Chapter 17: Official Business A

"Why are you always like this!! Why do you say this the moment we meet again!?"

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about what just happened. But I'm not joking. Seriously, I thought Kurapika was a boy, but she's actually a girl!?" I messed up.

"It would have been better if you were joking, that's for sure! You didn't have to tell the truth!!"

"No, I promised you I wouldn't lie to you."

"Your sincerity makes my heart ache even more!?"

Kurapika couldn't help but yell, even though she knew it would waste her stamina.

And Gon and the others stared at Kurapika's seriousness while they ran.

There were many things they wanted to ask, but Sora ran while nervously saying she didn't know if she was being foolish or misused. Because they were thrown into it immediately, the three of them had no chance to intervene, so they could only watch the skit-like exchange, dumbfounded.

"Ahahaha, sorry. But Kurapika, why are you more like a girl now that you've grown up? Three years ago, you were still a girl, but you were at a boy's level, with a face as pretty as a girl's." But now, "your face is completely feminine."

"Shut up! I don't want you talking about my looks; that's exactly what I want to question the most!!"

"Who? God? I mean, the angrier you get, the more like a young girl you look. If you smiled like a boy, you should just keep smiling. Nice."

"I mean, just smile. I like your smile."

"No………………"

Kurapika was provoked by Sora, who kept using machine-gun-like speech to poke at Kurapika's complexes, regardless of whether she had Malice or not.

"Whose fault do you think it is that you're crazy?" This sentence didn't come out of my mouth.

(... I forgot. This woman will suddenly ruin even the most serious atmosphere, but she is the type of woman who will suddenly make an Explosion-like remark at such times.)

Gon and Leorio talked with Kurapika, Killua talked with Sora, and Kurapika remembered again what she should have learned three years ago.

"Kurapika, do you know each other?"

"If you know me, what gender is this person?"

"Hey, Sora. Could this be a 'younger brother'?"

As Leorio's question was in progress, Sora answered Killua's question with a brilliant smile.

"That's right! You're so pretty! Three years ago, you were like the representative of a red-faced handsome guy; I never expected you to grow into such a beauty!!"

"Don't change my gender on your own!!"

Kurapika raised her head to protest Sora's remarks.

The fact that she didn't look up was filled with joy, as if she were overjoyed just to hear her voice; because I saw that, I couldn't complain like before.

"Hmm? Brother? Kurapika? Isn't it Killua?"

Faced with Sora's answer, Gon raised his voice in surprise, and Leorio opened his eyes slightly.

Apparently, the two naturally thought Sora and Killua were biological brothers. Sora and Kurapika were indeed very similar, but Killua looked more like a blood relative because of his hair color.

Kurapika knew it the first time she saw the two of them, but in her heart, Kurapika didn't like it; her lips pursed slightly, and she looked down.

And although Killua denied Gon with a "Huh? Damn it!", he was definitely smiling.

He didn't realize he was smiling, nor did he realize that the fog that had accumulated in his chest since Sora took Kurapika's hand and started running had dissipated.

Although she didn't seem to notice the two's reactions, Sora turned around nervously as usual, ran nimbly backward, and spread her hands toward Gon.

"Neither of them is my younger brother! We have no blood relationship, and we aren't on the family register, but he is my cute, important, and proud younger brother!!"

""What!?""

Kurapika and Killua shouted at Sora's declaration.

The two inadvertently looked at each other, but both couldn't stand the fact that their faces were flushed red, so they silently looked away.

Kurapika silently agreed deeply with Killua's statement, whether it was a question or a monologue.

Kurapika and Killua both made these remarks, seemingly seeing that they were sulking because Sora was taken away, but in reality, it seemed to be just the facts; she even noticed Killua's monologue beside her, and she continued to speak while running backward.

"You two! I'm so happy to see you again! My name is Sora Shikiori!"

By the way, despite such disappointing breasts, the gender is female! But if you put your breasts together like this, you can create cleavage, so don't be fooled, guys! Please remember, it's an i-shape because it's just to bring out the cleavage of real big breasts, but it's a y-shape because it's a camouflage!"

"What are you talking about!?"

Kurapika and Killua were simultaneously caught in Sora's bright self-introduction and reverse Harassment. These two were already more like brothers than Sora.

