One Punch Man: Heroics Start with Dual Kamui

Chapter 146: Popular with Women

Being disliked by Tatsumaki was nothing new for Shinji, so he showed no reaction. He simply assumed she was drunk and venting her emotions.

"Don't you realize you're already drunk? Just now, your psychic power nearly spun out of control." Shinji reminded her sternly.

To be precise, if he hadn't stopped her, it already would have gone out of control.

"Who says I'm drunk? I am not drunk!" Tatsumaki immediately denied it. She was Tatsumaki for a reason.

"People who are drunk usually refuse to admit it. Tatsumaki, your face is bright red right now." Shinji said calmly.

"What? I don't believe it! Give me a mirror." As soon as she finished speaking, Tatsumaki hiccupped.

"Here." Shinji actually pulled a small household mirror out of his Kamui space.

Looking into the mirror, Tatsumaki noticed her cheeks really were a little red. In truth, her eyes were already hazy, and if not for that, her face would have been far redder.

"What's this? It's only a little red. That doesn't count as being drunk. Besides, your face looks the same."

Since her vision was blurred, Tatsumaki leaned closer, nearly pressing against Shinji's face, just to confirm if his cheeks were also red.

The truth was, Shinji was not drunk at all. With the body of the Six Paths, there was no way such a small amount of alcohol could affect him. Actually, his face was only flushed from spending nearly an entire afternoon soaking in the hot springs.

When Tatsumaki confirmed his face was red too, the corners of her lips curled up. "You're the one who's drunk."

At that moment, she was so close that their noses almost touched. Shinji could feel her breath as she spoke, mixed with the heavy smell of alcohol.

"And you're still saying you're not drunk… leaning this close to me." Shinji muttered.

"I told you, I'm not drunk! I'll keep drinking to prove it!" Like a stubborn child, Tatsumaki insisted on proving she was sober.

But the bottle in her hand was quickly taken away by Shinji. "You can't drink anymore. If you keep going, something bad will happen."

"I want to drink! Give it back!" Tatsumaki reached out immediately to grab it.

Shinji stood up and raised the bottle above his head. Because of the height difference, Tatsumaki couldn't reach it even on her tiptoes.

"So what if you're tall? You think that makes you special?"

In a fit of frustration, Tatsumaki used her psychic power to float into the air. But when she reached for the bottle, her hand went right through it, since Shinji had phased it into his Kamui space. Which meant the real bottle was inside Kamui, and in the physical world Tatsumaki naturally couldn't touch it.

"What the heck?!"

After failing several times, Tatsumaki switched targets. She snatched the half-full cup of Dragon Roar sake from the table and downed it in one go.

"See? I'm not drunk!"

Right after her words, she hiccupped again, her face flushed and unconvincing.

"Yare Yare~!" Shinji let out a quiet sigh.

He gave up on trying to stop her and set the bottle back on the table.

Perhaps because she really couldn't drink any more, Tatsumaki didn't go after the bottle again. She just held her pride, refusing to admit anything.

Then, without warning, she floated behind Shinji and sat down on his shoulders.

"So you think being tall makes you special? Now I'm taller than you, hahaha!" Tatsumaki burst into laughter.

"..."

Shinji could only look helpless, but he let her sit on his shoulders since at least her psychic power wasn't running wild.

"Feels like Lord Kamui is babysitting a child… really tough work."

Even slightly tipsy himself, Atomic Samurai noticed the situation between Shinji and Tatsumaki and sighed.

"Yeah, who would have thought that Tornado of Terror would show a side like this?" Iaian was astonished.

"She probably only shows that side in front of a certain person. For the rest of us, it's just a show to watch." Atomic Samurai's tone carried the weight of someone who understood but wouldn't spell it out.

"A certain person…?" Iaian didn't catch on at first.

When he turned his gaze toward Shinji, it seemed he suddenly understood as well.

"Silver Fang, don't you think Shinji is a lot like you when you were young?" Atomic Samurai teased Bang, who was standing nearby.

"No, he isn't. I was a complete mess when I was young. Shinji clearly won't end up like that. But…"

Bang paused, then added with a meaningful tone, "When it comes to women, that's a serious problem for him."

From what Bang already knew, there were at least three or four women entangled with Shinji in ambiguous relationships.

"Serious problem? What do you mean by that?" Atomic Samurai grew curious.

"This is…" Bang only shook his head slightly, unwilling to say more, since that was Shinji's private matter.

"Fair enough. After all, that's his personal life." Atomic Samurai didn't press further.

Meanwhile, Genos quietly watched Tatsumaki pestering his teacher.

In his mind, she really did seem like a child, almost like his teacher's daughter.

After a while, as the alcohol fully hit her, Tatsumaki wobbled on Shinji's shoulders.

"Shinji… don't move around…" She immediately blamed him.

But Shinji hadn't moved at all. She was simply too dizzy herself.

He didn't bother explaining, knowing she wouldn't listen anyway, and it was better to avoid provoking her further.

Gradually, Tatsumaki lost all strength and slumped forward, falling asleep on top of Shinji's head.

Shinji could feel several gazes from around the room. With him carrying Tatsumaki in such a posture, it was impossible not to draw attention.

"Miss Attendant."

Shinji called to one of the Association's female staff. "Tatsumaki is already passed out. May I ask where the women's quarters are?"

"I'll take you there." The attendant quickly stood up.

Shinji followed her with light steps.

Not that it mattered, Tatsumaki was far too drunk to wake up anytime soon.

"Don't call me a child… call me big sister… onee-chan…" Mumbling in her sleep, Tatsumaki spoke dreamily from atop Shinji's head.

"Ahaha…" The attendant leading the way gave an awkward laugh.

She made up her mind that she could never mention this later. If Miss Tatsumaki found out, she'd be done for.

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of the women's quarters.

"This is it."

The attendant immediately laid out a pillow and blanket for Tatsumaki.

In a traditional Japanese inn like this, everyone usually slept together on futons spread across the floor.

"So then… how exactly are we supposed to get Miss Tatsumaki down…?"

The attendant looked at the still-sleeping Tatsumaki, clinging tightly to Shinji, and found herself at a loss.