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“Saitama-Sensei.”
Saitama looked up from where he was laying on the floor, reading the latest edition of one of the manga he followed. Genos was in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes from dinner, and Saitama could see him through the little window over the sink. He was looking down at the sink where he was washing, with a small frown on his face, one he got when he was concentrating very hard on something.
“Yeah, what’s up?” He stretched out on his side, using his arm as a pillow and set his manga folded down onto the top of the table so he wouldn’t lose his spot.
Genos glanced up from the dishes, noticing that Saitama was giving him his full attention. “I was wondering…” he started off slowly, “Do you have any plans for next Sunday?” He stared at Saitama intently, which gave the older man an uneasy feeling in his stomach. What was he looking for? Some kind of huge reaction to his question? The cyborg was pretty good at not showing his emotions, so Saitama was having a hard time judging what look his disciple was giving him.
Shoot, what was next Sunday? Was there some huge sale that he was forgetting? No, he had just gone through all the newspapers and online coupons that morning, and nothing had been posted that far in advance yet. They had started dating in the summer, and it was only February so it couldn’t be their anniversary. Birthday? He felt the queasy feeling in his stomach grow with guilt. He had a feeling that wasn’t it, but it did make him realize he didn’t even know Genos’s birthday.
“Uh, no I don’t think so, why?” he replied, making a mental note to figure out Genos’s birthday, hoping it hadn’t already passed since they started dating. It was bound to be on the Hero Registration hero information web page, he could look there.
“Well, it’s Valentine’s Day, so I wasn’t sure if you would want to…make plans.” At that, Genos suddenly started blushing, little puffs of steam releasing from his shoulder vents. Even though they had been dating for over half a year, Genos still got overjoyed every time something romantic got brought up, which resulted in a lot of blushing and steam filling their apartment. It was super cute, and Saitama enjoyed finding all the little things that made Genos blush.
The guilty feeling of not knowing Genos’s birthday was replaced by a new one, some combination of fear and excitement. He had never really participated in Valentine’s Day before, having not been popular with the girls. Although he and Genos had celebrated quite a few holidays together, this was the first one that would be so centered around couples and doing couple things. Saitama blushed a little at the thought.
“Of course we don’t have to do anything!” Genos suddenly spoke up, interrupting Saitama’s thoughts. “I know it’s a holiday created around spending money on useless things, which of course Sensei would never want to do. And I will never think less of Sensei or our relationship if he does not wish to participate, and that it’s just a ruse by corporations to make people feel as if…”
“Whoa, wait!” Saitama interrupted Genos before he got too far on his lecture about the holiday. “I was just thinking, that’s all! Of course I would want to do something with you.” He scratched his head a little, enjoying how more puffs of steam shot out of Genos, “I’ve never really celebrated being a couple before though. Was there anything you had in mind you wanted to do?”
Genos smiled back at him, happy to hear that Saitama wanted to celebrate the holiday with him, even though he didn’t have to. “I would like it to be something really special. I’ll think about it and make the plans, okay Sensei?”
“Sure, sounds good.” Saitama watched as Genos went back to washing the dishes in the sink, a small smile on his face. Saitama looked back at the manga laying on the table and reached out to pick it up, but then decided against it, instead getting to his feet and walked to the kitchen where he wrapped his arms around his boyfriends waist, leaning his head on his shoulder.
“Of course, we could celebrate being a couple any time you wanted to Genos.” He whispered as he placed little kisses on Genos’s neck and enjoying how flustered Genos got.
“I will keep that in mind, Sensei” Genos replied, trying to finish cleaning up as quickly as he could so the two of them could enjoy the rest of the night together.
—
For the rest of the week, Genos didn’t mention the holiday again, and by the time Sunday came around Saitama had almost forgotten what day it was. Until the drones came.
“What the heck,” Saitama grumbled at the buzzing noise that interrupting his morning tea. Standing up, he went over to the balcony to see what was making the racket. In the air were five drones, all waiting for the owner of the apartment to greet them before dropping off their packages and taking off. Suddenly worried about the structure of his balcony under the weight of these huge boxes, Saitama picked them all up and brought them inside.
