Chapter 74: Not a Rain of Tears

By that day, Killua looked just like his parents' enemy... didn't he? If someone could kill Killua's parents, Killua would look at them with eyes that said, "Is this really a human!?" and then hate them.

That is why I stared out the window, as if looking at my nagging mother or my annoying second brother.

To be precise, the sky outside the window.

Covered by thick clouds, I glared at the typhoon causing heavy rain, thunder, and wild winds, and clicked my tongue.

"... How is that idiot so unlucky in such a strange place?"

Even Killua himself did not know if he was sulking or worried about his own dishonesty.

Gon, Wing, and Zushi formed a circle and continued to consult about Killua, while Killua continued to stare at the weather—which wasn't even storm-level yet—with a subtle tension, whether out of boredom or just frustration.

"... What should I do? How do you think I can make Killua feel better?"

"Or is he in a bad mood?"

"... It seems you are worried about Sora, but considering Killua's personality, if you point that out, I think it will be more explosive."

Speaking of which, the three of them sighed at the same time.

Honestly, it is normal for these three to make Killua sullen and in a bad mood.

And the reason is 80% of the 10 Soras (occasionally Gons), so basically the three of them know that if they intervene, Killua will be even more stubborn; it's just as well that Sora is more unreasonable with Killua. Although I think this is the most smilingly cute thing, I have known for a long time that if I leave it alone, it will eventually calm down.

So, I usually leave it alone with lukewarm eyes.

However, as expected, today I could not bear to let it go.

That is to say, even today, Sora is the reason for Killua's bad mood, but this time Sora really has no problem, and Killua knows it too, so he is enduring it to keep from getting angry, because I cannot have a reason to be unable to stand it.

Today is not only Sora's day, but Gon and the others also want Killua to have the best time.

Today is the day when being most selfish is allowed.

Since it is Killua's birthday, I want to make him smile.

Although it is Killua's birthday, his mood is so bad, of course, because Sora is not here.

Just 10 days ago, Sora also became Kurapika as promised. After the Phantom Troupe Spider Killua returned, his mood had been very bad.

A deep red ribbon decorated Sora's hair, which had recovered and was elegantly embroidered with gold thread.

I know who gave me that clumsy ribbon, even if I don't know who I met.

Gon asked with an innocent face: "What's wrong with that ribbon?"

Looking at that question and looking away embarrassedly, when Sora could not hide his flushed cheeks to answer, even if it meant piercing my eardrums, I did not want to hear it.

"... Uh... Kurapika told me this was a birthday gift... I see."

After saying that, I did not want to see Sora's shy face.

She looked embarrassed, but more importantly, falling in love with Sora's incomparably happy face is the most annoying thing.

After Sora's birthday, I realized that Kurapika is the same as me; I was angry and annoyed at Kurapika, who thought that even if it was a month late, I had to give it to him.

Although we couldn't meet on the day of the event, Kurapika was able to congratulate us, but in order to fulfill the promise we made four years ago, he prioritized us, and Killua couldn't help but dislike the cleverness of giving him a gift.

Of course, Kurapika is not clever enough to hand over a gift to show himself that "Sora is mine," so I am quite sure he is not that kind of person.

This color combination that reminds me of the sender might be embarrassing, but he is the same type as me, so he is embarrassed to make obvious marks, so Killua analyzed it calmly.

So I realized that this was entirely my own paranoia and jealousy; I should have been prepared to hand it over later, but I didn't come up with such an idea at all.

Because he knew, he didn't have enough momentum to go crazy, and even so, he couldn't accept it.

However, I hate this feminine look, and I compromised by wearing a tube top and shorts. Killua couldn't help but be annoyed by her hair being tied up.

I can't count how many times I fantasized about tearing the ribbon, every time a piece of red cloth reflected on my white hair and caught my eye.

The reason I barely resisted this impulse was because I could easily imagine how sad Sora would be if I did that.

I'm sure Sora wouldn't even blame himself for being angry at tearing it.

