Chapter 46: Three Days Until Reaching Padokea

(Day 1)

"... What are you laughing at?"

"Can't help it, stop laughing."

Kurapika glared at me and said, "Stop it." But I pretended not to understand and groaned.

There was nothing good nearby to throw, and Kurapika couldn't get close enough to hit me, so I usually felt surprised or was told I didn't like it, and I was completely defeated by the eighth attack. It was a good return.

So I didn't say much more, just grinned as if to say something, and continued watching Kurapika and the others; Gon called out, "Leorio."

I'm sure he was thinking about arbitrating as soon as possible. But at the same time, Kurapika also stood up from his chair.

When I grabbed the leg of the chair, I realized what he wanted to do, and both Gon and I panicked.

"Sorry! I spaced out!!"

"Kurapika! Not the chair! It's dangerous, Sora will wake up!!"

Kurapika put down the chair he was preparing to throw, said, "If you're going to apologize, don't start from the beginning," and sat back down.

... Holding the hand of Sora, who was sleeping on the lower bunk, without letting go.

It happened on the day the Hunter Exam ended; I boarded the airship bound for Padokea, and just as I was preparing to make specific plans and schedules for the future in my room, "Now, what should I do now?" he sat down, collapsed on the bed, and drifted off.

Sora himself wanted to get up, but I knew he was too tired, and I thought he had been awake the whole time, so if we both said, "If you're sleepy, go to sleep," I don't know if he sensed that, but he obediently lay down on the bed where he was sitting.

Hey, are you going to sleep here? I couldn't help but think, but it was obvious he no longer had the strength to return to his room; Kurapika and Killua told me a little about this guy's habit of not wanting to sleep alone and the reasons why. Of course, Gon didn't say anything, and neither did Kurapika, who had an idiotic, fussing look on his face.

Fortunately, the room we got was for four people. There were two bunk beds, so even if Sora didn't wake up until morning, the number of beds shouldn't be a problem.

Regardless of whether there were enough beds, even if I weren't Kurapika, I would want to tell a woman not to sleep defenselessly in a space with only men, but... seeing Sora curled up like a fetus in the bed, I couldn't say anything.

I mean, even when you're asleep, you furrow your brows, trying to endure something, and curl up to protect yourself while you sleep, right?

No matter how you look at it, it can't be called a restful sleep. It's like fainting from exhaustion; there's no way to rest at all.

Kurapika looked at Sora pitifully and covered him with a blanket.

The air conditioning temperature was comfortable, but because I had the earliest scheduled airship ticket to Padokea that day and rushed to the airport to board, Sora was still wearing shorts and the shirt Kurapika had lent me. Dressed like that, when I covered his shoulders with the blanket, Sora's palm opened slightly, as if pressing against his face, and touched Kurapika's hand.

When I realized this, Sora's hand was already holding Kurapika's.

It was like a baby's grasping reflex.

Well, the reaction immediately split into three people.

Of course, I grinned, and Gon showed a bitter, mature smile.

As for Kurapika, his face flushed red and he pulled back, but he didn't let go of the hand. On the contrary, this guy held on tight.

"... Kurapika."

And Sora, whether he realized the hand he was holding was Kurapika's or just hoped it was, regardless, his eyes were tightly shut, letting his consciousness drift into the Dream World. Even so, at the same time he whispered Kurapika's name, the deep wrinkles between his brows smoothed out so easily, and his sleeping face looked peaceful and happy.

Ah yes, if you react like that, you'll never be able to let go of your hand again.

I'm sure you're trying to hide it, but it's obvious you love Sora so much that you think you'll die one day. If that's not the case, why did that hand, which looks more like it's being pinched than held, let go, and why is it sitting on the chair Gon is taking care of, holding on by Sora's bedside the whole time?

You two are so in love, I'm almost vomiting sugar. Someone get me a bucket of bitter coffee! How many times did I almost scream?

"Well, if you're going to show off like that, let me tease you."

"Isn't that great? I'm still embarrassed. You guys might not know, but it's naked anytime, anywhere."

"Shut up, shut up, I don't have that kind of relationship with Sora!"

The embarrassment that should have been muttered in my heart seemed to come out inadvertently, and Kurapika dismissed me without looking at my face. But his face was red again.

The youngest, Gon, intervened with a bitter smile that was the most mature in our situation, so it was a bit pathetic.

Yes, let's stop teasing and being embarrassed here. It's just Sora.

