Chapter 029 - Pinnacle

When we reach the apartment, Saitama drops me on the floor and leaves without saying a word. I hear his footsteps running down the stairs when he closes the door behind him. He did not even wait for the payment.

I sigh. Sometimes I delude myself that Saitama is starting to feel something for me and is just using money as an excuse to be kind to me. Nevertheless, it feels so good to be sitting here after being carried by him for a long time. I rub my thighs and stretch them out. They feel stiff.

My mind wanders back to the events that had happened earlier. I remember how excited I felt when Saitama came to my rescue. But then, I got angry at him because he was insensitive!

I lean on the wall and stare at the ceiling. What is wrong with him? Do I intimidate him? I shake my head. I can't start assuming things like that again. I need to sort this out!

The door opens abruptly, and I jump in surprise. It's Saitama again. This time, he is with King. King bows at me, and I respond with a smile.

"Hey," I say. "Why did you just leave me here?!"

"I had to get rid of some guys following us," Saitama answers.

"Oh." I hope he's not referring to my sister. He's been gone for a while. "And y-you?" I stammer as I ask King.

"I come across him while I am out to pick up the latest volume of a manga I like."

I frown. "Okay... And?"

"Saitama-shi has got some weird problems."

"It's not weird! It's vague!" Saitama complains.

Is it about me? I look expectantly at him. "If it's about me–"

"Why would you be my problem?"

Pain pricks my heart, and my shoulder droop. "Right... So maybe it's your hair?"

Saitama grimaces. "Why would anyone think that my major problem is my lack of hair?!"

"If it's not your hair, then..." I cross my arms on my chest and ask, "What is it?"

King clears his throat. "Well, since Saitama-shi reached the pinnacle of strength, he's bored now."

"He's what?" I ask, not quite believing what I heard.

"He's bored."

"No, before that. You mention he reached the pinnacle of strength?!"

"Ahm, yes."

And so I laugh. "You're kidding, right? A B-class hero already reached the pinnacle of strength?"

"It's true," Saitama says. "I'm not bragging or anything."

My laughter becomes louder. "Ha! Pinnacle of strength. That's the best joke I've heard so far."

"Somehow, I feel like I am being insulted by her laughter," Saitama whispers to King.

"Hey, King. What can you say about him taking the strongest human alive title?"

"Ahm..." he starts. His eyes dart back and forth. "It's true. Saitama-shi is the strongest."

I laugh out loud. Tears start to appear in the corner of my eyes. How could he be so stupid?! He should know better than to boast about such things!

"Hey, calm down," Saitama says. He places his hand on my shoulder. "I didn't mean to brag. But I am at a point where I don't feel a thing during battles."

"Pffftt!" I snort. And then I can no longer stop myself. I guffaw at the absurdity of it all. My sides hurt from laughing so hard.

Saitama sighs. "You don't believe me."

"I do." I wipe the tears from my eyes and place my hand on his shoulder. "I do believe you. But even so, if that is true—"

"It is true!" Saitama insists, gritting his teeth.

"Yes, yes," I patronize him. "If that is your problem, then I need to tell you that there is more to life as a hero than maxing out your strength."

"I don't want to hear that from you."

I ignore his insinuations. Instead, I continue, "Like having a hobby, enjoying being alive, love for family, and love for a sister...." I pause, remembering my older sister and how I want to become a hero for her.

Saitama grimaces. "You are just reflecting your life on me."

"I am not," I say. This time, I place both my hands on his shoulders. "If you don't feel joy anymore. Nothing pisses you off anymore. Then allow me to make you feel again." I feel my cheeks get warm from what I just said. Yet, I bite my lower lips to steel myself.

"Ha?" he asks.

"You say y-you are bored, so let me love you. Try to love... me back. Maybe that way... y-you can feel something e-else," I stutter.

Saitama grimaces, and the look of blatant disgust hurts me. Yet, I already blurt it out. I won't back down now! Even if I am already losing my cool! Why the hell did I even start this type of conversation?!

"That's a good idea, actually," King interjects.

Excellent thinking, King! Right now, I need to save myself from this shame!

"I heard love and romance can trigger deep-seated emotions you never knew existed. Love, romance, addiction, possession, jealousy, and adoration. There's a lot."

I look at King with gratefulness. But where did he hear those words? Or has he read them somewhere? Whatever, I appreciate him trying to help me save face here.

Saitama looks away from me. "I have no interest in any of that."

"You don't?" I ask.

"No." He shakes his head.

"My! My! My! Aren't you such a spoiled brat? You are being helped here. We give you solutions, and all you do is make up excuses. Not taking action won't solve your problem."

"She has a point, Saitama-shi," King agrees.

"Shut up!" Saitama yells, a bit panicking.

I frown at him. "Or maybe you are afraid of love because you think you will lose control over yourself?"

"You are running away, Saitama-shi. Miss Fubuki is presenting a suitable solution. She's got the short end of the stick in this. If you reject this, you are just a coward."

"Shut up!" Saitama shouts again.

I roll my eyes at him. "So, what do you say?" I turn around to King and then to Saitama. "Are you going to say yes, or are you going to stay a coward?"

"Why the hell are you blackmailing me?!"

"So?" I urge him.

Saitama takes a step back and puts his hands on his hips. "Fine! I will try it!" he retorts.

Somehow, I see a smile on King's face. "Great job, Saitama-shi."

"What the–"

"Now, seal it with a kiss."

Saitama and I both look at him. "What?!" I exclaim.

"I see in anime and read in the manga that confessions like this... It is followed by a kiss. Else, the conversation never happened."

"In what—"

"Okay," I cut Saitama off. "I will do it because I am not a coward like you."

I move closer to him, and he takes another step back. "Hey, Fubuki..."

I trap him against the door and cups his cheeks. I need to get this over with because I am about to burst with shame soon. "Kiss me."

Saitama frowns as he looks into my eyes. He does not seem happy about this at all. His expression looks so serious, and he doesn't make any moves. And so, my lips turn up.

"Don't you dare push me away," I say before touching my lips to his.

He freezes for a moment, and I can't move anymore. I feel like I am petrified while my lips are touching him. My head is spinning, and my face is so hot. I feel like I am going to get a high fever soon.

Suddenly, Saitama takes hold of my shoulders and pulls me away from him. I open my eyes. The warmth of his lips is still on mine.

'Fuuuuck!' my mind screams when I realize how close we are.

Saitama steps back and glares at King. "You are crazy."

Then, I am brought back to reality. My eyes refocus on him simultaneously as his eyes shift to me. "I told you to stop acting weird," he says.

"I am not doing anything weird."

"You kissed me!"

I raise an eyebrow. "Then did you feel anything?" I ask, trying to compose myself.

Saitama stares at me for a few seconds. Then, he presses his hand on his chest and says, "Hmmm, I think there is a little of that."

"Only a little?"

"Yes." He nods slowly.

"How little is your little anyway?"

He groans as an answer.

"Ain't it great, Saitama-shi?" King asks. He takes his things and passes us by the door. "Spend the rest of the day with your new girlfriend."

When the door slams shut against the frame, that's the only time I am hit with exhaustion from the confession and the kiss. I feel dizzy, and it's too late to realize that I have hit the floor.