King yelled, "I actually lied about (hick) lying! I really am (hick) the... strongest man alive!"
"Yeah, shut up!"
"Liar!"
"No one believes you!"
Saitama took another sip from his beer with a deadpanned expression. "Yeah, you're probably right... but uh... could you...?" he pointed over at the group, implying the obvious.
"Of course, Master," Genos said with a smile. "I will see him home."
"Cool..." He downed the last of his beer and stood up to leave. Before he did, he turned back to his student once more. "Oh and... I know I said it before, but... thanks... We should do this again, sometime..."
"Heh... of course, Master Saitama..."
(In the distance)
"o-Okay, hold on. i-I'm... I'm friends with (hick)... One-Punch-Man! I can get you autographs!"
Saitama wasn't sure what happened after that, but he assumed Genos got him out of there. He would've stayed to help if it wasn't likely to spawn a crowd.
His bucket hat was like an invisibility cloak. He couldn't count how many people he'd inadvertently made eye contact with today just to go unrecognized. It was like his bald head was the only identifiable aspect of his physical appearance. If they couldn't see it, he was just some random guy... and he liked it like that...
In fact, he found himself reminiscing a lot about days that were not too far behind him. Like his brief time working with King in the convenience store, and taking the Hero Exams with Genos. Days when it felt like the entire world was oblivious to anything he did. Now, it felt like no matter what he did, the entire world was watching. He'd like to say he wanted to go back to those times, but honestly... there was something else jumbled into his shifted life... Something he thought he left behind when he decided to get strong...
It was a feeling he wasn't even sure he remembered, anymore. It was like... an odd nervousness when he thought about a certain green-haired co-worker of his.
(On the big screen)
The tilted camera view of Metal Knights bot during the invasion was poised and aimed right at Tatsumaki and the leader of the Dark Matter Thieves, Boros, just before he tried to drive the jagged metal pike down through her skull.
(... BOOM!)
"... Hm...?" the Alien boss looked at something off-screen, and the crowd of One-Punch-Man fanatics were on the edge of their seats as if they didn't know what was about to happen. "... Ah... Another lamb to the slaughter," he muttered.
Saitama looked around when everyone started laughing as if he told a joke.
(On the big screen)
"I will be with you shortly." Boros looked back to the kneeling Tatsumaki and raised the chipped metal bar above his shoulder to strike her down, and the moment he went for the kill, she was gone with a gust of wind.
"WHEEEEWWW!"
"YEAH!"
"ALL RIGHT!"
The crowd was in another uproar as they watched Saitama lay her down in front of the camera. Seeing it before was amazing in itself, but now that they had a face to put to the yellow-suited hero, it was all the more exciting.
Their cheers were deafening, but they quickly seemed to wash away all at once to Saitama when he caught sight of her bloody face drooping into view. There was that feeling again...
It was like he could hear her voice every time he saw her face, always asking that one question...
'You don't... want anything...?'
Ever since that night, he couldn't get her out of his head. That was why he asked Genos that question in the first place. Being halfway through his twenties, it wasn't like he didn't know what it was. He knew... but it just came out of nowhere...
In a lot of ways, she did remind him of himself. There was the obvious fact that she was strong. Aside from a few stand-out moments, every time he had seen her fight, she seemed bored which was a feeling he was very familiar with.
Then, there was the fact that she apparently didn't have a single friend. It brought back some bitter memories of his time before his training. He could never forget that isolation, especially when he saw someone going through the same thing. Where they differed there, it almost felt like she was doing it to herself. Like she didn't want any friends, for some reason...
A while ago, he might have understood her on that level too, but after meeting Genos and King, he couldn't imagine wanting to be alone again...
"e-Excuse me?"
Saitama looked away from Tatsumaki's bloodied face on the screen to see a woman he didn't know. Behind her was a line of kids. "Uh... yeah...?"
"I'm so sorry to bother you, but we ran a little bit late getting here, and I see that you're sitting alone here in a... pretty empty section..."
Saitama looked left and right to see at least five to ten seats on either side.
"Is there any way you could scoot down a bit so we can all sit together?"
"Oh, uh... sure," he said, standing up. As soon as he did, his gaze traveled behind her to see the ever-stretching line of children. Even if he did move, would they really have enough seats? 'She must be a teacher or something...' She thanked him and began ushering the children into the chairs and Saitama slid down the back row trying to estimate a safe spot for himself. When he thought he cleared their numbers, he took a seat again only to see four more children shuffling down the line, so he moved again.
When he ran out of room in the little section he had been enjoying alone, he skipped over a few seats of people until he found an empty chair, sandwiched on both sides. He sat down with a sigh and silently hoped no one tapped on him to say the spot was reserved... And he was completely oblivious to the girl in the baseball cap in the seat to his left...
Unfortunately, Tatsumaki noticed him the second that woman approached him. Bucket hat and all, she knew that blank expression from a mile away. Only question was, 'What the hell is he doing here!? He comes to his own Fanclub meetups!? Who does that!?' Out the side of her eye, she watched him slouch down in his seat, praying he didn't just get the random urge to see who he was next to. The thought alone was making her palms clammy inside the baggy sleeves of her oversized hoodie, and as expected, she was suddenly incredibly aware of the sound of her breathing. 'I can't let him see me here...! How the hell would I explain that!?' With a deep breath, she glanced at him out the side of her eye again and tried to calm herself. 'Alright... just breathe... I'll just wait for something big to happen, and I'll sneak out during the cheering...'