I thought about changing the subject while thinking that, but unlike Sora, who is at the same level as me, or Sora, who aims for strength, in a sense, his personality is even worse because he is natural and does it. I made a biased remark.

"... Come to think of it, is Sora really not 'that' to Kurapika?"

"What!?"

Kurapika was speechless, and because of Gon's direct Pursuit, his face turned even redder.

Because he is still a child, he is always outspoken, but he is also the adult who can read the atmosphere best, so neither Kurapika nor I seriously expected this; Kurapika blushed, and I couldn't do anything but open and close my mouth like a goldfish...

Seeing Kurapika's reaction, I felt sorry for him and stopped him, saying, "... Gon, stop it."

Gon also apologized: "Kurapika! Sorry! I suddenly asked a strange thing, sorry!!"

However, "Sorry! Sorry! I just... um... if that's the case, shouldn't I say something?" Then I asked, "What happened?" By the way, Kurapika still had a short blush.

Gon shifted his gaze from me, from Kurapika, and from the sleeping Sora, looked toward the day after tomorrow, and said: "Right. I was just thinking, but..." What the hell is this guy?

"............ Maybe... I really don't think so, but.................. I think Illumi likes Sora..."

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

Not just me, but Kurapika, who should have short-circuited, said the same thing.

But, after restarting it, I was frozen this time.

"... No, what makes you come to such a bizarre conclusion?"

My freezing automatically thawed in about ten seconds. But even after thawing, I didn't know what Gon was thinking when he said this.

Not knowing if it was shock or confusion, I asked Gon, half-believing.

Then Gon looked worriedly at the still-stunned Kurapika and told him how he reached this "strange conclusion."

"... The fourth exam, my target was Hisoka, so while I was following Hisoka, I accidentally heard Hisoka and Illumi's meeting and conversation..."

"What? Did that bastard with the Noh mask say something to Hisoka about liking him?"

When I interrupted Gon in the middle and said what would happen next, a chill went down my spine. Wow! I feel so sick!!

I can't imagine it, but it's disgusting even without imagining it! No matter how you look at it, that guy with the Noh mask said that!? Is it a Noh mask when you talk about these things!?

I only just realized this, but falling in love with Hisoka from the start—that's a crime!!

Gon continued to smile bitterly, appearing somewhat awkward. Perhaps this guy thinks my way of thinking is crude, but he might agree.

Kun denied my imagination with such a faint smile.

"No, that's not true. I'm talking about the extent of my dislike and distaste for Sora, to the point where Hisoka didn't even have time to interrupt."

"How on earth did you arrive at that conclusion?"

You've got to be kidding me? I'm glad it's not as creepy as you imagined, but this answer only deepens the mystery.

I thought this to myself while asking back, and Gon immediately replied: "Kuro."

"That way of speaking is exactly the same as how Kurapika and Killua said 'You and Sora aren't like that' back at Trick Tower."

"What do you mean by that!?"

Kurapika, who had been frozen, suddenly rebooted, caught in Gon's puzzled reply.

But before Gon could answer, I raised my voice. Perhaps my expression was serious at that moment.

"Ah, I suppose so. Isn't that guy crazy?"

"So, what does this mean, Leorio!!"

It's still there. No matter how you look at it, this isn't an explanation of your feelings for Sora; it's just a story about how much you love Sora.

Most of it is just complaining, and rather than complaining about things he doesn't like, isn't it just because he doesn't care about himself?

"…But since it's like that, are those his flying Needles?"

"…Even so, it's not cute at all."

"Leorio!"

And Gon! What is Illumi talking about!?"

Although both Gon and I were convinced, the other half who was told "you look like him" was not convinced and insisted on making a fuss.

No, you're already somewhat convinced, aren't you?

Are you really not worried about what Illumi is saying?

I didn't want to say it, but I couldn't help but say it in surprise.

"You, if you deny it that seriously, you won't be able to take it as a 'yes' without intending to tease it."

Then can you only look like you're talking to yourself?

Unexpectedly, Kurapika listened to my objection in silence.

Seeing her glare at me with a flushed face, looking childish and like she was about to cry at any moment, I thought to myself: "Good grief."

But at the same time, although I felt there was no need to be a busybody, I still wanted to say it.

Don't mince words.

"Leorio."

Should I apologize, or should I just tell him directly?

The owner of that voice was not Kurapika, who was staring at me, nor was it Gon, who was confused in the middle of us.

