Z-City Central Mall — Midday
The group of four had become a bizarre — yet oddly functional — team, darting from store to store with bags flying and Tatsumaki's green aura flaring like stormlight at every minor inconvenience. The strangest part? No explosions. Not a single shattered storefront, no imploded appliances, and not one terrified mall employee sprinting for cover.
Not for lack of trying.
Every time Saitama turned his back, Tatsumaki narrowed her eyes, focused her energy, and tried something. A compressed psychic blast. A sharp jab to the ribs. At one point, she even attempted to rip his arm clean off — her aura blazing, strength boosted to its peak. But Saitama, blissfully unaware, kept leading her toward the next store like it was just another errand, still grumbling about rice cooker wattage.
Her efforts didn't even register.
It was as if the universe itself had decided he was off-limits. Her power bent around him, flickered, then vanished entirely.
She hovered behind him in mounting frustration, fists clenched, teeth grinding as her aura crackled… only to fizzle out again.
"Tch. This doesn't make any sense. I'm the strongest esper alive. Why won't anything touch this bald moron?!"
And yet, despite all her attempts, Saitama remained entirely oblivious. At one point, while she glared daggers into his back, he turned and held out a store flyer.
"Hey, check it out. Half off rice cookers."
Tatsumaki stared. Her eye twitched. She clenched her jaw…
Then exhaled.
And started laughing... Saitama's eyebrows raised but then continued looking at discounts...
Alongside her irritation, she was also confused. Curious. And — if she was being honest — weirdly entertained.
This group… this oddball trio… they weren't just powerful. They were genuine. Unconcerned with status or politics. They didn't act like elites.
They acted like… friends.
And whether she liked it or not, her usually fiery green aura had started to settle.
Mostly.
After several hours of impulsive purchases, trial-and-error appliance testing, and listening to Saitama rant about the superiority of nonstick pans, the shopping spree finally came to a close. Tatsumaki called her driver and agents — who had been waiting outside all day — and ordered them to help transport everything back.
The team began their short trek toward Saitama's apartment. Normally a brisk 15-minute walk, it had become a sluggish parade as the agents staggered beneath the weight of their haul: a fridge, a freezer, multiple futons, kitchen supplies, and one comically large shower curtain.
Tatsumaki hovered effortlessly alongside the group, arms folded but no longer bristling. Occasionally, she even cracked a smile at their antics. She asked a question here or there — something that felt strangely unnatural for her — but when Genos began recounting Damian and Saitama's first spar, she found herself listening closely.
"Master used a Normal Punch," Genos said matter-of-factly. "It vaporized a 1000-meter hole into the canyon. Even Damian's suit had a hole at the point of contact."
Tatsumaki blinked. Vaporized? A 1000-meter hole?
The past few hours had been surreal — not just because she'd willingly stuck with this group but because of how much she had learned. Damian wasn't just some upstart hero with a fancy title. His friends spoke highly of him — with admiration, even affection. They trusted him. Respected him.
They looked out for one another. Helped each other grow stronger.
And Tatsumaki… found herself wanting to understand that dynamic.
To experience it.
From their chaotic first meeting this morning to now, the day had turned into something else entirely.
It had become fun.
"And after I hit him with a serious punch— boom!" Saitama exclaimed, throwing a fist into the air. "The rest of the canyon? Gone. His suit barely there, he was pretty much naked."
"Hmmmm, naked?" she muttered, but kept listening. She wasn't even thinking about hero rankings anymore. In fact, they felt completely irrelevant now. A Class C hero had power that made Sky God Damian, the Association's new Rank 2, look like a novice.
But Damian was new to his powers. From what she'd gathered, he'd only had them for a year… and yet he was already that strong, stronger than her?
She tried to ask more — just one or two personal questions — but the trio shut her down immediately, though not unkindly.
"You'll have to ask him yourself. Damian only recently told us more about his home world." Genos said simply.
That only deepened her curiosity.
Maybe I've underestimated Damian… and these three, she thought quietly.
As they reached the apartment complex, Tatsumaki snapped at the struggling agents, "Upstairs. Now. Install everything."
One of them nearly collapsed. "Y-Yes, ma'am…" he wheezed.
Floating behind them, she crossed her arms. "Why does my sister even hire you—?"
