"I'm fine."
Killua shook his head.
When Kaizen attacked earlier, it really hurt. But he'd be fine after a while.
Growing up, Killua had lived with pain. He had lost count of how many times he had been struck with a ridiculous whip.
But right now, there was something else on his mind.
Why was Kaizen so comfortable in complete darkness?
"Kaizen, can I ask you something?"
"What's up?"
"About Heavens Arena."
Kaizen glanced at Killua.
"Wait until tonight."
"Got it."
...
Everyone left the training room.
Illumi watched as Killua left with Kaizen but didn't follow. If it had been just Hisoka, he might have been concerned. But with Kaizen, Illumi felt confident that Hisoka wouldn't try anything reckless.
The match between Kaizen and Hisoka had already proved that Kaizen had the strength to stand against him. That was why, when Illumi learned of Kaizen's true identity, he had immediately warned Hisoka to stay cautious.
Illumi trusted that Kaizen knew the same.
...
Meanwhile, at the Hunter Association-provided lodging, Leorio and Kurapika sat across from each other. Dinner was set out on the table in front of them.
"Kurapika, do you think we even stand a chance of passing this Hunter Exam?" Leorio asked.
"Why do you say that?"
"Back in the third phase, we barely made it through."
Leorio sighed. "Honestly, between you, me, and Gon, none of us are that strong. At least Killua is better than us. And Kaizen... Kaizen is way stronger than Killua."
He frowned. "Not to mention terrifying guys like Hisoka. Then there's Gittarackur—he finished the third phase first, so he's bound to be powerful. And experienced candidates like Tonpa… Compared to them, I feel like I'm way out of my league."
Kurapika was silent for a moment.
"I don't know how you feel, but I have to become a Hunter. If I fail this year, I'll come back next year. If I fail next year, I'll come back the year after that. The things I need to do can only be accomplished as a Hunter. That's my burden to bear."
Kurapika looked at Leorio seriously. "If you're scared, it's okay to quit. You don't have a reason to become a Hunter. What you want to do can be achieved in other ways."
Leorio narrowed his eyes.
After a long pause, he let out a chuckle and smiled.
"Thanks, Kurapika. But since I've made it this far, quitting halfway isn't my style."
Kurapika gave him a nod and said no more.
...
Night fell.
Killua found Kaizen.
"Kaizen."
Kaizen gestured to the spot beside him. "Sit."
Killua sat down. "Kaizen, are you from a family of assassins too?"
Kaizen raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
"Back in the dark, your movements weren't affected at all. Ordinary people can't do that without training," Killua explained. "Usually, only people from assassin families undergo that kind of training."
Kaizen nodded. "I trained like that."
But he didn't give a direct answer.
Killua's gaze sharpened. "Then, does the family you were born into have any connections with the Zoldyck family?"
Kaizen tilted his head. "Huh?"
"I was wondering why you agreed to my challenge."
Killua frowned. "Before this, we didn't even know each other. You were a Heavens Arena fighter, and I was too, but we never spoke. I've seen you, but you probably don't remember me.
"In that case, we were basically strangers. So why did you accept my challenge? There was nothing in it for you. Especially after fighting me. You didn't even ask for anything."
Killua hesitated. "Gon challenged you too, but you turned him down."
He studied Kaizen. "Logically speaking, you're closer to Gon. You met him during the qualifiers. You've traveled together. But you still chose to fight me instead."
Kaizen looked at Killua impassively. "Do you think I was being too nice to you?"
"Yeah." Killua nodded. "A person who's nice without a reason must have a motive."
Kaizen smirked. "And what about you? Why were you nice to Gon and the others?"
Killua blinked. "Huh?"
"Your kindness to them goes beyond what an ordinary candidate would show. When Johness tried to kill Leorio, why did you stop him?"
Killua stiffened.
There was a brief silence.
"Because… I wanted to be their friend. I wanted friends."
Killua's voice was quiet.
At first, he had only cared about being friends with Gon. Leorio and Kurapika were just Gon's friends—so he had been nice to them too. But over time, he had come to see them as his own friends.
"Did you not have friends before?" Kaizen asked.
"No."
Kaizen leaned back. "Then tell me—does an assassin need friends?"
Killua flinched.
He had heard that question before. Too many times.
He swallowed hard. "So you really are from an assassin family… and you do have ties to the Zoldycks. Did my family send you?"
"Of course not."
Kaizen shook his head. "I'm here for the Hunter Exam. That's all."
Killua let out a small breath, relieved.
"Are you going to tell them about our conversation?" Killua asked.
Kaizen shrugged. "If you don't want me to, I won't."
Killua was silent for a moment.
"An assassin doesn't need friends. But… I don't want to be an assassin. So I want friends."
He hesitated, then looked at Kaizen. "Do you have any friends?"
"Yeah. Quite a few."
Kaizen thought back—his team members, Nina, Wendy, Mizuston…
"Wait—really? That many?!" Killua gawked.
"But I thought assassins didn't need friends? Don't you feel the same way I do? Are you still an assassin?"
"Yeah."
Killua's eyes filled with admiration. "Your family is amazing."
Kaizen smiled faintly.
The Zoldyck family, though… That was a different story.
Killua sighed deeply. "If only my family would accept my choice. But I know that's impossible. They'll just force me onto the path they've set."
His voice was quiet. "But that's not the life I want."
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