Naturally, Leorio said something that made it hard for him to react, and he answered in a slightly eccentric tone: "Oh... oh. I'll use that as a reference." He also introduced himself.

"Ah, you are my sister after all. I'm Gon! I'm Leorio! I've been friends with Kurapika since we met on the ship. Nice to meet you, Miss Sora."

"Sora is fine. Or rather, you often become Kurapika's partner."

Contrary to his appearance, he has a short temper, he pretends to be calm, but his head is raised quickly, he is stubborn, but he is deeply Rooted.

Anyway, you're Leorio over there, aren't you? When I first met you, I suddenly said, 'I didn't do anything wrong, but what is this? Aren't you selling that kind of face to fight?'"

Kurapika raised her voice: "No!"

Gon looked at Sora with surprised eyes, "Wow!?" I asked blandly.

"If I am the model of politeness and rudeness, then you must be a magical idiot!"

"Ah, good words. Well, call yourself that from now on."

"I don't like it!!"

After Kurapika hit Leorio's side again and protested Sora's evaluation, she yelled at him because he adopted the phrase she used.

Killua was stunned by this remark turning into a skit again and asked, "Aren't you very excited?"

"Yes, I'm sorry!"

"I'm happy to see Kurapika, but I'm also happy that this troublesome girl has companions and friends.!"

It was as if we had only been separated for about five minutes; she naturally touched me, held my hand, and answered very nervously.

I was happy that she treated me in a natural way, but she expressed her joy at the reunion with her voice and smile, as if saying she was incredibly happy. Happy?"

However, because there was no character like Sora who expressed herself so obediently, Kurapika could only lower her head and say, "Sorry, it's too much trouble."

To Sora, even if it was the first time in three years he had to mask his own awkwardness, it was quite comfortable.

"Hm? Me?"

Holding onto Kurapika's flank, Leorio, whose breathing seemed weaker than the others, raised his head in confusion.

Although they hadn't exchanged much, Sora stopped running back and, without preamble, spoke to Leorio, who was suddenly bewildered by his own name.

"Kurapika isn't good with older people or bad people."

"Teeth?"

"!? Sora!!"

Whether abrupt, circuitous, or direct, it was almost as if he were saying "I don't like Leorio," and he made a face.

Kurapika was the only one who could guess what Sora wanted to say. Well, as expected, she spoke exactly as she pleased.

"The reason I met him is that he was about to be killed by that kind of thug, and before he met me, he seemed to have a lot of trouble with that kind of person. I went—"

"But I know this is my own prejudice; I am stubborn and hold onto my own opinions, yet I am not loyal to others. I am the type who, if I don't understand, just becomes even more stubborn..."

That said, it wasn't just Leorio; even Gon and Killua could imagine what Sora wanted to say.

Following a brother with an extremely troublesome personality, he would die of shame, but he truly cared for Kurapika more than anyone else.

Because he cared for him, he explained his easily misunderstood personality and nature, then said, "So please don't misunderstand me," or "I will forgive him for being a bit rude." Words I expected.

Kurapika must have anticipated that something like this would happen.

"Sora!"

"Thank you for being friends with such a troublesome child!"

Needless to say, Kurapika did not want Sora to interfere in his relationships.

In her view, there was no need to do such a thing anymore.

That is why Kurapika, who disliked making excuses, had no reason to go out of her way to tell her, only following up with "I was rude to you when we first met," and then smiling to thank you. However, when everyone stared wide-eyed at Sora's words, the tension after reuniting with Kurapika eased slightly, and they tilted their heads: "Hm?"

He himself was completely unaware of the surprise his remarks caused.

"... Hey, Kurapika. Are you really not blood-related to this guy?"

"Sora... are you and him really not siblings?"

A few seconds after Sora finished speaking, Leorio asked Kurapika, and Killua asked Sora.

Far from a sister, she was more like a mother; she was open to Kurapika's heart, and for all of Kurapika's troubles, she had the ability to accept them and laugh them off. She thought it would be impossible without her unreserved love, but Sora answered curiously.

"For example, if we were blood relatives, wouldn't I have only spent about a month with Kurapika three years ago?"

