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Daily hero work rarely ever took a full day’s amount of hours to finish. Or, maybe it did for other lower or middle ranked heroes, but never for Caped Baldy. Not until today, that is.
It wasn’t that he had faced monsters that could withstand receiving a single punch from him, obviously, it was nothing of the sort. Perhaps, it was more like their numbers refused to decrease. Ever since Elder Centipede’s attack, and utter defeat by the hands of baldy himself which was unpredicted by the enemy but undoubted by Genos and company, monster assaults have been more frequent compared to the last few months, all with groups of numerous capable beings.
Unfortunately for Saitama, having to live right above the cavernous underground lair where almost every monster now resided clearly meant he had higher chances of continuous encounters. Of course, with his fights outside of Z-city also as an inclusion.
Plentiful mysterious beings seen left and right, each more powerful and diverse than the other, Caped Baldy effortlessly met every single one of them with a nonchalant red-gloved punch and his usual unfazed expression. With numbers adding once again every time he turned to a new corner or alleyway, this certain day became even busier than the other ones.
After dealing with the last batches of today’s monster frenzy, Saitama had already lost track of time; barely even batting an eye at the change of scenery surrounding him that had been dark for hours now.
However, now that he had actually acknowledged how late it was, all he wanted was to go home. It didn’t take long before he was finally standing in front of his, almost run-down, apartment.
“Damnit, that stinkin’ mud monster thing got all over my cape..” The hero murmured as he shut the door behind him, checking his clothes to see where else he had been dirtied.
Before Saitama could raise his head, an all too familiar voice had greeted him, “Okaeri, Saitama-sensei!”
“Ah, Genos-kun.. Tadaima.”
After a whole day of hero work, other than occasionally catching a glimpse of each other as they passed from city to city, the two barely interacted. The first face to see once he arrived home was his young disciple and close friend; Saitama could admit, he felt a bit lighter.
“Didn’t realize it was almost midnight, sorry. You eaten dinner yet?” The older male asked as he removed his boots and proceeded into his small home. Pulling off his gloves, he began to head into the bathroom.
“I have not, Sensei. In actuality, I have only just arrived as well, and from the looks of it, I am guessing the reason for our belated return is similar.” The cyborg figured.
“Yeah dude, these monsters are like a rash.” He replied in a half-joking manner, gripping the bathroom doorknob and stepping a foot inside.
Just as Saitama had completely entered, the other male spoke up, “Forgive me, Sensei. Due to my unpunctuality, I was not able to cook us dinner yet.”
Popping his head through the gap, “Genos, we were both busy doing hero stuff, it’s no biggie.”
“Besides,” He added. “Nothing a simple Tamago Kake Gohan wouldn’t fix, right?” Flashing a goofy smile, Saitama finally pulled his head inside and locked the door with a faint ‘click’.
“Yes..” The blond stood there quietly for a moment, before slightly shaking his head with a small smile and started walking to the kitchen to prepare their ready-to-serve meal just in time as the other male finished his bath.
Waiting for the rice to cook, Genos headed to his Sensei’s mini-fridge to grab the dish’s main ingredient: eggs.
Only, to his distaste, find the fridge’s content in a state of which was, how do you put this, rather egg-less.
The cyborg didn’t know if they were either unlucky or just painfully assiduous in their active social occupations that neither of them had noticed their abode’s lack of eggs. Plus the evident fact that it had only been brought to his notice now, when it was already nearing the crack of midnight, was also not helping.
Perhaps it was the latter. Or maybe it was both. Who knows? The blond male paid no heed to that nonsense. What mattered now was to acquire those needed eggs, and he had to get them, fast.
Landing unhurried knocks on the door, he informed the person inside, “Sensei?"
“Hmm?” The hero from the other room questioned as he sat quietly in his bathtub and played with the yellow rubber-duck within his hands.
Receiving an immediate answer, Genos wasted no time, “Apparently, we have run out of eggs. Since there is a nearby convenience store not too far from here, which is luckily in service 24/7, I will take a very quick visit there and buy the missing ingredient for our meal.”
Saitama didn’t think much of it, “Alright, be careful.”
“I will, thank you.”
Hearing no reply, Demon Cyborg exited the apartment and ventured to the said location.
———
“Hey Genos, did you get th—” Huh..?
