Chapter 45: Like a Meteor

《Apologizing to Killua》

After entering the conference room where the successful applicants were to have their class, Gon spoke to Illumi first.

However, the other party did not even spare Gon a glance, asking back in a monotone voice that sounded like a synthetic recording.

"Sorry...? For what?"

Neither his words nor his expression displayed the kind of humanity I had heard about from Satotz.

If not for having glimpsed Hisoka's conversation during the fourth exam, Gon would have seemed somewhat sad and pitiful; asking this person, who was so ignorant that Ritz's story might well be a lie.

"Don't you know?"

"No."

Gon asked as if insisting on something, but Illumi did not waver.

Gon made a clear declaration to Illumi.

"You don't deserve to be a brother."

"? Does being a brother require qualifications?"

Gon's words did not hurt Illumi. I don't understand what you are talking about.

Although he understood that Killua was hurt, he did not feel sad for hurting him, and even said that he could not change the fact that he was his brother.

"!?!"

The students were astonished.

Gon suddenly grabbed Illumi's right arm—which was over 180 centimeters tall—with one hand, and lifted it up with the momentum of throwing him away.

Of course, it was impossible for Illumi to be thrown away unceremoniously; she landed as if nothing had happened—it was a Miracle that he could even get a grip on her.

Illumi's face remained as it always was, the muscles in her face dead, but only her eyes spoke skillfully, "I can't believe it."

Gon had done something that could be called a considerable achievement, but he himself was not interested in such things.

However, he suppressed the urge to hit him at any moment and told Illumi what he had to say.

"You don't need qualifications to be friends!"

I don't want Illumi to understand. But I cannot let myself remain ignorant.

If Killua remains Illumi's younger brother no matter how much Illumi hurts him, then no matter how he betrays him, he declares himself to be Killua's friend.

Gon did not fall in love with Killua because he thought he would not betray him.

I just like being Together with him, so I just believe in him and fell in love with him.

That is why, after his declaration, Gon decided to make Illumi apologize to Killua.

It was less about that specific incident and more about something he had to do, something he wanted to do, so Gon squeezed Illumi's arm to vent the anger he could not control. He said, turning away while still holding his arm.

"Go to Killua.

You don't have to apologize anymore. Just guide me."

"And then what?"

Although her arm was broken by his grip, Illumi's expression remained unmoved as she asked him coldly, and Gon immediately answered with a look of "it's decided."

《Bring Killua Back》

"Gon, stop."

However, Gon's opinion was not stopped by Illumi, but by an unexpected source.

Illumi's poker face twisted slightly at that voice, but she pretended not to hear it and ignored it.

Gon, who had been shouting his own name, was so angry he was on the verge of exploding, and was somewhat dumbfounded.

"……Sora?"

Perhaps because he hadn't changed his clothes, Sora was wearing a rather large shirt with very special patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs—likely Kurapika's—and he said to Gon with his blue eyes.

"No need. Say no more."

Hearing this, Gon showed a sad expression, as if saying, "Why are you stopping me? Why are you saying that?", and Sora continued expressionlessly.

"Gon, Killua left here of his own volition. He gave up his Hunter qualification and went home. He was not kidnapped, so don't talk about bringing him back."

"! That wasn't my intention! It's as if Killua is being under Manipulation!! This is the same as kidnapping!!"

"He doesn't mind killing as much as you imagine."

Gon opposed Illumi's defense, but Sora calmly responded to Gon's objection with ridiculous words.

Just as Gon and the other students were left speechless, Sora said to Gon calmly.

"Unlike Hisoka, Killua has no hobby for slaughter. His morals and ethics are extremely weak because of the Zoldyck family's special environment. Of course, it is wrong to blame him; a child is born and cannot choose their family or parents."

It's not so much that I don't dislike it, but rather an environment where one cannot even conceive of the thought of disliking it; it is worthy of sympathy, but feeling more than sympathy is going too far."

"Gon. She wants to be friends with you, and she truly doesn't want to be an Assassin anymore. But it is also possible that what you chose is just a temporary feeling, because the choices you didn't have before are new."

