"—And that covers the foundational elements of Nen."
"...The Four Major Principles: Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu."
"Yes. With Ten, you retain the aura that normally leaks out from the body, keeping it wrapped around your flesh. It is the absolute foundation of foundations, but also the most critical skill. Only once you can perform Ten does the path to becoming a Nen user truly open."
"Will I be able to do it as well?"
"Of course. Nen is a power that everyone possesses deep within. As long as you put in the effort, any human can learn to use it. ...Precisely because of that, there is an unspoken agreement that this knowledge must never be spread among the general public."
If knowledge of Nen were to spread among ordinary civilians, it would trigger catastrophic chaos. Mass panic would be the least of it; crime would become drastically more violent, and incidents involving Nen would erupt constantly.
That is something virtually no Nen user desires. Even criminals on the Blacklist refrain from recklessly broadcasting Nen knowledge to the masses. Doing so would only come back to strangle their own necks. Very few fools would willingly throw away their greatest advantage.
"Next is Zetsu. This is the technique of completely shutting off the aura nodes and stopping the flow of aura leaking from your body. It is extremely useful for concealing your presence, and it also promotes stamina recovery. By keeping your aura circulating internally rather than releasing it outward, fatigue and physical injuries heal significantly faster."
"Hmm. Quite practical."
"It is an indispensable technique for stealth. It is also vital in combat."
While In—an advanced application of Zetsu—requires high technical mastery, it is exceedingly effective for catching opponents off-guard in battle. In the hands of a skilled practitioner, ordinary Gyo cannot easily pierce through it.
"Ren is the technique of amplifying the aura output beyond the baseline of Ten. Because it draws out vastly more aura, it heavily consumes your Potential Aura—the total reserve pool of aura housed within your body—but the benefits match the cost. In combat, the sheer volume of aura you can project through Ren often determines victory or defeat."
No matter how refined your technique may be, overcoming a pool of 10,000 aura with only 100 aura is virtually impossible. Expanding both Potential Aura reserves and Manifested Aura output is a fundamental truth for every Nen user.
"Finally, Hatsu. This is the skill of releasing and projecting your generated aura freely. What you can achieve with it is virtually limitless. There are generic forms of Hatsu that anyone can learn, as well as unique Hatsu abilities exclusive to a specific practitioner."
Generic Hatsu refers to techniques like concentrating aura with Gyo or Ko, firing Nen bullets, or altering the shape of aura—skills that vary in power and precision depending on the individual, but can be learned by anyone through sufficient training.
Exclusive Hatsu refers to personal Nen abilities forged from individual ideology, personality, and natural affinity—such as my Angel's Veil and Boss Trait, or Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. These abilities have upper limits dictated by personal talent and technical complexity. While replicating them is not entirely impossible—others might conceive similar concepts, and with the right affinity, they could execute them—Specialization abilities remain an exception where replication is practically impossible.
"Beyond these, there are advanced techniques derived from the Four Major Principles. Once you reach a certain caliber, how seamlessly you wield these advanced techniques becomes the deciding factor in battle. But of course, we will tackle those only after you have mastered the basics."
"Understood. ...By the way, Aisha. Are we starting the Nen training right away?"
"Yes, every second is precious. ...Is there an issue? If you have unfinished business, I can wait."
"No, that's not it... but if you are going to train me, should I address you as Master?"
...Pardon? M-Master?!
"N-No way! Please, just keep calling me Aisha as you always have!"
"However, I am the one begging for instruction. Surely addressing you as Master is proper etiquette. No matter how close we are as friends, shouldn't there be a clear line of respect?"
He might have a point, but please spare me that! Having a friend call me 'Master' feels far too suffocating. It feels like putting a wall between us...
"It feels strange between friends. Please, just use my name without honorifics."
"...Then what if I call you Master only during training sessions, and call you Aisha outside of training?"
"But if we do that, Kurapika, you'd end up calling me Master twenty-four hours a day, wouldn't you?"
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"What is that? That's terrifying."
...Oops! I accidentally used my past-life training schedule as the baseline!
You shouldn't use that hellish regimen as a standard. That kind of training is only for masochists... wait, even masochists couldn't endure that.