However, I saw myself lamenting the loss of the ribbon, regretting not being able to take good care of it, and continuing to apologize to Kurapika, so I stopped.

I stopped, I stuck, I stuck.

Believing that in another 10 days, this frustration will surely subside.

And in fact, as time passed, Killua's anger subsided a little.

It's not just familiarity.

The day I became the protagonist, the day Sora made me look forward to, the day I promised to congratulate him is also approaching.

My birthday is coming up, so I am looking forward to it and enduring it.

Even so, although he endured it, Killua was still disgusted that no one could control his anger; he glared at the thunderstorm sky and clicked his tongue.

"... Under what star was that idiot born?"

Killua stared at the typhoon and clicked his tongue hatefully.

I know. I know that Killua is not as important to Sora as Kurapika is, so he didn't keep his promise.

There is no problem with Sora. The reason Sora is not at Heaven's Arena now is actually his own fault.

Sora went out yesterday.

I didn't say why I had to leave, so even though I repeatedly assured Killua that I would definitely be back this afternoon, Killua didn't believe me.

As a result, Sora told me what he was hiding.

He told me he wanted to give it to Killua on his birthday.

For Gon's birthday in May, and Kurapika's birthday gift that was 3 months late 10 days ago, Sora used cheap jewels and accepted them without hesitation.

It was filled with his own aura, without the kind of effect Sora usually uses, just an "Amulet" used for soothing, but he gave the gift like a Jewel Mage.

He also said that he wanted to give such a gift to Killua as well.

Of course, I wasn't without a gift prepared the day before. However, I couldn't find a stone of the quality or type that would satisfy Sora, so I compromised a lot. When he told me he wanted to hand over the "Amulet" he had carefully crafted, Killua had no reason to complain anymore.

A jewelry buyer who has a close relationship with me through Biscuit contacted me and said: "I found the stone I was looking for." This is a distance I can travel home during the day.

If there were no trouble, I should have gone home.

Although it had approached, the typhoon, which should have been heading in a completely different direction, suddenly changed course this morning and struck that country and the area around Heaven's Arena.

If the typhoon moved from Heaven's Arena to a neighboring country, Sora would go as far as possible, wait for a few hours where he was trapped, and be able to return by the end of the day, even if the promised noon arrival was impossible.

However, reality is cruel, and the direction of progress is the opposite. The last time I received a call saying the typhoon had moved from a neighboring country to Heaven's Arena, causing the transportation system to be completely paralyzed and leaving me stranded, was about five hours ago.

... On the phone, Sora apologized repeatedly.

Although the terrible sound of rain and wind seemed to drown it out, Sora still apologized over and over again in a tearful voice.

Using the privileges of my Hunter ID to go to a place where I could manage in this typhoon, running around in the heavy rain looking for a functioning transportation system, trying to return to the Arena, without it I know

Said nothing.

Sora did not use the typhoon as an excuse, nor did he use the fact that all transportation systems were destroyed as an excuse.

I am painfully aware that you returned to Killua and wanted to wish him a happy birthday.

Sora had no intention of doing so. Feeling guilty again and again.

"Sorry! Sorry, Killua! I've been waiting! I will definitely be back by the end of the day!!"

A voice that seemed to be drowned out by the heavy rain, but still lingers in my ears, I know it is about to cry.

Wanting to drown out that voice, wanting to cover it up... "Sorry, I was selfish, don't push yourself," Killua repeated countless times.

I tried to contact Sora with my Mobile Phone.

However, the voice I heard from the Mobile Phone was not Sora's voice about to cry, or already crying, but a very inorganic, synthesized voice.

"The phone number you dialed is either unreachable or powered off. Please call me again..."

"... Still can't connect?"

Gon said timidly.

He knew it was he who caused the atmosphere that made it difficult to talk to him, but his reaction to the swelling was annoying, and just as he was about to shout "Can't you see?!", he said briefly: "... Ah," he just replied.

In response, Gon sighed sadly, and he also stared at the typhoon outside the window.