"At the very least, he likes his home and family more than you imagine. He respects and admires his father, and loves his younger brother. So, after careful consideration, it is no surprise that he would want to inherit the house."

"What you say and what you want to do are in the opposite vector to Illumi, and in the end, you are imposing your own hopes on Killua."

"I know you are truly thinking of Killua, and I know what you are saying and trying to do something for Killua's happiness, but do not talk about your anger using Killua as an excuse."

"Killua decided her own happiness and future. If anyone tries to destroy one of those paths, I will not allow it."

Gon wanted to say something to Sora's words, but because the narrative was too slow, he could have placed his words anywhere he wanted, but in the end, he couldn't say anything, and he gradually lowered his tense gaze and looked down.

Until Sora told him, he had thought Killua was forced to kill by Illumi and the other family members, but when he recalled that battle with Jones at Trick Tower, he had killed his opponent without hesitation, innocently and guiltlessly.

When he squeezed the heart he had dug out, there was even a faint smile on his face.

I have never actively gone to kill someone like Hisoka. Digging it out was no different from the games I played with Netero.

If you succeed, you are happy; if you fail, you feel bored. I don't do it actively myself, but for work, exams, or if someone invites me, I think it's just an acknowledgment that I can do it easily and without worry.

He might not really want to give up his status as an Assassin out of guilt; he was just attracted by the fresh things he had never seen before.

There is no doubt that his wishes and dreams are sincere, but there is no guarantee they will last a lifetime.

Most importantly, if Killua does not truly hate his family as Sora says, then what Gon said and attempted to do was merely a condescending nuisance, far from unnecessary help.

No matter how many fights we have, even if he doesn't want to be there right now, if there is a place for him to return to, kidnapping is what Gon wants to do.

Just as Sora said, neither his thoughts nor what he wants to do are Killua's will. Imposing his own desires as indulgence "for Killua's sake," Gon faces what Illumi has done and what he himself has done. I turn to Sora and apologize.

"……Sorry, Sora. I was wrong. I have no right to be angry."

Gon made up his mind to charge forward without braking, but he is fundamentally honest, so once he is convinced, he is lucky, and the steering wheel is easy to operate. I stroke my chest.

However, Sora's quality does not stop there.

"No, being angry is a normal right. What I stopped was just stopping making choices for Killua, not using Killua as an excuse; if you are angry at Illumi, that is a fight. I won't stop pushing, it's up to you to decide.

Support more. It's started! Bokore, that noh mask, as you like!! Wow!?"

"Eh!?"

There is no help for it; Illumi had no intention at all of stopping the explosive battle between Gon and Illumi. Sora holds the Needle, as if saying she is blind is a lie; Gon does not know whether he should be surprised by Sora's remarks or Illumi's actions.

"What are you doing!? Where did you make the deal that if Killua comes back quietly you won't kill him!?"

"If you were to die just like that, you would have already died ten thousand times."

"Sora. Sit down. Shut up. As expected, you are completely wrong right now."

Sora throws the Needle back in protest, but Illumi still does not look at her, yet she immediately responds in an extremely annoyed voice, unlike when she speaks to Gon. I press down on his head, forcing him to sit.

Gon is certainly thoroughly detoxified; he apologizes to Illumi, and although Illumi is bewildered, he still harbors resentment and does not want to apologize.

"……Uh, how should I put it, sorry for various things."

For the violence triggered by shirking responsibility for his own one-sided selfishness and anger, although Gon does not need to apologize, it can be considered an apology for being too stupid to understand Sora's mood, and he sits down without hesitation.

Gon is not angry because he had already anticipated that kind of reaction.

"But I won't change what I'm doing. I will never say I will bring Killua back, but I will go to see Killua.

Then he directly asks Killua what he wants to do.

If Killua wants to stay at home, doesn't want to quit being an Assassin, and wants to take over the house, then I won't say anything, but I want to leave home, stop being an Assassin, and want to become a Hunter. That is to say, no matter who I oppose, I will bring Killua out.

Also, no matter what Killua's answer is, I am Killua's friend. So, as long as Killua doesn't hate me, unless he doesn't want me to come to Killua's house, I will visit him again and again. It's normal to go to a friend's house to play."