"N-No, slip of the tongue! In any case, please just call me Aisha. That is my only condition for teaching you Nen."
"I-Is that so? If you insist that strongly, then very well, Aisha. However, in return, please drop the '-san' honorific and call me Kurapika directly. ...We are friends, after all."
"Ah...! Yes! Understood, Kurapika."
"I look forward to working with you, Aisha."
Wonderful, wonderful. That's how friendship ought to be.
"Now then, let me explain how to awaken Nen properly."
"Right. Please do."
"Awakening Nen begins with sensing your own inner aura."
"Sensing aura? How is that done?"
"Through states of deep mental focus such as meditation or Zen, allowing you to physically perceive the aura residing within your own body. Even for talented individuals, this process usually takes a substantial amount of time."
"Meditation and Zen... Perceiving the aura in one's own body... Sounds difficult. You say it takes time, but how long are we talking about?"
"Well, someone with genuine talent might awaken it in about six months."
"Six months?! It takes that long...?"
"Yes. However, depending on your talent and focus, Kurapika, you might awaken it even faster. The most important thing is unwavering belief. Calm your mind, focus, and believe without a shred of doubt. Aura is a power that every single person possesses."
That is the true shortcut to awakening Nen. Just like snapping an HB pencil with your bare hands, the secret lies in treating it as something completely natural and achievable.
In my past life, I couldn't focus worth a damn, which is why it took me so many grueling years. But Kurapika will undoubtedly awaken his Nen incomparably faster than I did. Who knows—he might master Ten in less than a week.
While there are methods to forcefully awaken Nen by shocking the aura nodes open with foreign aura, that is not the orthodox path. Though it produces immediate results, progressing through the natural sequence is far healthier and safer.
By practicing Ten through meditation—unifying the mind, reflecting inward, and establishing a clear goal—one's Ten becomes significantly stronger and more stable. The state of mind is intimately bound to Nen, after all. Even now, while I don't practice full zazen, I make sure never to neglect my meditation and Ten.
"We will be traveling, so please meditate as much as possible on the way to sense your aura."
"Understood. ...Traveling? Where are we heading? From what you described, it sounded like we could train right here."
"Yes, our destination is... Heavens Arena."
Naturally, I have clear reasons for choosing Heavens Arena.
Martial artists and brawlers from all corners of the globe gather there—allegedly numbering up to 4,000 applicants a day. With that many combatants, one can accumulate invaluable practical battle experience... even if it is only baseline experience.
From the 200th floor upward, every single fighter is a Nen user. While their caliber might not be world-class, they are Nen users nonetheless. That will provide essential combat experience against actual Nen abilities.
Furthermore, human concentration has its limits. Remaining in perpetual meditation is impossible. Combining training with the stimulation of matches kills two birds with one stone.
On top of that, Gon and Killua should be there right now. If they reached the 200th floor without knowing Nen, things could turn ugly. While Killua wouldn't recklessly pick fights he can't win, Gon has a knack for doing reckless things that make your heart drop. I need to get there as soon as possible to check on them.
The Ascent
And so, hopping between airships over the course of a week-long journey through the skies, we finally arrived at Heavens Arena...
Talent really is a terrifying thing, isn't it? Is this what they call 'the chosen of the heavens'? It's been ages since I witnessed talent of this caliber. Even Linna took two weeks...
To think he actually mastered Ten in a single week... I-I'm not jealous at all! ...Dammit!
"So this is aura. A truly wondrous sensation."
"...You will get used to it soon. Once you're accustomed, you can maintain Ten even while sleeping."
"A-Are you in a bad mood, by any chance?"
Not at all~ I'm just being a little sulky, that's all~
"My apologies. It took me an absurd number of years to awaken Nen, so I couldn't help but feel a little envious..."
"I-Is that so? That's surprising. I assumed you would have awakened it much faster than me, Aisha."
No, I simply trained longer than all of you, so in terms of raw talent, I fall far short.
"Regardless, congratulations. With this, you have taken your first step as a Nen user."
"Thank you. But the road ahead is still long, isn't it?"
"Naturally. Nen is profound. Right now, you are merely a toddler who has just learned to stand on two feet."
"The path seems steep. But I will certainly see it through."
