"Question 1: What do you think about the Hero Association's service lately?

Answer 1: I'm not dead and my job at the supermarket is still safe, that's all I care about.

Question 2: Do you think we are in need to improve the service?

Answer 2: No, but Mumen Rider should try to do some delivery service too. My supermarket would be happy to have him. He's faster than our cars.

Question 3: Who are your favorite heroes?

Answer 3: The ones who always come to buy products at my supermarket.

Question 4: What do you feel about Genos skipping ranks and being classified as an S rank hero off the bat? Do you feel uneasy about it?"

Answer 4: He passes by the supermarket with a baldy on a weekly basis, so I don't have at problems at all with him.

Last Question: Which hero would you like to meet if you ever win the prize of this survey?

Last Answer: Depends. I'll be giving this prize to a younger family member, so I won't be the one deciding."

So I filled out a survey not too long ago since my sister was really hyped about having a chance to meet Genos (meeting a hero in a VIP event was the prize of this Hero Association's paper survey). She filled one out herself a while ago, but she wasn't satisfied about only having one chance on thousands, so she asked me to fill one in for her too.

Seriously though, I only did so to make her stop annoying me during lunch time about it, nothing else.

#

So, I was studying at a basement library when I heard some idiots shouting that they'd conquer the land and that all lifeforms came from the sea, therefore the Deep Sea King had the rights to claim all. I didn't take anything seriously, I didn't even bother raising my eyes because I was trying to complete my homework. Then, an hour later, when I was done, I looked around. There was absolutely nobody left. Everybody evacuated.

Suddenly, I heard a ridiculously loud yelling: "PURI-PURI-PRISONER, ANGEL STYLEEEEEEEE!"

This time, I actually bothered to look up and through the window. I even opened it a bit in order to clearly see what in the world was going on.

My jaws dropped when I saw a naked dude fighting some green muscular fish man (whom I assumed was the Deep Sea King from the yells and screams I've heard while I was doing homework. But wait, I told myself, that guy is Puri-Puri Prisoner, an S rank hero… which could only mean that everybody is in deep trouble. If even this guy came out, then there was absolutely no doubt about it.

"No one has ever seen my Angel Style and lived to tell about it." the naked man declared.

As I observed the fight between the S ranked Puri-Puri-Prisoner and the Deep Sea King, I suddenly felt like I needed to walk away from the windows and get the hell out of the area. Yeah… Maybe taking the day off today wasn't a good idea.

I took out my cellphone and called my boss while watching the fight.

"Hello? Hitoyoshi? Is it for job resignation?" he said, upon picking up.

"Eh. No, sir, I've just decided to come work tonight." I said, watching Puri-Puri Prisoner getting completely wrecked.

"Oh, really? Very good. I'll note that. When should I expect you to arrive?" he asked.

"ANGEL RUUUSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" the naked S rank hero yelled, pummeling the sea boss with his "Angel Rush" with full force. Hopefully my boss didn't hear that one. It's common knowledge among some employees not to let employers know that they associate with weirdos (or perverts, in the worst case).

"Uh, in around two hours. It's starting to rain, so I'll probably get there around four o'clock in the afternoon and do a night shift." I answered.

"No problem. I will be counting on you then." he said before hanging up.

I put my phone away, packed up and walked up the stairs only to realize a man-sized fish man stood in front of the entrance, right beside my motorcycle.

To put things in perspective, the Deep Sea King was fighting near the northern exit of the library, but I got out at the southern entrance, which was why I was safe.

Well, certainly, if it was only the rain, I'd be fine, since I had a rainproof backpack and a rainproof coat. Problem was, these items weren't monsterproof.

My cellphone rang.

"Eh? Onii-chan? Is it you?"

It was my sister.

"Can you please pick up the new hero magazine about Amai Mask at the convenience store on your way back?" she asked.

"Didn't bring money with me today." I said, hanging up.

She then forwarded the following text to me: "Then please go to the bank to withdraw some! It's a limited edition! Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please!"

Results: I blocked my sister.

Screw this, Ugly Mask could wait. There were more important things to take care of.

I dashed towards the entrance and tackled the fish man. As a person with flexible abilities, the boss often asked me to carry unbelievably heavy boxes (a cashier's job is what his boss decide is anyways). As a result, my body was sturdier than most people, which resulted in stronger physical force as well.

A slaughter ensued.

I was no hero, but I was capable of strangling a fish dork at the most least.

#

"Well… I appreciate your steadfastness, Hitoyoshi, but by god, go take a shower before starting to work. You smell like fish." my boss said upon seeing me arriving a minute late under the awful weather conditions.

He seemed impressed. Well. Maybe a bit more disgusted than impressed, but I could tell that he had this "Damn son! That was fast" look on his face.

"Yes sir. I was caught in the incident with the rising of the deep sea monsters a few hours ago, which explains my current state."

"Mkay, mkay. Apologies accepted. You're getting more and more creative with your minute excuses, Hitoyoshi. Sounds better than the supersonic-villain-destroyed-buildings-with-shurikens-thus-I-am-late excuse from last month. Now go take a shower."

"Yes, sir."

#

The next day, I went to the mailbox during the morning to pick up letters. It's been about two weeks since I've last checked it.

"Oh, look, a letter from the Hero Association." I said, opening it.

Did I contact them before? Maybe the mailman messed up? Well, my name was printed on the folder, so it shouldn't have been a mistake.

"Congratulations, Hitoyoshi! You are the winner of our survey!"

A huge wall of text followed. A few small letters were printed at the bottom.

"Please reply within the 20th to 23rd of December or the unclaimed reward will become invalid."

Since I was curious about it, I glanced at my watch. It said "24th of December".