Being Human (One Punch Man x OC)

Chapter 4: Oddities

A scream was heard in the dark night of an alleyway in City Y. People were running from the area as a monster was trying to crawl its way out of the alleyway.
This monster seemed scared for its life, looking back into the dark alley.
In the alleyway, a silhouette was slowly walking towards him.
Then a feared scream was heard as the monster was forcibly dragged back into the alleyway.
"Please! Let me go, I don't know anything! I don't know where your--" Blood splattered from within the alleyway and onto the sidewalk.
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It was a quiet morning in City Z.
Saya was sitting at her desk, typing away on her laptop.
She yawned loudly, the back of her hand in front of her mouth.
"I wish I had gone to bed earlier, last night. At least, I work from home," Saya muttered sleepily, still in her nightgown. It has been a few months since she moved to the city, but she was lucky to get an at-home job.
Saya works as a Superhero Blogger. She gets paid to talk about superheroes, depending on who her boss wants her to talk about. For this assignment, she has to talk about this mystery character that is killing monsters all around the cities. At first, her boss didn't like the idea, thinking it was just a rumor, until the drastic decline in monsters started happening.
Saya hates sitting at her desk, but there isn't much she can do until she's finished with her assignment for the day. She goes at it for several hours until she's caught up. By that time, it was the afternoon and Saya was getting hungry.
With a sigh, she decided, "I think I'll go out for some lunch."
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Meanwhile, Saitama and Genos were walking around, trying to see where they can eat.
"Some of these places are pretty expensive, Genos. I want to try somewhere else, but we might have to go to our usual spot," Saitama sighed in disappointment.
Genos then asked, "What are you in the mood to eat, Master? I'm pretty sure there is a place we can afford to eat at."
"Man, I don't know. I wouldn't mind eating at the diner again, now that I can afford it," Saitama said, his hands in the pockets of his shorts.
Just then Saitama felt his phone vibrate before it started ringing, "Huh?" The hero stopped walking, as well as Genos. Saitama took the phone out and answered, not even checking the caller ID, "Hello?"
Genos asked, "Who is it, Master?"
"Saitama?" The familiar feminine tone caught him by surprise.
Without realizing it, he started smiling, "Oh, hey. I didn't expect a call from you. How's it going?"
"Everything's going okay. I just finished my work for the day and was, actually, going to go get some food. I was calling to see if there are any good places you know," Saya answered, walking down the street, wearing a white sundress with a black belt.
"Genos and I are actually looking to get lunch, too. There's a diner near where we are. If you tell me where you are, we can all go grab a bite to eat," Saitama suggested to her.
He received a giggle, which made red appear on his cheeks, "Sounds like a plan. I'm near the train station towards the South District. I'll be sitting on one of the benches."
"All right. Shouldn't take us too long to get there," Saitama told her, "Not that...you have anything better to do, right?"
Saya gave a playful scoff and retorted, "Says the Manga-reading couch potato."
"Yeah, yeah," Saitama huffed, but wasn't really offended, "We'll see you soon."
As soon as Saitama hung up, Genos was quick to ask, "Was that Ms. Saya, Master?"
"Yeah," Saitama put his phone back in his pocket, "She's going to be joining us for lunch at the diner. We just need to pick her up."
Then, Genos got the wrong idea in his head when he analyzed the phone conversation back, "Would you like for me to sit on the other side of the diner? I am aware third parties are an inconvenience to a couple on a date."
"IT'S NOT A DATE!!"
Ten minutes passed as Saya sat on the bench, browsing on her phone. Although, what she was looking at was lost on her as her mind started to drift other things. She started to think about work, the cities, the monsters, her family.
Then she snapped out of that thought and immediately thought about her sister only. Saya frowned to herself, the memory of her sibling making her miss her deeply.
Just then, the sounds of shouting and frightened screams slowly started to make its way to her ears. Before she knew it, a shadow casted over her and she looked up.
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Saitama and Genos were getting close to the Train station. It took them a little longer than expected, a couple of C Class heroes stopping them to mock poor Saitama only to get scared away by Genos.
Just as they made it the base of the concrete steps, leading up to the trains platform, the two heroes took notice to some people screaming and running away.
"Huh, what's going on?" Saitama pondered.
Genos started to analyze the steucture ahead of him, now starting to notice remnants of a monster spattered in some places.
"I believe there was a monster attack," Genos concluded.
Saitama's eyes widened, "What?"
"Do not worry, Master. It seems that the monster had been--" Genos stopped when he saw his master take off up the stairs in a panic. He quickly followed, "Master!"
