Three men inside of a vacation home. The first one is bald, the second one is naked, and the third one is unconscious, has a broken nose, and is bound in multiple sheets like a cocoon. Don't avert your eyes, reader; this isn't the beginning of a scandalous story or a very risque joke. It is but another chapter in the life of Saitama, who by now was realizing how ludicrous his day-to-day is.
"All done," Puri said with a proud smile and his hands on his hips. "Be at ease, Saitama. This man won't be able to do anything, even wiggle his toes." He promised.
"Apart from you being nude, that was pretty impressive to watch," Saitama admitted. "I didn't think you were into tying knots, Puri. Is that something you've done while in prison?" He asked.
"Oh, no. I'm far too busy with my knitting lessons to study the finer aspects of knot tying." Puri answered before closing his eyes. "Thankfully, I have the most considerate boys who are serving time alongside me. One of the many wonderful things they do is help me keep my hero skills sharp for when I'm back in the field!" He shared.
"..." Saitama looked puzzled. He wasn't sure what that had to do with the topic at hand. "Puri, how does that relate to tying knots?" He questioned.
"Simple. For the longest time, my boys would tie me up every night in sheets, blankets, and sometimes their clothes. So, each morning, I'd have to figure out how to get myself free. Since they knew how strong I was, they ensured my bindings would prevent me from relying on my muscles to brute force the problem. At the risk of sounding braggadocious, I've become a very skilled escape artist. Not even the greatest magicians in the world could free themselves as easily as I can!" Puri explained. Upon hearing that, Saitama's expression became a mixture of shock and concern.
"...Uh...Puri..." Saitama began. "Out of curiosity...how else are your boys helping you?..." He inquired.
"Best make yourself comfortable, Saitama, there's a list!" Puri exclaimed, worsening the pit forming in his leader's stomach. "Firstly, there's combat training. Sure, my boys wouldn't measure up to an actual villain or monster, but they do their best. They're always trying to ambush me in the shower, the yard, and the cafeteria. Sadly, my body is too hard for their sharpened spoons, forks, and combs to pierce. Still, they are thorough. They've aimed for my stomach, all areas of my backside, my neck, my thighs, my sensitive spots, and so on. I encouraged them to aim for more vital locations, like my eyes, and they listened to the letter! That helps me keep my reflexes ready since I need to protect myself properly.
Next up, my senses. My boys don't want my perception of the world to dull while I'm in the clink. So, in addition to the ambushes, they've mixed my food with cleaning supplies and rat poison to see if I could tell what is and isn't safe to eat based on smell. They tried to surprise me while I was sleeping by sneaking into my cell to see if I would hear them or not. They're always carrying their pillows when they do, so that way, if I catch them, they can share my bed with me afterward. As for my sense of touch, my clothes have been laced with a variety of powders and substances that could cause rashes or other forms of damage. Luckily, I'm very attentive with my hands. I can discern even the most subtle of differences between textures and materials, which includes foreign agents.
Lastly, strength training. Whenever I'm working out in the yard, lifting weights and whatnot, my boys will pile on the pounds. They've even wrapped their chains and balls around my neck. To be clear, Saitama, I'm referring to the metal balls meant to slow them down. I promise I'm not trying to tease. Anyway, they do that so they know if I'm ever gripped by some fiend who seeks to snap my neck, I will be fine. My boys will also race me around the yard to help keep my stamina up while throwing things my way to improve my evasiveness." He described. During all of that, there was an innocent smile on his face.
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"Puri, you're staying here for the next two weeks." Saitama decided, making Puri gasp.
"Really?! But this is YOUR vacation!" Puri exclaimed.
"Mhm. I think you've earned it," Saitama said.
"Saitama, you are the absolute sweetest!" Puri cheered, beaming with excitement. "Oh! But if I'm going to stay here, I need to do all I can to make this arrangement comfortable for the two of us. While I have no issues showing you my body, I understand it bothers you. So, if there are any to spare, I promise to keep myself contained within swimming trunks!" He stated.
"Yeah, sure, that's no issue. Metal Knight stocked this place with a lot of extra clothes and stuff. Go upstairs and find the pairs you like the most." Saitama instructed.
"Yes, sir!" Puri replied with a salute before hurrying up to the second floor.
As has been mentioned previously, Saitama had a positive opinion of his fellow S-Class hero. Maybe what Puri-Puri Prisoner needed was someone to help him with his...quirks. Saitama's goal for these two weeks would still be focused on relaxation, but if he could also assist his peer, then he'd be happy to do so. For example, when they got back to the mainland, Saitama was going to have a serious talk with the Association about relocating Puri. If the man weren't such an impressive individual, then S-Class would be short of a hero by now.
"Now, then, what to do with you..." Saitama muttered, turning his attention to the unconscious ninja.
