Hello folks, this is gonna be a chapter that's more so just leading up to the actual date and following the events of the last chapter, so mega oof on my part.
And also, next chapter, I'm obviously gonna get more into it but also get more plot-oriented stuff in there.
And, of course, I hope you enjoy it!
Original Release Date: June 17, 2020
~~~~~
I could feel myself wake up, and felt really warm on one of my sides. It was like I was a little kid surrounded by a bunch of stuffed animals, just feeling safe and warm. But I had, at the same time, no goddamn clue why I felt this way since I'm a 28 year-old adult.
Wait, where am I in the first place? Why was I unconscious in the first place? I felt a little drool on my mouth and instinctively wiped it away, even though I hadn't opened my eyes. I felt really warm for some reason, but I couldn't figure out why. What was I even doing for the past few hours?
Wasn't I on a date with Saitama? Then why was I unconscious? We went to Tetsuya's, I had to do some hero stuff, then went back to hang out with the Baldy...
My eyes snapped open; I was just cuddling with Saitama. A furious blush came across my face as I realized what I had done yesterday with him. All the memories came flooding back and I remembered every little detail.
I had hugged Saitama. He put an arm around me, and I fucking cuddled closer to him? And what's even weirder, he had accepted it and just cuddled with me and somehow, some way on God's forsaken Earth, we ended up falling asleep!
My heart pounded for a bit before I heard Saitama's phone ring; it was a notification from Genos. It read, My apologies, Sensei. I had went to Fubuki's place to hang out and I had accidentally fallen asleep. Bullshit. I knew damn well that Fubuki probably lured Genos in without even knowing it. Wait, why did my phone buzz too?
I pulled it out to meet the text that Fubuki had sent me.
Honestly, I wasn't too surprised to hear that Genos and Fubuki had hit it off. She'd been pining for him for a while, but I was surprised to hear that Genos actually agreed to be in a relationship. I thought he had just been hell-bent on being a hero and getting stronger or getting revenge. One of those things were always on his mind, regardless on what was going on at the time.
But...me and Saitama? The fuck was that?
Honestly, I'm surprised he even agreed to date me. Not that I have a low self-esteem and don't think I'm worthy. I'm just surprised he was interested in anyone at all, let alone be interested in me of all people.
I'm still happy about it. Weird, to think that I'm happy about dating Saitama. I wonder if he's had these sorts of weird deep thoughts? Has he?
He probably has.
And then I realized that I was resting my head on his chest and I feel exponentially more embarrassed, but in a good way. Despite everything that went on, though, I couldn't keep my mind from wandering on what I could eat.
There probably wasn't much to eat, though. Especially with how reluctant Saitama was on buying things, I was pretty certain that it was probably only hotpot or ramen or something like that. Nothing unique. Well, I should probably get up, shouldn't I?
Carefully I lifted Saitama's arm off from around me and carefully got up from the futon. Oddly enough, even though we were sitting and not lying down in the slightest, it felt more comfortable than having in a bed.
Doesn't mean my back's fine, though. The moment I stood up, my knees nearly buckled from suddenly getting up like that. I groaned quietly, and stretched. I felt practically every bone in my body crack.
I noticed that it was oddly cold and noticed a pile of clothes just on a nearby chair. Well, it's sort of expected. Everybody probably had that one clothes chair that looked like an intruder in the middle of the night, right?
Wanting to be a bit warmer, I grabbed one of the sweaters and tossed it on, not even bothering to look at what it was. Considering how I was both thinner and shorter than either Saitama and Genos, the sweater was way too oversized, to the point of the sleeves almost covering my hands, but it was fine either way.
With Saitama still fast asleep, I quickly texted Fubuki back, making sure to tease her just a little bit with a small smirk on my face, and decided to look at what there was to eat.
Expecting the bare minimum, I opened the fridge and was blasted, goddamn inundated with just how many ingredients there were. I didn't think there would ever be something in the fridge other than dust and maybe a cold water bottle or two. There were eggs, milk, yakisoba, vegetables, plenty of fruit, and a whole ton more that I didn't think would fit with how much stuff there was in the fridge.
And then, I realized: It's way too cleanly organized. Everything was packed so tightly and condensed, yet orderly, spick and span. Genos definitely did this. Saitama wouldn't ever have the patience, especially doing something as mundane as stacking the fridge.
Well, at least it was easy to navigate.
As I started grabbing ingredients out of the fridge, I started to come up with what I wanted to make. It was a really, really simple dish, but a bit more than cereal. It was also something way more common for what I remember from school as more of an American/British food rather than something we'd have here in Japan: Eggs in a basket. It was literally just eggs and some bread.
No, that's probably too simple. Something else, then. And I should probably make something for the two of us, shouldn't I? Yeah, I probably should. I'll make some tea to help me wake up a bit better too. I usually had coffee, but there wasn't any here. Tea works just fine.
