Chapter Text
Those two first met- by chance- when somehow, Shigeo Kageyama somehow got lost on his way home from school.
(Which, really, shouldn't have happened in the first place.)
That, by in itself, was a large problem since Shigeo realized three things.
One, this isn't familiar territory.
Two, Reigen (his mentor, silver-tongued boss, a good man who is also a conman and most definently not a psychic- well, at least until at the more recent times...) had allowed him a two hour gap to get from his school to the city due to recent studies, which really- really didn't help.
And three-
-there was what Shigeo can't help but realize was a large monster attacking the city and he is not sure whether it's the real thing or not-
-okay, maybe that big bellowing rock that's about to be flung his way is also something that should've been an indicator that he's in the absolutely wrong city at the worst time.
Great. Shigeo mentally sighs to himself, allowing himself to breathe before lifting up one of his hands to stop that huge as hell rubble that's about to take him out (Oh, he's dealt with much... much worse. Worse than that monster that's rampaging the city right now. This is just- yeah, no, this is something that's easy to deflect), Should I break this apart or shield myself-
"WATCH OUT, YOU STUPID BRAT!"
-apparently neither were on the choices list now since he felt a body suddenly flinging itself towards him, away from the large rock that was about to hit Shigeo- well, this was after Shigeo used most of his concentration to immediately set up a barrier for the city- and then hears the roar of one very pissed off monster that's screaming its head off over why can't he destroy this city to pieces like building bricks, damnit.
Oh.
So... not an evil spirit then?
Wait, that's not even the problem!
"W-What-" Shigeo manages to open his eyes in bafflement before hearing someone say to stay put, he'll deal with him later before dashing off towards said now infuriating monster.
The gasps and cries of other people were heard before seeing the monster vanish in just one punch-
Shigeo's eyes widen, gawking at the fact that someone can do that with just-
-so, wait, no psychic abilities? No esper attacks, no- no, just-
What did this guy do!? The normally deadpan thirteen year old, for once, is just shocked at seeing sheer strength used against a huge abysmal size of a monster (that Shigeo could just take out, if given the time and energy).
Shigeo is still staring at the man over one other thing- wait, didn't he just erect a barrier to shield himself and the city- at least the parts where he knew- were going to be damaged!? How did this guy walk through it all??
He is still gaping at the man who then manages to land safely on the ground, white cape in slight tatters, his yellow outfit having some rubble, dust stains and a few tears here and there, red gloves that could be stained with some dark liquid that could be blood (or it could be some sort of the remains from the monster), before glaring at Shigeo, who just can't help but freeze (and yes, he's gotten that from the majority of the people who were murmuring about how Caped Baldy saved that child's life, thank God, what was that kid thinking...). ...though this guy is walking towards him, that look of disapproval on his face as if he's about to be scolded.
Yes, despite his blank stare, the esper is just shocked that... yeah, what's the deal with this strange guy? Shigeo is too used to these things- well, more like from evil spirits and people with worse inner turmoil and issues than he has. ...but from this guy-
"Are you insane!? You could've gotten yourself harmed by that large rubble- no, that monster! What were you thinking?"
-ah, so, he doesn't know about Shigeo's abilities.
...yet.
"Um." Yet this was all he can respond to the strange man, blinking back up at him. The man stares at him before giving out some exasperated sigh, rubbing the back of his head.
"Just- don't do that again, will you? You're going to make your parents worry one of these days." The man shakes his head in slight disbelief before grumbling, "Well, there went that monster. Might as well let that Association know about this..."
And Ritsu, Shigeo mentally tacks on, And Reigen and all of the others...
"...your name." Shigeo just responds, causing the man to stare at him, stopping at whatever thought track was in his mind.
"...eh?"
"What's your name?" If whispers about 'Caped Baldy' are to be this man's name, then Shigeo wasn't going to buy it.
What self-respecting adult calls himself by some ridiculous name or title? ...then again, who does that around here?
(Much to his surprise- and absolute bafflement- people around here do. ...and he thought the Claw members were insane.)
"Ah, it's Saitama." The bald hero blinks, seeing the young boy stare at him with some awe, "...I'm a hero."
