Chapter 11: Recognized as a Younger Brother 2

(Ah, this is a dream)

What made Sora realize this was that, as he wandered around London, he unknowingly found himself guided to a Japanese house that reminded him of a samurai residence.

When I noticed and looked at my hair, it was still black, but it was still pure white.

"What's wrong?" Sora replied, "Nothing." Emiya Emiya disturbed the manor.

If he realized this was a dream, he should have shifted from a normal dream to a lucid dream where he could freely act, but because it was nostalgic, looked peaceful, and interestingly the location and timeline were jumbled, Sora chose to recall the past and continue.

(Think about it, this is why I got close to Rin. Ah, the food is delicious.)

It's hard to call them friends in the dream, but I remember them when I'm eating Japanese food made by my good friend.

Sora has two siblings.

Strictly speaking, he is not a sister-disciple, but a mage of Sora Master's school. I consider myself above all, I respect this. Most importantly, explaining the exact relationship is troublesome, so I chose "junior sister."

One named Luviazelittaedelfelt was allowed to stay in the homestay, and her host was a transcendent free spirit, yet in another world line. As long as you get close to him, he becomes wary and intimidating like a cat.

That is Tosaka Rin.

The reason I became friends with her was that, when I was walking alone in London, Sora, while one person was talking to another, saw a bag-snatcher in front of me, which is common abroad. It was on the counter and grabbed it.

The victim said he really wanted to thank him, so Sora unhesitatingly expressed his wish to thank him.

"I want to eat Japanese food."

The homestay turned out to be a celebrity, a noble family, and Sora could even be called a relatively young miss, I was fortunate to find it, but Sora's soul still wanted "rice, miso, soy sauce."

So, since the other party was also Japanese, my completely innocent and somewhat wanton desire came out like this, but after a pause, the other party suddenly said with a smile: "Cheap." He guided me in advance.

That was the meeting with Emiya Shirou, the lover of my junior sister apprentice.

In reality, he should have been invited to Shirou's dorm, but in the dream, for some reason, about a year later, he went to Japan to visit his parents' house. Because they looked alike, I was convinced this person was more memorable and unforgettable, and then I heard Rin's voice at the entrance.

Indeed, I no longer remember the specific conversation at that time, but it seems that in this dream, as usual, I fought with the other senior sister Luvia, lost, and was spoiled by Shirou while crying.

"Ow~ ow~ what's wrong with that newbie move~? I gave you a foot-high medulla oblongata, how are you still alive~?"

"Yeah yeah, I got it, calm down, Rin. Though it's hard to say, but we have guests, so put your cat on your head."

Holding Shirou while crying, Rin came to the living room and said: "We have guests."

Regarding her arrogance, I thought this was a private person, she didn't want to show Gandr shooting at Shirou's level under someone's attack she saw. Fortunately, this "customer" was not a stranger to Rin, but an unexpected person; on the contrary, his thoughts froze for a moment, and Sora and Shirou were not hit by Finn's Gatling.

"Long time no see, Rin-san." Sora put down his chopsticks, raised his hand in greeting.

Rin looked down on the master's direct disciple and the enemy's subordinate eating the lover's home-cooked meal at the lover's house.

"Rin-san! Please give Rin-san's lover to my mom!!"

"Who comes to do…… huh? Mom?

"Why!!"

When Sora earnestly said how delicious the food was, Rin immediately disregarded it, but when he realized he wanted "mother" instead of "lover," he felt confused, reluctantly allowed it, and Shirou rushed in.

"Ahaha, I absolutely want my senior to be 'mom'."

A person who suddenly joined nature laughed hilariously. I met Shirou's junior apprentice Matou Sakura when I went to Japan to play ball, and he wasn't there then.

"Well, if Shirou is your mother, then Sora, you can call me father!!"

At this time, Shirou had not yet become Luvia's maid, although I doubted they knew each other, but for some reason, the already-titled Luvia began saying some unusual things, and Shirou asked: "Why!!"

Then, within five seconds of meeting Sora, Flatescardos, who hit it off with Sora, said: "Ah, me too! Mr. Shirou, please let me become your son!"

The timeline is as usual jumbled, but the dream continues without any discomfort.

The Sora in the dream is the present Sora, so he looks older than others, but at that time, Sora was only 13 years old. Because I am the youngest, I remember being loved for some reason.

Three years ago, I remember this was normal.

Let Shirou cook for me, not only learn cooking from Shirou, but also learn from Rin and little Sakura, irresponsibly stir up trouble between Luvia and Rin, use magic to tease a bland professor. Seiza lecture for 2 hours.

