Chapter 37

Christmas Eve.

The tree was up. The gifts lay under it. The family was making a feast as they once more invited Saitama and Genos over. The two weren't going much of anything so they accepted. "Wow, festive…" said Saitama.

"Come on in you two. And if you want to stay over, you are welcome to. We got plenty of room." Said Melee.

"Thank you for the kind offer, we don't have much in the way of plans for the holidays," explained Genos.

It wasn't long either until Snek arrived with the same woman and her son.

Melee made a massive Hot Pot dinner, much to the excitement of Saitama. When everyone was at the table, they dug in and helped themselves. Even Amai coiled up and joined the feast. The food was delightful, the company bearable to say the least for Amai, but the conversations they had were entertaining and amusing. Hunter in particular was the master storyteller as he would go on about recent events of creatures he fought, and bounties he has picked up.

Alley would mention about the Christmas market she and Suiryu went to recently and brought back many treats for everyone to have after dinner. Melee purchased some specialty teas for the occasion. Pac was appearing more comfortable with himself in recent weeks. The twins were training harder than ever on their powers. Lightning Max has kept up with his training regiment and makes certain that he checks in with Flashy Flash once a month to ensure his progress and lessons are being retained.

Snek was stating how much he really is looking forward to turning back again, despite losing his legs once more. "You never realize how easy you had it without legs when you stub your toe in the morning! My God! That's a painful bastard!" he announced.

Amai snickered. "It's true!" he announced. "It's only bad if someone steps on the tip of your tail! Luckily people are cautious and try not to do it."

Garou snickered. "You two got more in common now than before, don't you?"

Amai smirked as Snek chuckled. "Guess so, but hell, it's not the strangest thing going on in this world… I got to say this though. Garou, Melee, thanks for the switch and change of pace. Amai… couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!"

Amai laughed. "I tend to agree with that."

"Serious, who the hell is this guy?" demanded Suiryu.

With dinner over, Melee made tea as the snacks were spread out. They watched Christmas specials as more gifts were placed under the tree. Curious, Amai kept peering over, trying to see which ones were which. "Hey! No peeking!" scolded Draven.

"We're not even allow to peek!" said Goliath.

"I'm just checking!" Amai said defensively.

As the night wore on, it wasn't long before everyone decided to head off to bed. Amai went to his room, yet paused as he saw Melee set up some sleeping mats. "I can take some in my room if you want. It's a little snug…"

"I'll go!" said Draven.

"Sure for old time sake." Announced Goliath. "Genos and Saitama can have our beds mom."

"You sure about this Amai?" she asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It hasn't stopped them before. Besides, I don't mind it." With that he slithered into his room, got himself comfortable and waited for the twins. They came in shortly after. Draven took his usual spot, as Goliath slept near the middle. They snuggled in covered themselves up and were quick to fall asleep.

Amai turned the light off and was quick to doze off himself…

#

CRACK

BAM

BANG!

He jumped to the noise. "What the hell was that!" he said.

The twins suddenly woke, Draven yawned aloud. "Hunter, he's probably pretending he lost his way to the bathroom."

"That or that's the strangest piss I have ever heard someone take." Muttered Goliath. But then, his eyes shot open. "It's Christmas morning!"

The whole house began to wake as they realized despite the loud wake up call. It was indeed Christmas morning. Even Saitama and Genos woke! "What's with the racket?" asked Saitama.

Everyone peered out of their rooms and saw Hunter in the kitchen. "Sorry! I was going to get an early start on breakfast"

Amai looked at his phone. "It's four in the morning."

"For the love of God…" they heard Garou mutter. He came out of his room and looked about. "Is everyone up?" he asked.

"Yes,"

"Fine, Hunter sit. Melee, I'll get the coffee…"

"YES!" cheered Hunter.

"How old is he again?" Amai asked aloud.

"Just about 5 years," said Melee.

"Sadly, his excitement is justified…" The twins got off Amai's back and went to the living room. Hunter was sitting with great excitement around the tree as everyone else slowly made their way out of their rooms. Saitama was nearly dead on his feet.

"Why did we agree to stay over again?" he asked aloud.

"Well, you stated if we did, that there would be additional snacks and food…" Genos said offhandedly.

