-Chapter One-

Daddy... Mommy..

Why aren't you waking up?

Dad! Mom! You're going to drown! Please wake up quick!

Please tell me why everything is so dark and red...

A little girl, no older than twelve, opened her eyes, which slowly adjusted as she stared at the clean, wooden ceiling. Remembering what happened past few days, tears threatened to fall once more.

Her eyes shifted to the photo near her futon, still teary-eyed.

'Granny'

The few days ago that her dear old grandma looked so intimidating and strong while she was scolding her for once again not being careful...

Now she's gone.. never to open her eyes again nor to wake anytime..

She remembers holding her hand right after she found her.. but It was cold, the warmth she was familiar with gone.

She's...never going to return again..

"Baa-san..." she spoke and immediately hated how her voice cracked and the tears that immediately spilled.

"..I promise.. I'll be strong"

It's a beautiful day, birds weren't as annoying as usual, The sun's shine isn't too hot, no monsters are within the vicinity, the air smells great.

The dog woke up to this wonderful morning.. yet he couldn't bring himself to really care. He's a bit angry, even. His dear, sweet girl has been in a bad mood and how dare the earth look so wonderful?

That's what a part of him feels, on the other hand, this is perfect for walks and his owner could also use some walks.. or runs.

The dog stretched idly. Then walked over to the kitchen, to drink water, before proceeding to the living room to wait for his owner.

She's late, The dog thought.

He suddenly felt concerned. There wasn't any fresh scent of her around so she couldn't have woken up yet, not to mention she wouldn't forget to feed him first and foremost...

Toshi decided to wait in front of her room instead.

"Woof!" A dog barked upon hearing the footsteps of her finally getting up

"Morning Toshi!" And soon enough, the door opened, revealing a young half-smiling girl with purple irises that are hazy from grogginess. Her light brown hair was tied up messily, some strands falling on her simple white shirt with a random cartoon print on it and matched her small black shorts.

Just as the dog was getting ready to pounce on her, he immediately stopped.

Her eyes were puffy and a bit red.. was she crying again?

The dog worriedly neared the little girl, 'standing' to reach her shoulders to lick the corner of her eye. Ayaka, not able to handle Toshi's weight quite yet, landed on the floor with a 'thud'. She struggled a bit from Toshi, before she became to tired to even resist.

"Toshi... I'm.. fine" Ayaka assured, her hands petting the fawn-colored fur of Toshi's head.

Toshi thought she was.

"Toshi..." Ayaka trailed off "I'll.. not to cry anymore okay?"

Toshi whined, still hovering over her worriedly.

"Geez..you mother hen." She muttered and pushed Toshi aside to stand up. "Lemme up.."

Maybe a run would clear her head?

Toshi barked softly, stepping back and turned, disappearing to a corner before appearing again, this time holding a blue leash that clearly beloings to him.

"You want me to walk with you?"

Toshi barked.

"..I'm sorry Toshi.. I don't think I have time for that right now... I.. have to pack.." Said Ayaka as she sat down, back leaning on the wall.

Pack? Where is she going? Is she going to leave him?

"Woof?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you? Some mister told me that they would take me to my last remaining relative around the afternoon.. the mister however doesn't looks like he's fond of the decision we made. He warned me of his unstable living. I don't really care though, because at least the only problem is his job, Granny told me worse things about adults! He's the last relative, I think it's kind of right that I get to live with him."

Toshi gave another bark, this time as if he was saying; 'Really?'

If there's one thing Toshi is very sure of with everyone, it's that just because it's your relative doesn't mean it neccessarily treats you better. Sometimes you might get scorned even.

Toshi is not too sure if he wants the girl to have thoughts like that...

Ayaka, as if sensing what Toshi means stared back "Do you think I'm being trustful and obnoxious?... But he seems fine! He even told me he could take you in! but we have to be careful okay? One mistake and it's over "

"..."

"I guess this is reckless and stupid.. But Granny said family sticks together..." Sensing that Ayaka is not really talking to him anymore, but to herself instead, Toshi just sat down with his owner, head contently on little Ayaka's lap. "..If he actually turns out to be a bad guy, well, I'm a big girl! and you're my great partner! We'll take care of him right?"

