Chapter Text
Saitama couldn’t believe his eyes.
He’d been standing in front of his bathroom mirror for the last five minutes trying to working out if perhaps he was still dreaming or maybe just imagining things. But there it was, just barely visible to the eye infact Saitama himself had to lean in close to the mirror to see.
The shortest stubble on his scalp.
Saitama gingerly touched it and sure enough instead of the smooth skin that he was used to his hand was meet with a prickly texture. At that he grinned widely to himself.
“G-Genos!” He cried dashing down the hallway.
Saitama could see Genos was already sitting up in his futon on full alert at the sound of his name, but he was too excited as he crashed down onto his knees in front of the cyborg and pushed his head right up into Genos’s face.
“Look! Look!”
He eagerly pointed to his own head. There was a silence in the room as Saitama let Genos take in the situation. He heard a small hum from Genos and then two hands gently placed on the side of his head pulling him just a fraction closer.
“Sensei your hair is growing back.” Genos stated as he slowly shifted Saitama’s head around to view it at. “How did this happen?”
Saitama looked up. He hadn’t really had a chance think think about it and if he was honest to himself he doesn’t really care that much. Weirder things have happened.
“No idea.”
Genos sat back musing a bit. “Do you feel any different? Do you feel sick?”
“No. Everything feels fine.” Saitama pouted a little. He didn’t understand why Genos was so determined to take all of the fun out of his new discovery.
Genos must have noticed as he quickly changed gears. “If you feel okay Sensei then we should celebrate. I can buy some ingredients for dinner tonight.” He paused. “And you won’t need anymore kombu.”
“Hey! I’ve only just started getting my hair back and you’re already making comments.” Saitama protested as he poked a finger at Genos’s chest. “But dinner sounds good and I think there is also a sale on today so I’ll come with.”
Genos smiled and nodded. “I’ll get ready then.”
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It had been a week since Saitama’s hair started growing back and nothing else in his life seemed to have changed. He had punched a couple of monsters into oblivion but part of his disappointment was softened just a little anytime he touched his head. His hair had been growing pretty quickly he thought touching it as he read one of his mangas. It was only a few millimetres but it felt quicker than it normally should. Saitama wasn’t sure though as it had been such a long time since he’s had to grow it out.
“Oi Genos. Do you think my hair has been growing fast?”
Genos looked up from the dishes he was drying. “Hmmm… I think it is Sensei.” He brings a hand up to his face and and furrows his eyebrows as if he’s thinking too hard. “You are truly remarkable in every way Saitama-Sensei so I would expect all parts of you to be exceptional.”
Saitama felt his face going hot. He couldn’t understand why Genos’s compliments got under his skin so much. “You better not say embarrassing things like that when King comes over!”
As if on cue there was a knock on the front door.
Saitama got up quickly and welcomed the distraction. Opening the door he saw many more familiar faces than he had been expecting.
“I’m sorry I bumped into them on the way over and I couldn’t convince them to go.” King hung his head a little bit as he looked over his shoulder at Fubuki and Bang and then back at Saitama. He stopped for a second and squinted. “You look different.”
“He’s no longer the Caped Baldy.” Fubuki laughed to herself over King’s shoulder.
With that Saitama ushered everyone in. “If we’re going to make fun of me I may as well be inside and comfortable. King did you remember to bring the game?”
King strode past and nodded, bring the game case out of his bag and flashing it quickly towards Saitama. Fubuki followed with Bang close behind giving Saitama a polite nod as he passed. Genos was in the living room trying to usher everyone around so that there was enough space in the already cramped room.
Saitama settled down into the empty space next to King right in front of the tv. He noticed Genos quickly disappear into the kitchen. “Genos why don’t you join us?”
Genos nodded quickly and turned the kettle on. “I’ll just prepare some tea for everybody first.”
The room soon filled up with noise from the video game that King had brought over, a new version of a fighting game that he wouldn’t stop telling Saitama about. He was determined to finally kick King’s ass in this game. It didn’t take long until he realised that was not going to happen. He could hear Bang and Fubuki quietly talking amongst themselves about if he was that bad on purpose, which was incredibly frustrating.
“Argh!” Saitama threw down the controller before he got mad enough to snap it in two. Again.
Genos came in with the tea and Saitama seized the opportunity to declare a break. He looked at King who nodded agreeingly probably so that he could actually take his console home in one piece. Saitama quickly swivelled around to the table and took one of the cups from the middle that Genos had already poured.
The room went silent then as everyone sipped on their tea and Genos sat down in his overly formal seiza style next to Saitama.
“So Saitama decided to change your look?” Bang spoke up first.
Saitama shook his head. “No it just started to grow back last week out of nowhere.”
“Oh.” Band looked a bit surprised. “I thought you went for that look on purpose. It did seem like an odd decision…”
“My offer still stands about joining the Fubuki group. Now with hair you’ll fit in much better as well.” Fubuki grinned and glanced over to Genos who was now quietly glaring at her.
“Sensei is not interested in joining your stupid and immature group.” Genos had an almost threatening tone to his words as he tensed up.
Saitama needed to defuse the situation before they started a fight right in his home and destroyed everything. He placed his hand on Genos’s shoulder and felt his disciple relax a little into his touch. “Fubuki you know I’m a hero for fun and joining your group sounds like too much hard work.
“W-Well S-Saitama...” King stuttered a bit. Saitama was pretty sure everyone else could also hear the man’s heart beating in his chest. “You will need a new h-hero name soon.”
Saitama tapped his chin a bit thinking about it. Finally he could rid himself of that embarrassing title but before he could think up a new one Fubuki spoke up.
“How about Prickly Prince?”
“Hmmm… I think Captain Crew Cut might suit in better.” Bang suggested with a smirk.
“W-What about Stubble Lord?” King added nervously.
Saitama frowned at all of these suggestions. His attention was then brought to Genos who had shot up beside him, standing with his hands balled into fists beside him shaking a little.
“All of you have to leave now. I will not allow such disrespect of my Sensei happen under his own roof.” He started to quickly usher everyone out.
“Well it was getting late anyway.” Bang resigned getting up and started to make his way down the hall.
King got up and turned to Saitama. “You can borrow my game until I come over again so you can practice the new controls.” Then he quickly walked down the hallway nodding as he passed Genos while trying to avoid any eye contact.
Fubuki left without saying a word but made sure to give Genos a cheeky wink as she passed by him earning her a scowl.
Once everyone had left Saitama walked up to Genos and tapped him lightly on the head and seemingly snapped him out of his foul mood. “Genos thanks for standing up for me but sometimes you maybe get a bit too defensive.”
“I’m sorry Sensei. I will remember to restrain myself next time.” He glanced down looking looking a little ashamed. It made Saitama feel a little guilty.
“Hey look no harm done. I’ll prepare dinner tonight and you should relax or study or whatever it is you do in your down time.” Saitama patted him on the shoulder lightly and Genos looked up at him giving him the smallest smile.
“Yes Saitama-Sensei.” He said quietly and then quickly went down the hallway and pulled out one of his notebooks, immediately writing down his new revelations.
Saitama sighed at the sight and quietly plodded into the kitchen. He gathered ingredients to make curry and thought about what everyone had said today. Despite them making fun of them he was kind of interested to see if his hero status would change now.
Would his hair growing back really change much?