Chapter 31: The Second Day of Every Day

(Kurapika and Leorio)

Leorio muttered to himself while putting his license plate back into his bag.

"We've reached a point that's fine, but in the end, there's no indication of where my target is."

"It's enough to just know who the opponent is. Besides, Leorio's target, Tonpa, has already been repelled, so the burden is relatively light.

If it were him, rather than risking his life to get the plate back, he would choose to pass the exam safely. Of course, we shouldn't let our guard down."

Kurapika answered Leorio's complaint calmly.

Leorio couldn't help but think that if he were to form an alliance, it was just to confirm the current situation, with no intention of comfort or follow-up; if only he could have a little more sympathy.

However, in reality, just as Kurapika said, the current situation is not bad, so I decided to think positively.

"That's right, there are five days left until the limit... Think about it, who is your target?"

Doubts and anxieties spoken inadvertently. For Leorio, this was everything.

However, Kurapika did not even respond to Leorio's words and fell silent.

"? Kurapika?"

Unlike not listening, the momentary silence in the tense atmosphere left Leorio puzzled.

Then, after a short pause, I answered.

"It's Sora."

"Sora?"

"Sora's target is me. We fought on the first day."

"Hey! Are you serious!?"

Kurapika spoke as calmly as usual; conversely, Leorio's confusion deepened.

It is not strange that Sora was assigned an exam number for Kurapika. It was a lottery, so it was just a matter of bad luck.

However, even Leorio, who didn't talk to her much, could see that Sora's concern for Kurapika was approaching the level of doting.

Therefore, just because Kurapika is the target, it is hard to believe that Sora is just targeting Kurapika.

Kurapika looked at Leorio's face and gave a bitter smile.

"Well, from the beginning, Sora didn't seem to care whether I was the target or not. It's like...

The reason I am able to continue the exam now is nothing more than Sora's goodwill."

Hearing this, Leorio realized that Kurapika's bitter smile was self-deprecating.

"... Really."

That is why I ended it with this.

I wanted to ask him more about what happened, but I knew it was just tasteless curiosity, so I never asked.

I didn't say anything to Kurapika's self-deprecating follow-up like "That's not true," nor did I apologize for making him talk, because I felt that would only satisfy Leorio.

Leorio felt that apologizing to someone who faces their own "weakness" and tries to accept and overcome it was nothing more than an insult, so he said nothing.

Kurapika realized Leorio's clumsy concern.

Leorio's clumsiness was because his concern was obvious, and his way of caring was appropriate, so while Kurapika was grateful for Leorio's answer, the young part of his heart had a terrible thought tucked away.

I didn't show my seriousness at all, or rather, I couldn't do anything to Sora who didn't want to fight as much as I did. I felt like I would eventually hate myself for my own weakness, so I wanted to be Together with someone.

I wanted to help someone among my comrades.

This was also part of the reason he proposed an alliance with Leorio, but in the end, he felt disgusted by being taken care of and helped mentally, so Kurapika sighed and asked Leorio.

"... Leorio. Do you remember the quiz before the exam?"

"The one?"

Hearing Kurapika's question, Leorio frowned in confusion.

"Is this the answer to 'silence'?"

"That's right.... Just like that quiz, no matter what you choose, you can't say it's the correct answer, you know you will definitely regret it, but if you have to choose, what would you think, which option would you choose?"

I tried to spit out the self-loathing and hesitation that had accumulated.

No matter how I think about it, I can't think of an answer like the one Gon said in that quiz.

I don't like asking others, because it seems like I didn't choose for myself, pushing the responsibility onto the person I asked, but I was pushed this far by Sora, and I was still lost in a dead end where I couldn't find an answer. I realized I was there, so I really wanted a hint to get out of that deadlock.

Kurapika spat it out unconsciously because he felt he could give him a little hint.

The old woman's quiz. Although it was a hypothetical story, Leorio was the first person to get angry when told to rank and discard the lower rankings of people important to him, thinking he could give him a way out of the deadlock. There was a selfish expectation.

"... That's right. After all, I can only choose the option that seems to have the least regret, right?"

"... Really."

I know I'm selfish because I didn't say anything specific, and I know this is the only answer Leorio could give.