To Gon's statement, Illumi remains silent, while Sora does not speak, only smiles.

The moment I smile and give Gon a thumbs up, I decide that no one will ever see the Needle flying again.

＊＊＊

"Sora. Do you know where Killua went?"

"I feel like it's a normal home everywhere? On Kukuroo Mountain in a country called the Republic of Padokea."

Just after class, Gon asks Sora where Killua is going, and Sora answers as usual.

"Does it take three days by airship from here?

Putting Kukuroo Mountain aside for now, this country itself is a country where even ordinary people can enter normally, and the public security situation is also good, so we can leave today. What will you do?"

Of course, Gon immediately answers Sora's question, "Let's go now!"

Not only Sora, but Kurapika and Leorio are also amused by this answer, and immediately head to the Computer room to complete the procedures for the airship.

Since it is decided that not only Gon and Sora, but Kurapika and Leorio will naturally go to the Zoldyck house, there is no one here being rude.

Instead, Gon talks to Sora on the way to the Computer room.

"……Hey, Sora."

"Hm? What's wrong?"

Sora, who has been walking steadily, making him doubt whether she is really blind, and feeling that Kurapika is more dangerous when taking care of Sora, looks back.

Gon expresses his feelings honestly, although his blue eyes are purer and more Transparent than usual, seeming to see through everything, he is somewhat uncomfortable.

"……I was scolded by Illumi, but I know what Sora said is right, but…… even so, I really don't want Killua to kill people."

Knowing that Killua's family are Assassins and that Killua has already killed an incredible number of people, Gon does not hesitate.

This is a rather crazy way of thinking, but for Gon, "Assassin" or "Assassin" is not a job he dislikes very much.

Unlike the admiration for outlaws peculiar to adolescence, it is unclear whether "this is a job that can only be established because someone requests a murder, but the argument that it is strange to blame it is correct or an Extreme argument" is only for those who accept requests and execute them. As for his way of thinking, Gon basically follows his own pace like Sora, not caring about the good or bad of others, to the extent that if Illumi's methods were not about Killua, the end of his thinking would be "your professionalism is amazing."

Although he doesn't care, Gon's roots are firmly planted in the direction of "kindness," he sympathizes with those he loves as if they were extensions of himself, rather than the kind of self-discipline of "as long as I am kind, I am fine." Because he is a person who sorrows and laughs, he cannot help but hope he is selfish.

"I want Killua to do what he wants to do, to always be happy, laughing, and joyful. If I am an Obstacle, if he doesn't need me, then it can't be helped, so it's a bit lonely, but it's fine.

……But, I think Killua's "want to do" or "happiness" should never be something that makes people unhappy, like murder. This is just my selfish value system…… I can't explain why killing is wrong, but…… still, I……"

While speaking, Sora rests her hand wrapped in bandages on Gon's head, rubbing his stiff hair as if to ruffle it.

Gon tries to shape something he cannot explain or express in words.

"Gon, I told you, don't impose your selfishness on Killua's happiness and future, but you cannot sacrifice your own happiness and future for Killua.

You can say that there is no benefit in imposing your wishes on others, but there is no reason to be blamed for conveying your wishes.

Of course, this may lead to arguments. But fighting is a necessary process for people to become more connected to each other. Recognizing that we are complete strangers who have walked completely different lives, we explore what we can Compromise on, what we want to Compromise on, and what we cannot Compromise on, and we will engage in it and live like that.

……If you can't accept the parts that cannot be compromised, then it can't be helped. But this is not a reason to lament.

There is someone I really want to understand deeply, and I like that person very much, which means there is something that makes me like that person very much. As long as you possess it, one day it will turn into a Treasure called a memory that is good enough."

Sora calmly affirms Gon's anxiety, but still hopes and wishes not to give up.

Not a complete approval. In the end, Gon's wish is based on self-righteous selfishness.

He does not boast about his selfishness, and although he says sternly that even the destruction Gon fears is possible, his words are of endless kindness.

Even the ending where we are eventually hurt and cannot understand each other, because even that is considered "worth it."

"……Also, Gon."

Finally, as usual, she answers in a humorous way.