This is neither normal nor peaceful, but Sora's daily life is completely normal and safe.

Being protected is normal.

"This is a feast"

Sora put down his chopsticks, clasped his hands, thanked Shirou and his ingredients, then stood up.

"Are you still going?" Rin asked, and Sora smiled and answered.

"Yeah. My brother might not be waiting, but he might be waiting."

I hope to see them again. However, whether Sora has the wish to "go home" is a mystery to me.

There was also a deadly battle there. But compared to here, here is absolutely a peaceful world.

If he doesn't want to die, although Sora should obviously choose that world over there, but Sora also doesn't want to go back.

I have no intention of staying here, let alone lingering.

I'd rather leave now.

The reason is, the corridor that should have led from the living room to the entrance turned out to be a strange, pitch-black, long tunnel, and in the distance stood a blond boy in ethnic clothing.

The boy who turned and looked down had already waited impatiently, but he didn't want to go alone, though he wasn't honest, he seemed to have been waiting for him all along.

So Sora must run over immediately, find him as soon as possible.

Shirou and them won't stop Sora. Everyone is wryly smiling, as if saying: "No way."

Only Sakura stopped me, handing me a paper box.

When I discovered this was the pudding they made together when they first met, Sora laughed.

"Thank you, little Sakura.

Saying that, Sora ran.

I fully realize this is a dream.

I know this is a convenient wish for me, because of my lucid dream.

However, I hope.

Just like this dream, no matter how far away he is, he is waiting for me, and I will definitely see him on that day.

Sora walked, ran, and lived under the gentle sunlight he was waiting for.

"Kurapika!?"

Immediately, the paper box in my arms was taken away.

Looking back in surprise, he looked like a big-bearded old man, like a stubborn old man, like a kind old man, but in reality, his master, a loud old man whose behavioral ethics were shattered, who hated and mocked kindness, was a paper box. I opened it and curled the corners of my mouth.

How old are you… how old are you? Although it was a joke, the Master still took out without hesitation a pudding that Sora had left for him as a keepsake and ate it all in one gulp. On the contrary, I drank.

Seeing this, Sora's doubts in his heart completely dissipated, and without hesitation he clenched his fists, stabbed toward him, and screamed.

"That's my pudding!! Damn old man!!"

"Gahaha!!"

The sound that seemed painful and my right hand hurt.

Rolling in front of me, slightly graceful, the old man Sora saw a thug completely unlike himself, and he tilted his head.

"Then?"

"You, you! What are you thinking!?"

Just as I was complaining from behind, the gun barrel was aimed at my brow, I reflexively slashed at the gun barrel with bare hands, cutting it off, and the surroundings immediately fell silent.

In this overwhelming silence, Sora looked around, finally remembering where he was and why he was in this place.

Airship public lounge.

I remember I was on my way to the venue to take the Hunter Exam.

"... You think about it, this old man is really an idiot, so annoying, but I have never harassed him because he is cute, he died ten times, died a hundred times."

Perhaps still half-asleep, Sora realized it was fine and muttered: "Hey, you're also doomed to die."

Sora looked at that surprised and accurately inserted, with still some drowsiness in his eyes, a boy about twelve years old and asked.

"Kid, what's going on? Hijacking?"

Remembering where this place was, Sora, who had been dozing off on the sofa in the public lounge before takeoff, still did not understand the current situation and temporarily said what seemed most likely to happen.

Even though I was suddenly attacked while half-asleep, but I was the one who pointed a gun at me for revenge, that's all I could think of.

"... You really attacked me while I was half-asleep?"

The boy, like a cat, half-closed his eyes and murmured, then answered this question.

"Well, pretty much, if you want to take the Hunter Exam, you can become one of my friends, otherwise I will kill you."

"Are you stupid?"

Obviously, these little villains are planning to form a small group to challenge the exam. If so, then there must certainly be others, acting as they please, but the passengers on this airship seem mostly to be aspiring hunters, they are plotting to make more friends while eliminating rivals.

Similar, but in some sense more foolish than hijacking.

"You bastards, what nonsense are you spouting!!"

After being scolded by a nearly two-meter-tall muscular man, Sora and the boy looked at each other. Neither of them feared themselves.

"... You bastards!! Listen! I am an amateur treasure hunter, but I am Leader Bandit, I have fifty men under me!

Even a kid like you might sometimes be useful, so I shouted at them! By the way, I think I don't need life!!"