Hearing that, Toshi barked in agreement.

If that relative of his owner indeed, turns out to be a bad guy, Toshi knows Ayaka wouldn't even have to call the mister to teach her relative a lesson.

And he will not be playing nicely.

Soon enough, some men arrived, along with a friendly woman who took them to the place. She assured that her belongings are already in her room and all that's left is to meet him. Ayaka bowed and thanked the woman, who reminded her very seriously to immediately call her when something goes wrong. Ayaka watched the car go away before she took a deep breath and turned.

It's... a strange building.. apartment complex yes.. but.. for some reason its... lacking? Ayaka isn't too sure, but somehow she sensed that there aren't that many people living in it. She could tell just from the way she saw the people she could see becomes more and more scarce. There aren't many people around too..

Scratch that, no person is in sight. Anywhere.

"Woof!"

Ayaka flinched in surprise, she turned her attention to Toshi, who tilted his head just as she met his gaze as if to say 'What are you waiting for?'

Taking a deep breath once more, she knocked on the door.

She waited a few seconds.

Then knocked again.

Finally, a nonchalant voice answered "Coming" The door opened a few more seconds later, revealing the man she talked to at the hospital for a short while. He seemed just like any regular guy, but more.. non-caring like? no.. not non-caring bad but.. more.. casual? with a mix of boredom?

Something along those words.

And also, he looks definitely like her stereotypical middle-aged uncle would.. 50% factor that made up that is he's bald. At the age of 25.

He looks disarming, because of the casual face he wore is always this..look of a simpleton's.

Ayaka looked at Toshi, who doesn't seem to have any strong opinion in meeting him and just matching her.. 'uncle's' expression. Blank.

Which means he's definitely not a bad guy.

The man- her uncle, gave her a small smile. "Amai Ayama-chan right? Come in."

"It's Ayaka sir. Amachi Ayaka" She corrected "And this is Toshi, my partner"

Toshi barked softly.

The m- uncle's smile disappeared, looking at her blankly. "Ah sorry, and no need to call me sir. Just call me with anything familiar" Her uncle, muttered her name over and over, probably making himself familiar with it.

Wait.. call him familiar like.. uncle or brother?

What was his name again?

Like her uncle, Ayaka is also not good at remembering names. Sai? Saman? Sama?

Oh.. Saitama..

So.. just uncle?.. but he's twenty-five, frankly that's not really a flattering word for that age.. so..

"Is Saitama-niisan okay?"

"That's fine." He answered "So then, I guess I'll show you your room." Ayaka nodded, following Saitama obediently and Toshi not too far behind.

The room is..okay. Smaller than her previous room but.. it's okay.. It's got just enough space for her and Toshi to move around, and also for her things.

"Need my help unpacking?"

"N-no thank you."

"Okay, then make sure to come out of the room for dinner when I call you"

"Yes. Thank you.. for everything.. Saitama-niisan." Ayaka bowed. "I'll make sure to help you with the house chores as best as I could"

"You don't need to bow. It's alright, no need" Saitama closed the door and left Ayaka with Toshi.

That does it. Ayaka likes Saitama. He's nice even if she's nervous around him.

But Ayaka doesn't feel okay with this situation.. about her almost free-loading. Granted that Ayaka's expenses will be paid by her family's savings, but Saitama would be taking care of Ayaka, so isn't it fair that he get to use some money from it at least? Why would Saitama say that he would never use a single penny for him when Ayaka herself knows the importance of money to adults?

"People are all different Aya-chan. There's always reasons why" Ayaka remembered Granny's saying.

She's confused, but promised to herself that she'll be as helpful as possible.

Oh yeah, speaking of being helpful, she should get started on fixing her things now and getting her room to look very presentable and homey.

A light tap caught her attention and she turned to Toshi, who is already beside the boxes, just waiting for her.

"Alright.. let's get started then."

Two hours later and Ayaka's finally done with putting her things all in the right places, from her futon to her clothes, and then to her other things like her things for school.

Ayaka frowned.

"Ahhh.. how troublesomeeee"

Toshi, lazily resting on his own 'day' bed, perked up at Ayaka's voice that spoke for the first time in two hours.

