Chapter 53: Every Wish

"I apologize for what happened earlier."

"No, I am truly sorry."

Invited into the hall of the Maid residence, Gotoh, as the representative of the servants, immediately apologized for his rudeness, and Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio apologized sincerely at the same time.

Of course, this was an apology for the kick Sora delivered at the start of the confrontation.

However, the person who did it did not think he had done anything wrong, so naturally, he did not apologize; under the gaze of Kurapika nearby, he leisurely drank the tea that had been served.

Since the victim, Gotoh, was supposed to have moved on, he replied, "Don't worry," just as he had after being kicked away.

If he truly didn't want to make Gon and the others worry, the atmosphere would have softened, but if anything, Gotoh's words were that Sora's actions were legitimate, saying: "Be careful. You do not have the right to be sent away."

Not only apologizing for Sora's actions but also for the phone call 20 days ago, the story was forced to an end.

Although he was low-key, he did not listen to Gon's explanation any more than before; Gon lowered his head, guessing that his impression was even worse than their first encounter.

"Your wife contacted me, asking me to welcome you as an official guest, so please relax."

Once the Maid said this, they actually treated the wounds on Gon's face seriously, served tea, and pretended to welcome him, but they probably didn't truly welcome him at all, because the air was somewhat heavy and harsh.

Gon looked at Sora in an awkward and narrow-minded way, as if seeking help, but Sora's expression was blank, not even looking at Gon.

Judging that this was probably "You deserve it, do something about it yourself," Gon let out an unusual sigh, "I know, but...".

Fortunately, it was not just Gon who felt awkward and narrow-minded.

Leorio could not stand the mansion, which could be called a Maid dormitory, but the mansion could be called a mansion, and the tense atmosphere could not be called a welcoming mood. "I want you to show us to the main residence as soon as possible," he said.

"You don't have to."

Gotoh immediately responded to Leorio's request, and the expressions of the three became grave.

Judging from the Zoldyck family's performance so far, I think even if they came from far away to welcome him as a guest, they wouldn't let him see Killua. Deaf.

However, sure enough, even in this crazy demon cave, I did not bring up such a meaningless, bankrupt matter.

"Master Killua is heading this way."

Gon's reaction was delayed for a moment because he had only just received an unexpected answer.

"!! Really!?"

"Yes. Please wait a moment."

When Gotoh told Gon, and Gon asked him back to be sure, he looked at the companions sitting to his left and right.

"I'm so happy I don't know what to say," Gon said with an expression on his face, and Kurapika and Leorio also relaxed and smiled.

Sora smiled at Gon and said, "That's good," then patted his head.

Stroking her, she stood up and said,

"Then, as you said, I'll let you rest for a while; I'm going to pick flowers, to borrow the restroom."

Not only Gon and the Maid, but even the Maid was confused by this meaningless jargon, and Sora walked around the mansion by himself.

Because he walked so naturally, the reaction was slow, and Canary hurriedly said: "Master Sora! I will take you to see!"

Gotoh gave a wry smile at the exchange between the two women; the remaining Gon and the others seemed embarrassed by Sora's consistent eccentric behavior, and all three apologized, "Sorry."

"Don't worry... Now, waiting is boring and long, why don't you play a game to pass the time?"

"A game?"

Gotoh's expression softened a little, perhaps because Sora's ambiguity relaxed the air, although he still used his usual phrase to respond to the three's apologies.

Leorio laughed off Gotoh's Suggestion and became friendlier; Gotoh took it out without explaining the content and rules of the game.

It was a coin. I took out a gold coin about the size of a 500-Jenny coin, flipped it with my Finger, raised it into the air, and after a moment, I crossed my hands to catch the falling coin and asked.

"Which hand is holding the coin?"

Gotoh asked with a chuckle, as if to show off his lightly clenched fist to the four of them.

The rules and points of the game were clear at a glance, and the three pointed and answered at the same time.

"Left hand."

"Good answer. Then we'll go faster next time."

When I opened my clenched fist, just as the three said, it was in Gotoh's left hand. After showing it, he flipped the coin with his Finger again.