(On the stage)
A man in a professional-looking business suit came jogging in from behind off-stage with one of the bald caps on, smiling from ear to ear as he waved at the cheering crowd. A group of workers with 'Event Staff' written on their shirts rolled a podium out to the front and quickly plugged everything in as the roar of the audience died out.
"... check... check-check," the man said into the mic. "Alright, we're good. How's everybody doing out there!? Still with us!?"
Again, the crowd whooped in response.
"Heh-Alright! That was the end of the highlight segment and we really hope you enjoyed that! Let's hear it one more time for One-Punch-Man, whew!"
Saitama planted his elbow on the arm of his chair and rested his face on his knuckles as he looked around the cheering crowd, and Tatsumaki tried to focus on the presenter, but she couldn't stop her eyes from unintentionally drifting to her right. Now would be a good time to split, but she was almost afraid to take the chance.
(On the stage)
"Yeah! Heh-heh! That's what I like to hear!" the presenter said. "Okay, so now, we've got something very special for you guys. In just a moment, you're going to hear live testimonies from a few people who were saved by One-Punch-Man himself, and you won't believe the amazing stories they have to tell!" He stood back and smiled as the crowd cheered again, and when they calmed down, he went back in. "And then, after that, you will all get to meet the founder, and very first member, of the One-Punch-Man Fanclub! The fastest growing Fanclub to ever exist!"
Again, they roared their applause in unison as if they were a prerecorded studio audience. Saitama yawned into his palm for a moment. It wasn't that he was bored. It was more the lull of the alcohol finally wearing thin in his system. '... The first member of my Fanclub, huh...? I wonder who it could be...'
Tatsumaki was also curious, now shamelessly staring at the side of his face. '... Probably that stupid cyborg. He follows him around like a freaking puppy all day...'
(On the stage)
"Alright, our first speaker is ready! Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Mr. Horo Mizaki!"
The crowd applauded as they watched the presenter welcome a middle-aged man up to the podium with a handshake and a smile. The man accepted the gesture and waved to the crowd on his way to the mic.
Saitama raised a curious brow, thinking hard about if he had ever seen this man in his life. Of course, he was drawing a blank.
(On the stage)
When the applause died out, the man leaned a little too close to the mic as if it were his first time using one. "Uh... hello... My name is Horo Mizaki, and... my life was saved by One-Punch-Man... It happened like two years ago, now. He didn't even have his cool hero costume at the time. My father and I owned a laundromat in City-Z, and there was a monster attack from some kinda giant turtle thing, and... my dad was just too stubborn to leave his shop in the hands of the heroes, so when he refused to leave, I stayed behind with him. The monster nearly trampled the whole block, and when it set its sights on our building, my dad uh... heh, he ran out the store and started yellin' at the monster to stay away. It immediately tried to kill him, heh-heh... but, One-Punch-Man just so happened to be walking down our street at the time and he saved him... He punched that turtle monster so hard that its entire shell exploded... in one hit, of course."
A trickling laughter of amusement traveled around the crowd as they applauded lightly.
"After it happened, we were just so stunned that we just... couldn't move... He asked us if we were okay and, somehow I managed to say we were, and then he just walked off... I never got his name or anything... I kinda thought I'd never see him again until we saw him in that press conference, heh." He smiled lightly to himself at the memory before he looked back up at the crowd. "I guess if there was anything I'd say to him, it'd be... thanks... Unfortunately, my father passed away a few months after that, but he somehow always knew One-Punch-Man would become a famous hero eventually... Before there even was a One-Punch-Man, we've been fans of his... and now, I'm glad all of you are too..." He smiled awkwardly for a moment before he realized they were probably waiting for him to continue. "Oh, uh... thank you."
A trickling applause swept around the room as the presenter came back to the podium to relieve him.
"Wooow! Beautiful story, Mr. Mizaki, thank you! Let's hear it for him, one more time!"
Tatsumaki's gaze shifted to Saitama as the room obliged the request, wondering what he thought.
He just watched the announcer begin the introduction of the next speaker with a plain look on his face. To Saitama, that story didn't ring a bell at all, but the man said he didn't even have his costume yet. Those days really felt like a distant memory now. If they were including people from way back then, he was starting to wonder if he'd remember anyone that came up to speak.
As time went on, he definitely didn't. The next few speakers were as cookie-cutter as the first. They were out somewhere, a monster showed up, and Saitama happened to be walking by to defeat it in one punch. The way their words sort of blended together after a while really put into perspective how repetitive his job felt. Just hearing it nearly put him to sleep...
Actually, it did put him to sleep, and Tatsumaki couldn't quell her amused smile as she watched his head slump back with his mouth hanging open. She was getting bored hearing the same story over and over again as well, but since it was about him, she figured he'd be interested to hear what they had to say. Now was truly the perfect time for her to make an escape, but, '... Heh, why bother...?' She traced his profile with her eyes before noting his hat was slipping off. Gently, she used her powers to pull it back down. 'This idiot's oblivious to everything... He probably wouldn't recognize me, anyways...'
Ten speakers later, the applause of the audience finally kicked Saitama back into consciousness. He was immediately confused by where he was until he caught his bearings. With a groan, he rolled his neck out and looked back to the stage to see where they were.
(On the stage)
"a-And then, he told me he had to run home because his dinner was getting cold, heh."
The crowd laughed and applauded a middle-aged woman who reached the end of her story. Saitama didn't get why that was funny, but he loosely clapped in an effort to seem like he was paying attention.
Tatsumaki loosely followed along with her own half-assed applause as she watched him out the side of her eye. 'Finally! I thought he was gonna sleep through the whole show...'