With Kurapika's talent, his progress will be rapid, but complacency is forbidden. Even if you master the theory of Nen, it is meaningless without the battle experience to apply it. Hopefully, he can gain that experience here.
If he runs out of things to learn here, perhaps I'll take him to the Kazama-ryu Dojo. If I ask Linna, she can lend us some Nen-capable disciples to spar with.
"For now, let us register as fighters at Heavens Arena."
"All fighters from the 200th floor upward are Nen users, correct?"
"Yes, but getting there is part of your training. First, you must climb to the 200th floor... under specific conditions."
"Conditions?"
Yes, conditions. With Kurapika's current skill, reaching the 200th floor would be trivial, but mindlessly beating people up serves no purpose. This too is part of his regimen.
"Yes. Until you reach the 200th floor, you must evade every single attack from your opponents across all matches, winning without taking a single blow. Blocking or guarding does not count—you must dodge completely."
"...What happens if I take a hit?"
"Then you must forfeit immediately. You may keep Ten active, of course—that will serve as practice for maintaining Ten during battle. Ah, and since matches last three minutes, you are forbidden from launching any attacks during the first two minutes."
"Two full minutes? That is quite severe..."
"The objective is to accustom yourself to all manners of attack. Certain Nen abilities can be fatal upon a single touch. You must closely observe the enemy's body, read their breathing, sense their intent and bloodlust, analyze their movements, and anticipate everything."
"...Understood. I will do it."
"Give it your best. ...By the way, running away for two minutes straight is forbidden, alright? You must stay firmly within your opponent's striking range."
Even against weaker opponents, evading all attacks under strict constraints is difficult. The higher he climbs, the harder it will become. Reaching the 200th floor should reasonably take two to three months, or half a year at the slowest.
...I feel like I just raised a flag, but whatever.
"And all time outside of matches will be dedicated to Nen training."
"Of course. That goes without saying. Come to think of it, Aisha, aren't you participating in Heavens Arena?"
"Eh? I participated once before... but fighting again won't earn me much besides money... what should I do?"
Money isn't something I particularly need right now. I have plenty, and whatever I earn here won't even scratch the price of Greed Island.
Still, sitting around waiting would be boring. While I fight, Kurapika can spectate my matches. Watching others fight is great study material. Besides, I probably won't have another reason to visit Heavens Arena anyway.
"Alright. I might as well register too."
"I see. Naturally, you will also be evading attacks for two minutes, right?"
"Eh? Ah, y-yes, of course."
...I couldn't back down after setting the rule myself. Evading attacks for two minutes... what an absolute pain. Well, as long as my evasion serves as a good reference for him, it's fine.
"Then whenever I have a match, make sure to spectate. Observing is also training, after all."
"Understood. Let us go."
And so, our training days at Heavens Arena began.
Both of us sailed through our first matches effortlessly. Struggling against opponents at this level would be embarrassing. (Though with extreme bad luck, one might run into a hidden expert on the first floor).
Having demonstrated his skill in the first match, Kurapika was sent straight to the 10th floor. Usually, dominant fighters jump much higher, but taking two full minutes per match was the culprit.
I matched Kurapika's pace and advanced to the 10th floor as well. Having reached the 200th floor in the past, reception offered to send me straight to the 100th floor, but staying on the same floor was far more convenient.
"Well, we made it through the first hurdle."
"Stumbling on the first step would have been troublesome. We still have time today and took zero damage, so we will likely be assigned another match."
"Is that so? Well, opponents of that caliber pose no threat."
"They shouldn't differ much. In fact, it's safer than the first match. Real powerhouses skip the 10th floor entirely."
"...Meaning the fighters here are nothing special."
Precisely. But please don't say that out loud, Kurapika. The glares from the other fighters are stinging... well, my own comment was pretty provocative too.
"Now then, after the next match, we're done for today. Then it's Nen training... but before that, I have some personal business to attend to."
"Personal business? What kind of errand?"
"Well, Gon and Killua are actually here at Heavens Arena."
"?! Is that true?!"
"Yes. I had the Zoldyck family look into it, so the information is reliable."
"I see... Gon and Killua likely came here to train to defeat Hisoka. With their skills, reaching the 200th floor should be... Wait, isn't that dangerous?!"
