> "The strongest man in the world still checks coupons.
Because victory means nothing if you paid full price for cabbage."
— Saitama, bald by nature, thrifty by choice
---
[Location: City Z – Mid-One Punch Man Timeline]
It was 6:59 a.m.
Saitama—Class B hero, self-proclaimed part-time world-saver and full-time deal hunter—was already crouched like a panther in the alley beside the City Z Discount Mart.
The store opened in one minute.
And there was a sale on eggs.
Saitama (serious):
> "Victory is about timing."
---
[07:00 – The Battle Begins]
The doors slid open.
He dashed inside, narrowly dodging a grandma with the agility of a seasoned martial artist.
Clerk:
> "Welcome to—OH GOD."
Saitama skidded to a halt.
One egg pack. Left.
A gleam lit his eyes.
Then, from the other end of the aisle—
Genos:
> "Sensei! I have arrived to assist with the sale!"
Saitama:
> "BACK OFF, THAT ONE'S MINE."
---
[Later – Apartment Scene]
They returned victorious.
One egg carton. Two leeks. A coupon for half-off miso.
Genos:
> "Sensei, you're unmatched in precision shopping."
Saitama (cracking eggs):
> "It's the little wins that matter."
Genos didn't understand. But he nodded anyway.
Then came a ping from the Chat System.
---
[Chat Group – Idle Check-In]
Saitama (typing one-finger style):
> "Got eggs. Fought two monsters on the way. They were boring."
Kazuma:
> "Define boring?"
Saitama:
> "They exploded before I remembered their names."
Rimuru:
> "Must be nice…"
Deadpool:
> "I bet even your omelets kill villains."
Esdeath:
> "Still want to test you."
Saitama:
> "Still not interested."
---
[Afternoon – Hero Association Mission Board]
He walked past three S-Class threats. Didn't register.
A villain named "Beast King v4.0" challenged him.
He one-punched a shadow clone.
Didn't break stride.
> "No flair. No flair at all."
He missed the days where his heart raced. When a punch meant something.
Even Genos' admiration couldn't cover that quiet ache.
---
[Evening – Rooftop Dinner]
He sat on the roof, eating soft-boiled eggs from a chipped bowl.
The wind was nice.
The sky, honest.
Then the System pinged again.
---
[Private DM – Blank One]
MC:
> "You okay?"
Saitama:
> "Just living."
MC:
> "Living is harder when you've already won."
Saitama:
> "Yeah."
MC:
> "But there are still worlds that haven't."
Saitama looked at the sky. Thought of the group. Of a clown. A king. A doctor. A slime.
He smiled. A little.
Saitama:
> "Let me know when it's my turn again. I'm starting to get bored."
---
End of Chapter 21: Saitama