Chapter 19

"I think he's gonna-"

FWOOOOOOOOSH!

"Whoa! Break out the hot dogs and marshmallows!" Vaccine Girl cried out as she and the others flinched from the sudden light emitted by the massive blast Genos released.

"Is he trying to roast Saitama alive?!" Beast Queen yelped before grinning when she saw Saitama approach Genos.

She and the other monster guffawed when they watched the baldy tap Genos on the shoulder from behind before poking his cheek when he turned to look.

"He's toying with him!" Sub Queen laughed while Saitama dodged another of Genos' punches..

"I am so jealous! I wish I could've moved that fast during all those times on the track!" Mizuki stated.

"What are they saying?" Beast Queen asked as she watched their lips move through the binoculars.

"How should we know?" Vaccine Girl deadpanned.

"Maybe they're ending the match?" Sub Queen suggested.

"Aww. It was just getting-" Mizuki began before Saitama suddenly appeared in front of Genos, to which the cyborg responsed with a kick that missed again when Saitama suddenly appeared behind him. "Nope! Still goi-"

The four of them stopped when a massive dust cloud suddenly blew towards the nearby cliffside. When the dust cleared...

"Ho."

"Ly."

"Shit!"

Mizuki couldn't think of any way to respond to her new friends.

After all, what could one possibly be able to say when one sees a massive hole be practically blown into a mountain?

"He...destroyed that mountain...w-with one punch?!" Vaccine Girl stuttered out, her hands fumbling with the binoculars.

"...No." Sub queen denied, her breathing getting all funny as she looked through her binoculars. "He destroyed that mountain and the one in the distance behind...with the wind generated from throwing that punch!"

"And we...tried to fight...that?!" Beast Queen whimpered.

"Are you guys feeling...what I'm feeling?" Mizuki whispered, her hands nearly cracking the binoculars she had glued to her eyes.

"If you're talking about the renewed feeling of terror coursing through me?" Vaccine Girl asked in a trembling voice. "Then yes!"

"If I can pull off Saitama's training regime?" she began, a grin threatening to split her face appearing on her lips. "Then I'll be able to do something as awesome as that!"

"I think...the fight's over." Sub Queen gasped out, all four of her hands over her thumping heart.

"I think I wanna go home." Vaccine Girl choked out.

"I think...I want my mommy!" Beast Queen nearly sobbed, forgetting for a moment that that wasn't possible since she didn't have a mom.

-Saitama's Apartment-

Captain Mizuki waved her friends goodbye before heading home, leaving the three monsters alone in their own rooms to wait for Saitama.

As they waited, they each reflected on the climax of the duel they just witnessed.

To think that one creature, any creature, could have that much power was unreal! They tried to put it out of their minds.

remind themselves that Saitama wasn't going to punch them if they didn't try to destroy humanity, but it wasn't working.

The images of that level of destuction just would leave them alone! They were afraid! They were scared! They were absolutely terrified!...

So why did it feel like their beating hearts and tingling spines were for something else?

The sound of Saitama's door opening and closing broke them out of their musings, but not enough to make them aware that they were knocking on his front door until after they'd stopped knocking.

"Hey guys." he greeted before holding a bag up. "I brought you all some udon."

"Um, thanks." Beast Queen said as they accepted the food.

"Something wrong?" Saitama asked, noticing their uneasy expressions.

"Oh! Nothing! We're just, ah..." Vaccine Girl said before trailing off.

"Here to say that Mizuki thought your fight was spectacular! And uh..." Beast Queen added, leaving Sub Queen to finish with, "To congratulate you on your victory and to say 'good night'. Good night!" And with that, the three of them booked it back to their rooms, leaving Saitama standing confused in his doorway.

"What's up with them?" he wondered before heading back in.

A quick soak in the tub and change of clothing later had the baldy enjoying a popsicle before he heard the door knock again.

"Master! It's me!" came Genos' voice.

"Uh, come in?" Saitama called out. He was soon greeted to the sight of Genos standing in his room, a massive backpack on his back.

"So...when you said later...you meant tonight?" Saitama asked the cyborg.

"Yes. I need to go home and gather my things." he stated before dropping his backpack to the florr. "May I live here with you now?"

"Nope. No way. Not happening." Saitama refused.

"I have rent money." Genos offered, a fat stack of cash plopped on Saitama's table.

"Did you bring a toothbrush?"

"YES SIR!"

Saitama yawned as he opened his eyes. Another day, another-

"Good monring, Master."

Saitama blinked as he sat up in his futon to see Genos in the kitchen, apron across his waist, and making breakfast.

Saitama stared for a moment before a sweatdrop formed on his forehead. He'd completely forgotten already that he'd said Genos could live with him.

'Oh boy.' he thought as he flopped back down on the futon. 'Well, I can't take it back now.'

KNOCK KNOCK!

"Master Saitama! I'm here for training!"

Saitama looked liked he'd actually sagged through the floor a bit as he remembered that he now had two disciples.

"Should I let her in, Master?" Genos asked.

"I'm still in my pajamas." Saitama pointed out.

"Then shall I send her away?" Genos suggested.

"No! Just give me a moment to change." Saitama sighed while pinching the bridge of his nose. He left for the bathroom with his hero costume while Genos answered the door, a smiling Captain Mizuki waving at him with a sports bag slung over her shoulder.

"Heya Senpai!" she greeted with a wave. "Is our master home?"

"He will be with us shortly." the cyborg informed her.

"Alright!" she cheered before looking past him inside the apartment. "By the way, where are the other three?"

"It is only Master and I who live in this apartment. The others have taken residence in other rooms." he explained.

"Oh!" she hummed before doing a double take. "Wait? Did you just say you're living here now?"

"Yes. I thought it would be more effective to learn from Master Saitama if I were living in the same home as him." Genos explained. Captain Mizuki blinked a few times before humming in thought, her eyes drifting skyward in thought.

"If you're thinking of moving in as well, then no. There's not enough room." Saitama immediately said.

"Who's moving in?"

Mizuki turned to see the three monster tenants approaching.

"Genos-Senpai said he moved in with Master Saitama, and Master Saitama says I can't move in because there's no more room." the athletic hero explained.

They all stared at her for a moment, then they slowly looked into the apartment to see Genos cooking, with Saitama coming into view after changing into some shorts and a shirt.