Just as I announced, I crossed my arms earlier than before to catch the coin and showed off my fist to the three.

"Come on, which one?"

To this question, everyone immediately answered, "Left hand again," and this time, not only Gotoh but the Maids applauded them, saying, "Awesome."

Of course, I knew this was verbal service to the guests, but no one felt bad about being praised.

... They didn't notice that only Canary's expression was stiff.

"Well, I'll be more serious next time."

Gotoh announced with a gentle smile, and then took action.

It was the same until he flipped the coin with his Finger and dropped it, but this time he didn't just cross his arms; when the coin fell into the range of his arms, he moved his hands up, down, left, and right, then was about to make a few feints, grabbed it, let go, caught it with the other hand, flicked his Fingers repeatedly, and then swung his fist at the three just like before, and asked.

"Come on, which one?"

To Gotoh's question, Leorio replied, "Well, I'm not confident, but... maybe I'm right...", but Gotoh did not prompt the other two to answer, nor did he answer whether he was right or wrong, and suddenly changed the subject.

"I... have known you since you were born."

Slowly, but clearly, the atmosphere in this place changed.

When this place was filled with the "hostility" they had prepared when guided by Canary, Gotoh's expression changed completely; he felt it was cute when invited to this mansion.

"Honestly... I hate that you are trying to steal Master Killua."

"............"

Realizing that they were not welcome at all, the three fell silent.

To the three who didn't know what to say, Gotoh urged them to answer the game, as if saying he was not interested in their arguments.

"Now... which one? Answer me."

"Left hand."

After Kurapika answered, Gotoh silently opened his left hand.

In his palm was a gold coin that transformed into a piece of paper. After finishing his demonstration, Gotoh lowered his head again and spoke in a voice that sounded deeply regretful.

"Your wife... is a voice that seems to be gradually fading away."

I do not know if he was saying this to Gon and the others, or if he was talking to himself.

However, he raised his gloomy face, and his next words were definitely directed at Gon and the others.

"I am sorry."

Gotoh made a one-sided declaration with thick veins bulging on his temples.

"I will reach a conclusion before Master Killua arrives."

"I will judge you in my own way. Do not complain.... Even if it is Sora."

He had long since discarded honorifics for Gon and the others, but perhaps he had "welcomed" Sora from the bottom of his heart.

Even so, he indicated he did not mind turning her into an enemy, and the other Maids seemed to secretly agree with Gotoh's words; perhaps it was because they were recognized as traitors that they held a blade to Canary's neck.

"Listen, once you make a mistake, you are out."

"If all three of you are out before Master Killua arrives... Sora will also feel guilty for inviting these guys who only have this much ability."

"Tell Killua that the four of them left first. To a place where we will never meet again..."

Seriously, "If possible, I don't want to become an enemy," Sora became an enemy. Rice field.

Leorio and Kurapika wanted to reproach Sora, not limited to this moment, and if they were here it would be even more troublesome, which made her breathe a slight sigh of relief, but perhaps that woman would eventually end up in this situation... the suspicion that she might have already left her seat swirled in their minds, and for the time being, the two of them planned to hit her once when she returned.

... Determined to live until you return.

Caught between the two determined men, Gon looked straight at Gotoh with his unswollen right eye, and then... smiled.

Gotoh's expression did not change at Gon's reaction, but everyone could see his momentary confusion. No wonder. Gon was not smiling just because of confidence, nor was he sneering to try to provoke him; he was genuinely happy.

"Okay."

Overjoyed, he smilingly agreed to continue the "game," with not only Canary's life at stake, but the lives of others as well.

In response, the other Maids were clearly startled; Gotoh's pride as a leader did not change, but a chill ran down his spine. I am confused because I do not know who I am dealing with.

However, Kurapika and Leorio stared blankly at this reaction for a few seconds, but soon their surprise turned around, their faces turned to admiration, and they raised their voices in unison, "Ah...".

He understood that he was truly happy, was impressed by the positivity, and thought it was "impossible."

