Chapter 015
Bang waved his hand with a smile, but it froze the moment he saw Joshiro turn his head and grin. His expression shifted immediately as he recognized the energy flowing from the young man's body. The power of the Water Stream Rock Smashing Fist burst forth all at once, and in the next instant, Joshiro's figure blurred like a phantom. Before Bang could even react, Joshiro was already halfway down the mountain, moving swiftly along the stone steps.
"..."
Bang took a long breath, his face expressionless as he clasped his hands behind his back and turned into the dōjō. His thoughts remained sharp: learning martial arts from a master required discipline and respect, not reckless departure.
…
At home, Joshiro cooked two packs of instant noodles. He added braised beef, vegetables, and cracked five eggs into the pot to restore his body's strength after training. The aroma filled the room as he sat down with the steaming bowl. Just as he lifted the chopsticks and took a bite, his phone rang from his pocket.
"Hello, this is Joshiro."
"Joshiro-kun, it's Saitama."
"It's you, Saitama. What's the matter?"
Inside a telephone booth that evening, Saitama glanced at the group of tied-up criminals and a subdued weirdo behind him. "That's it. I caught a group of bad guys, and one of them was a Monster. Since you're a policeman, Joshiro-kun, I thought I'd call you to deal with it."
"A group of criminals and a Monster?" Joshiro leaned back slightly, processing the information. Normally, calling the police did not mean phoning a personal acquaintance. Still, knowing Saitama's way of thinking, Joshiro sighed with understanding. "Alright, tell me your address. I'll be there right away."
Saitama paused for a moment before giving the details of his location. Joshiro used his telekinesis to grab a piece of paper and quickly wrote the address down. Without wasting time, he lifted the pot and ate the noodles quickly, swallowing the hot broth and food until the last bite was gone. The meal turned into strength in his body almost instantly, refueling his exhausted frame.
After eating, Joshiro made two phone calls before sliding open the balcony door. Azure light from his telekinesis wrapped tightly across his body as he rose steadily into the sky. Within ten minutes, he was already en route.
At the same time, the police station dispatched a full SWAT unit after receiving Joshiro's report. Armored vehicles roared through the streets and converged in formation at the row of small two-story rental houses beneath Saitama's apartment building. Known for its isolated location and suspiciously low rent, the area had become infamous in urban rumors as the "Department Store of Crime."
The residents included all types, but the worst elements had long since claimed control of the neighborhood. Saitama, unconcerned for such things, had lived there without ever realizing it for months. For someone with his simple lifestyle and limited income, there had been no better option.
The armored vehicles came to a stop. SWAT officers armed with riot shields and rifles disembarked in formation, securing the surrounding perimeter and moving in to contain the threat. Almost simultaneously, the Hero Association arrived on scene under the leadership of Shizuka. The two groups encountered each other directly in front of the crime scene, neither willing to step back.
Meanwhile, Joshiro quietly pulled Saitama aside to ask about the sequence of events. Saitama explained how he had gone to pick up his sportswear, only to learn that the shop owner had fallen into debt with an underground bank. Motivated by his own sense of justice, Saitama offered to help, but soon discovered that the so-called bank was a front. Within moments, the owner of the operation revealed himself as a grotesque goldfish-type monster. Though the monster had not been particularly powerful, it had been disturbing to fight, and the clash had destroyed Saitama's sportswear again.
Joshiro pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. "Underground loan sharks, underwear thieves, counterfeit currency… all this chaos from repairing clothes. Only you would turn something so ordinary into this kind of trouble."
"Hey, is that supposed to be a compliment? It doesn't sound like one." Saitama scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Just take it as one," Joshiro replied flatly before pulling Saitama toward the center of the dispute between the police and the Hero Association. "Come on, repeat exactly what you told me to them."
Saitama groaned. "Do I have to say it all again? That's so much trouble…"
"Yeah, yeah, you know it's trouble," Joshiro answered sharply. "Stop complaining and just get on with it."
…
After the matter was sorted between the two organizations, Shizuka addressed Joshiro directly. "From this point forward, the Association will coordinate directly with the police. Thank you for your cooperation, Joshiro-san. The Association is in the process of constructing the most advanced Monster containment prison in the world. I will speak with the police authorities to have custody of the goldfish monster handed over to us." She bowed slightly as she added, "Should you encounter a similar case again, we hope you will contact us immediately."
"Understood. I'll keep that in mind." Joshiro tilted his head toward Saitama, who was standing half-detached from the crowd, scribbling something lazily in a notepad to avoid trouble. "By the way, Saitama was the one who defeated that monster on his own. He also handled the Frog Man incident last time. Would you like to meet him?"
Shizuka glanced in his direction, her expression neutral. "Ah, is he your acquaintance? In that case, of course. When I return, I can also put forward an application to the Association for distributing bonuses to civic-minded individuals like him."
Joshiro frowned slightly. "This isn't really about bonuses…"
But Shizuka seemed uninterested in pursuing the matter further, and Joshiro let it drop. He didn't want Saitama's simple motivation to be reduced to financial transactions alone.
…
By the time the scene was fully cleared and both the police and Hero Association withdrew, it was already late at night. Saitama remained outside his building, scratching his head. He had a nagging sense that he had forgotten something important but couldn't recall what. Shrugging as he often did with such matters, he decided not to dwell on it. He had never been good at remembering trivial details in daily life.
"Joshiro, do you want to come upstairs? The place is small, but I have tea," Saitama offered.
"That's fine. After working all night, a cup of tea sounds good." Joshiro arched his back slightly to stretch before nodding. "Excuse me, then."
They climbed up to Saitama's small apartment. Inside, clutter filled the entryway and spilled into the living room. Saitama tensed slightly upon seeing it through Joshiro's eyes, embarrassed at how little he had noticed until a guest actually stood in the middle of it. Muttering under his breath, he hurried to clear a space while setting water to boil.
Joshiro sat cross-legged on the floor without complaint. He already knew Saitama's financial state and did not find the mess surprising. Just as he settled in, a sudden knock hammered at the door.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The knocks were firm and forceful. Saitama glanced toward the door. "It's so late… who could it be?"
Joshiro stood up and crossed the room. "I'll get it." He pulled open the door to find an elderly woman with a stern face waiting outside. Her eyes narrowed as she recognized him as one of the officers from earlier. Her aggressive posture eased slightly. "...Hey, isn't it that guy?"
"Are you looking for Saitama?" Joshiro asked directly. When the woman nodded, he turned his head toward the apartment. "Saitama, someone's here to see you."
"Coming…" Saitama approached quickly, still holding the teapot. The moment he saw the visitor, his expression stiffened and he nearly closed the door in reflex. The old woman's glare sharpened at once. "You, come outside and talk to me."
Saitama groaned under his breath. "Ah, such a hassle…" He set the teapot down reluctantly and stepped past Joshiro. "Well, Joshiro, you sit a while. The tea's ready. I'll be right back."
The woman thrust the door fully open and moved outside with him. It slammed shut behind them with a heavy sound as their voices rose beyond the walls. Joshiro remained seated, lifting the cup of tea to his lips. It was a plain brew, but he drank it quietly all the same, content to let the night settle back into silence.
PS GOALS: 150 PS= 5-10 extra chapter on an update.
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