A solid ten minutes have gone by since the cyborg’s departure, which was also enough time for Saitama to finish bathing. He figured Genos would be back even while he was still soaking in the same place when the former left, and he didn’t believe otherwise, since Saitama knew where the store was located and he trusted when Genos said it was only a “quick” visit.
Well, it really was supposed to be only a quick one since the young male didn’t even go far and it was impossible for the place to be crowded this late into the night.
Yet, presented before Saitama, there was no one.
“Genos?” The hero called out.
No answer.
Sure, he didn’t hear the door open or any signs of a person setting foot inside his home, but he considered the possibility that maybe he was just too immersed in the water that it drowned out the faint sound of said entry.
He thought to himself, Are eggs really that hard to get?
With a small sigh, Saitama nimbly dried himself. In a swift manner, he jumped into a pair of sweatpants, pulled over his usual oppai hoodie, and was out the door in an instant.
In his mind, Caped Baldy prayed to whoever was above that his disciple wasn’t out tussling with monsters in the middle of the fucking night. Much less, hunting for more.
It didn’t take even a minute for him to arrive, even as he only sprinted casually to the destination, it was nothing surprising considering his speed.
As predicted, the place was deserted. He did, however, recognize a figure with a head of spiky blond locks he had been all too acquainted with for him to be mistaken. Which, good for him, was exactly who he came here for.
Why the hell is he just standing there?
As he passed through the automatically-opening glass doors of the store, he called, “Oi Genos, what are y—”
Sentence cut off by the altercation, he paused in his step as the owner of the place argued with a not-so-quiet voice, “And like I told ya boy, ma clock here has already hit midnight when ya reached the counter.”
“And like I have said, for what has been the sixth time now, your clock was set two minutes in advance to the actual timezone. Thus, I can assure you that I picked up these dozen eggs and placed them on your counter at exactly 11:58PM. Which is, as a matter of factly, still Friday.” The blond cyborg rejoindered with a more detailed and non-capitulating tone.
Confused, Saitama placed a hand on the younger male’s shoulder, “Genos, what exactly is happening here? You’ve been out too long, you know.”
“Sensei, could you believe this?” Genos asked and turned to face him. He sure was worked up.
“Believe what?”
“I arrived at this store at approximately 11:45PM, I wasted no time and headed straight to the aisle where the eggs were situated.” He explained thoroughly, keeping eye contact with Saitama.
The latter only looked at him as a signal to continue, “Beside these eggs, a sign was placed with text written in big bold letters that said: ‘EGG DISCOUNT, 10% OFF PER DOZEN, APPLICABLE ONLY UNTIL THIS FRIDAY’. So, I took a carton of dozen eggs and brought them to the counter— quite delighted as I did, might I add, especially since Sensei is always pleased when items are discounted— I was ready to pay and informed this man about the said discount, only for him to tell me that it was not Friday anymore, hence it was no longer applicable.”
“That’s right.” The store owner interrupted.
Genos sent him a glare, then added, “Believe me Sensei, I was two minutes early when I was paying for these dozen eggs. This man is lying, he’s unfairly making us pay full for these eggs even though it was 10% off, what a scam. He can’t even set the time on his filthy clock correctly. Either he lived under a rock his whole life, or he’s just plain stupid.”
Words as sharp as his piercing glare, Genos remained unyielding to the current injustice he was thrown into.
“Listen ‘ere, kid. It’s my store, so what I say goes. And I said, discount’s off. Ya deaf or sumthin’ robot-boy?”
With that remark, Genos almost burnt this guy to a crisp, or even worse; incinerated him into nothingness, and many other intense firepower related attacks that would undeniably lead to a sad death if Saitama had not interfered.
The mentioned man sighed, “Genos, forget the discount. Let’s just pay for its normal price and hurry back, alright?”
Demon Cyborg was confounded. Honestly, anyone would be for that matter. He was even surprised himself, usually he’d be the person so fed up with this asshat. He’d babble on until morning just to get that discount, be it 10% off or even just 5%. He wouldn’t let it go, as shallow as it sounded.
He’d even go as far as giving the seller an ultimatum: “10% off or I don’t buy it at all, which one would you profit from?”
Most of the time it actually worked. Some instances though, they still wouldn’t bug and just waited for another buyer to come forth. Eh, he’ll take what he can get.
