Three more days of training had passed. Their routine consists of mental preparation and physical fights combined with Yumiko's use of her ability. She was instinctive but lacks muscular strength. Thus, he modified her training to best use her ability as her offensive force.

Undergoing Garou's training plan resulted in her fast paced progress on dealing with abduction and harassment, much to his excitement. She's much stronger than she looks.

He realized there must be something more to her powers than just telekinesis. The ability to heal, to conjure electric shock, as well as force fields, what else can she do? Blood rushes to him knowing her innate talents are still waiting to be discovered.

As much as their training is made for Yumiko, it has been beneficial to him as well. Through their sessions, Garou gains perspective on dealing with opponents with such ability. He might need it to fight the S-Class Hero Rank 2, Tornado of Terror. In case, that opportunity rises.

The two of them, more or less, are now familiar with each other.

No. They started to be too familiar with each other. They formed an unusual companionship. Apart from that, their attraction is clearly visible. If someone else were with them, the tension would be hard to miss.

Throughout the previous days, their physical training was nothing short of soft touches, whispers, lingering hold, and intense eye contacts. Sparks fly when he'll try to help her up. His subtly gentle way when he tries to teach her stances and how to get out of a grip are not unnoticed. Her longing stares have then become a harder temptation to ignore. Their unspoken attraction is growing by day.

They were both testing the waters to know their boundary. Those physical contacts are mostly initiated by Garou. In contrast, Yumiko is more openly expressive through her words.

.

.

After a long tiring day..

Yumiko was preparing food they bought yesterday from another city far from City X. Garou, who is currently relaxing in his seat, stole a glance at her. He could get used to this. He thought. He's been a lone wolf for a long time after he left Bang's dojo, and he preferred it that way. Yet, it felt nice to have someone as good-hearted as her. Not to mention attractive. It might be nice to stay like this forever.

This feeling is dangerous. Something about this feels normal,

It feels complacent.

It is not like him to be like this. I have goals I want to achieve. I want progress. I shouldn't be confused as I am now. Still, his mind was in a state of chaos.

After several minutes, dinner was ready. It was a quiet night, both of them had their thoughts somewhere else. As they were eating, Yumiko was the one to speak out first.

"I will go to Aunt Claire.."

Getting his attention, he replied. "You're aware that the whole empire is after you, right? That place is the most dangerous to you right now."

"I know… but I need to confirm something. It will be fast, I promise"

"And what if she's in cohorts with the organization?"

"I refuse to believe that.." She said so forlorn.

"Even if she isn't, going there may endanger them."

She clutched her dress. "They wouldn't even know I'm there, I know every inch of that place."

Garou tried to weigh in the situation at hand. "Is this really necessary?"

"I'll understand if you wouldn't want to go, but I have to do this, I have to know before facing the organization.

He exhaled exaggeratedly. "Idiot, you'll be lost without me." He said with a hint of mirth.

"..." She knows it well.

"But fortunately for you, I have time to spare." Did she really think she'll survive alone, with all the people after her? She's damn lucky I'm bored.

She smiled a little, relieved knowing he won't let her be.

"You don't have to do this, you know.." She peeked at him, giving him a chance to change his mind.

He snorted. "So where exactly is this place?"

They discussed their plan of action for the next day- to Yumiko's home. Garou is extremely meticulous and calculating in his strategies but most of the time even if the chances are against him, he will push himself to his limit. He was anyway, used to suicidal trainings.

But he can't be like that with her. Not when her life is on the line.

So just this once, he'll make an exception.

He took precautions in regards to the evaluation he got from their training. If there is one thing Garou is extremely great at aside from beating asses, it would be his observation skills and fast decision making based on that info.

The problem would come from Yumiko and that aunt of hers. He wasn't sure if she could handle a revelation considering the one that raised her was the traitor. Or what her aunt will do. Maybe he was wrong. But the chances are aren't low enough for him to be still.

"Oi Yumiko, be ready for anything, prepare for the worst." He reminded her.

"Mmm." She nodded without an expression. "Hey, I've never asked you this, but how'd you find me that night?"

"Took you long enough to ask." He smirked. "I was supposed to raid a whole bunch of criminals in a bar owned by the shitty empire. They were watching you the entire time in the mansion, and I thought it was a movie. They were betting on whether you live or you die."

"They were what!?" She said flabbergasted. "Ugh! That's mad. What did you bet then?"

"I wasn't betting!" Who do you think I am? "And I came to you didn't I?"

"Why did you come to my rescue?" She asked him again for the second time.

"I told you, I was bored. I just wanted to fight people." He answered boredly.

"But if you wanted to fight you could do it at the bar?"

He made a clicking sound. Tch. That didn't cross my mind. Why is she trapping me with all these questions? "I don't know. It doesn't really matter."