She exhaled in annoyance — only to hear a chorus of quiet, relieved sighs. When she opened her eyes again, Genos was already helping one man stand. Then King stepped in. And of course, Saitama — hoisting the refrigerator like it weighed nothing, completely nonchalant.
She opened her mouth to scold them. The agents were here to work. That was the arrangement.
But then she hesitated.
Looked at them.
And something clicked.
They weren't helping to show off. They weren't proving a point. They were just… being decent. Being themselves.
And for once, she didn't feel like arguing with that.
A small, involuntary smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Her aura hummed gently, stable, warm.
She floated forward, green light flickering softly.
"Alright… which apartment is yours?" she asked, voice calm and clear. "Let's get this done so we can eat sooner. I'm hungry."
Upper Atmosphere — Above Earth
Damian lay flat on the Nimbus, eyes closed, barely breathing. His body drifted gently with the solar wind, like a ghost suspended between worlds. He was deep in meditation, locked in a steady, silent chant that had echoed in his mind for hours:
Evolve. Get stronger. Overcome. Evolve. Get stronger. Overcome…
Then, a soft chime echoed in his neural interface.
[Eight hours completed. Kryptonite exposure trial has ended. To conclude test, please seal the Kryptonite sample. Post-trial diagnostics will initiate once containment is confirmed.]
His eyes opened slowly — bloodshot, heavy — but razor-focused.
"I… I did it," he whispered hoarsely. "The first trial…"
Just a foot away, the Kryptonite crystal still glowed with sickly, radioactive green. Even now, it radiated slow, invisible death. His entire body trembled — pale, depleted, every cell screaming in exhaustion. But the sun still shone above him. And that, somehow, was enough.
His hands rested weakly on his chest. He was too sore to move without bracing for pain.
He inhaled deeply through clenched teeth.
He knew what came next.
One… two… three...pain...
Damian stretched his right hand toward the crystal, using the smallest whisper of telekinesis to guide it. The Kryptonite wobbled in the air before landing in his palm — bare-skinned.
HSSSSSS—
It burned instantly.
"Fuuuuuccckkk—!" he hissed, voice raw and strangled with pain.
His body convulsed as he fumbled for the lead-lined storage container from his system inventory. Hands trembling, he jammed the crystal inside and twisted the cap shut.
The change was immediate.
As the Kryptonite disappeared from proximity, sunlight flooded his cells. His body shimmered faintly, pulsing with light. Cellular decay ceased — the downward spiral halted — and his Kryptonian biology began to stabilize. Healing. Slowly. Surely.
The Nimbus twitched beneath him, swaying side to side like a loyal pet celebrating a victory.
Damian sat upright with effort. The pain, once blinding, had reduced to an echo. He stared up at the sun, wide-eyed — and a single tear slipped down his cheek.
"…Thank you."
He wiped it away and took a steady breath.
"Alpha… full diagnostics," he said softly. "How much did we improve?"
Kryptonite Exposure Trial: COMPLETE
Exposure Duration: 8 hours
Solar Absorption Rate: +2% overall(~1% gain per 4 hours under Kryptonite exposure)
Cellular Adaptability: Increased across all major Kryptonian genome markers
Codex-Encoded Evolutionary Pathways: Activated at low-level responsiveness
Current Kryptonite Immunity Progress: 1 out of an estimated 40 cycles needed to achieve 100% solar absorption
Projected Outcome:
Full Kryptonite resistance achievable within 10–20 additional eight-hour exposure cycles
Post-Immunity Gains:
Durability: +100x
Strength: +100x
Solar Absorption Efficiency: +100x
Evolutionary Responsiveness: +100x
Cellular Regeneration: +100x
Damian's breath caught as the data scrolled across his vision.
For the first time since opening that canister… he felt normal.
"Alpha…" he asked carefully, "if I ever reached 100% solar absorption during Kryptonite exposure… would that be enough to negate its effects?"
[Negative. 100% absorption allows for functional combat capabilities under Kryptonite influence, but does not nullify cellular degradation. Full adaptation is still required. Estimated exposure cycles needed: 10–20.]
Damian nodded slowly.
"Got it… Reach max solar intake first, then evolve past the toxicity. Makes sense. So I'll need to do this 8-hour exposure cycle, at least 50-60 more times." He gazed up at the sun once more. This time, with something new in his eyes.