(On the stage)
After a brief hiatus, the presenter came strolling back to the podium with a giddy grin on his face. "Okay, guys. Now, we've got a real treat for everyone."
The muttering of the crowd slowly dwindled as he spoke.
"This next speaker needs little introduction. If you're familiar with the Super Fight tournament, then you will certainly recognize a top talent."
Saitama and Tatsumaki looked around curiously when the front of the crowd seemed to be reacting to whoever was coming up behind him. Being at the back, they couldn't see who it was, but the bubbling excitement made it clear it was someone with some weight behind their name. When the man stepped up beside the presenter, the shock of the crowd hit its crescendo.
(On the stage)
"Please, welcome Six Time Super Fight champion, Suiryu of the Void Fist!"
There was a mixed reaction to the celebrity martial artist. Some people cheered while others muttered to each other, wondering what he was doing there. Suiryu smiled and waved, shaking hands with the presenter as he took over at the head of the podium.
Saitama noted he got a much longer ovation than anyone else, but still, '... I have no idea who this is... Is he famous or something?'
Tatsumaki furrowed her brow watching him bow and wave as if he were some kind of pop star. She knew exactly who he was. He was a celebrity figure she often saw in the news bashing heroes on the regular. She had never liked him. He sort of reminded her of Amai Mask, but in a less cutesy way; as if his entire persona were a fabrication for his public image. 'Why the hell is he here...?'
(On the stage)
Suiryu gave his final few waves and adjusted the mic so they knew he was ready to speak. When everyone settled down, he took a deep breath and thought about what he wanted to say once again. There was really nothing left to be said about Saitama that hadn't been said already. The stories they told were almost verbatim to his own experience aside from one key aspect. He had been thinking it over ever since that day, and now it was finally time to put his words into action. It was time to take that flame Saitama sparked and use it for good. He was done wasting his talents...
With another steadying breath, he smiled and leaned into the mic. "Hello... My name is Suiryu, and my life was saved by One-Punch-Man... It happened a few weeks ago, the day I won my sixth Super Fight tournament..." A small whoop from the crowd made that seem like a subtle flex.
"The Monster Organization attacked... Creatures like I had never seen before appeared at the tournament venue, and... for those of you that were there, I'm sure you might have seen me try and face them as you ran in terror, but... I was no match..." His gaze settled in the middle distance as he remembered that terrifying moment. "They almost killed me that day... I... I thought I was gonna die... until, out of nowhere, a... light pole came falling from the sky..."
Tatsumaki narrowed her gaze suspiciously as the crowd gripped the edges of their seats in anticipation. '... A light pole...? ' She glanced over at Saitama as she thought about their fight. One moment in particular when she was peppering him with light poles and he caught one and threw it back. '... no way...'
Saitama had his own theory. 'Heh, it was probably her. That's like one of her favorite moves for some reason...'
(On the stage)
Suiryu smiled up at the ceiling dramatically, as if he were visualizing himself in that situation again. "Heh," he chuckled lightly, returning his gaze to the mic in front of him. "... I don't know who saved me that time, but... in that moment, I... I was just so... afraid... There were some A-class heroes who tried to protect everyone... They were badly hurt, and... instead of trying to help them when I could, I ran away... I tried to save myself..."
He let that linger for a moment as his eyes swept around the room. Everyone was silently captivated. It was probably shocking to a lot of them that he of all people would be saying things like this. His reputation was shoddy at best, especially amongst fans of the Hero Organization, a business he was well known for criticizing.
"I've been ashamed... ever since that day..."
(Clap, clap, clap, cla-..!)
Saitama cut his fourth clap short when he noticed no one clapped with him. 'Whoops, was he not done?'
Tatsumaki's discretely stared at the side of his face as he quietly apologized to the people that looked back at the disturbance. She pursed her lips and turned away, trying not to laugh. In no way did he indicate that was the end of the story. Hell, he hadn't even gotten to the part where Saitama saved him, yet.
(On the stage)
Suriyu's gaze again glossed over as if he were deep in thought. "Because, when I ran... right when I thought I made it to safety, the monsters found me and they thought I was the one that killed their friend... and that's when he showed up..." An infectious smile slowly crept its way to his face; infectious in how it slowly spread throughout the crowd of invested listeners. "Heh... and he was so... unafraid... He was so fearless that I honestly couldn't even call it bravery... He actually came up to me and... a-asked for directions, heh."
The crowd chuckled lightly. Many people found it endearing how relatable he was.
"Then, he asked me if I was okay... I don't think he even noticed the huge monster in the middle of the street, at first... He only saw someone that needed help and decided to help... When he did finally notice it, the monster proposed a game... He said he would allow him a free hit..."
Following a pause, the crowd broke out into laughter after his words sunk in. Even Tatsumaki couldn't help but scoff at such a stupid decision. That was basically a death sentence. Peeking over, she almost laughed again when Saitama timidly lifted his hands to clap but dropped them down when the crowd settled down again.
'Geez,' the bald man thought. 'How long is this speech...?'
(On the stage)
"Heh..." Suiryu shook his head. He still couldn't believe what happened next, even after all these weeks of seeing him do much more. His gaze traveled around the crowd again, watching them wait for the inevitable conclusion they had to know by now. "... He knocked his head off in one punch."
Again, the crowd laughed and applauded. Saitama was baffled by how easily they were entertained by the same old story. Regardless, he clapped along, almost glad that this segment was coming to an end. At this point, he was really only interested to see who his apparent 'first fan' happened to be. After that, he planned on getting out of there before the traffic of bodies made that difficult closer to the end of the show. Maybe he'd even try a few of those game stands he passed on the way in.
