Three Days Later

"Although City Z was able to avoid total destruction by the impact of the meteor, it still suffered widespread damage due to the shower of meteor fragments," The reporter on TV informed.

"Amazing how all this happened in just one day," You said, looking at the images of the devastation on the streets of City Z.

"If the Hero Association had asked you and Sensei for help instead of me, you two and Metal Knight could've cooperated to keep the damage at a minimum," Genos stated with a firm gaze.

"Me? What could I have done?" You questioned incredulously.

"You said you were able to lift the meteor before Metal Knight released his missiles or you could have destroyed some of the falling debris," Genos explained.

You shrugged as a troubling thought crossed your mind. You had nearly forgotten that you were being hunted down by your past affiliations. All the news must have reached their ears. It didn't help that you had a number one ranking in popularity polls; so much for laying low.

But that was also a cause for concern. You were getting more and more attention on the media and yet nothing had happened. No one had coming busting down your door and steal you away from this life you made for yourself. What were they playing at? There was no possible way they could be so blind. They were doing this on purpose......but why?

"But that Metal Knight guy wasn't interested in working together," Saitama said, bringing you out of your thoughts. "Don't fret over it." He sighed as he sat up from reading his manga. "We managed to keep the damage to a minimum, right? After all, no one died."

"Surprisingly," You mused.

'He is right,' Genos thought to himself. 'Just one of his punches killed the meteor's momentum. Theoretically, the meteor's shockwaves would have annihilated everything. Stopping it was nothing short of a miracle. The people should extol him as a hero for ages to come. But, while you are unaware of it, Sensei, much of the public considers you to be a villain responsible for the partial destruction of City Z.'

"Genos? You okay?" You asked with a look of concern.

The cyborg's intense eyes rested on you for a moment before replying. "I'm fine." 'I musn't worry them. (y/n) already has enough on her plate with all the media hate. In time, City Z will recover and the complaints will cease.'

"Oh by the way," Saitama said as he lazily scratched his chest. "Do you think we moved up in ranking?"

"You better have, you saved this city's ass," You chortled.

"Oh yes we did," Genos nodded. "I went from S Class Rank 17 to 16. Metal Knight also moved up from Rank 7 to 6. (y/n) went up from C Class Rank 321to 200. Sensei, you shot up from C Class Rank 342 to 5."

"WHAAAAT!?" You cried out in surprise, but Saitama was absolutely speechless for a few seconds.

"F-f-five?" He stammered. "From 342 to 5!? That's crazy!!"

"Hardly, it's well deserved," You grinned. "But that means I gotta catch up to you so watch out."

"It's as (y/n) says. Both your performances were worthy of A Class or even S Class. After all, the threat level was Dragon."

"Had you both prevented any damage, you would have jumped to S Class Ranks 5 and 17," Genos continued. "Simply stopping the meteor should have landed you two in A Class, but the Hero Association assumes Metal Knight and I played an important role."

"Thanks for the flattery, Gen-gen, but we did what any other hero would do, or should do at least." You flushed slightly at the praise. "So what's a level Dragon again?"

"I was about to ask the same thing," Saitama said in confusion. "The reporters always talk about threat levels like 'Demon' or 'Tiger'. What that does mean something?"

Genos stared at the two of you blankly for a second before a wide smirk spread across his lips. It was the first time you'd seen such a smile on him and honestly it was kind of hot.

"Wolf: Appearance of a being or group posing a risk.

Tiger: A crisis threatening massive loss of life.

Demon: A crisis threatening to halt the functioning of an entire city or its destruction.

Dragon: A crisis threatening the destruction of multiple cities.

God: A crisis threatening human extinction."

"I had no idea," Saitama said as you two looked at the flier he gave you both explaining all the threat level situations.

"A hero would usually take that into consideration when deciding whether to respond or not." Genos still wore that smug grin while glancing at both of you. "But I guess none of that matters to either of you."

"No, I care," Saitama surprisingly replied. "Who's gonna fight if all the heroes run away?"

Genos suddenly lifted his pen and rushed like the wind to write something down in the notebook in front of him. "W-what are you doing?" You asked.