"Yes. All 200th-floor fighters are Nen users. If Gon and Killua reached the 200th floor without knowing Nen, they are in serious danger."
Hopefully they haven't reached the 200th floor yet... though Killua certainly has the combat prowess to make it, and Gon pushed open the Testing Gate. Barring an encounter with an extraordinary opponent, reaching the 200th floor is well within their capability.
"...Let us search for them as soon as our next matches conclude. Two kids of their age will stand out; finding them shouldn't take long."
"Right... Ah, looks like my match is up. Wish me luck."
A swift victory without breaking a sweat... well, taking two minutes was mandatory, of course.
Kurapika followed with another effortless win. Rather than dodging aimlessly, he made a conscious effort to study his opponent's habits. Impressive, truly impressive.
Now then, let's go find Gon and Killua.
Reunited
We found Gon and Killua almost immediately.
As it turned out, they were already 200th-floor fighters.
Fighters on the 200th floor are few in number, and given the boys' ages, they were impossible to miss. After a few minutes of asking around, we had their room number.
And just as I had feared, Gon had already fought his first match on the 200th floor.
The result: a crushing defeat. Despite putting up a desperate fight, he failed to score a single point and was battered into submission. He was currently confined to bed rest, nursing severe injuries...
"..."
"Aisha..."
"...Let's go. They are on the 200th floor."
"Right. ...Are you blaming yourself for not teaching them Nen earlier?"
There's really no need for her to carry that burden. From what I've learned, Nen is not a power to be imparted lightly. Keeping it secret from those of us who hadn't yet earned our licenses was the correct decision.
"...Yes. I ruined the chance to tell them."
"Are you referring to the final day of the Hunter Exam? ...Do not take it to heart. It is not your fault. The responsibility lies entirely with Gon for choosing to step into that ring."
No one forced him; he chose to fight of his own free will and paid the price. Gon isn't the type to pin the blame on others.
"Now, we've reached the 200th floor... but which floor is Gon's room on? Should we ask reception?"
"...No, that won't be necessary. I can sense Gon and Killua's presence a few floors above us."
"You can sense them from this distance? Incredible... I can't detect a thing."
"Well, if it's the presence of people I know well... Though thanks to that, I also noticed a certain unpleasant individual lurking around."
An unpleasant individual? It is rare to hear Aisha speak so harshly of someone.
"Who are you referring to?"
"A pervert."
"Ah, say no more. I understand completely."
So Hisoka is here.
After the exam, he whispered that he had valuable information about the Spiders, telling me, "I'll be waiting in Yorknew on September 1st," before departing...
It feels a bit anticlimactic... He told me to meet him in September, yet here we are in March, on the verge of crossing paths already.
Well, whatever. It was on my mind anyway; running into him sooner is a welcome development.
...Though Aisha looks thoroughly disgusted. Not that I'm eager to meet him either.
While lost in thought, we arrived outside Gon's room.
Knock, knock.
"Yeah, come in—"
A voice answered from inside. No mistake—it was Killua. I never expected our reunion to come so swiftly.
"Excuse us."
"Pardon the intrusion."
Stepping inside, we saw Killua seated on a chair and Gon sitting on the bed, wrapped head-to-toe in bandages.
Both of their eyes went wide with shock. Naturally—meeting us, and especially Aisha, in a place like this was the last thing they expected.
"Aisha?! And Kurapika! What are you guys doing here?!"
...What synchronization. They chimed in perfect unison.
"...It has been a while, you two."
"After parting the way we did, this is certainly an unexpectedly quick reunion."
"Y-Yeah! But more importantly, Aisha! Where on earth have you been all this time?! We've got a mountain of questions for you!"
"I'm so glad you're safe, Aisha! You vanished after the exam, so we were really worried!"
Ah, come to think of it, Killua seemed very concerned about Aisha when we met at the Zoldyck estate. ...He isn't very honest with his feelings, but he has a surprisingly endearing side.
"I will explain my situation shortly. But first... Gon, do you know what Nen is?"
"Eh? You know about Nen too, Aisha?!"
"Seriously? Don't tell me you learned Nen as well, Aisha?"
"Wait! Have you two learned Nen already?"
