Fubuki Comes Calling

After Mizuki finished washing up too, Sachiko wanted to invite them to stay for a meal.

Mizuki and Tanktop Girl happily accepted, but Baicang felt that something was off about Sachiko today. Not daring to linger, he made an excuse about needing to go home and cook for Runo.

Sachiko changed her offer to tomorrow, and Baicang had no choice but to agree. He decided to bring Runo along.

He had noticed that Runo hardly ever went out to spend time with other people. Now she had even stopped attending her school club.

Whenever he was away, Runo stayed home alone. That clearly wasn't healthy for a girl in the springtime of her youth, and it troubled Baicang greatly.

Although he hadn't known Mizuki and Tanktop Girl for long, they were both energetic girls brimming with positivity. He wouldn't have to worry about Runo picking up bad habits around them, and since they were both heroines, her safety would be assured too.

Sigh, being her big brother really had me worrying myself sick.

"The Monster Association won't let you get away with this!!"

A werewolf roared at the white-haired girl floating overhead, struggling desperately to pull his legs free of the ice that had frozen them to the ground.

Countless snowflakes swept down from the sky. The werewolf's expression, a mixture of fury and fear, froze within the ice before shattering into fragments with a sharp crack.

The white-haired girl looked expressionlessly at the ice fragments on the ground. White light flashed at her fingertips, and she flew high into the sky and vanished.

"Runo, I'm home!"

After leaving Sachiko's place, Baicang had been in no mood to exercise following their battle, so he had said goodbye to Mizuki and Tanktop Girl and headed home.

He opened the front door, but Runo's familiar cry of "Big brother!" didn't greet him.

"She's not back yet? Did her class run late?"

Looking around the empty room, Baicang put the groceries he'd bought into the fridge, then lay down on the tatami and switched on the television to watch the news.

Although Baicang remembered some of the plot from the anime and manga, he couldn't possibly know all of it.

He was even less certain about when the various major incidents would happen. He could only piece things together afterward through the news and other clues, so whenever he had nothing to do, he watched the news to keep track of how events were unfolding.

"Hello, citizens, and welcome to today's midday news..."

"The A-Class wanted criminal Red Head was apprehended today by Puri-Puri Prisoner, the sixteenth-ranked S-Class Hero. Up next is footage of the scene taken by a helpful citizen..."

On a bustling shopping street, a man wearing red-and-white mechanical armor and a helmet shaped like a rocket warhead suddenly burst into view.

He shoved pedestrians out of his path as he ran desperately. His terrified expression and contorted face made it look as though something horrifying was chasing him.

"Get the hell out of my way! Move!" There were simply too many pedestrians on the street, and they were seriously obstructing his escape.

Driven to desperation, he raised both hands. A small shell popped out of his arm armor, and he fired it into the crowd ahead. Everyone nearby screamed and fled for their lives.

"That's not very cute of you~"

A muscular man in a black-and-white prison uniform-Puri-Puri Prisoner-appeared in front of him, caught the shell with his bare hand, and tossed it high into the sky.

Boom! The shell exploded violently overhead, and Red Head's composure blew apart along with it.

"Stay away from me!!" Red Head screamed in terror as all kinds of warheads emerged from his armor.

"You little rascal~ keep that up and you'll be punished~"

Puri-Puri Prisoner appeared behind Red Head in an instant and smashed his mechanical armor to pieces with a few punches.

Removing Red Head's helmet, Puri-Puri Prisoner held him tightly in his arms and gazed lovingly into his eyes.

"You naughty boy~ Deep Kiss Punishment~"

Puri-Puri Prisoner pried Red Head's tightly closed mouth open with his fingers and planted a deep kiss on him.

"No! No! Plea... mmmph!"

At first, Red Head still resisted, but once Puri-Puri Prisoner put his tongue in too..., all resistance became meaningless...

Baicang hurriedly turned off the television, his own face now filled with horror.

That was absolutely terrifying. I'd almost forgotten about that pervert, Puri-Puri Prisoner! I'd better give him a wide berth if I ever saw him. Ideally, I'd never see him at all.

Ding-dong~

"Who's there!" The doorbell startled Baicang badly. Puri-Puri Prisoner had left such a terrifying impression that he still hadn't recovered.

"The Fubuki Group."

What? Baicang opened the front door with a puzzled look.

Four people stood outside. Leading them was Fubuki, whom he'd met the day before yesterday. The other three were Eyelashes, Mountain Ape, and Lily, who was staring intently at him.

"Not joining. Goodbye... Bang!"

Fubuki, who had been just about to speak, stared blankly at the tightly shut door. The other three were equally stunned by Baicang's response, and all four stood rooted to the spot, bewildered.

Ding! Ding! Ding! The doorbell kept ringing, leaving Baicang no choice but to open the door again.

This time, Mountain Ape reacted quickly, stepping forward to block the doorway so Baicang couldn't shut the door again.

"Guests come calling, and you won't even let them in? Last time, you even said you'd treat me to a meal."

I'd only said that in passing...

Baicang felt utterly helpless. He didn't want to get involved with Fubuki right now and draw the attention of that temperamental little girl, Tatsumaki. He wanted to join the Fubuki Group even less.

"All right, come in."

Baicang led Fubuki and the others to the living room and had them sit on the tatami, then tossed each of them a bag of chips. "Consider this the meal I promised."

Mountain Ape was quite pleased, only resuming his serious expression after Eyelashes smacked him on the head.

Pushing the chips on the table toward Mountain Ape, Fubuki looked at Baicang earnestly.

"Join my Fubuki Group!"

Ever since Baicang had saved her, Fubuki had taken a keen interest in him. Unfortunately, she hadn't known his name at the time.

Later, while taking Xiao Cai home, she had encountered the S-Class Hero Silver Fang, Bang. Bang had invited Fubuki to help rescue citizens trapped beneath the rubble.

Meanwhile, Xiao Cai had cried for her big brother the whole way, inadvertently revealing Baicang's name.

Only then had Fubuki realized that the man who had saved her was her "enemy." Seeing Bang's surprised expression beside her, she had told him about the Mole Monster and Xiao Cai.

After hearing the story, Bang had laughingly told Fubuki and the others how he'd wanted to take Baicang as his disciple, only to be turned down. He had also praised Baicang as a man who truly embodied the word "hero," saying that he would become an S-Class Hero sooner or later.

By the time he finished, Fubuki was completely stunned.

No one understood her sister Tatsumaki's strength better than she did. Yet Bang, a hero ranked just one place below her sister, had thought so highly of Baicang.

She had therefore resolved to recruit Baicang into the Fubuki Group before he reached his full potential.

To secure Baicang, Fubuki had even been forced to use her sister Tatsumaki's standing within the Hero Association, successfully obtaining some information about him and his home address.

Today, she had come charging to his door, determined to win him over!

"No. I refuse."

Baicang gave his answer once again while eating his chips.