Sora stood up, still holding hands with Mukuri and Kurapika; not just me, but the other two jumped up for a moment as well.

Awake!? I mean, maybe I'm awake! If so, since when!?

Gon's face turned pale because he was talking about what he could say, since Sora was asleep in every sense, and Kurapika's face turned even redder. To me.

"Leorio. I haven't known you for long, but I know you are a very good person. I know you have a sharp tongue, but behind those words, I know you are always thinking of others."

That is why I know your words come from kindness and good intentions.

Teeth?

When I was suddenly praised, without even feeling awkward or embarrassed, Sora squinted at me, pointed at me with the Finger holding Kurapika's hand on the opposite side, and said, paddy field.

"Even so, do not hurt Kurapika. Do not say cruel words. Anyone who makes Kurapika sad, cry, or makes her feel unforgivable, whether it is Araya or Gaia, is my enemy!!"

Who are Araya and Gaia? Before the retort was finished, Sora's body tilted and fell back onto the bed.

Then, a few seconds later, what I heard was truly regular and comfortable breathing...

"Were you just talking in your sleep!?"

When I shouted, Kurapika was still a bit dazed and replied: "Oh... probably... at least, he isn't fully awake yet..."

Were you sleeping happily?

Well, if you think about it carefully, this story doesn't blend together cleverly. Ah, he wasn't awake to hear the story, even while sleeping he could vaguely hear our conversation, it was a dream, with a filter strangely twisted to say: "Leorio said something terrible to Kurapika." I think I thought that.

... Ah, how should I put it, seriously, getting involved with these people makes one stupid, let alone interfering.

"…You guys, you're about to Explosion. Somehow, I'm really starting to feel like an idiot."

I muttered this much and said: "I'll buy you a drink." Then I left the room. Somehow, I want to drink.

Gon also said: "Buy me something too."

However, as if remembering Sora's half-asleep words again, this guy was a bit embarrassed, sat in the chair, buried his face in his knees, and replied: "…It's fine, I don't need anything."

Yeah, for this guy's sake, let's just leave it alone.

Well, even if it's awkward, they are still holding hands. Explosion.

As I left the room, I walked to the vending machine inside the airship and asked.

"Gon, what do you think of them?"

Answering my question, Gon still replied with a bitter adult smile.

"I don't know how to say it... it's frustrating, but it feels like both of us are taking such good care of the gifts we received from each other that we haven't even untied the ribbons, let alone seen what's inside."

Ah, this metaphor might be the most fitting.

Those guys, especially Kurapika. Well, I know that if I knew that the type of love I have is different from the other person's, and I am brushing past each other, it would be awkward, but...

"No matter what you think, I believe they will never leave, because it is already too late to pass through the other party or misunderstandings."

Gon gave a bitter smile at my words and replied, "I agree."

(Day 2)

Having looked around the airship and finding nothing left to do, I returned to my cabin.

... If Killua were here, I would be exploring just like during the Hunter Exam, and I probably wouldn't have gotten bored so quickly.

I want to see Killua as soon as possible.

I had originally entered with that feeling, but when the sensation in my chest returned more strongly as I entered the room, Sora was sitting in a chair, just as he had been when I left the room.

"Welcome back. You're early. Where is Leorio?"

"I'm home. Leorio is on the control network in the Computer room. Is Kurapika still sleeping?"

When I answered and asked back, Sora looked with a bitter smile at Kurapika, who was sleeping on the bed Sora had used, right next to the chair he was sitting in, and said:

"I don't think he will wake up for a while. It seems he pulled an all-nighter."

Seeing this answer, I couldn't help but smile bitterly.

... Kurapika, after all, couldn't let go of Sora's hand yesterday and couldn't sleep in the same bed, so he seemed to have stayed awake sitting in the chair by the bed.

So today, as soon as Sora woke up, he fell asleep.

Then Sora smiled at Kurapika, looking a bit embarrassed, and said, "Sorry," while staying seated next to Kurapika, just as Kurapika had done.

"Aren't you going anywhere, Sora? Aren't you going to a restaurant or to buy a change of clothes?"

When I asked this, Sora, who was still wearing Kurapika's shirt, responded immediately.

"I'll do that later. I can't go anywhere; it's my fault he couldn't sleep, but it wouldn't be right to just go anywhere while Kurapika is sleeping."

"... Besides, looking at this child's sleeping face, I don't feel bored either."

... Kurapika really likes Sora, but Sora also likes Kurapika, so there's no helping it.

