AN: Welcome back! Thank you all for your patience, I really appreciate the break! I'd like to say I got more done than I actually did, but I was definitely dealing with major spurts of writer's block at times, and I also sort of got sidetracked by a family reunion I had to drive three days to get to. What I did successfully do was nearly finish a rough draft of the rest of the story. Not all of it, but pretty much everything up to the final act. So, barring any more spurts of writer's block, I'm pretty sure I'll be a lot more consistent from here on out. I'm not gonna promise a chapter a week or anything, but I'll do my best.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed my last chapter! I'm so glad so many of you liked it! Like I've stated before, romance really isn't my strong suit, so I was definitely a little self-conscious about that post, but from what you guys are saying, I didn't do too bad. Hopefully, I can keep that going!
I also see I have some newer readers who feared I would abandon this story due to some less-than-kind reviews, lol! Don't worry about a thing. I will be finishing this story, regardless. I appreciate the support and I thank you, as always, for coming back.
Now, regarding this chapter, I personally think this one is a little on the boring side, but it's more of a set-up for what's to come... (which is the romance) It's also a bit of a cool-down chapter from the big battle in the last one, so judge it lightly. Good news is, I'm already nearly done with the next one, so though I'm not gonna promise a time frame for most of my chapters, you can definitely expect the next one within the week. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Punch Man or any of the characters associated with the title. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Joy is perhaps the most infectious of all emotions. Sometimes, just being near it can lift you from whatever sad pit you might find yourself in. It's the only emotion that needs no questioning when being observed... beyond a certain point, at least.
For example, when you see a stranger crying or yelling in a rage, you wouldn't necessarily mimic that energy, instinctually. You might empathize with them, in the moment, but more often than not, you'll find yourself first wondering what happened to them. What pushed them to such an emotionally distressing state?
Comparatively, your first reaction to seeing someone smiling or laughing would likely be to do the same, regardless if you know what's tickled them. When it's genuine, it's the most contagious of all emotions, but it's never more potent than when it comes from someone who rarely shows it. That's why Fubuki couldn't contain the smile on her face as she sat behind her desk in her office, watching her sister gliding around above her.
There were very few times in her life when she could remember seeing Tatsumaki resemble anything close to happy outside of an arrogant or sarcastic manner. From what she could remember, it was mostly when she used to talk about seeing Blast out on a mission. Back then, she would light up like a child talking about their favorite thing in the whole world. Then, when he was gone, it felt like Tatsumaki's mood was always soured and bitter. And on that dreadful day, when they found out he was gone for good, Fubuki was sure her smile went with him...
But then, Saitama came along...
The picture her sister was painting of this supposedly incredible day she had was pretty vague. The gist of it was that she and Saitama defeated some sort of multiplying creature together and then she flew him home. At face value, it really didn't sound like much, but Tatsumaki was floating, in every sense of the word. There was an uncharacteristic sweetness to her tone that Fubuki had never heard from her; a sort of shy quiver when she explained the more embarrassing moments. It was so very... feminine...
Not to say her older sister was usually masculine, but she was rarely ever this fluttery with her words. She described their little moment like it was the best day of her life... only to end her beautiful rant with a sliver of doubt.
"i-... I don't know, though... I can't even tell if he was really flirting, ya know?" Tatsumaki had her cheeks smooshed between her hands as if that would be enough to push that aching smile back. "It felt like he was... Heh, and it felt like he was really bad, too."
The two giggled a bit at her statement, Fubuki still admiring her with a dazed look. She was so entranced that she forgot to speak, and Tatsumaki noticed the silence.
She whipped her head in her little sister's direction to see that big goofy grin of hers. "... w-What do you think?" she asked, clearly snapping her awake.
"Hm?" Fubuki hummed. "o-Oh, I wouldn't know. I wasn't there, but... considering it's Saitama, I wouldn't expect him to be super smooth, or anything."
"Heh! No, stupid," Tatsumaki said, rolling her eyes. "Not that... i-I meant do you think he was flirting."
"o-Oh, definitely!" Fubuki stammered. "I mean, come on, that's like the cutest first date I've ever heard...! Well, kinda."
Tatsumaki chuckled at her statement with a bashful head shake. "That was not a date. It was a... a mission."
"So," Fubuki shrugged. "You two were alone, and you had fun." She gave her a knowing grin. "Sounds like a date to me..."
Tatsumaki scoffed and turned away. Her gaze lingered on nothing in particular before she turned back with a sliver of hope in her expression. "... Really?"
"Oh-hoh, yeah. He's totally into you, now," she said, sitting back in her seat with a victorious look. "I mean, he's probably dying in his room, right now, waiting for you to call him, or... come over or something!"
"Eh-! Call him?" Tatsumaki asked in a slight panic. "sh-Should I call him?"
"No!" Fubuki shouted. "Not yet. You have to wait at least a day. If you call him this early, he'll think you're desperate... and you don't wanna seem desperate."
"Okay... That makes sense," Tatsumaki muttered, attentively nodding her head as if she were taking mental notes. "... but, what if he calls me? Do I answer, or just let it go to voicemail?"
"You sh-.."
"Wait!" Tatsumaki suddenly cut her off. "... I don't even have his number! Was I supposed to give him mine last night or something!?"
"Oh-hoh-hoh," Fubuki cooed. "No, that's okay. He lives right across the hall from you, so I don't even think we need that, yet."
Tatsumaki visibly relaxed, but it was clear there were a thousand things going through her mind, right then. Namely, what Saitama could be doing, right now...
"Mh-hm-hm," Fubuki chuckled through her grin, drawing her sister's gaze again. "i-I'm sorry. I jus-... I'm just really happy for you!"
"Tch," Tatsumaki scoffed and awkwardly looked away to hide her blush. "w-Whatever... It's not like we're getting married or something."
"Not yet," Fubuki muttered in a suggestive tone.
"w-What?"
"Eh-heh-heh!" Fubuki giggled. "I mean, that's what you want, long-term, isn't it?"
Tatsumaki was clearly flustered by the idea. She drifted over to the window feeling like she was soon to break into a nervous sweat. "i-... I don't know... Maybe... But I've never even had a boyfriend, before, so... how could I even think about becoming someone's wife?" Again, her sister giggled, drawing her gaze.
Fubuki was watching her with an adorable grin that just wouldn't go away. "... s-Sorry," she muttered, "I just... think it's really cute how scared you are of this... I used to think you weren't scared of anything..."
Tatsumaki's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before she turned back out to the view of the city with a stern look. "... i-I'm not scared... I just... don't want to get my hopes up until we've made some actual progress."
Again, Fubuki chuckled at her stubbornness and stood from her seat. "Well, just so you know, progress does require action, so... no more being stubborn about going along with my plans."
"As long as the plans aren't stupid," Tatsumaki muttered.
Fubuki's smile brightened and she rolled her eyes. "They won't be stupid. Just trust me on this. I've already got the next step planned out, and I'm calling it, Operation: Know Thy Enemy..."
"Okay?" Tatsumaki muttered with a confused look. "And what does that mean?"
"Hmh... Well, it means we're gonna-.."
(Doof!)