Kurapika reproached himself, "Well, I don't even know which 'least regretful choice' is the worst way to shirk responsibility," but Leorio did not end the story with that.

"Also, I personally think that no matter what option you choose, if you haven't determined your final goal, you will regret it, and you will end up with nothing."

"Final goal?"

When Kurapika asked Leorio about worrying about the parrot's back, Leorio put his hand on his chin, not knowing how to explain it, and still chose his words clumsily as always.

"Ah, how should I put it... My final goal is to become a doctor who can say I don't need money."

This is the order and choice I made just now, because having a License is better than becoming a doctor first, because there are various benefits such as tuition fees.

However, my final goal is to become a doctor. I am not a Hunter. That is why I will absolutely not choose an option that passes by killing my friends and those who help me. Because I don't think someone who does that is qualified to be a doctor."

"!"

Kurapika remembered Leorio's words.

The battle with the prisoners in the third exam. The last prisoner to face Killua.

The worst mass murderer in the history of Zaban City crime, the demolition shop Basho and Jones were going to fight, and if he didn't win, they would be done with the exam. He should have stopped, but he stopped.

If you want to pass, even if you think the chances are slim, you would force Killua to fight. Even if Killua loses, it is a test; the format is a competition, and they themselves are in no danger of being killed, so there should be plenty.

Despite this, Leorio immediately advised him not to fight.

"Even if I think it would be terrible if someone were not like the majority vote at the end, I will not give in. When it comes to exams, the people around me are my opponents, so I usually kick them in the Hunter Exam or medical school exams. Although that is also true, it is still better to pass quickly.

However, I absolutely do not want to pass the entrance exam by imitating a child much younger than me. If I overdo this kind of shit, I don't know if I should show my face, become a doctor, and report to my friend's grave."

Leorio's answer spilled out naturally.

"... Oh. Right... right."

In the end, it was just an obvious answer, the same as Leorio's initial answer.

However, because my eyes were always focused on the options in front of me, I never forgot, let alone an important premise.

The answer I just gave yesterday.

I am so happy that my happiness will be destroyed, that it will be lost, that it will be taken away from me, to the point that I cried because I was afraid and I did not want to let go.

Kurapika remembered his "ultimate goal."

... Sure enough, Kurapika had no answer.

However, when I chose something, I understood what I should least forget.

Kurapika looked up at the sky and recalled, even though the sunlight shining through the woods made his eyes a little dizzy.

Remember the person who laughed like this sky, and when you face a choice, you will know what to remember, what to think, and what to choose.

The choice I regret the least. No matter how many times I was discouraged and hurt, I stood up, understanding that the path and choice I should take to reach my ultimate goal was the path that made her smile rather than cry.

Finally, my intentions, purposes, and wishes all gathered together.

"... Leorio, thank you."

Hearing Kurapika's gratitude, Leorio smiled slightly and spat out a frivolous remark, "If you want to thank me, don't say it, but pay me back with a Plate from a woman named Ponzu."

However, Kurapika had long understood that if he ended it with just the words "I don't care," it was because she understood that Kurapika cared about it more.

"Yes.

Because of this, Kurapika responded softly and walked forward.

First of all, the option I chose was to cooperate with Leorio and ensure that I pass the Hunter Exam, this exam and the next.

Sora in Kurapika's heart smiled at this choice.

(Killua)

Holding a Skateboard in one hand and a Plate stuck to his chest, Killua suddenly stopped in the sea of trees and let out a sigh.

"Huhu... I've been following you since the fourth exam, but it's obvious."

In boredom and disgust, with a glimmer of hope that he could divert his attention slightly, he turned around and invited him to follow him.

"Come out, let's play."

However, the pursuer did not appear.

"This is a waste of time."

Ignoring his invitation, Killua, impatient like a child, was somewhat annoyed and continued to speak, but no one came out.

Frustrated by this, Killua said, "If you don't come, we'll leave from here," and then walked straight toward the pursuer, Newt.

Even just now, there was quite a bit of trouble in the third exam, and it was also my last time being steady. As a result, Killua fell into the disadvantageous position of being the last to enter the island, and in the end, Killua didn't even know who his target was.

