1 Chapter 001 - The Meeting

"Class B, Rank 7 Hero Saitama! We know you live here! Show yourself!" Eyelashes announces. He is a lean man who likes to wear black suits and ties. He has long black hair tied on his back. And as his name suggests, he has long eyelashes. He's currently ranked 2 in B class.

"Class B, Rank 1 Hero Hellish Blizzard wants to talk!" Eyelashes continues.

I, Fubuki, stand in front of the door. Our shadows are on the apartment unit. I cross my arms on my chest. Waiting for it to open.

A bald man appears. "Huh?" He looks bored. "Sorry, I don't need a newspaper," he says.

"We're not salesmen! We're higher ranking heroes!" Wild Monkey answers. He is a burly man, huge and with thick eyebrows. And well, he looks like a wild monkey that's somehow tamed by me. He's currently ranked 3 in B-class.

"Hello, new hero," I start. "I'm Hellish Blizzard, understand?"

"Huh? Nope! Who?"

My eyebrows raise. He doesn't know me?! Me?! the–

"She's the top-ranking class B hero!" Eyelashes introduces. Thankfully, I almost lost my grace there.

I wait. He might not know what I look like. But now that my name is mentioned, I'm sure that–

"Oh, good for her!" he says, with a smile. "So?"

A copping attitude. This man.

"Let me make this clear," Eyelashes says. He's irritated. "You are a cocky noob who hasn't come to see Miss Blizzard." He leans closer to the bald man and says, "It's customary to offer a greeting when joining Class B."

The bald man gets out of his unit. And for the first time, I realize that he is wearing his hero uniform. He closes the door behind him and stands in front of us.

"Hi. I'm Saitama. Whassup?"

I raise my brow again. But maybe he really doesn't know things about the hero hierarchy.

"Fine," I say. "Did you know that there are hero factions?"

"Factions?" he asks.

Just as I thought, he doesn't know a thing. "You are new so you don't belong to one, but you won't last long that way," I warn, thinking of all the possibilities that might get wrong for him.

He makes a little frown. "I don't get it."

"You can't move up the rankings on your own," I explain.

"Why not?" he asks.

"They will stop you."

"Who's they?"

"Your rivals."

He takes a sigh and says, "Whatever, I'm busy, so…"

"I'm not done talking!" I complain. I clear my throat and continue, "Join me. I will let you occupy a high rank in class B."

He pauses, and then touches his chin, as if in deep thought. "Huh?" Suddenly, an idea appears in his head. "I get it! If I don't agree, you will try to hold me back!"

He leans closer to me and conspiratorially, he asks, "Do you threaten all class B heroes this way? Like a gang leader?"

"No, just the one who impresses me," I admit.

"Are you afraid that I will take rank 1 from you?" he asks. "Don't worry. After that, I will move on to class A. But…" He looks at me, studying my face, but I keep a cold demeanor. "Why don't you do that? You've got flunkies, but isn't class B boring?"

"Give me your answer," I say, getting annoyed.

"I refuse, of course. Heroes shouldn't care about hierarchy," he says, even making wild gestures with his hands.

"Eyelashes! Wild Monkey!" I call.

"Yes, ma'am!" they both answer.

"Hurt him so bad that he never plays hero again!" I order. My ability engulfs me.

Saitama groans. Too bad for you. Your hero career ends now. You have no right to say those things, and to even reject me!

Eyelashes and Wild Monkey prepare to attack. They take out their main weapons, Eyelashes with curlers and Wild Monkey with his fist, and attack. They are menacing, men that are bigger than this puny bald man.

Saitama moved. It is a lackadaisical punch, too lazy when executed, but with enough power that it blows her underlings away–from the apartment and into the trash outside of the building.

"What the–" I am surprised. They are ranked 2 and 3, for f*uck's sake!

I shift my attention back to Saitama. "You won't last long like that, Blizzard," he says.

Annoyed, I remove my fleece coat. It's my time to lay down my threats. Let's see how long you'll survive.

"Are you messing with me…"

It is a statement, a declaration. My underlings, Eyelashes and Mountain Ape, are both knocked out. My mouth curves slightly as the wind around me gathers. I initially went to visit him, Saitama, the hero who has been rising in the rankings at a fast pace, to join our group. It was named, Blizzard group, one of the biggest groups in the entire Hero association.