The office doors were thrown open and her young assistant, Lily, came stumbling through in a panic. "Ms. Fubuki, there's-..! Uh-!" She gasped in shock when she caught sight of the floating Tatsumaki. "o-.. Oh, my gosh... m-Miss Tornado! I'm such a huge fan! I-.."
"Lily," Fubuki said in a hurrying tone, stopping her rant before it began. "Is it a mission? What is it?"
"o-Oh, no ma'am!" she bashfully said. "There's... something you should see on the news... i-Its uh... a new hero, ma'am..."
The Esper sisters exchanged a curious glance before shifting their focus back on the young girl. "... So?" Fubuki shrugged.
"w-Well, it's just that... m-Many people are saying that she... might usurp your position as the most attractive female hero in the ratings poll."
Tatsumaki sneered at her statement, taking it for a joke, and she prematurely chuckled as she turned back to her sister. To her surprise, Fubuki had a completely offended look on her face.
"WHAT!? WHO!?"
"i-I don't know ma'am! Apparently, she was also involved in that mission that Miss Tornado was on yesterday..." Lily watched her boss frantically digging through the drawers of her desk in search of the remote, completely forgetting she could just turn her TV on with her powers, as usual. Then, Tatsumaki turned her way with a confused look on her face. Lily nervously waved at her. "... a-and you were amazing, by the way, heh."
"... Thanks," Tatsumaki replied. She turned back when that disturbingly familiar sweet voice came huffing out. They were interviewing that Love woman after the catastrophe. She was officially making her debut to the press. Likely milking it for all it was worth.
(On the screen)
"s-So, ma'am, eh-heh," the male reporter stammered, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "i-I understand that there were alots of uh.. i-I mean, a lot of, excuse me, heh... I understand that there were a lot of reports of you saving people who were trapped in the uh... the city..."
Love leaned in with a curious look, wondering if there was a question somewhere in there that she happened to miss. "u-Um-.."
"I-.. oh-.. s-Sorry."
"n-No, I'm sorry," she stammered back. "Were you not done? I thought you were-.."
"No, I, uh... i-I mean... w-What were some of the uh... the-the-... the challenges that you had while... while out there...?"
Love playfully winced as if that question caught her off guard. "Um... i-I'm not too sure, honestly... Maybe it was the fear of just... kinda seeing those wonderful people in such scary situations? I've never... saved anyone, before, so it... it felt really good," she finished with a nod.
"Heh, yeah i-I bet, and you were absolutely amazing out there, by the way, heh!" he tacked on as naturally as possible.
"Oh, um... th-thanks!" she said with a cute little grin and a slight tilt of her head.
Such a simple tactic, but it absolutely melted the man with the microphone. "eh-..! eh-heh-heh-heh! I'm sorry!" he giggled. "I'm just at a loss for words today."
Love gave him a confused smile and looked around, wondering if this was supposed to happen. It felt like he wasn't asking her much.
'Oh, please,' Tatsumaki mentally groaned. She saw right through that whole cutesy act. In her mind, Love was clearly putting on a performance just to weasel her way into S-Class. She glanced over to Fubuki to gauge her reaction, and much to her annoyance, she was obviously mesmerized.
Fubuki, like many others, couldn't help but freeze at the first sight of such unmistakable beauty. 'She's... adorable!' Of course, putting two and two together, she realized that this was likely the woman Tatsumaki was telling her about, but she was still caught off guard by just how pretty she was. It was like seeing an angel for the first time...
Tatsumaki rolled her eyes when she saw that gleam in her eyes.
(On the screen)
The reporter seemed to calm his giggling fit and fished through his flashcards for a more important question since they were running out of time. "O-...kay...? Okay-okay-okay, here we are, heh," he stammered. "s-So uh... the people wanna know, are you a new recruit for the Hero Association? Or are you perhaps aligned with the Neo-Heroes or Hunters maybe, or-...?"
"r-Right," she nodded once she understood his question. "s-So, i'm technically not a... registered hero, but I am hoping to become one. a-And... if possible, I'd love to be considered for the Hero Association."
"Yeah, i-I assumed that, heh," he chuckled. "Ever since One-Punch-Man's debut, it seems the organization as a whole has only extended its lead in regard to popularity these past few weeks."
"Eh-heh-heh... yeah," she awkwardly replied.
"s-So are you shooting for a specific rank or anything like that?"
"i- I am, actually..." She stared out into the middle distance for a long moment before a smile crept in. "I'm shooting for S-Class."
"Uh-!" Fubuki gasped. She turned to her sister to gauge her reaction. She expected some sort of outcry or protest, but Tatsumaki was just staring at the screen with a flat expression as if she were mulling something over.
"... Hmh," she finally chuckled through a tight grin.
"y-You don't... care?" Fubuki timidly asked.
She crossed her arms and changed her position in the air as if she were lying on her back. "Nope... If they think she's good enough, then she can join... I'm not worried, one bit..."
"... r-Really?" Fubuki was trying to be supportive, but after seeing this girl...
"Yeah... really," Tatsumaki assured her. "I'm... not threatened at all..."
Fubuki's proud smile was flooding back quickly. 'hmh... Saitama... I don't know what you said to her, yesterday, but... thank you...'
Tatsumaki sighed as she checked her transponder. "Alright. I gotta go give my stupid report," she muttered, turning to her sister. "I'll be home after that if you wanna... come over and... talk about that mission..."
Fubuki smiled, knowing that was her way of asking without asking. "Sure... and I'll bring some drinks, too..."
"Eh-heh," Tatsumaki chuckled. "Yeah... Let's do that..."
She swooped out the window, leaving the smiling Fubuki behind with her young assistant who was very confused by a number of things that just happened. Namely, "w-... Why would Miss Tornado feel threatened?"
Fubuki almost didn't hear her question. She was still reeling in the excitement of the situation. "... Mh-hmh! Don't worry about it, Lily. It's just... some sister stuff..."
"So... a weird lightning guy, huh?" Sitch asked. He and Sekingar sat across from Saitama who was lounging in his seat with an oddly upbeat feel to his mannerisms.
"Mhm," he hummed out through a mouthful of chips, rocking his chair back on its hind legs. "I mean, I think it was lightning... but it could've been electricity too... Or, wait, are those the same thing?"
"We'll just stick with lightning," Sekingar waved him off. "It sounds a little more impressive."
"Heh-heh," Saitama chuckled, lightly.
"Did he by chance do anything specifically tied to the creature?" Sitch asked. "Anything that could prove he was telling the truth?"
"... Hm?" Saitama gave him a curious look. "Um... I don't think so. Why? You think he was lying?"
Sitch shrugged and looked over his notes. "We're not sure, yet. We'd like to hope not, but we can't afford to overlook anything."
"Also, I don't mean to sound untrusting," Sekingar jumped in, "but are you... sure you killed him?"
Saitama raised a curious brow at his question. "Yeah...? I mean, I think so... There was a big hole in his chest, so..."
The two executives shared a glance before they both wrote down a few things in their notes. Saitama's gaze shifted between them for a moment before he checked the clock above their heads.
"He's only asking because we haven't recovered a body," Sitch added. "We're still sifting through the debris, so maybe it'll turn up, eventually."
Saitama was mildly surprised to hear that, but half of his thoughts were elsewhere entirely. He slowly nodded his head and stared off into the middle distance with a dazed look... and, whatever he happened to be thinking about, brought a little grin to his face.
