Chapter 2

It was an eventful month to say the least for Amai.

He took time off to tend to Drax, at the same time, he has been attempting to work his charm in convincing him to leave the Neo Heroes. After everything that has happened, it wasn't the most ideal place for Drax to become a hero. "I am certain Alley would take you in a heartbeat." He said one day over lunch. He kept things rather low key, they did go out however he made certain that people left them alone so they could sit and talk. His fans are ravenous, however they know better than to disrupt their idol when he is out and about.

Drax was toying with his hamburger, thinking over what Amai said. "I want to… but I don't feel like I should." He muttered and took a bite. "Don't get me wrong…" he said with his cheeks full of food, he was quick to swallow and explain his reason. "I heard the squad got fired, they were the real pain in my ass, the Neo Heroes have been good to me…"

"They are inexperienced, ill prepared, messed up excuses who don't even deserve the right to call themselves heroes!" Amai protested. "If they were, this never would have happened. You should have been with someone more experienced than this. That was THEIR doing, THEIR mistake!" he said with a hiss to his tone. He did realize he went a little overboard on the anger as he saw his veins peer out from his arms, he also felt them build around his eyes.

Drax froze and stared at him fearfully. "Amai…"

"Sorry… I'm sorry, I got carried away there…" he settled down, and regained his composure. "Drax… I am trying to see it from your perspective. You have respect there, I understand that, your own squad who are improving because they want to be on your level… rather humorous if you think about it. It reminds me of the Fubuki group!"

He wasn't laughing. "They worked hard on being heroes, they are training so that the brunt of the work isn't on me. I got respect for them for doing that!"

Sweet Mask paused, realizing he had upset him. "Ah, I see…" he said gently.

"I get it that you are worried about me, dad is too. Alley even spoke to me about leaving the Neo Heroes when I came too. But the fact remains is… I want to be a Neo hero now… I earned respect there, it wasn't handed to me on a silver platter because of who my dad is and who adopted me." He said. Drax paused. "Amai…" he said in a slightly scared tone.

"Yes?"

He looked about at first to ensure no one was around, the restaurant they ate at was empty and not a soul was seen on the streets oddly enough. With that, Drax took a deep breath, leaned and whispered. "You knew those mysterious beings you fought after saving dad and I… they were the kidnapped people, right?"

He paused to the question, such a look of fear came over his eyes. Did he scare Drax with his actions? At first, he didn't know how to explain himself. Then again, there was no other way. "Yes," he said. "I knew."

The boy's face went white. "How… how could you?" he whispered, he was disgusted and disturbed by the notion.

"You need to understand, there wasn't anything that could have been done." He explained. "I encountered some outside of the facility as well. What humanity they possessed was gone, they came at me with everything they had. There was no choice,"

Drax then stared him in the eyes. "Did you try to reason with them?" he questioned.

Amai smiled warmly to him. "Drax… how many people don't know who I am?" he questioned. The boy froze as he thought it over. There is no one in this world that didn't know Amai Mask when they see him. He himself is more aware of that than anyone else! "Despite the fact, if they knew who I was, why did they still attack me?"

There was no answer from him. Drax slinked down in his chair. "There's nothing that could have been done to save them… was there?"

"Sometimes being a hero is the most difficult job in the world."

"You mean it isn't?"

Amai smirked. "Wait until you become a father!"

#

The rest of the day, the two took in the city, they did a little bit of shopping before going to the Association to check on everyone. Drax was insisting they see his father. "He hasn't woken up yet, at least, I don't think he has."

Amai however has been told differently… he's also seen differently too.

It was just two weeks ago. He was working late at night when a monster threat was called in. 2am if he remembers correctly. Amai went to confront the beast that happened to be just out of the city limits near the base. However, by the time he arrived. He found Snek of all people already subduing the fiend! However, as Snek was choking the life from it, Amai realized something wasn't quite right. There was a crazed look in the eyes of the former A Class hero. When his sights turned to Amai, he acted more monster like. No words came from his mouth, just an aggressive hiss. He torques the beast in his coils snapping the neck before quickly devouring it. He had never seen him eat so fast and so… desperately in a sense.

Snek wasn't himself, even after the meal he turned and glared at Amai oddly, as if he made him on edge.

"Amai?"

He shook his head of the thought as he peered to Drax. "You okay? You're lost in thought aren't you?"

He smiled. "Just a little, but I do believe we should check on your father and see how he is doing."

Yet as they walked the halls, something caught his attention. He found Garou out and about, asking around but all the other heroes were startled and quickly refused. "DAMN IT!" he roared.

Then, his eyes came to Amai. A twisted grin followed as he was quick to approach.

Sweet Mask didn't like the look on his face. "Garou…" he said with great reluctance.

"You… me… let's spar!" he insisted.

It took him aback. "Wait… just a moment, you want to have a mock battle with me?" he asked. "I don't think you have fully recovered yet, last I checked…"

"Do you want a chance to possibly kick my ass or not?"

Ah, it was an offer he couldn't refuse. One of the few times he could possibly beat the Human Monsters as it were. A sly grin crept over Amai's face. "Where?"

Garou smiled back…