Chapter Text
"I'm on scene with channel 5 news, where once again the controversial B-Class hero, the Caped Baldy, had defeated multiple tiger level threats in city-" The sudden noise of the TV went away in a flash as silence filled the dark, damp room. A lone light bulb dangled from the ceiling as the only light source in the room.
Two men sat at a table. One wore a dark purple robe that covered the majority of his body; face unrecognizable. He had his hands folded on the table, black gloves covering them.
"This is the Caped Baldy who's causing you all this trouble?" The robed man questioned.
"Yes, that's him." The other man replied, resting against the chair.
"Really? He looks like just an egg?" The robed man scoffed. He's so... what's the word... flimsy? Weak? I mean, how can a man like him, with a facial expression so silly, be that strong?
"You don't know how much this man has cost me! " The other man shouted, slamming his hands hard onto the table, shaking it. The robed man barely flinched.
"No need to get your designer suit all ruffled." The robed man taunted with a slight giggle at the end. The other man scowled. "Alright I get it, this man is evil to you. Breaking down the very kingdom you rule, there's nothing different."
"Your point?"
"All I'm saying is that you... see people as guilty before proven innocent."
"Anything evil must be quickly exterminated. That's what heroes are for, to protect others."
"Wow, you're a very interesting case. Fine, I'll deal with this Saitama fellow. I'm glad to see where this will go. Just give me two weeks before I start with him." The robed man chuckled, amused as to what this job will bring in store.
"Why so long?!" The other man shouted. The robed man looked at him once more. Man, he was impatient.
"I have to do some... research on him to make this a quality job. You don't want to be found out, do you?" The man stated at the other. The other man was taken back at his comment. Despite his popularity and power, it doesn't seem to faze the man.
"Sigh, fine then... Pleasure doing business with you." The other man smirked before reaching out to shake the others' hand in agreement. The other man reached out his gloved hand and shook it in agreement as a wide smile slowly crept upon his face.
"And I, you."
"Please, call me Amai."
"And I, Mira." The robe man stated before moving a part of his cloak from his face to reveal a blue glowing eye with the engraving of spiral in the middle.
-----
"Saitama-sensei!" Genos called out to the bald man.
"Yeah Genos?" Saitama responded to the cyborg before walking through the automatic double doors, holding several bags of groceries.
"It was fortunate enough to have walked in on a really great time sale! I can't believe all that we got! Saitama-sensei's luck is surely amazing!" Genos rambled while carrying even more bags, trailing behind Saitama.
"I'm usually on top of these time sales, I need to step up my game." Saitama groaned and he pinched the bridge of his nose. Lately the weather had been really nice, not too hot or too cold. The nice warm breeze wasn't too freezing. It's been beautiful.
"Don't worry sensei, it's just one time. There will be many more sales in the future to take advantage of." Genos comforted with a smile towards him. Saitama smiled and nodded back in response. There was something about that smile had brought... a pain (?) in his chest. Was it pain? Or something else? He never felt like this towards anyone before. Saitama was only slightly concerned over his health now. "Saitama-sensei, are you okay?" Genos asked noticing that the man had been quiet and through a quick scan of his vitals, noticed that his heart rate increased.
Saitama broke out of his thoughts and smiled once again. "Yeah, I'm fine. I've just been.. pondering.."
"About what?" Genos questioned, his hand slightly itching to start taking notes.
"Nothing much, don't worry." Saitama reassured. Just then he felt a sharp chill go down his spine, as if something or someone was watching him, intently. A cold breeze went through his spine causing him to gasp.
"Sensei!" Genos shouted, his eyes wide with concern. Saitama quickly composed himself to not draw any more attention on himself and the cyborg. "Are you okay?!" Saitama nodded, unsure of what the hell happened. Just then a fast moving object moved passed him. When he looked to his hands, his groceries were gone?! He snapped his neck, left and right, and they were all gone?! Saitama looked behind him and noticed this fast moving object was still running. And with his grocery's no less! A dangerous glint lit in his eyes before dashing off with all of his speed towards the figure.