Obviously, in the environment where the thug group and the sky's violence cannot be escaped, other aspiring hunters seem to have already submitted to them. It seems only Sora without a skateboard and a long-haired boy with silver—who does not want to be just a hunter with a skateboard, looking like a kid out to play.

Sora finally understood, in this flight-sealed room, there are nearly a hundred enemies in total, but her eyes are still white.

The boy is the same, he snorted at the man's words.

"Amateur, just self-proclaimed as a person, right? If it's treasure, even if it's robbery, it can be said to be treasure hunting, right? Vile cowardly criminal gang." Not having the courage to do anything alone. Right?

Facing the boy who was saying what Sora thought, Bandit's face turned from bright red to black, he spat, and shouted loudly.

"Ha! You're a kid, you think letting go after crying and apologizing is the end, you bastard!

I and this Bandit Legion are known in the amateur hunter world for being ruthless! You can not only get the treasure you aim for, but also kill the people you don't like!!

Don't think you'll die easily!!"

Immediately after the man's declaration, Sora whispered.

"Being ruthless, being ruthless, is not something to brag about, it's a skill you choose but cannot achieve."

Sora's direct answer left silence for a few seconds.

When he responded with a smug expression to the threat of intimidating them, the thugs became even more stubborn, and the boy laughed loudly holding his stomach.

"Ahahahaha! Oh, right! I just saw a real rebuttal!!"

"Exactly! I'm right! How come, don't you know many people think having no discipline is something they can be proud of?"

Sora pointed at the laughing boy to seek his agreement. From this remark, it seems he did not come up with this satire on the spot after being told, but he had thought of it long before.

In fact, Sora had said the same thing to the mages of the Clock Tower, letting most of them oppose him. Even if he had been deceived before, he remains unshakable, neither a faith nor a set of values.

Moreover, of course, for the one who said this, although his face turned black with anger, yet with a confident smile, yet it cannot be taken for granted.

As expected, his face could no longer change, many blood vessels appeared on his temples and forehead, seeming to burst at any moment.

"Kill it! That white-haired bastard……"

"Gander"

Before the words were finished, Sora's fingertips shot out a cluster of aura, a magic bullet, and a curse-directed path, invisible yet with clusters, hitting Bandit's face dead center.

Instantly, the leader fell to the ground, making a sound like a hard ball directly hitting his face.

"Hmph! What did you just do!? What did you do!? Or rather, why did you slash the gun barehanded!?"

"Magic? I am a mage."

"Hey, this is amazing. So, really?"

"You don't believe me."

The thug watched the two chatting amicably, but the boy seemed to lack the courage to face Sora, who had done something strange, so no one did anything or said anything.

"Hey hey hey, you came! Come with me!!"

After his nose was completely broken, Bondy held his weirdly itchy face and ordered him.

No one came to retaliate against Sora's strike, so it was understandable that he was unpopular, but the fear binding his subordinates seemed to remain strong even after injury, and the henchmen all obeyed this order. For Sora.

"Kid, if there's trouble, hide, and I'll run."

"Are you running away!"

Needless to say, the boy did this on purpose.

He was confident he could easily take out these thugs alone, but because of the trouble, he hid in the corner.

However, when I saw it, my blood became increasingly noisy and painful.

Nearly a hundred people gathered on one person, space was limited, there was no trust and no damn relationship, and there was no way to cooperate well with those bound only by fear and interest.

Sora skillfully used the thugs as a shield and escaped. Most of the time she would not attack.

However, as Sora fled, Sora's weapon and fists struck his allies, those angry at this struck their opponents, and gradually attacked everyone nearby, rather than just lynching one person.

The boy's interest was drawn to his fighting style and mysterious attack methods.

When a thug made a foolish proposal, he had already lost hope even before the exam, saying: "Hunters are useless."

The boy exerted his fingertips.

That is, the fingertips will transmute.

As his muscles tensed, the originally tender fingertips like tender branches contracted even more, claws like a cat's wanting to extend.

Even though he was doing something impossible for humans, the boy calmly smiled and plunged into the uproar of an invincible, friendless argument.

Without footsteps, the boy swung the hand most suitable for gouging out life, without hesitation killing any trace to the limit.

Without reason, without legitimacy, just too little desire to be called madness.

What I want to do is simply prove I'm not better than myself by observing someone who does nothing but "magic," and I'm also great.

This boy didn't realize he wanted someone he didn't even know the name of to say, "This is awesome."

"This kid, what the hell do you want to do!!"

"Gafu!"

Before he could dig out the heart of a nearby thug, Sora rushed in like a rocket, subdued him, and I couldn't help but stop breathing.

