Ding-dong— Outside the villa’s courtyard, Yuuki Asuna lightly pressed the doorbell.
She had left in such a hurry today that she had forgotten her keys.
About ten seconds later, someone emerged from the villa.
To Yuuki Asuna’s surprise and confusion, the person coming to open the gate wasn’t Shirai Rei, but her mother, Yuuki Kyoko.
Usually, Yuuki Kyoko would leave such trivial matters to Shirai Rei.
Had the world turned upside down today?
Yuuki Kyoko walked over and opened the courtyard gate, immediately scanning the surrounding area.
“Mother, what are you looking for?” Yuuki Asuna couldn’t help but ask.
Yuuki Kyoko withdrew her gaze and focused on her daughter.
“Where is Yuen-sama?” So she was looking for Kami-sama…
Yuuki Asuna felt a sense of resignation as she replied, “Kami-sama dropped me off here and left immediately.” Yuuki Kyoko frowned, her tone carrying a hint of blame.
“Asuna, why didn’t you have the sense to invite Yuen-sama to stay for dinner?” She had personally cooked dinner specifically for Yuen today.
Now that the guest of honor wasn’t here, all her efforts had gone to waste.
“I already invite him.
Kami-sama has his own affairs to attend to.” Yuuki Asuna had no idea what had gotten into her mother.
Before, she had told Asuna not to go to the shrine unless necessary.
Now, suddenly, she was overly concerned about Kami-sama.
Yuuki Kyoko stared into her daughter’s eyes for a moment, silent.
Finally, she sighed softly.
“Come inside and eat dinner.” Changing her shoes at the entryway, Yuuki Asuna walked into the living room and saw the dining table laden with a variety of dishes.
They were visually appealing and smelled delicious, instantly whetting her appetite.
Usually, dinner at home consisted of five or six dishes at most.
It wasn’t hard to see that her mother had prepared this feast in anticipation of Kami-sama’s visit.
Yuuki Asuna didn’t think too much of it.
Kami-sama hadn’t stayed, so it didn’t matter.
After washing her hands at the sink, she said, “Itadakimasu.” and picked up a piece of eel with her chopsticks.
“Hm?” Yuuki Asuna’s eyes widened slightly.
Surprised, she gave a thumbs-up to Shirai Rei, who was sitting across from her.
“Rei-san, your cooking skills have improved again.” Shirai Rei’s expression remained calm as she shook her head lightly.
“Tonight’s dinner was prepared by Kyoko-sama.” “Huh?” Yuuki Asuna’s smile gradually faded.
She hadn’t expected this meal to be her mother’s handiwork.
“So Mother made it…” Yuuki Kyoko didn’t react to her daughter’s lukewarm response.
Her expression remained unchanged, as if she were used to it.
“Less talking while eating.” “Oh.” ….
Yuen Shrine.
Standing outside the Main Hall, Yuen suddenly remembered something.
“It seems I forgot to give Asuna the light orb today.” Fortunately, the light orb he had stored away wouldn’t dissipate, or else the loss would have outweighed the gain.
“Never mind.
I’ll give it to her next time.” Yuen didn’t plan on making a special trip to deliver it.
After all, it wasn’t as if Yuuki Asuna wouldn’t be coming back.
Just as he was about to return to the dimensional space—his private domain—he heard a loud clang.
Yuen immediately looked over and saw the towering Torii gate transform once again into a medieval-style double door.
Seeing this, Yuen couldn’t help but feel a bit helpless.
“Why does everyone come at night?” The door creaked open slightly, revealing a narrow crack.
Yuen stood still, waiting for the guest to step out.
Unexpectedly, however, the door closed again.
The Torii gate returned to normal.
Yuen paused for a moment, then laughed.
“…Looks like we have a new guest.” If it had been Saitama, he would have thrown the door open carelessly and walked right out.
Hesitating for ages only to give up in the end?
Definitely not Saitama.
Just as Yuen was about to turn away, the Torii gate transformed again.
Yuen assumed the new guest had finally mustered the courage to enter.
But as the door opened, the person who walked out was none other than Saitama, dressed in his signature yellow jumpsuit.
Upon seeing Yuen, Saitama rushed over, his face filled with panic and distress.
“Yuen-sama, save me!” “What’s wrong, Saitama-kun?” Yuen raised an eyebrow.
He couldn’t fathom what could possibly make the protagonist of the One Punch Man world cry for help.
“My hair!
I don’t know why, but lately, it’s been falling out like crazy every single day!” “Yuen-sama, am I going to go bald at this young age?” Due to the difference in time flow, although only a day had passed for Yuen, several months had passed in Saitama’s world.
At first, Saitama hadn’t thought much of losing a few strands.
But now, the hair loss was becoming ridiculously severe.
It was getting to the point where his remaining hair couldn’t even cover his scalp.
With no other options, he had come to Yuen for help.
Looking at Saitama’s significantly thinned hair, Yuen couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Saitama looked at him resentfully, pouting.
“…Yuen-sama, please don’t gloat.” He had come for help, not to be laughed at.
“Sorry, sorry.” Yuen waved his hand, struggling to suppress his laughter.
“Saitama-kun, do you remember when I told you that the training method had some side effects related to hair?” Saitama’s brain short-circuited for a moment, but then he recalled their previous conversation.
His tone was slightly apprehensive, as if he didn’t want to believe it.
“Yuen-sama, is the side effect…
hair loss?” “Yes.” Yuen nodded.
“And it will all fall out.
However, the upside is that you will become very, very strong.” A gleam of hope flashed in Saitama’s eyes.
“Can I become stronger than you, Yuen-sama?” “That…
might not be realistic.
How could someone who has lived for over two thousand years be easily surpassed by you, Saitama-kun?” Seeing Saitama smile bitterly at that, Yuen reached out and patted his shoulder.
“But, Saitama, you can become the strongest in your own world.” Saitama felt motivated again, but the thought of losing all his hair still troubled him.
“Then, Yuen-sama, can my hair grow back?” “I can make your hair grow back, Saitama-kun.
However, if I do, you might not gain the immense power I spoke of.
The choice is yours now, Saitama-kun.” Perhaps to advance the plot, Saitama was currently imbued with a fraction of the world’s governing rules.
If Yuen used his divine power to restore Saitama’s hair, it would likely violate the rules set by that world, preventing Saitama from gaining his power.
He would be removed from the protagonist’s role.
Changing the plot in such a way would probably still earn Yuen a reward from the interdimensional gate, so Saitama’s choice wouldn’t affect Yuen personally.
Saitama fell silent for a long time before slowly speaking.
“Yuen-sama, I think…
power is more important.” Although he didn’t want to be bald, having the power to be a hero meant he could save many people.
Compared to that, losing his hair was nothing.
“I am glad you have thought it through, Saitama-kun.”