"Oi, bastard! Where the hell are you going with my groceries?! " Saitama screamed as he chased after the figure. Just before he can even get any farther, a sharp tug pulled him roughly, causing him to fall to the ground. Saitama groaned, rubbing his lower back, where it hurt the most due to the impact. "Ah, shit. That hurt..." Saitama slightly whimpered.
"Sorry, sensei. I didn't meant to pull you that hard..." Genos mumbled. Saitama looked up at the cyborg and noticed that Genos was heavily scanning Saitama.
"God and they got away with our groceries!" Saitama groaned in defeat, face palming. Genos looked at the bald man in confusion. Wait. What? Who took our groceries?
"Saitama-sensei, what are you talking about? We still have all of our groceries. Look at your hands?" Genos questioned, pointing to his hands. Saitama looked down and... all of his groceries were there?... What the hell? But he saw someone take them from his hands?! "I pulled you cause you suddenly started to run away, screaming about someone taking your groceries..." Genos explained. Saitama's brows burrowed in concentration. But he swore he saw someone really fast take all of his groceries! He lost his train of thought when he heard people whispering.
"Did you see that?"
"Yeah, isn't that the Caped Baldy?"
"Why was he yelling about someone taking his groceries? He had them in his hand the whole time?"
"He's probably crazy, that's how most heroes are..."
-----
Several minutes later, the duo arrived home. Their home still lingered with the scent of meat from their brunch. Genos shut the door behind them and laid all the groceries on the table counter to be organized later. He still had the worried gaze from before still plastered on the cyborg. What happened to his sensei back there?
"Sensei..." Genos mumbled, watching the bald man starting to organize the groceries without him.
"Oh, Genos! I know you usually organize the stuff, but let me do it this time." Saitama responded. The cyborg shook his head.
"That wasn't what I was going to mention..." Saitama looked up from the plethora of bags and gazed at Genos. "I was going to talk about what happened back near the supermarket."
Saitama froze and shook his head. "There's nothing to talk about Genos... I don't know what's there to be worked up about? I was just seeing things, that's all. I guess I've watching one too many anime." Saitama joked around, laughing while rubbing the back of his neck. Genos glared at his sensei in suspicion.
"What did you see exactly?" Genos asked.
"I already told you. I saw a blur of something or someone going really fast and take the groceries that were in my hands. When I looked at my hands, they were all gone." Saitama explained as he placed several milk cartons in the fridge. Genos simply nodded at the information. Although, despite his sensei's nonchalant attitude with the situation, he still couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
"I see..." Genos pondered.
"Is there anything you want to want to eat tonight, Genos?" Saitama asked, breaking Genos out of his thoughts.
"Anything is fine!"
--------
A week later, Saitama ran around the city once more for any small bad guys roaming around. So far, everything was completely silent. Genos offered to stay behind and help clean up the apartment. He urgently kept nagging Saitama to take a walk.
"Man, I wonder what we should get to eat..." Saitama wondered as he strolled through the city. Maybe some Konbu Soup will be ni- Just like the week before, another cold gust of wind shot through his back, sending a shiver through his spine. Again?! Saitama looked around and wondered what the hell was going on. It was the same as the week before!
He wasn't sure was going on. He shrugged it off and went on his way to where ever that was. Well that was until he saw an enormous purple blob come out of nowhere and began to throw a car in his direction.
Saitama quickly grabbed the car and tossed at the purple blob with all his might. When he looked back at it... it was gone?!
Wait, usually some kind of fragments remained of the enemy when they died. Just then another sharp pain shot through his chest. Looking back up, he realized that an entire straight area in front of him had been destroyed.
And at the end of the path... was a... destroyed ca... oh...
"It's the Caped Baldy from last week!"
"Isn't he the one who ran after nothing with a crazy expression?"
"Now he's throwing cars at nothing?!"
"I know, luckily no one got hurt. What the hell is his problem?"
"Maybe, he's taking out his anger on us..."
"Hopefully the Hero Association takes care of him..." What the hell is going on?...
