One-Punch Man world, Z-City.
Saitama's small but relatively clean bachelor apartment.
Fine snow was falling outside the window, but inside, the hotpot was steaming, filling the air with the rich aroma of bone broth.
Today was New Year's Eve in the One-Punch Man world. Saitama and Naruto had agreed to have hotpot together to celebrate the New Year. Naruto had also promised to bring his "girlfriend," making Saitama very curious about what his "Sensei's wife" would look like.
"Naruto-sensei, when will your girlfriend arrive? The meat is going to get overcooked."
"This is premium meat I managed to get during a rare supermarket sale. I usually can't bear to eat it and have been keeping it in the fridge."
Saitama, wearing his usual casual clothes, held his chopsticks, his eyes fixed on the beef slices bubbling in the pot, looking somewhat impatient.
"Kept in the fridge—Saitama, this meat isn't expired, is it?" Naruto asked, a bit worried.
"No, no, it's not."
"But I'm worried the beef will get tough if cooked too long."
"Soon, soon. They said they're already downstairs."
Naruto sat cross-legged at the low table, smiling as he arranged the bowls and chopsticks, looking completely at ease.
Ding-dong! The doorbell rang.
"They're here!"
Saitama's eyes lit up.
The people had arrived, which meant it was time to eat!
"Sensei, I'll get the door."
Saitama instinctively straightened his non-existent collar and ran to open the door.
"Sensei's girlfriend… she's probably a delicate and cute girl, like the cashier at the supermarket downstairs?" Saitama thought to himself.
As soon as the door opened, Saitama froze.
Standing outside the door was a graceful young woman.
She was wearing an off-white high-neck sweater with a light pink long cashmere coat over it, and a gently styled scarf. She had on slim-fit jeans and snow boots, looking both warm and fashionable. A shy blush colored her face, and her hands were nervously clasped in front of her. It was Hyuga Hinata.
She bowed slightly, her voice soft and sweet: "H-hello, excuse me for intruding. I am Hyuga Hinata, Naruto-kun's friend."
Saitama stared, dumbfounded, at the beautiful young woman before him, with her gentle demeanor and delicate, lovely appearance. His mouth slightly agape, he instinctively replied, "H-hello—please come in—"
A storm raged in his heart: "Naruto! As expected of Naruto-sensei—he actually has such a beautiful and seemingly super gentle girlfriend?! How enviable!"
However, before he could fully process this shock, another figure peeked out from behind Hinata.
"Yo-ho~ Happy New Year!"
"You must be Saitama, the disciple Naruto often talks about, right? I'm Ino Yamanaka!"
Ino greeted him gracefully.
She was wearing a bright yellow short down jacket over a black high-neck base layer, paired with a plaid mini-skirt and thick 'bare leg' tights, with a pair of Doc Martens on her feet. She looked lively and stylish, her golden ponytail swinging, full of youthful energy.
She was also carrying a bag of what looked like very high-quality fruit.
Saitama: "??? "
Another one?
And so fashionable and beautiful?
He felt his brain wasn't quite keeping up.
Next, Shion, elegant and mysterious, wearing a dark purple woolen long dress with a white fox fur cloak, also entered. She carried an exquisite food box and nodded slightly: "Pleased to meet you. I am Shion, the Shrine Maiden of the Demon Country. Hearing Naruto mention a dinner party tonight, I came to join. Excuse my intrusion."
Her makeup was delicate, and her eyes held a hint of curiosity and assessment.
Saitama: "(°mouth°?)"
A Sh-… Shrine Maiden?!
Demon Country?
What kind of game setting is this?!
And she's so beautiful too!
Naruto-sensei is just…
It wasn't over yet!
Karin, with her red hair, glasses, wearing a slim-fit red knit dress and black over-the-knee boots, looking intellectual yet with a touch of wildness, also squeezed in. She pushed up her glasses, her sharp gaze sweeping over the small apartment before settling on Naruto, her tone tinged with complaint: "Naruto, we agreed to go shopping together for clothes, but you snuck off halfway through? I even had to activate my Kagura Mind's Eye to find you!"
She was carrying a large box of premium beef and other ingredients.
"You must be Saitama, Naruto's disciple. I brought you a New Year's gift, no need to be polite."
Saitama quickly accepted it: "Thank you, thank you!"
Finally, the mature and charming Kurenai-sensei arrived. She was wearing a wine-red slim-fit sweater and black trousers, with a khaki trench coat over it, highlighting her attractive figure. A gentle smile was on her face: "Good evening, I am Kurenai Yuhi, Naruto's former instructor. I heard there was a New Year's gathering here, so I came to join the fun and brought some sake."
She shook the bottle in her hand.
Saitama was completely petrified, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg, his eyes staring blankly as these five women, each with a different style yet all stunning beauties, squeezed one after another into his living room, which was only a few square meters.
They were all beautiful in their own ways, the only similarity being the pretty badge each of them wore.
The Underground City party badge!
This was also Naruto's first time bringing the girls to another world.
As for money in the One-Punch Man world, with Naruto's strength, he could easily achieve financial freedom.
He wasn't as rigid as Saitama, who, despite having immense power, lived a struggling life.
Reasonable redistribution of wealth was also part of Naruto's philosophy.
The small apartment instantly became crowded, filled with the chirping of voices and fragrant scents.
Naruto was completely oblivious to the shock Saitama was experiencing, smiling as he greeted them: "Everyone's here! Come in, come in! Saitama, don't just stand there, the pot's boiling, start putting the ingredients in!"
Saitama stiffly turned his head, looking at the naturally oblivious Naruto, surrounded by many beautiful women, and then at these five undeniably close and attractive women. He felt his worldview had been impacted like never before.
He silently squatted in the corner, drawing circles, his back incredibly desolate, muttering to himself: "Girlfriends… so it's not 'a' girlfriend, but 'a group' of them? And they're all so beautiful… You hateful winner in life! I'll give you the title of Supermarket Sale King—damn it—"
"Saitama, what's wrong? Come eat! The beef is ready!" Naruto called out.
"Coming…"
Saitama responded weakly, filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment, and sat back down at the already incredibly crowded hotpot table.
Thus, on this snowy New Year's Eve, Saitama's small apartment hosted an unprecedentedly lively hotpot feast.
The table was laden with a large amount of meat and vegetables that Naruto had asked the girls to buy, along with various other delicacies and drinks that enriched the meal.
Although the space was cramped, the atmosphere was lively.
Hinata carefully helped everyone cook their meat, Ino animatedly recounted interesting stories from the Ninja village, Shion curiously sampled modern world food,
Karin complained about the crowding while continuously serving Naruto food, and Kurenai-sensei elegantly sipped sake, smiling as she watched the young people.