Well, eventually, I ended up deciding that making a fruit salad, some eggs, and a bit of chicken and rice would work fine. Those foods don't really sound good as a meal together, but I doubt he's picky enough to really go against it.
I hear a groan from the living room, and I realize that he's starting to wake up. I felt a sort of obligation to go wake him up myself, but I held myself back. In the end, I decided to just start making breakfast and he'll probably wake up before I'm done.
To my surprise, I found that cooking in a more compact space is sort of more enjoyable, and it feels more like a hobby than an obligation.
Ew, that sounds like something a boring housewife would fall into. I don't wanna turn into that. I'll make sure I don't become something super mundane. That just sounds so unenjoyable.
Anyways, I just kept cooking and falling into it, wondering what I was probably gonna do today. Honestly, unless another major threat came up, I'd probably have nothing to do like usual. If the Hero Association doesn't summon me (meaning even they, who can't really judge actual power, don't think something's strong enough for me to take), it's probably not worth my time.
I didn't even notice Saitama come up from behind me and mutter, "G'morning, Tats." I could tell just from his tone that he isn't really a morning person. Well, at least I know that both of us don't really like waking up in the morning. Then again, the start of my morning wasn't really that bad.
"Morning," I answered as he walked into the bathroom. He didn't even bother to close the door as he just started brushing. He was hunching, and even though he probably slept longer than me, he seemed exponentially more tired.
"Hey, Tats, what're you making?" In a flash, he had come up from behind me and pulled me close as soon as I wasn't holding anything dangerous and I squeaked. I blushed.
He snickered. I turned around instantly and smacked him on the chest. "Idiot!" I chastised with a fierce blush of embarrassment as he just kept snickering, mock defending from my pseudo-attacks.
I was actually really embarrassed; I hadn't expected to make such a girly noise like that. I kept smacking his chest for the next few minutes until I smelled a very, very poor aroma. Quickly whiffing around, I realized that the eggs I was cooking were burning. Definitely burnt. Disgustingly burnt.
"Stupid!" I continued to chastise Saitama, though with no bite to my bark. I could tell he didn't take it seriously either since he had a shrewd smile on his face too.
"Nah, it's all good, Tats. I'm cool with just eating the rice and chicken and the fruit salad. Thanks for cooking, by the way," He thanked, looking at the food I had prepared sitting there on the counter. I could tell that his appetite was screaming at him, and who could blame him? I thought that I wasn't a horrible cook when I was awake enough to cook something other than microwaveable yakisoba. It looked pretty decent, if I do say so myself.
Regardless, he helped me carry the food that I made over to the table and he set up the table with me. Luckily, he had an excess of tea leaves in his apartment (I didn't try to question it; Genos probably read something on the internet and absolutely doubled down on it), so we had a variety to choose from. He let me choose. I ended up choosing jasmine tea.
So, that's sort of how we had our first breakfast together as an actual couple, as if we were living together. I knew that we were clearly living far from each other, but this felt nice, staying with him. It's not like I was paying for my apartment; that was all left to the Hero Association.
I know that the food I cooked certainly wasn't the best; I know that Tetsuya's food probably wasn't something that'd earn three Michelin stars; I know that the hangouts we had weren't really high-class and all that. But the food we were eating here and at Tetsuya's felt a lot more warming than the time we ate at that high-end place. It feels like everything's sort of good for the soul more than everything. Not soul food, though, since that's a special type of great.
In the end, I got to enjoy a nice breakfast that I made after cuddling with my boyfriend in the morning. Happy about it, but it sounds like a really cheesy teenager couple in a fairy tale.
Still, not complaining.
~~~
"Wait, what, Genos?" Saitama's voice comes through the speaker. For whatever reason, the first thing that Genos proposed that we do as a couple would be to go on a double date: me and him, and Saitama and my sister.
I can tell he's never been in a relationship, and honestly, it's a bit cute seeing him fail to be a romantic. At least he has the intent to, right? He's trying.
I remember that someone used the term 'adorably incompetent.' Pretty sure that applies to this perfectly. Cause, while he isn't really necessarily adorable by standard terms, I can probably look past his absolute hatred of malicious cyborgs.
Probably.
Anyways, he looks at me and gives me a thumbs up, and I know then that Tatsumaki's probably gonna pick up the phone.
...and, there it is. I can practically hear her nagging through the phone, going through all the meticulous details. Where we'd go, why we didn't plan this beforehand, why now of all times, when, what we'd do after, all that.
"Tats, why don't we go to Tetsuya's again?" I hear Saitama suggest. In response, I can practically feel her rolling her eyebrows as if the answer is the most obvious thing in the world.