Gon was truly happy.

I want to say something to Gotoh, I want to prove something; no one else hopes for the same "Killua happiness" but cannot reach the same conclusion, no one else can understand my sincerity in "protecting Killua." Only they understand that he is genuinely overjoyed at this opportunity that has finally appeared.

Proving their understanding was not wrong, despite the Obstacle of one swollen eyelid covered in gauze, he smiled at Gotoh as usual and said.

"Let's begin."

Not just Gotoh and the others, but even Canary, who was pointing a blade at him, had the same thought about his brilliant smile and his words urging them to proceed.

(Similar to calling a friend...)

Needless to say who it is.

"Hmm, what should we do?"

Sora walked out of one of the restrooms furthest from the hall, muttering to herself while wiping her hands.

It was true that she wanted to go to the restroom, but as Kurapika and Leorio suspected, this woman knew that Gotoh and the others would do something to determine if they had the strength to be entrusted with Killua. It is easier for me to do. You two can hit this woman.

However, Sora also understood Gotoh's mood, so even if it was impossible to send Killua off comfortably, I think this was probably a necessary ritual to minimize the dissatisfaction of the Zoldyck family.

That is why I did not want to let Gotoh and the others drag their feet; I don't think Gon and the others would do that, but don't rely on me alone, because Killua has a naive self-consciousness, so I won't. I don't want to provoke him; the biggest reason is that Sora left that place and did not intend to return to the Residence hall until Gotoh's "inspection" was over.

I feel it is bad that I left the three of them silently, but I am not worried.

Gotoh is strict with others, but even Sora, who has little to no relationship with him, knows very well that he is equally strict with himself.

So, I don't know how he will evaluate Gon and the others, but Gotoh does not want to deprive them of their personal feeling of "I don't want Killua to be taken away." I am sure of it.

At the same time, Sora believes that no matter the content, Gon and the others will be able to pass Gotoh's test. Otherwise, Sora would not have brought them here. No matter what others say, he is still Training in that mountain hut.

Therefore, Sora's interest is not in Gon's group or Gotoh, but in how to spend her free time until Gotoh's test is over.

Sure enough, wandering around the Residence without permission is not worth it, even now there is no common sense that makes any sense, but even so, I am tired of the usual disgust of standing in front of the toilet before me.

"... Now, should I go back and hide near the main hall and wait for things to end?"

It would be very embarrassing if Gon and the others found her, but she couldn't think of any other way or where to go, so Sora slowly walked back the way she came.

However, lucky or unlucky, even with my own initiative, I still managed to avoid being excluded by the lonely and pitiful net.

"... Sora."

"Meow!?"

When Sora passed in front of the stairs, a voice came from the Pitch Darkness beside the stairs; Sora let out a short, cat-like scream and jumped up.

Startled, Sora jumped up, backed against the Wall, pressed her hand to her chest to suppress her palpitations, and opened her eyes wide to see who was calling her.

"Eh! Eh?... What, Kalluto? I was surprised; I almost screamed when I saw him."

"That's not much."

Seeing that Sora's reaction to someone without bloodlust or hostility seemed slower than an ordinary person's, Kalluto did not know the situation and glared at her with a look of disgust.

However, Sora's reaction and statement were not too bad.

I was suddenly called out in the Pitch Darkness, and when I turned to see a handsome, expressionless boy with a bob-cut, looking like a Japan doll in a kimono, I would usually scream. There are probably more than a few people who would faint.

It was a completely terrifying appearance, but when Kalluto puffed out his cheeks and pouted, saying Sora was scared, and passed by him unknowingly, the uncanny valley-like doll image suddenly disappeared, which was just right for his age. Sora also forgot her fear, patted his head, and asked, "I'm sorry, what's wrong?"

His cheeks puffed out slightly... but he was no longer sulking; he just wanted to be touched on the head again, so Kalluto's eyes were full of joy, and it was clear he was putting on an act. Perhaps he remembered, but now he refused, "Don't touch it!"

The petting hand was brushed away, and Sora widened her eyes.

