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OPM: Heroics Start with Dual Kamui 33
🕑 Added 2025-07-06 12:41:54 +0000 UTCChapter 33: Total Free Range
Saitama and Vaccine Man were still locked in their fierce gaming showdown, the rapid clicks of their controllers echoing through the cramped apartment while Shinji quietly prepared and served fragrant tea for Genos, who accepted the cup with a polite nod yet left it untouched on the low table since, as a cyborg, he could no longer enjoy ordinary food or drink.
“Allow me to be absolutely clear: I’m not qualified to take a disciple, and I honestly have zero interest in becoming anyone’s master,” Shinji said, hoping directness would settle the matter, but Genos looked unconvinced.
“Impossible, Master. You clearly already guide two pupils, and both are remarkably powerful,” the blond cyborg insisted with calm certainty.
“Two pupils?” Shinji blinked, utterly stunned.
When had he gained two students? A second later, the penny dropped: was Genos talking about Saitama and Vaccine Man? He could, with effort, imagine Vaccine Man wanting instruction, but Saitama? Who in their right mind would assume Saitama answered to him? Letting that caped bald guy call him a teacher sounded completely absurd.
“Yes, those two right over there,” Genos continued, gesturing toward the pair still glued to their screen. “Please tell me which is the senior disciple and which is junior so I can address them correctly in the future.”
“Hm, somebody mention me?” Saitama glanced over, curiosity flickering across his face. That single moment of distraction proved fatal; Vaccine Man pounced immediately, chaining together a savage combo attack.
“Dibs! Haha, victory is mine!” Vaccine Man crowed with wicked delight.
“Oi, that’s a dick move!” Saitama protested, frantic thumbs trying to break free, but once a combo landed you were stuck. His health meter was already bleeding red, and that last volley drained it, knocking his avatar clean out of the match.
“…Sorry, I guess I pulled your focus,” Genos murmured apologetically. Even without much gaming experience, he understood he’d just caused trouble for the bald hero.
“No sweat, I simply spaced out,” Saitama replied, waving the apology away before swiveling toward Vaccine Man with a dramatic pout. “But seriously, ambushing me like that? You are one dirty man.”
“So what? A win’s a win,” Vaccine Man shot back, a sly grin spreading across his purple face.
While the two continued to bicker over their game, Shinji leaned in and tried to set the record straight with Genos.
“Genos, you’re seriously mistaken. Neither of them is my disciple. Especially the bald one.”
“Hm? Bald? Isn’t that a flesh-colored helmet?” Genos tilted his head, eyeing Saitama’s gleaming dome with genuine surprise.
“No, no, that’s his actual scalp,” Shinji clarified, sighing a little.
“What? That’s really not head armor?” Genos blinked and studied Saitama even harder, his mechanical eyes narrowing. “If that’s true, I can’t believe someone could go bald so young…!”
“Hey, I can hear you, you know!” Saitama grumbled, the vein on his forehead twitching like it had a mind of its own.
“Sorry, sorry,” Shinji said quickly, then leaned closer to Genos and lowered his voice. “Saitama is kind of sensitive about the whole ‘bald’ thing. Best not to bring it up.”
“Understood, Master Shinji.” Genos gave a crisp nod.
“Wait, no—please don’t call me ‘Master,’” Shinji said, practically recoiling as he pointed at Saitama. “Saitama is way stronger than I am. If you want a mentor, call him Master Saitama and go learn from him.”
The words had barely left his mouth when Saitama’s back suddenly stiffened, his expression somewhere between dread and disbelief.
“Is that so? But I believe that since I’ve already chosen Master Shinji, I should stay true to that decision. Wavering now would show a lack of sincerity, and no real master would accept a disciple who can’t even commit,” Genos said with absolute conviction.
Clearly, he wasn’t buying any of Shinji’s attempts to redirect him. In Genos’s view, that bald man, no, Saitama, might be absurdly strong, but Shinji stood right beside him on the same lofty pedestal.
They were both monsters in human skin, both beyond reach. And if he started bouncing between the two of them like a lost puppy, he’d never be taken seriously by either.
“……” Shinji’s head began to throb. This was turning into a whole mess.
“Yeah yeah, look at this kid. He’s so sincere,” Saitama said lazily, tossing fuel onto the fire like he couldn’t care less. “Just accept him already, Shinji.”
He honestly found the whole master-disciple situation annoying and was more than happy to push Genos onto Shinji instead.
“Even Master Saitama agrees. Please, Master Shinji, accept me as your disciple!” Genos bowed deeply, his tone utterly serious and unwavering.
Just because Saitama agrees doesn’t mean I do! Shinji yelled in his mind. And that bastard, how dare he just pass this problem onto me? But then again... he had thrown Saitama under the bus first, hadn’t he?
So maybe this was karma.
“I have said this more than once already; I honestly do not have anything to teach you,” Shinji repeated, his patience fraying.
He could practically see the future: Genos staring at him with wounded eyes after discovering his new master had no secret manuals, then blaming himself for choosing poorly. Being called “teacher or master” should come with genuine responsibility, not a fancy label tossed around for fun. Even so, Genos did not seem like the type to complain if things went south.
“Surely you are joking, Master. You have already raised such a capable monster.” Still uncertain, Genos glanced at Vaccine Man and whispered, “He is a monster, right?”
Vaccine Man puffed out his chest. “Are you speaking of me? By your human standards, I do qualify as a ‘monster.’ However, I was born from the will of the Earth itself. I serve as the planet’s emissary, known as Vaccine Man.” His declaration rang with theatrical gravity, though neither listener cared. Shinji and Genos were wrapped up in their own tug-of-war.
“I told you, he is not my disciple,” Shinji insisted, tapping his temple for emphasis.
“Even so, I still wish to become your student. I am certain following you will help me grow,” Genos answered, voice unshakable. No matter how many times Shinji denied him, the cyborg simply would not back down.
“…” Shinji rubbed his forehead and felt the fight drain away. “Fine. Tag along if you must. Just remember, I am not your master. I have no duty to teach you anything, not because I refuse, but because I literally cannot. Think it over.”
Genos did not even blink. He nodded, eyes blazing. “I have already made my decision.”
“You… sigh, do what you want,” Shinji muttered, shoulders sagging.
[Alert! The host has gained a new disciple: Genos. Reward: 50 points plus Mentor’s Encouragement!]
[Mentor’s Encouragement: As your disciple rises in the Hero Association rankings, you will receive corresponding rewards.]
Well, Shinji thought, that actually sounds decent. The system’s gift was at least a small consolation. He had been clear enough. Genos would be a completely free-range disciple, growing by himself, while Shinji kicked back and collected bonuses for doing nothing at all.
Across the room, Saitama finally exhaled in visible relief. The hyper-focused cyborg who attracted trouble like a magnet had fixed on Shinji instead of him, and that was perfectly fine by the bald hero.
Saitama would be shedding his other hairs if that annoying cyborg were to become Saitama’s disciple.
