Air Raid Siren

Looking at Fubuki's slightly dazed expression as she lay in his arms, and feeling the soft, springy sensation beneath his hand, Baicang could make out her perfect curves even through her clothes.

All he could say was that the number-one mature beauty in One-Punch Man certainly lived up to her reputation. She had the goods!

"Damn you! You all deserve to die!"

The Mole Monster, who had been kicked back into the hole, shouted as he climbed out again, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Baicang.

"Ah!" Only when Fubuki snapped out of her daze did she realize she was nestled in Baicang's arms in a deeply embarrassing position. Flustered, she hurriedly climbed out of his embrace.

With her back to Baicang, she patted her burning cheeks. Once they cooled down, she turned to face him... huh?

Baicang was no longer beside her. Instead, he stood next to the Mole Monster, who lay sprawled on the ground. He looked at the incredulous Fubuki. "Is something wrong?"

Just as Fubuki had climbed off him, the Mole Monster had lost all reason and charged at Baicang.

He had already fought the members of the Fubuki Group for some time and suffered a few injuries. His Rage Transformation had drained a great deal of his stamina, and he had kept tunneling underground to avoid Fubuki's attacks. Finally, he had completely snapped, abandoned the tunnels, and lunged straight at Baicang.

Baicang deftly activated Psychic Plague Source, making the charging Mole Monster freeze for an instant, then drove an elbow straight into his balls. When it was time to throw an elbow, he threw it! Little mole guys were no exception.

Even the Mole Monster's blood-red eyes cleared. He toppled stiffly to the ground, twitching all over.

In short, Baicang had stolen another kill...

"You... who are you?!"

Fubuki finally recovered from her shock and looked at Baicang beside the Mole Monster.

"Oh, my name's Bai..." Baicang had barely begun to answer when another voice cut him off.

"Big brother! Waaaah! Where are you?! Waaaah!"

At the sound of that shrill, deafening wail, like an air raid siren, Baicang could only apologize to Fubuki before turning and running back over the rubble.

Watching Baicang vanish as abruptly as he had appeared, Fubuki was left utterly bewildered.

"Lady Fubuki, are you all right?" Seeing that the Mole Monster had been dealt with, the Fubuki Group members who had fled earlier gathered around her again.

Mountain Ape looked especially ashamed. "It's my fault you got dragged into this, Lady Fubuki. I'm completely useless."

Beside him, Eyelashes, Lily, and the other Fubuki Group members all hung their heads.

"That doesn't matter. All of you, hold your heads up."

Fubuki spoke with a solemn, earnest expression. "We underestimated the monster this time, but we absolutely won't make the same mistake again. Next time, the Fubuki Group will win!"

"Show me the spirit of the Fubuki Group!"

"Yes, Lady Fubuki!" Tears streamed down the members' faces as they shouted, wiping their eyes.

Seeing her followers regain their spirits, Fubuki smiled in satisfaction.

"I'm really sorry, but could you help me with something?"

Baicang, who had just left, returned to stand before Fubuki, now carrying a little girl with pigtails and a white dress.

"Xiao Cai?" Lily said in surprise when she saw the little girl.

"Oh, great! You know her!"

Baicang hurriedly tried to hand Xiao Cai over to Lily.

He had found the little girl after hearing her crying on the street not long ago. He had to admit, the kid had a seriously powerful set of lungs. Her voice had carried across several streets, and when he found her, the volume around her reminded him of Onibi Maru's loudspeaker.

He suspected that Xiao Cai had avoided being attacked by monsters because her terrifying sound waves had scared them away. Other citizens might have thought they had encountered a loudspeaker monster.

Unable to leave the little girl there alone, Baicang had taken her along, planning to bring her back to her mother later.

Then he had heard the sounds of fighting coming from Fubuki's direction. After telling Xiao Cai to hide somewhere safe, he had rushed over.

"No! I want big brother!" Xiao Cai clutched Baicang's clothes, refusing to leave his arms.

Baicang looked utterly helpless. Why did I have to go soft and saddle myself with a little tagalong?

Seeing Xiao Cai cling to Baicang and refuse to let go, Fubuki noticed his helpless expression and thought for a moment.

She looked gently at Xiao Cai and gave her a warm smile. "Be a good girl, Xiao Cai. I'm friends with your mommy. She's right nearby, and she misses you so much. How about I take you to see her now?"

Xiao Cai, who had been curled up in Baicang's arms, slowly poked her head out and asked Fubuki in a small voice, "Is Mommy really nearby?"

"Yes, that's right. She's right nearby, waiting for you, Xiao Cai." Fubuki opened her arms to her.

Xiao Cai slowly eased out of Baicang's embrace, and Fubuki gently gathered her into her arms.

Baicang watched this gentle version of Fubuki with interest. In his mind, she had always been a cool, aloof, proud beauty. He had never imagined she had this hidden side.

"Ahem." When she noticed Baicang staring at her, Fubuki couldn't help coughing twice, a little embarrassed and annoyed.

"Oh, uh, thank you so much." Caught staring, Baicang scratched his head awkwardly.

"By the way, her mother's... uh..." Baicang wanted to tell them where she was, only to realize he didn't know the location.

"We know. Her mother asked us to find Xiao Cai."

Lily suddenly cut in from the side, having noticed that this strange guy had been staring at her Lady Fubuki.

Someone's trying to steal my Lady Fubuki!

"That's great! Oh, and..."

Baicang wanted to say something else to Fubuki, but then he saw Xiao Cai looking at him too. Her little hands reached toward him, and she opened her mouth as if she were about to cry... about to cry!

He had already endured Xiao Cai's air raid siren blasting right into his ear for quite a while. He really couldn't take any more.

"Thanks! I'll treat you to a meal next time we meet."

Baicang rattled that off to Fubuki, then took off running, leaving her and Lily staring in bewilderment.

They soon discovered why he had run away.

"Waaaaaaaah!!!"