The accumulated pressure was like an amateur with long hair, and Killua's small capacity for patience had reached its limit.

I wanted to leave it alone because it would only be 1 point anyway, but since I have been irritating myself so far, it wouldn't be bad if I could relieve some pressure. It was taken away.

However, the one summoned was not Killua.

"Hey, Newt!"

The person following Killua was called out, and the person called also replied: "Brother!"

They were easy to distinguish because their physiques were different, but they were brothers with similar facial features.

One of the slender men, different from the person following Killua, twisted his face in an annoying manner and said to his brother.

"My target was found dead.

I'm going to hunt three people, so you are my follower..."

That said, even those who were slender, had good physiques, and faces slightly thicker than the other two, would notice Killua's presence.

Then, a few seconds later, he hit his brother at the same time.

"You idiot! You can't even fight if you're not with us because you're scared!!"

Apparently, my brother thought long ago that he was stealing Killua's Plate.

"No, you're wrong, little Amogo! It's a pity to hurt a child, right? I thought I would steal it even if it was sleeping."

After being hit by his two brothers, the younger brother made an excuse, but after being hit almost again, he finally turned to Killua.

Killua looked at it with pale eyes.

It was already too stupid, and the frustration had drifted somewhere, but Newt didn't notice at all, looking down at Killua and saying.

"Hey, Boss. Can you give me a Plate? Give it to me quietly, and I won't do anything."

"Idiot."

The moment Killua spoke his frank impression instead of a Curse, his stomach was kicked, and Killua was kicked cleanly behind him with his hands in his pockets.

More accurately, to limit his own damage, I jumped back. I could have stepped on my legs and strengthened my abdominal muscles, and conversely, I could have caused damage to the opponent's leg that kicked me, but that would have hurt myself, so I stopped.

"Ah. It's no big deal."

Killua was someone who cut corners with all his might, not to mention the brothers in the gallery; even the person who kicked it didn't notice that the kick didn't feel like that. I stood up abruptly, and when I approached, I had already grabbed the Plate's number.

"Number 198, huh?"

After reading it out, Newt finally checked his pants pocket.

Then he realized this was absolutely his Plate, and his complexion turned pale.

Just as his alcohol tolerance finally eased a bit due to this reaction, Killua realized something and revealed a very happy, childish smile.

"The number most different from the one I want is, perhaps number 199 is one of those two?"

And the other party would eventually understand.

"Umori, formation, formation. Seriously. This guy is not a free child."

But it came too late, and too little.

I am sure this is not a free child. However, the three of them did not understand that Killua was far beyond their imagination.

The three of them stood to Killua's left, right, and front respectively, to see what the other would do.

Literally, the three of them couldn't help but stare at him blankly for a few seconds as he ran vertically toward the ground with his hands in his pockets as usual.

When we realized the surprise attack from above, it was already too late.

Behind Amori, the slender youth who was likely the eldest brother, Killua descended silently, lightly kicked the back of Amori's knees, bent them, and finally pulled his hands out of his pockets.

Just like the prisoner named Jones in the third exam, he Transmuted his hands, Fingers, and claws, and then stabbed these claws into Amori's neck.

"……Don't move. My Fingers are sharper than knives."

I thought for a while.

It's troublesome, so I intend to cut off this neck as it is.

Due to the nature of this test, even if a Plate is stolen, there is a chance to retrieve it, so I knew it would be easier to avoid trouble by killing it.

However, Killua just thought about it and gave up.

I stopped because I remembered.

"Killua. Don't make excuses that it's the same. Don't waste your sins and carry the heavy burden of punishment."

That sentence spoken in the middle of the night on the airship overlapped with the face we saw again on the first floor of Trick Tower.

"I cannot tell you not to kill. My hands are already dirty, and I don't think everyone's life is equally precious. I believe some people can only contribute to society through death."

Even if it wasn't Gon, I knew. In his case, he must have truly smelled the "scent," but Killua could distinguish it from the air.

The bloody smell from Sora, and the signs of "death" itself.

Killua could not hide the fact that she had reached this point by killing.