"Oh." Well. That explained that strange get-up. "Thanks for saving me." Then his smile creeps in, a small one that he can't help but give to this man for saving his life at the last moment, "...Shigeo."
"Shigeo?"
"My name." He knows this man's not dangerous, no, not to the man who saved his life just now. He carefully extends his hand, to show politeness and respect for his elder, "...nice to meet you."
Well.
This was a surprise. (For Saitama.)
"The same." The man shakes his hand carefully in turn, Shigeo can tell he's holding back a lot just to shake his hand, "Ah, wait, are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine." Shigeo shakes his head before pausing, "Oh, can you tell me where I am?"
"Wha... what?" Saitama stares at the boy with such surprise, "Wait a sec, you don't know you're in E-City?" He sees the boy shake his head, genuine confusion written all over his eyes before the hero sighs, shaking his head before glancing around to see the damage done to the city-
-the damage done... wait, what damage?
Well, for one, the city isn't wrecked, but usually his cape would-
-cape!?
"Gah- my...!" Saitama stops himself from cursing in front of a kid, no less, but he did recall that the monster had tried to use the white cape as some sort of pseudo handkerchief, but it pissed Saitama off to no end and then his cape got shredded into pieces-
-fuck! How much was this going to cost to maintain this!? Or fix it, rather-
"Your cape." The boy's quiet tone as he also surveys the torn fabric that's now flapping as Saitama glances to him, "...it's shredded. Like a koinobori*."
Saitama can feel a vein pop over that reference, "I- wait a sec, you're calling me a flagpole now, you-"
"I can fix it up for you."
His eyes widen, seeing this familiar energy trail before seeing his cape slowly being sown back together.
...wait, that energy-
-wait a sec, he's felt this before.
Is this kid like Fubuki? His eyes sharpen.
"But that... means..." Saitama's voice trails off, seeing the white fabric piece back itself together, floating like feathers joining back to its original form, stitching reattaching each other, rubble all but forgotten as the cape suddenly looks good as new- just as if the cape was never damaged to begin with. His eyes widen, trailing the glance towards the young boy, whose concentration is purely on fixing the hero's white cape. "...you-"
"I'm an esper." Shigeo smiles, finalizing the fixings on Saitama's cape before he gives the man a small smile, surprise written on the hero's face, "I don't like using my powers against other people."
"You... wait, an esper? Not a psychic?" He knows Fubuki is one, her... bratty older sister is one, but an eight-grader!? Something clearly isn't right with this picture and well, Saitama is more than baffled, "Wait, kid, how- how old are you!?"
"Thirteen. I'll be fourteen soon." Okay, blunt to the point, Saitama blinks as Shigeo continues, "I'm in middle school, but I got lost getting to my workplace on the way, so I would like it if you helped me find my way towards this one district to this office-"
"Whoa, whoa, stop right there!" Saitama was instantly still on the fact he's- "Thirteen!? And you can use esper powers!? But- how-"
"I just naturally got it," Shigeo frowns a bit, seeing how baffled this man is, "...you're not used to it, are you."
"No...? Well, I know they exist, but I can only think that... do you know of the Blizzard Group?"
Silence. Then with a confused stare, "...huh? Is that a name of some mafia group?"
(Saitama would've loved to laugh at that. Really. But the way Shigeo- right? That was the kid's name? Yeah, he got it right! ...wait, he doesn't know that Fubuki exists!?)
"Um. Okay, what about Tatsumaki?" Because everyone had to know that brat, right? Even the underground are scared to hell pissing her off!
...again, the blank stare before a more confused, "Who?"
Saitama gives up, going back to the first thought that this kid doesn't know where he really is, "...never mind. You... really have no idea where you are."
Shigeo shakes his head, causing the hero to let out a huff before glancing over to see the city being back to its bustling self, unharmed, back to normal, though he can see people glancing and pointing at him, saying that it's Caped Baldy, wait a sec, did he just save this kid's life-
But that's not important.
...maybe he should help this kid geto back where he needs to be.
It's not like he can ask anyone else- Genos is too busy with an S-Class meeting (which King is there at too), Mumen is busy with his duties; Fubuki and her group are... yeah, minding their own business and Bang's too busy with his dojo.
So, it's all on him, huh?