Kalluto was provoked by Sora, and Sora waited for his words without scolding him, even though he suddenly said something unreasonable.

Kurt threw a tantrum; he felt guilty for the "unreasonable rejection" he had never experienced before meeting her, which made him feel frustrated.

"... Brother, is that all!?"

Sora bit his lip and narrowed his eyes, looking as if he were saying "I don't understand," not asking a question but reproaching Kalluto.

Looking at his expression, I understood everything.

Kalluto also understood that Sora grasped all of his anger and frustration.

Sora, troubled in this way, smiled as if to say, "It can't be helped."

While reproaching himself and glaring at the adult's smiling face, saying that it would be fine if he just took it out and forgave him, Kalluto stomped on the ground and shouted.

Just as Sora imagined, he was helplessly reminded that he was still a child, and although he regretted it, he couldn't control his anger and spat it out directly.

"... Sora... Brother Irumi, Mother, or anyone else are 'enemies,' are they just 'enemies who kill my brother'? Are you saying I am also Sora's enemy!?"

"My enemies won't become Sora's enemies!?"

Kalluto stomped on the ground and shook his beautiful short hair while shouting.

I have a lot to say.

Ever since they arrived at Canary's home, he had been observing Gon's interactions. It was Kurt who notified Mother that Gon and the others had arrived.

I guess he also wanted to see for himself if he was the right person to entrust Killua to.

This is the result.

Although it was the minimum for this family, Gon had the ability to open the Testing Gate himself, but he never gave up; despite being beaten by Canary, he continued to move forward without resistance, never stopping his steps. The three of them kept staring.

From Kalluto's perspective, Canary's "help me" was such a huge shock that he doubted whether he was sane before entrusting Killua to him.

When I first met Sora, even more than when Sora told me "I won't marry you," I was deeply hurt by his words denying the "Zoldyck family," which was my entire world.

However, I was reminded that this was just the beginning for Kalluto.

The words Sora used to declare war before Mother left blew away everything he had endured until now.

"——That child's enemies, no matter who they are, are my enemies."

There is no need to cross the boundary. You don't have to understand each other. But sometimes I tell him that if he is far away and I can still talk to him, if he can feel that warmth, even if it is rare, that is fine.

I really want you to say that.

No matter who the opponent is, I hope he stands on my side.

I hope you affirm your own world and values.

I want to enter my own world.

I want them to see the same things as me, fall in love with the same things, and live the same life.

Although I had no intention of giving up anything, I knew I was just selfishly seeking one-sidedness, so I kept pretending to be satisfied with the status quo; before I gave in, I didn't understand anything—the actions of the intruder Gon and the others, Canary's words and tears, and... Sora, who gave Killua the words he most wanted to leave home with, became the final blow, and Kalluto's anger erupted.

"Why... because your brother isn't an Assassin anymore? Is being an Assassin that bad? Worse than those who ask us?"

"I know the risks of my job, and I'm prepared! To Sora, is a killer worse than those who ask us to take out the trash without even knowing they might die!?"

"Some people use money to cover up their crimes and buy their innocence, so why is it wrong to use money to sell a death sentence!?"

"Hmm? No, I don't remember denying that I hate killers, you know?"

"I think it would be better if this profession disappeared, but that is also the reason why I hope we can live in a world that no longer needs police."

"... Teeth?"

Faced with Sora's words, Kalluto's whimpering, which he thought would not stop until he spat out what he wanted to say, paused for a moment with an expression and voice of anger, fury, and incomprehension.

Sora is Sora; listening to Kalluto's tantrum, he wore a troubled, apologetic, and ambiguous smile, but he kept a straight face when he brought up the "Assassin" issue, which was far from the main problem. Kalluto didn't know if he could not understand the reaction, and now he tilted his head.

Although annoyed by the constant interruptions from the air, Kurt, who was used to her thought process, muttered with a crooked mouth: "... This guy is like this," and then asked Sora if he had calmed down a little.

"... Sora, my family... what do you think of the Zoldyck family?"