------
"Saitama-sensei! Welcome home!" Genos cheered as he heard the door click open. The cyborg turned his head away from the pot that he was cooking from and smiled at the B-Class hero. Saitama lightly grunted in response as he locked the door once more.
"Saitama-sensei, is there something wrong?" Genos asked as he noticed that once again the man's vitals were off from normal. His heart rate was up higher than usual and his sweat production rate was higher than normal. Saitama cocked his head to the side and shook his head.
"No. Why do ask? Say, what do you want to eat tonight. I'm in the mood for som-"
"Sensei! Stop lying to me! What happened?!" Genos shouted at him. Saitama flinched at the cyborg's sudden raise in his voice. Genos had a dangerous glint in his eyes as he glared at his sensei. Saitama ignored him and turned on the TV.
"Breaking news! B-Class hero, The Caped Baldy had mysteriously cause some light chaos by randomly throwing a car causing some destruction within Z-City. Witnesses say that the man had suddenly stopped walking, picked up a random car and threw it, causing several lamp posts to fa-" Saitama quickly changed the channel to a random soap opera playing.
"Sensei?..." Genos mumbled. Saitama turned to his disciple and simply stared at him, unsure what to say.
"What happened?..." Genos asked.
"I swear to god, Genos! I saw some kind of blob monster and then it threw a car at me and so I caught it and threw it back!" Saitama desperately yelled. Genos scanned Saitama once more. If Saitama was lying, then he was a damn good lair. But, from the bottom of Genos' core, he knew Saitama would never lie.
"Sensei..." Genos whispered. Saitama looked back up at the blond cyborg.
"I believe you..." Genos reassured with a smile. Once again, another pain went through Saitama's chest. But it wasn't a terrible pain. But more like... a want pain. Like the one time he was curious to see how long he could last without eating... for scientific purposes... It was like that. The want to eat. Although... What did he want exactly?...
"Sensei!" Genos yelled once more. Saitama looked up at the cyborg once more as the cyborg was pointing at the TV. Apparently he changed the channel as he was watching another news station.
"I'm here with Amai Mask. So about the recent actions of the B-Class hero, the Caped Baldy, what is your opinion on the recent actions of the hero?" The news reporter asked.
Amai Mask flipped his hair back and crossed his legs. "I'm here for my new album, but I'll still give my input. Personally, the Hero Association stands by the ideology of heroes needed to grow strong to protect the innocent. If they put the innocent in danger, they're the evil we fight against." Genos immediately turned off the TV. He looked back at his sensei and saw his face buried into his hands.
"Sensei? Are you okay?..." Genos asked. He sat down beside the bald man and placed an arm around his shoulder.
"Yeah... I'm fine. I'm just really really tired. Can you call King and tell him that I don't feel good enough to go over to his place?" Saitama requested, laying his head on the cyborg's shoulder.
"Of course, sensei..." Genos said, staring at his sensei, noticing that he's already fast asleep. Sensei... What's going on inside your head?...
-----
"Saitama-sensei, I heard that there was a time sale near here!" Genos exclaimed, looking at his phone, searching up some deals to cheer up his sensei. Although, it didn't seem to work. Ever since the car incident, he'd been more distant. The silence had started to annoy him. To the point where he had considered shaking the B-Class hero and making him speak.
Going out in public was even more difficult. Just the sight of Saitama caused a wave of whispers in between people. What they say aren't the most nicest of all things. Genos wished he could smack them with the truth. He sighed and repeated what he said.
Saitama simply nodded and stared off into the distance.
Am I seeing things? What's going on with me? First some person stealing our groceries, now seeing monsters that aren't there? What the hell is happening?
Just then, another sharp gust of cold wind went through his body. Alright this needs stop now. He let out a sudden gasp at the feeling. He slightly hurled forward and clutched his hero suit.
"Saitama-seni-!" Genos shouted before being interrupted. Saitama snapped his head up and saw Genos... being gripped by a rock monster. It's hands were wrapped Genos' neck squeezing it tightly. The monster snarled at him. Saitama slowly stepped backwards, his eyes wide.