If Kurapika heard that, I'm sure he would say, "Don't say embarrassing things," but he would definitely be happy.

Once again, as I looked at Sora, wondering about the relationship between the two, or rather the relationship between Kurapika and Sora, I noticed that Sora's eye color was deeper than when I woke up, so I pointed at myself and asked.

"Sora, can you still see your eyes?"

Hearing this, Sora covered one eye with his hand and squinted to check his vision.

Hearing the answer, I was momentarily speechless.

The conversation did not last.

I wanted to ask you one thing. But I thought this might be a story where I shouldn't be insensitive.

However, I wanted to know. Even if I knew, there was nothing I could do, but I had said something so terrible to Sora about three days ago that "I didn't know" wouldn't be enough of an excuse.

So I wanted to apologize for that, but apologizing out of the blue felt wrong, and yet I knew that asking insensitively just to apologize would be beyond rude, so I didn't know what to do, and then Sora asked me, "What's wrong?"

"Ah... um, it's nothing."

"It doesn't look like that at all, though?"

Even though I tried to play it off, Sora looked straight at me with his dark blue eyes, which were still a bit more bluish, and smiled.

Then he crossed his legs, rested his cheek on his hand, and said to me while smiling.

"I don't know what you're being careful about, but tell me.

Depending on the content, I might get angry, but if I get angry, you just have to say 'I'm sorry.' If you think my anger is unreasonable, you can argue back. That's all there is to it, right? What exactly is scary about that?"

... Ah, how should I put it, I am made to realize that Sora is truly an "adult."

He doesn't treat me like a child at all, he doesn't mock me, and Sora doesn't act superior either, yet I am made to realize that I am no match for this person.

Kurapika and Killua like this side of Sora, but for some reason, neither of them can be honest, but every time I see this side of Sora, I want to honestly rely on him and be spoiled.

How should I put it... it's terribly mean of me to say this to Sora, and I can't say it out loud, but maybe it's because if Mito-san is like a "mother," then Sora feels like a "father"?

He isn't as nagging or worried as Mito-san, and he lets me do whatever I want freely, but I really love the feeling that he properly protects me when it matters, and in a different sense from Kite or my real father, Ging, I find myself wanting to become a person like this.

While I was thinking about such things, Sora asked "What's wrong?" one more time.

As expected, I couldn't say "I was thinking that Sora is like a father," so I took advantage of Sora's words and asked what I wanted to ask first.

"... Sora, even if you can't see the 'lines' and 'points,' is that true?"

During the three days of Grace that gave me a break before the final exams, I heard various stories about Sora.

Sora came from a completely different world, with Magic, Magic, the Holy Grail War, Sora's Servants, the people he fought and became allies with, and also... Sora's "eyes."

Sora tried to explain in a way that was easy to understand, and I tried my best too, but in the end, I didn't really understand what that "Instant Death Evil Eye" was.

What I could understand was that Sora's eyes were neither Magic nor Magic, but were classified as "Spiritual Power," a mutated organ with special functions.

Usually, such things are almost always innate, but Sora's were awakened after birth due to the influence of the place where he fell before he escaped.

And those eyes outline the "death" of most things in this world, capturing them in the form of "lines" or "points," and if you trace or pierce them, even if it is a god, you can "kill" them...

Sora explained while giving a demonstration.

He showed me how Sora could use a single hair he pulled out to cut through an artificial gem as if he were cutting through Clay.

Just as Sora said, "There is a 'line' here," it cut smoothly, but if I tried to cut anywhere else, it would only cut the hair. Even if Killua and I followed Sora's instructions and used our nails and blades, we couldn't cut it at all, but for Sora, it wasn't even a hair or a nail; his Finger could cut it easily.

When I saw that, I said, "Wow! Interesting!"

Kurapika scolded me severely for that.

I couldn't imagine that Sora's eyes could always see lines and points that could easily "kill" people or anything else.

Sora forgave me with just one sentence, "Don't worry." I forgot that I could understand the point.

Sora has always been normal.

For a long time, you couldn't imagine seeing someone's "death" because you were always looking straight at us.

... But when I heard the story of Ritz-san, Illumi told me, "If you can't see it, that is a good opportunity."

Sora's eyes are astonishing and interesting; I certainly shouldn't be thinking about them.

After all... even if your eyesight has deteriorated to the point where you cannot recognize a person's face, which is why you can see "death" more clearly, this is not true Magic, not Magic, and not even Spiritual Power.