"... Then, did Sora's Mobile Phone get water in it?"

"... I guess. Or rather, it was drowned out by the sound. Where is he?"

I know.

Sora's communication has been cut off for five hours, and Killua knows it is because of it.

While apologizing to himself, he screamed "Ah!?"

... Saying this, Killua continued to redial, staring at the Mobile Phone with a worried face and teary eyes.

I want to say enough.

I just want to tell you that I won't be running around in this weather, not only is there heavy rain and storms, but there are also multiple thunderstorms.

I said, I want a sense of security.

Sora is running around for himself. It is unreasonable for me to go home.

Killua tried to contact him over and over again to make sure he was celebrating his birthday.

(... This is the worst for me)

Not because I'm worried about Sora.

I think the reason I didn't contact him wasn't because he gave up before Killua stopped him.

I don't want to hear Sora's voice on her birthday, because she is the only one who sounds like she is about to cry.

Besides, Killua hasn't heard it yet.

Sora just apologized. After apologizing, he just said unreasonably: "I will definitely be back by the end of the day!"

I haven't heard the words "Happy Birthday" from Sora yet.

Apart from gifts, this is what I want to hear most at the end of the day.

This is what I want.

"... Well, Mr. Killua. Would you like to drink something? I'll treat you to a drink, so please buy something while you drink..."

"... Fine. I'll go myself."

Zushi complied, wanting to raise the topic and make a proposal to ease the atmosphere, but Killua's answer was not good.

Just because he didn't say "I don't need it" and didn't cut it off, it proved that the feeling of Killua making him worry was bad, but even if he did it himself, dealing with the boil was annoying.

"I mean, why don't Wing and Zushi go back to their inn? It's nine o'clock, isn't it?"

So, although I am sorry to make you worry so much, I want to ask you both to go back.

This is a relatively unreasonable request, but to be honest, it is probably because the two of them missed the timing to go home that they stayed until this time.

Hearing Killua's proposal, both of them seemed to be slightly relieved, and Killua decided to take Zushi and Wing to the elevator while Gon bought drinks.

Along the way, Zushi seemed to have made up his mind, expressed his concern to Killua, and said to Killua after worrying about whether he should be careful.

"... Well, student Killua. Although it's late, happy birthday."

"... Ah, right... Happy 12th birthday, Killua."

Knowing who Killua wanted to get congratulations from, the words congratulating his birth, he gave the words he couldn't say.

It should be happy to hear such words from someone other than family for the first time, but even if I can't say Zushi and Gon are on the same level, I have already treated Zushi as a friend, and Wing is a thing, although I trust and respect him, Killua's heart is still unsatisfied, and he just responded with a careless "domo".

Last night at 12 o'clock on July 7th, when I just said "congratulations", I was so embarrassed and itchy, but I hope that everything I have done so far has been affirmed. My heart is full of happiness, but I believe that around noon tomorrow, I will get the same thing again. I can't help it.

Without even opening the canned cola he bought, Killua held it in his hand sleepily.

"Killua is great!"

"Yeah, everyone had bad luck today.

... So, let's enjoy today from tomorrow."

Zushi hurriedly denied Killua's apology, while Wing followed behind with a gentle smile.

Although it was his birthday, he had been in a bad mood, anxious and uneasy, exposing his emotional instability and creating the worst atmosphere. I was very angry.

This is why I wanted Killua to go home before his unreasonable anger erupted, but Killua and his friends are warriors of the 200th floor.

Unfortunately, the elevator seemed to have stopped very far away, and it took a long time to reach the higher floors.

It was Gon who broke the awkward silence until the elevator arrived.

"……Something, I heard a sound."

"A sound?"

The three of them all wanted to do something about this awkward silence, so they reacted at the same time.

However, Gon wanted to do something about the awkwardness, so he didn't mention any more nonsense and pointed in the direction of the "sound" with a puzzled look.

"……Yes, ……from over there."

Seeing the place Gon pointed to, the three of them were also confused.