"But no matter what you do, you cannot commit 'murder.' Every time you kill a person, you always feel guilty, no matter how small or superficial. That sense of guilt will deprive you of your choices for happiness and reduce them."

These words seemed to refer to her, not Killua.

Although Kurapika, Gon, and Leorio certainly knew they were murderers and accepted this fact, they did not want Killua to be stained with blood on her own hands. The thought of being rejected surfaced in her mind.

"If you understand what you are doing at the cost of paying for it, then I have no right to interfere.

But... just watching them go nowhere... I can't do it."

When I heard she killed Jones, she said nothing. Just as Sora said on that airship, Killua chose the option of "either be rejected or be challenged" to challenge Jones, and did not interfere with killing him.

So Killua thought about it and chose.

What to gain by killing the person in front, and what trouble might have to be endured by not killing.

Just weigh it and choose.

I said nothing.

However, I was still smiling, as if sadly regretting something.

So I had no choice.

This is the only reason I didn't kill him.

After being stabbed by claws sharper than blades, Amori, who finally recognized that Killua was "not a free child" and "not their opponent," handed over the Plate, but looking at the number, Killua made a face again.

"Oh, is this number 197?

Hey, are you number 199?"

Lamenting his own intuition and bad luck, he asked Umori, the tallest person on the left.

"……Oh."

If they lied, Killua would point his evil claws at them without hesitation, and they probably understood that there was no guarantee they would have it easy this time.

When Umori answered honestly, Killua reached out, transcendentally extending cat ears and a tail, while also being very bold.

"Come here."

Of course, Umori had no choice.

"Thank you."

After receiving the 199th Plate thrown to me, I rescued Amori, who was in a hostage state.

After thinking about how to deal with the remaining two Plates, Killua did so.

"Well, what I don't need is..."

He threw a Plate with a fastball without hesitation.

"This time it's over there!"

I looked at the three stunned people and threw the other three in completely different directions.

The act was just to relieve stress, and the element of Hatsu took up a large part, but there was another intention.

I don't think this is a display of my ability, but it is to prevent them from getting the Plates back and being unnecessarily Chased.

Putting the target's bugs aside, thinking that the other two would rather find the thrown Plates than turn Killua into an enemy, he threw it away, and Killua provoked: "There are five days left, try your best to find it." With only one line left, the presence and appearance disappeared into the bushes just like that.

Then, I thought while saying, "I still have five days, what should I do now?"

Being Chased by the weak Small Fish was annoying, but Killua, who didn't want to wander around the island doing nothing, stopped after keeping a distance and looked up at the sky casually.

The azure sky reminded me of someone with the same name and color.

Before the exam, I asked him if he wanted to work with him, but I felt a bit annoyed when I remembered him saying "I have things to do."

He showed me the Number 404 card, then said: "He seems to be hanging his head because he's a bit worried, so let me lift his chin and pat him on the back to let him go."

Judging by the order in which she entered the island, she probably found an opponent on the very first day.

And Killua thought, if he had a whole day, he would have finished as much as that "injection" did. Or more accurately, I thought everything was over.

"... Since you're talking about him, I guess you're going to hunt down the three people other than the target no matter what... I can't do that."

Killua started walking while making excuses for himself.

I started walking toward the person I wanted to get close to.

(Gon, Hisoka, and Illumi)

"Sorry, I accidentally let him escape."

Holding my breath, I tried to Eliminate my presence as much as possible, but when I thought about how a monotone reading is exactly that kind of speaking style, I couldn't help but feel out of place.

The man spoke very calmly, and I wondered if Lobo could speak in a more human tone.

Gon was familiar with this person.

From the beginning of the exam, I knew of its existence. He didn't do anything in particular; just his appearance was too conspicuous. The man with the mohawk who pierced him with a Needle, his face and upper body, although pierced, he didn't even look at the man's corpse and conversed with Hisoka.

"All lies.

After all, you shouted 'my last wish as I'm on the verge of death,' right? Don't show mercy to an enemy you don't care about."

"Because I felt sorry for him. He was going to die for real anyway."

It looked like he had a friendship with Hisoka; there was no fighting spirit at all.