Not fear.
Not pain.
Hope.
"Perfect," he whispered. "Based on today's results, every aspect of my physiology improved. Even two percent stronger… is still progress."
He exhaled slowly and leaned back on the Nimbus, letting the warmth soak into him.
[Estimated time until full recovery: 15 minutes.]
Damian smiled.
"Eight hours of agony… for two percent gain. Worth it. Tomorrow I'll do it again. And again. And again — until I become something more than Kryptonian… I'll become a God-Level being."
He sat there in the quiet, breathing in peace for the first time since the trial began. His skin, once ghostly pale, now showed subtle signs of regeneration — warm with energy, color returning to his face. He flexed his hands experimentally, squeezing tightly.
Boom.
A shockwave rippled outward in every direction — thin, invisible, but unmistakably powerful.
He grinned. "Well… the first test is truly over. Time to relax... maybe see what Fubuki's doing. I did almost die — nothing sounds better than spending time with a beautiful woman."
He pulled up his phone and blinked at the flood of messages.
Fubuki had texted earlier:
Hey, sounds good! Please be careful, don't get hurt! Text me whenever you're done.
(One hour later)Hey, I don't know where my sister is. Let me know if you see her? I asked my agents and apparently she took all the morning staff... just FYI. I hope she's not heading to your apartment — she sounded pretty mad about the ranking change… Anyway, call or text if you hear anything.
Damian blinked.
"…Ranking change?"
He checked his notifications. Multiple missed messages from the Hero Association.
His eyes narrowed as he read the most recent alert.
[Hero Ranking Update: Sky God Damian — S-Class Rank 2.]
He stared at the screen for a long moment — stunned — then let out a slow, triumphant laugh.
"I got promoted…"
He grinned wide. S-Class Rank 2. Sky God Damian.
But the smile faded just slightly as another thought crossed his mind — Saitama.
And Genos… and King…
His brow furrowed.
"Oh shit… I hope she didn't actually go to Saitama's apartment to cause trouble…"
He knew Saitama could handle her — hell, he could handle anything. But Genos? King? The apartment?
"If she throws a tantrum and levels the place... Genos could get damaged. King might have a heart attack. And the kitchen…"
He checked the system clock.
[Time until full recovery: 3 minutes.]
Damian clenched his jaw, anxious now.
Three more minutes.
Then he'd fly.
Meanwhile… Back in Z-City
Inside the apartment, the agents had just finished installing the last of the new appliances. The fridge hummed quietly, the new futons were neatly laid out, and the once-bare kitchen had been restocked with tools Saitama didn't even know existed.
Genos, already in his apron, activated his culinary protocols and began preparing dinner for five. Sharp slicing sounds echoed from the kitchen as steam hissed softly from a new rice cooker.
Saitama and King stood by the entryway, waving off the agents.
"Thanks for the help," Saitama said with a casual grin.
King added, "Yeah, appreciate it."
To their surprise, Tatsumaki — arms loosely folded, hair bobbing gently — gave a small, genuine smile.
"No problem," she said, almost too casually. "I'll be right back. Need to talk to my men and give them updated orders."
She floated outside, closing the door behind her.
The moment it shut, King leaned in.
"Okay, seriously," he whispered. "I don't know what you did, Saitama… but she's been acting weirdly nice since the mall."
Genos, still focused in the kitchen, didn't look up. "Yes. I've noticed it as well. I've been monitoring her vitals for deception... There were no signs of lying. Her behavior appears to be genuine."
Saitama folded his arms proudly. "You guys are overthinking it. I bet she's just into bald guys."
King groaned. "Did you forget she came here to see Damian? That's why she's here."
Saitama blinked. "Oh yeah... right."
His eyes shifted toward the clock.
"Huh. It's been more than eight hours by now…"
Outside the Apartment
Tatsumaki hovered just above the sidewalk, hands behind her back, facing her agents. Her voice was calm — for once.
"You're all dismissed for the day. Go home."
They blinked, exchanging nervous glances.
"Ma'am?" one of them asked, cautiously.
"If my sister asks," she continued, "tell her I'm out house-hunting. Won't be back until later. If not, say I've checked into a hotel. Got it?"
