One Punch Man: Heroics Start with Dual Kamui

Chapter 166 166: The Initiative to Kiss

Boros had yet to return from space.

Shinji knew exactly what Boros had gone to do, since Boros had asked for his opinion before setting off. At the time, Shinji had agreed. Although meeting his past self could create certain consequences, those consequences weren't especially harmful, so he let Boros go without trying to stop him.

During this period, it had basically been just Shinji and Psykos, a man and a woman, alone in the Monster Association's activity room. Shinji could have left long ago since Psykos's condition had already stabilized. He had originally wanted to dig up more information about "God," but that presence never showed itself again, as if it no longer existed at all. Still, Boros had not come back, and Shinji was waiting for him, which was why he had yet to return to his original timeline.

Because of the time they spent together, Shinji and Psykos had grown increasingly close.

"Vice President Psykos, do you have any dreams right now?" Shinji suddenly asked.

"I want to stand at the very top of the world," Psykos answered without hesitation.

"That's quite an ambitious dream," Shinji sighed.

In his memory, even before Psykos was influenced by "God," her goal had always been to reach the top. Back then, her ideals were still aligned with Fubuki's. She willingly joined the to support Fubuki, aiming to push the association to the top of the world and help Fubuki defeat her greatest rival, Tatsumaki.

But when she awakened the [Third Eye], God interfered and twisted what Psykos should have seen. It made her believe that ruling over these so-called intelligent humans, who were no better than viruses, was disgraceful, which led her to conceive the plan of exterminating humanity altogether.

The rest hardly needed explaining. None of the Society for Supernatural Research members supported Psykos's vision, and Fubuki herself eventually betrayed her.

"In the end, your falling out with the president of the Paranormal Research Association was a misunderstanding, wasn't it? Do you still resent her now?" Shinji asked.

"I cannot forgive that woman," Psykos replied firmly.

"It's one thing if she couldn't accept my ideals back then or even condemned me, but she sealed away my psychic powers just because she feared I would surpass her. That is something I will never accept."

Even though Psykos was no longer under God's influence, she still couldn't forgive Fubuki. She had once respected and trusted her deeply, only to be stabbed in the back like that. The more she had respected Fubuki, the more her hatred grew now.

"I see... the president of the Research Association really did act unfairly," Shinji said in agreement.

It wasn't just empty words either. He truly thought the same. Compared to Psykos after being influenced by God, Fubuki's actions weren't much different in terms of extremity or selfishness. Back in their school days, Fubuki had been even worse than she was later on. The Fubuki of today seemed almost decent by comparison.

"So then... President Shinji, you won't ever betray me, will you?" Psykos looked at him with hopeful eyes.

"...Of course not," Shinji replied with an awkward smile.

That question carried a lot of weight. He suspected that if he dared to say "yes," Psykos might blacken instantly.

"Good!" Psykos said joyfully.

"Although that woman sealed my psychic powers back then, ever since I awakened the [Third Eye], my sensitivity to psychic energy has far surpassed what it was before. The sealed powers quickly returned."

With confidence in her voice, Psykos continued, "I'm certain that within a few years I'll reach the top of the world. When that happens, our Society for Supernatural Research will be the strongest organization without equal."

Hearing this, Shinji suddenly wondered. Was the [Third Eye] truly something Psykos had awakened on her own? That would mean the [Third Eye] wasn't a trap set by God. God's interference had only occurred when Psykos opened it, twisting what she was supposed to see about the future.

That might also explain why Psykos wasn't punished the same way as the [Homeless Emperor], who had his powers reclaimed and was erased entirely. Instead, Psykos had only suffered headaches and confusion, yet her powers remained untouched, since they were her own strength to begin with. Most likely, God would not trouble Psykos again in the future.

…

A few days later, Boros finally returned.

"You're back at last. Looks like you've already finished what you set out to do?" Shinji asked immediately.

"Yeah," Boros nodded.

Shinji didn't press for details. Once he had a rough idea of the situation, he simply said, "Then it's about time we head back."

"Have you wrapped things up on your side, too?" Boros asked.

"I have," Shinji replied. "But before we leave, I want to say goodbye to Psykos."

In the original timeline, the Psykos who remembered him had seen him vanish without a word. This time, Shinji didn't want to disappear without a proper farewell.

Boros, of course, had nothing to add. Unlike Shinji, he had no attachments in this timeline. If he cared about anyone here, it would only be himself, or rather, this version of himself.

Soon after, Shinji arrived at the Esper Research Association's activity room.

"President Shinji, you're here! Let's start today's research right away!" Psykos greeted him with a radiant smile.

"..."

Shinji fell silent for a moment. "Vice President Psykos, I came to say goodbye."

"Goodbye...?" Psykos froze. "What do you mean? Are you leaving me too...?"

"No, it's not like that. There's something very important I have to do, and I can't stay here for now," Shinji said with solemnity.

Even if he didn't want to leave Psykos or the Monster Research Association, there was nothing he could do. He couldn't remain in this timeline forever. At most, he could stay six months before the system would forcibly pull him back.

"Leave for now? Does that mean you'll be back soon?" Psykos asked anxiously.

"Not exactly soon... but in about five years, we'll meet again for sure," Shinji said, telling her as much as he could.

"Five years..." For Psykos, that span felt unbearably long.

"Fine... I'll wait five years. But you absolutely must not forget me." Though she hated to part, Psykos didn't make a scene. "We agreed, didn't we? One day we'll stand together at the peak of the world."

"Yeah..." Shinji nodded slightly.

Feeling it was time to go, he prepared to activate the "space-time traversal device" with Boros. Just as he did, Psykos suddenly called out.

"President Shinji."

He turned instinctively, and found Psykos very close.

Before he could react, her lips pressed against his.

[Alert! Host has completed 'Kiss' with Psykos. Reward obtained: 50 points!]

Shinji widened his eyes, but before he could even process the sensation, the device pulled him and Boros away.

Strangely, though, even after the space-time shift, he still felt a soft, lingering warmth on his lips.

When he opened his eyes, he realized that standing before him was the Psykos of his original timeline. The transition from one Psykos to the other had been seamless, and both had leaned in to kiss him.