(On the stage)
"And it was at that moment..."
"Hurgh," Saitama sighed and rolled his neck in irritation when he realized he was still going. 'Is there not a time limit!?'
Tatsumaki again pursed her lips and tried to suppress a smile. 'Why's he making that face?'
(On the stage)
"I finally understood why the whole world loves heroes... For many years now, I've publicly denounced the profession. I've mocked and slandered those within it, because... I had never needed to be saved... My life, up to this point, has always been about taking it easy... I thought that as long as I could fight and win... I could breeze through my time on this earth and enjoy it... I never had to train or try too hard... because I was always the best... until I wasn't..."
Saitama looked around the crowd with a baffled expression when he noted just how many people seemed genuinely invested in what he was saying. '... Really? He's actually just talking about himself, now... Is no one gonna stop him?'
(On the stage)
"That's why, today... I'm not just here to tell my story..." Suiryu took a long pause as if to consider his next words. With a deep breath, he smiled at the crowd. "Next week, I will be taking the Hero exams...!"
A long pause followed his proclamation as everyone tried to digest such a heavy statement from him of all people...
Saitama looked around again, confused by the silence. That seemed like a better moment to applaud than anything else they've been mindlessly reacting to. '... Should I do it...?'
(Clap... clap, clap, clap)
Tatsumaki turned to Saitama with an amused look, thinking he jumped the gun again, but to her surprise, his clapping broke the awkward moment, and the entire room soon joined in, gradually growing into a standing ovation for the man on the stage. To fit in, she lightly clapped as well, but her eyes found their way to Saitama again when the people in front of them stood up and blocked their view. For some reason, he was smiling... almost as if he were delighted that he finally got the timing right. "... heh-heh..."
"... Hm?"
Suddenly, he looked right at her, too fast for her to look away. '... Damn it...'
The two of them stared right at each other, the noise of the still-praising crowd washing away into the background. As if they were riding the same wavelength, their claps died out little by little, and neither of them was giving anything away with their expressions. Saitama's gaze was as disinterested as ever, and Tatsumaki was doing her best to match that, but she could almost feel her face heating up again.
'... You're in disguise,' she told herself, still locking eyes with him. '... He doesn't recognize you... There's no way he does... Calm down...'
'... Damn it,' Saitama thought. He was holding his composure, but, '... I must look like a total loser, right now!' He turned away and nervously looked anywhere else. 'I can't believe something like this happens even as a hero!' He remembered awkwardly bumping into co-workers outside of work when he was a businessman. It was always an uncomfortable experience-mainly because they hardly ever recognized him-but this was to a new level...
Because it was her of all people... and it was here, of all places...
(On the stage)
Suiryu was a little teary-eyed as his gaze swept around the crowd of cheering faces. It wasn't all that different than the crowds he was usually in front of, but it wasn't the same. There was a completely different feel to it. '... They're not praising me... They're cheering me on...' He stepped off to the side of the podium to face them properly, and with a steadying breath, he bowed at the waist. '... Saitama... Is this what it feels like...?'
Saitama was watching him with a hardened glare, still mentally berating himself for walking right into such an awkward moment. 'Who shows up at their own Fanclub meet-up...? I should've went home,' he thought with a sigh. After it sunk in for a moment, he figured, 'Well... maybe she won't recognize me with the hat and all...' Suddenly, something else occurred to him and he timidly peeked back over to see her hiding beneath the brim of her cap. 'Wait... why is she here...?'
'WHY AM I HERE!?' Tatsumaki tucked her arms over her chest and tried to ignore the ticking urge to peek over. 'I KNEW I should've left...! Damn it!' It felt like she could somehow physically feel his gaze boring into the side of her head. 'Please say he didn't recognize me! I'll look like a total loser...!'
(On the stage)
The announcer came jogging back up to the mic when the applause finally started to die down. Suiryu was still soaking it in off to the side, thanking whoever he could in the front rows.
"Wow! What an amazing announcement!" he shouted, inciting a small momentum bust to the dying crowd noise. "I can't believe that actually happened here, today! We had no idea!" He flagged Suiryu over when he got his attention. "Mr. Suiryu, please let me be the first to say that what you're doing is a fantastic thing. A man of your abilities joining forces with the association is a true blessing! We thank you for your courage!"
Saitama watched what was happening for a moment until it looked like they were planning on dragging it out even more. He was hoping it would hold his attention for a while, but he couldn't resist the urge that was scratching at him to take another peek. When he did, he regretted it immediately.
Tatsumaki was focused on the interaction on the stage until she caught his brief head turn in her peripheral. Though she tried not to, her eyes peeked back at his for a split second and they both turned away just as fast. 'Damn it! He DID recognize me!'
'She definitely knows it's me...' Saitama nervously scratched his ear as he looked around at absolutely nothing. 'This is awkward... Should I say something...?'
'I can't just leave, now!' Tatsumaki thought, adjusting her hat. '... m-Maybe if I just...' She stared down at her lap and pondered her options for a moment. With a deep breath, she leaned over a little to whisper to him. "... uh, hey-.."
"Hey," Saitama cut her off in his own whisper. "oh-!" he exclaimed quietly, locking eyes with her again. "Sorry, were you gonna-.."
"n-No, I'm... sorry, heh," she chuckled. "Go ahead."
"It's fine. You can go first..."
She wanted to pass it back to him, but now that they were staring right at each other again, it was getting harder to remember what she was even planning to say. "... i-... I'm... m-Makio..." She panicked...
