One Punch Man Oneshots

Tomabechi's Udon

I relocated to the business section of Z-City after my son and grandson died from an explosion in B-City. Here, I started a small udon business named Tomabechi's Udon, the same name I inherited from my father. My son inherited it, and the tradition would've continued to pass down to the next generation after my grandson if they didn't die.

Sadly, it's just me running the business. I have everything I need and I'm quick enough to do it all alone, but sometimes, I wish death would have come for me instead of the rest of my family that I had left. I think about slitting my throat all the time, and I even have the katana that I inherited from my father in the food stall.

Sometimes, I feel like I've failed my father—I failed to continue our family even though I had nothing to do with it. Now, as an old man, all I can think about is grabbing that katana and cutting my stomach open or slitting my throat...

...

"RUN AWAY, IT'S A MONSTER!" Someone on the street had screamed.

Only for a moment, I look up to really try and figure out what's going on, but that's only after I've served my customer his meal. When I look up, I only see a man running away—nothing else.

I turn my attention back at my customer who's slurping his udon.

"I don't think it's much. People like that yell monster all the time—just assholes trying to get enough. Until a real monster shows up, I'm not buying it..." The man said, eating the udon.

After he had spoken, I was in the back preparing to make more entries.

By the time I came back to the front, my customer was nearly done with his meal. He took about five more minutes to finish and, instead of leaving the bowl, bowing, and leaving, he decided to hand it to me instead.

"You have the best Udon in Z-City, no kidding. I'm coming back some time." The man said as he paid for the meal and gave me a tip on the side.

I saw him walk out in the middle of the street, look both ways, then decide to keep on walking.

I was now more interested in looking for other potential customers that might come by, given the fact that I too didn't believe there was a monster coming—until I looked up again and saw another man fall to the ground—his entire head missing.

Scared for my life, I quickly go to the back of the restaurant to go get my clan katana, only to hear a loud bang.

With the katana, I rush to the front of the store and see a young man with brunette hair wearing a blue jumpsuit standing over a monster, barely sweating. Confused, I slowly went out of my food stall and approached the man who helped me.

"You did this?" I asked.

The man didn't say anything. Only stared at the monster he had just killed and turned around to leave. I stopped him.

"Please, have some of my Udon. It's the least I could do for your generosity. What's your name?" I ask.

The man looks at me, his face filled with a sense of joy and accomplishment.

"Saitama."

"Tomabechi. Nice to meet you."

...

(EVENING)

Saitama was an interesting young man. The way he casually carried himself felt off to me. It was almost too weird, and he always looked roughed up due to fighting monsters.

He felt so safe and at home in an environment where others would question if they're going to live another day.

When I gave him my Udon he was hesitant at first, but then, he devoured it, even more quickly than the recent customer I had.