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In a way, Saitama thinks he’s misunderstood relationships from the beginning. People talk about “healthy examples” often, but it never crossed his mind that his parents weren’t healthy. They didn’t argue, they had their responsibilities figured out, and they ate dinner together sometimes. That seemed healthy enough.
In his teenage years, Saitama spent an abnormal amount of time watching trashy reality TV so maybe that’s why he believed his parents, grandparents, and aunts had it figured out. There was a method to being married for years, called “Ignoring Each other.” Romance was an anniversary card, and a new vacuum cleaner, and everything he saw on television was either fake or toxic. So now at age 25 Saitama is stuck trying to understand why his friend is subtly asking if he’s in a relationship with his student. Admittedly, it never crossed his mind that the routine they had settled into was borderline romantic, but now he couldn’t get it out of his head.
…
Walking with Genos was either a calm, easy moment in their day… or the warm-up before a monster attack. With every monster, attack came noises that most would associate with an old computer, but Saitama had begun exclusively hearing Genos every time he decided to boot up his ancient laptop. Before the initial blast, you could almost hear gears turning when you stood as close to Genos as Saitama did. Metal against metal, steam, loud fans. It was like an alarm telling Saitama to walk away, and he did most times. Either with a monotone, “You got this one covered Genos?” Or a “I’ll see you at home.” This time Saitama stood at the sidelines with a thumbs up feeling instinctually like he was needed here. As he watched his disciple crush, scorch, and blast the robot he was trying to beat he got a little more worried with each hit. An arm gone, a piece of his shoulder flying with it. Usually, he would think Genos has it covered, but the innate feeling would not leave.
Eventually, it looked like Genos had defeated the machine, at the expense of one of his limbs, but the ground began to shake. Looking up it felt like the sun had been covered, a shadow encasing the street and buildings. The sounds of screams and terror surrounded Saitama as he gazed at this ginormous robot. It was covered in a flesh-like outer layer, but you could see the machinery and lights flicking from under the stretched skin. Does that make it a cyborg? Saitama didn’t really care. He could feel his disciple's eyes drift towards him before he started walking in front of Saitama like some youthful cyborg shield. Usually, he would let it happen, but he knew that his anxious energy wouldn’t leave until he punched something, and this morbid-looking monster was perfectly set before him (he can hear “actually, that is a robot,” in the back of his mind). So as Saitama went to say, “I’ve got it Genos.” He was cut off by the monster swinging its arm down to sweep several buildings, and the cyborg, into a pile of rubble and fire. And once again before Saitama is able to do anything another sweeping motion starts, this time moving everything to the other side. Screams and alarms are deafening. The large intercom system repeating “Threat level Demon,” was almost enough to shake Saitama from his one-sided staring contest. It wasn’t that he was frozen; he just couldn’t see Genos, and in emergencies like this his initial instinct was to lay eyes on Genos first, but all he was seeing was rubble and shards of metal. His eyes darted helplessly looking for shaking or the sound of a fucked up computer, but there was nothing. Maybe he was frozen.
He stepped forward, more on autopilot than anything, and watched as the monster started digging into the Earth. Pieces of dust and rubble slid into the large crater. It felt like if more time passed he could dig straight to the core, and if Saitama didn’t hear the ridiculous sound of Mumen Rider’s bell he might have let it. It made him take another step. Maybe to avoid a long embarrassing speech, but also because he knew Mumen would find Genos and take him to safety.
He turned to look one last time at that pile before launching himself onto the shoulder of the creature. Beneath his feet he could see the lights closer, and what felt like pulsing. He had questions, but one constant was that the fights never last long enough for him to learn more. He reeled back his arm, and in one punch demolished the monster’s smooth head. Under him, the machinery began to shut down, and the lights dimmed. Why do people still put robots’ life sources in their heads? There has to be a better way than mimicking human anatomy.
