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‘I love you’
At least, that is what Saitama wants to tell Genos. But doing so feels too painful and permanent, considering he’s about to leave Genos behind.
Maybe forever.
He’s staring at the void that leads to God’s dimension impassively, the remains of the sun rays caressing his bald head. With Genos by his side. His hero suit weighs heavy on him, because he does not feel heroic at all. He feels wretched, like some horrible person who would betray their loved ones. But technically, he is going to betray Genos, so he should feel awful about it.
“Genos…” He turns to his right side and sees the cyborg standing beside him, staring into the abyss. Genos turns to look at him and he can see, feel, multiple thoughts flit through his head, all centered around the older hero.
Genos is not entirely subtle when they are bonded like this. But neither is he. Surely Genos, too, can feel the swirling of agony inside of him, even if he chooses to not say anything.
“What is it, sensei?”
Saitama reaches for Genos’ hands, who takes them without question, interlocking their fingers together. Saitama chooses to step closer to Genos and lifts their arms to eye level, as the cyborg continues to watch him carefully. Saitama’s dark brown eyes meet Genos’ golden ones and all he sees is trust and loyalty in them.
The nervousness and agony in the pit of his stomach only increases.
Saitama looks pensive for a moment. “Genos…I’ve not been entirely honest with you. I didn’t bring you here with me so you could fight God with me. It’s for an entirely different reason.”
Genos’ grip on his hands tightens. “Why would you omit such an important piece of information, sensei?”
Saitama can feel the turbulence of his emotions as keenly as his own. He tries to remain calm for his sake. But the trust between them has already been shaken.
“Because I need to protect you. That’s what a master does.”
Genos’ eyes are shocked and wide. Then he clenches his jaw as he lowers his head, furiously contemplating. “I cannot let you go alone, sensei. No matter what. I’ve made that promise to myself.”
Saitama smiles bittersweetly, Genos’ determination suffusing his heart. “Sorry Genos. There’s another thing that needs to be done too…I’m going to take back my divine power so I will sever this accidental soulbond of ours.” At this, Genos gasps fearfully out loud. “Because if I go down, I don’t want you to go down with me.”
“No no, you cannot…sensei, you’re the strongest man alive, don’t do this!” Genos tugs at his hands fruitlessly, the older hero’s grip way too strong to unlatch from.
Saitama holds strong, Genos’ attempts of releasing himself from his grasp feeble by his standards. He looks at the other with exhausted eyes, Genos’ panic palpable in his mind. “Your powers as my disciple are forfeit. I’m so sorry, Genos.”
Something like a bright light exits from Genos’ core being and flies back into Saitama and then Saitama no longer feels the thread of fate uniting their souls. Genos shudders, possibly from the pain or the spiritual torment of having his soul bond severed and he almost falls to his knees, but he stubbornly keeps standing upright, using crushing force on his and Saitama’s joined hands.
“Did—did Blast set you up for this? Just to force you to fight God on his behalf?” Genos growls between clenched teeth.
“No, this is all me…I need to fight that guy and protect everyone. Including you.” Saitama lets Genos’ hands slip through his fingers and the younger hero falls to his knees, no longer supported by the older hero’s strength.
‘Especially you. I’m just not good enough for you.’
Genos trembles in place. Saitama tries to not be bothered by the sight of his disciple shaking in distress.
He turns back to the void awaiting him to jump into it. The hungry maw of emptiness that is God’s dimension is ready for him to enter.
He takes one step towards the cliff’s edge.
“Wait!”
He turns back to his loyal disciple. Genos lifts his head and it pierces Saitama’s heart to see oily tears cascade down his fair cheeks, marring them with ugly lines.
“Sensei please…please don’t leave me alone…”
Saitama shuts his eyes tightly and grimaces, the visage of the heartbroken, pleading cyborg almost making him break down in tears himself. He’s such a horrible master, yet he must stay strong.
It must be done, for the sake of everyone. Even if he may never make it back.
He must not drag Genos into this too.
“I’m sorry, Genos. Maybe we’ll meet again in another life,” Saitama gives him one last melancholy smile, before he jumps and gets swallowed by the dimensional portal.
“SENSEI! AAAGH! NOOOO!”
All Genos can do is scream futilely and pound the ground with his fists as his master is engulfed by nothingness.