Is this real? Or is he seeing things? He swore to god that he slept enough and ate a good breakfast. He hesitated before making any type of decision. He kept walking backwards, away from the monster. His eyes widened and his legs began to tremble.
The strongest man of the world... felt so helpless...
"Saita-!" Genos screamed before the monster ripped off both of his arms. A torturous scream escaped from Genos' lips as the rock monster continued to play Genos' limbs and ripping them off. That monster... This bastard... was harming Genos. Saitama slowly looked up and gazed into the monster's eyes. It lifted up it's arms and signaled him to come forward.
A fire burned in Saitama's chest at the sight of the monster taunting him. Without hesitation, Saitama charged towards the bastard. No one will hurt his disciple. No one will hurt his only friend. No one can touch Genos!
He raised his fist and began to run towards the monster.
"Sensei!" A sharp pull at his arm held him back. Another pain went through his head. Saitama slowly turned his head to his arm that he was going to punch the monster and saw that on his arm... was Genos' hand.
He turned around and saw Genos... His eyes were watering... Wait... He's okay. Genos is okay! A smile crept onto his face.
"Sensei? Why are you smiling?" Genos wondered, concern seeping through his words. Saitama looked away from the cyborg and looked in front of him.
An old lady had her arms wrapped around herself, covering her head. She quivered in front of the hero. Saitama's entire face dropped at the sight. Wait... So... that monster... wasn't real?... He gazed the area around him. People were either cowering in fear or filming him with horror in their eyes.
"Oh god! Did you see the murderous look in his eyes?!"
"Oh no! We're going to die!"
"He nearly punched the old woman!"
"Someone call a real hero!"
Saitama froze in his place as the old woman ran away. Genos quickly pulled at Saitama's waist and quickly began to fly away from the scene.
------
"Genos, I swear to god! I don't know what happened! One minute we were walking and then-" Saitama rambled before Genos placed his hand on Saitama's shoulder. The sudden warmth of their apartment began to seep through his bones. The sudden feeling of Genos' hand calmed him down.
"Saitama-sensei... What happened?" Genos asked, staring into Saitama's eyes. Saitama sighed and calmed down.
"So... We were walking and then when you were talking. Suddenly you interrupted and when I looked back up, you were being gripped by the rock monster's claws. Then it began to rip you apart, limb by limb." Saitama explained, not breaking eye contact.
"Then you punched what you thought was the actual monster?" Genos asked.
"Yes! Genos, come on! You have to believe me!" Saitama begged. The cyborg looked deep into Saitama's eyes. Saitama's arms began to grasp at Genos' shoulders tightly, lightly denting the metal. His arms began to shake. He's never seen Saitama so... defenseless.
He didn't need to scan Saitama once again to see what was wrong with him.
"Saitama-sensei, I believe you." Genos confirmed. "I will always follow you, no matter what. I trust you with all my core."
"You don't need to lie." Saitama interjected, pulling his arms away from Genos' shoulders. Genos looked to at the B-Class hero with even more determination.
"I'm not lying. I trust you. You would never harm anyone innocent randomly. Saitama-sensei, I...." Genos paused, biting his lip. He nearly let it slip. Saitama looked back at the cyborg before leaning forward and resting his forehead against the cyborg's chest.
"I don't even know what's real anymore..." Saitama groaned. "Heh, there goes my job as a hero. Maybe I can be an accountant... again..." Saitama joked with a smirk. Genos smiled at Saitama's charisma returning.
-----
The moonlight ray shone through the window. Silence calming the entire place. Well, the only sound in the room was the TV that Genos forgot to turn off. He clung onto his teacher's waist, pulling him into his chest.
Saitama snuggled into the cyborg's chest. A slight beeping was heard through Genos' system. The bald man ignored the sounds and continued to sleep.
Only problem, it was getting pretty annoying. Saitama slowly opened his eyes and began to nudge the cyborg awake.
"Oi, Genos. Can you like turn off that beeping? It's annoying..." Saitama grumbled, pulling more of futon closer to him. Genos slowly awoke and heard what his sensei was saying.
