The next morning, at a certain apartment complex.
Ding dong!
Tatsumaki, wearing strawberry-print pajamas, was spread out on her bed. Her blanket was pushed aside, and her shirt hem was flipped up, exposing a small patch of her fair skin as she was lost in a deep sleep.
Ding dong!
The doorbell rang again.
Half-asleep, Tatsumaki frowned. With a flick of her hand, she telekinetically ripped out the doorbell's wiring.
Finally, there was silence. Tatsumaki turned over, hugged her blanket, and drifted back into a sweet sleep.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
A tick mark appeared on Tatsumaki's forehead. She pulled the blanket over her head, trying to block out the annoying sound.
However, the sound waves of the persistent knocking stubbornly passed through the door, traveled to the bedroom, penetrated the blanket, and reached Tatsumaki's ears.
The tick marks increased until Tatsumaki finally couldn't take it anymore. She threw off the blanket, her body leaping up suddenly. She mentally twisted the doorknob open and flung the apartment door wide.
"Who is it, making so much noise first thing in the..." Tatsumaki trailed off, her eyes widening as she saw a familiar face. She snapped instantly from her drowsy state to absolute alertness.
"Blast? Wait! Why are you holding a poster of Blast?" Tatsumaki said through gritted teeth. "Are you trying to trick me?"
Aomori moved the Blast poster in his hand down a little, revealing his own face.
Tatsumaki clearly remembered him. She pointed at his nose, scoffed, and said, "It's you, you little punk! If you don't explain yourself today, I'll stuff you into a washing machine and make sure you don't sleep all night!"
"Don't be so angry. I've brought you a gift," Aomori waved the poster in his hand to show her.
"What do I need his poster for? It's not like I can eat it. And you woke me up so early, I'm very displeased!" Tatsumaki put her hands on her hips and turned her head away, seeming to disdain the Blast poster.
"Early in the morning? It's already 10 o'clock, I think."
"Mind your own business! I say it's early morning, so it's early morning!" Tatsumaki's small cheeks were slightly flushed. In a fit of embarrassment and anger, she quickly retreated inside, not forgetting to slam the door shut.
Aomori, seeing his opportunity, slipped his hand in to hold the door open and casually walked inside.
"I'm coming in."
"Wuh dya wunt?" Tatsumaki asked, brushing her teeth while motioning with her eyes for him to get lost.
Since his objective hadn't been achieved, there was no way Aomori was going to leave just yet. He pretended to admire the room's decor, completely ignoring Tatsumaki's glaring looks.
"Ah-ah-ah, spit!" Tatsumaki spat out the foam in her mouth, rinsed twice, and finished brushing her teeth.
"What do you want, coming to see me for no reason?" She rolled her eyes at Aomori, picked up a carton of milk, and noisily drank through a straw.
"I want to invite you to join my Hero Association." The sharp-eyed Aomori noticed the word "Growth" on the milk carton.
"Hero Association? What's that?"
"You don't know?"
"Why should I have to know!" Tatsumaki finished the milk in one gulp, tossed the empty carton into the trash can, and snapped impatiently.
"Because the television channels have been full of reports about the Hero Association lately."
"I was out destroying a Monster lair for the past few days. I just got back from the field, so how would I have time to watch TV?"
I see. No wonder. If that was the case, his probability of success increased significantly.
"I sincerely apologize, it seems I truly disturbed your rest," Aomori offered a genuine apology.
"You'd better know it!" Tatsumaki sprawled on the sofa and telekinetically controlled the remote control to turn on the television.
As expected, Aomori's face appeared on the screen.
["...The purpose of creating the Hero Association is to better ensure the safety of the citizens..."]
"Tch!" Tatsumaki changed the channel.
This time, a strange youth wearing goggles appeared.
["I'm Mumen Rider. Yes, everyone in the Hero Association is talented, they speak nicely, and many senpai look out for me. I love the Hero Association so much!"]
She switched channels a few more times, and they were all reporting on the Hero Association. Tatsumaki pouted and simply turned off the TV.
"Well? Why not join the Hero Association and work together to defeat Monsters?" Aomori tried to persuade her.
"Not interested. Look at all the weirdos you recruited. They seem totally useless."
"That's why I specially came to invite you to join the Hero Association. With you and Blast anchoring the organization, the Hero Association can develop long-term."
"Wait, you said Blast?" Tatsumaki immediately seized on the key point.
"That's right. I was planning to invite Blast as well. With his sense of justice, he surely wouldn't refuse. Unfortunately, he's always elusive and hard to track down. I heard you have a good relationship with him; you should be able to contact him, right?" This was the truth. It was precisely because he couldn't find Blast that Aomori came to Tatsumaki first.
"Who has a good relationship with him! I just happen to like fighting Monsters the same way he does, that's all, just that," Tatsumaki responded with habitual tsundere flair.
Ah, tsundere ruins lives, Aomori shook his head internally and offered Tatsumaki an analysis: "So, if both of you join the Hero Association, you can form a partnership and act together again. Wouldn't working in the same place feel closer than it is now?"
"Hmph, that's not even a factor in my consideration." The resistance in Tatsumaki's tone was less intense than before.
Aomori struck while the iron was hot: "Also, going out to search for Monsters on your own must waste a lot of time, right? If you join the Association, we will handle the tracking of Monsters' whereabouts. You'll just receive the location and rush over to eliminate the Monster. Isn't that convenient, efficient, and great service?"
"Hmm, that actually sounds reasonable." Tatsumaki finally nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll join to test it out. Don't misunderstand, I'm only doing it to engage in hero activities more efficiently."
"But!" she emphasized, "If I find the Hero Association makes me very unhappy, I will leave immediately. No amount of begging will stop me!"
"Of course. This is a mutual agreement, after all."
Afterward, Aomori told Tatsumaki about the orientation training scheduled for two days later, asking her to attend and make an appearance. Finally, he brought up Blast again: "You must have Blast's contact information, right? How about you contact him now and invite him to join the Hero Association?"
"You're so annoying. Isn't that your problem? Why do I have to contact him?" Tatsumaki looked reluctant.
"Because we really can't find him. Or perhaps, you don't actually have his contact information?"
Aomori employed a goading tactic, which proved extremely effective on Tatsumaki.
"Who says I don't! Honestly, I'll only help you this once. Be grateful!"
Tatsumaki then took a deep breath and dialed Blast's number right in front of Aomori.
"Moshi moshi, this is Tatsumaki."
"Someone here is asking to invite you to join some Hero Association..."
"Mhm, okay."
In less than two minutes, she ended the call. Looking at Aomori's expectant gaze, Tatsumaki nodded: "He agreed."
"That's wonderful! Thank you so much," Aomori displayed a flawless smile.
"Hmph, if you're done, then get lost."
Indeed, he was done. Aomori didn't bother her further. After leaving the apartment, his impression of Tatsumaki had improved considerably: "Other than her sharp tongue, she's actually quite normal. Not as spoiled as I imagined."
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You can read the ahead chapter on Patr-eon if you're interested: p-atre-on.c-om/Overgod [Just remove the hyphen to access normally]