When I asked him a very basic question again, Sora gave a powerful and direct answer.

"In short, you should all listen to what people have to say, okay?"

This was not what Kalluto imagined, nor was it the answer he wanted to hear.

My weakness was 90% due to the frustration that "it's not over there," but just a little bit... I didn't want to hear it; Kalluto ignored the terrifying "answer" that it wasn't an unbearable relief.

"Kalluto, what's wrong?"

"... No matter what I do, I can't do it."

Kalluto suddenly knelt on the ground, assuming an OTL posture.

Sora, who still didn't know what was wrong with his remarks, tilted his head and reached out.

I reached out once again to touch the Kalluto I had once rejected, using my hand to comb and stroke his messy short hair, tidying it up.

This time I couldn't refuse.

"Kalluto, listen to me."

Even though Kalluto's hair was almost a mess, Sora never let go of Kalluto's head. She said, while stroking his shiny hair over and over again to calm him down.

"I love Killua, so Killua's enemies are my enemies. I also love you, but I can't say that your enemies are my enemies."

"Because your enemies are the targets of your work, not your personal enemies. If Killua weren't an Assassin, even if she said 'he is my enemy' out of unreasonable resentment, you could point it out and convince him, 'you are not my enemy,' but in your case, this is 'work.' This is ultimately impartial and unreasonable."

The body heat generated by stroking the head healed the broken chest. The dissatisfaction in the heart, the cold thorns, slowly melted away.

"I am not qualified to interfere, but if innocent people are killed by you, I will protect them. This is my job, so it can't be helped." No, I know that killing you like that would make you and your family resent me, so even if I become your enemy, I don't want you to kill me.

"So, I'm sorry, but I can't make your enemies my enemies without exception. I can't affirm you, but I can't abandon you either, so this is a half-baked response, but I have no choice but to do this."

The boundary cannot be crossed. In the end, Sora still disapproved of his house and work.

But do not deny it; the misunderstanding and dissatisfaction that Kalluto felt he could not be loved more than Killua because he was an Assassin, and that he could not be protected even with unconditional protection, were finally uncovered.

... I know it's not because they hate me, nor because I was rejected.

Because he likes me, and because he respects my work as an "Assassin," he said, "I cannot be your friend."

As usual, the world where Sora and Killua live, the world they want to live in, and the world they want to live in are completely disconnected, and they realize they cannot get close to Kalluto. I am happy.

However, because he understood that she respected him so much, and he also liked her, this time, rather than dissatisfaction, it was more like anger, and he asked it frankly; Kalluto lowered his head and raised the question.

"... Sora. Why does Sora think 'killing' is bad?"

For a very long time, this was Kurt's question.

Sora never spoke ill of the profession of "Assassin." Although he rarely affirmed it, he respected the thoughts of the Zoldyck Family who participated in the work and did not deny them.

He was tolerant simply because it was something I was not interested in and did not care about; although Sora gave me suggestions in his capacity as an "Assassin," he established a clear boundary between himself and the "Assassin," instead of giving them to me from there.

From Kalluto's perspective, she had already killed at least one person while working with him, and according to her brothers, she had also killed them during the Hunter Exam, so it seemed she did not avoid murder that much. That was why I was very suspicious.

From Kalluto's perspective, killing a person did not change the fact that you were a murderer, so I did not understand the point of trying to reduce the bloodstains on your hands.

This was the reason I asked.

As a question, it was too simple and childish.

Sora also looked back at Kurt, who was staring straight at him, and asked.

"It's better not to know."

It was just a question like asking why the sky is blue. So, if he were told, it wouldn't matter if he withdrew, but Kalluto could not let herself withdraw from the previous question, "Is it just my brother?"

"If you don't tell me, I will stop you from taking my brother away."

I wanted to know precisely because I was certain that this was the "boundary line" that separated Sora from me. In order to figure it out, I did not leave.

I knew that if I found out, I might not even be able to have a conversation like this, but I still wanted to know.

Because I thought that if I didn't know, I could only stay "here" forever.

