Chapter 13
"It was a snake like man, but… it wasn't the M Class Dragon, Snek. It was someone different."
"Young lady, who did you think it was?"
The girl was reluctant to speak, she became shy but never said his name. She only called him 'the blue serpent'
Sweet Mask cringed as he watched the late night news. People have blurred photos of him and they are posted all over the TV stations and Internet. No one has quite figured out it is him just yet, but he was grateful his manager who was interviewed insisted everything was good on his end. "Amai Mask is out doing his own thing right now, taking a break from his busy schedule," there was no mention of him being a snake monster. He turned the TV off for the night and lay on the floor. His stomach has been acting up, moaning oddly and churning, yet nothing is digesting. He didn't really care to think about it for the moment, but he kept wondering how long it would be before the world knew that Sweet Mask was a snake monster?
What would they say?
How would they react?
"This isn't going to end well for me," he said with a sigh. Amai was about to turn in for bed, when his bedroom door opened. Peering up he saw Draven sneaking into his room once more. "Must you?" he asked.
Draven froze. "It's the same nightmare…" he whispered. "Please?"
Amai rolled his eyes. "Like I have much of a choice." He knew no matter what he said or did, the kid wasn't going anywhere. Draven was very cautious as he picked his spot and laid on top of Amai. Of course he had to choose the lump of the monster he just ate that day. Draven fell asleep rather quickly, before Amai could follow suit, his door opened again. Goliath peered in. "Oh for the love of…" he muttered. "You too?"
Goliath shook his head. "No, I won't," he explained, but held up a blanket. "It's for my brother." He draped it with care over top of Draven before taking his leave. Amai sighed and fell asleep a short time later.
Despite the extra weight on his back, it was strange. It felt… nice. The warmth of another, the blanket certainly helped him keep warm. By the morning, Amai actually felt rested! Draven was still out cold on him, he won't be able to move until he wakes up. With a sigh, Amai found his notebook and began to pen out ideas for songs. A few came to mind, but others were flowing out of him like never before. They weren't the usual cheery ones that his fans come to adore, more along the lines of heartache and loss. He nearly filled four pages when Draven finally woke up. He slid off the side of Sweet Mask before stretching himself out. "Thank you." He said. Draven stood up and left the room shortly after.
"Again, how did Snek put up with that?" he wondered. With the day anew, Amai rose up he tested his body and found he could move about just enough to appear elegant, and slithered out. He peered down the hall and saw everyone at the table having breakfast. He was reluctant to even leave the room now. After all, he's not one of them, he never will be.
"Sweet! Want some coffee?" called Max.
"Fresh brewed!" chimed Suiryu.
He slowly glided out of the room and approached the kitchen with caution, despite the fact that he wasn't really part of the group, they reached out and offered him a place to sort of stand. He couldn't quite coil himself just yet, but he appreciated the spot. Approaching the table, he said nothing as a black coffee was placed before him. They passed along cream and sugar for him to dress himself.
"So Suiryu says that I couldn't do the move, so I went and I did it!" Hunter said offhandedly.
"We just made that move, Garou and I. How the hell could you pull it off?" Suiryu demanded.
"I'm his kid, what would you expect?"
The table snickered. Amai looked about and found different little snacks scattered about, the twins ate what appeared to be a normal looking meal, everyone else was taking the treats along with their hot drinks. He appeared reluctant to reach for one, until he heard Garou sigh aloud. "Take a damn cookie if you want one!" he said.
Amai was stunned as he reached for one and placed it with his drink. "What, do you think we're going to bite?" questioned Pac.
"It's just…"
"You thought just because we're punishing you, you wouldn't be allow to have a snack or sit with us? What is this high school?" demanded Garou. "I told you before, we are not going to deprive you of comforts. Eat your damn cookie."
"I'm curious though… how are you feeling?" asked Melee. "Your metabolism appears to have finally slowed down. You're not starving anymore. You did some heroics yesterday according to Hunter but wouldn't admit to your own name." She paused. "Why did you eat again when you were still digesting the last monster you ate?"
He kept silent, but ate the cookie with his coffee.