Gon was disappointed that his only chance of winning, "the moment Hisoka attacks," didn't happen, but at the same time, he was actually relieved.

It was just a premonition, but Gon felt the same "throb" toward this needle-man as he did toward Hisoka.

However, for some reason, I wasn't "excited" by him at all.

Compared to Hisoka, he was closer to the prisoner Jones whom Killua faced in the Third Exam. Unlike Hisoka, he would never choose any means to achieve his goals, perhaps because he understood that he was a truly Lobo-like existence.

"This is also suspecting you didn't apologize to me, you're just playing 8, aren't you? Sora ran away again, how frustrating."

Gon strongly suspected that this needle-man was not human but a Lobo, and Hisoka said the line with a smile, not expecting to be startled by the person inside.

I was surprised, but when Hisoka told me, the needle-maker immediately shouted: "Don't say that woman's name!" That's it!

After scolding him, the needle-maker asked Hisoka seriously again.

This didn't change the fact that it was a sticky reading, but it wasn't Gon's imagination; he started to see more humanity and emotion than at the beginning.

"If you fight so flashily, even if you aren't there, you'll notice it without going in circles. But it ended too quickly, it's a pity we didn't get Together."

"If Hisoka breaks in, I estimate I'll cooperate with him to kill you then."

To Hisoka, who spoke seriously and regretfully, the needle-man responded with a line that didn't suit a friend at all. In fact, he wasn't my friend, so this answer was appropriate.

"Killing him is fine too, I'll give you this one, can you not interfere in my business? I mean, if you don't want me to steal your prey, hurry up and kill him."

Saying this, the needle-maker threw the Number 80 license plate to Hisoka.

"Oh?

".............. Why? I don't care."

Hearing the man's answer, Hisoka paused slightly and let out a very interesting laugh.

Seeing Hisoka's reaction, Gon tilted his head, and the man asked with a hint of displeasure in his speechless tone.

"Hisoka. Have you been misunderstanding for a long time?"

"Oh, what are you talking about?"

Illumi and Hisoka were talking about the current Hisoka.

"Well, it seems you are creating a very unpleasant misunderstanding, but actually it is Hisoka's misunderstanding. Or rather, it is an illusion.

I hate that woman.

Laughing so hard and acting like a clown, that part didn't show my true nature at all. When I thought I was just like a clown, that was a real idiot. And when it comes to other things, his intuition is the worst. But even if you hear my voice, I really hate that you didn't notice anything!!"

"... Well, how should I put it... thanks for the meal."

Hearing the reason why this man hated Sora, Hisoka smiled bitterly, which was unusual, and Gon remembered what happened a few days ago.

In the Third Exam, in the room where Leorio spent 50 hours losing chips, he asked without thinking: "Do you want to marry Sora?" I remember Killua and Kurapika insisting that "This isn't the kind of feeling I have for Sora."

I could understand why the needle-man was angry and hated Sora just now, but at the same time, even if he hated him, he knew Sora very well and understood him well. Therefore, Gon could see that the needle-man and the two people who kept emphasizing their understanding and love for Sora belonged to the same category.

"Hisoka, are you listening to people?"

"I have that feeling because I've heard of it."

He didn't like Hisoka's reaction; the man's displeased, expressionless face twisted slightly, and he pulled out a Needle stuck in his face.

No matter how you looked at it, a needle long enough to reach the brain was pulled out.

And once the needle was pulled out, a change occurred.

From the end where the needle was pulled out, the man's face made a sound and Transmutation occurred.

At first, regardless of the sound, the Transmutation of the face itself was insignificant, but when all the needles were pulled from the face, the face squirmed like an amoeba, the bones changed, and the hair grew in color. Gon inexplicably held back the scream that was about to rise.

Fortunately, the change ended in less than a minute.

"Well, no matter how many times I see it, I still find it funny."

"It's quite hard for the person doing it. Ah, refreshing."

Pulling all the needles from his face, the extremely eerie Transmutation subsided. It could be said that the shape itself was quite regular, but it was an inorganic face that could not be convinced by the tone of a single thought.

Even if it wasn't Gon, if someone said that wasn't his true face but a mask, Hisoka's expressionless face made most people convinced, and they couldn't believe it at all. Staring at me again.

