One Punch Man: Heroics Start with Dual Kamui

Chapter 176 176: The Cheating Cat

[Alert! Host and Do-S completed "Kiss." Reward: 50 points!]

Do-S was waiting for the thrilling, exciting~ punishment. Yet the punishment Do-S had braced herself for never arrived.

"If you're done making trouble, then leave."

Shinji's voice carried no warmth, only calm detachment. He knew that with someone like Do-S, whose very nature ran opposite to her name, any punishment would feel like a reward. The only way to deal with her was to give her nothing at all.

"Eh...?" She froze, wide-eyed. Never had she imagined Shinji would dismiss her so casually. Walking out of the room, she found herself strangely unwilling to accept such an ending.

"Damn it...!"

...

With Do-S gone, Mosquito Girl fidgeted in place, clearly unsettled.

"Alright!" Her voice rang with sudden resolve as she stood and strode toward Shinji.

"...?"

Shinji lifted a brow at her. "And what exactly are you planning to do?"

"Something proper, obviously."

Without hesitation, Mosquito Girl climbed onto his lap, her intent plain as she tried to mimic Do-S's earlier boldness.

She had barely moved when a voice cut through the room, cold and commanding.

"Who gave you permission to get close to him?"

The sound belonged to Psykos, or more accurately, Psykos speaking through Gyoro Gyoro.

Mosquito Girl glanced back, saw a stranger she didn't recognize, and promptly ignored him, determined to follow through with what she thought was right.

"Release him."

Unable to stomach the scene, Gyoro Gyoro wrapped her in psychic energy and lifted her straight off Shinji.

"Eh?" Caught mid-action, she was stunned to find herself suspended in the air.

"Pres... Shinji, is she a new recruit to our Monster Association?" Gyoro Gyoro almost slipped, nearly calling him "President Shinji."

"Yes. She used to be a modified monster from the House of Evolution. Her name is Mosquito Girl," Shinji replied evenly.

"The House of Evolution...? That's Dr. Genus's organization, isn't it?"

Recognition glimmered in Gyoro Gyoro's single eye.

"That's right." Shinji gave a quick summary of how she had joined him.

"I see... so she's serving as a secretary and maid?" Gyoro Gyoro's gaze narrowed to a slit. "In that case, you're dismissed. Shinji needs only one secretary, and that role belongs to me."

The words fell like ice.

"Hah? Why should I agree to that?" Mosquito Girl bristled, her wings twitching with anger. "Because I am the Monster Association's strategist, Gyoro Gyoro. I already stand as Shinji's right hand."

His tone was razor-sharp, absolute.

"I refuse!" Mosquito Girl fought against the psychic hold, unwilling to concede.

"You have no choice."

With a flick of psychic force, Gyoro Gyoro hurled her across the room. However, just before she could crash into the wall, Shinji flickered behind her, teleporting in an instant. He caught her in a princess carry, effortlessly dissipating the force of her fall.

For a heartbeat, Mosquito Girl froze in his arms, then instinctively clung to his neck and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

[Ding! Host and Mosquito Girl completed "Kiss." Reward: 50 points!]

"...!!" Gyoro Gyoro's enormous eye widened, veins bulging as rage consumed him.

"You... you cheating cat!" His voice shook with fury, and his psychic power erupted uncontrollably.

Bzzzzt!

The entire office trembled as if caught in a storm. Tables, sofas, desks, and every piece of furniture began to slowly rise into the air.

"Calm down!" Sensing the danger, Shinji immediately called out.

"Ngh!!" To his relief, his words worked. Gyoro Gyoro forced himself under control. The suspended furniture lowered gently back into place, and the shaking stopped.

Once Psykos's clone had steadied, Shinji landed lightly on the floor. Though he had already released Mosquito Girl, her feet had yet to touch the ground. She still clung to his neck like an ornament dangling from him.

"Cheating cat, let go of Shinji at once," Gyoro Gyoro said coldly, arms crossed, his displeasure written plainly on his face.

"Bleh~!"

Mosquito Girl stuck out her tongue at him, though she knew her limits. If Shinji hadn't shielded her just now, she was certain she couldn't have resisted Gyoro Gyoro's strange psychic force. Reluctantly, she loosened her hold and slipped free.

Then, Gyoro Gyoro eased slightly, conceding a small compromise. "You're Mosquito Girl, right? I'll allow you to serve Shinji as a maid. But if you dare to do anything improper, I won't hold back next time."

"Mm, sure, no problem~."

Mosquito Girl answered brightly. Of course, she chose to interpret "improper" as harming humans. Most people would probably take it that way too~!

...

"Mr. Kamui, do you have any free time lately?" That day, Shinji suddenly received a call from Sitch.

"Mr. Sitch? I do have time. What's the matter?" Shinji asked curiously.

"Recently, our association passed a new plan. We want to regularly assign S-Class heroes to mentor certain promising rookies. With proper guidance, those rookies could quickly rise to A-Class or even S-Class. The problem is... after asking around, every S-Class either claimed to be too busy or refused outright."

Even through the phone, Shinji could hear Sitch's helpless fatigue.

"How long would the training last?" Shinji asked, looking for more information.

"Seven days. One S-Class mentor means seven days, two means fourteen. But so far, not a single S-Class hero has agreed..."

"Seven days, huh? That's doable."

"So, Mr. Kamui, you mean you're willing to accept?"

"Sure, why not?" For him, it was easy points farming.

"That's excellent! Thank you very much, Mr. Kamui. Ah, I nearly forgot to mention the reward."

Sitch quickly added, "Aside from a bonus equal to a month's salary, your contribution points will also increase, which affects your ranking."

"No matter how many points I earn, my rank has basically already reached its limit, hasn't it?" Shinji said casually.

After all, the No. 1 S-Class hero was Blast, and since the Hero Association itself determined the rankings, no one could ever take his spot.

As for the bonus, Shinji barely paid it any mind. Money had never been something he lacked. The only reason he agreed was simply because he felt like lending a hand.

"That's true, haha..."

Sitch gave an awkward laugh before adding, "In any case, thank you again, Mr. Kamui. Without your help, this decision of ours would have collapsed before it even began."

Now there was only Tatsumaki left to approach. He didn't have high expectations, after all, it was Tatsumaki, but he had to try.

"Hello, Miss Tatsumaki, this is Sitch… About the matter I mentioned before, have you given it some thought?"

"What matter? Oh, you mean that ridiculous invitation to have me serve as a mentor?" A stubborn voice came.

"Yes, exactly. I'm glad Miss Tatsumaki remembers."

"You people really don't value anyone's rest, do you? Are you trying to ruin my rare bit of free time?!"

"No, no! That's not our intention at all. If you don't want to, Miss Tatsumaki, you can simply refuse." Speaking with her felt like dealing with a spoiled tyrant, causing Sitch to immediately start sweating.

"Then won't your whole plan just fall apart?"

Though she had sounded unwilling moments ago, Tatsumaki now revealed a flicker of concern.

"That won't happen. Mr. Kamui has already agreed to take part. He's the only one so far, but at least the plan won't completely collapse."

Sitch let out a strained, self-deprecating laugh.

The moment Tatsumaki heard that Kamui had accepted, her eyes widened. She had been lying lazily in bed in her pajamas, but now she abruptly sat upright.