Once he was back on steady land, and able to shake the frost off of his brain, he looked around for the signs of a bike or a beaten cyborg. Saitama took several steps around the area. Even helped move some rubble when he usually doesn’t stick around for cleanup. When he’s not able to find Genos he decides (hopes) that he made it safely to the Doctor’s, and Saitama just continues with his original plans to have dinner at King’s apartment.
…
In a way, it was probably naive of Saitama to think King wouldn’t have questions when he mentioned freezing up before a fight. It was in passing in the middle of a match, and apparently, the idea was enough for King to pause the game and put his controller down.
“You froze up. You? Before fighting a giant monster?” It sounded stupid when King said it like that. It wasn’t something he’s done in years. He was so strong now that nothing struck fear into him; let alone enough to stop him from fighting. The conversation made Saitama not want to make eye contact like King would see into his soul or something.
“Uh. Yeah. It was pretty weird.” He was silently hoping his friend would shrug and pick his controller back up, but of course, he chose to dissect it some more, “Do you know why? I mean that’s a pretty big deal dude.” Saitama shrugged, “No clue. I remember looking around for Genos, and blanking. That’s it. Maybe it was the noise.” Maybe if Saitama grabbed his controller King would follow his lead… “Where is Genos? I thought he was going to hang with us.” No luck. “I never saw him. Even after the fight and the dust cleared.” Saitama shrugged again before he said, “I just assumed he went for repairs. It did feel weird leaving a fight without him.” He was pretty convinced if he shrugged one more time his shoulders would fall off, but it just felt right. “I bet.. You know, you’ve never mentioned dating.. Are you..” Despite the whiplash, Saitama could obviously see where King was going with this one. He looked at him with wide eyes and shook his hands in front of himself, “No. No. You’ve got it wrong.”
“I’m just saying, dude. It’s like you’re married or something.” King moved to pick up his controller, and Saitama gladly matched him if it meant the focus was pushed off him, and the second he got his ass handed to him he let the thoughts of marriage sit on the back burner.
…
Once King mentioned it, it never truly left his mind though. Everything he, and Genos, did together mimicked the couples around them; with exceptions for PDA. The delicate balance they had found in their home, the way they smoothly moved around each other in busy grocery stores, and the nighttime routine they’d built over their time together.
Genos rolls out the futons while Saitama brushes his teeth. They swap so Genos changes into pajamas, and Saitama can turn off all the lights besides a small nightlight and the bathroom’s bright one. Then they both silence their phones, decide who’s going to make breakfast tomorrow, and say goodnight.
Usually, Saitama is quick to fall asleep, but he can’t tonight. He manages to stare at the wall, and then the ceiling, and then the wall again, for what feels like hours.
Relationships were always weird to think about. When Saitama was younger he tried to date; he never saw the point, but everyone else did so he followed. He spent a few weeks with a girl at university, but it wasn’t anything extraordinary. Mostly a few expensive dinners, sex, and a text breakup. After a while, he started to think he may be gay so he dated a dude, but it was also pretty boring. All he learned from that one is that his parents are incredibly homophobic, and he feels nothing about either gender. Maybe he was doing it wrong? Is it possible to date wrong?
He grabbed his phone, burnt his eyes because his brightness was all the way up, and started searching what some would describe as dumb questions. How to date. How to know if you like someone. Signs you like someone. Signs someone likes you. Am I gay? How to know if someone is gay. I think I’m dating my roommate. I think I’m dating my roommate Reddit.
After spending an hour hopelessly reading every search result that caught his eye, he set his alarm and tried to sleep knowing he was in charge of breakfast.