The boy continued coughing, Sora held him in the so-called princess carry, saying "Temporary evacuation~," and ran out of the public hall.

"Wait, you damn bastard!!"

"What are you doing, idiot!!"

The angry voices of the henchmen behind and the boy's sharp screams rang out simultaneously.

"You, you how did you suddenly attack me!

"Ah, also very annoying. Shut up, kid. You can't explain or lecture."

"You have no reason to preach!

Leaving the public hall, Sora carried the boy back and forth, thinking of ways to let him calm down temporarily.

With energy wrapped around his legs, I pulled open the henchmen who had already caught up to me, but the boy I was holding was so noisy I couldn't dodge at all, and no matter what I wanted him to shut up.

I couldn't think of abandoning the boy as required, then fleeing and hiding. If he did that, he wouldn't know why Sora initially grabbed him to stop him, nor why he fled holding the boy.

No matter what, Sora wanted to say something to the boy.

So I can't let go until I tell him.

However, this kid definitely won't know, surely he's having a severe tantrum, I lowered my voice amid the noise and whispered: "... You really want to die, you bastard?"

However, although Sora knew the boy was already furious, his expression was still troublesome. This made the boy even more angry, while Sora suddenly thought of something, his eyes widened slightly, and he laughed.

The boy was stunned by that smile for a moment, Sora still holding the boy undid the zipper of his jumpsuit.

The boy saw the fair skin and the sports bra-style bra, "What!?"

Obviously, for a pubescent boy who thought Sora was a man, suddenly seeing close-up evidence that Sora is a woman was too stimulating.

As a ruthless service to such a boy, Sora pressed his face into the back of the boy's head, burying it in her chest that didn't look like a cliff, nor as she said.

"What effect do these disappointing breasts have? Breasts are too amazing."

Sora temporarily hid in the boiler room, letting the boy be disappointed, taking advantage of the boy completely stopping thought, to utter words a woman shouldn't say.

"Male?

Sora dumped the boy in the corner of the room, face flushed and stiff, Sora shouted.

When the boy finally came to his senses, face still red, about to yell: "What are you doing, you pervert!!"

"Hey hey, don't make a fuss, if you make a fuss I'll make it up, sorry, I don't have enough time to make a cream puff."

In front of the boy, Sora covered his mouth, speaking like a Yankee. Gave up both arms, became an adult.

Sora saw he had gone mad with alarm, moved his hand from the boy's mouth, and asked.

"Kid, you were going to kill me before, weren't you?"

The boy did not answer.

Not only footsteps and traces, but even killing intent was thoroughly erased, yet the chest felt an incomprehensible frustration and a lingering gloom that was already completely clear.

I couldn't help but shout: "Wow, what is that?!" I don't know if it's because of this reaction, but in the end I turned away like a child and fell silent.

"What do you want to use to kill me?"

Just as Sora turned away and stopped listening to Sora's question, Sora grabbed the boy's face with both hands, forcing him to face him.

This time I tried saying: "What are you doing!?"

Sora pressed his forehead against the boy's, as if taking his temperature, speaking from very close, his eyes never leaving the boy's.

"If your goal is to kill me, that's not good, but it's none of my concern, so I won't interfere."

At such close range, the words spoken were the complete opposite of what the boy had imagined.

I thought I would hear a sermon that would make my whole body itch, like "you should cherish life," but I didn't say it affirmatively, yet I almost said, "do as you please," pushing me away.

The surprise of those words—if you think that way, what on earth is this guy trying to say? The boy, utterly confused by this question, finally locked eyes with Sora.

The night-sky-colored pupils reflecting his own image narrowed slightly.

Sora laughed as he spoke.

"But if that's not the case, you just want me to stay quiet, because you dislike it as much as I do, right?

You're strong enough to choose your means and methods."

In the boy's mind, Sora's words to the gang leader reappeared.

"Choosing no means or methods isn't something to brag about. After all, it's a skill—if you choose it, you won't be able to achieve your goals."

I was the one who immediately answered, laughed loudly, and said: "This is a valid point."

That's why it's easy to convince myself that what I'm trying to do is wrong.

Because it's what this woman in front of me said, and also what I myself said.

But the boy didn't notice.

Even if you could understand, if your personality, if your pride is too high to voice a correct argument, you'll surely resent the correct argument—but the boy's chest kept spinning until just now, and the frustration and vagueness I'd been feeling, the inexplicable things, all vanished.

Sora didn't notice either. To her, it was normal.

She knew that being a child doesn't mean weakness.

First, espers—including her master—have unreliable appearances and ages, so Sora had no preconceptions about others' abilities.

