Yuen did not withdraw his gaze until Yuuki Asuna had completely left the shrine grounds.
The folding fan, which had vanished moments ago, coalesced once more in his hand.
He turned, intending to head toward the Main Hall where he resided, but his footsteps paused slightly as he sensed an abnormal fluctuation in space.
In the center of the five-meter-tall Torii gate, a pair of pitch-black double doors, resembling those of an ancient castle, materialized.
“It seems another guest has arrived today.” Yuen felt no surprise.
This phenomenon had first occurred at his shrine last month.
Although it had only happened four times in total, as a god, he found such anomalies easy to accept.
After all, the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons from over a thousand years ago was far more chaotic than this current era of peace.
—- The large doors slowly creaked open, accompanied by a flash of light.
A young man walked out slowly.
He wore a blue tracksuit, carried a plastic grocery bag, and looked rather plain and unfashionable.
With the man’s appearance, the pitch-black doors closed and reverted to the ordinary Torii gate.
“Yuen-sama, sorry to intrude again!” Upon seeing Yuen, the man waved enthusiastically.
“Ah, it’s Saitama-kun.” The visitor was named Saitama.
He was the first guest from another world Yuen had encountered after the shrine began exhibiting these changes.
Yuen had been slightly surprised when he first met this character from a world of heroes and monsters—a figure from an anime in his past life.
After all, this current world was very much a slice-of-life setting.
The Torii gate had activated three times last month.
Two of those times, the visitor had been Saitama.
On the third occasion, the door had opened, but no one had walked through.
As the saying goes, strangers at the first meeting, friends at the second.
They had gradually become acquainted.
“It’s already evening in Yuen-sama’s world?
It’s just barely noon over on my side.” Saitama looked up at the setting sun, half of which had already set below the horizon, finding the sight quite novel.
“Time flows differently in different worlds.
Have you not noticed this after visiting so many times, Saitama-kun?” Yuen asked with a faint smile.
“Ma~ The last few times I came to Yuen-sama’s place, it was daytime, so I didn’t really notice.” Saitama scratched his head awkwardly.
Well, he is a rather carefree person.
“Speaking of which, you’ve changed quite a bit recently, Saitama-kun.
What happened to the business suit you usually wear?” During their last meeting, Saitama had been dressed in a neat black suit, looking every bit the successful professional.
Now, however, he was clad in a tacky tracksuit, and his hair looked like it hadn’t been styled in days.
The stark contrast made Yuen curious.
Saitama scratched his head sheepishly and explained, “It’s actually a bit embarrassing to say, but to become a hero, I’ve quit my job.
I’m staying at home now, training according to the method Yuen-sama told me last time.” “Oh?
The method I mentioned?” “Yes!
One hundred push-ups!
One hundred sit-ups!
One hundred squats!
And a ten-kilometer run every single day!
Also, no air conditioning, regardless of whether it’s summer or winter!” Thinking Yuen might have forgotten, Saitama listed them out.
With each item, he raised a finger, earnestly reciting the regimen Yuen had described during their previous encounter.
“I haven’t forgotten.” Yuen opened his folding fan to cover the lower half of his handsome face.
Behind the fan, however, his expression showed a hint of surprise.
Before Saitama’s first visit, the door that appeared in Saitama’s home had vaguely conveyed to him that this place held the secret to becoming a hero.
That was why he had opened the door and entered.
However, he had been too shy to ask during his first visit.
When Saitama brought it up during his second visit, Yuen figured there must be a reason the Torii gate had guided him here.
recalling fragmented memories from his past life, he had casually mentioned the training regimen.
He just hadn’t expected Saitama to start practicing it already.
Logically, Saitama shouldn’t have started until after his encounter with Crablante.
“Then…
Saitama-kun, you must cherish your hair from now on.” “…Hair?
Yuen-sama, what does this training method have to do with hair?” Saitama looked at Yuen with dead fish eyes, scratching his head in confusion.
“Well, while this training method will certainly make you stronger, it has certain side effects regarding hair.
Hmm…
you’ll understand when the time comes.” Yuen snapped the paper fan shut, smiles slightly as he said no more.
“…Oh.” Saitama didn’t take it to heart at all.
As long as he could become stronger, what was a little side effect?
Seeing that Saitama remained unmoved by his words, Yuen couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.
Saitama’s determination to become a hero is truly extraordinary.
“Anyway, since you’re here today, Saitama-kun, surely you didn’t come just to play games with me again?” Saitama could be considered a gamer, but his skills were abysmal.
He couldn’t even beat the easiest computer AI.
To summarize him in one sentence: He was terrible at games, but addicted to them.
“…Yuen-sama, you misunderstand me!
I specially bought some fruit today to thank you.” Saitama grinned broadly and lifted the white transparent plastic bag in his left hand, revealing apples, oranges, and other fruits.
Although they weren’t expensive items, Yuen could genuinely feel Saitama’s sincerity.
“You are too polite, Saitama-kun.
You should take them back and enjoy them yourself.” Yuen didn’t feel he deserved any credit; he had merely told Saitama about a method he would have eventually discovered on his own.
“Please, Yuen-sama, you must accept them.” Saitama spoke firmly.
“If it weren’t for you, I would definitely still be lost, wondering how to become stronger.” “You, really…
Since it is a gift from the heart, I will accept it graciously.” With a helpless smile, Yuen took the fruit from Saitama and casually placed it into his personal space within the Main Hall.
He wasn’t particularly interested in fruit, but he could save it for his little shrine maiden, Asuna, to enjoy later.
Seeing the fruit vanish from Yuen’s hands, Saitama wasn’t surprised.
He had witnessed this during his first visit.
Besides, in his view, wasn’t it only natural for a god to possess such abilities?
After doing this, Yuen extended an invitation.
“Saitama-kun, would you like to come in and sit for a while?
My little shrine maiden just brought over the latest fighting game.” The shrine had no other place to entertain guests; the grounds were entirely for visitors to offer coin and pray.
The only suitable place was the living space where he resided.
“!!!?” Originally, Saitama had intended to head back to training right after delivering the gift.
But the moment he heard there was a new game, he immediately grew excited.
“Yuen-sama, then excuse me for the intrusion!” He had been completely thrashed by Yuen the last few times, but he had always blamed the game.
In Saitama’s opinion, his losses in the previous fighting game were solely because Yuen had played it more.
Yuen was more familiar with the mechanics, which was why Saitama had never won a single round.
But right now, this was a new game that neither of them had tried.
That meant he and Yuen were starting at the same level.
Even if his opponent was a legendary god, Saitama was confident he could win today.
“…It seems you are very confident today, Saitama-kun.” Saitama was terrible at hiding his emotions; his thoughts were written all over his face.
It was precisely because of Saitama’s simple and pure nature that Yuen was willing to welcome him.
“Un!
I feel like I’ll definitely win today!” Saitama rubbed his hands together, looking impatient to start.
He had already begun fantasizing about his victory in his head.
Yuen chuckled softly.
“…Is that so?
I won’t go easy on you.” “Yuen-sama, bring it on!” Saitama wore a look of confidence.