Another door slammed.
Jordan turned. It was Saitama.
His expression revealed a complex mixture of composure, helplessness, embarrassment, and bewilderment all at once.
"So who was that old lady?"
"The landlady." Saitama sat down across from Jordan, picking up his teacup for a sip. "I'm three months behind on rent. She wants me out before tomorrow."
Before tomorrow?
Good grief. She might as well have told him to leave immediately.
"But didn't you help her get rid of so many problem tenants? She won't even give you a little leeway?"
"That's exactly why." Saitama sighed. "The police arrested all her tenants. Now nobody's paying rent. So the old woman told me to get out."
Jordan's Apartment
Since Saitama hadn't eaten dinner yet, and Jordan, who'd been helping him pack, was also hungry, cooking came first upon arrival.
For convenience and speed, Jordan's specialty extra-ingredient instant noodles were the obvious choice.
The sound of slurping noodles on the balcony became a duet.
"Thank goodness you were around, Jordan. Otherwise I definitely wouldn't have found a place to stay tonight." Saitama chewed on a large piece of boiled beef. "But don't worry, I'll move out as soon as possible. Thanks for everything."
A Limiter Fragment materialized alongside hair that fell from Saitama's head. Jordan caught it with lightning speed. "It's fine. My guest room's always empty anyway. Stay as long as you need."
Saitama felt a gust of wind behind him. When he turned around, he found nothing. Puzzled but unconcerned, he returned to eating his noodles in silence.
Next Day
Jordan went to the police station, made an appearance before his superiors, cleared several backlogged reports, then rode his scooter out for patrol duty.
Even with special privileges, he couldn't skip work constantly.
After diligently completing the day's shift, Jordan returned to his apartment building and spotted Saitama descending the stairs with a large suitcase in each hand.
"Hmm? What's up, Saitama? Found a place already?"
"Yeah." Saitama stacked the cardboard boxes on an old handcart he'd found somewhere, wiping sweat from his forehead. "The clothing store owner mentioned there's an area in Z-City that became a no-man's land at some point. Basic water and electricity are still running though. I figured I'd check if there are any vacant houses."
Jordan suddenly realized this was when Saitama moved to his single apartment in the abandoned district.
"Oh, that works. I'll help."
"Thanks, really."
Working together, they quickly organized Saitama's meager belongings and piled everything onto the handcart.
Saitama was about to say he could manage from here when Jordan reached toward the fully loaded cart. Faint blue light flashed. The cart vanished in the blink of an eye, like a pattern erased from reality.
[Fantasy Card: Scrap Cart]
Type: Item Card • Rarity: N
A handcart full of miscellaneous junk. Upon closer inspection, many items remain usable.
Effect 1: Mobile Home
Wherever the cart goes, home follows.
Effect 2: Scrap Value
Could fetch decent money at a recycling center.
The moment the card formed, both men shared the same thought simultaneously.
Saitama: Superpowers are so convenient!
Jordan: Having a reliable job is the best!
"Let's go check upstairs again. Make sure we didn't forget anything."
"I think we got everything, but since you're offering, let's double-check!"
They headed back upstairs. Saitama entered the guest room for one final sweep. When he emerged, he carried a red and yellow garment with white fabric bundled in the middle.
The more Jordan looked at it, the more familiar it seemed. "What's that?"
"The clothing store owner knew I was walking the hero's path, so he specially made me a hero costume before closing shop. The material's really sturdy." Saitama unfolded the outfit with a sheepish smile. "Thank goodness you reminded me to check. I would've totally forgotten."
The ensemble consisted of a yellow jumpsuit, red rubber gloves and boots, and a white cape that attached to the shoulders.
Looking at this comical uniform, watching Saitama hold it against himself, the image gradually overlapped with the future bald caped hero.
"Don't worry. Even if you'd forgotten it, you could've come back later."
"Jordan, you're such a good person."
"Stop handing out 'good person' cards. Let's get moving before dark!"
"Okay, sure! But what's a 'good person card'?"
No-Man's Land District
On deserted streets, rows of streetlights flickered to life against the gathering dusk.
Beep beep beep...
A police-painted scooter sped along the road carrying two passengers. Wind howled past. The man in the back seat had strands of hair occasionally torn loose by the breeze. The man in the front seat remained expressionless, eyes burning with clear blue flames. Invisible mental power accurately captured cards unseen by others, slipping them into his pocket.
[Fantasy Card: Limiter Fragment] x15
This time he'd collected over fifteen Limiter Fragments, but the Stand had yet to signal any "compatibility" feedback.
Jordan understood. Opportunities to break through limitations weren't easy to obtain. At this rate, the number of fragments needed for fusion would only increase.
Let's have Sichuan hot pot tonight!
Brakes screeched. Saitama lurched forward from inertia, wind-blown hair obscuring his eyes.
When he swept the hair aside, a gray-white residential building stood before them. The balcony on one side was red brick and looked somewhat dilapidated, but rooftop antennas and solar panels proved it was the best-preserved structure in the area.
"Is anyone here?"
Jordan cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at the top of his lungs. The entire street remained deserted. Only echoes answered.
"Great. Nobody's home. Let's use this one."
That's a very unconventional way to confirm vacancy, but I have to admit it works.
Like everything they'd seen along the route, this apartment building stood empty.
Saitama walked into the hallway and tested the lights. "Ah, it does have power. I'll take this place!"
"Wait a moment!"
Saitama paused, turning toward Jordan.
Jordan shook his head. "I didn't say anything."
"It was I who told you two idiots to wait!"
A streetlamp in the distance suddenly came alive. It pulled its "body" from the road along with a mass of connected wires, baring teeth and roaring angrily. "This is my territory! Who gave you permission to move in?!"