"I must record those words!"

"Anyway, it wasn't all that much to for such a huge jump in rank...." Saitama mused thoughtfully. "Yosh! I think I'm going to take a walk."

"Already ahead of you!" You laughed as you struggled to get your shoe on your foot.

"You two are going out?" Genos turned abruptly to you guys who were by the doorway. "I'll come with you."

"No, stay. If something happens you'll get all the credit again," Saitama ordered, adjusting the belt of his hero suit.

"Don't worry, Gen-gen, we'll be back in a jiffy," You grinned playfully. But the cyborg stared curiously back at both of you as you walked away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Wow this place was a lot worse than I thought," You mused as you looked around the demolished buildings about the streets.

"I've seen some destroyed towns in my day, but I gotta say, it suck when it happens to your own," Saitama responded, inspecting his surroundings. "Aw man, my favorite supermarket got smashed, but my old landlord's building is fine? Tch."

You were about to reply something about how he should wish everyone well when a loud thud was heard above you. "Oi!"

You glanced up and saw a familiar buff man in a yellow with brown striped tank top. "What are you doing here, you frauds?"

"Uh...who are you?" Saitama questioned.

"You know damn well I'm Tank Top Tiger!"

"Ohh....it's that jerk from the Sonic incident," You reminded him.

"Brother!!!" Tank Top Tiger bellowed out in the empty street. "I found them!!"

There was a slight tremor as a burly man in a black tank top jumped next to the other male. "Did you call me, little bro?"

"The hero Tank Top Black Hole is here!" This hero looked almost looked like a darker version of the other one. "Are you the bastards who take credit for work done by S Class heroes in order to improve your rankings?"

"The hell?"

"What are you talking about?" You furrowed your eyebrows as you looked to the pair of bulky heroes.

"No one can move up the ranks that quickly without being a cheating scum!" The younger brother said outraged.

"What do you guys want?" Saitama asked, already wanting this conversation to end.

"We're gonna beat you two so bad you won't be able to-"

"Wait, little bro," Black Hole halted. "Their type don't learn that way. We're gonna do worse than that with the most brutal method there is." He suddenly took and deep breath and screamed at the top of his lungs, "AREN'T YOU TWO RESPONSILBE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS CITY!?"

"What?" You gasped, catching on to his plan.

"Unbelievable!" Black Hole continued to shout. "How can you show your faces around here!? Do you feel nothing at the sight of this devastation!!?" By now there was a crowd gathering around you guys.

"Are you gloating because you think you've saved the people!? Is that why you're strolling around so shamelessly!!? Thanks to your screw up, these citizens have nowhere to go!! You both should have stayed back and let the other heroes handle the meteor!! They would have done a much better job anyhow!"

"And yet you still want to play the heroes after causing such a tragedy!" Black Hole sneered. "Look around you! You two did this!!"

"H-he's right!" You heard a citizen say. "It's your fault!"

"Saitama...let's just go," You persuaded while tugging on his sleeve.

"Are you running away from the disaster you caused!? How cowardly!" Black Hole grinned with malice. "Look at them all, victims of your thoughtless actions!"

"T-that's right!" More people joined in.

"Yeah, you 'em!"

"Those beasts!"

"Take responsibility for your crimes!" Black Hole yelled at the two of you. "Or better yet give up being heroes to avoid causing this again!"

"Give it up!"

"Give it up!!"

"Give it up!!!"

The crowd's chanted was booming. Everyone was jeering angrily for their own sufferings.

"Please." You tried again with Saitama but he was stone still and staring at Black Hole.

Up on the rooftops, Bang watched the scene unfold before him. 'Saitama, (y/n).....you both put your lives on the line to save this city and this is how they treat you. However....this is reality.'

"H-hey! They're getting ready to fight!"

"What!?" You yelled outraged.

"What are you talking abou-"

"Are you going to take out your frustration on these poor innocent people just like you destroyed this city!?" Black Hole feigned shocked horror. "Do you just kill anyone you don't like? Well, we won't let you!! We, the Tank Top Brothers, won't stand by and let you two resort to violence!" Both males began advancing towards you and Saitama. "If you guys are heroes then fight us fair and square!"