"Shhh, not so loud!"

Amai snickered as he coiled a little ways away from the tree. When the family gathered, and everyone had at least a cup of coffee in their system, the gifts were handed out. Alley went around to make sure everyone got one. Then, it was time to open. It was a strange tradition. Garou's family let the company go first, one at a time to people could see and enjoy the moment of someone getting their present. The first was one Kid, his was from Snek and he revealed to his excitement his own biting snake fist dojo uniform! "Awesome!"

"It's official, I have taught you all the leg strikes for obvious reasons and you mastered them fast. We will work on the arm thrusts and strikes, but now you will look the part!"

The woman Snek was seeing went next, she opened her box and found a ring! Much to the shock of the family, "I got to do this now, I ain't going to have knees soon enough!" Snek got down on one knee and proposed! "I am not going to look like this for much longer, but I lost you in my life once before, I don't want to lose you again. Marry me?" he asked.

She full heartedly accepted.

"Ooo that's a tough one to top." Said Garou as the room laughed.

Saitama got a gift from Melee and Garou, a tea set with specialty teas to go long with it. He was thrilled! Well… as excited as Saitama can get. It's hard to tell with him.

Genos was given new parts and tools for self-repairs, he was happy with his gift. Not to mention a massive pack of sardines in oil.

The twins were next. They happened to be opening the one Amai got for them. They were massive and hard to hide behind the tree. "I am a little concerned as to what this is…" Melee said off hand. Yet the twins tore open their gift, it ballooned out of the packaging and the room fell into a fit of laughter. Life size pillows of Snek and Amai as serpents!

"NO WAY!" laughed Goliath as he flopped on to his.

"I even had the middle filled up extra since you like to sleep on the lumpy part." Announced Amai. "But that's from Suiryu, Max and I."

The twins loved their gift, they sat on it for the remainder of Christmas morning!

When it was Amai's turn, he looked at his present and saw it was from Garou. "This is a little bit of a gag gift. I only had a few of these made…"

Curiosity got the better of him now. So he ripped open the wrapping, in hand was a heroes association book. But there were two pages marked. Amai flipped it open and it showed his Class A rank 1 status, but there was something strange about it. "Thank you?" he said offhandedly.

"Go to the other page marked, dumbass!" Garou snapped.

Amai did, he turned to the other page marked, and it was in the M Class section of the book he was there too! One of the fan photos of him in his serpent form on the heating rock, holding a rose was the main photo, and yet, he noticed behind the image was his human shadow from the Class A section! It was beautifully done. "You had me in the M Class section of the book?"

"I had it specially made, this won't be available to the public, and I made one for you, Max, Snek and Suiryu of your human forms and monster class page." Garou paused. "Oh right, those guys didn't open my gift yet…"

"Spoiler alert!" laughed Melee.

"Thank you… I like it, I really do!" said Amai.

He got many thoughtful gifts from the family, another was a jacket that appeared thin but could block the winter chill. Best of all, it stretched. Alley made it for him and borrowed her brothers to demonstrate as they each took a sleeve and began to pull it hard! It could span the length of the house but snap back to regular form the moment the tension was released. "Now you won't go through so many sweaters when you eat! Even when this is all over, it is still a good jacket to wear." She explained.

There was even a built in heating unit, and it was strong enough that it would keep his whole body warm rather than having to run fiber optic cables down his body. Snek was given the same jacket, yet his was red, Amai's was baby blue.

Hunter also got Sweet Mask his favorite moisturizer; he kept going through his before he was about to shed. Max and Suiryu got him some winter mittens and hats for his patrolling. Pac got him a heated and weighed blanket.

"This is so… thoughtful… thank you." He said graciously.

The family was surprised to their gifts as well. Yet Hunter noticed the lack of one for him. "In due time, I promise you!" Amai insisted. Hunter nodded in agreement, he wasn't upset, but he appeared to have a hunch as to what it would be. As it all came to an end, everyone offering great gratitude for their presence and the thoughtfulness of the gifts, it was time for breakfast! Amai turned on the TV, just as they announced a monster attack, threatening city Z. His stomach rumbled. "I think mine just arrived. I'll be back." He donned on his new jacket and went out to take care of the threat…