Sitch and Sekingar noted his odd mannerisms and shared another curious look before Sitch asked about the elephant in the room. "Saitama..."
"Hm?"
"... i-I don't mean to pry into your personal life, but... you seem rather cheery, today."
"Hm...? Really?" he wondered, completely oblivious to the constant grin on his face. "Heh... I guess it's just a good day, is all..."
The two smiled his way, giving agreeing nods. "Can't argue with that," Sekingar said. "It's good to see you in such high spirits."
Saitama chuckled softly to himself and accepted his kind words with a nod in return. "... Hey, do you think there's gonna be any more big missions anytime soon?" he asked.
Sitch reeled at the sudden question. "w-... Well, we would hope not. I mean, if the guy you defeated really was the mastermind behind these recent attacks, and you did manage to kill him, then I doubt there will be anything major for a while... I think you and the rest of the S-Class heroes have definitely earned a break."
"... Oh," Saitama muttered.
"We'll still be keeping a close watch on things," Sekingar added. "Until we find that body, we can't be too careful. Our main focus now is gonna be dealing with the backlash from the few hiccups, yesterday."
"Hiccups?" Saitama wondered as he watched them sifting through their notes.
"Uh, yeah," Sitch continued. "Thanks to you and Tornado, the scope of that attack was considerably minimalized compared to how many lives could have been lost... but unfortunately, we were not without casualties..."
Saitama was admittedly surprised to hear that. He was sure they did pretty well.
"There were a few creatures that managed to claw their way into one of the bunkers a few miles north of the main battle zone, near Yamato Park," Sekingar informed him when he noticed his interest. "Unfortunately, there were no survivors... Even managed to kill three mid-tier A-Class heroes..."
The two executives noted his continued silence, and correctly assumed he was a little disturbed to hear that. They shared a timid glance again before Sitch spoke up. "y-You really shouldn't think too much on it, Saitama. Like I said, compared to how many lives could have been lost, given the scope of that attack, it's sort of a blessing the toll was as light as it was... and we have you and Tornado to thank for that."
"... Were those monsters really strong enough to kill three A-Class heroes?" he suddenly asked.
Again, they shared a look, hoping the other had an answer. Sekingar huffed out a deep sigh. "That... we really don't know. For whatever reason, we can't access the footage from that bunker beyond a certain point... but that bunker wasn't the only one compromised. There was also one a little closer to the center of the attack that was breached, and so far, there are only 103 reported casualties and a handful of injuries. Eyewitnesses say that the famed martial artist, Suiryu of the Void Fist, and Class-B hero, Captain Mizuki, managed to kill three creatures on their own."
'... hm?' Saitama mulled. Those names almost seemed familiar, for some reason. Still, he was more perplexed by the 103 reported casualties being a footnote. It didn't sound like a lot compared to an entire bunker, housing, at max, 15,000 occupants, but he said that was closer to the center of the attack... Did that mean where he and Tatsumaki were?
Before he could think anymore on it, the door behind him opened and a female Association agent poked her head in. "Excuse me, sir? They aren't leaving... The media is demanding a press conference to discuss yesterday's attack."
"Oh, great," Sitch groaned, collecting his many files and folders.
Sekingar got ready, himself. "Any idea what we're gonna tell them?"
"Nope," he said, standing to his feet. "We'll just front their questions for a bit."
"Do I have to be here for that?" Saitama asked.
Sekingar looked to Sitch for an answer. "Could be good to have a crowd favorite with us."
Sitch considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "No, Saitama. You've done enough. You're free to go, and thank you, for coming in."
"Yup," he said on his way to the door.
"Oh, and one more thing," Sitch stopped him. "... We've got someone investigating the bunker by Yamato Park, so... really, don't hang your head on it... We know you did all you could..."
Saitama lingered in the doorway for a moment and soaked in his words. Then, with a nod, he took his leave.
Genos sat in the lobby, ignoring the chatter of a few female agents nearby, clearly whispering about him, until he spotted Saitama walking toward the exit. He sprung up from his seat and quickly jogged to catch up with him. "Master, good morning," he greeted.
"Yo, you made it," Saitama replied in a happy tone. "Thanks for waiting."
"Of course," the studious cyborg nodded. "You said you wanted to speak with me about something. What is it?"
"u-Uh... yeah, but not here," Saitama muttered, cupping his hand around his mouth as if he were whispering to him. His eyes shifted around, ensuring no one was listening. "It's kinda personal."
"Oh... Then, should we return to your apartment?"
"n-No!" he quickly stammered before immediately calming himself. "I uh... I kinda wanna enjoy the weather, today, heh..."
They stepped out of the double-wide doors and were immediately hit in the face with a strong gust of wind. The sky was cloudy and bleak as if they were only moments away from a storm.
Genos raised an eyebrow at his master's words, but he didn't question him. "I understand. Should we go on patrol, then?"
"... Mmm... Nah, let's do something else." Saitama thought about it for a moment before it hit him. "h-Hey, how bout we have a practice match?"
"Uh-..!" Genos gasped, lightly. "A practice match...? Why?"
Saitama scratched the back of his neck and looked around as if he were searching for a response. "i-I don't know," he shrugged. "We haven't done that in a while, so... w-We should probably check your progress. Gotta make sure you're not slacking off, heh!" He playfully slapped him on the back just as Genos was taking a step.
(CRASH!)
The Cyborg face-planted right into the concrete of the sidewalk.
"o-Oh! Genos!" Saitama stammered, immediately going to help him up.
"Ergh-!" he groaned, pushing his face from the hole in the concrete with a pushup. "I'm fine, Master! Excuse me for slipping!"
"... o-Oh... You slipped?"
"I must have missed a step," he said, hopping back to his feet with a reassuring smile.
Saitama gave him an awkward smile in return and dusted his shoulder off for him. "Heh, well... You should really be more careful. You're not too hurt to spar, are you?"
"No, Master! I am completely fine! I-.."
"You broke the walkway, ya know..."
Saitama gasped lightly when his gaze found its way to the source of that intruding voice in the sky.
Genos tracked his line of sight and spotted Tatsumaki looming above them with an odd grin on her face... It wasn't really odd, but it lacked the usual feel of arrogance it usually held. It was almost... friendly...
"o-Oh," Saitama muttered. "Uh... hey..."
Tatsumaki gently came to a stop a few feet away. "w-... What's up?" she awkwardly replied. She tried to keep her composure in check, but when his smile slightly brightened at her greeting, so did hers. Her gaze flickered to Genos a few times before she found something to say. "... s-So, you... came to do your report, huh?"
"Yup, decided to do it early... You too?"
"Mhm," she happily chirped.
"Nice," he said, slowly nodding his head.
Tatsumaki nodded back, unsure of what to say next. They stirred in the awkward tension for a beat too long before she came up with something. "... Did they chew you out about the damages?"
"Umm... No, not really," he replied after thinking it over. "They actually said we did a pretty good job."
"Oh... That's... That's good, heh..."
Again, they both went quiet and searched around for anything that could further the conversation... and Genos watched the interaction from the sideline with a curious look.
"w-Well, uh... g-Genos and I are gonna go and..."
"Do some training," his student filled in for him.