Killua's reaction made it obvious that they had already awakened to the power. If they even knew the name, someone must have instructed them.
"...It seems you are indeed familiar with Nen. When did you learn it?"
...Terrifying. A distinct chill is radiating from Aisha right now.
"U-Um, well... about six days ago?"
"Ah, slightly earlier than me. I only learned today."
"Woah, really? Who taught you? What about you, Aisha? Did you just learn it too?"
"I see. ...And when was your match, Gon?"
...Aisha completely ignored Killua's question, zeroing in on Gon. Why is this atmosphere so intimidating?
"...F-Five days ago... it was."
Gon's tone shifted into polite honorifics. Cold sweat is pouring down his face. Actually, Killua and I are sweating too...
"...In other words, you fought a match the very next day after learning Nen. ...Did you learn it on your own?"
"N-No. Um, a person named Wing-san taught us..."
"Did this Wing-san not explain the lethality of Nen to you? Did he actually permit you to fight a match against a Nen user?"
"N-No, he properly warned us! He told me to hold off on fighting for two months—"
"—Then why couldn't you wait?!"
—?!
Aisha... To see Aisha this furious... it was a first for all of us. That was how deeply she was angered by Gon's recklessness—and how desperately worried she was for his life.
"Treating Nen so lightly! Escaping with merely severe injuries was pure luck! You could have been permanently crippled, or worse—you could have died, do you understand?!"
"...I'm sorry, Aisha."
"H-Hey, this idiot is reflecting on it, alright? Everything you said, Wing and I already yelled at him for. Forgive him, will ya?"
Gon apologized sincerely, hanging his head. Even he realized how reckless he had been. As Killua said, he had already received an earful from everyone.
Seeing Gon's remorse and hearing Killua speak up, Aisha's anger visibly softened.
"...You are right. I spoke too harshly. I'm sorry, Gon."
"No, you're not wrong, Aisha. It was my fault for doing something so stupid."
Having someone who will scold you like this is a blessing, Gon.
"Your unwavering resolve is your greatest strength, but you must learn to use your head a little."
"Ugh, Kurapika too..."
"What are you complaining about? I learned about Nen from Aisha as well, and I wouldn't dream of challenging those monsters with freshly awakened Nen."
Pitting newly awakened Nen against fighters who can shatter boulders to dust is sheer suicide. You need far more preparation first.
"Wait, Kurapika, Aisha taught you Nen?"
"Yes, we reunited about a week ago, and she instructed me."
"What the hell?! ...When did you learn about Nen, Aisha?"
Come to think of it, I don't know either. She clearly possessed it during the Hunter Exam.
"...Well, it was a very long time ago. So long ago that the details are rather fuzzy."
"You learned it when you were that young?"
Right, she mentioned being from Meteor City. Perhaps she was taken in and raised by a Nen user. It is best not to pry too deeply; everyone has secrets they prefer to keep private.
"So you were using Nen during the Hunter Exam?!"
"Only a tiny bit. Mostly, I stayed in Zetsu."
"No way! You should've taught us back then!"
"Yes, I apologize. If I had known things would turn out like this, I would have taught you much sooner..."
Seeing Aisha wilt under Killua's complaint, Killua panicked.
...Watching these two from the sidelines is quite entertaining. But I should step in and smooth things over before Killua feels too guilty. Given his upbringing, he likely struggles with how to interact with girls his age.
"Don't be too hard on her, Killua. Strictly speaking, Nen is forbidden to be taught carelessly; one only gains the right to learn it after passing the Hunter Exam. Aisha couldn't simply disclose it. Now that you understand the danger of Nen, you should realize why."
"...Yeah, fine. I get it. I forgive you, alright?"
"Is that so? I'm glad."
The tension in the room finally dissipated. It would be a shame to sour our long-awaited reunion.
"So Aisha, what have you been doing since the exam?"
"Yeah! Did you really steal the ball from Chairman Netero? Where did you go after the exam ended?"
"Well then, let me give you a brief summary of what happened."
Conflicting Perspectives
"And that's the gist of it. We came here both to visit you two and to facilitate Kurapika's training."
I gave them a glossed-over explanation of my post-exam events, carefully omitting the full extent of my duel with Netero. I lacked the courage to confess everything; if they started avoiding me out of fear, I'd probably take to my bed in depression.