"It matters to me, I was close to death but you rescued me, that's being a hero you know."

"I'm not a fucking hero!" He wasn't really intending to raise his voice. Realizing he might have something against being a 'hero', she pressed further for answers.

"Then why did you help me? Why are you always eager to fight? Why are you always,-" She paused, trying to find the right word. "burning inside..?"

He took a moment to think as he stared at her straight in the eye. He kinda felt venting out. "Because it's unfair. Those people were with weapons, they were in groups and you're just... so innocent." He then looked away. "I hate them, all those people who have an advantage and would pick on weaker ones, just to feel good about themselves. Those who call themselves heroes and decide on their own what is justice, what's good and bad. They disgust me."

She felt there was something deeper to his meaning. "What is it you want to be Garou?"

I want to be feared. I want to be the source of terror to all mankind. I want to be seen as a monster. But something about her makes it difficult for him to say these things. He felt that she wouldn't understand his reasons.

"I want to change the system."

As Garou laid wide awake in the futon with two hands under his head, he glanced unconsciously on the bed onto her sleeping form. Her. The subject of his inner conflict the whole day. He knew deep inside him, there's something he needed to do.

His memories flashed back to him. There was a reason he abandoned his life before and decided to become a vagabond. The day that marked his separation from Bang's Dojo.

Garou has always been restless. It began when he was a child, when he was just innocent he learned the faulty views of the society. The popular will win, the hated will lose. He learned that first hand. The unfairness that the world gives to its people.

He knows it so well. Because he was the one who was hated.

It was then his loathing on the 'popular' had started. And that anger grew deep inside him, brewing up a storm in his heart that cannot be pacified. He harbored all the negative emotions turning it as his strength to turn the tables. The impulse to change the scenario. The reason why he's always itching to fight. Facing strong opponents has been a way to relieve him of his wrath. For a while, his emotions were controlled under Bang's care but it wasn't enough to quench the thirst.

When fighting whole dojos, strong people seemed too easy, he searched for something more. He wanted to hunt real heroes. Wanted to make it count.

Thinking about it, he suddenly feels the uncontrollable urge to rage and hunt down the whole of the Hero Association. To know his real strength. To know how far he could go. To see those heroes begging for mercy. To-

"Garou?"

He didn't realize that he was already standing with an undeniable aura to kill. He took a moment and sat back on the wall trying to retain his composure.

Sensing his rage, she went down from the bed and sat beside him holding her knees in a fetal position. "If it helps, I can stay awake with you." She gently held his clenched fists trying to pacify him as he remained silent.

His mind went back to the main conflict muddling in his head. Yumiko.

For a moment he forgets all his anger and intense loathing. She calms down the raging storm in him. All he can see is her. She weakens his resolve. SHE is dangerous.

He thought maybe she could accept him that way. But he knew. Once she figured out his ideals, she wouldn't approve because she is inherently a good person. For her to be afraid of him is not something he would be fond of.

And he wasn't stupid. He knew what he needed to do. Whatever they had, must be ended as soon as possible. They shouldn't be attached to each other more than they are right now. For the both of them. She didn't deserve to be dragged down with his violent lifestyle. And he didn't need a distraction on his way to being the strongest monster. It just wasn't meant to be.

.

.

And yet, seeing her worried face looking straight at him, he waivers.

Wordlessly, he snaked his arms around her and gently guided her head in his shoulder. He leans down his head onto hers.

For the first time in a long time, he lets down his guard. This made him feel content. It felt like they were in their right place. Maybe it can wait for a while. Just until this shit is over.

.

.

.

I'll figure it out when time comes.

Inside the Empire days ago..

"Monitor the foster home. Plug in bugged devices around the area. That is the first place that the girl will go to. We need to know when she will be there." A brown haired man seemingly of authority ordered one of his men.

"Will we inform the old woman?"

"Go ahead. But it doesn't matter if she agrees or not. She's in our control."

"As you wish.."

"We wouldn't want that esper to be in the list of wasted potential."

"With all due respect Sir, why do we put so much effort to find this girl when we could just just get another one as we usually do?"

"The Boss changed his mind. Her lineage is prestigious." The man in command, took a pause thinking about something. "She wasn't told of the game beforehand unlike the other candidates. She has not had any training of any sort but was able to survive. With instinct and ability like that, it's for certain that a strong witch's blood runs through her..

And besides, it's been a while since someone was able to survive the maze with staggering results. The last one with considerably great performance was the Martial Arts prodigy, Suiryu."

"That one's a pain in the ass."

"Well he amused the Boss until he waltzed his way to freedom."

"But there's none for this one?"

"It's a different case for every candidate."

"I see.."

"Now go put on the traps."

"Yes, Sir."