Training methods

"Um... I wanted to ask what exactly you came here for."

Bai Ye couldn't help asking.

"Nothing important, really. I just wanted to stop by."

Fubuki replied.

"That's way too casual..."

Bai Ye couldn't help remarking.

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

Since Fubuki was closer to the door, she got up to answer it for Bai Ye.

"Master, it's me."

No sooner had Genos spoken than the door opened.

To his surprise, however, the person standing before him was Fubuki.

Meanwhile, Fubuki found herself looking at Genos with an exceptionally enormous bag slung over his shoulder.

"Fubuki... have you already moved in with Master Bai Ye?"

Genos immediately asked.

"Huh...?"

Fubuki froze for a moment, clearly not expecting that question. She quickly explained, "No, I just came over for a visit."

"That's good."

Genos sighed in relief.

If Master Bai Ye was living with this woman, it would be awkward for him to move in.

Then Genos turned sideways to carry his bag through the doorway.

Fubuki stared in bewilderment at the bag, which was twice as big as Genos himself.

"Genos, what are you...?"

Seeing this, Bai Ye couldn't help asking.

He already had an answer in mind, though. Genos wanted to move in...

"Master, may I live here?"

Genos asked directly.

"You could actually use the empty house next door."

Bai Ye pointed next door.

Genos thought for a moment, then nodded. "All right."

That wouldn't interfere with his goal of learning from his master, after all.

Although he had a sleep mode and could simply sit in the living room to rest at night, he wouldn't insist if his master wasn't comfortable with it.

Then Genos briskly ran to the empty house next door and dropped off his luggage. Without even cleaning the long-unused rooms, he immediately ran back.

He wasn't here for a place to live, but to make it easier to record Master Bai Ye's teachings and training methods.

He took out a notebook, sat down at the table, and began writing.

Not only did he sketch what Bai Ye was doing at that moment, but he also added written annotations beside the drawing.

Fubuki sat there demurely, watching Genos draw things of unclear significance in his notebook. She couldn't help quietly asking Bai Ye beside her, "Has he always been like that...?"

"Yes..."

Bai Ye nodded, unable to deny it.

Genos could actually hear Bai Ye and Fubuki whispering, but not only did he take no offense, he even drew the scene of them whispering together.

Apparently, he considered that part of Master Bai Ye's training as well.

"Genos, I think it's time I told you something."

Just then, Bai Ye suddenly spoke in a serious tone.

"!"

Genos immediately sat up straight and put down his pen. "Are you finally going to tell me about your true training methods, Master?"

Hearing that, Fubuki also turned toward Bai Ye with keen interest.

She was very curious what sort of training Bai Ye would prescribe for an S-Class Hero like Genos.

"First of all, since you're a cyborg, ordinary training methods are completely ineffective for you."

With a serious expression, Bai Ye said, "But you can keep pushing past your limits and growing through adversity. Facing powerful enemies is the fastest way for you to keep getting stronger. And although you can no longer train your body, you can make your spirit tougher and more resilient. I have great faith in your potential."

"Yes!"

Genos's eyes widened slightly. Master Bai Ye's words had given him a sudden revelation and left a profound impression on him.

"I'll work hard. I absolutely won't disappoint you, Master!"

Genos stood up and declared solemnly.

"Good. Keep at it."

Bai Ye nodded slightly.

There was certainly a basis for what he'd just said, especially the part about "growing through adversity."

Almost every time Genos grew stronger, it was after a powerful enemy had battered him beyond repair and Dr. Kuseno had upgraded his components.

That was also the only thing Bai Ye could teach him.

Bai Ye had originally hoped those words would get Genos to give up his largely meaningless records of training activities. But as soon as he finished speaking, Genos sat back down and resumed writing and drawing in his notebook with complete seriousness.

"..."

Now Bai Ye was out of ideas.

Forget it. I'll just let him be...

"Bai Ye, do you have any training methods you could teach me?"

Just then, Fubuki suddenly spoke up.

"I don't know."

Bai Ye immediately shook his head, his face expressionless.

Because he genuinely didn't know.

"Uh..."

Fubuki hadn't expected Bai Ye to turn her down so decisively.

"I'd like to sincerely apologize once again for my earlier behavior..."

Fubuki thought Bai Ye was still upset about what had happened before, and that her previous apology hadn't satisfied him, so she immediately apologized again.

Regardless of whether he was willing to answer, she at least didn't want to make an enemy of Bai Ye.

"I accept your apology, but I'm being honest, too. I really don't know any training methods that would suit you..."

Bai Ye shook his head helplessly. "You're an esper, if I remember correctly. You'd be better off asking your sister than me."

"That's not an option..."

The moment Bai Ye mentioned her sister, unpleasant memories stirred in Fubuki's mind.

Seeing her resistant expression, Bai Ye said no more. He knew the relationship between Fubuki and Tatsumaki was awkward and complicated.

Before long, however, Fubuki had sorted out her feelings and gone back to devouring snacks.

I've taken in a few too many calories this afternoon. I'd better eat less tonight.

Fubuki carefully controlled her calorie intake every day, which was why she could keep her figure in such good shape.

"Come to think of it, your eyes seem to have changed, Master?"

Just then, Genos, who had been looking up to observe and record Bai Ye's actions, suddenly noticed that his master's eyes looked different from before.

Although he had seen Bai Ye's three-tomoe eyes and his normal black eyes, he had certainly never seen the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan before.

"They really have."

Fubuki immediately leaned in to examine Bai Ye's eyes, drawing very close so she could make out the patterns. "I'd been meaning to say your eyes were strange. Now it turns out they don't just have patterns-the patterns can actually change."

With Fubuki suddenly so close that he could practically feel her breath, Bai Ye almost instinctively leaned backward.

P.S. I know some of you may feel, after reading this far, that this story is following the original plot. How should I put it? That's mainly because the One-Punch Man story I wrote on my old account went completely off the rails and departed entirely from the original plot. I gave myself so much freedom that I couldn't keep the story under control, so I've been reining myself in more with this one and taking a steadier approach... Still, I'll try to write more original material going forward and avoid frustrating plot points as much as possible. Finally, thank you all for your support.