"Yeah," he said. "We're gonna go do some training and... heh, yeah..."
Tatsumaki gave him an awkward chuckle. "Cool... i-I guess I'll see you later, then."
"... Hmh... yeah, I'll uh... see you later..."
Tatsumaki pursed her lips in an effort to minimize her smile, but it was useless. She drifted by the two, awkwardly sparing Saitama one more glance along the way.
And Saitama watched her go, losing himself in the moment...
"Master?"
"eh-!" he sputtered at the sound of Genos' voice, and he realized he had been staring at the closed door for a beat too long. "o-Oh, heh... Sorry, I was jus-..."
Genos watched as his words trailed off and a wistful look came to his eyes. The cyborg peeked back to the entrance of HQ with a peculiar look, wondering if that moment was noteworthy. "... Should we go?" he asked when the silence droned on again.
"Yeah," Saitama replied in a bright tone, turning his way with a challenging grin. "Heh... Yeah, let's do this...!"
"This doesn't make sense," Zombieman said in his monotonous tone. He stood in the center of the destroyed bunker 64, in City-B. The bunker by Yamato Park.
"What do you mean?" Flashy Flash asked in his usual stern tone from nearby. "This isn't the first time one of Metal Knight's so-called 'perfect bunkers' failed to do as intended."
To say it was a grim sight would be putting it mildly. It was a bloodbath—a massacre of a horrifying degree. There were bodies slashed and hacked to bits, a few already covered by white sheets, awaiting the team of recovery agents to carry them off. Some were crushed by the large chunks of fallen debris from the crumbled shell of the bunker. Others looked to have been stepped on by the massive feet of the beasts. Most of them were too mangled to conclude... but three, in particular, piqued the interest of the undead hero assigned to this mysterious case.
Zombieman crouched down by one of them and slightly peeled the sheet back so that he could examine the carcass. "It's not that," he finally replied, taking a drag of his cigarette. "This doesn't exactly feel like a random occurrence... It almost feels... staged..."
"Tch, what the hell are you talking about?" Metal Bat asked, walking in through the giant gaping hole with an angry scowl on his face.
"These bodies are real," Flashy Flash stated. "If that's your theory, then we're far from cracking the case."
Zombieman didn't respond, initially. He thoroughly checked the carcass over again until he was sure of something. "Three of these guys weren't killed by a monster..."
Flashy Flash slowly plodded over and peered over his shoulder. Metal Bat watched them from a distance, his gaze locked on the two as if he couldn't bring himself to look anywhere else.
"Not by the same monster, at least," Zombieman muttered. "Their wounds are drastically different than the other victims, but share similarities to each other. Lichtenberg figures surrounding their wounds."
"What?" Metal Bat asked, again in a frustrated tone.
"Fractal patterns on the skin," Zombieman explained. "Wounds often seen on the skin of those who have been struck by lightning..."
"Hn," Flashy Flash grunted, tucking his arms over his chest. "Maybe another creature saw an opportunity and took it," Flashy Flash suggested with an almost irritated tone. "That's not enough to say this was a staged event."
"Heh... Well, maybe not staged," he muttered, pausing briefly to find the right phrasing. "... more like posed, I guess..."
His words only confused Metal Bat even more. He forced himself to look around the room again; wondering how the hell he drew that conclusion from the sheer chaos of this bloodbath.
Flashy Flash, however, was starting to see his point. He was here before the recovery team came to start removing the bodies. He initially saw it as what it appeared to be. The aftermath of a frenzied attack. Now, after hearing his undead co-workers' theory, something definitely stuck out to him.
"Assuming the creature breached the bunker from that gaping hole," Zombieman muttered, looking around.
"We shouldn't be seeing so many faces looking this way," Flashy Flash finished.
"Mhm," Zombieman nodded, standing to his feet with a sigh. "People tend to look away from the monsters when they're running for their lives."
"So, someone positioned them to be facing the only entrance," Flashy Flash concluded.
"Yeah," Zombieman muttered. "But why...?"
"w-.. Wait," Metal Bat finally cut in, drawing their attention. "Hold on, are you saying that... someone turned all the heads?"
Zombieman huffed out a plume of smoke and paced around a bit. "Turned all the heads, moved some of the bodies... basically they set the stage for us to find them... This was not caused by a lack of proper maintenance like the bunker near the main battle zone."
"Someone killed the only three truly problematic heroes present and let the creatures in," Flashy Flash finished.
"n-... No way," the teen muttered. "What kinda sick fuck..."
Zombieman stopped walking when his eyes locked onto one of the bodies sitting lifelessly against the back wall. The body of a young boy, no older than Child Emperor. It froze him for a moment before he shook his daze away. He turned back to see that angry look on his young co-worker's face. "... Hey, kid," he called out to him. "Like I said, you don't have to be here, right now. It's a lot to stomach."
"Hn," Flashy Flash grunted. "Actually, he should be here. It should serve as an example of what happens when you're insufficient."
Metal Bat's rage-filled glare shot in his direction. "What!?"
"Flash, lay off him," Zombieman quickly intervened.
It was too late. Metal Bat stomped toward him, readjusting the grip on his weapon. "What the hell did you just say!?"
"This is your fault," Flashy Flash stated, plainly, ignoring his attempt at a threat. "This is what happens when you're too ineffective at ending a battle quickly."
"Hey, fuck you! You were here, too, weren't you!? I didn't see you doing any better!"
"The situation was already out of control by then. If I had been the first on the scene, this would've been avoided."
"Enough," Zombieman interjected again, stepping between the two. "This isn't the time or the place for this."
The two glared at each other as if they were ready for a deathmatch, regardless.
"Eh-heh-heh-heh," a new voice chuckled out from behind them. "The hero association's S-Class heroes actually investigating a crime scene...!? I guess you do see something new, every day, huh?"
The three turned to the intrusive voice. Standing atop the debris of the crumbled bunker wall was a young man that Metal Bat didn't recognize. He was dressed down like a jogger out on a run.
"... Who the hell are you!?" the hotheaded teen demanded when the silence droned on for too long.
"Tch, you guys are still around, huh?" Zombieman asked in his lazy tone.
Flashy Flash turned to him with that stern look of his. "A friend of yours?"
Zombieman watched the man tread his way in with an arrogant smirk plastered on his face. "You don't see the resemblance?" he asked, taking another drag of his cigarette and flicking it away when it was down to the butt. "That's the supposed legacy of the former greatest hero."
"Former?" the stranger asked. "Heh... That's an odd way to put it... Surely, you can't be implying that your beloved One-Punch-Man is anywhere close to my father's grace."
"Oh... You're Blast's son," Flashy Flash stated, finally catching on.
He put a hand to his chest and gave them a curt bow that somehow came off more mocking than respectful. "Heh! In the flesh... Please, call me Blue."
"Keh, you're Blast's son?" Metal Bat asked, leaning his bat against his shoulder. "I didn't even know he had a kid."
"Why are you here?" Flashy Flash demanded.
Blue chuckled and shook his head at Metal Bat's comment before he strolled by them to scope out the state of the bunker. "Isn't it obvious? I've come to investigate, same as you all."
"I didn't know the Neo-Heroes were still a thing," Zombieman said, lighting another smoke. "Thought you guys fizzled out a few months ago."