“What’s going on Sensei?” Genos came out the bathroom where he had been brushing his teeth and changing out of his pajamas.
Saitama placed the boxes down; with their combined height the stack was almost as tall as him. “The drones came to deliver mail, I guess. Which is weird cause mail normally comes on Tuesday. And why so many? There hasn’t been a huge monster attack in almost a month for people to want to thank you.” Saitama pondered.
“Sensei, it’s Valenties’s Day today, remember,” Genos replied as he walked towards the huge stack, taking the top box down and opening it. “I’m sure the Hero Association sends these out special today from our fans.”
Oh, that’s right. Well shoot, he forgot to get Genos a card. He really needed to stop being so unaware, especially when it came to his boyfriend. Well, he seemed to have gotten plenty from his fans. Saitama decided he would quick pick something out when he went out to grab lunch for the two of them.
“Do you really have that many fans Genos?” Saitama looked in the first open box, and noticed that what normally consisted of only cards now also contained flowers, chocolates, little toys, some jewelry, and a variety of other trinkets. “Aw man, they sent you gifts too this time.”
“Please take whatever you want Sensei, I do not need all of this.” The cyborg sat down, and started shifting through the letters. Even though he didn’t care at all about his fan club or the girl’s that swooned over him, he still took the time to read their letters and reply to the few that were more genuine.
Saitama sat across the table form Genos, munching on some chocolates he had pulled out the box. As he watched Genos open the cards, one after another, he started to feel a little upset. Was he mad that Genos got all these while he himself got nothing? No, Genos always got a ton of fan mail, and it had never bothered Saitama before. Maybe it was the fact that the cyborg was paying more attention to these letters than him? Didn’t Genos say he was going to make plans for just the two of them?
Getting a little grumpy, Saitama shifted his pose, stretching his legs out so that his feet were touching Genos’s legs under the table. He started wiggling his toes, trying to distract the cyborg. “Are we doing anything today?” he asked.
With no reaction to Saitama’s antics below the table, Genos looked up from the current card he was reading, one that had a bit too many sparkly hearts on it for Saitama’s taste. “Yes Sensei, but it’s not till later today. I was thinking we could just enjoy the morning like usual.” He went back to reading.
Realizing his boyfriend was really concentrating on what he was doing, Saitama decided now would be a fine time to run to the store.
“I’m going to make lunch for us today, okay?” He got to his feet, slipping on his tennis shoes and put his coin purse in his hoodie pocket. “I’m just running to the store for a few small things. You keep reading through those okay?” Genos nodded, not looking up. He seemed to have switched into overdrive mode, quickly opening, reading, and casting aside a letter every few seconds, trying to get through all the boxes.
At the store, Saitama went first to the card sections. Walking down the aisle he quickly noticed that the majority of the Valentines’s cards were gone, leaving only the cheesiest ones. He finally decided on one that had a cute yellow lab puppy on the front, with santa looking hat on it that had a fluffy heart instead of the white fluff at the end. On the front it read ‘It’s Valentine’s Day!’ and on the inside ‘Will you be mine?’ He felt a bit ashamed that he hadn’t gotten one sooner, but knowing Genos he would treasure it always, no matter how stupid the card was.
Moving on, he walked past the candy sitting in the middle of the aisle. Genos had already gotten a ton from his fans, so Saitama decided against buying any, otherwise they would just go to waste. He got the rest of the ingredients that he needed for lunch, paid, and headed back home.
As he walked in, he noticed the huge pile of cards and candy next to Genos. He was going through the last box, concentrating so hard on finishing the last few that he didn’t even notice Saitama come home.
He went to the kitchen to put away some of the stuff, then got a pen out and wrote in the card he had bought for Genos and sealed it in the bright red envelope that had come with it.
“Sensei, you’re back!” Genos walked up to the window set between the kitchen and living room. “Oh, what’s that?” he asked, looking at the card in Saitama’s hands.
“Oh, it’s for you,” he said, handed it through the window. Genos paused for a second, and then beamed a huge smile at Saitama, his vents glowing a little. Saitama felt a bit pleased that even though Genos had gotten hundreds, maybe thousands of Valentine’s cards, his was the only one to make him smile like that.