It is a Curse.

... Even I think of myself as the type of person who isn't afraid and doesn't care about small things. Answer me.

"Yes. Under normal circumstances, 5.6 lines and a few dots are the average for a healthy person, but when your ability is excessive and your eyesight declines, you can see the blood vessels all over the body are very thin. That is why. Not only is my eyesight worsening, but those lines block the way, and I cannot recognize faces."

Seeing Sora talk about such a terrifying scene as if it were nothing, I remembered Kurapika's sad and painful words.

"—She is broken."

When I was trapped in the Magic tower, I asked him: "What kind of person is Sora?"

When I heard that voice, I thought it didn't sound like Kurapika; I was a little angry that Kurapika said that, but now I understand.

I also really didn't want to talk about Kurapika. I didn't want to say it like that because I love him, and I didn't want him to be like that. And I also love Sora, so I didn't want to admit it.

But even so, Sora had already collapsed to the point of having to admit it, to the extent that one could tell at a glance that he could not live without it.

We cannot understand the world Sora sees, or Sora's feelings and thoughts; we only realized that this is a completely different matter... I was a little... well, feeling lonely, and finally apologized...

"... Sora, I'm sorry."

"Hm? What kind of apology is that?"

To Sora, who did not know what I was truly apologizing for, I was captivated by Sora's eyes and his power, completely failing to understand what Sora was looking at, so I remained numb. I apologized again while explaining, and as I did, Sora picked up the Goo placed on the table, looking somewhat troubled.

"Gon, do you know the name of this gemstone?"

"Hm?"

Suddenly, Sora took three red gemstones from the Goo at his waist and asked me.

"Hm? Um... Ruby?"

I didn't understand the reason, but I answered without even thinking. Not because I understood it, but because Ruby is the only name for a red gemstone I know.

"One is real. And this deep red is Garnet. Carnelian is redder than Ruby and has lower transparency."

At least one was correct, but since they were all different Stones after all, Sora told me one by one.

But I immediately put the three away, and this time he took out only one to ask.

"Gon, do you know if this is a Ruby, a Garnet, or a Carnelian?"

"Eh!?"

When I was explained to, and when I compared the three, just as Sora said, I knew which color intensity was which, but if he took out another one, it looked like nothing more than a red Stone to me. I didn't know what Stone it was.

I wanted to answer by intuition, but before that, Sora smiled and said: "You can't tell, right?"

"It's okay.

Precisely because of this, men are not as good as women at distinguishing colors. On the other hand, women are not good at capturing the movement of things. For more details, you should ask Leorio. If you want to become a doctor, you might be able to answer this question."

"... I see."

I couldn't keep up with the sudden, strange story and could only respond with a blank face.

Seeing me like this, Sora laughed amusingly and continued, without explaining why he suddenly said that.

"Perhaps it is because of this difference in eyes that there are many cases of color blindness in men. And although it is rare, there are also reptile and bird eyes that can see ultraviolet light. Is it Four-color Vision? There are many women."

You see, there are people in the world who view the world differently simply because they are men and women. With Four-color Vision, isn't it a perspective of the world that I cannot imagine seeing through my own eyes?"

After saying so much, I finally understood what Sora wanted to say.

"Gon, the only eyes in this world that can see the same world are your other eyes. What you see, the world you see, is undoubtedly real. There are no limits.

What looks red to you might look blue to others. For those who have never seen snow, falling and piling snow is wonderful and beautiful, but for those born and raised in heavy snow areas, it is trouble, trouble, and even a Disaster. Both are equally true truths."

I said sorry for being insensitive to Sora, but I didn't say I felt lonely because I saw something different from Sora, and the world I perceived was different, but Sora seemed to have already seen it.

Sora explained to me in an easy-to-understand way: "It's not just me, everyone in this world is the same," while also teaching me not to impose my own thoughts on others.

I was convinced by that answer, and I was also happy that Sora said the world I see is undoubtedly the truth.

... But, the answer was lonely after all.

Sora's answer is that it's not just Sora, but everyone in this world is like that. Because it means that no one can truly see the same things or live in the same world, I gave up and felt relieved, but... but it was still lonely.

"That is why you must remember."

... I had always thought Sora was amazing, but Sora was even more amazing than I thought.

"You must remember how precious a miracle it is that there are people who can see the same things and feel the same way, amidst the normalcy of not being able to see the same things, not having the same eyes, and having completely different truths.