Saitama raised a curious brow until he caught onto what was happening. '... Oooh... I guess she really doesn't recognize me... Maybe she just thought I was gonna blow her cover or something.' Thinking quickly, he tried to come up with a cool covert name to use, but it was hard to think on the spot. "I'm... Charanko..."
'Charanko...?' she mulled. 'Isn't that Bang's student...?' She looked down at his hand when he reached over for a shake. 'Wait... m-... Maybe he doesn't recognize me... Maybe he thought I was just a fan who noticed him...' With a slight quiver in her hand, she accepted his gesture. "It's nice to meet you..."
"Yeah... You too..."
(On the stage)
"So, what class are you shooting for?" the presenter asked, now sharing the mic with the famous martial artist.
Suiryu smiled. "Heh, well... Of course, I'd love the chance to work alongside the man who saved my life, but... I know there are some amazing heroes in the S-Class that I couldn't hold a candle to, right now. It's a whole new world to me, so I'm not gonna set any expectations, just yet. I'll give my all in the exams and the people in charge will put me where they think I should be... and no matter where that is, I swear to work my way up to his level, someday.'
Saitama awkwardly dribbled his fingers on the arm between them when the crowd cheered again. "... Sooo, you a big One-Punch-Man fan?" he quietly asked.
"n-.." Tatsumaki almost denied it, but that was obviously stupid to do if she was here. "... y-Yeah... I am..."
"Oh..."
She peeked back at him a few times to see him watching the stage, but her gaze almost refused to stay put. "... Are you...?"
Saitama stretched a bit as he thought of how to answer that. Saying yes made sense, but he started to think about everything they were saying about him when they were giving their testimonies. It felt kinda good to hear your work wasn't going unappreciated. "... Mmm... not really, to be honest... He's cool or whatever, but... I wouldn't say he's my favorite..."
"Really...? Who is, then...?"
When he looked back at her, their eyes met again and that awkward feeling returned immediately. "... t-... Tornado...?"
Even though she had a sneaking suspicion he was going to say that, it still sent a flutter through the pit of her stomach and she looked away to hide her blush. "... Heh..."
"What?" he asked, drawing her gaze back.
"Huh...?"
"Why'd you laugh...?"
She looked away again with a shrug. "I-... I don't know... She's... cool too, I guess..."
"Heh... Yeah... I think so..."
(On the stage)
"Have you given any thought to a possible hero name?" the announcer asked.
"I haven't," Suiryu replied. "Isn't that something the Organization gives you?"
"Oh, it is," he replied. "But for a man of your status, you could probably recommend your own."
"I... I heard she's kinda mean, though," Tatsumaki added.
Saitama looked her way again and thought it over for a moment before he spoke. "... Yeah... I hear that too..."
For some strange reason, that response kinda hurt. She didn't know what she was expecting, but that definitely wasn't it.
"... I actually met her, once," he continued.
She looked back to see him wistfully staring at the stage again as if he were locked in a daze.
"She... actually saved me, one time..." When she didn't respond again, he glanced over to see her confused look. 'Oh crap... she's never seen me, before...' He pulled the edge of his hat down a bit with a nervous look. "i-I mean... it was a really long time ago... Like two years ago or something... I was uh... almost hit by a... bowling ball..."
"... A bowling ball?"
"Yup..."
Tastumaki couldn't have been more confused. "... wwwhy were you almost hit by a bowling ball?" she asked, calling his bluff.
Saitama already couldn't think of any logical way to explain that. 'Damn... I should've said a car...' He looked back to the stage when the crowd around them cheered again. It looked like they were finally moving onto the only part he was interested to see. "Uh... It just... fell out of a window, somewhere," he said. '... yeah, that works...'
Tatsumaki mouthed 'oh,' but it never came out. 'Heh... stupid...'
(On the stage)
"Amazing!" the presenter shouted over the bustling crowd noise as they watched Suiryu wave his way off the stage. "Truly inspiring...!" He shook his head in disbelief as he turned back to continue the show. "Heh... alright... Now, as you all know, this is unequivocally the fastest-growing hero Fanclub to ever exist. No hero in the, admittedly, young life of the Hero Association has ever amassed this amount of supporters in such a short time period. As time goes on, One-Punch-Man's faithful fans will only continue to grow... but it had to start somewhere..."
"So, did she catch it, or something...?" Tatsumaki asked. They were both watching the stage now, loosely listening to the presenter's annoyingly long intro to yet another speaker.
"Hm...?"
"Tornado," she said.
"Oh... No, she... pushed me outta the way, actually..."
"Ah," she muttered, lightly nodding her head with a knowing look. Of course, she realized by now exactly what moment he was referring to, but his fabricated story was so bad that she couldn't help but wonder how bad it'd get if she played along. "... Why wouldn't she just catch-.."
"She was hurt," he answered immediately as if he had been expecting that question. He realized he jumped the gun when he could feel her gaze on the side of his face. "Uh... I think she used up too much of her power or something... but she still saved me..."
Tatsumaki tried to look away, but her eyes kept fighting for just a few more seconds. This felt different than any other moment they had ever shared, in the past. There were similar beats, but the tone was shifted somehow...
"When the car hit her instead, I was just... kinda shocked she would do that... I mean-.."
"Car?" she cut him off, drawing his gaze.
"... Huh?"
"I thought it was a bowling ball..."
"o-Oh..." Saitama's expression blanked out for a long while as if he were caught in a daze. '... Oops...' He stared into those bright green eyes of hers, completely lost on what to say. "... Well, that was honestly the first time anyone's ever saved me, before," Saitama continued, turning back to the stage.