Saitama wasn't thinking when Genos said 'monster attack' and Saya just happened to be there. It was almost instinctive that he just happened to start running to the platform to confirm that Saya was unharmed. When Saitama made it to the platform, he was met with a gruesome sight. The entirety of the platform, benches, plants, etc were covered in dark red blood and chunks of what used to be the monster.
He scanned the area quickly, trying to spot Saya, when finally, he did. Apparently, Saya was standing close to where the monster was before it became no more. She seemed frozen on the spot, part of her face and left of her torso was covered in blood.
"Saya!" Saitama ran up to her, his shout eliciting her to turn in his direction before nearly being taken down by the force of his impact.
Saya's arms were slightly outstretched, due to being hugged by surprise. Not far behind, Genos came running, only to stop and take in the nasty scene, also watching as his Master glomped the blood covered woman.
He observed from a distance as Saitama released Saya, but held her shoulders, looking frantic out of his mind, "Are you hurt, what happened here?"
Saya said nothing, her eyes looked voided of awareness and clouded. It was a though she was in a traumatic trance.
"Saya!" Saitama shook her gently, which seemed to work. Saya's eyes cleared and light came back to them as she snapped out of it.
She blinked a few times, now realizing that Saitama was in front of her, "Saitama...?" Her voice came out small.
"Are you okay? Did you see what happened?" He asked her.
Saya looked at the mess and looked back at him, "A monster showed up. I can't recall...what happened after that."
"Well, you're covered in blood," Saitama pointed out. Saya, seemingly confused, looked down at her left hand, seeing the sticky red substance covering her skin, "I guess, I am."
Genos, seeing enough, walked over next to them, "Master, I believe that Ms. Saya is in shock. I believe it would be best to take her to a hospital to be evaluated."
"No, I'm fine, I just need to get cleaned up," Saya said, rather calmly, "My house is pretty far, though. I don't want dried blood all over me by the time I get there."
"You can get cleaned up at my place, it's closer," Saitama insisted.
Saya gave a faint nod as the two boys led her to their apartment.
As soon as they walked into the apartment, Saitama walked Saya into the bathroom, "Here, you can shower and I'll wash your dress, okay?" Saitama suggested, to which the woman nodded silently, "Okay. Call if you need anything."
Saitama closed the door behind him, promptly meeting the young cyborg in the hall, "Well, so much for lunch. At least, Saya is okay. She always seems to be getting into these messes."
"Perhaps, I should patrol the area while you attend to Ms. Saya, Master," Genos suggested, but had different intentions in mind.
"Huh. Good idea," Saitama looked his way.
"I won't be long, Master," Genos proceeded to leave the apartment. As he closed the door behind him, he thought to himself ,'Something is not adding up. That monster at the Station was blown into a million pieces, yet the only one who was even covered in its blood was Ms. Saya. Everyone who fled looked unscathed. I will need to investigate this further.' Genos walked down the steps, determined to go back to the scene.
Meanwhile, at the apartment, Saya was in the shower, the blood had since spilled down the drain. However, she just sat in the tub, legs pulled into her, thinking. While showering, she had left her sundress hanging by the door, to which, Saitama had grabbed to wash for her.
After an hour of soaking, she turned off the shower to get dressed. When she went for her, assumably, clean dress, she was shocked to find another pair of clothes.
It was a pair of sweatpants and a white T-shirt that was two sizes too big for her. Saya, though, didn't question it and put them on, thankful the sweatpants had a string to tighten them.
With a towel on her head, she quietly exited the bathroom and walked towards the living room. On her way there, she stopped at the sound of grunting and grumbling from the kitchen.
Looking inside, she saw Saitama at the sink, intently moving his hands in a scrubbing motion.
Confused, she called out to him, "Everything okay?"
Saitama flinched, not hearing her walking by in the first place, and he looked over his shoulder, "Oh, you're out already."
"Yeah," Saya then inquired, "Um, what happened with my dress?"
"Oh, that. Ummm..." Saitama seemed hesitant to say before looking back into the sink, "I can't get the blood stains out. I've used everything and nothing worked."
Raising a brow, Saya walked over next to him to peer into the sink. There, laid her sundress, now partially brown and pink.
Saya sighed in disappointment, "Damn it, that was my favorite dress, too."
Saitama couldn't help, but feel bad, "Sorry I couldn't do anything about it."
Saya shook her head,"Don't blame yourself, you've done what you could. I'll just have to get a new one. Oh, thanks for the extra clothes, by the way."
"No problem. Figured you didn't want to go home in your underwear," Saitama said bluntly.
In response to such a statement, Saya slapped his arm lightly, a smirk on her face, "What a pervy thing to say!"