"If you think, 'If I stop being friends, Killua will be alone,' and you are unwilling to express your wishes and selfishness, then this kind of thinking is an insult.

That child is pampered by his family and also pampered by his servants. Most importantly, I still love that boy."

"So, you two, feel free to argue, just keep some distance."

Upon hearing Sora's reply, Gon's eyes widened slightly, then he laughed in a somewhat amused way: "It's true, I need to apologize to Killua!"

There was no longer any shadow of anxiety like, "Can I really understand Killua?"

All he possessed was the childlike joy of going to a friend's house for the first time.

Kurapika and Leorio also smiled slightly, as if relieved by the change in appearance, and then they started walking again, beginning to talk nonchalantly.

"Even so... even if other family members take good care of Killua, if my brother were like that, I would also worry about all sorts of things."

"Yeah, I really mean that. That brother, I truly wish I could leave my brother."

Leorio's words were followed by Sora's affirmative words, but Leorio, and of course Gon and Kurapika, looked at Sora with an "Eh?" expression.

The blind Sora naturally did not notice that expression, but he noticed that the three were silently looking at him, and asked back: "What?"

"... Is he a broken person?"

"What else do you see?"

When Leorio asked as a representative, Sora still did not understand the point of the question and asked back.

"... In my view, he doesn't acknowledge Killua's personality and individuality, and it just looks like he wants to turn him into a Puppet?"

Kurapika endured a headache, placed his Finger on his brow, and when he spoke of Illumi's image from his own perspective, Sora finally understood the difference in perception between himself and the three, and he held one hand.

"Ah. What I want to do is what my brother wants to do."

"... His love is already clearly twisted, but the feeling he gives Killua is definitely 'love'. That is the only thing I trust."

Kurapika frowned slightly at Sora's words, especially at his defense of Illumi in the latter half, and asked: "Why?"

Gon gave a bitter smile at the obviously unhappy Kurapika, and Leorio was also surprised, but since their questions were the same, they waited for Sora's answer.

Just as Killua said, they couldn't think of any reason to trust and defend a man who said "Hello, go die" when they first met, even if it was limited to "just that."

However, Sora asked again with a surprised look: "Eh? You don't understand?"

"... Sora. Please, it's time for you to realize that your thoughts and views are in the minority. This is the fault of being an only child."

After saying this, the three looked at each other. Those faces looking at each other said too much, and nothing was said.

"Hm? Seriously?"

This is what you need to know. Sure enough, just as Sora said, the three were all only children without siblings, and they completely forgot to tell Sora about this.

Sora ignored the surprise of the three and answered without affectation.

"Illumi dotes on Killua very much; otherwise, he wouldn't have brought Killua home in the first place.

Because he is the 'most important eldest son in the family,' and Killua is the 'heir one year younger.'"

""One...""

"?"

Hearing Sora's words, Kurapika and Leorio raised their voices at the same time, as if they had been convinced, but only Gon was still confused, tilting his head.

For Gon, Sora added another supplement.

"Little brother, Illumi is 24 years old this year, when Killua was just born, it was about the same as you and Killua now, my position is..."

"One............"

Having said so much, Gon finally understood.

I want to know what Sora's belief in Illumi is, defending his feelings alone.

"I don't know when it was decided to let Killua be the 'heir,' nor do I know what Illumi thinks. Strangely, he might have thought he could push the trouble onto his younger brother, but knowing his Zoldyck family is supreme, the possibility of this situation happening is extremely low.

So usually this should be a good opportunity. To regain the status of heir, I really wish Killua would run away from home. It would have been extremely convenient for Killua to dig out his own eyes and ruin his performance as an 'heir,' but he chose to bring Killua home safe and sound.

Instead, it was that kind of brainwashing education, teaching them to avoid danger and not die.

Because of the nature of this job, there are many dangers, and it is a job that can be kicked out at any time, but he doesn't want Killua to die, just as I want to live.

... What? You are doting on me, right, that broken person?"

This time, the three had to nod at Sora's words.

Just as Sora said, Illumi is definitely proud of her home and family business.

Such a person has to be an 'heir' for at least 12 years, raised strictly from childhood, and if he runs away saying 'I don't need it,' it is no surprise that he has killing intent. Even if the family business is not an 'Assassin.'

