Chapter 007 - Demons, Dragons and Imaginations

"Miss Blizzard, it's here." Eyelashes informs while he opens the car door for me. It's the only car we had for the entire Blizzard Group.

The Hero Association called for any heroes close to the site to take action. Our target is a Demon-level monster that is prowling around J-city.

"Let me get your coat, Miss Blizzard," Mountain Ape offers. I allow him to do it while I study the surroundings. There are signs of a battle, but no body count.

"What's the updated status?" I ask.

"The monster annihilated all B-class. They said it's the Mountain King."

I raise my eyes at Mountain Ape, thinking if they are related in any way.

"No. No. No. Don't even joke about it, Miss Blizzard. I have nothing to do with it," Mountain Ape immediately denies.

I frown but remain skeptical. "Let's go, boys," I say instead, ushering the other B class under me.

*****************

However, it didn't even take that long, when we are suffering from losses. It's only ten minutes!

"Fall back, guys, if you don't wanna lose your life," I warn. My dress is carved in different shapes and angles. My body is failing to respond correctly to my commands. My psychic is hard to control.

"Reporting to Hero Association. The monster seen on J-City is a Dragon class. The monster annihilated the Blizzard group and the other heroes who come in. I repeat, the Mountain King is a Dragon class."

It is an announcement on the radio hovering above me. It recounts my failures. I don't even want to imagine what my sister, Tatsumaki, will think about it.

I try to stand up but fall to the ground. Even as simple as standing up, I am failing. My knees are trembling, but I can't be a failure forever.

Gathering up all my remaining strength, I yell, "Hell Storm!" Maybe, an increase in my voice will conjure up some kind of hidden power within me.

Yet, it didn't hurt the monster in any way, and instead, it cackles, "Weak, very weak!"

"I know that already! You monster!" I take a deep breath and once again, I scream, "Hell Storm!"

"What are you even trying to do?" the monster asks. "Are you perhaps playing?"

In a quick and simple movement of its elongated snout, the monster flicks me away like a bug. I am hurled away through the air with no stopping. When gravity decides to fight back, my descent to the ground starts. With almost nonexistent energy and an injured body, I feel like a bug. No. I feel weaker than a bug.

Feeling hopeless and pathetic, I fix my eyes on the ground and I realize that the Mountain King's minions are waiting for my fall. They raise their spikes towards me. If this continues, I will be impaled in those. I smirk. This is a nice hunting plan if only I am not the one being hunted. Ha! This bug will soon die.

I hope my sister won't go crazy with my death. My eyes flew open at the realization. Of course, my sister will go crazy! Even a simple wound can make her livid.

To avoid that incoming end of the world, I gather wind under my feet and force myself to float. However, instead of working in my favor, my psychokinesis goes haywire due to overuse. My body shudders. I can't control my ability anymore. And so my heart pounds in fear as the sharply pointed part of the spikes become even closer.

I should close my eyes. Maybe, in my disconcerted, dying state, I can tell Saitama about how I feel for him. I start to imagine his surprise at my revelation. It's a nice plan, so I close my eyes. This will be my end. At least, I will die fighting a monster. It will be a fitting end for a hero, even if I am still so young.

Suddenly, my descent to my death stops. Even Death does not want to accept me in its jaws? I open my eyes, and a couple of strange things assault me. The most striking are the reds, the pinks, and the flowers.

"Hey, Fubuki." It's Saitama.

I blink numerous times, but the flowers and bubbles are still floating around him, no matter what I do. There must be something wrong in my eyes because he looks like a shoujo manga male lead who is saving his woman. I flush especially at the way he carries me in his arms.

"How did you know?" I ask.

"It's on the news," he answers, uninterested despite the thumping in my chest.

Then, I remember, he heard about my failures! He must be gloating right now!

"Nice job on protecting your comrades and taking the monster's attention away from the civilians," he says.

And I swoon once again. I can almost see the flowers dancing around his head. This time, little cherubs are dancing around him. I shake my head out of the illusion.

"This is a Dragon class monster, Sensei," Genos interrupts.

"I will take care of the Mountain King," Saitama responds.

He places me on the ground, and I watch him cross his arms in front of his chest. His eyes are trained on the monster in front of us. I hope someday he will look at me with such intensity. Not to be killed, but… being devoured would be nice. I hit my head in consternation. What the heck am I even thinking!?!

"But sensei—"

"Take care of the minions and protect the injured," he orders. He is not open to any arguments. "Are you ready, Genos?"

"More than ready, Sensei," Genos answers. "I also called for reinforcements from the Hero Association to take care of the injured."

Then my attention focuses on Saitama as if it belonged to him from the very start. I want to believe that he came to save me. It's a nice lie to imagine about.

And I don't care if his eyes are fixated on the monster. He has a serious face on, and I feel the thumping of my heart. My cheeks are warm and I know that I need this. I need to see him more, for my own sake and my own sanity. Damn, am I really falling in love with him?