Chereads / One punch man:Traveling between worlds / Chapter 45 - Secret Episode: A familiar Smile

Chapter 45 - Secret Episode: A familiar Smile

Continuing where we left off

Melissa introduces herself to the girls and she suggests that we talk at a nearby cafe. Everyone had their order and I wanted to have a big ice cream sundae.

Melissa: Oh my gosh, so have you all had experience with pro heroes?

Uraraka:Just training and going on patrols.

Jirou: I was involved in an accident, but all I did was evacuate people.

Melissa:That's still amazing!

Momo:For some reason, I ended up appearing in a TV commercial....

Melissa: You don't normally do this. This is amazing!

💭She is impressed by everything they say...

While the girls are chatting friendly, Izuku and I are sitting at another table and Izuku is waiting for his cold drink.

Saito: Well it looks like we avoided a possible misunderstanding.

I say this while eating my ice cream with a casually neutral expression while Izuku looks like he's going to be sick.

Izuku:I'm glad nothing bad happened.

At that moment I feel someone approaching and I see that it is Kaminari and Mineta wearing waiter uniforms.

Kaminari: Thanks for waiting.

Izuku:That voice.... Kaminari!

Uraraka: And Mineta?!

Jirou:What are you two doing here?

Kaminari: They needed some temporary employees for the exhibition, so we applied.

Mineta: We can see the exhibition in between, and also get paid. And maybe we can even meet some of the beautiful girls we catered to on this wonderful expedition!

💭 Of course, there is another reason in between. It was to be expected coming from the pair of perverts.

The moment Kaminari and Mineta saw Melissa, the two surrounded Izuku and I and began to interrogate both of us.

Kaminari:Hey Midoriya brothers, when did you meet that cutie?

Mineta: Introduce us! Give this strength to your friends...

Saito:Do it yourselves.

I answer that by eating my ice cream not caring about Kaminari and Mineta disturbing me.

Melissa: Are they from U.A too?

The moment they heard Melissa saying that, the two stopped being perverted and they approached the girls' table, striking a pose.

Kaminari: That's right.

Mineta: We're going to be heroes.

Soon after, I hear sounds of running towards Kaminari and Mineta, and when I look to see who is running I see that the person responsible is Iida.

Iida:What are you guys doing standing around and talking?! If you want money, then work harder!

Kaminari/Mineta:AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Izuku:I-Iida-kun....

Saito: It looks like the walking megaphone is here too.

Iida: I come from a family of heroes, so we received an invitation to I-Expo. But my family is very busy, so I was the only one to come.

Momo:You too, Iida-san? I also received invitations because my father has shares in some I-Expo sponsors.

Jirou: And since Yao has two extra invitations.....

************

*Flashback*

*************

In a playground, the girls are competing to win Momo's invitations.

Jirou/Mina/Uraraka/Toru/Tsuyu: In friendship, rock, paper, scissors!

Mina, Toru and Tsuyu chose scissors and Uraraka and Jirou paid stone, giving victory to both. Mina being devastated knowing that she missed the big golden opportunity to hang out with Saito since she knew he was going to I-Expo.

Mina:My perfect date!!!

*************

*End of flashback*

*************

Jirou: After a cruel game of chance.... We were chosen to go with her.

Uraraka: Yeah. The other girls also came to this island.

Saito: Cool.

I say this casually while eating my ice cream.

Momo: We were planning on going together as soon as it opens to the public tomorrow.

Melissa:Would you like me to show you around?

The moment she said this the rest of the girls were excited, but everyone's excitement was interrupted with the sound of an explosion.

Izuku:What was that?!

Saito:Almost dropped my Strawberry Sundae.

We went to the place where the sound originated and it is in a competition area for whoever defeats the robots the fastest.

Presenter: Finished in 33 seconds! In eighth place!

Izuku:Kirishima-kun?!

I see the red-haired boy in the contest area wearing his hero costume.

Saito:If Kirishima is here, that means one thing....

Melissa: Deku-kun, he's also...

Izuku:Yes. He is also a classmate in my class.

💭A headache is coming....

Presenter: Now, the next challenger is...

Izuku: Ka-chan?!

Saito:Argh?! I hate that nickname.

Bakugou enters the testing area and he explodes the targets with a certain speed, impressing the presenter.

Presenter: Incredible! With the end of 15 seconds! He's in first place!

Kirishima: Huh? Aren't those the Midoriya brothers?

Bokugou hears what Kirishima said and he sees me and Iuzku. Without thinking twice he flies towards us, holding the guardrail, and he comes face to face with Izuku.

Bagukou:What are you idiots doing here?!

Izuku:P-Stop it Ka-chan. People are looking.

Bakugou:And what's wrong?!

Saito:Shut up, Bakugou! My dessert is ruined!

Iida:Stop it, Bakugou-kun!

Iida said this while standing in front of us.

Bakugou:I have nothing to do with you. Don't act like the class rep here either!

Iida: A class representative is still a representative, no matter where he is!

Melissa: Why is that boy so angry?

Jirou: That's how he always is....

Uraraka:It's a battle destined between men!