"...So you didn't steal the ball; the Chairman accidentally attacked you, resulting in a foul and your victory."
"Yes, that's how I passed."
Looking back, Netero technically committed a foul during the ball game. Back then, being struck by the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva rattled me so badly that I didn't think about it, but it made for a convenient cover story now.
"And after that, you challenged the Chairman to a rematch, got seriously injured, and spent a month in the hospital."
"Yes, exactly."
...Well, I didn't lie. The rematch and the severe injuries were absolute truth.
"I'm sorry, Killua. I wasn't able to come fetch you in time..."
"Nah, don't worry about it. Now that I know the reason, it's fine."
"Back then, Killua was pouting because you weren't there, Aisha."
"I wasn't pouting! I-I just wanted to know how she passed the exam!"
"Haha, no need to be embarrassed, Killua. Just be honest—"
"Shut up!"
"Good grief..."
Ah, chatting together like this really is wonderful. Though I do miss Leorio.
"Still, I can't believe you went to my family's estate and came out in one piece."
"They were surprisingly reasonable people, you know? Zeno-san and I became tea-drinking buddies, and Silva-san chatted with me occasionally, asking me to look after you."
"With my Grandpa and Old Man?! How absurd are you?!"
"Milluki helped me out a lot, too."
"Milluki?! ...Aisha, that bastard didn't try anything weird on you, did he?"
Milluki? If anything, Kikyo-san was the one who almost did something crazy to me...
"Nothing of the sort. In fact, we found you two because Milluki tracked down your whereabouts for me."
The only trial was the endless wardrobe changes. I'm back in my standard clothes now, but that dress-up session was pure torture...
"...The piggy helped you out, huh."
"The Zoldyck family treated me very well."
"I cannot even fathom having that kind of experience in such a place..."
"I'm jealous! I wish I could have met and talked with Killua's family too!"
Only Gon could say he wants to hang out with a family of legendary assassins.
"So, Aisha, how much do you know about Nen?"
"I believe I have completely mastered all the fundamentals and advanced applications."
Nen is profound, so naturally I cannot know every unique ability in existence. And when it comes to advanced applications, others might invent new ones. Kai (Rotation) was an application I developed myself, so others could certainly pioneer new techniques.
"I see... Hey, Gon. What if we have Aisha teach us instead of Wing—"
"No way, Killua. You're just trying to break your promise with Wing-san, aren't you?"
"Tch. Stiff as a board, as always."
A promise with Wing-san? What's this about?
"What promise are you talking about?"
"Because this idiot broke his promise and fought a match, Wing banned us from fighting, training Nen, or even researching Nen for the next two months. He said if we break it, he won't teach us anymore."
"I see. This Wing-san sounds like a truly excellent instructor. He understands the gravity of Nen."
Perhaps I should meet him and talk. Since he's taking care of Gon and Killua, I'd like to gauge his character in person.
"Do you know where Wing-san is staying? I'd like to have a brief conversation with him."
"Hmm, at an inn nearby. But you probably shouldn't go. There's an annoying guy with him."
"Are you talking about Shion-san? But Shion-san only speaks the truth."
Shion...? That name sounds familiar. ...Could it be? No, Shion is a fairly common name.
"Who is this Shion? Are they a Nen user as well?"
"Yeah, someone staying with Wing. Whenever we try to learn Nen from Wing, he butts in telling us to stop, calling it a mistake, complaining non-stop."
"He was just worried about us! Even Wing-san admitted that forcefully opening our nodes wasn't the proper way."
"Regardless of whether this Shion is there or not, I will go meet Wing-san. Kurapika, please stay here and chat with Gon."
"Then I'll guide you, Aisha. You don't know the way to the inn, right?"
Let's go see what kind of person he is. If Gon trusts him, he should be fine.
The Assistant Instructor
"Here we are. Sounds like they're inside."
"Yes, I can hear voices."
"Hey, Wing-san, we're coming in—"
"Ah, Killua-kun, please come in."
"Excuse us."
Stepping inside, we found a man who appeared to be Wing-san, a boy about Gon's age, and... someone whose features carried a striking resemblance to a child I once knew.