It didn't have to end. Even if I couldn't go to Beyond, I didn't have to come here.

However, like Sora, I thought I should know that I should be able to touch it, even if just a little, so that I could get close to it, so that when it came to me, I could reach out my hand to feel its warmth.

I didn't want to give up the place that belonged to me, but I wanted to become an "adult" like Sora, who could respect the things important to her without letting go of the things important to me.

"Hey, Sora. Why can't one kill?"

This question was naive and simple. And hopeful.

That was why I could not back down.

Answering the second question with slightly different wording, Sora narrowed his eyes and spoke first.

"... Boys really won't be children for long."

Sora answered after appreciating the Kalluto he longed for, while understanding what he might lose.

"People, you know, everyone has the right to kill a person once."

He stroked Kalluto's cheek and remembered it as he answered.

Although she was usually straightforward and like the embodiment of unfriendliness, sometimes her girlishness and cuteness made you unable to believe she was a mother of a child of her own age. A person whose daily life was happy.

Even before Sora came here, even before he got these eyes, he had already unknowingly wanted to become like this all along.

"Use that one time when you die. Unless you commit suicide, you cannot go to Heaven or Hell. In the Abyss, in the Origin, in the chaos... because everything is there, it has no choice but to dissolve and disappear into the meaningless void."

I used to be just like Kalluto.

I didn't know why I shouldn't kill. The reason I had never killed anyone was that I didn't have anyone I wanted to kill, and I just didn't have the chance to do so.

"If you cannot kill yourself, everything you do, everything important to you will become meaningless, and you will have no choice but to blend into a very lonely place. So you shouldn't kill."

When she told me she was just my daughter's friend, I still didn't know what she was thinking.

However, I only remembered the words she said when she looked at me too directly.

He seemed to be regretting something, but at the same time, he told me with a look on his face as if he had witnessed a miracle, as if he had reunited with someone he thought he would never see again.

"That is why you shouldn't kill. If you kill and use this right for yourself, you can no longer kill."

That is why it is bad. Killing someone means killing yourself. Before you die, you can commit suicide while you are still alive, and you will not be able to go anywhere; all you can do is lose everything and disappear.

That teaching turned Sora, who was originally just a creature called a "Magician," into a girl named "Shiki Sora," a human.

At that time, Sora had no reason to want to live, but that teaching gave him a reason to "not want to die."

Wanting to protect the words and teachings that became Sora's core, he had already used his own right; even if there was no meaning in protecting them, Sora could not let them go.

Looking straight at him, just like the person who taught you.

"... I don't understand."

"Probably."

However, Kalluto certainly did not agree with me like I did back then, tilting her head suspiciously.

Frankly speaking, I myself did not truly understand the meaning of this teaching until I fell into "", let alone at that time.

However, with pure intuition, I felt that this teaching was better than the common sense I had been taught as a "Magician" until now, he smiled bitterly, not wanting to talk more.

I don't want you to understand.

If this teaching is true, then both Kalluto and the Zoldyck Family are too late, and there has long been no salvation, so if possible, I don't want to talk about it, and I don't want you to believe it if you don't understand it.

I have no intention of imposing this kind of teaching on Kalluto, who has long been forced to give up the right to commit suicide against her own will.

"You don't have to know; these are all my personal values or thoughts."

"... You don't have to believe it, you don't have to understand it. I just want you to know that I stick to these incomprehensible thoughts."

After speaking, Sora looked at the time on his watch.

About 30 minutes had passed since I said "I'm going to the restroom" and left the hall. Judging from the distance from the main residence to this Residence, I felt it was a good time for Killua to have arrived on foot, and I also wanted to return to the main hall.

"Well, Kalluto. Sorry, I'm leaving."

"What about Kurt? If you come with me, can't you at least say hello to Killua?"

Even when I stood up and asked if Kalluto would come, he still shook his head silently.

As expected, Sora showed a slightly disappointed smile at the stubborn shyness of cutting off relations with anyone outside the Zoldyck Family, then waved his hand, turned around, and said: "I see. See you later."

