Satoru

Name: Satoru

Hero Name: Unlicensed Rider

Age: 25

Affiliation: Hero Association (C-Class Rank 1), later associated with Neo Heroes as “Neo Unlicensed Rider”

Alias/Title: “Rider of Justice,” “Unlicensed Rider”

Signature Vehicle: Bicycle “Justice Bike”

Voice Actor (anime): Yuichi Nakamura

Satoru calls himself the “Rider of Justice” and genuinely lives up to that title through day-to-day hero work and social contribution.

He wears a body suit with a bicycle-style racing helmet and goggles, cutting a somewhat plain but earnest figure compared to flashier heroes.

He is fully aware that his combat ability is low and that he cannot keep up with most higher-ranked heroes in a fight.

Because of this self-awareness, he deliberately remains in C-Class even though a Rank 1 C-Class hero is normally eligible for promotion to B-Class.

Instead of chasing fame or rank, Satoru focuses on everyday good deeds such as helping civilians, supporting evacuation efforts, and rushing to scenes where weaker people are in danger.

He believes that being a hero means standing in harm’s way for others, regardless of whether he can win.

His sense of justice is uncompromising: he will face overwhelmingly strong enemies if they threaten civilians, even when he knows he is almost certain to lose.

He also shows a firm, dignified attitude toward higher-ranked heroes, refusing to be intimidated and consistently standing up for the weak.

Because of his sincerity and visible courage, Satoru is highly popular with the general public.

Citizens see him as an approachable, reliable hero whose heart is in the right place, even if his power is not.

According to the official guidebook “Hero Encyclopedia” for the remake version, Satoru originally rode a motorcycle when responding to incidents.

However, he repeatedly broke the speed limit in his desperation to reach scenes quickly, which caused his license to be revoked.

After losing his motorcycle license, he switched to a normal bicycle that he grandly named the “Justice Bike.”

In the remake, this bicycle is clearly depicted as an ordinary city bike (a mamachari), emphasizing his everyman status.

In the manga remake, a nurse in the hospital calls him “Satoru,” confirming that this is his real name.

He first appears in the 12th chapter, where he is instantly defeated in one blow by Hammer-Head, showcasing how low his combat power is compared to major threats.

Despite that, his steady social contributions, constant patrols, and helpful actions earned him the position of C-Class Rank 1.

He consciously chooses to remain at the top of C-Class rather than move up, believing B-Class is beyond his current capabilities.

A bonus chapter in the remake’s first volume implies that Satoru and Saitama attended the same middle school.

They were in different classes and had no real interaction back then, so they did not recognize each other as classmates later.

Saitama

Satoru’s most important relationship is with Saitama, the titular One-Punch Man.

Their bond is built on mutual respect rather than flashy power levels.

During the Deep Sea King incident, Satoru fought desperately and bought time until Saitama arrived, a struggle Saitama later praised as a “nice fight.”

In the remake, after Saitama is promoted to B-Class, Satoru sends him a heartfelt letter of gratitude for saving him during the Deep Sea King battle.

Later, they go to an oden food stall together to celebrate Saitama’s promotion, and a genuine friendship begins to develop between them.

When Satoru is hospitalized after losing to Garou, Saitama visits him out of concern, showing that Satoru is one of the few heroes Saitama truly acknowledges.

Tanktop Master

In the remake, Satoru shares a hospital room with Tanktop Master after Garou injures both of them.

When the Monster Association launches an assault, the two cooperate to defend the hospital.

They then leave the hospital together to help with citizen rescue efforts during the crisis.

Through this shared struggle, Satoru and Tanktop Master develop mutual trust and respect.

Neo Heroes and Axel

The Neo Heroes member Axel reveals that he formed a vigilante group inspired by Satoru’s example.

Deeply moved by Satoru’s selfless heroism, Axel arranges a custom battle suit for him.

This special Neo Heroes suit later enables Satoru to achieve feats far beyond his normal limits, including defeating a Demon-level monster.

After this event, Satoru is referred to as “Neo Unlicensed Rider” by Neo Heroes, and many Hero Association heroes begin defecting to Neo Heroes, encouraged by his performance.

It is hinted that Satoru may have effectively joined Neo Heroes, though it is not explicitly confirmed whether he formally transferred from the Hero Association.

Other Heroes

During various crises, Satoru often works alongside other C-, B-, and A-Class heroes, supporting them mainly through rescue and evacuation.

He also has cooperative interactions with heroes like Stinger and Lightning Max during disaster relief efforts in the anime adaptation.

His consistent willingness to help, even when weaker than his peers, earns him quiet admiration from many heroes.

More powerful heroes recognize that, while he may not be a powerhouse, his heroic spirit is the real deal.

Satoru’s fighting style is extremely straightforward and almost entirely physical.

He mainly relies on body tackles and using his bicycle as a makeshift weapon.

His known techniques include:

Justice Crash – Satoru charges in and slams the Justice Bike directly into his opponent.

Justice Tackle – A full-body tackle where he throws himself at the enemy with all his strength.

Outside of these, he usually fights with his bare hands and feet.

According to the “Hero Encyclopedia,” his stamina and combat stats are not the very lowest in C-Class, meaning he is stronger than an average civilian.

However, in the story he almost always confronts enemies far beyond his level, leading to a win rate of effectively zero.