Killua is not bad. Because I was just forced to do things I didn't want to do.

However, it makes no sense to say that you shouldn't hold a grudge against Killua; Killua easily throws away what you want, then works for it, saying 'I don't need this.'

... But he chose and wanted to keep his brother by his side.

This might be selfish, like entrusting a dream you can't achieve to your younger brother. Of course, this is not a compliment. This is not true love, just self-satisfaction.

However, Illumi has not been relieved of the heir role because he has a "serious flaw in inheriting the family," and Killua's naivety as an Assassin's "serious flaw" was exposed.

At that time, I don't know if there was a Demon's whisper saying "Killua will be kicked out of the heir position."

Regardless, Illumi chose to let Killua return safely.

"... I know he is a brother, but this time, why he would dote on his brother in this situation is still a mystery." Shortening the answer.

"... Isn't it enough just because it's 'family'?

There is usually a reason for not liking something, but liking it doesn't require much logic. This is enough for a 'family'."

More like talking to himself than answering Leorio's question.

She opened her blind eyes and said: "Don't you know? Seeing her final moments, she cried and laughed."

"But, as you can see, his feelings are refracted. If you vent it on me, release your pressure by Throwing hatred at me, if you give me some feelings for Killua, I'm also eight years old, worth being hit, however, open."

"Wait, how did you come out?"

Kurapika seemed to be trying to deceive his monologue, just as Sora thought, and rushed into Sora's story.

"Well, I started thinking this way after meeting Killua, but I think Illumi's killing intent toward me is because he saw something in me that Killua doesn't like.

My eyes are the ability an Assassin wants, but I didn't use my eyes effectively at all, right?"

Upon hearing this, Kurapika and Leorio raised their voices with an "Ah."

Before I saw the real Illumi, I thought I disliked Sora because he was resting as usual, but I was reminded that that person lacks that kind of distracting humanity.

That is why the speculation that "Sora saw a part of Killua I don't like" is so beautiful and logical.

However, only Gon remembered his conversation with Hisoka during the Fourth Exam, looking confused.

Sora's guess should be correct, but judging by the state of the conversation, Illumi—

Just as Gon was thinking about whether to talk about the Fourth Exam, Sora suddenly turned around, not only startling Gon but also surprising the other two, while at the same time, his right hand grabbed something.

It was an Illumi Needle, thick and long; calling it a thumbtack would be more accurate than calling it a needle.

"Don't be selfish."

"How long have you been here!?"

Illumi did not feel bad about throwing the needle at the back of Sora's head; instead, he clicked his tongue in disgust and refused.

And when Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio stepped forward to protect Sora, he felt relieved from the bottom of his heart and said, "I'm glad I didn't say anything."

Illumi caught the needle thrown back and pierced it into his own body, not responding to Sora's complaints and questions, but simply unilaterally announcing his request.

"Don't get cocky, silly girl, you don't look like Killua, do you? Killua has nothing to do with your killing intent; don't talk about such delusions in the future."

"Wait a minute! Was it really wrong!? If not, where exactly did your killing intent come from!?"

Just when he thought he had finally figured out the source of his meaningless killing intent, Sora seriously asked him about something this person completely denied himself.

I thought Illumi would ignore my question and then ask back, "I hate your existence."

"Do you remember the day you first met me?"

"Huh?... Um, what month, day, hour, minute, second, what continent, what street, what number, what rank?"

"I don't remember either."

Sora was startled by this question and asked back. Apparently, this was not a particularly annoying question.

However, if that wasn't the case, I don't know why he would ask Sora such a question.

Not noticing Illumi's disguise, not even noticing her voice, she was completely blank, but Sora's memory was not particularly bad.

This was not a common encounter, I easily forgot it, about a year ago, it was a matter of course, so Sora tilted his head and answered immediately.

"Late February last year, when we were hostile at work, right?"

Before I finished speaking, Illumi threw the needle again. And this time, three appeared at about the same time.

However, Sora still couldn't believe they were blind, caught the three needles that the others couldn't react to with both hands, and protested half-crying.

"What are you doing!? Did I get it wrong!?"

