The Shadow of the Past

"Ah! Finally, I'm saved!" Swallowing the last piece of bread in his hand in one gulp, Saitama sighed with satisfaction.

"You eat so much." Skye looked at Saitama, who had eaten more bread in one go than she might in three days, and couldn't help but say something.

"That's because I haven't eaten anything for a whole day."

"You haven't eaten for a whole day? You, aren't you a hero? Why would you go a whole day without eating?"

Skye looked at Saitama curiously, her gaze involuntarily drifting to Saitama's head. That shiny bald head was really eye-catching. Compared to other parts of Saitama's body, the bald head was the most prominent.

"Because they don't accept my money here." Saitama took out his wallet with a tragic expression and poured a pile of small denomination coins onto the table.

"What is this? Money? It's not US dollars." Skye looked at these coins, finding them quite strange. They looked like real currency, but they weren't US dollars, nor were they currency from any country she knew.

"I don't know either. Anyway, people here don't accept my money, so I can't buy food and have to starve. But luckily I met you, you're such a good person." Saitama looked at Skye gratefully. It was their first meeting, and she treated him to bread. She must be a good person.

Saitama seemed to have forgotten that he had just saved Skye.

"Good person? Me?" Skye had never been called that before.

"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Saitama nodded heavily.

"...Oh right, Saitama, where are you from? Judging by your skin color, are you Chinese? Or Japanese? Or Korean?"

"Huh? I live in Z City."

"Z City? What's that place?"

"Z City is Z City!"

"..." Skye felt that communicating with Saitama was a bit difficult. Saitama kept saying he lived in Z City, but he couldn't say which country it was in, or its exact location on Earth. It was as if Saitama had no concept of countries.

However, Skye's feeling was correct. In the world Saitama lived in, due to the rampant monsters, the concept of countries had long ceased to exist on that planet. Earth was merely divided into several large regions.

"Okay, let's not talk about that, Saitama. Why did you become, uh, what you called it, a hero?"

"Because I was interested."

"Interested?" Skye was confused again. She didn't quite understand what Saitama was thinking.

"Yes, because I was interested, so I became a hero." Saitama said casually, but then his expression suddenly turned serious: "Um, Skye!"

"Ah?"

"Do you know how to get to A City?"

"A City? I've never heard of A City? Is it some kind of abbreviation?"

"...Never mind. The supermarket's discount event has already ended. It's no use going to A City. Damn it, discounted steak! I haven't eaten meat for a whole month! Damn it!" Saitama clutched his head, his face filled with pain.

Skye blinked. She didn't quite understand what Saitama was talking about. However, she understood the part about discounts and not eating meat for a month. It was precisely because she understood that she found it even stranger.

"Saitama, aren't you a hero? Why haven't you eaten meat for a month?"

"Because meat prices are too high! And I don't have much money, plus I have to pay rent soon. Damn it, this is a nightmare!" Thinking about it, Saitama felt like he was collapsing. His life suddenly seemed so bleak.

"Meat prices too high? No money? And have to pay rent?" Skye stared at Saitama, bewildered. "But, but, but you're a hero! How could a hero be broke? And even have to pay rent?" Skye suddenly felt that Saitama had shattered her definition of a hero.

"Isn't it normal for heroes to be broke? I have to train every day, and then I have to be a hero. I don't have time to find a job, so I can't earn money. Even the money I have is only from some kind people after I defeat monsters. So it's normal to be broke, right?" Saitama explained.

"..." Skye suddenly felt that Saitama was a very pitiful hero. Moreover, rather than a hero, she felt Saitama was more like a beggar, unable to find a job, and even needing money to be given to him. But no matter how she thought about it, she couldn't believe that heroes could be so poor. Not eating meat for a month? You know, the price of beef in America isn't high, it's even quite cheap. Eating beef for three meals a day is very normal, just like eating rice or steamed buns for three meals a day in China.

So not eating meat for a month, how miserable must that be. Thinking this, Skye felt even more sorry for Saitama.

"Um, I think I'm lost. Do you know how to get to Z City?" Saitama started asking for directions again.

"Z City? Sorry, I've never heard of it."

"Oh no, I might not be able to get home. Damn it, I've asked so many people, and not a single one knows! Saitama was distressed, but then his expression changed, with a hint of sneaky joy: "But if that's the case, does it mean I don't have to pay rent?"

"..." Skye.

"No. Even though I don't have to pay rent, I still bought a lot of daily necessities in my room. This is bad!" Saitama exclaimed again.

"..." Skye: "Um, you can't seem to get home, and you don't have any money on you. Do you want to, stay with me for a while?"

After saying this, Skye couldn't help but regret it a little. The apartment she rented wasn't very big; it was only enough for her to live in alone, and it would be a bit crowded for two people. And most importantly, Saitama was a man, especially one she had just met. Although Saitama had saved her in the style of a hero saving a damsel, she did feel she should repay him. But inviting someone to live with her so abruptly still felt a bit inappropriate.

"Really? Is that really okay?" Saitama's eyes lit up, and his dead fish eyes stared at Skye.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable being stared at by Saitama, Skye couldn't help but look away: "Yes, if you don't mind sleeping on the sofa, you can sleep on the sofa for now."

"No problem at all." Saitama grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.

Although suddenly and inexplicably living in someone else's house wasn't a good thing, Saitama had no choice.

Saitama couldn't find his way home. In fact, this world had become a bit strange. He hadn't encountered a single monster all day, and even the style of this world had changed. Although he didn't quite understand what was happening, Saitama had a vague feeling that he might not be able to go home.

He couldn't go home, and everything around him was so unfamiliar. Most importantly, he was broke. So, naturally, he was very grateful that someone was willing to take him in temporarily.