Being Human (One Punch Man x OC)

Chapter 7: Questions and Recovery

The doctors were shocked. They had cut this man open three days ago and already, the stitches were gone and the skin was healed. It looked like he wasn't even hurt to begin with. The IV lines were sitting on the bed next to his arms, too. It was as though they had been pushed out of the skin from the inside. When the nurse tried to put them back in, the needles just snapped against his skin. Genos was stunned by this, too. This occurring as he watched the nurses and doctor change his Master's bandages and IV bags that day.
"How is that possible?" The doctor and nurses were sweating, terrified at the fact that the wounds were already gone.
Genos did a quick scan of his Master's body. Just as he thought, his internal injuries were healing at a rapid rate. By his scans, Genos indicated that everything would be healed in about a week or so. This was a huge relief, but he wondered, even with the injuries healing, when will Saitama wake up.
The news was relayed to the small group of hero friends and they were stunned, but happy. The days seemed to meld together as Genos stayed by Saitama's side. After the odd incident, the breathing tube had since been removed and Saitama was breathing in his own again. Color had even returned to the baldy, as well.
Nearly a week in the hospital, Saitama was completely healed, but was still unconscious. That morning, Genos had come back from the apartment, a small bag with Saitama's clothes in it. He figured, once his Master woke up, he'd want to get out of those hospital clothes.
As Genos placed the bag on the end table by the bed, he heard the door open. He turned around to see Mumen Rider walk in, "Hey. How's Saitama today?" Mumen hadn't been able to visit for a few days, but he was glad he was able to drop by today.
Genos turned back to his Master, "He has fully recovered. Although, he is still unconscious."
"Whoa, seriously?" Mumen came over to the side of the bed, shocked to see that the Cyborg was right, "Wow. Like this, it looks like he's just sleeping. I'm glad he's doing alright."
"He is no longer being medicated, so I am not sure why he is still non-responsive," Genos relayed to the goggled man.
Mumen looked down at Saitama, "Maybe, whatever happened to him, put too much strain on his body. He may be healed, but his mind doesn't think he is, yet."
Genos thought to himself, "Perhaps."
The two stood there when Genos heard something from outside the window. It was people shouting, "A monster is in the vicinity."
Before Genos can even ask, Mumen said, "I'll stay and keep Saitama company. Make sure everyone here is safe, too."
Genos gave him a nod, and instead of using the door, he left through the window. When Genos left, Mumen did a quick scope around the hospital to make sure no monsters had gotten in. To his relief, none did.
About an hour later, he went to sit down next to Saitama's bed.
Staring at his friend, Mumen just sighed, "You're the strongest person I know, Saitama. It's crazy that you were actually brought down like that. What did that to you?" He spoke, hoping that his words can reach Saitama.
But alas, Saitama did not stir. Not that, Mumen Rider was expecting him to.
Saitama's POV
Everything was dark...and fuzzy. It feels like I'm in a void and I can't move anywhere.
But the next thing I knew, I was back in that backyard. I saw Saya, she's yelling at me, again. Am I reliving what happened?
Oh no, she's starting to leave. I need to stop her. I ran over and grab her arm, like before. Then, she quickly turned around...and I saw her fist flying towards me.
I need to get away!!
Regular POV
Outside the dream, Saitama was groaning and his closed eyes scrunched up in agitation. Mumen figured he was dreaming. Leaning forward, he was wondering what he can do, worried about what Saitama was dreaming about. Suddenly, Saitama violently shot up right in the hospital bed, yelling. This scared Mumen Rider so bad, he fell backwards in his seat and the chair smacked into the floor with him in it.
Saitama was breathing heavily, his forehead covered in a cold sweat. His mind immediately came back to him and he started to look around wondering where he was, "Huh? What is this place?"
By this time, Mumen had gotten himself and the chair back up, "I take it you're a violent sleeper, then?"
"Oh, it's you," Saitama recognized Mumen, "Where am I?"
"The hospital," Mumen took a seat back down, "After you got hurt, you were rushed into surgery to fix most of your injuries. Although, it only took you a week to heal. Do you remember anything from the accident?"
Saitama was checking under his shirt for said injuries when Mumen Rider suddenly asked this. He then remembered what happened and he looked at his lap. He leaned into the pillows, "It wasn't an accident. It wasn't even a fight."
Mumen Rider leaned forward out of the chair, curious,"Then, what was it? How'd you get hurt?"
Saitama was silent for a minute before answering, "It was someone...I thought I could trust. I let my guard down...and it turns out that person is strong enough to even kill me."
"Someone you knew? Who?" Mumen asked.
Saitama didn't want to answer. Although, talking about it might help him through his thoughts, "Can you keep a secret?"
"A secret?" Mumen inquired.
Saitama nodded, "If I tell you, you have to keep it to yourself. Okay?"
Mumen was a little hesitant, but nodded.
"It was a woman. All she did was throw one punch and the next thing I knew, I was spitting up blood," Saitama sank into the pillows more, "I don't know why, but I feel like I got played. She was so nice and she treated me like a person. Then, she started talking about how much she hated heroes and how she didn't want me in her life anymore. Genos warned me that she was strong...I just underestimated how strong she really was when I tried getting her to not leave."
Mumen listened carefully and he noticed just by how Saitama was talking about this woman. He sounded hurt, but he was fond of her. That much was really clear, "Sounds like you really liked her. Sorry it turned out that way."
"What?" Saitama shot him a questionable look, "Who said I liked her?"
Mumen gave him a subtle smile, "You didn't have to. It's the way you speak about her. You feel hurt that she tricked you and left. I can even tell you're missing her, right now. You may not realize it, but love can bring out the best in people. However, when that love is betrayed, it can be soul crushing. Didn't you feel that way, at any point with her?"