He lets out a small sigh, shaking his head before glancing at the boy, "...argh, this is a bit annoying. Where's the office you're supposed to be at, brat?"
What made Shigeo realize Saitama is a good man was from the small smile that appeared on the bald man's face, "Well, I was supposed to head towards this city..."
By the time they walked through the city Shigeo was supposed to be at, the two manage to know each other really well- to the point that Saitama ordered two drinks for them at a local convenience store on the way (one coffee, one juice).
In reality: Shigeo was the first to tell Saitama about how he was able to erect a psychic barrier to avoid any damages to fly towards the city. Then it involves into him asking Saitama why he became a hero, to which the latter responded by doing it for fun. Then it involved to him asking Shigeo about his hobbies, to which the boy responds he only goes to his job, to which Saitama was surprised to hear this-
"You- a part time job?" Isn't that against labor laws? "...wait a sec, are you even allowed to do that?
"It isn't bad," Shigeo counters lightly, "I just like it. When I don't have club, that is."
Still, though- Saitama doesn't get it, so instead he just goes for, "Why?"
"Well, my mentor helps me control my powers... though he does call me for some job, here and there," Shigeo knows Reigen isnt exactly the most moral of all people- but there is an overwhelmed sense that he's protected by the man, "...but he's still a good person. Despite what people say about him." The young esper knows about the fact that Reigen Arataka is not a psychic- he just helps Shigeo time to time. And really, he doesn't mind.
"Ehh..." Saitama takes a small drink from his coffee (no way in hell was he going to let Shigeo drink caffeine this early), "So what does he do for a living?"
"Consulting people about ghosts and spirits and exorcising them."
Thank God nobody else was on the sidewalk- otherwise, they would've been caught in the midst of Satiama nearly spitting out his coffee before letting out a baffled, "EEH!?"
"You don't know about the spirits?" Shigeo blinks as if this was completely normal for him, "I mean, you were fine with those monsters-"
"Monsters and those freaks of the week are different compared to- spirits and ghosts!?" The hero was really baffled before he groans, muttering to himself, "Shit. I've just gotten round up in another difficult situation, haven't I?"
"Well, do you see any spirits?"
Saitama stops himself before shaking his head furiously.
Shigeo smiles a bit, "That's good."
"That's- and you deal with them instead while this Reigen guy sits back and enjoys while you do the work!? This Reigen treats you like a frigging servant more than a helper!" The hero balks in alarm, knowing pretty damn well he's seen it with the Blizzard Group- Fubuki is the worst at this sort of thing, but still! "I mean- no offense and all-"
"It's fine, really," Shigeo shrugs before looking at the streets, "If nobody is going to take care of them while others are busy, who will?"
Saitama stops, seeing the middle schooler look at the sky, "...what do you mean by that?"
"It's something I've asked myself a few times," The bowl-shaped haircut esper muses as he holds onto his drink a bit tighter, "Those spirits could be taken away by onmyoujis, psychics, and anyone else who can see them. But... powers aren't everything. My powers aren't." He hears the hero walk closer, "...I don't like it. I don't like my esper powers. It hurts people."
"So- why do you use them? Can't they just- go away?"
Shigeo shakes his head, "They don't. ...does your strength go away?"
Saitama pauses before looking down at his gloved hand- the one that doesn't have the coffee on him- and shakes his head, "...point taken. Do you hate using your powers because they hurt people?" He sees the furious nod, "But you helped a city earlier. You could be a hero."
"...not where I'm from."
Saitama's eyes widen a bit, glancing to Shigeo for a more detailed explanation, "What do you mean?"
"From where I live... I avoid people since I know I cause more danger. I know my abilties are used to... save people, but I know I hurt more people. I don't know if I overstep my limits- if I am going to kill people one day. My brother- he wants to have them, he has them now, but..." He looks down at his hands, "...I envy him. I want to be like him. Or... I wanted to."
"Wanted to?"
Shigeo nods, recalling how relieved his brother Ritsu was- yet it was at the worst time- the CLAW kidnapped Ritsu and took him to a facility (just because of mistaken identity), "...he wanted to be like me. ...but that's not what I wanted. I just want to be normal. Like... have a regular middle school experience- tell the girl I have feelings for her. To... to be normal."
