Chapter 35
"You want us to help you do what?!"
It was the strangest of things. Hunter and Suiryu were at the Association. They sat down for a meal when Amai approached them and asked to speak with them the moment they were finished eating. Curiosity got the better of them as they ate rather quickly and met him in an empty spar room. Amai stood there in wait. "Please close the door." He asked gently.
Hunter did and locked it to be safe than sorry. Amai then went around and put the blinders down and made certain no one looked in. "Okay, this is getting weird even for me…" muttered Suiryu.
With a deep breath, Amai turned them and said. "Help me explain my other side to people"
That was when Hunter and Suiryu demanded "You want us to help you do what?!"
"Hunter, your family knows that this isn't the real me, nonetheless it's what the public has known Amai Mask to be. But it's not who I am…"
"Wait, we've seen your other side before, when you were dubbed Veins right?" asked Suiryu.
Amai shook his head. Hunter nodded to that too. "The thing with Mirror-Mirror is that she influences what you become. Those who had something to hide revealed what was hidden. Her objective was to turn Amai into something far less appealing… if she knew you really were what you are… she would have reverted you to your true form." He said.
"Hunter is correct… now… what I am about to do cannot leave this room. Is that okay?" he asked.
Hunter nodded. Suiryu did so yet appeared hesitant. Amai sighed aloud and said. "Transformation cancel…."
His looks were quick to vanish, his clothing tore as he grew up and out. His face sagged on the one side, as his teeth turned jagged. Suiryu was stunned, Hunter not so much. "The real you huh?" Hunter asked.
He didn't speak, instead he just nodded his head as he turned to Suiryu.
"Shit, I had no idea…" he muttered.
"Now… I need your help with this. I know for a fact the Neo Heroes won't stop until the world remembers this side of me. However… I want to beat them to the punch." Amai explained as he turned back to his idol self once more. "I cannot hide this from the people, I have always told people one must be beautiful inside and out when it comes to dispensing justice… I am neither." He said.
Hunter however was confused. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. You want to show the world this? You sure about that? Also, why the hell are you asking us for help!?"
"Believe it or not, I have found you two are the most up beat people I know, and the fact that you yourselves are not human, and yet, the smiles you give people are pure and genuine. I wish to have that as well. I want the people to know that Amai Mask can be trusted despite being a hideous monstrosity…"
"Dude, remember the people who are around you here. Sure, you're looks ain't a picnic, but it's not something to be ashamed of." Said Hunter.
"And that is why I ask of you to help me!" he said with great enthusiasm. "Please, Hunter, Suiryu, help me adjust and explain to the people this form I have… how do I make it more accepting and so the world won't be afraid of me if I have to summon this side to save them!"
Hunter turned to Suiryu and Suiryu turned to Hunter. "Okay, I'll bite and try to help you. But you need to have faith in what we say, as well. Despite the advice and your honesty, people are still gonna turn on you. Is that okay?" Hunter asked.
"I have come to accept that my career could be over because of this, I will lose many fans, but I don't wish to lose the trust of the people."
Hunter nodded. "Okay, here's what you need to do, and if anything. Get whoever in the Neo Heroes that is one your case to be there as well. You got an interview coming up right?"
"Yes, and believe it or not, their answer to me is Webigaza."
Hunter and Suiryu shuttered. "Man, your true form is less creepy than her!" said Suiryu.
Amai smiled to the comment.
"Anyway, what you need to do is this…"
Amai Mask appeared all ears as Hunter told him exactly what needs to be done. It won't be easy, but nothing ever is…
#
The next day…
Amai sat in the green room awaiting his interview. As he sipped his coffee and waited for his time to go on, the door opened. Webigaza entered the room and was radiant. Her smile shined brightly, but her eyes were sinister as they came to Amai Mask. "I hope you enjoyed your time as the top celebrity Amai Mask… it's about to come to an end." She said sweetly.
"We will see after today," he replied in a fake sweet tone worthy of her. But her smile refused to vanish.
He prepared himself for this. With deep breaths, Amai stood up as they called for him and Webigaza to come onto the stage.
It was Starz today, a talk show that interviews celebrities and their up coming projects.
Amai was greeted with a great applause from the audience, as was Webigaza. They sat opposite side of the host and began to talk. "We were told we have a special treat today, do you two have something special in store?" the host asked.
Web was about to speak until Amai did. "Actually, it's not something special, but… from my heart." He said.
The women cooed as he looked up into the camera and said. "I've lived a lie… for such a long time…" he said aloud. "Everyone has known me to be the handsome superstar they have admired over the years. I have told people day in and out that one has to be beautiful especially when dealing with justices… I haven't been." He said.
There was silence. Web was smiling a sinister grin. Until he continued. Rolling up his sleeves, he turned his arms all veiny, much to the cringe of the audience. "This… is not a pleasant sight, I know… but I do turn into something far worst that would befoul the eyes of those around me. I am not proud of it, but I must acknowledge it, for it is part of me… it is who I am."
"We know you have hidden your TRUE look Amai Mask, we've known for years and yet you still walk around as if you are the king of it all!" Webigaza stated.
