Goro sat around the large dinner table, which was piled high with a variety of various spreads, with his chopsticks in hand. The atmosphere in the eating room was dismal, somewhat dark, and lonely due to the dimming of the lights. Six maids stood against the wall at his left, waiting for the young master to begin his dinner. While they waited, Saitama stood to his right. Goro cast a peek ahead of him to the vacant chairs, his eyes narrowing as he spoke to the chef standing at the dining table. 

“I would appreciate it if you don’t fill this table with food.” 

Goro placed his chopsticks in his rice as he continued in a low tone.  

“It’s just me, no need to waste food.” 

The chef sent an uneasy look over at Saitama before returning his focus to Goro, bowing as he apologized. 

“Ah, my apologies young master.” 

“It was in my best interest as I thought you’d celebrate winning the finals with your-” 

Goro ate the rice slowly as he paused, his eyes lowering as he exclaimed.  

“I’m not that important to my parents.” 

“Don’t assume that again, or I’ll fire you.”  

The chef swallowed the anxiety in his throat as he smiled nervously, replying.  

“Ah, yes, my apologies.” 

Saitama hung his head as he watched Goro eat his food slowly, sighing as he inquired respectfully. 

“Permit me to dine with you, young master.” 

Goro's eyes were fixed on the bowl in front of him as his hands quivered slightly, but he immediately regained his composure as he granted permission before continuing his meal. 

“If you wish.”  

Saitama removed his jacket and sat next to Goro on the right side. He rolled up the sleeves of his dressing shirt and said a prayer before taking the chopsticks in his hand. 

“Thank you for the food.”  

Goro's eyes trembled as he squeezed his free hand into a fist, releasing his chopsticks in the process, saying in a low tone, somewhat dissatisfied with himself. 

“Thank you for the food.” 

Saitama ate the food with a little smile, oblivious to the young master's mild embarrassment. The vibe in the room improved significantly as they both focused exclusively on their meal and kept their thoughts to themselves. 

Goro laid his Chopsticks on the table after completing his supper, his eyes hazy with dread as he stated, alluding to Saitama. 

“Saitama, you should sleep more often.”  

“Your eyebags are getting worst.”  

Saitama set his chopsticks down on the table as he cast a peek across to Goro, seeing his childish effort to conceal his concern. Sai closed his eyes briefly before opening them with a small grimace. 

“I had no notion you were concerned about my health, young master.”  

Goro pulled his chair back slowly as he rose to his feet, looking away and speaking with a feeling of sorrow in his tone. 

“I suppose, if something were to happen to you, I’m not sure how I’d react.”  

Saitama's eyes raised as he locked his focus on Goro, responding as he sat there. 

“It would just be another employee being ill, nothing out of the ordinary.” 

“I'm certain that I can be readily replaced.”  

Goro's eyes narrowed as a shade of grief engulfed his sight, and he murmured as he attempted to walk away.  

“I imagine I’d be sad...as I consider you to be my closest friend.” 

“I would be alone again.” 

Saitama’s eyes widen slowly as they quickly narrowed, smiling. He pushed his chair back immediately as he stood to his feet informing eagerly, immediately stopping Goro in his tracks.  

“I’m proud of you.”  

“Congratulations on winning the finals, you're a great captain.” 

Goro remained there, somewhat frozen as his lips trembled mildly, his nails digging into his palms as he maintained a forward posture, his eyes watering as he shook it off, muttering as he walked away, his voice slightly breaking. 

“T-thanks.” 

Moments went by as Goro collapsed into his bed; the room was dark and rather foreboding; water trickled from his hair as he laid on his bed, his long flowing hair concealing the satin pillow coverings. He groaned, shutting his eyes lightly and muttered as he looked up at the ceiling. 

“Why do I feel like this...”  

He mutteringly opened his eyes when the wind blew his drapes that hung on the thick rods. 

“I feel empty.” 

Goro rose from his bed, his hands hovering over the phone on the desk beside him as he grabbed it instantaneously, scrolling through the contact list while staring at his father's credentials. He looked at it blankly for a while before grumbling and turning off his phone. 

“I don’t need his validation...” 

“I don’t even like basketball...” 

His eyes widened as he clutched his phone firmly, hurling it fiercely against the wall while panting and clenching his teeth and watching it shatter. He puffed as he cradled his face in his hands, his voice cracking. 

“What...about me...” 

“Why don’t they ever choose me...” 

Squeezing the house phone in his hand and muttering pitifully under his breath, Saitama stood outside Goro's door, hearing the commotion escape through the crevices of the door as he held the doorknob. 

“Young Master...” 

Saitama tentatively groped for the doorknob, entering without consideration for how furious Goro was standing in the midst of his room. Saitama's eyes drew closer as he told. 

“Your mother called.” 

“Unfortunately, they will not make it this week.”  

“They have to attend important meetings at the different branches.” 

Goro’s eyes flared as they lowered quickly after. He turned around as he glanced at Saitama, and muttered unfazed.  