"Oh, right, you were wrong, you met me for the first time the day before."

"............ Teeth?"

Hearing something completely unexpected, Sora widened his eyes and was stunned for a moment.

The three of them were stunned, waiting for Sora's reaction until they shouted "Sora?"

"Eh? Hey, are you lying!? I mean, I don't know if you were disguised! I saw through your disguise at the time, it was purely a Coincidence!"

"He is real."

"Isn't that even more deceptive!?"

As the freeze thawed, although Sora was in a bad mood, he spoke of the possibility of meeting him without realizing it, but Illumi split that possibility in two with one sentence, making Sora even more panicked.

Illumi looked at it coldly, pointed to his own hair, and continued.

"You cut your hair that night, right?"

When I met him, his hair was a bit past his shoulders, with a few centimeters of black at the tips, but when I saw him at work the next day, his hair was shorter than it is now.

"Eh!?"

Sora held his head with both hands, and Kurapika widened his eyes.

Leorio and Gon looked at Sora with confusion, "Did your hair turn black?"

Sora's hair is so beautifully colorless; if viewed from the side, it is not bleached to the limit, but a kind of albinism.

However, her hair didn't fade since she came; it was just white hair growing back like an old person, black and white.

Since his eyebrows and eyelashes are black, people might imagine he originally had black hair, but most of the time, unlike Gon and Leorio, he didn't notice the color difference and thought Sora's hair was innate and natural. Like Kurapika, unless you know the past, it's hard to notice it.

Furthermore, just when I cut my hair from two-tone to white.

So I forgot, until I was told, but I remember when I was told. Indeed, as Illumi said, Sora's face turned pale because he remembered cutting his hair the night before, when he realized he first met Illumi.

"Huh? Liar! Seriously!? Huh? I'm sorry!!"

I mean, what did you do!? What did I really do!? Did you say anything? What should I do, I don't remember at all!!"

There is no doubt that he met Illumi the day before, or at least Illumi would give him proof that he knew, and Sora held his head trying to recall somehow, but no matter how he searched his memory, this beautiful feature as beautiful as a face. It didn't come out.

Sora apologized to Illumi over and over again, but Illumi dismissed him with a gloomy expression, saying, "You're annoying," and turned away.

"Are you going home!?"

Leorio rushed towards Illumi, and Illumi did not reveal why he hated Sora so much and wanted to kill him, but finally said a statement that made Sora panic.

Of course, rather than talking to Leorio who didn't deal with me, I would talk from the beginning.

So Illumi turned around, said a few words to the souvenir, and walked away.

"When I remember, I won't kill you."

"Wait! Please give me another hint!!"

Of course, Sora's desperate scream was ignored.

Hisoka, who was eavesdropping in the corner of the corridor, was quite proud and chuckled to Illumi.

"Unrequited love is difficult."

"I will kill you."

Illumi walked away without even looking, but for some reason, Hisoka asked with a smile, and Illumi stopped to answer.

"So, what exactly happened with Sora?"

Hearing that, I remembered again.

The crowd surged as it snowed at dusk.

A gaze shifted away by an overly natural movement.

The silhouette as we passed each other at a distance where we could almost touch shoulders.

A back that never looked back.

Illumi has always done this—

"Nothing."

When I tried to stop and look at Hisoka, Hisoka was somewhat surprised.

Illumi, of course, would say nothing more, so Hisoka ended the conversation with a bitter smile, "You are so stubborn."

Hisoka did not notice.

It is rare for Illumi not to realize that what he said was the truth, not a cheat.

Nothing.

Illumi and Sora did indeed meet the day before "the day they first met"; Sora admitted that they fought each other during work the day before, but nothing happened. We didn't even speak.

However, it was snowing that dusk, and we brushed past each other in the bustle of the city.

But that was it.

Thanks to the endurance Training of torture, both heat and cold are tolerable, but in the end, one can only "endure" it, so even for Illumi, it is cold when it snows; the snow is not cold enough, my feet were muddy from the rain, and I didn't want to dirty my pants, so I walked around like the people around me, looking at my own feet.

Of course, even if he was just looking at his own feet, he would not relax his vigilance toward the surrounding environment. On the contrary, it might be a little more sensitive than usual. This might be the reason I noticed.

