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BOOM!
A deafening crash split the air as a huge hole blasted open in the wall. Out of the dust staggered a hideous, snarling monster.
Ethan pounded on the wall next door."Baldy! There's a monster here! Get over here and help!"
"...No!"
"What? What did you say?" Ethan froze.
"I said no! It's just a monster, deal with it yourself!"
"You—you said what!?"
"From now on, whenever monsters come looking for you, don't count on me!"
"Baldy, do you even hear yourself right now!?"
"I do!"
"You bastard! Baldy, you're seriously pissing me off! Genos! Get over here and help!"
"Sorry, Mr. Ethan," Genos replied from the other side of the wall. "With your strength, dealing with a monster should be no problem at all!"
"It is a problem!"
"My apologies, sir—but Sensei said if I help you again, he'll kick me out of the house. So… sorry!"
"WHAT!? Damn you, Saitama! You chrome-domed son of a—!"
Fuming, Ethan stormed toward the next room to confront the bald menace himself.
Behind him, the monster cackled, drool spilling down its enormous mouth."Don't run! Let me eat you! Hahaha! You look delicious!"
"Get lost," Ethan snapped. "I'm not in the mood."
He swatted lazily at the creature.
SPLAT!
The monster's head exploded into a red smear against the wall.
Ethan took a few angry steps forward—then turned, staring at the corpse he'd just made."Ah. Great. Now there's a mess to clean up."
A few minutes later, Ethan and Saitama sat across from each other in Saitama's tiny apartment, glaring like rival cats.Genos stood between them, looking helpless.
"Sensei, Mr. Ethan, please—don't look at each other like that…"
"Stay out of this, Genos," Saitama said flatly.
"Yeah, Genos, don't butt in! This bald bastard is out of line!"
"Who are you calling bald, huh?"
"You, obviously!"
No way Ethan was letting this chrome-domed freeloader get away with it.
Later, the three of them walked down the street together—Ethan, Saitama, and Genos. The air between them was thick with tension.
BOOM!
The ground trembled. A giant worm-like monster burst from the asphalt, glaring down at them with blood-red eyes.
Ethan smirked. "Heh. Let's see if you keep that 'I won't interfere' attitude, baldy."
"Don't worry," Saitama said with complete seriousness. "I'm not lifting a finger."
"Oh yeah? Let's see how long that lasts."
"I'm serious. Not helping."
Ethan folded his arms confidently. No way this so-called hero could stand by while a monster ran wild. He had to step in eventually.
The monster roared and charged toward them—but instead of attacking the group, it lunged straight for Ethan.
"What the hell!? We're standing right next to each other—why is it always me!? Why do these things ignore you two!?"
Saitama yawned. "Did you forget? You've got that special 'monster magnet' condition. They love you. When you're around, they'll always go for you first."
Ethan froze, realization dawning."Ahhh crap, I did forget that! Damn it! You evil bald bastard!"
He roared in frustration and stomped down hard.CRUNCH! The monster's head exploded like a melon.
Genos blinked in awe."Mr. Ethan… you're that strong? I had to push myself to handle monsters of this level!"
Saitama nodded. "Of course he is. I told you—I'm not even sure I could beat him."
"What!? Really? But he always looks so… lazy."
"Yeah," Saitama said. "He's the laziest powerhouse I've ever met. Never trains, never takes anything seriously. But somehow, he just keeps getting stronger anyway."
The more Genos heard, the more astonished—and inspired—he felt. Maybe becoming that strong wasn't impossible after all. Maybe if he trained hard enough, he could reach that level too.
After the battle, Ethan stood there with a gloomy face, sighing heavily.
"Mr. Ethan, are you all right?" Genos asked.
"No. Definitely not."
"Huh?"
"I've got… a disease. Even though I'm strong, my body's condition limits me. Every time I fight, it drains my life force. If this keeps up… I probably won't live much longer."He gave a tragic little laugh, eyes full of sorrow.
"What!? No way! Mr. Ethan, I'll take you to a hospital! With modern technology—"
"It's useless," Ethan interrupted dramatically. "I've seen countless doctors. None of them can help…"
"Mr. Ethan, I—"
"Genos," Saitama cut in, "don't listen to his crap. The only disease he's got is laziness. He just doesn't want to move."
"Shut up, you damned baldy! I almost had him convinced and you had to ruin it!"
Genos blinked. "So… it was fake?"
Ethan stopped arguing with Saitama, turning back to Genos with that same sorrowful look."Genos, my time is short… I just wanted a few peaceful years, but fate—"
"Mr. Ethan," Genos interrupted, deadpan. "You just admitted you were lying."
"You must've misheard."
"I didn't. My hearing is extremely accurate."
"No, really—you definitely misheard! I'd never say something like 'I made it up to trick you,' definitely not!"
"..."
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