"Welcome. Oh, and who might this young lady be?"
"Pleasure to meet you. My name is Aisha."
"How polite. I am Wing. Pleased to meet you."
"Osu! I am Zushi!"
"I'm Shion. ...Nice to meet you."
I see. This man is Wing-san, this boy is Zushi-kun, and this person is... Yes, they look just like the Shion I knew. If that child grew up, she would look exactly like this. It really might be her.
"Thank you very much for looking after Gon and Killua."
"Hey, are you our guardian or something?"
"What are you saying? Your father personally asked me to look after you! Besides, I am older than you."
"You're only one year older, damn it!"
Hahaha. Actually, I'm over 130 years older.
"My, having a girlfriend at such a young age... Killua-kun is quite the lady-killer, isn't he?"
"More importantly, I'm shocked that this lady is only one year older than me, osu..."
Girlfriend? Why? Who? Whose?
"S-She's not my girlfriend! She's just a friend!"
"Just a friend..."
A friend... Killua called me a friend...
"Why the hell are you looking so overjoyed?! Which meaning are you happy about?!"
"I've never seen Killua-san this flustered before, osu."
"Hahaha. Well, it's a relief to see Killua-kun acting like a normal boy his age."
"Shut up, all of you!!"
Killua's comebacks are working overtime today.
"How noisy. What exactly did you come here for?"
"...I don't have business with you. I came to see Wing-san."
Killua responded sharply to Shion. He really does dislike her, doesn't he...
"Business with me? What is the matter?"
"The business is mine. I came to apologize for the trouble Gon and Killua have caused, and to have a brief conversation with the Wing-san who taught them Nen."
"...Do you wish to learn Nen as well?"
"No, I have already mastered Nen. Pardon my asking, but what is your school, Wing-san? Or did you learn Nen independently?"
If he is self-taught, I would have to ask him to stop teaching Gon and Killua. They are at the most crucial stage of their growth; being handed half-baked knowledge and left to fend for themselves would be disastrous.
"No, I studied Nen under my master in the Shingen-ryu school. I serve as an assistant instructor entrusted with guiding disciples."
"Ah, what a relief. If you are from Shingen-ryu, I can entrust them to you with complete peace of mind. Please take good care of Gon and Killua."
He appears to be a thoroughly upright, honest young man.
His aura is robust, stable, and radiates a reassuring warmth. He is clearly trustworthy. As an assistant instructor of Shingen-ryu, his mastery of Nen is beyond reproach.
"Yes. It would be a tragedy to let talents like theirs go to waste."
"Which is precisely why you should have awakened them slowly! For someone of your standing to resort to such an unorthodox, forced awakening..."
Shion stepped forward, confronting Wing indignantly. She clearly objected to the method used to awaken their Nen. While I also disagree with forced awakening, under the circumstances, it was understandable.
"I... deeply regret that. But had I not awakened them then, they might have stepped into the ring against Nen users completely defenseless."
"Then you should have made them abandon the tournament! You possessed the strength to stop them, even by force! I understand their extraordinary talent, but that is all the more reason to provide proper guidance! This injury is the direct result of taking Nen too lightly!"
"...See? This is why I hated coming here."
I see. This is what rubbed Killua the wrong way.
Her words are completely correct and entirely justified. However, her righteousness is pushed so forcefully that it ignores the other party's circumstances and emotions. Shion genuinely cares about their safety, but Killua isn't the type to swallow pure lectures. Killua often acts on emotion; he naturally clashes with people like her.
Still, looking at Shion, I feel a strange sense of incongruity. What is this odd feeling?
"Um, are you also from the Shingen-ryu school?"
"No, I belong to the Kazama-ryu school. I am not with Shingen-ryu."
I knew it. There's no doubt about it—this is the Shion I knew.
How nostalgic... to think she has grown so much. The last time I saw her, she was twelve or thirteen, so she must be around twenty-six now. She admired Linna deeply, training with everything she had despite her small frame. Linna recognized her talent and poured immense effort into her instruction.
"Shion is an old friend of mine. We frequently spar and polish our martial arts together."
"Hmph. Do not misunderstand, Wing. We are rivals, not friends."