"You're lying, aren't you!?"

It wasn't just Killua and Leorio who asked; Gon, who for some reason had been staring at Sora, also suddenly shouted.

"What on earth is that, your tolerance or your sisterly power!? How many siblings do you have!?"

"I am the youngest of three brothers, but what is that!?"

"Seriously, where does your sisterly power come from?!"

Faced with Leorio's legitimate questions and teasing, Sora, who had become tense again, spoke honestly, and in the end, Leorio's deeper questioning only deepened the problem, providing an answer that was far from a solution.

That scene caused the examinees running around to fall into their own thoughts.

Everyone, please take the exam seriously.

About 6 hours after the first Hunter Exam began, only one person had dropped out just after they had passed through the Underground Tunnel, but as expected, the number of dropouts increased sharply from the 100th basement floor to the first floor.

Meanwhile, Leorio, who was about to become the first dropout of the Underground Tunnel, ignored his words, threw away his belongings, discarded his shirt—let alone his suit jacket—and said, "Even if I become a freak, I'm going to run!!" Then he continued to run with the height of a full runner.

To be honest, Kurapika was a bit startled by that look, but out of respect for his determination to keep running toward his goal, he took off the Kurta Clan clothing he had learned to wear, stuffed it into his bag, and said, "If you're going to pretend, now is the time."

"Leorio. Can I ask you one thing?"

"Hey, hey, you're wasting too much stamina! Stop talking nonsense!"

"Do you really want to become a Money Hunter?"

Leorio's words were too late, and Kurapika ignored them, asserting his own answer while asking the question.

"No, in just a few days, I've understood that much. Of course, your attitude is frivolous, and you are stupid."

"You really are the model of rudeness!"

Leorio shouted at the person leaving with the expression Sora used, but hearing Sora's words in the Underground Tunnel, he seemed provoked and replied, "Then you are an example of a fake villain."

His impression of Leorio was biased, and the defenseless him turned his back on the ship without hesitation; even at a position far from him, he had fainted and been thrown off the ship. I knew it from the moment I ran to help. The sailor.

Even in the test, I felt more frustrated than anyone because it had the meaning of "ranking important people and abandoning those of lower status."

Although he was not aware of the sailor's true identity, he was so earnest in his treatment and encouragement of the wounded that he earned a "pass."

He was very similar to Sora; although he was a good person, for some reason he was a bit awkward and unwilling to be seen that way.

That is why I was curious.

I was curious about Leorio's true purpose; although he valued others' lives more than his own, he was obsessed with money.

"... Cough, cough! You're an argumentative jerk."

However, Leorio, who was obedient but in a different direction from Kurapika, seemed not to want to say more and interrupted.

Yet Kurapika was not satisfied, and he spoke first of the softest part of his heart.

"... Scarlet eyes.

That is the reason the Kurta Clan became a target."

A unique trait of the Kurta Clan is that when their emotions become intense due to anger or excitement, their eyes turn red.

Because it changes with emotion, it returns to the usual reddish-brown after calming down, but if they die in the changed state, their eyes turn scarlet, and scarlet is considered one of the seven most beautiful colors in the world. However, this led to the massacre of the Kurta Tribe.

Of course, I don't think the eyeballs of the compatriots who were dug out are still in the hands of the Brigade. Just as Leorio said, they were sold to the black market, and he was fully aware that he was treated as a prank by heretics who treated "humans" like himself as "objects."

That is why Kurapika's goal is not to become a bounty hunter, but to become a Contract Hunter who hunts and pays tribute for wealthy escorts and the things they desire.

When I told him everything I could reveal—that my goal was to find and retrieve my companions' eyes from the Collector and bury them—Leorio paused for a moment.

"Sorry, I don't have a good enough reason to satisfy your motives. My purpose is money."

To this, Kurapika immediately responded, "Don't lie!"

If he answered his motive this way, it proved he did not believe that money could buy everything in this world.

This statement was the thought Kurapika hated most, but Leorio's eyes, looking straight up the stairs, unable to see the goal, were still the same as Sora's.

"Like her, she doesn't doubt that deep down there is something brighter, determined to defend a humanity that only hurts her through 'self-sacrifice,'" he sighed.