Saitama searched through his horrible memory and he stumbled on moments when he felt the happiest. He started to realize that recently, it was when he was with her. With her, he felt...whole. And when he remembered what she said to him that night, that pang in his chest returned. He turned his head to stare at the ceiling, "I think...you're right. Lately, since I've met her, I've been feeling all types of things. Anger, worry, happiness, embarrassment...even fear. Even with Genos around, I've never met anyone who made me feel those things the way she made me feel them. Being with her made me feel...content. Now, I feel..."
Mumen Rider completed his sentence, "Heartbroken. Betrayed, even."
A depressed frown then appeared on Saitama's face, "Yeah. I do."
This whole time, without either of them realizing it, Genos was standing outside the room listening. He knew that his Master was attracted to her, but hearing what he said made him realize that this was more than just infatuation. His Master was in love. Ironically, Saitama's heart was one of the only things left unscathed, but it was clear that his heart was broken. He wasn't sure how Saitama was going to recover from this.
"Saitama, I feel honored that you trust me to talk about this but, why not talk about it with Genos?" Mumen Rider, "I mean, he is your friend."
Saitama replied, "Genos means well, but he has a habit of overthinking, so I don't want to worry him. Besides, he even realized I liked her before I did, it's kind of embarrassing."
Genos knew that Saitama wasn't wrong, and he wasn't upset. Silently, walked into the room as if he hadn't been listening.
"Oh, Genos," Saitama was the first to acknowledge.
Genos gave a smile, "I am relieved to see that you are awake, Master. How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling okay. A little sore, but okay," Saitama shrugged, then asked, "Where were you just now?"
"I was in the area, fighting a monster," Genos replied, "I just returned."
"I see," Saitama responded, 'I'm glad. I was afraid he heard everything just a moment ago.'
"I will let the doctor know that you are awake, so we can discharge you," Genos said and turned to leave.
"Genos," Genos stopped and looked back at Saitama, "Did...you see where she went?"
Genos took notice that Saitama didn't say her name. Whether it was because Mumen was there or it was because it was too painful to say, he wasn't sure.
"Unfortunately, I did not," Genos told him and Saitama had the vague impression of disappointment in his eyes at the answer. Genos didn't know what else to say to him, so he left the room to get the discharge papers.
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A couple weeks had passed since Saitama was discharged. Even after waking up, the doctor refused to discharge him right away. After Genos had a small argument with the doctor, it was decided that his Master would stay a day or two for evaluation.
After returning home, everything seemed to be go on as normal. At first. Slowly, Genos had started to notice that Saitama was becoming a little withdrawn. He was spacing out more than usual and he was barely speaking. When Saitama would be spoken to, he would give very vague replies.
Genos was concerned, but didn't want to bring it up. Mainly because he knew why Saitama was acting this way. He didn't realize how much it was effecting Saitama until one day, he came back from running an errand.
Genos walked into the door, holding a bag of groceries. They were mainly cleaning supplies, like dish soap, scrubs, etc.
He was about to announce that he was back, but quickly noticed how empty the apartment felt. Genos walked inside, setting the bag on the small table. That's when he noticed movement just outside the sliding doors, the long curtains creating a silhouette.
Genos knew it was Saitama, since lately he'd spend his time outside on the balcony.
Outside, Saitama had his phone to his ear. He seemed that he was trying to call someone.
There was a beep, 'The number you called is no longer in service.'
Saitama sighed, and looked at the phone with mild frustration, "Come on. I left voicemails yesterday. Why isn't it working, now?" he mumbled.
"Master," Saitama quickly looked behind him and hastily put his phone in his pocket.
"Oh, hey, Genos. I didn't hear you come in," Saitama said, seemingly calm, but Genos can see through it.
Genos looked blankly at the man, "You were trying to contact Ms. Saya."
The wind blew as a moment of silence came over the both of them.
Saitama made no movement or showed any signs to protest this statement. Then, his expression glazed over and he made to sit down on the concrete floor. Genos silently took a seat next to his Master, not wanting to say anything more. He was afraid Saitama might get angry if he pressed for more information.
"She won't answer her phone," Saitama said suddenly, "I've left voicemails, but now her number isn't even working."
"She must've disconnected her number, in fear that she could be tracked," Genos made a lost attempt to reassure Saitama.
Saitama breathed through his nose quietly, "I hate feeling like this."
"You miss her," Genos stated.
"I'm also angry," Saitama clenched a fist, "She thinks heroes only care about themselves and that no one would help her. If she had asked..."
Genos felt a twinge of guilt as Saitama trailed off, "I blame myself for this, Master. If I had been more careful with my words, none of this would happened the way it did. I am sorry."
Genos had bowed his head.
Saitama looked over at him as he spoke, before looking away again, "I don't blame you, Genos. It's obvious she had felt this way for a long time. You only told her the truth."
Genos became angry and argued, "But if I had been more compassionate, she would have come to you for help. She had trusted me with sensitive information, in hopes that I would get you to help her. Because of my thoughtlessness, she lost trust in you! Why are you not angry with me?!"
"What the point of getting angry?" Saitama asked, dejectedly, "What's done is done. I just...have to move on."
Genos grumbled in agitation, mainly towards himself. He felt responsible, regardless of what Saitama said.
They sat in silence, before Genos said calmly, this time, "If you need someone to speak to, Master. Please, confide in me. I do not want you to suffer in silence."
Saitama just gave a nod. Genos did mean well, but he seemed too young to understand what was going through his mind. Talking didn't really help much. When Saya left, it felt like she took a piece of him with her.
He felt broken. What he can hope for now, is that this feeling goes away, soon.
And that he would never see Saya again.