Shinji brought dish after dish out from the kitchen while Saitama quickly stepped in to help. Once everything was laid out neatly on the table, they sat down together and clasped their hands.
"Itadakimasu."
"Itadakimasu."
They spoke in unison, their voices blending naturally as they performed the usual pre-meal ritual.
Halfway through the meal, Saitama leaned back and let out a satisfied sigh. "It's been a long time since I had something this hearty."
The dishes weren't elaborate: beef curry, stir-fried pork with green peppers, and scrambled eggs with garlic chives. Simple home-style cooking, nothing fancy. But for someone like Saitama, who had been scraping by in near poverty, this was a real feast.
"Is that so? I'm glad you liked it," Shinji said, smiling.
"To be honest, I thought you moved here for the same reason I did, because the rent and utilities are dirt cheap. But you don't really seem that broke?" Saitama tilted his head, curiosity evident in his eyes.
This part of the city was practically abandoned. Though the infrastructure technically still functioned, no one came to collect fees. Water and electricity were available, but no bills ever arrived. Most people stayed far away from the area, and Saitama was one of the very few who were brave enough to live there. Shinji, a transmigrator, was an even rarer case.
"Don't be fooled by appearances. I don't have much either. But at least I can still earn something," Shinji replied with a slight shake of his head.
As a registered pro hero under the Hero Association, Shinji did receive payment. However, the salary for lower-ranked heroes was so minimal that it barely covered daily expenses.
"I get that, man. I take part-time jobs here and there when I'm really short on cash. Just enough to stay afloat," Saitama said casually, assuming Shinji meant convenience store shifts or the like. Then again, being a low-tier hero was basically a part-time gig anyway.
Dinner eventually came to an end. Both of them had eaten until they were full. Saitama stood up and thanked Shinji again.
"No problem. You're welcome anytime." Shinji replied warmly.
"Really? That's awesome!" Saitama said with no hesitation. The invitation was genuine, and he saw no reason to refuse it. "But next time, I'll try to bring some ingredients and seasonings. Feels weird showing up empty-handed."
With that, Saitama headed back to his place, taking his untouched bag of bean sprouts with him.
After he left, Shinji sat down on the couch, deep in thought. Based on the current timeline, Saitama probably hadn't joined the Hero Association yet. Shinji hadn't seen his name or the title "Caped Baldy" on the registry.
Even so, there was no doubt this Saitama was already the One Punch Man. His head was already bald, and his strength unmatched. In this world, he was the absolute ceiling of power. And somehow, Shinji had ended up living right next door to him.
Still, knowing Saitama's personality, he wasn't the type to kill easily, not people, not even monsters. Even when facing the worst villains, Saitama wouldn't deliver a fatal blow unless necessary.
That made him the strongest, yet also the least likely to become an enemy.
Shinji's real concern wasn't Saitama, but beings like Boros, the self-proclaimed conqueror of the universe, or Tornado, who never held back and didn't mind collateral damage.
"I still need to get stronger... fast."
The words slipped from Shinji's mouth as he stared blankly ahead. Right now, the only thing he could depend on were his dual Kamui abilities, either by phasing through danger or retreating into his personal Kamui dimension.
But he was a transmigrator.
How could he be satisfied with mere survival? Self-preservation might be necessary in the short term, but it was never meant to be the end goal. He wasn't aiming to surpass Saitama, there was no need, since Saitama wasn't truly a threat, but at the very least, he needed to become strong enough to stand his ground against someone like Boros. Reaching that level of strength, however, was anything but simple.
For now, Shinji could only take it step by step, advancing steadily with patience and effort.
---
The next morning, Shinji headed out early to patrol the residential area of Z-City. To some, this might've looked pointless, maybe even a little naïve, but in truth, it was the most realistic and effective approach available to him. He couldn't imitate Saitama, who sat around watching television every day, waiting for the news to announce a monster attack before jumping into action.
The broadcasts only covered major disasters, usually starting at the Demon threat level. Lesser threats, those in the Wolf or Tiger category, rarely even got a mention. Saitama hadn't yet realized that detail, which explained why he was still glued to the screen day after day.
While patrolling the quiet streets, Shinji stopped by a small electronics shop to buy a phone. It was mainly to stay in the loop and receive alerts from the Hero Association.
To his surprise, smartphones in this world weren't all that advanced. Most models were still flip phones with physical buttons, and the concept of full touchscreens had yet to take hold. Still, he wasn't looking for luxury. He just needed something that worked.
After fiddling with the phone and completing his Hero Association registration, he finally gained access to their real-time alert system.
[A monster has appeared in central Z-City. Preliminary classification: Tiger-level threat. Nearby heroes, please respond immediately!]
No sooner had he finished the setup than the first alert popped up. The location was one he knew well, and with Kamui, he could get there instantly. His Mangekyō Sharingan lit up, and using the ability of his right eye, he phased himself into the Kamui dimension. In the blink of an eye, he stepped back into reality, this time on the streets of Z-City's central district.
Though the alert didn't include coordinates, Shinji quickly oriented himself by following the sound of screaming in the distance. While panicked civilians rushed away in fear, he moved in the opposite direction, running straight toward the monster.
Soon, he spotted the threat. It was a humanoid beetle, its upper body completely transformed while its legs remained human in shape. More precisely, it was a Stag Beetle Man, with a dark exoskeleton and a massive pair of mandibles that looked capable of cutting through reinforced steel. Towering over two meters, the monster exuded physical dominance.
"AAAAAAHHH!"
A blond-haired young man suddenly rushed at the creature, gripping an iron rod and swinging it with all his strength. The attack was brave, but,
Snap!
With a swift movement of its jaws, the monster severed the rod in a single bite.
"Wha... what?!"
The young man's expression froze in disbelief. His legs gave out, and he fell hard to the ground, scrambling backward as terror overtook him. With mandibles that powerful, any human caught between them would be torn in half without resistance.
This monster fit the Tiger-level classification perfectly. Threats at this level were capable of causing mass casualties if left unchecked.
But to Shinji, this was just a mobile bag of points.
Defeating a Tiger-class monster would earn him significantly more than a Wolf-class one.
[Alert! Host has redeemed "Crimson Night Blade." 10 points deducted. Current remaining points: 0.]
Shinji opened the system's store and exchanged his points for the Crimson Night Blade. He figured the time had come to use a real weapon. A sleek katana materialized in his grip, its polished crimson blade reflecting the sunlight as if eager for combat.
Without wasting another second, he moved. His toes lightly touched the pavement, and his figure blurred before reappearing directly in front of the Stag Beetle Man.
"Hm?"
The creature blinked in confusion, unsure how this human had closed the distance so quickly. But before it could react, the blade was already in motion.
A flash of red streaked through the air, and the scent of blood quickly followed.