One Punch Man: Heroics Start with Dual Kamui

"Let me be clear, I belong to no one. I'm my own person," Shinji said flatly, his tone calm and resolute. "But if you really want me to choose, then I'll choose Psykos."

For him, it wasn't a difficult decision.

Psykos had simply left a stronger impression, more genuine, more open, and despite her flaws, far more sincere than Fubuki had ever been. That didn't mean Psykos came without complications. Her obsession with eradicating humanity, rooted in the influence of that so-called "god," was a massive red flag. But even with that looming threat, she had treated him with care and trust from the beginning.

And Psykos had been expecting this outcome. A proud, triumphant smile curled at the corners of her lips.

"President Fubuki, this time… you've lost."

"…"

Fubuki's expression dimmed.

She hadn't thought Shinji would choose her, but what hurt wasn't just the rejection, but how quickly he had chosen Psykos. Without hesitation. Without so much as a pause. That sting of certainty struck deeper than she expected.

Had Shinji known Psykos longer than he let on? Or had her own earlier behavior pushed him too far?

A flicker of defeat passed through Fubuki's eyes, sharp and unfamiliar.

"Then please leave, President Fubuki. You're not welcome here."

Psykos's voice was cold and final as she moved to escort her out.

"...Wow. That's scary." Saitama, still sipping tea and somehow also summoning a bucket of popcorn to enjoy the show, muttered under his breath as the pressure in the room rose again. "Real life dramas are good too."

"Master really prefers that kind of woman? Maybe that's part of what makes him so powerful…"

Genos continued taking rapid notes, completely absorbed in analyzing the emotional fallout like it was another combat scenario.

Shinji wanted to tell Genos to shut up, but honestly, he was too mentally exhausted to argue. The problem between Psykos and Fubuki hadn't been settled yet.

"…Vice President Psykos," Fubuki asked suddenly, pausing at the doorway, "when did you and Shinji meet? And what have you been doing these past five years?"

Her voice was low, but steady. She wasn't ready to walk away without some answers.

At this point, the world, and even the Hero Association, was still unaware of the Monster Association's existence. Few knew that Psykos was its mastermind. In fact, most of the monsters in the group didn't even know who their true leader was.

"I met Shinji five years ago. Do you remember when I founded the Monster Research Club? Shinji was the vice president," Psykos said coolly. "As for what I've been doing these past five years… I'm not obligated to tell you."

"…Shinji was involved back then?"

Fubuki blinked, genuinely shocked.

She hadn't known that Shinji had gone to the same high school. At the time, she had already cut ties with Psykos and ignored everything she did afterward. When she heard Psykos had founded the Monster Research Club, she didn't give it any thought. It had just been Psykos and one other member. And with Psykos's powers sealed, it hadn't seemed like anything to worry about.

She never realized that the other member had been Shinji.

"…"

When she turned her stunned gaze on him, Shinji met it with a blank, unreadable expression. There wasn't a flicker of emotion on his face. It was as if none of this had anything to do with him.

He remembered nothing of those days, so he had nothing to say.

"So give it up. Don't even think about hurting Shinji. As long as I'm here, I won't let you succeed," Psykos snapped, her tone sharp and unwavering.

To her, Fubuki hadn't changed at all since their school days.

She still saw Fubuki as the same woman who, out of jealousy and fear of being overtaken, sealed her powers without remorse. And now, it seemed obvious to Psykos that Fubuki was targeting Shinji for the same reason, because his strength posed a threat to her status, and she wanted to bring him down before he surpassed her too.

Which, in fairness, wasn't entirely wrong. Back then, that had been one of Fubuki's main motives.

But there had been more to it. A major reason she opposed Psykos so fiercely was her refusal to accept the latter's dream of exterminating humanity. Of course, Fubuki's rationale was twisted in its own way, since she believed society needed weak people at the bottom for her to stand tall above them. That's what gave her power meaning. No competition. No chaos. Just hierarchy.

Both of them had issues, to put it mildly. But between the two, Fubuki's motivations were arguably worse. After all, Psykos had been corrupted by a godlike force, so it wasn't entirely of her own will.

"I-I wasn't planning to hurt Shinji or anything like that…"

Fubuki tried to defend herself, but her voice sounded smaller with every word.

In front of Psykos, no explanation seemed convincing. And that was because, at the very beginning, Fubuki had planned to suppress Shinji, just like she had once done to Psykos, to protect her B-Class throne. But once she grasped how overwhelmingly strong Shinji truly was, her goal had shifted. Now, all she wanted was to pull him to her side.

"Still trying to lie? Before I lose my patience and erase you from existence, get out on your own. I'm trying to be polite for Shinji's sake."

Psykos's voice was low and cold, her expression unreadable.

Fubuki had no choice but to rise to her feet, powerless to argue.

But she didn't leave immediately. She just stood there, staring at Shinji with an expression so miserable it could melt ice. Her gaze shimmered with sorrow, full of the same pleading desperation as a stray puppy being left behind.

And Shinji… immediately felt the pressure.

Why are you staring at me like that? Don't look at me with those eyes…

"…What's with that expression?" he asked eventually, unable to ignore it any longer.

"I'm hungry…"

Fubuki answered flatly, without a hint of hesitation.

"…"

Shinji had no words.

He thought she was going to say something heavy or dramatic. Turned out, she was just... hungry.

Then again, it was already past six in the evening. If she left now, she'd have to make her way through the desolate outskirts and either drive or catch a train home. By the time she got there, she really would be starving.

Still, Shinji didn't believe it was just about dinner.

Even if she hadn't changed completely, Fubuki's personality had softened a bit over the years. Her edges were still sharp, but not as cold and brittle as they once were. And when it came to Psykos, there was clearly a trace of guilt lingering in her heart. Guilt for what she'd done back in high school, sealing Psykos' powers, treating her like a threat, and pretending it had all been for the greater good.

That guilt explained a lot, why she didn't fight back today, why she hadn't snapped at Psykos even once despite the humiliation.

As Shinji guessed, the hunger excuse was just a smokescreen. At best, only half the truth.

The real reason she was still here was simple: she couldn't walk away. Not yet. Not like this. After all those years, after everything that had happened between them, facing Psykos again stirred something she hadn't prepared herself to deal with. Even if it meant putting up with cold glares and biting words… she couldn't just leave.

Shinji leaned in a little and whispered quietly, "If you really want to talk to Psykos properly, come back another time. Right now, she still hates you too much to hear anything. Take the box of cookies from the table and eat them on your way back."

He wasn't trying to push her away out of annoyance. In fact, he was doing her a favor.

If a real fight broke out, Fubuki wouldn't be able to handle it. She had no idea how far Psykos had come since their school days. If things got out of hand, Shinji would have to step in and stop it himself, and he really didn't want it to get to that point.

"…I will do that then," Fubuki murmured, lowering her head slightly.

She didn't argue. She couldn't.

As Shinji headed into the kitchen to start on dinner, Fubuki grabbed the half-eaten box of cookies she'd been nibbling on earlier and made her way to the door. But just before stepping out, she paused, turned back, and looked straight at Psykos.

"Vice President Psykos… I know you still hate me. And you have every right to. But one day, I hope we can sit down and really talk."

"I have nothing to say to you," Psykos answered coldly without turning her head. "If it weren't for Shinji, you'd already be gone."

Without another glance, she followed Shinji into the kitchen, making it clear the conversation was over.

"Looks like Shinji's already taken. You might as well give up," Saitama said cheerfully from the side, sipping tea with that clueless, relaxed smile of his.

The words hit Fubuki harder than she expected.