She fought to hold her composure, but a small grin slipped through. He was apparently just planning on completely omitting that moment from his memory as if it had never happened.
"I mean, most people would just assume I'd be okay..." he muttered, momentarily losing himself.
"... Why?"
Her question startled him from his daze. "Huh...?"
"Why would 'most people' assume that... That you'd be okay...?"
He kept forgetting that he was supposed to be a normal guy. "Oh... uh..." Before he could answer, their attention drifted back to the stage when the crowd started clapping again.
Tatsumaki watched as the presenter finally introduced whoever was next. Though she wasn't necessarily expecting anyone in particular, she was surprised by the beautiful woman that came walking out.
The second Tatsumaki looked away, Saitama watched her out the side of his eye. '... I probably would've been okay... but you saved me anyways...' He turned back to the stage when he heard the first few rows muttering something about the woman standing beside the podium. '... She doesn't look familiar... Why's everyone whispering up there?'
An event staff member came running over with a chair in hand that he sat right behind the podium, scooting the woman over a bit. Then, the woman pulled a small hand up from her side... and a little girl popped over the edge with a stern look on her bright red face.
Tatsumaki furrowed her brow in confusion... Not necessarily at the fact that she was a little girl, but because she had her exact hairstyle. The only difference was only the tips were dyed bright green.
"... Hey," Saitama muttered, drawing her gaze. '... I remember her...'
When he didn't say anything, Tatsumaki looked back and watched the little girl take a few steadying breaths. She took note of her outfit, which was a fan shirt of Saitama punching through a wall, and a headband that read 'OPM fan-number 1'.
(On the stage)
The little girl stared out at the crowd feeling a lot less confident than she was trying to portray. All of the adults that went before her made it look so easy, but she could hardly breathe...
Seeing the hesitation, her mother, standing beside her, placed a gentle hand on her back with a kind smile. "It's okay, sweetie... Just breathe, remember...?"
She looked back to the crowd to see a few people still clapping and gently nudging her on with words of encouragement. With one final deep breath, she looked down at the mic and began the speech she had long been practicing. "... h-... Hello... m-My name is Mina, and... i-I was the one to make the first One-Punch-Man Fanclub website."
The crowd gave a pretty generous round of applause at that information. Many of them were still surprised it was a child.
"... i-It was the... Saitama Fanclub, first though... And I made it because... he saved me and mommy during the Alien Invasion... There was a big space rock that was gonna crush us, and we tried to run from it, but... we weren't gonna make it to the bunker first, so he stopped it and saved us..." With every cheer, she got a little more comfortable speaking. "h-He stopped it without even trying like it was nothing... and it was as big as a whole school bus!"
Tatsumaki smiled at her analogy when she heard the crowd coo at her adorable tone of voice. Though she looked like herself, her mannerisms sort of reminded her of when Fubuki was little.
(On the stage)
"And then..." she tapped the tips of her fingers together as if she was unsure of what to say next. Another reassuring pat from her mom nudged her along. "And then... we were in the bunker watching Tornado fighting those ugly alien monsters... and no one was helping her so... I got scared and I... I ran away from my mom and left the bunker to go... help her..."
The reaction from the crowd that time was a low mutter that traveled around the room. It was obviously a stupid thing to do, but for a little girl, it was almost endearing to hear.
"i-I know it was dumb, but... Tornado is my favorite hero, ever... I know there's no way I could ever help her, but... no one else was trying to, and I thought that..." The way her words died out clued everyone in on what she was too afraid to say.
Saitama side-eyed Tatsumaki to see her reaction... and he couldn't really tell what it was... She looked like she was intently invested in her words, but she wasn't really reacting to them. No smile, no frown, no grimace... She was almost as plain-faced as himself.
(On the stage)
"i-I didn't want her to get hurt, anymore... but there was a monster that showed up out of nowhere... It tried to eat me, but One-Punch-Man came and beat it up!"
The crowd cheered again at her proclamation, and Saitama found it odd how vividly he remembered that moment. At the time, he really didn't even think about it, but had he not been there, that monster definitely would've torn its way into that alley, eventually.
(On the stage)
"... And then, he took me back to the bunker I ran away from... and I asked him to save Tornado, too..." An adorable smile spread across her face as she recalled that moment. "... and he said, okay... a-and then, he did..."
Again, the crowd cooed at her words when they saw the tears brimming in her eyes. That moment obviously meant a lot to her. Tatsumaki's gaze lingered on her for a second longer before she turned back to Saitama again...
(On the stage)
"When I got home that night, I searched all of the hero forums to see if anyone else knew Saitama, but he didn't have any fans... So, I made his Fanclub page and... I was the only member until after he punched that big centipede monster. Then, lots of people started to join, every day!"
Saitama thought back to when he had first met this child. Funny enough, he remembered it being a lot like when he met the girl sitting next to him, only a lot more immature. He remembered her viciously verbally attacking his bald head for absolutely no reason, and now she's apparently his number 1 fan? '... Huh... so I saved her, and now she likes me...' His gaze shifted over to Tatsumaki to find her staring right at him. Again, they awkwardly watched each other amidst the backdrop of clapping and the voice of the little girl over the speaker. '... Maybe... maybe that's just how it works... Maybe that's why I...'
(On the stage)
"Oh yeah, and... if I could say one thing to One-Punch-Man it would be... I'm sorry I called you bald!"
The crowd applauded her final statement and rose from their seats for a standing ovation.
Despite her daze, Tatsumaki was still listening to the words of the little girl, and that comment forced a smile onto her face that she just couldn't wipe away...