In contrast to this, there were also rare occurrences. Just like this one right now, where Saitama was just too frustrated or hungry to give as much as a flying fuck for these lousy bargains. Especially, if they didn’t seem that worth it.
Believe it or not, he was tired, and hungry as hell. It was past midnight for christ’s sake and he hasn’t even had dinner yet. All he wanted was to stuff his stomach full of food and read manga peacefully on his futon, where he sooner or later drifted into slumber. The hero wanted nothing more than to go home, with his disciple, with Genos.
Speaking of Genos, the younger male stared at him for a moment, golden-painted eyes unreadable, before finally paying for the much needed eggs. Not without giving the store-owner the stink eye, though.
The two exited from the store, darkness engulfed them as they began walking side-by-side in comfortable silence, only the sound of gravel crunching beneath their feet along with the continuous noise of crickets in the distance were heard.
“Genos.” Saitama called.
Facing his teacher, he answered, “Sensei?”
“You..” God, just say it already!
“Yes..?”
“You don’t have to do all of this. You do know that, right?” The older hero couldn’t bring himself to face the person beside him yet, so his eyes followed his feet like walking was the most interesting thing in the world.
Puzzled, “I.. I don’t understand—”
“Look,” Saitama cut off. “I’ve accepted you as my disciple, not as my maid nor as my housekeeper. All this stuff.. my nonsense.. it’s not your duty. None of this is, Genos. You’re a hero, and that should be your primary concern.”
Crap, what’s with this sappy shit! He’s gonna think you’re—
“I do.” It was Genos’ turn to cut him off.
“Huh..?”
“I do know, Sensei. Of course I do, but it’s not like I’m forcing myself to do these chores. I want to help you, Sensei, in any way I can. It is my own will.” Genos reassured, moving his gaze to stare at the star-filled night sky in subtle joy as he was once again reminded of how caring his Sensei was.
“I just.. don’t want you to feel obligated to it. You’re young dude, go out and have some fun outside all of this dumb hero shit instead of just.. I don’t know, hanging out with me all the time.” He didn’t know what else to say, to be honest.
“I’d rather you than other people, Sensei.” The cyborg admitted, a small smile tugging his lips.
Then added, “And, you’re also my friend.”
Saitama met his gaze, eyes widened slightly.
“My closest, and only friend, really.” Genos chuckled lightly.
The older male smiled as well, “I see..”
Friend, huh?
Saitama placed his left palm on the blond’s head and ruffled his artificial hair, “I say let’s head home, yeah? I’m starving.”
Genos could only melt into his touch, “Of course..”
“How ‘bout we race? Last one inside is a sore loser, and has to do the dishes.”
“You’re on.” The cyborg could never say no to a challenge.
The moon was full and luminous, it was at its peak, at its brightest. It even seemed like it was watching over them, somewhat, guiding them home. To their home.
———
Oh, would you look at that, Genos had won.
Ok, fine. Saitama let him win, but it’s not what you think!
Let’s just say the hero only wanted to lighten the mood, he never really meant the “loser does the dishes” part. Also, to be fair, even if he did mean it and even if he had arrived first, he still wouldn’t let Genos take up the responsibility after literally just saying earlier that it wasn’t the latter’s duty. And Saitama meant that.
Thankfully, baldy noticed the rice on the stove and turned it off before he had gone out. Hence, they had avoided what would have been a dinner of consuming bitter coffee grounds if it had burnt.
Genos had prepared their meals, but they were individually in charge of adding their desired seasonings. They sat across one another as they ate in a homely quietude on Saitama’s small table. Not missing the simple, swift looks either landed on each other’s figure, though.
After eating a few more servings, the clock had already struck one once the two had finished. Dishes were done, their futons were laid out neatly, and the pair had now changed into their snug sleepwear.
Saitama almost jumped in delight as he made contact with his soft pillow and blanket, Genos then followed after switching the lights off.
Staring up at the ceiling, the cyborg could only entertain himself with the various undying thoughts inside his head. After being separated from his family and having to suffer from devastation at a very young age, he has not felt like this in a long time. The feeling of being safe, secure, along with a congenial warmth constantly embracing him.
After greeting each other goodnight, Genos waited until the man beside him completely fell asleep. Gathering all the courage he wished he had mustered up in their earlier conversation, the cyborg whispered something only known to him. Words only he had felt when it came to the both of them.
Or at least, that’s what Genos thought.