“Thank you Sensei!” He said as he took the card. Instead of opening it right away, he walked back to the table and sat down. Gesturing to a few cards left on the table, he added, “These are for you, by the way Sensei.”
Saitama finished putting the rest of the groceries away, then joined the cyborg at the table to read the cards he had received. Most of them were from other heroes, Mumen Rider, King, even Fubuki had sent him one, having all her henchmen sign their names along with hers. A few were from the small fan base he had, one had even sent him white chocolates by the looks of it. The last card in his pile was from Genos. Saitama had to squint to read it, for the Cyborg had written it in the tiniest size possible and filled up every space available to him. It was a very sweet message about how much he looked up to Sensei and how he was Genos’s whole world and that he would love him forever. Saitama felt himself blushing, wondering how the heck he was so lucky.
He looked over to his boyfriend and noticed he was also blushing, staring intently at the card that Saitama had given him. Genos noticed the older man’s stare, and looked up, smiling. “Thank you Sensei. I’m glad to know that I’m the sweetest person you know.” He laughed a bit, leaning over to place a caste kiss on his sensei’s lips.
“He, yeah.” He snuggled in next to his boyfriend, laying his head down on his lap for a nap. “Sorry I didn’t get you anything though. I thought with all this candy as such, anything I bought you would go to waste. So…” Saitama thought a little bit, getting distracted from the cyborg now petting his bald head. “How about an IOU. Next time you want something, just let me know.”
Genos beamed down at him, although there was an suspicious glint in his eyes, “Thank you Sensei. I’ll be sure to save it for something very special.”
—-
As the evening went on, Genos started urging Saitama to get ready for the night. Genos had made a reservation at a restaurant fairly close by, one that wasn’t too fancy so that his sensei would still feel comfortable, but nicer than the fast food restaurants they would go to. They walked together down the street slowly, enjoying holding hands and looking around at the other people as they left the abandoned area.
The sun was already setting, leaving a pretty pink hue to the sky above them, and casting long shadows on the sidewalk and streets. The restaurant they approach had a long line out the front door, made up of almost exclusively couples. Genos ignore them, walking right to the door and squeezing past the people to get inside. Some people cast dark glances at them and a couple grumbled under their breath, but a few girls recognized Genos, instantly turning into squealing fan girls to their significant others demise. Inside, a nice piano music played, with a soft murmur of people chattering and servers walking around with food trays or drink refills.
Genos forged a path through the line, keeping Saitama close by his side so they wouldn’t be separated. “I have a table for two reserved for 5:45,” he told the hostess.
She clearly recognized Genos, blushing a bit with a big smile. “Oh! Demon Cyborg, of course, following me this way, we have it ready for you.” She glanced at Saitama, who was hanging slightly behind the cyborg, looking a little put-off from the mean looks the girls around him were giving. “Is this the person you are dining with?”
“Yes, my boyfriend.” Genos didn’t keep his voice down at all, making a few of the other customers look their way and the girls glare harder. The hostess seemed a little startled at that, but quickly smiled again, this time at Saitama as if encouraging him.
“Okay, follow me this way.” She lead them to a small round table placed by one of the windows. “Your waiter will be Sam, he’ll be with your shortly.” Saitama watched her walked away, his ears hot from slight embarrassment. He forgot how forward Genos was about their relationship when they were in public. It didn’t really bother him, but it still felt a little weird to say it out loud to someone else. There were still a few people looking at them, mostly girls. They were here with their boyfriends and husbands, why were they even upset that he was with Genos?
“Sensei, have you decided what you are eating?” Genos was looking up from the menu.
“Oh, no. I haven’t even looked yet.” He picked up the menu, and after a quick glance decided on a hamburger with fries. He wasn’t a fan of anything too fancy, and a place like this should have good fries.
The two of them enjoyed the dinner mostly in peace, with the exception of a fan coming up to Genos every once in a while to say hi and ask if he got their valentine that morning.