"The Neo-he-.. Oh," Metal Bat muttered. "That's who you're with?"
"It is," Blue replied. He went to one of the other bodies that Zombieman was examining and peeled the sheet back to get a look himself. "We may not be as popular as you, but we're steadily growing our numbers."
"Not too steadily, from what I hear," Zombieman said.
Again, he chuckled before he stood to his feet. "Hm-hm, well that's true... A lot of our prospective recruits were swayed to the Hero Association after the debut of that... 'almighty hero' you all worship."
"Hm?" Zombieman gave him a confused look. Of course, he knew who he was talking about, but the worship part is what threw him.
"The buffoon in the yellow suit," Blue needlessly clarified. "Keh, don't get me wrong, he's impressive, but he's also incredibly sloppy, don't you think?"
"If that's how you see it, then you're not looking well enough," Flashy Flash said. "If not for that 'buffoon' you'd likely be dead, by now."
"Eh-heh," Blue chuckled, still looking around the bunker. "Not really. I assume you're referencing the Sea-King and the Invasion."
"Two catastrophes that the Neo-Heroes were mysteriously absent for," Zombieman pointed out.
"We weren't much of an organization back then, but trust me... if we were as solidly built as we are now, that thick-headed brute would still be bagging groceries at the corner store."
"Keh," Metal Bat scoffed. "This guy's got a serious problem with Saitama, huh?"
"Oh, it's not just him," Blue replied. "It's all of you, really. The entire organization is... overflowing with inflated egos and heroes more worried about their standing in society than... ya know, actually standing for society."
The three just stared at him with flat expressions. It was clear they didn't really value his opinion.
Blue didn't seem to mind in the slightest. He stood back to his feet and slowly paced around as if he were somehow the lead investigator taking over the case. "I do hold a... particular dislike for your top two, though... Tornado for obvious reasons," he muttered, "but One-Punch-Man... he really is the worst of the worst... All that strength and he couldn't give a rat's ass about doing the job right. Yet, everyone seems so convinced he is a better hero than my father was... Ridiculous."
"Your dad died fighting Elder Centipede, right?" Metal Bat asked. "Ya know, the monster that Saitama destroyed in o-.."
"In one punch," Blue cut him off with an exhausted tone. "I know~I know... My point isn't that my father was stronger. It's clear that he wasn't... but he was by far a better hero."
"And how'd you figure that?" Zombieman asked.
Blue shrugged and stopped his pacing, finally giving them his full attention. "I mean, I have eyes... One-Punch-Man doesn't really seem like he cares all that much about being a hero... In fact, he doesn't really seem to care about anything. He just so happens to be the strongest man in the world, but he has no morals, no true conviction... It must be a true pity sitting behind a man who doesn't even care about the job..."
"Keh-!" Metal Bat scoffed. "Ya know, I think that's exactly what that recruiter told me last week when they were begging me to join you jackasses. You guys are like a broken record."
"You should've considered their proposal," Blue said. "With your skillset, you'd probably be a better hero under the guidance of an organization that actually cares about its members."
"Yup, they said that, too," the teen replied, mockingly, twirling his bat around. "Even showed me one of those little power suits of yours."
"Power suits?" Flashy Flash wondered.
"Heh, look," Blue said, strolling back toward the exit, "I'm not here for a sales pitch. Unlike the strict code of entry for the Hero Association, almost entirely based on public favor, the Neo-Heroes door is always open for those willing to fight for the people."
Metal Bat verbally scoffed and rolled his eyes at the underhanded comments while Zombieman and Flashy Flash showed no reaction.
"I came to investigate a catastrophe that usually goes overlooked by the likes of you. It's not like this is the first bunker to ever fail."
The three watched him as he strolled back to the exit with that arrogant smile of his.
"Ya know, that really makes me wonder what it is you guys are looking for, this time. Something you're too afraid to tell the public, maybe...?" he asked in an accusing tone.
"Yeah... maybe," Flashy Flash replied. "Guess you'll just have to wait and see with the rest of them."
Blue stopped walking and peeked over his shoulder a bit. He understood the implication, but he couldn't decide if it even deserved a response. The Neo Heroes had no need to prove themselves in the eyes of the Hero Association. "... Hmh," he chuckled before continuing on.
The other three watched him leave until he cleared the hill of debris. When he was gone, Flashy Flash and Zombieman shared a shifty glance, wondering what to do about the situation.
Metal Bat just scoffed, "Tch... what a douchebag..."
(WOOOSH! CRASH!)
Out in the wastelands surrounding the Hero Association HQ, Saitama hopped away from the rocket-powered kick of his cybernetic apprentice with ease.
Genos' attack shattered the ground with a brutal impact, and with no wasted movements he was hot on his master's trail. They'd been at it for an hour already, and he was nowhere closer to landing a hit than he was when they first did this all those months ago. He was notably frustrated by his lack of growth, and Saitama's seemingly uninterested daze only exacerbated his temper.
It didn't seem intentional, but Saitama was clearly thinking about something else as he effortlessly avoided his every attempt. For the most part, his expression was set in its usual blank look of disinterest, but Genos could see a small grin creep in whenever he seemed to zone out. It felt more like Saitama was mindlessly dancing around his attacks rather than actually dodging them. To say it was demoralizing was putting it lightly.
"Hrraarrrghh!" with a roar, he kicked up his pace and threw a flurry of punches.
Saitama didn't miss a step. He wasn't even alarmed at the increase in pressure. His mind was locked on the feel of the wind. It reminded him of being up above the clouds yesterday... Well, more accurately, the woman he was above the clouds with...
Tatsumaki, the Tornado of Terror...
He smiled when he suddenly remembered the days when he was constantly messing that up. In his defense, it pretty much fit the vibe of every other hero name he saw on TV back then. Everyone was the something of something. Whoever was picking the names for the heroes definitely had to be running out of ideas.
Regardless, the moniker, Tornado of Terror, felt like it was forever engraved in his memory now. Mainly because it didn't really fit her, anymore... Or it wasn't how he'd describe her, anyways. The 'Terror' part felt like such an odd choice for defining someone so... kind.
Of course, he wasn't oblivious to that short temper of hers, but after actually getting to know her a bit, she usually had a legitimate reason for losing her cool when she heard something she didn't like; other than things involving her sister... and her size.
He swerved away from another flurry of strikes from his eager student with another loopy grin creeping out. 'Heh... She is really short though...'
He flipped back to gain some distance and immediately kicked into a sprint when he could see Genos firing a barrage of blasts his way. The booming explosions trailed behind him as he zipped around the area. At this point, he was just waiting for the cyborg to wear out so they could move on to what he really intended to do today.
He was clearly no expert when it came to his current predicament, but it honestly felt like this wasn't a one-sided thing like it was back in school or with his old co-worker. He didn't want to jump to conclusions, so his best idea boiled down to asking a friend for advice. He wanted to ask Genos basically what he had asked him yesterday that he never got an answer for. Only, now, the question felt a lot heavier...
(Wooosshh! CRASH!)
Genos dropped an axe kick into the ground a second after Saitama flipped away.
The bald man immediately found his footing and prepared to dodge again, but to his surprise, his student wasn't attacking. He watched him pull his leg from the rubble with an irritated grunt and a defeated slouch to his shoulders. 'Hm...? Is he done?'