"I wasn't. I was just being honest," Saitama let a small smirk of his own to appear. He then noticed the towel still on her head, "You really should dry your hair. You'll catch a cold if you don't."
"Oh, right," Saya replied, slowly moving her hands to dry out her hair.
As she did that, Saitama was curious as to the events prior leading up to this point, "So, you don't remember what happened? What was going through your head when the monster came around?"
Saya's drying motions stopped and Saitama noticed the tension in the air thickening.
Staring at her, he waited for her answer. He noticed that void look in her eyes, he can almost see pain.
He quickly went to say, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't--"
Saya interrupted him, "My parents were killed by a monster."
"Huh?" Saitama blinked at this sudden reply.
"When I was eighteen, my parents were coming to pick me up from my college classes when a monster attacked. They were slaughtered right in front of me. Their blood...was all over me."
Then, it clicked in Saitama's head. When the monster showed up and its blood splattered all over her, she was sucked back into that traumatic moment in her life.
Saitama didn't know how to react to this new information. However, he started to feel a little sad that she went through something like that.
Silently, he placed a hand on her head in comfort, this made her look up at him with wide eyes.
Calmly, he said to her, "I'm sorry you had to go through something like that. If you want, you can talk about stuff like that with me or Genos. We'll listen."
There was a thick silence, Saitama waited for Saya to say something. She just continued to stare, almost like she was in disbelief.
"No one's...ever wanted to listen to what I had to say," Saya told him, her voice soft, "Do you really mean it?"
"Well, yeah. You listened to my problems, it's only fair that I listen to yours, right?"Saitama shrugged,"You shouldn't have to hold that stuff in if it hurts so much. If you don't talk about it, it will build up and consume you."
Saya's gaze downcast at that. Then slowly, she grabbed his hand and removed the towel. Saitama became worried and confused.
Then, Saya said abruptly, "I should get going. I'll return your clothes tomorrow, you can toss my dress."
Saitama stuttered slightly as Saya swiftly walked out of the kitchen, towards the front door.
Flustered, Saitama rushed to catch up to her, "Wait, did I say something wrong?"
Saya stopped midway of opening the door after she had put her sandals back on. She didn't glance at him, but answered, "No. You just gave me something to think about."
With that, she shut the door behind her without even sparing a goodbye. Saitama was left standing there, heavily confused and, another emotion was eating at him. He clenched the fabric of his shirt, where his heart was. It was a nagging, almost wretching feeling.
'What was that? She left so suddenly and now I'm feeling...weird. This tightness...am I upset? No, I'm...angry, almost. But, but not at her. Am I upset because of how she left? What the hell is happening to me?'
A little while after, when the sun had started to set, Genos had returned, looked visible frustrated. It was clear he couldn't find out anything and the Hero Association was being tight-lipped, as well.
"Master. I have returned," Genos said dejectedly. He didn't get a response and grew slightly concerned. Walking into the living room, he saw his master reading a manga.
Saitama was in his pajama pants, but was shirtless, the sliding doors to the balcony were open. Genos didn't think much of it, considering it was getting hotter, now.
As he turned to go into the kitchen, something strange caught his eye. Looking back at Saitama, he noticed an odd discoloration on Saitama's left arm, close to his shoulder.
Genos silently started to analyze it, 'Is that a bruise? I have never seen any sort of injury inflicted on Master, before. What could have caused it?'
"Master," Genos called it to him.
"Hm?" Finally, getting his attention, the Cue-ball, looked up at him, "Oh, hey. When did you get back?"
"Just now. Where is Ms. Saya?" Genos asked.
In response, Saitama shut his eyes in annoyance at the mention of her, "She got all weird on me and left. Gave no reason why, either."
Genos furrowed his brow, thinking it was very odd, as well. He then pointed at Saitama's arm, "Did she give you that bruise, Master?"
"A bruise?" Saitama blinked in confusion and followed the direction Genos was pointing, only to see the light discoloration. He visible flinched in surprise upon seeing it, "Whoa, where did that come from?"
"Did Ms. Saya hit you, Master?" Genos asked incredulously, his eyes wide.
Saitama hastily replied, quick to rebuff the Cyborg's speculations, "It couldn't have been Saya, she barely tapped me. It didn't even hurt."
Genos was now even more suspicious. Before, he didn't see anything wrong with this woman being around. But now, with these strange occurrences, lately, he wondered if these oddities were her doing. However, with lack of evidence, he couldn't confirm it.
He'd go to interrogate her, but with the lack of data, he could either find himself in trouble with his Master, or could be put in real danger.