Jack-O-Lantern Panic. There was no denying that this guy wanted Saitama dead. But between him and Puri, there was no way this ninja would cause any harm. Even so, the men would need to keep a close eye on him.
"...Eh, we'll figure it out later. It's not like he's waking up anytime soon," Saitama reasoned before heading outside. Now that things were settled, he wanted to start enjoying his vacation. What better way to do that than to soak up some rays while lying next to the ocean waves?
Meanwhile, In Child Emperor's Laboratory..
Nervous. That was an emotion Tatsumaki hadn't experienced in a long time. Or, if she had, it wasn't this intense. The only other part of her life where she felt such trepidation was during her childhood, which she DESPISED being reminded of.
Isamu was hastily but thoroughly studying the results of the tests he conducted. Brains scans, bloodwork, hands-on examinations, etc. No stone was left unturned in the search for answers. After confirming with Tatsumaki that she couldn't use her ESP, he became as desperate as her to understand why.
This period lasted for about half an hour. Isamu made sure to contact King and the others to give them a story. He said everything with Tatsumaki was fine and that he was just getting some extra work done before rejoining the group. Isamu had some of his bots in the field go about their assigned tasks, making the fib more believable.
"..." Slowly, Isamu turned his chair around and looked at his colleague. "Tornado, I'm sorry, but the issue at hand isn't something that I can fix." He said.
"What?! How?!" Tatsumaki questioned.
"Everything is fine. There's no damage or alteration to your brain. You're not afflicted with a disease or something similar. Physically, you're perfect." Isamu told her.
"But...I...THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE!" Tatsumaki shouted. "What about chemicals? Maybe I caught something from the asteroid." She suggested.
"If you did, then it is affecting you in such an incredibly subtle way that none of my machines can detect it, which would be nearly impossible," Isamu explained.
"NEARLY! So, there IS a chance!" Tatsumaki exclaimed.
"Tornado, listen," Isamu began. "There are two theories that make the most sense as to what is going on. Firstly, we don't know what the cause of today's disaster was. Our current line of thinking is that this was an attack, which, if true, means there is an unknown entity of immense power that is probably going to try something like this again. Whether or not the target was meant to be One Punch Man or it was just a random opening move, we can't determine that at this time. However, if everything that's transpired is because of a sentient being, then they may have done something to you to suppress your powers. If this is the case, then whatever's been done goes beyond my knowledge and the tools I have. I'd basically have to start guessing and making random inventions to try and perceive what's going on.
Then, there is the second theory. As I said, physically, you're fine. There is nothing wrong with your brain or other parts of your body. Yet, psychologically, there could be damage that even you're not aware of. Before you get angry and scream at me, just consider what I'm about to say. Plenty of people in the world do not have a dedicated phobia. Sure, they can be scared by things, but there isn't a crippling anxiety that brings them to a full stop. However, should these people experience something traumatic or have a life-or-death moment, that can change. For instance, most people don't view dogs as something to be wary of. But if a dog nearly kills them or causes them severe harm, then their perception changes. At the very least, they'll now be hesitant around dogs as their minds will always go back to that harrowing encounter. Things of this nature are both conscious and subconscious, as in a person can be aware of this or it could be something the mind is doing automatically for self-preservation. What if the latter is what's happening to you? You pushed yourself to your absolute limit, Tornado. To the point that you were injured, bleeding, and blacked out. If an outside interference isn't the reason behind your ESP not working, then it could be your body being hesitant to use your powers again as it doesn't want to hurt itself." He stated.
As Isamu spoke, Tatsumaki's expression changed. It went from curious and attentive to displeasure and annoyance. Honestly, he wasn't surprised.
"Are you implying that I'm scared?" Tatsumaki asked with a furrowed brow and a low tone of voice. "Me, of ALL people?" She added.
"Tornado, I'm not saying you are frightened, only that your body might be." Isamu answered.
"Why?! I've been through worse! I've taken some hits here and there! Sure, it's rare, but it HAS happened!" Tatsumaki exclaimed.
"Do you really want me to dive into all of the particulars about psychology and the human mind?" Isamu challenged with a half-lidded gaze. He understood this was rough for her, but he wasn't about to indulge her usual hot-headedness.
"Look here, squirt," Tatsumaki started as she got closer to him. Yup, as he expected, she was trying to be intimidating. "I've had rougher experiences than that asteroid. I don't care if YOU think I'm somehow restraining myself because of some ridiculous reasoning. You said that I COULD be inflicted with something that you haven't discovered yet or that it could be something entirely new to us. I'm telling you that it IS one of those two because getting a little boo-boo isn't enough to make my powers go away. So, what YOU need to do is work on finding out the problem and solving it. Got it?" She ordered while pointing at him.
Isamu sympathized with Tatsumaki. He did. She and many other heroes, a lot of them in S-Class, viewed their abilities, skills, talents, and strengths as core parts of their identity. Take even just one away, and it's like you were removing an integral aspect of who they were as people.