Though he didn't know what she was smiling at, Saitama couldn't maintain his plain-faced look for too long before a small grin bubbled up on his own face...
(boom...!)
Immediately, the cheering around them came to a screeching halt when they felt a distant rumble shake the building. The commotion broke their awkward stare and they looked around at the muttering crowd.
(... boom...!)
When the second rumble hit, it was hard enough to trickle a bit of dust from the ceiling, and the people were in a hesitant panic all around them. Saitama watched the presenter come briskly walking up to the mic.
(On the stage)
"o-Okay," he said. "No need to panic, everybody. There is an attack about three miles out, but luckily we're all in a bunker already, so... Let's just remain calm, and... a-also, be prepared to make room for those who are coming in."
Despite his words, the room was in a slight uproar with people immediately digging their phones out to see what was happening. Saitama peeked over to the guy on the other side of him to see he had the news up. It was some kind of oversized porcupine creature fighting Metal Bat. When he heard shuffling from the other side, he turned back to see Tatsumaki standing up, collecting the bags by her feet.
"Hey, I... gotta go," she said with an uncertain look.
"o-Oh... uh..."
She turned to leave before suddenly stopping, and after a moment of hesitation, she looked back at him with a kind smile. "It was nice to meet you... Charanko..."
Saitama furrowed his brow in confusion until he remembered his ruse. "o-Oh, yeah..." He watched her until she slipped into the stream of bodies funneling in through the exit door, and just before she stepped through, their eyes caught again. "... You too..." He already didn't remember the fake name she gave him.
"What the heck is going on? I don't have any service," one of the guys sitting in front of him said, leaning over to talk with his friend.
"Dude, it's crazy! It looks like there are two other attacks along with this one!"
"Just like the other day?"
"I hope not! That was terrifying! My mom was in City-J at the time..."
Saitama sat back in his seat for a moment and considered everything that had just happened. That was likely the most awkward situation he had been in in a long time... So why was he almost disappointed that it was over...?
He readjusted in his seat and felt something brush up against his leg. "... Hm?" When he reached down to grab it, it was a bag from a clothing store. 'Hey... I think she forgot this...' His gaze traveled over to the stream of bodies flooding through the door for a moment as if she'd be coming back to get it any second... and when she didn't, he smiled a bit. "Heh... guess I gotta find her..."
Garou trudged down that same dark hallway, barely lit by the dim lamps lining the walls. He was loosely following Code; watching as he stepped in and out of the brief gaps of light. There was something so disturbing about him that Garou was starting to pick up on the more they interacted. Something he had never felt before from any manner of creature he had ever encountered. Not even the Monster King, Orochi, himself...
It was a pressure in the air around him that screamed danger...
He could even say the same type of pressure he felt from Saitama...
'He's definitely a monster... I still don't know what his real ability is, but... for some reason... I get the feeling I won't ever stand a chance against it...' His expression soured as he glared at the back of Code's curly head of brown hair. '... The world is like that, after all... Unfair...' He clenched his fists shut as they finally approached a door at the end of the long corridor. 'It's almost like... cheating...'
When they stepped into the room, Garou wasn't surprised to see it was as stupidly lit as every other room in this ridiculous hidden fortress of his. This one, at least, wasn't styled like an evil office business, like the others. This one was bare... A blank room with one light dangling above, casting a sharp circle of light down onto the middle of the floor. The few figures outside of that circle were submerged in a darkness that made their appearances illegible to even Garou's trained eyes. He couldn't make them out. They were just black smudges of drastically varying sizes, almost like unlocked characters in a video game.
"... So, this the introduction, or what?" he finally spoke up. "We passin' a talking stick?"
Code watched him for a second as he pulled a cigarette out of thin air. "Heh-heh..." He bent forward and stuck his free hand into the darkness, pulling out a stool for himself. With a sigh, he plopped down and rested his elbows on his knees as he lit his cigarette. "Nope... Unfortunately, they don't talk... They're just pawns, now... Like toys... but you know that already..."
Garou met his gaze and didn't flinch...
"I guess Yoru didn't have to say much to break you, though... Shit, a few months of that dead stare, I probably would've cracked too."
"Yeah, it was great," he said sarcastically. "What the hell are we doin' here, exactly?"
"I told you, it's almost time for the introduction."
"So let's do it already!" he snapped out. "Turn the fuckin' lights on!"
"... Oh, heh-heh! Heh-hahaha!"
Garou watched him laugh with a sour look on his face as he waited for him to stop.
"Heh-hah! No you dumbass," he said with a mocking glint. "What makes you think you deserve a peek behind the curtains? This introduction... is between me and my hero... I don't give a shit about you knowing the rest of my henchmen, because I expect you to stay the fuck outta their way... I already told you what I need from you. So, let me make this very clear..."
Garou's eyes snapped to his right when he saw a small hand stick out into the light in his direction. "er-! Ergh!" He was suddenly yanked off his feet and lifted into the air. 'w-what the hell...!?'
Code stood from his stool and casually walked over to get right in Garou's face. "... If you fuck up this introduction or any other step of my plan... I will fucking kill you..."
The fear that ran down Garou's spine was like nothing he had ever felt before. He couldn't even hold his gaze anymore. His eyes flickered over to the small hand sticking out into the light, just as it retreated back into the darkness and he flopped down to the ground.
Code walked back over and took a seat. "Now, do me a favor, and shut the fuck up for a while..."
Garou gasped for a breath as he held his chest and stared at Code who pulled out that journal of his. His hands were still shaking. His gaze shifted back to where that small hand popped out and stared into the unnatural darkness. Whoever that was had a very small figure... He looked back to Code again and took a deep breath. '... Saitama... I really hope you're as strong as I think you are...'
