Testing complete

Having realized they had struck gold, the Hero Association's Z City branch sprang into action like an engine at full throttle. Meanwhile, Josen and Bang returned to the Changing Room to put on their own clothes, then accepted Lanny's invitation to have tea in the Meeting Room.

At this point, the Hero Association had yet to introduce the written exam it would use later. Once all the physical tests were over, the assessment was complete.

According to Lanny, the Hero Association currently had only three classes: A, B, and C. Assessments focused on four main factors: records of defeating monsters, combat ability, contributions to society, and popularity with the public. Each accounted for 25% of the score. Scores were tallied weekly to determine each Hero's class and ranking.

In other words, being a good fighter did not necessarily make someone A-Class.

Josen and Bang, who had joined halfway through, were both invited candidates. Their considerable strength would certainly earn them bonus points in their initial assessments. After that, their positions would depend on their Hero activities, popularity with fans, and various other factors as they competed with the other Heroes.

"Rankings don't matter. I didn't come here to steal work from the youngsters."

"I feel the same way. But if you run into a monster you can't handle, you can contact me."

"All right..." Seeing that neither man cared much about classes or rankings, Lanny felt a little discouraged. Still, she quickly rallied. "The results of this morning's tests have been reported to Headquarters. The association still needs to discuss your Hero Ranks and placements internally. You should be notified within three days."

"So we're done? My poor old back can finally get some rest." Bang rubbed his lower back with a pained expression, then rolled his shoulders as though he were on his last legs. "It's almost lunchtime, too. Shall we find somewhere to have a drink?"

This crafty old geezer! Who did he think he was fooling?

Watching the old man's practiced performance, Josen thought for a moment, then nodded. "Why don't we go to my place? I'll cook a few dishes and let you try some of my treasured 1982 Beer, Master."

"Oh? You can cook too, young Josen? Then this old man will have to give it a proper taste."

"But what on earth is 1982 Beer?"

"Just a dumb, stale joke~"

"Is that so..."

Lanny: ...

As they chatted, the two newly inducted Heroes had already walked out of the Meeting Room, leaving her no chance to get a word in.

From the look of things, they had absolutely no intention of staying any longer.

True to her professional standards, Lanny hurried after them, escorted the two gentlemen all the way to the branch's entrance, and handed them her business cards.

"Please contact me anytime if you need anything. This is my number."

"Will do."

"Certainly."

After handing out the two cards, Lanny watched the older and younger men amble away around the street corner, then took a deep breath.

Under the gazes of a crowd of rough-looking men, the pretty blonde's warm expression turned icy. She elegantly adjusted her burgundy glasses, then turned and strode toward the branch building.

She had to hurry and handle Josen and Bang's assessments.

On the way home, Josen took Bang into a convenience store.

Watching him expertly select ingredients and fruit, the old man could not help remarking, "Not many young people these days have the patience to cook for themselves. You really are a man of many talents, Josen."

"Mostly, my job isn't that busy, and I've got just a teeny, enormous bit of psychic powers. Those office drones already have it hard enough at work. How would they have any energy left for cooking?"

As they left the convenience store, Josen turned the bags of shopping into cards while he spoke, instantly emptying his hands.

Bang: ...

Watching the things in Josen's hands disappear into thin air, Bang's mouth twitched. "...I have to say, your psychic powers really are convenient."

Josen nodded in wholehearted agreement. "Yeah, I think so too."

The two were happily shooting the breeze when two dark figures suddenly raced through a nearby alley.

Shouts rang out amid the chase.

"Stop! Don't run!"

Josen raised an eyebrow. His powerful senses immediately identified the pursuer.

A black-haired man, around 175 centimeters tall, wearing an old blue tracksuit.

It was Saitama.

His target, though also humanoid and wearing a green jacket, had blue skin and gave off a strange presence as he passed. He was clearly no ordinary human.

Bang, whose senses were equally sharp, noticed something amiss as well. "Josen, those two fellows who just went past..."

They exchanged a look and immediately reached an agreement.

"Let's follow them!" ×2

A dead end.

"Did you really think you could get away?"

A man's cold voice came from overhead. Sweat beaded on the forehead of the blue-skinned monster, Frog Man. Defiantly pointing at the dark silhouette above him in the sunlight, he demanded, "You just won't give up! Who are you?"

"Me?" Saitama stood on the rooftop railing of a four-story building, looking down as he replied, "I'm a Hero for fun."

Sunlight spilled down from behind him, making his silhouette look imposing despite his hidden face.

With that, he bent his knees, pushed off, and leaped down!

After several months of training, he still had trouble adapting to the brutal regimen he had devised. Even so, his trained body was clearly stronger than before.

A mere four-story drop...

Riiip!

A shrill tearing sound rang out as Saitama landed firmly on the ground-and felt a sudden chill around his lower body.

Looking down, he discovered that his heavily patched track pants had snagged on something. They had ripped all the way down from the seat, exposing his pink boxer briefs and leaving little more than strips of fabric.

No wonder he felt a draft.

Uh...

Saitama instinctively reached back to cover his rear. His impressive entrance had turned awkward in an instant.

Smack! ×2

On a higher rooftop, the two men who had witnessed the scene facepalmed in unison.

Josen had been eager to introduce Saitama to Bang, but now...

"Josen, do you know that fellow down there?"

"Don't ask me. If you do, the answer's no!"

"..."

"Hahaha!" Seeing Saitama's embarrassing predicament, the previously nervous Frog Man burst out laughing. "A Hero? Looking that stupid? You chased me for three whole streets, so I thought you were someone impressive... but... huh?"

Frog Man's taunt cut off halfway through. Meeting Saitama's serious gaze, he felt an inexplicable tremor of fear!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

"Aaargh... Help! Please spare me, sir..."

After a merciless beating, the stolen audiovisual discs in Frog Man's pockets lay scattered across the ground, smeared with the monster's green bodily fluids.

"Now they're no good even if I recover them."

Standing in front of the unconscious Frog Man, Saitama shook the slime off his hands in disgust and complained with a frown.

Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly. He calmly looked up toward a certain spot. "Who's there?"

"Nicely fought, young man. Interested in learning what martial arts are?"

"We meet again, Saitama. You looked really cool when you jumped down. Your landing was a real letdown, though."

Saitama: ...