To be accepted.
Saitama's eyes turn serious, hearing what Shigeo was saying, He... he is like me. Only-
"Shigeo," Saitama looks away to the skies himself, "If you wanted something, then you will have to earn it the hard way. It's not easy- trying to go back to normal with your abilities."
"I know." Shigeo murmurs quietly, "I can't- I can't stop being an esper."
"So what are you going to do at this point on? Aside your studies, going to school... everything you should be doing." The hero is actually concerned for the child- despite them knowing each other for a few hours, it feels like they know each other for few weeks.
I don't want Shigeo to end up like me, Saitama gently muses, gripping his fist before taking another swing of his coffee-
Shigeo turns, a new determination in his eyes as he faces to the hero, "I want to be strong- like you!"
Cue another spit-take from his coffee before Saitama hacks off in mortification-
"W-Wait- sorry- Like-WHAT!?" Saitama stares at the kid with some bafflement, "You- wanted- ehhh!? Are you kidding me!?"
"I'm not!"
"But- I... I arrrgggghhhh, kid, trust me, you don't want to do that!" So maybe that somewhat backfired- Saitama was about to say that Shigeo should try to embrace his abilities, use them when needed, control them with whatever means necessary, make it a part of him-
-and it somehow- as it always has been in this hero's life-
-ended up like this.
God... fucking damn it, WHY does this happen to ME!?
"...Why not?" Shigeo doesn't go into theatrics, just confused and really lost at the man's reaction, "You are really powerful."
"Shigeo, are you sure you want to be- like me!?"
A nod, "Is that so wrong?"
"Well- yes!"
"Why??"
Holy hell, he also gets the most persistent ones. (Just his bleeping luck.)
Saitama pauses before sighing, "It... It really sucks."
Shigeo look at him in surprise, "Eh? You- You don't like being strong?"
"It's... well, how can I put it like this?" The hero scratches the back of his head, "It's really- really boring. I defeat things in one punch, but nothing ever puts up as a challenge. I mean... there were several other monsters that are showing up where I live, but now... it's not that thrilling, being the strongest. Heck, I can't even tell that to my own student!"
"A- you have a student?"
"Yeah. An S-Class hero- Genos. ...Demon Cyborg?" He sees the boy shaking his head with a confused look, "Ah. Right. You don't live at my area. ...but point is, there are much more better ways to get strong- I've told that brat how I got strong and he still swears there's another way I got to this point! I just... I don't think there's a point to letting that stubborn brat know I got strong through a strength training regiment for three years." He blinks, not hearing any stifling laughter or unconvinced denials- and just sees Shigeo look at him with a different look- one of concern, "...what, pitying me now?"
"No."
"Then what are you-"
"I believe you." His eyes widen, glancing down to see Shigeo intent to listen, "I mean- you don't show any sort of weird aura or power. Or anything esper or psychic related. It's... all you. You got there by your own strength and spirit." A smaller- genuine and admired smile appears on Shigeo's face, "I want to be like that."
Saitama turns to face Shigeo, surprised that someone didn't mock him- aside King, but King's a different matter, or question if there was something absolutely more like Genos- God, that brat isn't going to listen, is he? And then there are the others, along with the public, who call him with different names rather than ones of thankfulness, admiration, everything the heros in S-Class and A-Class get (but not him- and he knows that)...
...then there's this kid, who wants to be like him, to possess that courageous spirit and-
-and maybe... maybe he can help Shigeo achieve it- but warning him about the consequences of being at the very top, making sure he doesn't make the absolute same mistakes he did three years ago.
(And he doesn't know but there are things he learns from Shigeo himself.)
"Are you sure?" Saitama hears himself question the boy, "...that you want to be like- me?"
"Well, minus the lifeless look on your eyes. And your bald head."
Saitama feels a slight tick as a sudden annoyed smirk appears on his face, "...why I outta-"
"But you're different, and I like you." Shigeo continues, immediately calming Saitama down, "Thanks for saving me, Saitama-san. You really are like those heroes I like to watch."
The hero blinks for a bit before smiling back- for once, a part of him happy that he might have someone who knows what he really wants- someone to recognize him for what he does. No fans, no letters of admiration- none of the buttering up, nothing of the sort.