(BOOM!)
Back in City-B, Metal Bat watched as the huge porcupine monster he was fighting tumbled down lifelessly to the ground, bludgeoned beyond recognition. "Hurrrgghhh," he groaned, flicking the blood off his bat as he held his transponder up. "Yeah, it's done. Was that all? I was busy training."
'w-Well, Sitch and Sekingar have requested that you stick around and ensure the threat does not revive.'
"Revive?" he asked in an annoyed tone as he casually walked right by its foul-smelling mouth. "Damn it!" He kicked the dead beast right in the snout and watched its truck-sized head bounce against the street. I don't have time for this shit!"
'i-I understand, sir,' the woman said, 'but Sitch doesn't want to take any chances, this time. We ask that you please remain with the carcass until a containment unit arrives.'
"And how long is THAT gonna take!?"
'Not long, sir. We have a unit en route. Approximately thirty minutes to an hour.'
"Nope..." Without a moment of hesitation, he started his long walk home.
'u-Uh, sir. We understand that you may be very busy, but Sitch insists that we confirm the kill before fleeing the scene.'
"I did. I'm not babysitting a dead monster, alright? If it actually wakes its ass up from its dirt nap, just gimme another call and I'll-.."
(CLASH!)
He stopped in his tracks when he heard a loud commotion behind him.
'Sir...? Metal Bat, do you copy?'
He ignored her and turned around. To his surprise, the porcupine monster he killed actually did revive, and it tunneled a massive hole straight down in the middle of the street.
'Metal Bat, we are picking up on multiple signs of life around your area. Are you alone...?'
"Did you say multiple?" he asked. His eyes darted around the ground beneath him when he felt a gentle quake slowly building speed.
'Yes.'
"How many?"
'Too many to count...'
"... Tch..." He cracked his neck with a groan and kicked the head of his bat off the ground. "Alright... Lemme put you on hold..."
Tatsumaki flew into her apartment through the balcony window with a smile on her face. Without missing a beat, she used her power to strip her disguise and donned her hero costume.
On her way home, she realized she was missing one of her bags, but she really couldn't care less. All she could think about was that awkward situation and how she almost didn't want it to end.
Though she technically had the day off, she was overflowing with energy. She felt like she could take on a thousand monsters by herself, right now. Hopefully, whatever was causing all the commotion was worth her time. When she was ready, she took a deep breath and took it all in for a moment...
Then, with her giddy smile still stuck in place, she blasted back out through the patio window with a twirl and took off toward the battle. It kinda felt like absolutely nothing could ruin this day...
The female association agent overseeing the attack in City-B typed furiously on her keyboard, intently watching the many red dots encircling the small emblem representing Metal Bat. "Oh no," she muttered. "Guys, he might be in trouble," she informed the other agents in the room who were all working like crazy to identify every threat they could. "Karui!? Who's available for deployment!?"
The man she was speaking to quickly slapped at his keyboard until he found what he was looking for. "... uh, it looks like we're spread pretty thin. I have two B-Class members in the vicinity, but they are fairly low in the ranking."
"Damn it," she muttered, scratching her head in thought.
"m-Ma'am, there's also..."
"Uh-!" she gasped, apparently catching on to what he was implying. "But she's not registered."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Amai Mask seems to think she's ready... and apparently she's been undergoing training sessions with an S-Class member for the past two days..."
"Two days...?" The girl thought it over for a moment as she watched the ever-growing number of red dots on the screen. 'With One-Punch-Man and Tornado taking the day off, we really don't have many options...' With a shaky breath, she shrugged her shoulders. "We'll have to clear it with Sekingar. Someone get him on the line, right now..."
Amai Mask sat in a chopper on one of the helipads of the Hero Association HQ. The pilot hadn't even started the engine yet. The popstar hero scrolled endlessly through his phone, reading the comments on his latest show until the call he was waiting for rang through and cracked the silence.
"Yes...?"
'Is she ready?' Sekingar's voice came through.
"She is... With Child Emperor's improvements, I don't doubt she'll make an excellent asset to the organization. If it's time to prove it, send us the details." He locked eyes with the pilot and signaled for him to start it up.
'... City-B,' Sekingar replied. 'Metal Bat is currently getting overrun by a creature with unknown abilities.'
"City-B...? That's awfully close to home, this time, isn't it?"
'I shouldn't have to remind you that she's not a registered hero, yet,' the executive said, ignoring him. 'I don't know how much progress you were actually able to make in the span of two days, but-..'
"Tch, more than enough," he cut him off. "Just make sure you get a news station down there. You're not gonna want to miss this debut..." When he hung up, Amai Mask stepped over to the door and poked his head out. He saw the girl in question, sitting on the edge of the floating platform, looking out to City-B. "Love..."
She turned around at the sound of his voice with an attentive look, and again, Amai Mask was struck by her beauty when the wind of the spinning blades swished her hair around. "Is it... Is it time...?"
Eventually, he was able to shake himself awake from whatever daydream he was caught in, and he smiled her way...
AN: As always, thank you for reading, and don't be shy with your words when you review. I can and do take all forms of criticism. It's how I improve on aspects of this story I may be overlooking. Hopefully the formatting for the whole Fanclub event wasn't too annoying. I wasn't sure whether to go the extra mile and shift perspectives or not. I decided against it to really keep this chapter extremely centralized on the two main characters and how they themselves reacted to the show. Anyways, thanks for reading! See you next time!