Fubuki or bust.

Chapter 1

It was a celebration at the house of Garou.

Hunter has officially made it to the B Class in a mere three days. It was impressive to say the least, but now the true test begins. Melee threw together a great feast, she invited Bang over for the celebration. He was impressed to see what was done to his once small teahouse and has since become a home not just to Garou and his family but to the other heroes as well. When it came time, Garou called for a toast to his son. "Everyone… to Hunter! B Class won't know what hit him!"

"TO HUNTER!" everyone cheered.

He blushed a little as he stood up and announced. "Stepping stones. That's all this is, mere stepping stones. I know I have a long ways to go until I reach my goal of being in the S Class, but for now, I will enjoy the victories, I will learn from those around me and I will be the best hero I know I can be!" he said.

"Don't forget, you are now in Fubuki's territory!" warned Max. "That's going to add to your challenge in making it into the A Class!"

"Bring it on!" he said and took a drink of coke.

Bang on the other hand made a motion to Garou, wanting to speak with him. The two went outside to speak in private, yet Bang kept looking back at the house. "Sorry we didn't run the reno idea by you first."

He shook his head to it all, instead a hand came on to his shoulder, Bang looked to him with a proud look. "I knew you could do it." He said with a smile. "You have used your potential to not just benefit youself, but others around you!"

Garou looked away, rather embarrassed. "I doubt this was how you would picture me doing it. I think your original idea of that was a more… human me."

"You still are," said Bang. "You have done… remarkable things in such a short time. What people expected of you and how you went beyond and exceeded them, including myself!"

He paused to the news. "Really?"

Bang nodded. "I don't know if Sitch ever told you this, but he ran the idea of the M Class Dragons by me first. He asked if I would have been offended if this class existed considering the trouble you and I both had. Yet, when I told him how we have settled our differences ages ago, I would have been more than happy to have you in the S Class. But then, I also know you quite well… and I know myself even better." He paused.

"I thought the M Class Dragons was a better fit for you anyways. I could have pictured myself arguing and trying to coach you if you were in S Class, I would have treated you like a student again."

It was a surprise to Garou, but he was thankful for what Bang did. "So, did you think the M Class would have done well even if we weren't on par with S Class?"

"Sitch insisted upon that, the two groups were equals" he explained. "What was the point of an M Class Dragon if they are not listened to as an equal? I remember him telling me something. When Melee quit the association, she confronted him on what happened and how it was handled. She said he didn't have the balls to stand up to the heroes who were purposely bogging you down… she was right."

He smirked to the comment. "Wow, she really called him out on that?"

"Oh, did she!" Bang snickered. "She was no longer part of the association, there was no rank so she had nothing to lose. But, she was right. After all, she witnessed most of the meetings we had, she saw how things were handled and dealt with. It was high time someone said something, but not in a way that would cause a rift among the S Class."

Garou then turned back to the house, through the window he saw Max, Suiryu and Snek chatting it up and appear to have a good time. "You have done so much to help those three, you wouldn't have lifted a finger before to assist them, would you?" Bang asked.

He was silent. "I don't know what I would have done, if anything, I would have questioned how they got that way… but then, seeing what I forced myself into… I wouldn't want to be stuck like that!" he thought it over for a moment. "No… despite what I have become, I am content with it." He paused and stared at his hands. "I know it is for a reason, just not too sure what that reason is just yet."

There was a smile on the face of the old man. "You met Melee because of it. You have a beautiful family, your sons have become the very thing I was trying to inspire you to be. Your daughter is brilliant, and your compassion for others has drastically changed." He paused for a moment. "I couldn't imagine where those three would have ended up, what would have become of them if your family didn't take them in."

"I am still having issues with Snek, but I can relate to him most of all."

"He's just like you when this happened, isn't he?"

"Eerily similar. I think that's why I am hardest on him most of all."

Bang smirked. "Don't go too hard on him, after all you know Snek. He's a proud man, and proud men don't like to be knocked down so easily."

"Not that you would know anything about that, now wouldn't you?"

Bang patted his shoulder; they went back inside to enjoy the party.