"You always say that... While we are rivals, our masters are on close terms, and given our long acquaintance, we are certainly—"
"Do not speak such nonsense! Do you think I would entertain such foolish banter?!"
Shion shouted, her face turning bright red. Why is she so furious? Does she dislike the fact that Linna and Wing's master get along so well?
...Wait. A Shingen-ryu martial artist who is close with Linna? Could that be Bisky?
"...Excuse me. I need to cool my head."
With that, Shion turned on her heel and stormed out.
Good grief. Her short temper hasn't changed at all. Whenever she got flustered back then, she would stutter and panic.
"My apologies. She loses her temper like that from time to time. Despite our long acquaintance, I still struggle to understand what sets him off..."
...Hm? Did he just say something strange?
"Man, I can't stand hysterical guys like him. Though I hate hysterical women like my mom just as much."
"Haha, please don't be too hard on him. He isn't a bad person."
"Shion-san helps me with my Nen training sometimes, osu! He's a really good person!"
...Wait a second. Wing-san... and Killua and Zushi-kun too... they have completely misunderstood.
"Um..."
"Yes, Aisha-san?"
"Well, the thing is..."
"What is it, Aisha? Don't beat around the bush, just say it."
"It's about Shion-san..."
"Did something happen to Shion-san, osu?"
Is it really alright for me to say this? What if she was keeping it a secret...?
No, that can't be it... It's just that her chest is rather unfortunate, so they genuinely mistook her gender.
"What about him?"
...Ah, whatever! I'm just going to say it!
"Shion-san is a woman."
"...Eh? ...Wait, what?"
...Well, perhaps the misunderstanding is understandable. She has grown tall, but her chest remained tragically flat. I almost feel like sharing some of mine. I certainly don't need this much, and it's still growing...
Shion's Secret Heart
Aaaaah! I am such an idiot, idiot, idiot!
Why do I always speak with such venom?! Ugh, what if Wing hates me now...?!
Storming out like that... What if he comes to despise me?!
But it's Wing's fault! S-Saying that we are 'on close terms' like that!
...Close terms... Wing and me...
Ah, no, my nose is bleeding again...!
Calm down, calm down, count prime numbers, Shion!
2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19...
Phew... I'm calm. The mental stabilization method taught to me in childhood by Ryusho-sama is truly effective! As expected of Ryusho-sama! He was truly worthy of being Master Linna's revered teacher!
But even this doesn't cure my stage fright whenever I'm in front of Wing...! I get so flustered that I blurt out ridiculous lines like:
"Hmph. Do not misunderstand, Wing. We are rivals, not friends (smug)"—What was that?!
Wing finally called me his friend... though deep down, being 'just friends' isn't what I want either. What I really want is... to b-b-be his l-l-lov—KYAAAAAA! No! Thinking about it is too embarrassing!
If I ever entered that kind of relationship with Wing, I could die happy!
No, wait, dying is bad! If I die, I won't get to experience a blissful married life with Wing!
How many children should we have? I want at least five! Wing clearly loves children—you can tell just by listening to him talk with Zushi-kun.
Come to think of it, I help instruct Zushi-kun in Nen too.
The two of us educating a child together... I-Is this trial parenting practice?! And with Gon-kun and Killua-kun training alongside us, it would be a lively family gathering!
Guh! No! My imagination is running wild, the nosebleed is coming back!
Cool! Be kool!
23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59...
Phew, I managed to stop it. Can't I do something about this chronic nosebleed habit?
Still, Wing is to blame! He's just... so incredibly handsome!!
Why must Wing be so dashing?
A dignified face, a finely conditioned physique, an upright spirit paired with delightfully sloppy grooming. His bedhead and untucked shirt are pure charm points! And when duty calls, he radiates such manly dependability... like he's ready to protect you. He's gentle in daily life, yet during spars, he fights me with full strength without holding back just because I'm female. Being patronized is the ultimate disgrace for a martial artist, after all!
Aaaah, everything about him is wonderful. Wing is so wonderful that just living is painful...
Haah... If only I could stay by Wing's side forever.
But Master Linna sent a message ordering me to return to headquarters as soon as possible...
At most, I can stretch my stay for another month.
Until then, I have to absorb as much Wing-energy as humanly possible!