M City, King's apartment.
After a flurry of work from Genos and F-kid in the kitchen, a fresh seafood stock made by simmering shrimp, hairtail, and other seafood with sliced ginger, scallion segments, and other seasonings was ready. Its savory, delicious aroma immediately filled the room.
In the sky, a streak of pale green light flashed into existence, and rings of ripples spread across the sky like waves on water.
The distorted space soon stabilized into a passage connecting "Imaginary" to reality, like loyal soldiers bowing in submission to their queen's authority.
Immediately afterward, a small green figure shifted from illusory to solid, appearing above M City.
Tatsumaki swept her cool gaze across the city below, trying to recall where King's apartment was, when she saw a golden flash nearby. A streak of golden light swept over the city with a dazzling, meteor-like tail, arriving before her in an instant.
"You're here~~"
Seeing the tall figure wrapped in a fiercely burning golden aura, Tatsumaki thought of something, and her little face flushed slightly.
"Mm."
Josen slipped an arm around the girl's slender waist with practiced ease and asked with a smile, "Did work go smoothly? I heard from Sitch that a troublesome, large monster appeared in B City, so the Association sent you over at short notice."
Tatsumaki curled her lip. "It was just as unchallenging as usual. That's why I keep saying weak people don't deserve to be heroes... ah!"
A light flick from Josen's finger interrupted Tatsumaki's tsundere routine. Before the little wildcat could flare up, he began gently rubbing her head, successfully subduing the girl who had been about to unleash her psychic powers with his combo. "Being a hero means being willing to stand in front of others when danger comes. That has nothing to do