"If only you're allowed in schools Toshi~"

Toshi relaxed again when it turned out not to be a big deal.

He doubts he'll be able to sit still in that school doing nothing. According to his knowledge, school is where young humans learn, so what is Toshi going to do there? He's just going to be smothered with touches from handsy strangers just because he's 'cute'.

Allowed or not, Toshi's not going anywhere with lots of children. He could handle Ayaka (because she's special) And maybe just a few of her friends if she were able to make some, but definitely not a whole class or more.

Toshi shivered involuntarily. He is never going to do a repeat of that time at Ayaka's school. ever.

Ayaka, no clue of what's currently going on around her companion's mind, simply sighed, eyeing the last three boxes that was sealed very securely, more than the previous ones. Two boxes contained precious books that are in no way her school books (her school books are already packed in her bag) and and the last box contains her favorite toys, her chemistry sets. All of them ranging from mediocre level to advance ones..and not to mention in one of the box of the most innocent-looking chemistry set, there contained her.. own personal formulas.

Toshi is intelligent enough that he didn't even need to sniff them to learn to stay away from her chemistry sets.. or go near while she's using them.

And Ayaka certainly isn't also unconsiderate enough to not clean up, especially the air, after using them. But she and Toshi definitely needs to find a base somewhere to use them more freely.. preferably somewhere with no risk of encountering any surprise monster attacks. With a place this deserted, she most likely wouldn't have much problem with finding abandoned bases. She and Toshi could definitely handle monsters in their own way too.

Mysterious Beings, or just plain monsters, are the bad non-human beings that Ayaka's Granny told her didn't exist fifteen years ago, and terrorizes cities. they have disaster levels ranging from wolf to legendary god level. It was only three years ago that some man made the Hero Association and Official Heroes appeared.

Ayaka's Granny experience taught her to learn not to rely to them, as they couldn't arrive the first second of threat and are humans still, albeit being powerful than regular people like them. Granny trained her and Toshi to defend themselves and run at the moment's notice, and along the way, how to attack them.

Of course Granny stopped the moment they could handle common wolf-level ones, and left Ayaka and Toshi the decision to pursue it. She warned Ayaka that she won't interfere with the 'dirty hero work' Ayaka's been doing, as long as she'll be responsible for her own actions.

Ayaka was proud, that she was better than common children her age, and she used her skills to defeat monsters, and dared to approach a demon-level monster.

It was a huge mistake.

Toshi paid the price for her stupidity.

Ayaka ignored the slight, dulled pang she felt as she remembered the day she learned that hard lesson and moved the third box inside a medium-sized cabinet. She placed the books from the first and second box on top of the cabinet, since it was made to put books on top if not some display items.

Finally considering her job finished, she smiled and looked around her work.

It looks very comfy, with the right amount of sweetness appearance and her childishness in it, posters of her favorite T.V. shows hung up on the wall in the right angle, and the rest great looking..

Just kidding.

The room is a mess.

It's okay-looking, for a room that was arranged by an eleven-year old, but some things, like where the drawer is placed and how the posters were hanging definitely screamed 'HELP'

Ayaka, near tears at the painful realization, had to call for Saitama, who was nice enough to help her with the rest.

The dinner that followed isn't that awkward thanks to the bonding they had while arranging her room, but Ayaka was still pretty embarassed that she couldn't manage to unpack and arrange her room entirely by herself.

So much for a wonderful start.

Notes:

Baa-san - Grandmother

Futon - a type of low wooden sofa that can be unfolded for use as a bed.

AN: Hello~

Months later after deleting my stories I just have to do this again don't I? (;_;) The cycle of a fangirl never endssssss

Anyway, I hope I made this chapter okay, Saitama not too OOC perhaps? (I hope not. I tried my best. I really did)

Please let me hear your thoughts about this chapter and if you want this continued!

(I have some kind of plan written out, with Ayaka nothing more than a supporting character of course, *Because she's just a kid with her own problems*). One thing is for sure; my goal is for Ayaka to be able to mature and grow. You know? Life lessons and stuff.

If you made it this far then thank you very much for taking your time to read this!

Adieu~