He has been one-shot by Hammer-Head and badly beaten by several powerful monsters and fighters.

Despite this, he always tries to stand back up and keep fighting as long as civilians are still in danger.

His “power” is less about damage output and more about refusal to retreat when it matters.

Power-Up with the Neo Heroes Battle Suit

A turning point comes in the original webcomic’s chapter 138.

There, Satoru faces a Demon-level monster that even A-Class heroes and Neo Heroes members cannot handle.

At first he is overwhelmed and nearly defeated.

Then he activates the custom battle suit given to him by Axel.

Once the suit is fully engaged, Satoru’s physical power skyrockets to near S-Class levels.

He destroys the Demon-level monster with a single blow, echoing the series’ theme of overwhelming one-hit victories in a very different way from Saitama.

This feat massively boosts public confidence in Neo Heroes and inspires many Hero Association heroes to switch sides.

Satoru, who once had zero wins against serious threats, becomes a symbol of change and hope thanks to technology amplifying his unwavering courage.

Deep Sea King Incident

During the Deep Sea King arc, Satoru receives reports that a shelter housing evacuees has come under attack.

He immediately rushes to the site on his Justice Bike.

By the time he arrives, Deep Sea King has already defeated several S-Class and A-Class heroes.

Realizing he is the only hero left standing, Satoru understands that he has no real chance of winning.

Even so, he steps forward to challenge Deep Sea King in order to protect the terrified civilians.

He is brutally beaten and left on the verge of death, but he keeps trying to stand and stall the monster.

His desperate resistance buys just enough time for Saitama to arrive on the scene.

Saitama later compliments him with a simple but meaningful “Nice fight,” a rare verbal acknowledgment from the strongest hero.

This moment is central to Satoru’s character: it shows he measures heroism not by power, but by the willingness to stand in front of evil when no one else can.

Hospitalization and Monster Association Attack

After being defeated by Garou, Satoru is hospitalized to recover from his injuries.

There he meets Tanktop Master and shares a room with him.

When the Monster Association launches a large-scale assault, Satoru and Tanktop Master join forces.

They fend off threats to the hospital and then slip out to help with broader citizen rescue operations.

This event reinforces Satoru’s role as a support-oriented hero.

Even injured, he prioritizes protecting others and assisting more powerful allies.

Monster Association Uprising on the Surface

When Terrible Tornado drags the Monster Association base up to the surface, chaos erupts above ground.

Satoru teams up with Tanktop Master again, and the two coordinate their efforts.

Satoru focuses on securing civilian safety and guiding evacuations, while Tanktop Master helps frontline heroes fighting monsters.

This division of roles highlights Satoru’s strength in crisis management and his instinct to put civilians first.

Disaster Relief in City A (Anime Episode 11)

In episode 11 of the anime, Satoru arrives in the devastated City A alongside Stinger and Lightning Max.

Although they are not facing a major boss enemy in this scene, their focus is on rescue and recovery.

Satoru dedicates himself to helping injured civilians and supporting relief operations in the ruined city.

Again, his heroism is shown through action for others rather than glory in battle.

Demon-Level Monster Defeated (Original Webcomic)

In the original webcomic’s chapter 138, Satoru finally achieves an outright combat victory against a major threat.

Empowered by the Neo Heroes battle suit, he single-handedly defeats a Demon-level monster that had previously overwhelmed top heroes.

Aside from Saitama (who originated in C-Class and is an outlier), Satoru becomes one of the very few former C-Class heroes to single-handedly take down a Demon-level enemy.

This achievement greatly raises the public’s expectations for Neo Heroes and cements Satoru’s new status as “Neo Unlicensed Rider.”

Physical Ability

Without any enhancement, Satoru is roughly at the upper end of human fitness but far below elite heroes.

He has good endurance from constant cycling and patrolling, but his raw strength and durability are modest compared to monsters and higher-ranked heroes.

He endures beatings longer than an average person could, largely through sheer willpower.

His greatest “stat” is his mental toughness and refusal to give up.

Justice Bike

Satoru’s beloved bicycle, the Justice Bike, is a completely ordinary city bike.

It has no hidden weapons or special modifications in its normal state.

He uses it for fast response around the city and as a physical weapon in his Justice Crash technique.

The contrast between the heroic name and the mundane vehicle is part of his charm.

Neo Heroes Battle Suit

Later in the original webcomic, Satoru receives a special battle suit custom-made for him by Neo Heroes, via Axel.

This high-tech suit dramatically amplifies his strength, speed, and durability.

With the suit activated, he can defeat a Demon-level monster with a single blow, placing him in the realm of S-Class combat power.

However, this power is explicitly external: it is technology amplifying his courage, not a sudden natural growth in his abilities.

Satoru is remarkably popular with readers and within the story’s world.

He ranked 2nd in the first original webcomic popularity poll, 3rd in the second, and 10th in the third.

His popularity stems from his relatability and unwavering bravery rather than flashy skills.

Fans see him as the “human” hero in a world of gods and monsters.

The remake’s bonus chapter hints that he attended the same middle school as Saitama, though they were in different classes and never interacted back then.

This detail adds a subtle sense of shared history and fate between the two heroes.

Although his hero name emphasizes that he is “unlicensed,” Satoru has arguably the purest hero spirit in the series.

He shows that even an ordinary person with limited strength can be truly heroic by choosing to stand up when it matters most.