Kurt grabbed that hand.

"Kalluto?"

Kurt held his hand and said to Sora, who had turned around in surprise.

"Sora, I don't understand what you're saying, and I don't understand what you're doing. You already lost your rights long ago, so why are you still holding onto such an inexplicable idea? Am I an idiot?"

Pointing it out again, Sora was clearly aware of this point himself.

"Yes. Stupid. Very stupid."

Kalluto affirmed these harsh remarks and continued.

"So, if you are tired of this stupid idea, you can come to my house anytime.

We won't tell you not to kill, so it will definitely make you feel better."

Hearing Kurt's words, Sora turned his face and stared at him with round eyes the color of the night sky.

In the end, even after listening to Sora's story, I didn't truly understand the meaning of the "boundary line" that separated me from Sora, and I couldn't even respect what Sora was protecting.

I could only think that Sora's ideas were stupid. I lost the meaning of what I had done, and I could only think that I would be hurt.

That is why these words were the best I could do for Kalluto.

Even if he denied what Sora Stick to, or what had become Sora's essence and was important to him, he did not deny Sora.

Telling him that no matter how many people he killed, Sora had value and meaning, and was willing to stay by his side.

Kalluto did not know how much my greatest effort had been conveyed.

"……I see. Thank you, Kalluto."

However, Sora smiled happily. He smiled and stroked Kalluto's head, so I believe Kalluto had done his best... He did not want to let Sora suffer, he wanted to make Sora happy. Let go.

……Even if he smiled, even if he thanked me, even so, he did not say: "Alright then, when you are tired, please take care of me."

Kalluto waved goodbye to those who had decided to survive in another world.

"……See you, Sora."

I said goodbye.

＊＊＊

"Hmph!! And Kurapika!! Leorio!!"

"After that?"

"Leorio!!"

When Sora returned to the hall, it seemed Killua had just arrived at the Residence, and the two had an indescribable reunion.

"I'm home... Come to think of it, Killua has never called Leorio's name correctly."

"!? Sora!"

While announcing he had just returned, as he refuted Killua's glorious name error, everyone turned around to call Sora's name.

Gon said somewhat rudely: "Oh, I forgot." Kurapika and Leorio also understood the reason for Sora's departure, saying: "So you came back at this time on purpose!" Then, as planned, he clenched his fist. He protested with his fist, but Killua was the one who reacted faster than the other two.

"Jajanken!"

"Killua!?"

"Sora!?"

"Hey, Killua, what are you doing!?"

Just as he suddenly ran toward Sora, Killua lowered his posture and used a rocket-headbutt toward Sora's abdomen, leaving Gon and the others equally confused.

However, Killua ignored his surroundings, looked down at Sora who had fallen to the ground, and glared at him.

For Killua, who knew his reaction speed, he knew he had headbutted him on purpose, so he felt no guilt when he saw Sora holding his stomach and coughing. On the contrary, I was unnecessarily angry.

"What the hell are you doing all of a sudden, you?"

Seeing Sora sitting cross-legged on the floor, Killua expressed his dissatisfaction and asked.

"……Why didn't you come home?"

"Huh? How many times have I eaten? Oh, come to think of it, did you eat the apple pie? How was it?"

"That's not it!! I ate it! It was delicious! But I also wanted to eat Pound Cake, to properly finish off that pig!!"

From that exchange, everyone guessed the reason for Killua's headbutt; except for Kurapika, everyone else gave a bitter smile.

Unlike Gon and the others, he was a free pass, but everyone thought he was just complaining that he hadn't come to see him; the Maid and Gon were probably agreeing for the first time to let Killua be alone for a while. However, Leorio continued to tease Kurapika, and Kurapika was still too narrow-minded toward Sora.

Killua, whose dissatisfaction had erupted and whose blood was boiling until now, did not notice that he was wrapped in a kindness that made him faint due to an indescribable warmth, and complained to Kalluto and Sora.

Sora thought if he said something like that, he might get angry or be shocked into sleep. I listened quietly, but soon felt bored, and I forced myself to change the story.