And you must cherish such a person."

Sora's following words blew away my loneliness.

What I remembered after being told that was Killua, who explored the airship after the second exam, made noise and frolicked together... and laughed together after seeing the same thing and saying "That's interesting."

... Ah, I see, that's it.

We might not be seeing the same world, and in fact, what we see might be completely different; it might look red to me and blue to Killua... but even so, we can still feel the same way and laugh together.

And there is no need for me to give up because Sora cannot do that.

It is absolutely impossible for everything I see to be the same as him, but perhaps we can see at least one thing the same and think the same thing.

There is no need to feel lonely.

"... Sora. Thank you."

The person who saw through all my loneliness and blew it away answered "You're welcome" with a smile as beautiful and blue as the sky, just like his name, as always.

Somehow, this part of him that makes me think "he's so big" in many ways, although I can't say it, is truly like a father.

After a while, Kurapika woke up, and when I told him what Sora said, Kurapika narrowed his eyes slightly and said something nostalgic.

"Is that so... I was told the same thing a long time ago."

When I was told that, I gained some understanding of my feelings for Kurapika and Killua, which I had only just understood until now.

... I am not alone.

That is just a bit unsatisfactory.

(Day 3)

"Kurapika, adjust your mood."

Sora said this in an angry voice, so when I replied in an angry voice, "I wasn't angry in the first place!"

Of course, I had no persuasiveness at all. In fact, saying I wasn't angry was a lie.

But I have something to say.

"First of all, why don't you care about anything!?"

"Uh, because it's always the same, Kurapika isn't used to it, right?"

"It's not that I won't be angry once I'm used to it! At least be angry this time!

After being picked up by someone with a bad temper, it is normal to be angry about being mistaken for the wrong gender!!"

Sora immediately responded to my protest with a "What are you talking about now?" expression, and when I further objected, Leorio remembered the reason for my bad mood and burst into laughter.

Don't laugh! This is a very distressing thought!

Being mistaken for your gender is unpleasant, but it's not enough to make someone go crazy enough to drag you here.

Especially since Sora's current attire is a simple shirt and casual pants, because there was no choice in the shop on the airship. Moreover, the top is a men's T-shirt; it seems there were no women's sizes.

In addition, I am in my Kurta national dress. It is a very normal outfit for me, but according to Sora and Leorio, this fully embroidered outfit looks like a female design from the side, so if two people are dressed like this, it is hard to recognize their gender. I have said it many times, but of course it is unpleasant!

However, even if it is a misunderstanding, even if it is not good to look at a woman who is known to have a lover, even if it is someone else's business, she began to look down on this man because he is a good man and thinks he is looking for money. I cannot forgive those thugs who surrounded Sora and used him as a punching bag to show off their power.

Do you know how I felt when such people used my eyes?

Of course, Leorio, who had never experienced it like me, continued to laugh in confusion, so I threw the pillow I was sitting on on the bed at his face with force.

Although it was a pillow, if I threw it hard, it would gain some momentum, and when it hit his face as expected, Leorio let out a muffled sound, "Oof!!"

It seems my neck was injured by the impact of the pillow, rather than the pillow itself being damaged. You are too selfish, you idiot.

I met Leorio's eyes, and Sora and Gon stepped in to calm them down.

"Leorio, it was all Leorio's fault for laughing just now."

"Kurapika, don't be angry at people. I have already castrated the idiot in charge, so you don't have to forgive me, but don't stick to it forever."

"No, I have already forgiven most of the castrated idiots..."

Listening to Sora comforting me, I couldn't help but think of the execution technique Sora performed called "Yutian Pavilion," sitting on the chair with my legs turned outward.

Looking closely, Sora and Leorio also turned and went in for a moment.

... Sora. Actually, I am glad that you did it before I got angry rather than after, and when you realized the gender reversal and said "Gon-ma-ya-lang!", I was very happy about that.

But this is too much.

Of course, those guys don't seem worth leaving descendants. That's why if it was just one shot, honestly I could only think "well done," and I might have actually said so.

But, as expected, 3 shots is too many. It has already been mentally castrated, let alone physically.

Not to mention you didn't do much, "Because it was in the corridor of the airship, there was no way to get a running start, so the last three shots were not jump kicks, but ordinary kicks."

This is no longer a real castration. Death. Not a joke, not a metaphor for being a man, you will only die physiologically, so don't do this.

"... Well, come to think of it, doesn't Sora have long hair?