…
His focus constantly drifted to Genos. He didn’t need to eat yet always complimented Saitama’s cooking, and used the time every morning to discuss his plans for the day. Saitama usually mentioned a sale or an event, Genos would agree to go with, and they would spend their day together. That’s why it was so hard for Saitama to figure out if they acted like a married couple. To him, a married couple was a man and a woman who could barely hold a conversation that wasn’t about work. They sat in the same room and watched the same show, but their focus would never shift from themselves. Genos devotes time to him, and he carefully listens to whatever Genos rants about during their time together. They have a balance of selflessness and understanding that his parents never managed to figure out. Does that make a relationship? After reading stories posted online Saitama managed to figure out that love and a relationship were based on choice. If his parents were asked to choose someone to spend eternity with would they choose each other? It was part of their vows, but Saitama doesn’t think they ever believed those to begin with. In a way, Saitama had already chosen Genos. They moved as a pair when they did anything. He’d convinced Genos to be honest with him instead of blindly following everything he said. They’ve grown into different people together. Saitama has made friends and learned that he enjoys company more than solitude, and Genos has grown stronger and secretly found someone he wants to protect like family.
After a long discussion with himself, Saitama had to set up for a new challenge. He wasn’t known for conversations around feelings, and he knew Genos was aware of that. It meant that if Saitama started a serious conversation Genos would pay attention to every breath, but it also meant Saitama would rather die than discuss himself in-depth like that.
His best option was to try to talk to King.
…
“I knew it!” The excitement he said it with hurt Saitama’s ears. “Yeah yeah. I get it, but how do I deal with this?” King was almost shaking with excitement all because he was right. “You know Genos is pretty transparent when anyone else looks at him. You’re just dense.” “WHAT does that mean.” King sighed and started gesturing like this was a class he teaches, “Genos is obviously into you. Has been since the beginning. Just tell him what you’ve realized, and everything else will fall into place.” It hurt Saitama’s head to think about what that would entail. “Why can’t Genos start the stupid conversation?” “Who cares why? He won’t. So you need to,” despite how rough it sounded King had a wide smile on his face while slurping the cheap noodles they chose. Saitama’s were going cold with all the thinking and talking he was doing.
…
In a way it’s like Genos read his mind, or in this case his search history. It wasn’t on purpose. Genos was looking for a recipe he saw on Saitama’s computer, and the search history from his phone was linked to his account. When he opened up the recent searches he saw all of the things the older man had searched and read. It was not hard for him to conclude that Saitama felt the same way he did. For a moment he believed it might have been King or even Hellish Blizzard that his master had a crush on, but as he scrolled he saw that “Roommate” started popping up.
Although Genos understood what he had read he did not understand why. He didn’t feel he was completely worthy of Saitama’s care, and when Genos doesn’t understand things he can’t help but ask.
“Master. I have read your search history and-“ Saitama looked like he might explode, “HUH?” Genos almost rolled his eyes. “If you wait one moment I will explain.” He could see that Saitama wanted to object, but he eventually settled so the cyborg could continue. “I have read your search history, and based on what I have read, we have mutual romantic feelings for each other. I am not good at keeping secrets which is why I am telling you now. I truly don’t understand how I am worthy of your attraction in the first place, but I will do what can to-” he’s cut off, “Mutual?” “Yes. I have had envisioned a romantic relationship with you early into my mentorship, and in many ways that has taken shape within our time together.”
There was a pause. Saitama stared. Genos blinked. “I am not great with words Genos.” “I know Master.” Saitama already didn’t like the “master thing,” but he disliked it more now that he needed Genos to believe they were equals. “That has to end. Calling me Master isn’t going to work if we’re actually together.” Genos grimaced but also nodded. It would take a lot of getting used to, but he could see what Saitama meant. “Actually together?” Saitama stared again. “Yeah? Wasn’t that the whole point of the conversation? We’re dating now. We get to be boyfriends? Partners? Whatever?” The look on Genos’ face showed that he knew what his boyfriend meant, but just wanted the thrill of hearing Saitama say it. The look on Saitama’s face showed that he realized he had been fooled, but loved Genos too much to be peeved. Loved? It felt like a strong word, but Saitama was the strongest man so maybe it suited him.
“I think I love you Genos.”