The agents were visibly thrown off — mostly because their boss had just given instructions... kindly.
One of them swallowed nervously. "Uh, y-yes, ma'am. Of course."
Tatsumaki turned away, smirking to herself as she floated back toward the building.
"If my sister can go on a date with Damian, why can't I?"
"Besides, he owes me. I didn't destroy his apartment. I even bought him and his friends new stuff. I will get my way."
Her smirk widened into a soft, almost bashful grin — one she quickly suppressed. Confidence returned as she stepped back inside with a familiar green flare of psychic energy. But beneath that swagger… there was a flicker of nervousness.
Damian would be home soon.
Inside, Saitama was storing extra meat into the new freezer while King and Genos plated up rice and grilled cuts of Deep Sea King. The apartment smelled amazing.
They all turned when Tatsumaki entered again.
Saitama gave a nod. "Hey. So like I said, you can stay for dinner. Damian should be back soon."
He paused, then added — a bit too seriously: "In the meantime, wanna play some video games? It's great for training."
Tatsumaki raised an eyebrow. Training?
She looked at him, unsure if he was joking… but he wasn't.
Still floating, she hovered a controller to herself with a flick of her hand. "Fine," she said. "But don't cry when I beat you."
Saitama grinned. "Hey King, looks like I'm finally gonna win."
King shrugged. "Not fair if you beat someone who's never played before."
Tatsumaki rolled her eyes. "I have esper powers. I'll beat you with no hands."
Genos glanced up from the kitchen. "Master, she may be more formidable in Hero Battle Royale than anticipated."
With that, the console fired up and Saitama and Tatsumaki took their seats. The match had barely started when—
Ring-ring.
Saitama's phone buzzed in his pocket.
"Hold up! This round doesn't count!" he shouted, just as Tatsumaki KO'd his character in a single hit.
Scowling, he picked up the phone. "Hello? Who is this?"
"Um… hi," came Fubuki's voice on the other end. "Is this Saitama? Damian's master?"
Saitama scratched his head. "Yeah, that's me."
But before he could say anything else, the phone levitated away from his hand.
"Hey! What the—"
Tatsumaki hovered the phone in front of her, thumb already on mute.
"Listen up," she said sharply, eyes narrowing. "You don't tell her I'm here. Got it? You don't know where I am. And tell her Damian is busy the rest of the day. Or I'll destroy everything in your apartment."
Saitama stared at her, arms crossed. "What happened to the nice Tatsumaki from earlier…?"
She sniffed and crossed her arms in return. "What do you mean? I am being nice."
He raised a brow. "You just threatened to destroy my apartment."
Her aura sparked once.
"Only if you don't cooperate. Now do it."
Saitama glanced at King and Genos. They were already pretending to be very busy.
King whispered, "I told you it was a trap..."
He sighed.
"Man… Damian better get back soon."
Saitama calmly reached out and snatched his phone back from midair, giving Tatsumaki a deadpan look as he unmuted the call.
"Uh… sorry, I dropped my phone."
Fubuki's voice returned, gentle and concerned. "No worries. Have you seen my sister? She's not answering anyone. And has Damian come back yet?"
Saitama glanced at Tatsumaki — now floating innocently, arms folded and eyes fixed on the TV screen.
"Nope. Haven't seen her," he said smoothly. "And Damian's not back yet either. He said he might be doing tests all day."
Fubuki sighed on the other end, the concern in her voice genuine. "Okay… thanks. Sorry to bother you."
"Not at all. Later."
The moment the call ended, the entire atmosphere in the apartment shifted.
Tatsumaki's expression softened, her aura settled, and the faint tension in the room vanished like it had never been there. She even tilted her head and chuckled at something on screen — almost like a normal person.
King glanced sideways at Genos. The cyborg was chopping vegetables without looking.
Genos leaned toward him and whispered, "Hmm… her heart rate and blood pressure just returned to baseline. Her behavior seems genuinely relaxed now. But more notably… the effort she put into hiding her location and lying to her sister strongly suggests emotional involvement."
King raised an eyebrow. "You're saying she's into Damian?"
Genos nodded. "And possibly jealous of her sister's connection to him. Otherwise, there would be no reason to fabricate her whereabouts."
King sighed. "Great… I have a feeling Damian's love life is about to get complicated."