There was an emergency staircase. It was an outdoor staircase.

Perhaps it was just made for the convenience of building codes or something else.

It was an ultra-high floor, so it was doubtful whether it could be used even in the event of a fire. On the contrary, it was a staircase that made you think rushing here would be even more dangerous.

Even if people said there was a sound in the middle of a typhoon, I could only think it was the normal sound of rain or wind, or the sound of something flying.

Killua, Zushi, and Wing all thought so, but Gon denied it, still staring at the door of the fire escape.

"……No, no. It's not like that, it's a muddy, muddy sound of footsteps…… it's a heavy sound, like the sound of dragging something…… or rather, it's getting closer, closer. Hui."

Gon's lines, especially the last sentence, made the three of them look at each other.

The height of the building we were in, the weather outside, the time wasn't late yet, but it was already long into the night; the imagination derived from Gon's lines was calm, neither real nor unreal.

In Killua's mind, the trouble from three months ago revived.

As an expert, Sora asserted that "that kind of thing is rare," but at the same time, this facility called Heaven's Arena is a facility that trades people's lives, so "rare" is a normal place. It was much easier to say than to draw.

"……Only when he is not here."

Killua clicked his tongue and glared at the door of the emergency staircase.

Wing glanced at his disciples behind him, muttered to himself, knowing his disciples well, and said: "……I told you to run, but you didn't listen to me."

"……Zushi, Gon-kun, and Killua-kun. Although I am far inferior to a master like Sora-san, I am still stronger than you."

So you must not take a step forward while staying behind me, and even more so, do not undo your 'Ken'. If I tell you to run, please run without hesitation."

"……Good. I don't want to do anything unreasonable or irrational, so don't worry about me, protect yourselves first."

Saying this, Wing gathered a momentum in his eyes, placed his hand on the doorknob of the emergency door, and did his best to deal with the opponent.

Behind him, the three of them clung tightly to him.

It seemed they were attached to Wing, and the three of them didn't think they would do anything unreasonable either.

Wing gave a wry smile at his disciples' actions.

As for the wry smile, it was a bitter, happy smile.

But that smile quickly disappeared.

I tightened it, and the door was opened.

I didn't have a key.

For a moment, Wing thought he had been careless, but he firmly believed that even if the level wasn't very high, no one would come to this floor for criminal purposes like Steal.

First of all, I felt I didn't want to go up and down the outdoor staircase on the 200th floor, even if I wasn't particularly afraid of heights. Especially when the weather was so maddening.

Because it was a sliding door, it was hard to open because of the wind.

The first thing I thought of was whether a futon had flown away? It was.

Considering the number of floors, this was impossible, but it looked like nothing more than a mass of pure white substance.

Looking closely, the whole thing was a bit dirty with mud, but a white lump was stuck on the dangerous outdoor staircase, rattling in the wind.

However, I soon knew it wasn't a futon.

That white lump crawled up and made the kind of sound just mentioned.

It clung to the stairs and crawled as it approached the stairs.

Zushi looked at his sickly white hands, growing white lumps, and gasped, while Gon muttered with trembling lips.

"—Ghost?"

"!? A ghost!? Where!?"

"It's you!!"

Hearing Gon's words, Killua shouted at the back of his head, and used the cola can he had bought to turn around vigorously to protect the four of them.

The pure white lump was Sora, wearing a white jumpsuit with his hair hanging down.

"It hurts! What are you doing!?"

"That's what you said!! What are you doing!? How much did you appear!? Far from a ghost, I can only see a monster!!"

When Killua threw a can of juice in, Sora held down the back of his head and complained that he was far from soaked, but Killua refused.

"Killua, I understand what you mean, the first time I saw it, I was convinced it was a monster, but let's go in anyway."

"Hey! Wing-san, although I am 'Hard', do you think I am a monster!?"

"Actually, I didn't want to know it was my sister either!!"

In the typhoon, the two fought on the outdoor staircase of the skyscraper. But the words of rebuttal had no room for any opposition.