“I see.” 

Goro's hair draped loosely over his face as a shadow fell across it; he sat on the floor, peering out at the balcony near his bed; the wind ruffled the curtains as he queried softly. 

"I don't understand..."

“Why are they so hostile towards me? Am I not their child?” 

“I constantly comply with their expectations, yet that isn't enough for them...”  

“Even so...why do I still constantly crave their validation?” 

“Why is it that I’m so scared of disappointing them...” 

“I hate this house...and I hate them...” 

Goro’s eyes lowered as sadness took over his features, muttering.  

“I hate this family...everyone in it makes me feel worthless.” 

“No matter what I achieve, they will never be satisfied...” 

Saitama stood there, his eyes drawn to Goro, who was seated on the ground in front of him. As the youngster proceeded, he kept his thoughts to himself. 

Goro's eyes shook as he exclaimed, clutching his trousers. 

“What if I told you, Shoto Tanaka's father never missed a match.”  

Goro chuckled lightly as he continued, casting a peek behind him at Saitama. 

“Isn't it bizarre that his father is a leader of a yakuza organization and yet he will still fill half the stadium with his underlings just to support his son?” 

“His son doesn’t even play, he’s just our advisor.” 

“Yet, he still shows up to support him...”  

“Isn't that absurd? How did his father become so receptive...?” 

Goro dropped his sight as his fingers quivered slightly in rage, murmuring. 

“He's a criminal, yet he's quite supportive, and yet my father only attends my matches when they're significant...” 

Saitama sighed as he dropped the phone on the table beside him and walked over to Goro, folding his knees as he sat alongside the youngster. He also threw a peek outdoors as he spoke casually. 

“My father used to beat me and my brother and then lock us in a shed in our backyard.”  

“He would leave us there for weeks, in the summer.” 

“While he and my mother went on trips, partying.” 

Goro cast a peek across towards Saitama, his eyes progressively widening in surprise as he listened. 

Saitama continued, a little grin on his face as he glanced at the moonlight in front of them. 

“My older brother and I would have to sneak out of the shed, to steal food just to survive.”  

"We’d have to bathe in rivers just to be clean." 

“Do you want to know what he said to us after they returned from their trips?”  

Saitama glanced over at Goro as he repeated, mocking his father’s voice.  

"Wow! My sons are so strong. You brats survived on your own in this heat! I’m proud of you two! Let’s have some sake! " 

Goro's eyelids drooped as Saitama returned his gaze to the balcony, a smirk on his face. 

“I think I was 5 at the time and my brother was 9.”  

“Even though those weeks were agonizing and we endured a great deal, you know what's the most amusing part?”  

Saitama’s gaze shifted back to Goro as he informed.  

“My brother and I were happy that our father said he was proud of us.”  

“He had never said that to us before, so it felt nice and we figured we were just being extravagant...”  

Goro sneered, his eyes lowering. 

“Hm...”  

Saitama gave a slight laugh and crossed his arms informingly. 

"Don't get me wrong, young master, I'm not attempting to invalidate your feelings." 

“What you feel is quite reasonable for a youngster your age.” 

“What I'm trying to convey is that, as a child, everything your parents say or do to you is meaningful.”  

“As a result, you seek their approval in order to know they love and care about you.”  

Saitama gave Goro a look as he continued, placing his hand on top of the boy's head. 

“However, your parents may sometimes be the bad guys.” 

“Their validation does not determine who you are because that is all up to you.”  

“While Shoto's father may be supportive, we both know that he abuses him behind closed doors.”  

“Shoto could be dismissive of his father’s gestures.”  

“Occasionally, abusive parents are nice to their children in order for the children to invalidate their own emotions, minimize the abuse, and force them to believe they were overreacting. ”  

“That is referred to as emotional manipulation.”  

“That is how abusive parents maintain control over their children.” 

Goro averted his eyes as the semi-cold air caressed his face, his knees folded as he spoke. 

“Interesting. I never thought about it like that.”  

Saitama withdrew his hand and folded his arms as he informed, sighing. 

“Well, of course not, you're still learning about the world and people.”  

Goro relaxed as he cast a peek towards Saitama, a tiny smile on his face as he pitched. 

“Are you aware that you would make an excellent parent?”  

“You really should get married and settle down. Actually, most guys your age are married by now.”  

Goro rose a brow as he questioned suspiciously. 

“Unless...Is there something physically wrong with you?” 

Saitama's body tightened as his face flushed with denial and embarrassment.  

“I-” 

“No, not at all. I work much too hard and well...”  

As he proceeded, Saitama's gaze fell. 

“Before I can truly settle down with someone, my inner child must totally heal, and I haven't entirely coped with my trauma.” 

“I've promised myself that if I do marry, I'm not going to rush it because I don't want to bring my baggage into the marriage.”  

Goro stared outside as he muttered to himself.  

“Baggage....healing...”