However, Leorio never backed down and retorted.

"Why!? It's the truth! If I had money, my friend wouldn't have died!!"

"!!"

Leorio made a clicking sound of "I failed" at his own words.

This dishonest little villain, with a direction different from his own, was very similar to Kurapika; he did not like making excuses.

When Kurapika asked, "Are you sick?", Leorio gave up without turning his head.

It was not an incurable disease. However, the treatment cost a lot of money.

Feeling desperate about a disease that could not be cured, Leorio had a dream.

To become a doctor and treat children suffering from the same disease as his friend. Unlike that doctor who wanted money, I decided to become a doctor who would say, "I don't need money."

"That's an interesting story! To become that kind of doctor, you need a lot of money I've never seen before!!"

That would be unimaginable.

That doctor who wanted money wasn't particularly greedy either. The treatment fee was just a necessary and natural consideration.

Whether it's a small child or if you grow up to be an adult, you can understand that.

Nevertheless, he did not give up.

Just as I did not bend my knees when I stopped for a moment in the Underground Tunnel.

"Got it! Money, money, money!! I want money!"

When Leorio said "I want money," Kurapika no longer felt uncomfortable.

He knew some precious things that money couldn't buy, so I couldn't help but feel happy that he wanted money, so that he wouldn't lose it.

I couldn't help but be glad that my friends and I were friends who shared the same heart as the protagonists in stories, which inspired our admiration for the outside world and the Hunter profession.

"…Sorry, Leorio."

"Exactly!"

I was embarrassed and apologized for despising and criticizing him, even though he made me think he had a motive I could be proud of, unlike myself, who regressed to the end.

Leorio had anticipated this, so Kurapika honestly recalled his words, but the next words inadvertently changed his expression.

"You are really argumentative and troublesome, please follow your sister's Miracle fool for a while."

Faced with Leorio's "Miracle fool," a terrible discomfort arose in his chest. That term was one I had come up with, a term I liked very much and adopted, but having it used by someone else was very unpleasant.

However, since he took the initiative, he couldn't possibly say, "Don't insult Sora."

I intended to cut it off.

"That's right. Not only are you so noisy that I can't read the atmosphere, but you also make me break down; I will assume that you and I are on good terms. Are you sure?"

"Leorio!"

He suddenly became emotional and shouted in a strong tone.

This was a fact, a statement affirming Kurapika's words, which Kurapika had no right to refute.

I knew it, but I couldn't stand it.

I couldn't bear being cursed at by others as if they only knew me.

I couldn't forgive him for insulting Kurapika; although Kurapika wasn't around, she had already been able to trust people other than herself.

"Look."

However, when Leorio turned back with an expression that seemed to say "I did it," the following words disappeared.

"Even if you just say what you said, you wouldn't get angry at what others say, would you?"

Kurapika could do nothing but stare at his face with an unexpected reaction and expression.

To this, Leorio smiled bitterly, as if saying, "I can't help it."

"Someone who reunites with you, smiles, and thanks you for having friends, who wouldn't call you a pet dog Hunter because of small money."

You don't care about your own pride, but she is a Miracle fool; I don't know if she is a man, I am angrier than you were before."

Needless to say, I know.

When it came to himself, he would say, "Getting angry is tiring and annoying," and usually laughed off what was said to him, but when it came to Kurapika, he was always preemptive.

That habit, he wouldn't try to interfere with Kurapika's decisions.

When I consulted with him, sometimes he would give me some Suggestion based on my wishes, but such cases were rare.

Because he knew how many miracles and sacrifices were made to stay alive, Kurapika did not want to dirty his hands for revenge. "No," Sora did not say.

It was easy to imagine she would be angry at Kurapika's habit of self-harm and self-deprecation, just like hurting Kurapika.

"…What are you trying to say?"

Kurapika didn't even need to ask for the answer to this question, but he couldn't accept Leorio's straightforward words and struggled stubbornly.

This was really just a bad way to buy time.

"Don't worry about others, you should do something for yourself, kid."

"Don't say your sister was taken away by Gon or Killua; the sulking brat only just realized it!"

After all, 90% of the time, as expected, even though he was younger than Sora and closer to me, I couldn't refute those words that made me realize I was still a child.