'It's a public execution,' Bang mused to himself. 'They're out to crush the rookies and perform a publicity stunt at the same time. Those young ones in the tank tops are too greedy. No wonder they can't rise above B Class.'

The younger brother raised his hands in swift motion. "Tank Top Tiger who fights like a true tiger, and..."

"Tank Top Black Hole who crushed all with a grip strength of 2,800 psi!!"

"We brothers will punish all who stray from the path of the hero!!" Tiger roared and gained on you.

Right as he was about to make a grab, you lifted your foot and struck it squarely into the man's pecs sending him flying a lengthy distance into a pile of rubble. Black Hole stared at you for a second before anger flashed in his eyes. "Damn, bitch!!! I'll rip you apart!!!"

You had enough of their stupid antics. As Black Hole towered over you getting ready to catch you in his grasp, you intercepted and rammed your elbows into his. He let out a bloodcurdling scream as you heard the bone pop out its sockets and shatter. You kicked him off his feet and dug your knee in his chest while holding a fist to his face. "Can't use your amazing death grip if you can't use your arms huh?" You growled.

The pain in his limbs and the increasing strength pushing down his chest felt like he had just been hit with steel. "Aah!! H-h-hurts!!! I-I give up!! I give up!!!"

"Really? This seems almost too easy," You said, pushing your knee farther down.

"A-aah!! I'm sorry!! I'm really sorry!!" Black Hole pleaded desperately. "I'm sorry for lying!!!"

"No, you weren't lying."

You whipped around and saw that the owner of the voice was Saitama. He pulled you off the crying man as he faced the crowds. "I'm the one who smashed the meteor!! Anyone who's gotta a complaint, let's hear it!!"

"Saitama...what are you doing?" You questioned in surprise, but he was still scowling at the citizens.

"M-my brand new car was...!" The hesitant person was immediately cut off by the bald man. "You can shut up!! Tell it to the meteor, jackass!!"

"Why would I give a crap about your problems!? Listen up! I'm not a hero because I want your admiration! I do it because I want to!!" Saitama continued to rant. "So if you want to blame me then go ahead!! You baldies!!! But I did the right thing!! Got anymore complaints? I'll talk back though."

"You're the baldy...." Someone muttered.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!!?"

"Saitama!" You pulled him by the collar to make him look at you. You didn't realize he was so close because now his face was literally inches from yours. Your gaze softened as they fell on his warm brown eyes. This was the first time you'd seen them up close; they seemed to hide so much behind that fiery glance. "Saitama," You repeated more gently this time. "Please, let's just go...."

His troubling gaze lost their intensity for a second as he opened his mouth to speak.

"(y/n)! Sensei!"

You both turned and saw Genos standing a little away from you two. "Genos, it's you," Saitama said. He looked back at the crowd and then to you. You shook your head and solemnly took his hand. "We...we were just leaving."

"Right," The cyborg nodded.

After that, all three of you walked away from the silent crowd and went home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Damn it, that guy's face is burned into my brain," Saitama muttered as you guys strolled along the rugged path. The sun was just barely setting under the demolished building tops.

"I have never met anyone as incredible as you two," Genos said.

"What brought that on?" You asked.

"You're creeping me out," Saitama added.

"Even if the public doesn't appreciate you guys, I will still follow you."

"You don't have to butter us up, really," Saitama sighed. "And (y/n), was beating up the dudes necessary?"

"They attacked first," You defended. "I was only retaliating."

"You incapacitated a grown man, then broke his brother's arms as well as probably leave a nasty bruise on his chest."

"You what?" Genos joined in disbelief.

You blew your bangs out of your face and crossed your arms. ".....I might have gone overboard."

"No, no just overboard, you totally ignored the ship and dove straight into the water."

"I got him off our asses didn't I?"

"Probably not the best way," Genos mused, although he kind of wished he was there to see it.

"Whatever....at least I didn't call them baldies."

"SHUT UP!"

I want you guys to realize what badasses you are in this story XD

Next Update: July 9, 2016