Once finished with dinner, they got a piece of super chocolate double fudge cake to split with a scoop of ice-cream. The cake was a bit too sweet for Saitama, so he ate bits of the ice-cream while Genos enjoyed the cake. Noticing a bit of the frosting on the cyborg’s face once he was done, Saitama leaned over the table and wiped it off with his thumb. “There, all clean now,” Saitama joked, liking the frosting off his finger. Genos blushed a bit, and quickly asked for the check before Saitama could get it. “My treat, remember?” He argued when Saitama tried to pay instead.
They got up to leave, with Genos leaving a nice tip for the waiter, and smiled at the hostess as they walked out. She gave them a little wave as she ushered the next couple to their table.
“I’m glad you enjoyed dinner, Sensei.” Genos reached down, taking the older man’s hand into his own.
“Hmm…yeah it’s nice to splurge every once in a while I guess. The fries were good and the company was amazing.” He winked at Genos, making the cyborg blush again.
They continued down their way, back to Saitama’s house, but before getting too far, Genos steered him down a separate road. Saitama looked at Genos in confusing, they were already in the abandoned part of the city so he had no idea where they were going. Genos lead him to a small park that was once a hangout place for all sorts of people, but felt eerily quiet in the dark of night, with only the two of them. At the center of the park was a large circular fountain with a statue in the middle made up of old heroes that had once fought for this city, striking quite a pose. Fragile parts had started to break off, a nose here, the hand there, one hero was missing her whole head. Yet it was still beautiful to look at, snow and icicles covering it.
At the base, what was normally rain water had turned to ice and without the gross green color of the mold growing on the inside, it actually looked nice.
Genos, still holding onto Saitama’s hand, pulled him towards the fountain where there were ice-skates waiting for them.
“Oh, ice-skating?” It was an activity Saitama had never done before. His parents had died when he was still young, and it was an activity that just never came up. He felt pretty excited.
“Yes Sensei, I read online that one way to make a day special between couples is to try a new activity together. I used to go skating with my younger sister, and remember really enjoying it, so I thought it would be nice to do it with you.” Saitama looked over at Genos. It was very rare for Genos to mention anything about his life before the accident, and it took Saitama a bit by surprise. Genos continued, “I rented the skates for the night; I’ll return them in the morning.” He paused, looking at the fountain. “I saw this one day a while back, while walking through the town to memorize the layout of the area. I checked it out when I thought of ice-skating with you, and luckily it had some decent ice.”
Saitama smiled, even more excited now. “Well, I’ve never skated before, so I look forward to this new experience with you.”
Genos smiled at him, the moon throwing his features into a sharp contrast of light and dark. Saitama felt his breath catch a bit at the sight of his boyfriend. God, how could he be so hot and cute at the same time? They got their skates on, and climbed onto the ice carefully.
“Uh, why out here by the way? Don’t they have real ice-rinks in the city?” Saitama asked, getting used to the rhythm of sliding around on the ice. He held onto Genos’s arm for support. The sensation was new to him, suddenly going faster without really moving his body much. It was a pleasant feeling.
“They do, but I wanted this to be special for us, and with so many people in the city I was worried even more people would be interrupting us as we skated. I wanted to be with you only.” It was clear that Genos already had a hang of this, quickly turning Saitama around so that they were facing each other, putting one hand on his waist and taking Saitama’s hand in the other. He skated backwards, pulling Saitama with him as they went in a big circle around the fountain.
“Hehe, it feels like we are dancing,” Saitama laughed, really enjoying himself as he let Genos take the lead.
“Thank you Sensei,” Genos slowed their paced so that they were barley gliding now. He was looking intently at Saitama, the grip on his hand and waste increasing as he pulled him closer so that their bodies were pressed against each other. “I love you.” His voice was so low Saitama almost didn’t catch it. Before he could reply, Genos brought their faces together, kissing him softly. Saitama closed his eyes, leaning into the kiss, moving his hands behind Genos’s head to deepen it. They stayed together like that for a few minutes, finally breaking apart to catch their breath, giggling softly against each other.
It was almost midnight before they made their way back home, hand and hand, skates hanging freely from Genos’s free hand, deciding that they might buy some skates of their own and maybe take some classes together.