"I admit that to be true as well, yes," he said gently. "I will sacrifice my beauty for the sake of strength and power… and I wish to say to the world, that I will always sacrifice my appearance for the safety of those around me." He announced with great conviction. "There was an incident from many years back, one that has appeared to be erased from the minds of the masses. But one I wish to address. There was a monster known as Pesky Clown… it attacked an amusement park and I was able to stop it with my strength as it was…. I sacrificed my appearance, my looks to grown stronger… and became a monster myself." With that, Amai stood up and he bowed to everyone in apology. "I am sorry I never revealed the truth and the world forgot. I was grateful it did, but now I see it was wrong, for I have lived a lie all this time. I am truly sorry."
Silence.
He tried to read the room, but found it difficult to do so. He sat back down in his chair and continued on. "Know this, despite it all, if I have to do it all again, I would. No hesitation if it meant keeping the people safe. I want the world to know that."
Web appeared to smell blood. "If that's the case, turn into it… right here and now!" she demanded.
The host turned to him, startled by the challenge. "No one is in danger I will only turn if there are people in great and immediate…." The building shook. The alarm went off warning of a monster in the area. Amai shot out of his chair and was quick to excuse himself, he rushed out of the studio and on to the streets.
There, was a massive monster on the move and destroying the city block on its way down the street. There was no hesitation in his mind as he rushed on ahead. The people ran the opposite way suddenly stopped. "It's Amai mask!" they cheered.
"Trial by fire…" Amai said to himself. He already knew this monster was beyond his current power, but he still had to be sure. With a powerful leap off the ground, he landed a solid blow against the creature. It was well over twenty feet tall, and the power behind it was nothing to ignore. His strike that would normally splatter a monster's head, merely made it stumble. He had to get stronger.
Tearing off his shirt, his body became all veiny, he charged once more but was swatted back and into a building!
Still not enough.
He shook off the blow and was about to go again when he heard some children screaming from across the street. The building was collapsing and they were too scared to move! He rushed towards them. "Transformation cancel!" he shouted and felt his body change. He finished transforming, the children screamed in terror at the sight of him, but the threw himself over top of them and braced as the walls came down!
It hurt like hell, but he endured. The weight of a fallen building was on his back, his arms stressed to ensure the small pocket he was able to form kept its shape as he struggled to maintain his position. He held on as a child took out his phone and shined it in his face. They gasped.
"Sorry… I'm not the least but appealing to look at… but it's the only way I could keep this from falling on you…" he said gently.
"Wait… Amai Mask?" one child whispered.
"Yes… is anyone… hurt?" he asked as the weight suddenly grew. 'Damn it, I need help!' he thought.
Just as it became heavy, the weight suddenly vanished. Natural light filled his eyes as he turned and saw the monster dead, and Goliath standing there levitating the rubble off of him. "Everyone okay?" Goliath called.
Amai got himself off the wall, he turned and nodded to him. "Yes, thanks to you…"
But then he saw the people gathering around. Photos, cameras and even new cameras all caught him in his natural state. But he didn't shy away. After all Web was watching from a distance with a smug look on her face. Amai settled himself down and turned back, as the people gasped. Goliath was quick to approach him. "You okay? That was some rubble you were holding up!"
He smirked. "That's the first thing you want to ask of me?"
Goliath's arms crossed. "You forget yourself… why do I look like you again?" he asked.
Amai snickered. "I should have known better…"
"HE'S A MONSTER!" Web announced. "Why isn't anyone screaming?!"
Goliath turned to her. "Where the hell were you? I thought you were a Neo Hero! You didn't lift a finger!" he protested to her.
"Leave him alone! He saved us!" the children shouted. One even came up in front of him, his arms out stretched. "We could have died if it wasn't for him!"
"But, he turned into a monster…" people muttered.
"Please, you are all stunned with that, despite my family being monsters?" Goliath asked. "This isn't the craziest shit you have seen, let's be honest here. Besides, you have seen my brothers and father turn to get stronger to beat a monster faster… Amai no different." He said as his arms crossed. "Any of you going to jump in there and take a falling building to keep kids safe?" he asked.
"He's still a freak!" one person protested.
"So?" Goliath snapped back. "He did what a hero is suppose to do… unlike SOME heroes around here…"
"Perhaps it's best we depart for now." Amai said gently. "I do believe your sister's drones are here…"
Peering up he nodded. "Yeah, let's head back. We already assessed the injured, the kids are fine, so let's get going…"
"You're just going to walk away, just like that? No interview?" one reporter shouted.
Amai smiled to her. "I will be more than happy to answer questions tomorrow. Let's do a press conference!" he insisted. "Until then, we need to get this place cleaned up and safe for everyone. Take care until then…" Goliath esper lifted Amai as the two took off. Amai appeared relieved to leave the situation.
"I got to say, I am damn impressed… I never thought you would reveal yourself like that."
"Not exactly my first choice… however… I have made a vow, I will only turn monstrous when needed… at the time, and it was needed."
"You impressed me, I got to admit."
"Yes, but now, how will the world take it a second time?" Amai asked aloud.