Just one glance at him, and at least you could tell this kid wasn't an esper, but even surrounded by armed thugs, he remained calm, yet never spoke—well, it's easy to see you have the power to oppose those thugs.

If you're not good at it, just watch how I do it.

So for Sora, this was a natural premise from the start.

From the beginning, I'd always wanted to think this boy was truly "amazing," which is what the boy unconsciously wanted.

The boy didn't notice.

Unconsciously, I smiled, knowing my wish had come true.

"Of course!"

I wanted to take Sora's words for granted, but the joy in my eyes couldn't be hidden, and I answered with a laugh.

Hearing this, Sora smiled satisfied, lifted her forehead from the boy's.

"I see. Then let's make a bet, boy."

Responding to Sora's sudden invitation, the boy lifted the corner of his mouth and replied: "Okay."

"No killing—whoever knocks out the most people wins."

"Alright. If you lose, treat yourself to juice."

The boy stood up, patted his fist, and randomly decided the win/loss conditions of the bet.

"You bastards, why are you hiding in a place like this!!"

"Gander"

As soon as the door opened, Sora immediately shot at the man she thought was a kangaroo, saying impatiently.

"Huh!? Again!? I haven't even said to start yet, and now everything's gone!!"

"Yes, yes.

Thus, despite the airship having different numbers of people, roughly 100 vs. 2, Sora and the boy's one-sided contest began.

Because ambitious people are themselves like hijackers, the airship landed at the nearest airport instead of the planned country's airport.

About three hours after takeoff, but for us two, this length of time was already enough.

Let everyone except yourself mature.

"Kid, hurry up! We'll miss the airship!"

"I know! Don't pull my hand!"

When the airship landed at the airport, the hijackers and their companions, despite being threatened, still chose to join, losing consciousness in Sora and the boy's hands.

Of course, this was self-defense, so he won't be charged with a crime, but the police wanted to hear a lot. However, because the two were scheduled to take the Hunter Exam on the airship, they didn't have time to explain.

Sora and the boy both said: "I'll explain after the exam!!"

On the way, Sora recalled what she had done occupying a room on the airship, and told the boy.

"Oh, right, kid. I took care of you like a little brother."

"Ah!?"

I unconsciously raised my voice, expressing my protest and dissatisfaction, but upon reflection, this was convenient for me, a runaway.

"Sorry, sorry, when I was processing the paperwork, I realized I didn't even know his name, but if I were to process paperwork for a stranger's child whose name I don't know, I—I'm a police officer, right? I decided to go ahead.

Look, you're easy to trust, because our hair colors are very similar."

"Why would you give it such a name above all!? Better to call it White! I don't like it, but it's still connected!"

Before that, Sora spoke freely and complained about the pseudonym he didn't want to know, but Sora felt no regret, instead smiling openly.

"Ahaha, sorry. As an apology, I bought you juice on the airship, and please forgive me."

The bet ended in a draw. That's why I'm angry at myself for trying to give myself an "apology," even though I bought no juice.

However, I don't want to be angry and ignore it, saying: "Don't treat me like a child."

Only being praised for killing methods, and for the first time.

Because I thought I was told, "This is great," I didn't kill anyone at all.

Because I felt I was given a path beyond inheriting the family, a future beyond being an assassin.

I felt these hands would lead me down this path into the future.

That's why the boy couldn't let go of the hand that naturally grabbed his, pulling it.

Grabbing it from yourself, while running to the person pulling the hand, you tell it.

"——Killua"

"Huh?"

Facing the clueless Sora, I turned around and said it again.

"My name is Killua, I'll write it properly next time."

I don't know how long this "older sister" can last. I should have ended when I boarded the airship, but I asked for "the next one."

Upon hearing this, Sora blinked his indigo eyes and smiled in response.

"Oh, okay, Killua. By the way, I'm Sora."

Because it was too late, neither of them said "yoroshiku."

Without a word, they tightly held hands and boarded the airship.

About ten days ago, while Sora was making things up, Kikyo endlessly told him that her beloved third son "kill" was "Killua." It was arbitrarily recognized.

I said I would in the Hunter Exam arc, but I didn't say I would stay consistent with the original.

Sorry to those expecting the original, and to those expecting Illumi's "konnichiwashine" and Hisoka's "zukkyun," I'm sorry.

From the start, I planned to write three arcs before Gon and the others arrive at the exam site: the ship, the test, and the Kiriko chapter, then follow the original plot.

So, there are two episodes left, Killua and Sora's adventure continues.

I hope you like it.