Sora entered the room, and Gon and Zushi hurriedly returned to the room and handed the Towel they had brought over to Sora.

When they handed it over, the two of them looked puzzled, as if they were enduring it, and asked: "Sora, what happened?" they asked respectively.

Answering this question, Sora rubbed his hair with the towel he had received and answered curiously.

"No, the elevator was too slow, I felt like it would be faster if I stood up."

"That's why!?"

Impossible, that is the reason why I only call it a mystery.

Of course, Sora's answer was a hasty attack.

"Student Sora, do you know what floor this is!?"

"I mean, where did you run from!?"

"Hmph, do you have the confidence to run faster than the elevator!?"

"Please, die once and cure your idiocy!!"

As expected of Sora, he looked embarrassed by this full-force attack and found an awkward excuse.

"Looking back now, I can only think that I did something stupid. Honestly, I don't even know what I wanted to do."

"Is that why you climbed the outdoor stairs until you couldn't stand up!?"

"No, I crawled up, because I felt it would be dangerous to stand and climb at this height, plus the weather, this wasn't the limit of my physical strength."

"It doesn't matter! Calm down when it's meaningless!!"

When Killua shouted at Sora's excuse in anger, Sora corrected him again with a look of disgust, but as Killua said, the correction was not important.

No matter what I said, Wing knew very well that the stupid behavior of this elementary school student could not be reset, so he sighed and stopped shouting, "What exactly does Sora-san want to do?" Sora answered with a deceptive laugh.

"No, it really is meaningless."

"Runner-up High School?"

The excuse Sora gave that it was better not to do it gave me a headache, but for some reason, I still echoed it like a parrot.

Following Wing's parrot-like words, Killua, who was about to shout, and the bitter-smiling Gon and Zushi all widened their eyes.

It was such a shocking appearance that it reminded me of a premise I had completely forgotten.

"……You, impossible……"

Killua remembered the reason why he had been in such a bad mood all day, and looked at Sora in disbelief as he asked.

"…………Run……did you come back?"

"Ahaha. Yeah, that's right. That was the only way."

I said with a smile that it was natural.

The last time I received a call was about 5 hours ago. If I remember correctly, that contact said they finally got through, but the traffic was completely paralyzed.

The traffic was wiped out, Sora's Mobile Phone used as a communication tool was submerged by a manhole and fell into a road that looked like a river, and Sora chose the simplest method.

She just ran, ran, ran, and then ran back.

Approaching the dumbfounded Killua who couldn't fully understand, Sora laughed while water dripped from his body.

I laughed while taking that thing out of my waist bag and putting it around Killua's neck.

"Sorry, I'm late. But I'm glad I made it in time."

Apologize first. Afterwards, he hung it around Killua's neck with a truly relieved smile.

Sora gave him a Pendant inlaid with a Red Gem, stroking Killua's soft silver hair.

"Happy 12th birthday, Killua."

The whole body was soaked, and the white Sweatpants were also a bit dirty, as if soaked in muddy water.

If you observe her skin tone carefully, she is so pale that you might mistake her for a ghost, even if she doesn't look like that.

The hand stroking my head was too cold.

Even though the body had lost so much body temperature, Sora still smiled, and he couldn't imagine how long he had been hit by the rain.

It was as if Sora was the one worth celebrating, he smiled happily and joyfully, picked up the Red Gem hanging on Killua's neck, and said:

"Yeah, it really suits you. Ruby and I were troubled until the end, but your complexion is also very light, so the Red Gem suits you better."

Gon was the first to recover from the shocking fact that Sora had returned after running for five hours.

Gon stared from behind Sora and said: "Wow, this is real! Killua! You look good wearing it!!"

Probably lured by Gon's reaction, Wing and Zushi also came over and said: "Ah, Sora-san is more suitable to be the master's disciple than me." Each getting what they need.

No one had touched Sora who ran back all the way.

As if saying that touching was meaningless.