Genos held his palms out and stared at his mechanical hands with pure frustration settled on his face. "... Master," he muttered.
Saitama visibly relaxed and stood across from him with a curious look. "What's wrong? Did you hurt something?"
Genos shook his head lightly. "n-.. No... That's not it..." With a huff, he fell back and sat on his butt, looking more defeated than Saitama had ever seen him before. "Why am I still... so weak?"
'... Oh... So that's what it is,' Saitama realized. He took a deep calming breath before looking out to the towering structure of HQ in the distance. Before they started, he actually considered letting him land a few blows, but he was so zoned out during the action that he forgot. "I think you did okay," he shrugged, hoping to salvage the moment.
Genos hesitantly looked his way with an uncertain expression. "Master... I couldn't land one hit... After all these upgrades from Doctor Kuseno, and everything you've taught me, I..." He glared at his robotic hands again as if the sight of them just made him sick. "I'm still weak... It feels like, no matter what I do, I'm not progressing... I'll never be good enough..."
Saitama watched him pout and thought of some way to lift his spirits. After doing this for Metal Bat a while back, he was starting to see that this was actually a pretty big part of having a student. They definitely did not take losing lightly. With another deep breath, he walked over without saying anything and took a seat next to him.
Genos didn't have the guts to look his way, and the awkward silence felt like a brick on his shoulder. They sat there for a few moments listening to the soft woosh of the wind swirling around them.
"... To be honest," Saitama started, "I... don't really know how to train you..." He could see the younger hero turn his way out the side of his eye. "I mean... I know you always say I'm a good teacher, but... I don't know how to help you..."
That revelation was a lot heavier than it seemed, and the tension grew with every awkward second of the silence that followed.
"... I know, Master," Genos finally replied in a soft tone.
'Hm...?' Saitama looked over to him a bit shocked by that response. He wasn't exactly expecting anything in particular, but that definitely caught him off guard.
"I... realized that, pretty soon into my training," he continued. "After hearing you tell the evolutionary scientist how you came about your strength... I initially rejected the idea because I realized that if... if that was true, then you couldn't help me..."
Saitama remembered the moment he was talking about. It did strike him as weird when Genos snapped and called him a liar.
"I realized later, when you gave the same story to the press during your introduction, that you were telling the truth." For no particular reason, Genos found interest in pushing around the rubble beneath him with his finger. "I am no fool, Master... My body is mechanical. Following your training regime would do nothing to help my growth... I will only ever be as strong as my parts allow..."
"Well... why not just get stronger parts?" Saitama wondered.
"My body was constructed using a combination of the strongest metals known to man... There are no stronger parts..."
"... Oh," Saitama muttered. '... Strongest metals, huh...?'
Again, a dreadfully thick silence overcame them, and Saitama couldn't help but wonder if all of this ruined his chance to ask for advice. He wanted to do it over drinks, again, but it didn't really look like that was an option, anymore. "... Hey, Genos?"
The cyborg turned to him and stared at the side of his face, expectantly.
"Yesterday, at that bar...? You said I could tell you anything, right?"
'Actually, I said he could ask me anything,' he thought, but he gave a curt nod, regardless.
Saitama watched him for a moment, weighing his options in his head. With a sigh, he turned back to the towering structure of the Hero Association HQ with a dazed look. "And... remember when I said that I stopped wanting things...?" Saitama took another moment to consider his next words before he continued. "Well... I don't think that's true, anymore..."
Genos held his tongue, wondering where he was going with this.
"I... think I have a crush on someone..."
"You mean Tornado-.."
"It's Tatsuma-.." Saitama cut his words short when he registered what he said. "Hm...? Did I already tell you that?"
Genos chuckled lightly and looked back to their view with a small grin. "No, Master... but I have suspected as much for a while."
'... For a while?'
"Since the press conference, actually; when you called her amazing... I didn't initially consider it a possibility until later, but that was the moment when most people started to notice."
"wha-.. m-Most people?"
"It was actually King who originally brought it to my attention."
"King knows?"
"The Saitatsu ship on the internet apparently spawned only moments after that."
"The what?"
"Since then, there have been hundreds of forums and dedicated fan pages that track every interaction you have with Tornado in the public eye. Along with King and Bang, I've been secretly trying to help you in your search for happiness. Together, we concluded that the only thing missing in your life is a companion to share your time with. For the past few weeks, we have been carefully studying modern dating and the signs of romantic attraction to first ensure our suspicion was correct. Our efforts included many secret meetings, multiple dating simulations, and diligently observing your many interactions. I was told that I could not directly ask you about your feelings for Tornado until you came to realize it yourself and-.."
"o-Okay~okay," Saitama cut him off before he got too carried away. "I got it..." He sat back with a hefty sigh, doing his best to digest this new information.
There was something incredibly uncomfortable about hearing someone's been plotting a romance for him behind his back. Not to mention what he said about some kind of internet trend of people spying on them. Considering how little privacy he's had since rejoining the association, it didn't really surprise him. At least now he knew there was no need to hide anything. Apparently, everyone else already knew more than he did.
"Okay," he muttered, sitting back up, resting his forearms on his knees. "So...? What do you think?"
"About what?" Genos asked.
"Heh... you know," he said, awkwardly scratching the side of his face. "Should I... ask her out? Is she single?"
"wha-..."
"I almost did, yesterday, but I... kinda got nervous, heh-heh... and where would I even take her on a date? I'd like it to be somewhere private, ya know? Especially now that I know there are creeps out there watching us."
"w-Wait, Master," Genos stopped him. "I don't think that's a good idea..."
His statement killed Saitama's momentum almost immediately. "... Hm? Why not?"
"Because, statistically speaking, relationships that start like that are doomed to fail."
"... Pfft, what?" he sputtered with a perplexed look. 'There's no way that's true.'
"If your goal is to achieve a long-lasting relationship with Tornado, there are multiple steps you should consider before attempting to court someone of her social status. You shouldn't do it carelessly. She is unruly, brash, and quick to anger. With her personality type, you may only get one opportunity to present yourself in a positive way. Fail to do that, and she may never give you another chance. I suggest y-.."
"Genos?" Saitama stopped him, again. "... What the hell are you talking about?"
"It's... difficult for me to explain, Master," he said with a stern look. "We should speak with an expert..."
(BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP! BA-BUMP!)
The King Engine was on full blast; every thump pounding like the footsteps of a colossal creature marching in place. The man responsible sat at his dining room table, clutching at his tightened chest with a horrified look on his face. Across the way, he stared into the pinpoint gaze of Saitama, trying to decipher his expression. He wasn't prepared for this sudden ambush.
When they first came by, he assumed Saitama was just bored and wanted to play some games... but it turns out, Genos told him everything. He knew this was a possibility, but he didn't think it would happen so soon.
"King?" Saitama called out. "You okay?"
"i-..! i-I...!" He couldn't even force himself to speak, he was so terrified. What would Saitama's reaction be to hearing they were meddling in his love life? Hell, what would anyone's reaction be?
"You're sweating," Saitama noted. "And your heart is beating super loud. The neighbors might complain, ya know..."