I think just having long hair would make it harder to be misunderstood, but is that still an Obstacle?"

Because all the men were in a bad mood, Gon smiled bitterly and changed the subject, and Sora pinched her own white hair and replied.

"Ah, about my hair... I should say I can grow it out, or I should grow it out..."

"What's wrong, do you want to pull it out?"

Leorio interrupted upon hearing Sora's vague remarks, and Gon looked at me as if asking, "What do you mean?"

... Gon, I am sure I know Sora better than you guys, but I don't know everything. Rather, there are many more things I don't understand, and many things I don't want to understand.

"Hair is a fairly important part for a Magician, because it is the source and catalyst of Magic.

Sora answered Leorio's question lightly, and interjected again: "Then why is your hair so short? Grow it out." When Magic and Magic seem dark, this seems like a lie, but now it is seen as normal.

Well, if you watch the match with Hisoka, you will naturally believe it.

Gon and I were thinking about such things while listening to their conversation, but when Sora spoke next, my face stiffened so much that I didn't even need to look in a mirror.

"Well, before I was 10, my stupid parents tried to marry me off. I think I can extend it now."

""... Teeth?""

Gon and Leorio were puzzled and dumbfounded, far from seeing the messy scene, and actually spoke as fluently as the relationship between the Magician and hair discussed earlier.

I was at a loss because I couldn't even react like that.

"... Before I was 10... wife?"

"... Eh? What does that mean? Is it normal to get married at that age in Sora's world?"

"No, no, because it's a direct ball, and it's a crime. Officially she said she was an adopted child, but she is the person I am looking for, so she is actually the bride."

Gon somehow still tried to explain it from a favorable perspective, but the person herself just denied it and made another bombshell statement.

Hearing this, my face tightened even more, and I clenched my fists unconsciously.

Leorio also looked displeased and shouted angrily: "What the hell!? Did your parents want to sell their daughter to a pervert!?"

Nevertheless, Sora's expression did not change.

From the beginning, she spoke expressionlessly, not as if she were expressionless, but as if nothing had happened.

"No, my opponent wasn't a lolicon, it's just that my Magic Attribute is a very rare attribute, and he is a person who studies that attribute's Magic, so I hope my successor has that Magic Attribute. That's all."

Responding to Sora's answer, not only Leorio, but even myself, and even my anger lost its target.

Far from respecting Sora's personality, this is the same as trampling on it, but our imagination and direction were completely different. The completely incomprehensible motive made my head go blank unconsciously.

However, in a way we cannot understand, even if Sora's parents tried to sell their daughter in front of us, or a man who thinks a child under 10 is nothing but a tool to create a successor, Leorio and I could never do it. I can only imagine that no matter how strongly I express my anger, it would not be understood.

Realizing that a Magician is a magical creature no matter where they are, Leorio and I sighed at the same time; getting angry was useless.

"……Sora hates violence, that is a matter of course."

Whether Gon understood the meaning of this was somewhat doubtful, but stunned by this earth-shattering story, he said earnestly.

"Rather…… parents and opponents often just give up because of violence."

"Of course, I won't give up just because of a rampage. I will cut my own hair, and if I continue to Stick with it, I will threaten to destroy the Magic Circuit and everything else. It!" However, because I made him realize he was serious, he was restricted both magically and physically.

In many ways, if it weren't for my sister, I wouldn't be here now."

Thinking that even a Magician who is only interested in their own goals and will use any means necessary would not force an unwilling biological daughter. We were speechless.

No, I still have a younger sister. The sister who died protecting Sora from a jealous biological father must have been a good sister before that.

"……Did your sister advise you? A good sister."

"It's not that, when the other party came to my house, when my parents went out and took me to be tied up and locked up, they didn't know my sister was a guest and entered the guest room, you mistook me for my sister."

So, I didn't hear about my sister getting married or adopting me, so I was disgusted by the old man who treated me as a wife, because he was too friendly, so I repeatedly hit the gund, making it rare. Unlike me, she was an excellent orthodox gund-wielding sister, she was severely hit by a Curse, which caused her to have a high fever and lose the ability to move, so the story was passed down like that."

Sora closed his eyes like an ancient story, closed his eyes, and put his hands Together.

……Just an accident. Judging from the last moments of my sister, if I had known the story of my sister being married to a bride pretending to be an adopted son, I might have known and protected my sister, but in reality, it was just an accident.