"Of course, Saitama-sensei. I guess I forgot to turn off an alar..." Genos suddenly stopped. Saitama noticed the cyborg's sudden pause and look back up at him in confusion.
"What's the matter, Genos?" Saitama asked. Genos didn't respond and simply got out of the futon and stood up. "Genos?" Saitama sat up right as the lack of a response was becoming unnerving.
"I'm detecting an unknown figure nearing our area. They're coming in quick. Too quick!" Genos panicked. While the cyborg was hotheaded, he still was able to normally think straight. But the sudden quiver of fear in his voice, sent a chill down Saitama's spine.
"What do you mean?!" Saitama yelled, unsure what was going on. Genos ran towards the balcony and scanned the vicinity.
"Why are they heading towards our apartment at such a fast pace?!" Genos shouted. As if in some strange coincidence, a loud banging was heard from the door.
"Stand back sensei; you have no idea what this foe is capable of." Genos warned as he stood in front of Saitama, and began to charge his arm canon. Just before Saitama could even say anything, the door to their front apartment was busted down.
Heavily armed men armed to the teeth with multiple weapons came bursting through the door. Out of instinct, Genos fired his weapon at the men. Only for it to be absorbed by a shield.
Before any of them had time to process anything, one of the armed men had Genos in a choke-hold as he held a thick metal pole raised above Genos' cranium.
"If you dare to even more one muscle, the cyborg will become scrap metal!" The armed man screamed at Saitama as his arm was pressed tightly against Genos' neck. Saitama didn't move a single muscle.
He couldn't remember when, but some time ago, Genos mentioned how he had a microchip in his cranium. Apparently it was a vital part of his system. If some heavy damage were to happen to it... well... neither of them wanted to know. So Saitama didn't move. He really didn't want to find out what would happen.
As much as he wanted to punch the living shit out of everyone, Saitama didn't move. Suddenly the cold metal of a gun was pressed to the side of Saitama's forehead. Last time he checked, he wasn't sure if he can really survive a bullet.
"And you, cyborg! If I see any movement coming from you, he gets a bullet to the head." The other man threatened. "Just comply and we'll be on our way." He continued.
Warning messages were popping up, screaming at him to go into battle mode. Messages saying tactics to escape. Genos slightly moved an arm towards his Sensei. A small click was heard from the gun.
"Like I said... one more movement and he gets it." The man threatened.
"Genos, please. Listen to him and don't move." Saitama pleaded to him. Genos immediately, but reluctantly, put his arm down. Genos did a scan of Saitama once more; his heart rate was extremely high and his stress levels were above average despite his sensei's calm demeanor. The man still hadn't let go of the choke-hold as the rest of the armed men began to push Saitama out of their apartment.
Saitama slightly limped his way out of the place. They placed a blindfold over him and muzzle over his mouth. Another man grabbed his wrists tightly. The man with the gun was still moving beside his sensei, gun still near his head. Strangely enough, one man was staying behind. He just stood there at a distance from the crowd.
Genos attempted to find out why this man was just standing motionless. That is until the man in grabbing Genos raised his free arm. The motionless man turned to the other and nodded before raising a thin cylinder tube and placing it to his mouth.
Wait. That's a...
Before Genos could even complete his thought, the man blew at the tube. A blow dart sped out of it, hitting Saitama in the back of the his head. The bald man began to wobble out of the room. His entire body slowing becoming numb. He couldn't even feel the tips of his fingers. Before his entire world faded to black.
The man who shot the tranquilizer dart ran after the others to carry the unconscious body of Saitama. The other one who held Genos released his grip and turned to the cyborg.
"Thank you Demon Cyborg for cooperating." The man said as a small smirk tugged at his lips before slamming the apartment door. At the sound of the door, Genos fell to his knees, endlessly gazing at the door. As if doing so would rewind everything that has happened.
It wasn't even until he picked it up with his sensitive hearing that he noticed oil was dripping down his face and hitting the floor. He didn't even bother to make it stop. His sensei was now gone, so what was the point?...