"Sorry for the wait. I stayed in Z City to handle a tiny billion things and got held up a little."
After nodding to or greeting each of the heroes, Josen finally took the seat reserved between Genos and Saitama and said with a smile, "I don't count as late, do I, everyone?"
"You're late! Definitely late!"
Already tipsy, Saitama clutched a bottle and hollered, grinning like a drunk as he led the heckling. "Don't think you're getting out of it! Three penalty drinks!"
"Hey, I only got held up a little because of work. I still have to drink for that?"
Josen shrugged and accepted the beer mug Genos thoughtfully handed him, declaring heartily, "Fine, fine, I'll take the penalty..."
"Everyone, bottoms up!"
The celebratory feast lasted several hours before finally coming to an end.
Over the meal, the S-Class heroes grew considerably closer with the help of food and alcohol.
For instance, a drunk Atomic Samurai kept grabbing Flashy Flash, insisting on a swordsmanship match with him.
Flash, however, was more interested in that balding fellow. Even before the team-building event, he had noticed a tiny billion hints of Saitama's strength.
But there were too many people around the Hot Pot Group, and Flash wasn't one to join a crowd. He maintained a firm grip on his aloof public persona and icy-handsome air.
So he reluctantly agreed to Atomic Samurai's request to cross swords.
There wasn't enough room for two S-Class master swordsmen to let loose, but they had a solution. After a brief discussion, each took a chopstick and went to play at a table off to the side.
After all, this was sparring, not a fight to the death. Besides, at their current level, killing with flying leaves and using anything as a sword were