Alley stood from the table and stretched herself out. "I'm going to be going to the lab once again, I got to get a few things ready before that damn snow comes in." she announced.
"What are you making?" asked Amai.
The table paused, an awkward pause at that. "You… want to know?" she asked.
He nodded. "I'm curious, do you mind me asking?"
"Well, it was for Snek, but for the next while, it's going to be for you." She explained.
He paused; curiosity got the better of him now. "Oh?"
"You are feeling a little sluggish aren't you? No real energy?" she asked. Sweet Mask nodded. "I have made a small thermal system for you to wear. It will keep you warm outside when you are on patrol and hunting. That, and there is the other thing I just finished."
"Other thing?"
"Not yet," she said with a smirk. "Soon enough though. I want Snek here to see it."
With that, she left the house. Amai reached for another cookie as Pac announced he was going to go as well. "I got to get use to this again…" he stripped off what appeared to be fresh bandages and revealed the red scales he had once before, they were just starting to grow back under the dried and blistered skin. He took his leave shortly after.
"I'm going to the association today and meet Genos there. We are going to launch that new system I was telling you guys about," said Hunter.
"New system?" Sweet Mask questioned.
"It's going to piss you right off. Genos, Alley and I have made a virtual reality system to test heroes and their potential. We are going to be testing some of the top heroes in A Class and the lower ones of B Class. If they pass this test, they go on to another test, a physical one. They pass that, the association takes into consideration of rising their rank."
"What?" question Amai. "You are going to have a mere… game, test these heroes in power and strength? That's not how it works!" he protested.
"Which is why we are merely testing it now. There are some heroes in B Class that deserve to be in A Class. There are a few exceptions of heroes in A Class that deserve to be in S Class. You can at least agree with me on that notion, there's one there that belongs in S Class despite his appearance… am I right?"
"Saitama…" he whispered.
"Yeah, Saitama."
"Be honest, this is just to get him into S Class isn't it?" asked Max.
"Partly, he deserves to be! He has done so much other heroics but he never files reports, why should he have to? Also he took down major threats long before he registered as a hero too. I know he told me some of the monsters he has defeated."
Amai was oddly silent, he didn't quite know what to make of this new idea. "May I come along and see it?" he asked.
Once more the room fell into a stunned silence. "Why are you all quiet when I ask of something?"
"You never ask!" said Melee. "You never really cared unless it involved you somehow. But, you want to see what Hunter has proposed?"
"I don't quite have anything else to do. I did just eat yesterday and it's not going anywhere."
Garou peered behind Amai and nodded. "Yeah, that bastard is idle." He said.
Sweet Mask cringed. "I don't wish to hear that right now," he muttered, he then turned to Hunter. "I am curious to what you are proposing… I would like to see it, but I want to stay hidden."
"Amai, people are going to find out sooner than later…" said Melee.
"I want them to find out on MY terms!" he protested. "My God, you people thing this is easy? It's simple for me to go out into the world and reveal this!" he demanded as he motioned to himself. He shook his head to it all. "No, I can't, I cannot do it, not like that… no like this…"
Melee sighed aloud as Garou merely smirked. "You really are all about the look huh? You can't see beyond the flesh of another, pitiful to say the least."
"You are not one to lecture," protested Amai.
"Dad… leave him alone," said Hunter.
Garou froze. "Wait, what?" he questioned. "You want me to leave him alone? Kiddo, this is MY fun time! It's part of the reason why he's living here. So I can mock him!"
Hunter rolled his eyes. "Dad… I know he deserves it. I know we have been waiting for a moment like this, but for now… please, lay off?"
A low growl came from Garou, he turned and glared at Amai before turning back to his coffee. Even the twins were starting to look at Sweet Mask oddly. "You want to come, fine by me, I know of a side booth you can watch and I'll be sure no one sees you if that's what you want."
He nodded. Finishing his drink, Amai went back to his room and retrieved the hoodie he had before, yet after yesterday, he found he tore the thing in half! He forgot to take it off before eating the monster, and didn't realize the extent of the damage until now. But it was all he had. With a sigh, he placed it on and joined Hunter outside. They left for the Association that moment.