And he gets that from one little esper who he isn't afraid to talk to.
"No... problem."
(Yet this man is oblivious to notice the people he talks to on an everyday basis do the same thinking as Shigeo.)
"Say, Shigeo, how far are we to your office?"
"Ah! ....yeah, let's go!"
"...Hey, Shigeo."
The boy looks to see Saitama give him a small grin, "...hm?"
They were in front of the work area Shigeo 'works'- Saitama mentally keeps that in mind- maybe he'll pay this place a visit one day.
"Thanks. ...for listening."
Shigeo blinks before he smiles to the hero, "No. Thank you... for saving and listening. To me." A pause before he grins, "...maybe we should talk again."
Saitama stops, turning to see the boy walk up to him, cellphone at hand, "...eh?"
"Can I have your number?" The hero was about to ask why when Shigeo reiterates, "So that we can meet up and talk again."
Saitama pauses, mentally racking his head whether or not this is a good idea.
...for some reason, this situation doesn't sound possible, but having to rely on a more mature child to talk to just... it sees like a sad attempt to reach out and at least talk to someone else that isn't a hero, who isn't familiar with the Heroes Association, but it did give Saitama a lighter shoulder after talking about his inner turmoil to Shigeo.
Saitama nods, eyes softening a bit as he realizes that maybe he can help this kid get a brighter future- a better road, at least. So he doesn't end up like him, "Sure."
Shigeo's eyes brightens up, for the first time before he nods, the two exchanging numbers, "Saitama-san, you'll be able to find someone that can help you. I don't know how much, but I can try to listen."
"The same, kid," The hero chuckles, patting Shigeo's lithe shoulders, "But do me a favor, try not to exert too much stress to people. It's not good. Everything will be okay. Right?"
That makes the young esper brighten up a bit more- nobody's told that to him.
The huge grin on Saitama's face really exudes courage, strength, determination.
And Saitama-san's really a nice guy- so no problems there, right?
"Okay!"
"That man..." Shigeo murmurs to himself, recalling how powerful the punch Saitama delievered, all on one strike, sending the monster that he could've taken down on his own down to its demise. What amazed him was the amount of restraint the man took to not crush his hand- gentle, kind against the look of... loneliness? "...no wonder he looked so surprised."
"...the hell? Mob, you look strange."
Shigeo blinks, looking to see Reigen Arataka staring at him with absolute confusion written all of his face, "...huh?"
"You look- happy, for some reason." His mentor frowns a bit, "Did... something happen at school?"
"Oh." The esper pauses, recalling the lonely bald man with the white cape, him saving his life, the talk on the way to the office, and then... wow, has time passed that quick? He shakes his head, the smile still there, "No. The usual- no club today."
"Uh... huh." Reigen isn't convinced, setting the newspaper down a bit to see his pupil take the seat at the couch, "...just, hey, Mob?"
"Hm?"
"If something happens," The dark-blonde man is concerned- wait, did something happen at school Mob isn't telling him about? Does that protective-as hell brother know anything about this? He makes a mental note to call him later, "Try to tell me at least once in a while, okay?"
That, and oh god, he doesn't want another explosion from Shigeo's end.
(Nobody would.)
"Ah, okay." Shigeo nods before pausing, seeing Reigen's cellphone at hand, "So... did we get a job? Wait, where's Ekubo?"
And then it's back to business- the new job at hand as Reigen's mind shoves away Shigeo's slight strange behavior to the typical mood, "Well, Ekubo's decided to stick around with your brother for today, why, I'm not sure. So, Mob, listen up, about this job..."
Shigeo listens, but all he knows right now is that in accordance to Saitama's words, 'Everything will be okay.'
He qiuckly feels a smile gracing on before lowering back to his typical flat one, hearing his mentor talk about a possible exorcism over at some person's house again tonight, what they should get on their way back to dinner...
"Thank you, Saitama-san," Shigeo whispers to himself, a small smile gracing him for having to talk to someone about his troubles without judging him.
He doesn't see Reigen catching that, narrowing his eyes at the name, a slight twinge at hearing his pupil talk admirably about someone else, ...Saitama? Who the hell's that?