I noticed a "Nen user" walking from the front.

Unlike ordinary people, he had mastered the "outfit" of keeping his aura on his body instead of letting it Flow. Sure enough, if I hadn't done "Ren," I would only know this much from his presence.

However, I did not feel any killing intent from the other party, nor any wariness, so I aimed at myself. The possibility of a Bounty Hunter was almost non-existent.

It was just an event that you usually wouldn't realize even if you noticed it.

It wasn't that frequent, one could say it was common, but it wasn't that rare, one could say it was rare. This was my level of recognition.

Therefore, it was best to ignore it and pass each other.

The reason Illumi received the job for the next day was because she happened to be in the town where the target was, having finished other work, so her father suddenly told her, "Kill this guy while you're at it."

So I had no intention of doing so.

Before I got this job, I couldn't believe the target might be a Bodyguard I hired.

I wouldn't check faces one by one just because I am a Nen user. There is no point in doing that.

I looked up.

Although she was all white, her hair was medium-length, just past her shoulders, with a few centimeters of black ink at the tips, like a Brush.

What Illumi didn't know was that she was wearing a coat with a relatively feminine design, which Biscuit had given her on her birthday because she was told, "Dress like a woman occasionally."

Because of this, even a woman who saw something unusual, probably like Illumi, also sensed a "Nen user" and inadvertently cast her gaze there.

It happened to be her and Sora, just for that moment.

Both of them had some unreasonable whims, and such a small and insignificant event happened just like that.

Sora looked away immediately.

There was no special meaning, I didn't even mean to confirm it, so I just thought, "Oh, it's there."

That was the severity of the event.

So, I just shifted my gaze away with such a natural movement, and then it passed.

If it had slid a few centimeters to the side, they would have bumped into each other's shoulders.

—Illumi was watching the whole time.

Just like Sora, I should have shifted my gaze away after confirming, but I couldn't take my eyes off it.

Even as she passed me, her eyes followed her.

I just watched it until it stopped and was buried in the crowd.

I don't remember what I was thinking.

An incredibly long blank of dozens of seconds for an Assassin.

The only memory buried there was a woman whose name I didn't even know.

Looking up at the night sky carelessly, just like discovering a shooting star.

It was just a Coincidence. Things like fantasy or Fate are really stupid.

But... even so, it was too much, enough to make me stop breathing, to the point where my thoughts stopped—

I stopped thinking because I remembered so much and became uncomfortable.

I can't think of anything more.

Actually, I knew it without even thinking.

Why do you hate that girl so much?

Why don't you like that back that never looks back, or those eyes that shift away so naturally?

I know why I can't help but want to kill you when I meet you.

I couldn't take my eyes off him, but he didn't even notice it and left.

If you don't start killing, unless you do, those eyes won't see you.

I am not considering that "reason."

No reason for an explanation, no history, just like a falling meteor.

Because he dislikes irrational thoughts and feelings, Illumi stubbornly continues to ignore the things about her that are inseparable from that day.

He turns his head carelessly, telling him that his irrational emotions regarding "family" are enough.

A lie. Not casual. While looking back, Illumi makes excuses for his habitual looking back at the past.

Watching Sora, who is still confused by his words and desperately trying to remember, the irritation accumulated over the year subsides slightly, and the gluttony subsides as well.

I know why you don't remember. If you could remember this, you should have already noticed that the fourth Hunter Exam was illuminated by sound.

(So, at best, don't worry.)

Thinking of this, he silently watches Sora, who is racking his brain thinking only of Illumi, even when he is not in front of him, even if he will not kill him.

The sound of a shutter clicks, and as Illumi turns to face the direction the sound came from, Hisoka is pointing his Mobile Phone at him with wide eyes.

"……What are you doing?"

"……No, what I saw was too rare, so I couldn't help but think."

Illumi silently grabs Hisoka's Mobile Phone and smashes it.

Even without doing that, Hisoka's photo was already his usual poker face, with the corners of his mouth not slightly upturned.

The Hunter Exam ends here.

I want to pause for a moment, then switch to the Zoldyck House visit version.