One Punch Man: Heroics Start with Dual Kamui

Chapter 145: Tatsumaki Drunk With Rage

After the hot springs, evening had already fallen. Everyone changed into yukata and gathered in the inn's hall for a banquet. And since it was a banquet, alcohol was naturally part of it.

Aside from Child Emperor and Metal Bat, who were too young to drink, everyone else had a cup of liquor placed before them.

Child Emperor and Metal Bat could only have orange juice instead...

That's right. Despite Metal Bat's appearance making him look much older, he actually wasn't of drinking age yet.

"This gathering isn't just to celebrate our victory, but also to discuss the prophecy about the 'end of Earth.' Although the recent God-level crisis has only just passed, I don't believe the danger has been completely resolved. We must not lower our guard going forward."

Sitch, seated at the center, began the meeting.

This banquet had been organized under his lead, with several staff members accompanying him.

Shinji and the others sat on either side, each before a small table laid out with food, alcohol, and orange juice.

Several inn attendants also stood nearby, ready to serve whenever needed.

"But let's set that matter aside for now. A celebration should feel like a celebration. So tonight, forget everything else and enjoy yourselves."

Sitch raised his glass. "Now then... cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their cups together.

All expenses from the past two days and one night were being covered by the Hero Association. Naturally, the Association was generous, ordering famous Japanese sake for the occasion. Not only that, but many other alcohol brands were present to enrich the drinking experience.

"Oh! This is 'Dragon Slayer'! The flavor hasn't changed a bit." Bang took a sip and instantly recognized the brand. After all, he'd drunk plenty of it in his youth.

"Easy to drink, but it really goes to your head..." Atomic Samurai praised it as well.

Meanwhile, Watchdog Man was eating in the exact manner of a dog. He didn't bother with chopsticks or even his hands, he simply buried his face straight into the food.

It was hard not to wonder if he was actually some kind of mascot-type monster in disguise.

Elsewhere, Prisoner, Tanktop Master, and Superalloy Darkshine were already tipsy, flexing their muscles while drinking.

"That man over there is King, right? He's the one they call the strongest man alive? But why do I sense almost no energy waves coming from him?" Boros fixed his eyes on King across the room and spoke to Shinji beside him.

"Well... I'll explain it to you once we're back. Telling the whole story here would take too long." Shinji figured it wasn't something to unpack in detail at the moment.

"Hm..." Boros dropped the matter.

Titles aside, energy could not lie, unless King possessed a power beyond Boros's comprehension.

Apart from Child Emperor and Metal Bat, Tatsumaki was the only one who didn't have strong sake in front of her. Instead, her table had a simple draft beer.

She knew she couldn't hold her liquor, so she'd chosen something weaker.

Yet even after just half a glass of beer, her cheeks were already flushed, the alcohol starting to take effect.

Realizing that drinking wasn't for her after all, she decided to pass the rest of her glass to Shinji so it wouldn't go to waste.

But just then, Shinji spoke first.

"Are you sure you want to be drinking?" Because Shinji vaguely remembered that Tatsumaki's tolerance for alcohol was terrible, and once she drank too much, she would go on a drunken rampage.

However, what he meant as a kind reminder was taken by Tatsumaki as mockery.

"What's that supposed to mean? Are you treating me like a child?!" Tatsumaki immediately looked displeased.

"No... I just mean you shouldn't push yourself..." Shinji tried to explain.

But Tatsumaki was already tipsy, unable to process his words properly. Even if she did, she would only twist the meaning.

"So you really do look down on me...!"

Unwilling to swallow her pride, Tatsumaki shoved the half glass of beer into Shinji's hands, then set her sights on the bottle of "Dragon's Roar" next to him.

"Dragon's Roar" was also a famous Japanese sake, far stronger than simple draft beer.

The freshly opened bottle was snatched up by Tatsumaki with her psychic powers. Without even bothering with a cup, she tipped it back to drink straight from the bottle, clearly determined to finish it in one go.

"This is bad..." Shinji realized she was definitely going to go wild drunk.

But there was nothing he could do. Even if he took that bottle away, Tatsumaki would just grab another one.

"..."

He looked at the half glass of beer she had forced into his hand and stayed silent for a moment.

Following his principle of not wasting food, he drank it down.

[Alert! Host and Tatsumaki have completed an "indirect kiss." Reward: 20 points!]

Shinji could not help but notice the system had gone out of its way to emphasize this.

Meanwhile, Boros was savoring his drink. It was his first time tasting alcohol, and although he wasn't used to it at first, he found the flavor surprisingly pleasant.

One cup after another, he kept pouring, gradually developing a liking for it. Yet he showed no sign of getting drunk, likely because of his incredibly strong body.

Tatsumaki, on the other hand...

After half a bottle, she couldn't continue. She hadn't passed out, but her flushed face and loud laughter showed she was already completely drunk.

Thankfully, she hadn't yet lost all reason. At least her psychic powers weren't throwing the entire inn into the sky.

Shinji had just breathed a sigh of relief when the next second proved him wrong.

Green light suddenly flared around Tatsumaki's body, the sign that her psychic powers were about to run wild.

Still clutching the bottle in one hand, she laughed loudly, practically announcing on her face that she was about to cause trouble.

The others were too busy enjoying themselves to notice her state.

Only Shinji realized it right away. Before Tatsumaki could lose control, he quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist.

The moment he touched her, the green glow around her vanished.

"...What are you doing?" Tatsumaki asked at once.

Her words slurred, her tone completely drunk, with a faint hint of childish sulking.

At the same time, her eyes fixed on his hand holding her wrist, as if it mattered a lot to her.

"You... you really piss me off!"