Except for the unexpected 10%.

"!? Who, when did you mope and spit that out!? Correct yourself!"

"When we started climbing the stairs, he ran happily and said 'I'm going to lose!' to the kids' race, and after that, his mood was really terrible!"

If you blush and object again, you will get an answer immediately.

"It must be your fault! Absolutely not!"

"Hmph! Don't compare yourself to a child!"

"It's true! Besides, I'm not a health-conscious person!"

In the end, the dropout opened his mouth wide and looked up at the two people, who were running up the stairs arguing as usual.

Leorio described himself as an ordinary person, but he didn't know that not just the dropout, but even ordinary students saw the physical strength of normal people running up the stairs while arguing, which had reached the level of a monster.

On the other side, the two children who were following behind the Examiner Satotz at the time—one child whose age, let alone gender, was unknown—were chatting even more than Leorio and Kurapika behind him. If one were to say, "Save energy? What's that?" while running...

"You arrived at the front line without even realizing it."

"Yes, the pace is slow."

"No, it's just you alone, you don't even have any sweat, are you a monster?"

At Killua's casual words, Gon tilted his head and took a look, appearing both respectful and in awe, while Sora behind him let out an annoyed retort.

"I don't need you to tell me! You don't even have any sweat!"

Killua responded with a hint of frustration and struck back with an aggressive counter, but from the perspective of Ritz, who was running in front, Sora, who had learned "Hatsu," was drenched in sweat behind him without even knowing about "Hatsu." Just as Sora said, he was already a monster.

Ritz also knew Sora and Killua, and because he was talented, there was no need to be discouraged, but he wanted to win and gain his sister's approval. Running as usual.

Of course, all three of them said they were treating the Examiner, and Gon looked at them with crystal-clear eyes.

"Killua and Sora are both amazing."

When Leorio was about to retire, Gon used a fishing rod to retrieve the bag he had left behind, but Sora was responsible for carrying it.

As soon as it was collected, he took the bag in his hand too naturally, and while saying "Thank you," he took it from Gon. The young man held it, and I was empty-handed."

Killua didn't like Sora, and Sora still treated his opponent like a child, but he didn't look down on him either; he was simply bearing the burden of yielding just because "I am an 'adult'."

Even Gon, who smiled and accepted being treated like a child and said "thank you," was very annoyed.

The reason for my annoyance was that although he accepted being treated like a child, for some reason, his reaction seemed much more mature than Killua's.

Not knowing Killua's inner thoughts, Gon smiled happily and said:

"Sora is kind. I can understand why you like Kurapika and Killua."

"Ah!?"

Killua blushed at the sudden assertion. Although he gave the exact same reaction as Kurapika in the Underground Tunnel, Killua expressed a denial that anyone could consider positive.

"What, you're talking nonsense! Who would fall for such a busy woman, who is always older than you, and is taking care of you all the time!!"

"Hey, Killua."

"Sure enough, I never said it, and I never thought you were an old hag!!"

For some reason, he suddenly over-interpreted the "older" part and complained, or rather, Killua rushed into the ignorant Sora.

However, how could this woman, who could come up with ideas and act immediately, be satisfied with this level of intrusion?

"Actually, you shouldn't underestimate an old hag either. My master is a bit of a sixty-year-old hag, but that old hag can actually run this far without even breaking a sweat, and can't be beaten by an adult with one punch. Shoot. You can Shoot it and kill it, you can turn into something like a gorilla."

Sora's description of "old hag" reminded Satotz of a Two-Star Hunter known as the "Mother of the Hunter Association," and Satotz burst into laughter.

Even without turning around, I could tell that Gon and Killua were desperately pulling at the most terrifying explanation, but I couldn't help but listen, thinking that this explanation wasn't wrong.

"... Isn't that just an old witch now, a monster?"

"... Sorry, Sora. I think so too."

"What a coincidence. I must be a monster too."

"You deny it!!"

"Don't deny it, Sora!"

Satotz couldn't help but laugh, as if they had just held a meeting.

When I re-read the original version, I was surprised to hear Killua say things like "because the pace is slow" in a tone unheard of today.

The feeling of incongruity was too great, so here I am correcting Killua's tone during character establishment.