I am perplexed by what Uraraka said, but I go back to eating my ice cream.

Momo:Kirishima-san, did you also receive it for exhibition?

Kirishima: I didn't receive it. Bakugou received the invitation as a prize for consideration at the U.A. sports festival for taking 2nd place. I just came with it. Why the question? Will everyone try now?

Bakugou: There's no way! Since I will definitely be better than you two!

Saito: Really?

Izuku: Yes, you're 100% right.

Uraraka:But there's no way to know if you don't try.

Because Uraraka said this, Bakugou considers it a challenge and told Izuku and I to participate in the contest.

Izuku was the first and he uses One For All, but at its low power so as not to cause much damage and it destroys all hidden targets.

Presenter:That's amazing too! 16 seconds! He reaches 2nd place!

Uraraka: Wow, so close!

Izuku: I wouldn't think it would come close to Ka-chan's time.

Bakugou: So! I'm going again to blow everything up!!!

However, at the same moment I see Todoroki entering the activity and he freezes the area where the robots are hiding with great speed.

Presenter:Incredible! 14 seconds! He jumped to the top!

Izuku:Todoroki-kun!

Melissa: Is he in your class too?

Saito: He's more like the emo of our group.

Momo:Saito...

Momo said this looking at me sideways not liking what I said. Bakugou, already very angry, flies towards Shoto.

Bakugou:You half-and-half bastard!

Todoroki:And you Bakugou...

Bakugou:You suddenly appear, trying to show everyone that you are amazing, you son of a bitch!

Todoroki: Are Saito and the others here too?

Bakugou: Don't ignore me! After all, why the hell are you here?

Todoroki:I'm here representing my father, who was invited.

Presenter: Well.... The next person is waiting....

She said this with some fear of Bakugou due to his aggressive personality.

Bakugou:Shut up! I'm next!

He said this shouting, scaring the poor presenter.

Saito: Well then, can I start? Since I am the next person.

I say this standing next to the presenter who is surprised to see me next to her.

Presenter: You weren't at the counter?

Saito: Yes, I was. I had to make a quick exit to throw away my cup of ice cream. Anyway. Let's start.

Presenter:Ehhh it will take longer to remove the ice...

Saito: Oh! I can solve this without any problems.

I say this by extending an arm and sending a psychic wave that destroys the ice at the same time, surprising everyone who is watching except my class.

Saito: Now, can I start?

Presenter:Ah! Y-Yes!

💭Hmmm.... Do I use my speed or my telekinesis?

I decide to use my speed and eliminate the robots, leaving the presenter shocked.

Presenter:That was spectacular! 2 seconds! He is the winner!

Saito:2 seconds? I thought I went slow...

With that I ended up making Bakugou much angrier,Kirishima, Izuku and Iida had to hold the boy back so he wouldn't blow up the entire area.

*************

After a few hours the sun is already setting and we decide to go to where Mineta and Kaminari are, since they finished their work.

Izuku:Good work today!

Iida: You guys worked pretty hard today, huh?

He said this by giving the two exhausted boys two invitations.

Mineta:What is this?

Momo:Invitations to the reception party.

Mineta:Party?

Kaminari:For us?

The two said this with their bodies shaking with anxiety.

Jirou: Melissa gave these to you.

Uraraka: She thought that at least you guys should have fun today.

Melissa: I had some left, so use them if you want.

The two idiots gladly accepted the invitation and they began to cry from such emotion.

Iida told us all to wear our formal clothes for the reception party that is happening tonight and for everyone to meet at 6:30 pm in the central tower.

With that, everyone separated, but Momo asked me to accompany her in search of a good dress for her.

Saito:Momo, are you sure I'm a good candidate for this?

I say this being a little embarrassed to be in a formal clothing store.

💭At least it's not a women's clothing store.

Momo: I'm sorry to bother you, Saito-san, but I need a different opinion other than Jirou. There's also the fact that I also want to talk to you about something.

Momo said this entering the dressing room while I'm waiting and listening to her.

Saito:And what do you want to talk to me about?

Momo: I wanted to thank you for the advice you gave me at the sports festival, it helped me a lot.

Saito: Ahhh, that? That was nothing. I just said what came into my head first.

Momo: Even so. You helped me see the errors in my use of my powers, and for that I owe you one.

I hear this and I wonder what it was like to say to Momo to return the gratitude.

💭I know! This will make me embarrassed, but I've always wanted to do this at least once!

Saito:How about we dance together at the party? That's enough for me.

I can't see Momo, but I hear a certain noise behind the curtains, it seems that my request gave Momo a certain reaction.

Momo:I-I would love that. I'm already done.

Momo takes off the front curtains revealing the dress she is wearing, it is red in color and I have to admit, Momo looks very beautiful in what she chose.

Saito: You look beautiful....

I ended up saying that by accident and blushed when I realized what I said. Momo felt embarrassed upon hearing my answer.

Momo: T-Thank you, Saito-san. I-I should keep this one.

Saito: Aren't you going to see the others?

Momo: No, I won't!

She responds by taking the curtain covering her again at a certain speed.