He took a few deep breaths to try and calm himself, still desperately searching for any sniff of a negative reaction from the bald man. Was he not mad? "... i-I uh... s-Sorry, Saitama... w-We shouldn't have been involving ourselves in your personal life. w-We only meant to... help you... a-And we didn't do anything too drastic or embarrassing, heh-heh..."
"Hm?" the bald man muttered.
"i-I mean, we didn't even really get too far in our planning, in the first place," he continued. "We've mostly been working on verifying our suspicions, so... i-I understand if you are upset about our snooping..."
"Oh, uh... Nah, it's cool," Saitama replied after thinking it over for a moment. "I mean, it is a little creepy, to be honest, but... I guess I've just never had friends who would do that, before, so... heh, yeah... thanks er-... whatever..."
King reeled at his words, sneaking a glance at his accomplice. Genos was staring at the bald man with a soft smile as if he expected that response. Was he worried for nothing?
"... So?" Saitama said, drawing his attention. "What do you think?"
"h-... huh?"
"About Tatsumaki," he said. "I told Genos I wanna ask her out, but he said it's not a good idea..."
"o-Oh," he muttered. "Uh... w-Well, statistically speaking, relationships that start like that always end poorly."
Saitama still didn't believe that.
"I think... the best course of action, right now, is to focus on you sweeping her off her feet."
"Hm...? But, she can fly," he stupidly noted.
"He means metaphorically, Master," Genos explained. "The metaphor refers to enchanting a woman to the point that it feels like she is floating, but in reality, it has nothing to do with her position on or off the ground."
"... Oh," he muttered.
King gave Genos a strange look, wondering why he went into such detail. His mind was already busy thinking of where to go next. It was never really his intention for Saitama to even be aware of their meddling, so the fact that he was joining the group changed the dynamics of what he was originally trying to do.
The plan of secretly documenting them through a naturally progressing journey of romance seemed dead in the water. If Saitama was in on their plotting, then there was surely nothing natural about what came next. '... Well, I guess, if I centralize the story through the point of view of Saitama trying to win her over, then... maybe it can still work... Unless he already has.'
"King?" Saitama called out, snapping him back to reality.
"y-Yes...?"
"Genos said you're an expert in this stuff. Is that true? I've never seen you with a girlfriend."
"eh-! w-Well... it has been a while," he replied with a bashful smile. "I... was actually pretty good in the dating scene before I became a hero... and then, after that, I uh..."
"Oh," Saitama muttered. It made sense he was having a harder time, now. Everyone definitely seemed to hate him... and in some way that made all of this slightly easier to stomach. Even though King himself was unlikely to find a girlfriend, he was still willing to help him, and he didn't even have to ask. Was this what it meant to have real friends...?
The only other time Saitama had ever gotten close to this was back in middle school where the group of guys he always talked to goaded him into asking out his neighbor that was in their class. They really hyped him up and even said they'd go with him for moral support. Then, when she didn't even recognize him, they all laughed about it and called him an idiot for even trying. He laughed it off at the time, but it definitely hurt his feelings.
Good friends were hard to come by, so he was grateful to have the group he did.
"Hey, Saitama?" King called out with a curious tone, drawing his gaze.
"... Hm? What is it?"
King pinched at his chin and stared down at the center of the table, deeply pondering something. "I'm... glad you've decided to ask for our advice," he began, "but... in order for us to properly help you, I think it's only fair that I ask why..."
"Why what?"
"Why... Tornado...? i-I mean, not that she is a bad choice or anything!" he quickly sputtered. "I'm just curious because... well, in my time as an S-Class hero, she was always fairly neutral to me, but I did get the sense that she was kinda... snobbish and... rude...? I guess I didn't really pin you as the type of guy that likes women like that..."
"Master, I am also curious to know," Genos said, leaning in. "I would never question your judgment, but I do not understand how you could like someone who constantly mocks you for your unfortunate condition."
"What condition?"
"In my studies," the cyborg ignored him, "we've covered many romantic archetypes that seem to produce the most effective levels of long-term satisfaction, and each way I look at you and Tornado, I cannot seem to make sense of why you would be so attracted to her..."
"Oh... heh-heh," he awkwardly chuckled. "I... don't really know how to answer that..."
The other two shared a confused look before turning their attention back to the bald man. "Hm? Are you saying you don't know why you like her?" King asked.
Saitama sat back in his seat with an uncomfortable grin. "i-I guess so... Heh, I mean... I don't think it's gotta be all scientific and stuff. I just... do..."
"... Master," Genos muttered with a stern look in his eyes. "... I do not understand."
Saitama gave him a confused look, wondering how he could put it any simpler than that. In all honesty, it wasn't like he hadn't thought about that, himself, before now. He had theories, but it felt like there was always so much more to the truth that he just couldn't see. Every time he saw her there was something new that drew him in; something that made him want to know more. It was almost impossible to simplify, but if he had to try, "She's... she's just kinda... different, I guess... Or... special... Honestly, I don't really know how to explain it... I can just... feel it, somehow..."
King chuckled softly. He knew that was likely all they were going to get. Though he hadn't known him long, it was clear that Saitama wasn't really much of the romantic type. These unexpected feelings he had for Tornado were probably more confusing to him than anyone else. Genos immediately started badgering him for a better explanation and King watched as Saitama sputtered to find one. 'Hmh... He seems really serious about this...'
Though he was happy for his friend, that realization also set a blaze of worry through his chest. Even though it was likely by the suggestion of Genos, Saitama came to him for help... The strongest man in the world actually wanted his help... and that was a tall task for anyone. 'I've... never done anything right in my entire life... but if Saitama needs my help, I'm not gonna fail this time...! Get ready, Tornado... because if you're not in love with Saitama, yet... you will be...!'
The next morning, Saitama awoke in his bedroom to the smell of breakfast flooding his condo. He took a moment to compose himself before rolling out of bed and going through his regular morning routine of taking a dump, brushing his teeth, and taking a shower. When he was done, he got dressed in a grey tracksuit. Then, on his way out of his bedroom, he grabbed his trusty bucket hat, the only disguise he'd ever need.
"Master! Good morning!" Genos excitedly greeted him from his spot at the stove.
"Sup," Saitama muttered, immediately going for a cup of coffee.
He passed by King who was sitting at the dining room table with his handheld gaming device, tapping away. "You're up late," he said in his dry, focused, tone.
"Went to sleep late," Saitama replied.
"Bad dreams?"
"Just restless."
"Mm... Going out today?"
"A few errands to run."
"Mm... You gonna replace my controller?"
"It was already broken."
"It wasn't."
"Mm..." Saitama took a sip of his coffee and stalked over to a chair across the table from him with a manga in hand. He took a seat and flipped a few pages. They sat in silence from then on until Genos served their plates. They said their thanks and got to work on their well-made meals.
Genos watched the bald man with a slight grin when he could see his food was received well. He didn't make a plate for himself, because he didn't necessarily need to eat. He could, but if Saitama wanted seconds, he wanted there to be enough. After letting them enjoy their first few bites, he got the conversation flowing with a recap of their first session as a group (minus Bang). "Master, what are your thoughts on the simulation from yesterday?"
"... Hm?" Saitama hummed with a mouthful. "You mean that girly video game?"
"Ergh-!" King tensed up at the unflattering description. "i-It's not a video game! It's actually a very highly touted dating sim for those seeking to improve their social skills!"