"That boy must've been lonely, huh."
Saitama was muttering to himself later that night, reading over a manga that he just so happened to pick up from the shelf when all thoughts go back to the deadpan and blunt bowl-shaped haircut boy with tremendous esper abilties. What he also was amazed at was the way the boy managed to repair his cape like it was just torn pieces of paper back together-
"...he repaired it, just like that." He knows for one, out of all the powers he's seen and witnessed, never has he seen such tremendous powers used to help someone else for once- especially from a young person, "Like he placed torn paper and repaired it like it's never ripped..."
"Sensei?"
"Um... dude?"
"...what are you talking about?"
"Eh?" Saitama sits up aburptly, seeing where he was- well, at his own apartment, but then realized who was with him.
Ah hell.
He's just said his thoughts with Genos, King, and Fubuki in the room! Instead, he just grins warily before presenting the manga, "Ahahaha... um, sorry, just rereading this- out loud!"
"Uh... huh, look, dude, you have gotten a long day." King stares warily at his bald friend, seeing the art cover for some action-packed manga that had no lines regarding what Saitama had just said, "Maybe you're just wiped from the report you had to write out..."
"Despite B-Classes doing no such thing," Fubuki frowns, recalling how Saitama was forced to explain where the freaking heck the carnage from that monster went (oh, he made up an excuse and said it evaporated into thin air), "So, Saitama, you also got back home with something odd."
"Eh? Something odd?" The bald hero stares at the others in confusion.
"Sensei, it's your suit." Genos frowns, realizing it at the moment Saitama came back in, washing his clothing, "While most parts of the body suit was torn from the rubble, your cape looks good as new."
"The... oh, really?" Saitama blinks- before realizing that Shigeo had repaired only one part of his outfit, not the rest, meaning, "Ah... ahahahaha! Well, um- you know- I- well, I've managed to get it... repaired by a nearby laundromat!"
"I don't think there is one in E-City," Fubuki narrows her eyes in suspicion.
"Well- argh, never mind my crap- how did everything go today, especially at the meeting?"
And then the conversation shifts to another turn as a groan from King indicates how horrendously tedious that meeting went.
Even a glare from Genos says the volumes about the disaster bore-fest of a meeting.
"...ah, well, what did you guys talk about?" Anything to divert their attention from- arrrgggghhh, next time, he really should think of a better excuse than that laundromat thing!
"You don't want... to know." Genos glowers with irritation, "If only Sensei was allowed to attend the meeting with me-"
"Dude, I'm pretty damn sure Tatsumaki is about to rip Saitama's head if she saw him again." King winces, seeing Fubuki shake her head at the thought, "There really was- nothing- to talk about-"
"Except for some protocols regarding the safety and careful consideration?" Fubuki frowns, "I had to listen in as a member of B-Class- it was required."
"That must explain the interference we all heard at the moment your feed came on live," Genos shakes his head before taking a seat, Saitama (pretending to) listening on the conversation-
A buzz comes and Saitama knows the three heroes are distracted with the meeting conversation while something comes on the television (it's some idiotic special with some of the chosen A-Class heroes in one of the more variety shows), so he manages to look at the text that was sent to his phone.
From: Shigeo Kageyama
Thank you again for helping me walk back to the office. I really appreciate it- can I pay you back somehow?
Usually for something like this, Saitama would be really bothered by the amount of gratitude. But-
-he did hear the kid out. His troubles are something different- and not to mention how did that kid do what he just did with his cape. So in a way, Shigeo Kageyama was really... different. A bit like him, in a way.
"No, thank you, Shigeo," He quietly chuckles, knowing that there is a bit of him in the kid. Saitama wants to thank the kid properly- maybe a lunch? Yeah, perhaps he'll do that, a small smile gracing his lips, ...maybe we should both meet again.
He quickly manages to text back a response that isn't too hashed, maybe suggesting another meetup just to talk about more things, maybe learn a bit or two more about the kid's life so he doesn't want another version of him.
He doesn't notice Genos perk a bit at the name, narrowing his eyes in suspicion, pretending to ignore the possessive twinge in him, Shigeo...? Who in the world is he? There's nobody Sensei knows among the Heroes named Shigeo...