After that we are both walking the streets heading to our hotels. We are talking about various things about our school, about the things we are going to do at the exhibition and so on.

Momo: Saito-san, can I ask you a question?

Saito:Yes you can.

Momo:What motivated you to be a hero?

When Momo asked this question I immediately stopped walking, as if this question caused a reaction in my entire body.

Saito:What motivated me to be a hero?

💭 This question is easy, isn't it? It was because of my father...

No... It wasn't him....

For some reason I can't swallow the reason it was due to my father or mother, a part of me doesn't believe it's just that reason.

Saito: Strange....

Momo:What's wrong?

Saito: I can't remember what the reason is.

Momo looks at me, confused by my answer.

Momo: What do you mean, you don't remember? Everyone has a reason for wanting to be a hero.

Saito: I know that. But for some reason, I can't give a concrete answer.

💭As if there is something missing, something very important.

I try over and over again trying to figure out the reason for this inside my head, but the more I try, the more I insist.

Until I managed to get a result....

*************

*Flashback*

2 years ago in the world of One Punch Man

**********************

I was 14 years old and was about to turn 15 in a few months. At that time I didn't have a dream or a desire to be a hero.

I always said "why do I have to be a hero with a father and mother who are super powerful?"

But that wasn't the only problem, I also had one that I dealt with almost every day at school.

People's fear of the unknown.

At that time I didn't have much control over my powers, I only knew the basics and so the other students didn't like me doing some small destruction because I was an emotional person.

I was always ignored, I just talked to the teachers if necessary and talked to the other students if necessary. I had friends, but they were fake, they just put me in a group of people and when I tried to talk to any of them I was treated as if they were a ghost.

The worst thing was the whispers I heard saying that everyone is afraid of me, that I can destroy everything for anything, that I'm a time bomb, etc.

I was treated as an "anomaly" by normal people.

But even so, I managed to live with it without any problems. Yes, it hurt inside, but then I got used to it and adapted to it.

But all that changes when I meet a girl with black hair and golden eyes.

???: Eating alone is not good, you know?

Saito: Hmm? Who is it?

I say this looking at the girl who is watching me eating my snack.

???: I'm @#$€¥, I'm your classmate, you may have already seen me.

Saito:I've never seen you in my life.

The moment I said that @#$&! She has a sad expression and starts to "cry".

???:What evil! I was trying several times to talk to you, but someone always stopped me or you disappeared from sight!

She said this looking like a child in front of me.

Saito:Okay. What do you need from me?

???:Can I eat with you?

Saito:Yes?

I say this being confused by her request.

???: Sorry if I'm too excited, I just always wanted a chance to talk to you.

Saito: Why?

???: Because you look a lot like one of my favorite characters from my Manga, look!

She said this by showing me the cover of a book that looks like a comic but is not in color.

Saito:What is that?

???: Don't you know what a Manga is?

Saito:If I knew, I wouldn't ask.

I say this with my neutral expression.

???: Impossible! I've never seen a person who's never heard of a Manga! As a top level Otaku this is unacceptable!

Saito: Are you going to answer my question or not?

???:I will if you agree to be my best friend!

She said this pointing her finger at me while doing a certain pose. I'm surprised by her strange request.

Saito: Are you sure about this? Won't you be fake like the others?

I say this being short and thick with her, I don't want to have to go through that hassle again.

@$¥¢ has a gentle smile and she holds both my hands, looking me in the eyes.

???: I promise that. After all, you're not the only one who feels alone as if you were an "anomaly" among people who don't like you.

I run out of things to say after hearing her answer, I didn't feel any lie coming from her and this is the first time I've been happy to have a real friend.

💭I have to give something in return...

I was very happy that I had to give her something, that's when I quickly took a white flower and gave it to her.

Saito:S-Since you're my f-first friend, I-I want you to have this!

I say this, becoming very red with embarrassment, I didn't want to have done this without thinking better, but I wanted to thank her in some way.

That's when @&$@ gave a smile that I will never forget for the rest of my life.

???: Thank you, Saito! I kept this with all my heart!

It was with that simple smile and the color of her eyes that transformed me into the man I am now. I learned anime, games and several other things from her.

She was the one who made me want to be a hero, the desire to save people, she was the one who gave me my passion for anime.

But...

For some reason....

Why....

Why am I remembering this memory.....

It leaves me with great sadness...

************

*End of Flashback*

**********

Momo: Saito are you okay?

Momo's voice breaks me out of my trance and I look at her confused.

Saito:Momo? What happened?

Momo: You were very quiet and still like a statue, I was worried.

Saito: Oh, yes. Don't worry I'm fine.

Momo:Are you sure?

Saito: Yes.

Momo: Then why are you crying?

The moment Momo said that I felt something liquid on the side of my cheek and I noticed that I was actually crying on one side of my face.

💭 Strange..... Why am I crying?

And why can't I remember why?

To be continued....

*************

A/N:Giving more details on the appearance of the mysterious girl.

She has the same appearance as Kiana from Honkai Impact, the difference is the color of her hair and eyes.