"Even so, you were disguised this time, right? If it's so far from your true face, it wouldn't be surprising if Sora didn't notice, right?"

"Eh? That woman, you noticed it at a glance when you were hostile at work, didn't you?"

To Hisoka, who was still making fun of Sora, the man's tone once again revealed a hint of displeasure.

Of course, Hisoka was unmoved by the frustration and killing intent that made him want to flee from Gon, but perhaps because he was worried about something else, he gently opened his eyes and continued.

"... Come to think of it, you said before that your disguise was seen through at first glance, but was that when you were infiltrating the target's residence or when you were working?"

"? Yes, but what is that?"

"... I don't know how you saw through the disguise at the time, but... Sora, I know your face is not your real face, but perhaps you just haven't noticed your true identity?

Or rather, Sora, do you not know that you are skilled at using a Needle to reshape your face?"

When the man answered the question Hisoka had asked him to confirm, it was another word-by-word reading, and Hisoka stated his guess with some surprise.

"... Teeth?"

Aside from annoyance, the man showed emotion for the first time.

Hisoka's already wide eyes widened further, and with a hint of embarrassment, Hisoka began to explain why he had made such a guess.

"Because of your profession, rather than anything that doesn't look like what you are doing now, the skill that allows you to disguise yourself as a specific person would be more useful, wouldn't it?

If you don't use a Needle for disguise, even if you don't think the Needle is unnecessary, on the contrary, you wouldn't think you are emphasizing it to the point that you don't realize it. If you only treat the Needle as a weapon, then stabbing your own body makes no sense, so you would only treat it as a weapon."

"Hm? So... hm?"

Hearing Hisoka's words, he raised his voice in astonishment again, trying to answer, but perhaps having thought of something, he placed his hand on his chin, tilted his head, and then made a strange sound.

It was unknown if it existed in this world just like that, with only the upper body stuck in the "Thinker" pose for a few seconds.

"... Think about it, I have never stuck a Needle in my body, let alone my face, in front of him."

"That's right."

Facing the man's muttering, Hisoka's voice was a bit weak; this was not Gon's fault.

"The reason you didn't notice my voice, isn't it because you have been quietly wanting to kill me?" It also seemed to be a character star.

"... Actually, letting Sora take care of you is also quite unreasonable, isn't it?"

Just as Hisoka opened his mouth to speak with an annoyed expression, the man suddenly turned his gaze, which had been avoided, toward his own head, and said with an inorganic, expressionless look similar to a Noh mask.

"It makes no sense that I hated him from the beginning, so it doesn't matter anymore."

"... I am a lot, but you are also good, aren't you?"

Just when I thought he was saying provocative words, the man ignored Hisoka's impression, squatted down on the spot, and suddenly started digging a hole.

Gon could not understand his sudden move, but in Hisoka's eyes, this was normal driving, so he watched the man's movements with a look of slight surprise and admiration, and asked, "Aren't you targeting Sora? Is it gone?"

"Yeah. There are many places to escape here, and for the student exam alone, relying on human wave tactics is not enough. Anyway, for this kind of exam, that woman's vigilance is the highest, I have already reached the deadline to sleep until

As he spoke, the man dug a deep pit, enough for someone not tall like himself to be completely buried inside.

"Well, do your best. Good night."

Hisoka looked down at his friend (?) and muttered to himself, as he skillfully covered his friend (?) with dirt and completely hid him after leaving, because the synthesized voice was a better level of sticky reading.

"... Are you being honest, or are you too slow to talk about Sora?"

Having said so much, the man... toyed with the number 80 license plate given to me by Illumi, and I gave a wry smile.

Gon had the same thought as Hisoka, not knowing if he should tell Sora what he had just seen.

If I were to say it, I would worry about how far I should go, but for now, I will reach a conclusion to organize the information I have obtained.

(... For the time being, is it okay that the disguiser likes Sora?)

When Gon figured out the reason Sora did not notice him, and felt that his bloodlust and tone of reading had eased slightly, he could not find any other answer.

(Sky)

"...????"

Wow, why did the license plate fall from the sky? I'm lucky, but..."

Sora gains the second point.