After becoming professional heroes, part of their information would be exposed.
Now, their names appeared on the Hero Registry, Roy ranked 102nd in B-class, Saitama was 388th in C-class, and Genos ranked 17th in S-class.
Basically, they were all the last in their respective classes.
This was to be expected. Regardless of how powerful a newcomer was, they needed to start from the bottom.
"But the people in the Hero Association really have no eyes."
This was said by Fubuki.
The day after Roy made it onto the Hero Registry, Fubuki enthusiastically found him and, after expressing her admiration for Roy, hinted that he should join the Blizzard Group.
Roy politely declined, and although Fubuki was somewhat disappointed, there was nothing she could do.
Because there was an unwritten agreement between them.
Her usual approach was to pressure and lure newly promoted B-class heroes into joining the Blizzard Group. However, after Roy had rebuffed her once for using such despicable tactics, she hadn't tried again.
While there might have been a sudden realization, although there were factors contributing to it, it was probably because Roy was more important than the others, so his opinion needed to be respected. Whatever the reason, the result was good, which was all that mattered. Although Roy wasn't completely results-oriented, he didn't dwell too much on trivial matters.
Today, both Saitama and Genos were absent.
Genos had come to visit Saitama earlier to see the gap between them. Due to the promise made by Saitama, who had sold him out, he had to agree to Genos's request and was now off to a vacant lot to spar.
Roy wasn't completely uninterested, but since Fubuki had also shown up, he had no choice but to stay.
Bringing Fubuki along wouldn't have been a problem.
But it was their first interaction as master and disciple, and Roy felt it wasn't appropriate to disturb them.
So they ended up chatting awkwardly at Roy's place.
Of course, this was just Roy's opinion, as he wasn't particularly fond of socializing. He had a balanced personality, he didn't mind making friends but also enjoyed his personal space and time alone.
However, when it came to making friends, Roy always took a natural approach and never said anything like, "Let's be friends."
Perhaps it was because Roy had thin skin and couldn't handle such embarrassing statements.
As they chatted, they naturally talked about Roy becoming a professional hero.
When it came to being rated as a B-class hero, Fubuki showed a sense of empathy. She criticized the Hero Association, saying their eyes were blind, and they were parasites feeding off the people's money without doing anything.
As she spoke, she became more excited and stood up, shouting, "No, I can't stand this injustice! I'm going to the Hero Association to complain right now!"
'Hey, it's my own business, why are you more worked up than me?'
Roy sighed softly and stopped Fubuki, "Alright, calm down."
"How can I calm down! Even if you're underestimated, aren't you bothered by it?"
"Am I? Is that how you see it? It seems like Tatsumaki has had a considerable influence on you."
"W-why are you suddenly talking about my sister..."
Fubuki's expression changed noticeably.
"Tatsumaki the Tornado of Terror, the second-ranked S-class hero, is essentially the strongest in the Hero Association in the absence of Blast, the first-ranked hero who rarely appears. She's considered the ultimate weapon of the Hero Association. Compared to the illustrious aura of your sister, while you're also a powerful esper, you pale in comparison."
A person's character is the sum of their social relationships.
In such an environment, Fubuki naturally developed a sense of inferiority towards Tatsumaki, to the point where her mindset became somewhat twisted.
"So, Fubuki, have you developed empathy towards me?"
The most important reason why people feel pity for animals is that both humans and animals are flesh and blood. Humans can empathize and imagine the suffering animals endure, naturally leading to feelings of compassion.
Similarly, people can empathize with others who are in similar environments and facing similar difficulties, leading to feelings of affection or even pity, prompting them to intervene on their behalf.
Clearly, Fubuki was one such person.
However, Fubuki was not Roy, and she could not experience Roy's true feelings.
Being called out by Roy, Fubuki fell silent.
Initially, she hadn't even realized that she empathized with Roy, she simply thought she was doing the right thing. It was only after Roy pointed it out that Fubuki realized her true feelings.
Yes, she had arrogantly made the decision for Roy.
Muttering softly, Fubuki asked, "So, Roy, are you satisfied now?"
"While others' evaluations may be subjective, they are still based on reality and could change in the future. I believe in my abilities, so I don't mind, and I don't care."
"But being underestimated still stings a bit."
"That's probably because you lack confidence. Confidence isn't just about recognizing your own abilities but also understanding their value. Knowing oneself and others allows you to clearly define your position and grasp the situation."
Furrowing her brow, Fubuki said, "I don't quite understand."
Smiling, Roy said, "In simpler terms, don't be too attached to external things. Wealth, fame, status... everything should be measured against your own bottom line. It's not wrong to strive for more, but being too fixated may lead to more harm than good."
"So, you're saying... who would understand that?" Fubuki sighed, feeling a bit enlightened.
Is this what it means to be cultured?
So articulate, it's almost terrifying.
Nonchalantly, Roy said, "It's okay if you don't understand or can't remember. I'm just sharing my thoughts, they may not necessarily be correct. As for your question earlier, consider this my final answer."
Looking at the tea cup in his hand, Roy paused before continuing.
"First and foremost, self-improvement is crucial. Others' evaluations are just responses to your performance, which fluctuates based on your inherent abilities. In other words, the stronger your abilities, the higher the evaluation, unless..."
Unless your abilities reach another dimension beyond others' comprehension.
Like Saitama.
But if that were the case, how others viewed you would be meaningless.
Looking at Fubuki, Roy said, "In other words, rather than overreacting to others' evaluations, it's better to reflect on oneself. While universal truths may not apply to everyone, they are generally applicable and worth considering. If you find that no matter how hard you try, you're not getting the results you expect, then before blaming others, you need to consider whether you've missed something. It's good to have the drive to move forward, but you also need to consider the reality and avoid doing things that go against your goals."
This was part of Roy's philosophy and his advice to Fubuki.
As for how she would interpret it, that wasn't something Roy should worry about. After all, Fubuki was his sister. What was a younger brother doing advising his older sister?
In the midst of Fubuki's contemplation, suddenly, the window of the residence began to rattle.