"What?" Saitama replied in a disbelieving tone. "Didn't you say you bought it for your niece?"
"She's... socially awkward..."
Saitama gave him an uncertain look before shrugging it off. "Well... I mean, it was cool, I guess, but... none of those girls really reminded me of Tatsumaki, so I don't think it helped all that much... I still don't see why I can't just go ask her out," he muttered.
"Master," Genos said in a stern tone. "Most relationships that start like that always-.."
"Heh, there's no way that's true!" Saitama cut him off. "Tons of people meet like that."
"Yes," King said, "but statistically speaking, giving a bad impression on a first date is much more likely when you don't know enough about the person you are dating. If you really want to win Tornado over, then you should-.."
"Sweep her off her feet," he mockingly finished for him. "I know. You keep saying that, but I don't understand what that means. How can I even tell if I do it or not?"
"Well, that's the hard part," King said. "Tornado isn't exactly a... normal woman."
Saitama stared at him, blankly, taking a bite of his food. "... She seems normal to me," he shrugged.
"She is technically the most powerful woman in the world," Genos reminded him. "... and literally."
"He's right about that," King tacked on. "If this was any other woman, I'd probably just say put yourself out there, but if you really want it to work with Tornado, I think it's best you make sure she likes you before the first date."
Saitama stared at his plate intently as he pondered their words. Obviously, he wasn't just gonna ignore the advice, but he started to wonder how long this plan of theirs was going to take. 'I... kinda feel like she does like me, though... Maybe a little... Then again, I thought Ayuki liked me, too...' He cringed at the bitter memory of how his last attempt at love played out back when he was a businessman. Finding out she had a boyfriend was so devastating that he subconsciously gave up on dating, altogether. If that were to happen this time, he had no idea how he'd feel. "... Hey," he called out. "What do you know about Tatsumaki and that... Muscle-shirt Captain guy er-... whatever his name is...?"
King and Genos shared a confused glance before the cyborg deciphered who he could be talking about. "... You mean Tanktop Master."
Saitama sneered. "Heh, that's really his hero name...?" He shrugged his shoulders and took another bite. "Guess mine isn't so bad..."
The other two were noticeably confused by his hostile undertone. He definitely had some sort of issue with Tanktop Master that they didn't know about.
"What do you mean?" King asked.
"Hm...? It's just a weird name, right?"
"No," King said, shaking his head. "I mean, what do you mean about him and Tornado? Have you heard something about them possibly dating or something?"
Saitama thought about it for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. "No, not really... They just seem... kinda close, I guess..."
"Strange," Genos muttered. "I never got that impression. In fact, I don't typically see them interact at all."
"Neither did I," King backed him. "I mean, I've seen them speak to one another, but as far as I know, they're... not even really friends."
The bald man thought about it for a long moment as he chewed the last bite of his food. Then, with a shake of his head, he wiped his face clean and stood to his feet. "Mm... Maybe I'm just overthinking it."
Genos immediately shot to his feet when he saw him gathering his emptied plate as if to wash it himself. "Please, Master. Allow me."
"o-Oh... uh, thanks..." Saitama watched him tread his way over to the sink and peeked at the front door a few times with a shifty glance. Behind him, King was already locked back into whatever game he was playing. With a stretch and a yawn, he marched to the door as naturally as possible, hoping no one noticed him...
"Master?" Genos called out just before he reached for the handle.
"... Hm?"
"Where are you going?"
"o-Oh, um... like I said, I've got some... errands to run..."
Genos gave him a stiff nod. "I understand. I shall accompany y-.."
"No!" Saitama cut him off with a shout before reeling it back a bit when they both turned his way. "i-I mean, uh... no. I... I gotta go and do something... alone, though... It's for my... cousin..." They all stared at each other for a long awkward moment before Saitama just turned around and left.
"... He has a cousin?" King asked.
"Urrrrrggghhhhh!" Tatsumaki dramatically groaned. She and her sister were up on the roof of a building, disguised in their civilian clothes. "This is so stupid..."
Fubuki sat hunched over the edge with a set of binoculars up to her face, staring intently at the entrance of Tatsumaki's apartment complex across the street. "No, it's not," she muttered. "He's bound to come out at some point. Just keep watching the helipad."
Tatsumaki didn't seem to be participating in the slightest. She hovered a few feet off the floor of the roof as if she were laying in an invisible hammock. With her powers, she twirled her set of binoculars around in the air to stave off her boredom. "Why couldn't we just wait in my room?"
"Because," Fubuki sighed, "we don't wanna miss him! Here we have a clear sight of his only two exit points."
"Well, why the hell are we even trying to follow him, anyways...!? I don't get this plan at all!"
"We're trying to figure out if he has a daily pattern," she explained for the umpteenth time. "You said he's always leaving, so we're gonna find out where he goes every day."
"Sooo, we're stalking him."
"No, we're n-.."
"This is creepy."
"It's not creepy! We're-.."
"Murderers do this, all the time, ya know."
"Can you stop it, already?" Fubuki said, rolling her eyes. "We're not weird. We're just gonna see where he goes. Make sure he's not like... secretly married or something."
"Pfft, what?" Tatsumaki sputtered. "There's no way."
"Hey, you never know," she shrugged. "Maybe he just keeps his wife and kids away from the public to keep them safe."
"Heh, yeah. And maybe he also secretly wears a bald cap as part of his secret identity."
Fubuki scoffed at the idea before thinking it over. "Keh... You think so? I mean, it'd make more sense than just training so hard it fell out."
"Can we just go back to my room, already!?" Tatsumaki suddenly yelled. "This is stupid!"
"No, we-... Oh! There he is!" she shouted, frantically getting her sister's attention.
With an irritated huff, Tatsumaki slowly glided over and pulled her binoculars up to get a look at where she was pointing. Sure enough, there he was stepping out of the main entrance wearing that lackluster disguise of his; that stupid bucket hat that somehow made him virtually invisible to the river of people walking by.
"Pfft, is that really his disguise?" Fubuki asked. "That's so lazy..."
Tatsumaki didn't reply. She watched him with a curious look. He seemed to be continuously checking over his shoulder as if to make sure no one was following him. She saw King and Demon Cyborg show up at his door through the camera on her doorbell. Were they not going with him to wherever he was going? King, she understood, but his faithful little student was usually glued to his hip. '... Where are you going?' she wondered.
Fubuki turned to her to see her interest was piqued. "... Hmh," she chuckled. "Still wanna bail?"
Tatsumaki had a pensive look. She still didn't like this plan, but... since they'd done all the waiting, it only made sense to follow through, now. "Tch," she scoffed, floating up into the air. "Come on..."
Fubuki smiled and followed after her.
AN: Okay, so now that the chapter is over, did this read well? I feel like I've taken such a long break that my technique might have gotten a little sloppy in some areas. I'm hoping it's just in my head, but if not, you guys know I have no issue fixing a chapter.
Also, I have a few shoutouts today! Two of my readers have taken it upon themselves to create Fancomics of this story, and I absolutely love the creativity!
'bebe-tatsu' and 'Garou4002' Thank you both so much for your amazing work, and I can't wait to see more! If you'd like to check out their work, PM them for a link! Thank you for reading!