"We've already been there so many times recently! Hell, we went there yesterday on our date!" She points out, and Saitama's probably going along with it; he doesn't really try to argue much, and I can't really blame him. I wish I could be as impassive as him sometimes.
Wait.
"You two went on a date yesterday?" I tease, and silence comes from the phone. Caught them red-handed. Even Genos looks amused as I keep going, "Oh, I didn't know you two went on your own date too!"
"Too?!" Tatsumaki notices, and at this point, all of us are probably amused at our banter. "Saitama, why didn't you tell me about my ever-so-doting sister going on a date with your apprentice?! I should've taken that opportunity to interrupt their date before I went to your place!"
"Went to his place?! Genos, tell me now!" I practically demand with a smirk on my face, but surprisingly, he has no idea about it either. I roll my eyes and go back to what we were actually talking about, "Y'know what, we'll talk about this after we get all of the details out of the way."
"Yeah, that'd probably be best," Saitama's voice is finally heard again; Neither of us realized that we were dominating the conversation while Saitama and Genos just laid back and watched the fireworks.
Genos clears his throat before speaking his thoughts, "Saitama-Sensei, where is this "Tetsuya's" that you speak of?" Honestly, I'm a bit curious where it is too. Usually Tatsumaki doesn't eat anywhere that she doesn't want to, especially if she didn't like her previous experience there.
"Oh, just this little local restaurant a few cities near my place," Saitama explains. "Run by one of my old schoolmates, and now it's sort of a little community for us to go to even though we graduated years ago." Now I was interested. It wasn't someplace high-end or with super high-quality food. Now this was someplace that I definitely wanted to see.
"Yeah, sure, I'm down for it, how about you, Genos?" I ask, and he nods. "Then it's settled! We'll go there. What time works for you guys?"
"Well, we just ate breakfast," Saitama continues to explain. "Sometime around noon or 1?"
"Yeah, I think we're all free then," Tatsumaki builds off. I agree with the time, making sure that it's good with Genos, and we end the call, agreed on this 'double date' thing that we literally just organized in three minutes with no prior motivation.
"So, Genos, what even made you think about going on a double date in the first place? We've gone on like, two dates, before, and you didn't even know they were dates!" I hold up two fingers to signify it before crossing my arms beneath my bosom. I'm a bit skeptical, but am willing to listen.
Oh, that reminds me. Ever since I realized I had a crush on Genos, I sort of wore less flashy stuff. Now, instead of wearing incredibly fancy stuff that made me seem both snobby and admittedly high-maintenance, I've sort of calmed down my outfits, and lessened my closet's fine repertoire by donating a bunch of my clothes. Now, I still have my hero outfit.
But in recent times, I've been wearing more casual clothing more often. Right now I'm still wearing a dress, but just a simple one. Something you'd see at a high school prom, probably, but it was worth it. Had no fur, and I was just wearing a simple pearl necklace around my neck rather than a lot of jewelry. I have to admit, it's a lot easier on my back.
But easier doesn't make it easy.
"Fubuki? Were you listening?" I see Genos inquire, and I apologize for fading off. "Well, you asked me why I came up with the idea.
"I apologize, but I sort of wanted to see Tatsumaki embarrassed about the whole ordeal. First and foremost I wanted to spend time with all of you, especially since the two of us and the two of them have been with each other in recent days, but I did want to see both of them slightly embarrassed. I doubt they're both normal about having a relationship in public, especially going out to a local restaurant."
I simply laugh at his explanation, and sort of go along, "You know they can probably do the same to us given the chance?"
"Yes, but I think I could probably act ignorant enough for them to give up," he smirks before he realizes what he says and reluctantly sighs. "You've rubbed off on me. I shouldn't do that to my Sensei."
"Hey now, Genos," I laugh with a hint of mischievousness in my voice now. "Maybe that'd work after all."
~~~
"So, Tats, do you think we're too early?" I ask her, and she shakes her head vigorously.
"Not at all, Baldy, not at all," she assures, but her expression is a bit weird. Her shoulders are a bit tense, and she seems a bit more on guard than the last time we came here. She's still wearing my sweater (which does look oddly nice on her) and is wearing sweatpants this time around. I'm also wearing something casual. My favorite 'Oppai' sweater and some shorts is all I needed, and I'm fine. Tats was against me wearing this sweater, but gave in eventually.
I wonder what Genos and Fubuki are gonna come in.
"Something wrong, Tats? You're tense," I note, and she shrugs.
"Just a feeling. I just feel like Fubuki's gonna try something weird," She answers, looking around, and I follow her gaze. Eventually she stops, and I do too, as I notice Fubuki and Genos coming up from the street right across from Tetsuya's.
As they walk across, Fubuki flashes a smile at the two of us while Genos just calmly waves.
"So, let's get this double date started, I guess."
~~~~~
y e e t
Sincerely,
SpiritBloodDragon