I let out a psychic output and everything around us swirls—stones, pebbles, and dirt. It all mixes in the wind that is rising around. I smile despite the nonchalant look that this bald Saitama is giving me. It's annoying. It's clear that he is mocking and looking down on me, just like my older sister, Tatsumaki, who is S class rank 2 hero.

"Is that some kind of psychic power?" he asks, looking around at the magnitude of my ability.

"Yes. You don't seem surprised."

"You plan to fight me with floating pebbles and sand?" Saitama asks, looking bored as ever. "Just stop."

"Ridicule, huh? You'll regret that," I say. No, I will beat him so bad, he will repent at my feet.

With my patience exhausted, I add, "I'll beat you half-dead! Hell Storm!" I yell.

I smile again. I am satisfied, seeing Saitama whirled away from the apartment and into the place he blew my underlings away. Hell Storm is a cruel technique. It renders flesh and shatters bone and immediately breaks my opponent's spirit.

I watch as the swirling technique engulfs him. It's his fault for trying to surpass me. I'm number one!

"You are too hysterical to be on top," he says from behind me.

I whirl towards the voice. How could he?! Whenever anyone rivals me, I crush them! I turn around, but he is already too close!

"You won't last long. You don't understand heroes," he says. "The world is full of savage villains and heroes face them. Even alone, if necessary."

I glare at him. This time, he looks serious, but I purse my lips. I won't listen to him spouting nonsense!

"You gather underlings for strength. But someday, you will face an opponent so strong that they won't be able to help."

Who cares about it?! He's just a beginner in the business! He has no right!

"Factions? Newbie crushing? Keeping your ranks? None of that matters! Do not look down on heroes, you moron!" he yells.

"Shut up!" I scream back at him. "I won't give you my hard-earned position!"

I know he is right. But I won't let him destroy what I have worked so hard for! And yelling this close?! It's downright rude, especially when I am his senior!

Angry and frustrated, I apply my psychic power to the ground. It trembles and sandwiches him between it. He easily punches through it. Using the rubble from it, I control it and make another swirl of rocks. He's pushed back a few meters away from me. Still, he stood his ground.

I call out another barrage of rocks and throw it sharply toward him. And while he is fettered by it, I run toward him. I take my cutter knife and plan to stab him. I might injure him, but I am sure he will survive. He will no longer become a hero, though. His dream stops here. After everything that he said to me, I can't forgive him!

But before the knife connects to his face, I notice his expression change from serious to confused. A huge explosion erupts and I'm disoriented by the gravity of it. When the dust died down a bit, I see Genos, the newest addition to S-class.

"Saitama-sensei, sorry for making your house dusty," he says.

"That's no longer what you call dusty," Saitama adds in a sort-of goofy voice.

I am startled by the turn of events. Saitama's back is facing me and it is obvious that he protected me from the blast. I couldn't help but be mesmerized by the scene and by him. It's definitely not a power of a B-class hero.

"I saw Sonic for a brief moment. What are the two of you doing?" Saitama asks.

My heart skips a beat. I ignore it and ask instead, "Are you an acquaintance of an S-class?" I ask, confused at my 180-degree reaction.

"Huh? You mean Genos?" Saitama asks again.

"I am Saitama-sensei's disciple," Genos answers.

And those words confuse me even more. It is not possible, "Di-Disciple? An S-class under a B-class?"

"You are B-class rank 1, Blizzard of Hell." Genos' expression changes and I know he is mocking me. I chose not to respond to his taunts. Genos adds, "I see. You finally targeted sensei for your newbie crushing and it backfired."

"Nah. That was because she was caught up in your attack," Saitama interrupts.

"I see. Sorry about that," Genos apologizes and the bowing S class hero confuses me even more.

"Exploding Shurikens!" Someone shouts.

There are some explosions, and I thought for a brief second that it was a monster. But it is not. There is another being crouching on top of a street lamp. His shawl is being blown away by the wind. Then he vanishes and appears a meter in front of us.

I can feel his killing intent. He's murderous and just standing there, facing us. He radiates combat skill. I know it! This guy is dangerous!

"Master. This guy is a vindictive and annoying stalker." Genos starts. "I will erase him so he never comes back."