Still, Isamu wasn't going to accept belittlement. That was something he's dealt with his whole life. "You're just a kid." "Prodigy or not, you don't know what you're talking about." "That's nice, Isamu, but let the adults handle it, okay?"
Even as a hero, Isamu couldn't escape that treatment. "Child Emperor". Wow. Gee. Thanks, guys. You couldn't think of something cool? Something that represented his intellect and resourcefulness? It just HAD to include the fact he's a kid, which wasn't going to make sense after enough time had passed! Seriously, would anyone treat him with respect?!
Yes, someone did. One Punch Man. At times like this, Isamu thought of his hero. One Punch Man only looked down on him in the literal sense due to a difference in height. But every single time the two had a conversation, Isamu felt seen. Heard. Acknowledged. He wasn't just a genius who solved problems or a kid who needed to learn; he was an S-Class hero, the same as the world's strongest. So, with all that in mind, how would One Punch Man deal with the fiery Esper?
"...Okay, Tornado," Isamu sighed with slumped shoulders. "I'll need a few days, possibly a week, to do a bunch of blind tests to see if I can't figure out what's wrong." He said, turning back around to face his computer console. "However, you'll need to come up with an excuse for why you're not pitching in with the City Z repairs," He added.
"Pfft, that's easy. I'll just say that you want me to take it easy for a while. Nobody will challenge that, so long as you back me up," Tatsumaki suggested.
"Yeah, sure, I'll be your partner in crime," Isamu agreed, sounding as disinterested as he could.
"Good. Now, I'm going to head out and find Fubuki. She probably wants to know how I'm doing, and once that's handled, I'll go up to my room and keep out of everyone's way." Tatsumaki decided before leaving.
While Tatsumaki busied herself with her sister, Isamu focused solely on the real priority, which was the ruined city. He hoped that as the week progressed, she'd accept the truth. Yet, if Tatsumaki remained firm that Isamu was the one at fault, he might need to contact One Punch Man for advice. He didn't want to disturb him during his vacation, but even prodigies have a limit to their patience.
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A low groan filled the air, sounding exhausted. It traveled a fair distance, indicating that the surrounding environment was spacious. As the moan's owner regained consciousness, it tried to study where it was. Sadly, there was an unending darkness in all directions. The only discernable detail was the cold, metal-feeling ground.
"Wha...What...happened?..." The voice spoke, weak and weary. "I...I was...where was I?..." It continued. "I...I think...I remember...the ocean...there was also...a beach...yes...I remember sand..." It described.
"Ah, so you were still cognitively present during your transformed state. Thank you for the confirmation."
That was a different voice. Upon hearing that, the owner of the first one turned and twisted its head in every direction. Of course, that was pointless due to the lack of vision.
"W-Who's there?!" The initial voice asked. "Is...Is it you?" He whispered.
"You? You who?" The second voice questioned.
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"No, you're not," The first voice determined. "You'd be taunting me, making a mockery of my power and status." It reasoned.
"I repeat. Who?" The second voice pressed.
"What's going on here?!" The first voice inquired, ignoring the interrogation. "How much time has passed?! Where have I been taken?! How am I back to-"
CLICK
Instantly, everything was illuminated. The endless darkness was revealed to be a massive white room. And there, standing in the middle of it, was the owner of the first voice. The Deep Sea King.
"You are in a facility. What kind, I will not say," The second voice revealed, coming from all directions.
"Who are you?!" The Deep Sea King roared, rage rapidly rising. "Are you with them?!" He added.
"You, them, you're awfully vague," The second voice commented, sounding relaxed. "I will not provide any context or clarity. You have to earn such privileges. Instead, I'll be sharing with you the purpose of your presence here." It stated.
"Purpose? You intend to use me for something?!" The Deep Sea King questioned.
"Of course. It'd be a waste of our time and resources if we resurrected you and didn't get something out of it." The second voice replied.
"We? So, there's more than-"
FWISHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Suddenly, from behind, a blade of magma pierced through the Deep Sea King's torso. The blow forced all of the air out of his lungs, preventing him from making any noise. The burning and melting of his internal organs kept him from doing anything else.
"While you're still alive, I'll say what I need to," The second voice resumed speaking. "Currently, I am needed elsewhere due to an emergency. However, when I received notice from my machines that your regeneration was complete, I contacted someone at the location to bring you to this room. Until I am able to return, he's going to keep you company. As for your impending death, don't worry; all he needs to do is take you back to where we revived you, wait for the process to complete again, and then bring you back here as much as he wants. If he gets bored, he'll leave you alone, but I don't see that happening after what you did. So, have fun. We'll talk more later." It told him before going silent.
"I always wondered what you would smell like when cooked over an open flame," The Subterranean King whispered, bringing his face closer to the Deep Sea King's ear. "Luckily, I know many recipes and ways to prepare a fish. I promise to show you all of them." He said.