I didn't worry about "Are you okay?" or "Aren't you cold?"

He must have felt that doing so would be impolite.

Whether cold or tired, Sora still wanted to keep his promise, so he ran over.

After the result came out, he must have felt that he was calling this action and result "meaningless."

That is why I only saw what Sora wanted to do and what he wanted to give without telling anyone.

When he saw what he gave to Killua, he said,

"This is Carnelian. Like a ruby, it is the birthstone of July."

Whether answering Zushi's question or talking to Killua, Sora explained while holding the top-tier Jewel Pendant hanging on Killua's neck.

He explained why he couldn't Compromise, and why he wanted to send this to Killua.

"The gem words are 'friendship' and 'clear thinking.' Very suitable for Killua, right?"

In addition, there is "unyielding."

This is a Stone that cuts off "lost hearts." It is said that when you are about to start something new, it will repel the cowardly Wind blowing in your chest, give you courage, and lead you to achieve your goals and succeed."

I just want to be Together with my friends.

I do not want to kill people anymore.

I want to become a normal person.

Sora handed this to Killua, and Killua just ran out of the house holding this wish, throwing away his former self.

I wrapped both hands around the gem at the top of the Pendant, putting my wish into the Stone once again.

"May Killua's dream come true."

I only have what I want to do.

Never mind the future, there is no goal even in this Sky Arena.

For the possibility Wizard Killua, that is all there is.

"May the path you choose, the future you hope for, become your heart; no matter how many hardships there are, you will not give up.

With what you have gained on the road you have walked, I hope there will be a future you hope for from the bottom of your heart, a future of hope and smiles."

Giving you infinite possibilities.

"May Killua go anywhere."

While making a wish, he wore a smile that seemed only imaginable.

The only gift Killua could return for such a blessing was his most honest self, muttering while pulling his chin to cover his flushed cheeks.

"……Ah, thank you."

I know I am not cute at all.

Even so, Sora still smiled happily as if it were his birthday.

The three outfielders watched the interaction between the two with smiles, but Sora sneezed cutely and said, "I don't want to insult Sora's behavior." Thinking about it, everyone suggested Sora take a shower and change his clothes.

"Sora! Whether it's my room or Killua's room, go take a shower quickly!"

"Hey, do you have a change of clothes in your checked luggage?

"Huh? Me? I only have a shirt and casual pants……"

"No, no, no, the assistant's shirt is covered in wrinkles!"

Even though the towels the four of us could carry were all used up, Sora was still soaking wet, still in a dripping state.

"Hey, wait a minute, I have a change of clothes, you just need to bring my Bag!

Saying this, I handed the thing packed in the chest pocket of my jumpsuit to Gon, who was closest to me.

Seeing this, Gon gave a wry smile, thinking that Killua would be unhappy again.

Looking at her sideways, Killua, who was still a bit embarrassed, curled his lips and glared at the clothes he had just let her "dry" first.

He continued to stare at the deep red ribbon Kurapika had given him.

Most likely he took it off because he couldn't help but get it wet, but he was more afraid of it being blown away by the storm.

It would have been better to tie his hair up in this storm, so I could only think of a reason why I went to the trouble of pulling it down.

Although Killua knew he was still paranoid, he didn't like the ribbon that claimed "Sora is not yours," so he fiddled with the Pendant he had just received and left it at the end of the room, on the bag that seemed to contain Sora's change of clothes.

Handing it over, he kicked Sora into the Shower Room, then said before closing the door.

"……Next year……"

"Ah, what?"

When Sora asked the muttering Killua, Killua glared at him with cat-like eyes and declared war.

"……Don't you go and forget, even to a place where we can't even make contact!!"

Likewise, because he felt it was fake, the stubbornness of not wanting to hand over the gift immediately turned into regret, so next year I will make a cute and rotten reservation so I will never have such regret again.

Sora smiled blankly at the premature reservation.

I answered with a smile.

"I am looking forward to it."

To this, Killua snorted coldly and closed the door in retaliation.