"By the way, Killua. Who allowed you to leave home?"

"You don't feel bad at all!"

Killua dutifully answered this sudden and rather basic question.

"Heh, it wasn't Zeno."

"……Well, I really didn't expect Father to forgive me so easily. But"

He knew that the reason Sora hadn't come to see him was because Killua, who had returned to this house to face his family, was spoiled by Sora, and he didn't escape facing him, stopping to speak.

When Sora proudly replied that he was proud of the answer he had obtained for facing him, and the "now" he had obtained through his own determination, Sora picked up something unexpected from Killua, and then parroted a reply.

"Conditions?"

"?"

Somewhat puzzled by Sora's reaction, Killua answered happily and proudly, showing Sora the scar on his thumb as proof of the vow, and then laughed.

However, Sora's answer was a Hard "Hmm," which made Killua even more confused.

But Killua could not voice Sora's strange reaction.

"Killua. I will cast a Spell on you again."

"Teeth?"

Just as he finally stood up, he said this suddenly, which again sent Killua in a different direction than before, but Killua found his words and actions cute.

Sora had just stood up when he pushed aside Killua's forehead without hesitation.

Placing his lips on the center of Killua's forehead.

"!?

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

Killua spoke first, and a few seconds later, Gon and the Maids all said the same meaningless words.

Ignoring that reaction, Sora moved his lips away from Killua's forehead and told him.

"-You are fine."

The possibility Wizard confirmed.

"Absolutely no problem."

I didn't say anything. Even so, he gave me "Magic" that had no other possibilities and smiled.

... Blue eyes gazed at the faint, thin "lines" emanating from Killua's forehead, and the "something" at the center of those lines.

I saw it from the very beginning, when I met Killua.

An eerie death line. It was clear that something had been planted on his forehead... inside his brain.

At first I didn't know what it was, so I didn't know what to do; it was only when I learned that Killua was the heir of the Zoldycks that I realized it was "Illumi's Needle," but even though Sora noticed, he did not participate. I did not.

The needle inserted was small, and the location where it was inserted was not easy, but with my eye, that needle had the potential to kill, yet I did not.

Killua's death trajectory, that is, the effect of the needle embedded in his body, became darker when he encountered danger and escaped that danger, so Illumi's ability was mainly activated when Killua moved away from danger. Because I realized that it was to keep them away and survive.

So Sora did nothing.

There must have been many calculations, but instead of turning Killua into a puppet, he only guided him to the extent that he prioritized his own survival. The reason he did not deprive Killua of his free will was because that family interpreted it as respect for Killua.

I know this is overprotection for Killua's safety, so I had no intention of interfering with that kind of parental affection and brotherly love.

(... But not this time.)

Sora said to Illumi and Silva in his mind.

I will respect their family love, but Sora, just as he said to Kikyo, believed that Killua's enemy was his own.

Therefore, if the despair that might appear again because of Killua's feelings was nothing more than an arrangement, and if he treated it as a seed of destruction, then Sora would also prepare countermeasures in the same way.

Pulling out the needle would not provide relief. Even if I killed this needle, the brainwashing that had been deeply rooted for many years would not disappear itself, so I just lost the support; I did not kill the needle because I did not do anything at all.

In Sora's view, even after Killua pulled out the needle, he knew that his habit of "an enemy he cannot win against without fighting" would not change.

If Killua still could not overcome his instincts after Sora killed the needle, this time he would have no excuses, and he could see himself blaming himself and collapsing.

So Sora did not "kill" Illumi's Needle, but "Magic"ed it.

I promise that I can become who I want to be.

"... Curse or Magic, who wins depends on yourself."

After Sora kissed his forehead, Killua blushed and pressed his hands against his forehead.

Of course, Killua could not hear his voice, but Sora did not care, because he had not spoken in a meaningful way from the start.

"Ki, congratulations, Master Killua?"

"Well done, Killua."

"What are you all talking about?"

So conversely, I felt confused about the current state of Goto and Gon, while at the same time very confusedly applauding for Killua.