I really wanted to say a few words of thanks to my sister, but at the same time, there was an indescribable feeling.

Sisters, why do you all want to castrate a man, even if you do it yourself?

"……Hmm…… as long as Sora is safe, I don't care."

Gon forcibly summarized a story that was really embarrassing to comment on, then turned his bitter smile into an apologetic face, and continued his words.

"I'm sorry, Sora."

"Hmm? Is this an apology?"

Looking at Gon's apology, Sora tilted his head, seemingly asking why he was apologizing so seriously.

"Eh? Because of this, Sora, don't you hate dressing like a girl?"

Hearing this, Sora's indigo eyes widened, and he fell silent for a moment.

Then, for some reason, he turned his face toward me and asked with a straight face.

"Is that so!?"

"Do you know!"

Instinctively, I responded immediately. Do you know! Ask me why!? I wonder if it has anything to do with me!!

Gon was confused by Sora's reaction: "Ah? Wrong? Did I say something strange?"

Gon, don't panic. You're right. Listening to what I just said, seeing Sora's appearance and behavior being far from her usual femininity, I was traumatized by being forced to marry her, and I think it is natural to be avoiding one's own gender itself.

"Yes."

However, looking up at the ceiling, Sora was convinced by himself, perhaps because this opinion surprised him.

Leorio muttered with an incredible look on his face, and Sora said: "Children treated like me are not uncommon in a Magician's house. This kind of thing. I think I'm not sensitive enough to worry."

Oh yeah.

The scar of being treated as a machine to be made into a successor and about to be sold by your parents, didn't you notice?

Did you grow up with the values that anyone hurt by this kind of treatment is crazy?

……Your reluctance, rampage, and refusal are abnormal behaviors that miraculously deviate from your "common sense," isn't that amazing?

Just like how Hisoka makes you feel ashamed, just like how you feel ashamed for things that don't need shame, you are also twisted and hurt by the freak called "Magician," and you don't realize it? Part of it?

＊＊＊

"…………Why don't you try growing your hair out?"

When I came to my senses, I turned it into words.

My sudden proposal made not only Sora, but even Leorio and Gon, who were speechless by Sora's shocking remarks, widen their eyes.

I know it's sudden. I know it's out of context, and I'm saying something that doesn't sound like me.

Nevertheless, I still want to say it.

Because on the day we met again, on the airship, I learned that she is not uninterested in feminine things.

That's why, if you don't know that wound, and can't even heal it and keep avoiding it...... then I want to give you a motivation that you don't need to avoid it.

"……If you don't like it, Sora, of course there's no need…… but if you can tell at a glance that she is a woman, you might have more unpleasant feelings like I did today…… but still, …… if you don't mind, why don't you try growing your hair out?"

……I don't want to do things I don't want to do, because of things that people who are no longer Together with me did a long time ago."

I know I'm saying something that doesn't sound like me, so my face is burning, and I can't look at Sora, so I turn and leave.

Leorio! Stop that hideous smile!

Gon, please don't smile like an adult! Leorio's smile is even more unbearable!

While I was looking for something good to throw at Leorio again, I looked at Sora, who was blankly staring at the ends of his white hair.

And asked me.

"Does it suit you?"

I don't know if it suits me.

Three years ago, the color was different, but the length was about the same as it is now, and I couldn't imagine Sora with long hair.

And because I know her scars, I feel that saying "it suits you" lightly is irresponsible, so I answered honestly: "I don't know."

What kind of reaction is that!?

Putting aside the questioning of the two, I'll continue talking to Sora first.

When I said "I don't know," Sora smiled and said, "That's right."

It might be my assumption, but that smile looked a little, really a little lonely.

But perhaps it is not.

When it is not, I say it is because I cannot regret the words I did not say.

I spoke my true intentions.

"But I want to see."

Sora, lost, awkward, embarrassed, and frustrated on that airship, speaking of her innocent dreams, looked just like a young girl.

I could only see a girl.

That is why I think you would look good with long hair.

I want to see it.

"... I see."

Sora saw my answer, the expression on her face was because I could not bear my own humiliation, and because Leorio shouted: "Go! Get me the bitter coffee! What on earth is this sugar space!!", I do not know, because I decided to throw the Wooden Sword without hesitation, in a Throw posture.

... I did not see it, but I heard a voice that sounded very happy, which made me very embarrassed.

"Then, should I stretch it out?"

I think the Zoldyck Family arc is at most about 10 episodes, a touching story about daily life.