The two turned back to the stove just as a familiar comment echoed from the living room.
"What is this laaaggg?!" Saitama groaned as his character was KO'd again.
A small, genuine laugh escaped Tatsumaki — light, sweet, and almost surprising.
"This is fun. It feels good to finally smash you into the ground." She laughed loudly.
The group, for now, had settled into a strange but peaceful rhythm.
Above the Earth — Moments Later
High in the upper atmosphere, sunlight bathed Damian in golden warmth. His eyes were closed, body hovering just above the Nimbus in serene recovery.
Then, a soft chime echoed in his mind.
[All cells fully recovered. Solar energy reserves at 100%.]
Damian opened his eyes and exhaled slowly. A weight had lifted.
He turned to the Nimbus, floating gently beneath him like a loyal companion.
"Hey buddy," he said softly, patting the cloud. "Thanks for everything. Head back to the apartment — I'll meet you there."
The Nimbus gave a cheerful pulse and zipped off, swirling through the sky playfully. Damian watched it go, smiling.
Man… what a cool lottery prize. Total lifesaver.
He turned his gaze downward — Z-City glimmered beneath him.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see what kind of mess I'm walking into."
With that, he shot toward the city in a sonic blur.
Z-City Central Apartments — Minutes Later
As Damian approached the building, the scent of grilled meat hit him like a wave — savory, smoky, unmistakably Sea King. He heard the sizzle of frying, the crackle of a hot pan, and faintly... the sound of video game sound effects and shouting.
Three familiar voices filtered through the air.
King. Genos. Master.
And… wait.
He landed softly on the balcony, feet touching down without a sound. The moment he opened the sliding door, a wave of warm air escaped into the sky — along with the unmistakable smell of cooking dinner and the high-pitched sound of Tatsumaki's voice laughing.
He paused, stunned by the scene in front of him.
"Alpha," he muttered. "Are you sure I'm fully recovered? This isn't some lingering Kryptonite hallucination?"
[Confirmed. All vitals stable. No hallucinogenic side effects present.]
Damian blinked again, taking it in.
Genos and King were in the kitchen, cooking. Normal.
But in front of the TV — sitting cross-legged and yelling at the screen — were Saitama and Tatsumaki, playing games together like they were old friends.
No aura flares. No destruction. No insults. Just… bonding?
He had landed quietly, but the sudden gust from the balcony drew everyone's attention.
Genos was the first to turn. "Damian! You're alive!"
King looked over, wide-eyed with relief. "Dude! Thank Rao. You're back. You gotta deal with this."
He gestured helplessly toward the living room.
Damian nodded slowly, taking everything in. His mind—sharpened—put it together instantly. New appliances that neither Saitama nor Genos could afford to buy. No visible damage. Tatsumaki present but calm.
She probably came here for revenge after the rank change, he thought. But she couldn't touch Master. And King being here added pressure. She got caught in the gravity of the group.
Damian glanced at Genos, fully intact. No burns. No missing limbs. He sighed in relief.
"Good to be back. Trial went well. I'll explain details later."
Sitting down by the TV, Tatsumaki froze when she heard Damian had arrived.
She thought she'd be ready for this moment — the whole day had been building toward it — but as soon as she heard Damian step into the room, her mind blanked. Her body froze.
All of her reasons for coming suddenly blurred.
What did she want?
Damian, still radiating post-recovery confidence, strode toward the TV with the quiet power of someone who had just conquered death. Saitama, ever oblivious, turned with a smile.
"Oh hey, Damian. Look who decided to hang out with us today!"
He set down his controller and gestured. "I'm glad you're back, man. You missed dinner prep — Genos went full chef mode."
Then he turned to Tatsumaki, noticing her frozen expression.
"Hey, you good?" he asked, waving his hand in front of her face. "He's back sooo… why are you—?"
She blinked, finally snapping out of it. Her expression softened. Her posture shifted — not in fear, but in something far more vulnerable. Even she didn't understand it fully.
Everything from the day — the strange adventures, the jokes, the respect, the curiosity — it all collided into one chaotic swirl of emotion.
No aura. No bluster.
Just a quiet voice.
"Hi, Damian."
She stood up, brushing her hands down her skirt, her eyes meeting his for the first time all day.
"…Can I talk to you in private?"
To Be Continued...