That said, the Zoldycks don't start hardcore training until the kids are four.
Before that, it's just a growth stage. The family uses it to observe each kid's natural talents.
In Hunter x Hunter, is there anyone in the Zoldyck family who doesn't have to work?
Without his usual powers, Saiki Kusuo had no choice but to follow their example. If he wanted to avoid walking down the path of a killer, he had to model his whole life after their second son, the one and only Milluki Zoldyck.
Slack off, pretend to be physically weak.
Except for the obesity part.
"Young master Saiki Kusuo, it's time for your lesson." The butler, Gotoh, knocked politely, peeked in, and bowed.
Saiki Kusuo was sitting with a comic book in his hands.
The room was kept at a cozy 29°C, but he still wrapped himself in a thin blanket.
It was autumn. Not even cold. But this was all on purpose.
No matter how many doctors they brought in, no one could figure out what was wrong with his body.
Thankfully, when he was two, he regained the ability to control temperature.
And just like that, he stepped firmly onto the bright, shining road of "frail and sickly."
In a strict household that controls everything—food, schedule, temperature—just being weak wasn't enough.
He had to keep slacking too.
So yeah, he had no plans to attend lessons today either.
[The family said if young master Saiki Kusuo can't even do his studies properly, and shows no talent at all, then we'll have to consider keeping him locked up underground for life. Honestly… I hope…]
[Suddenly I feel like studying today. Let's go, Gotoh.] Saiki Kusuo closed his book.
By the way, anything inside [ ] is either something Saiki Kusuo picked up through telepathy, or something he projected into someone else's mind using it.
He usually couldn't be bothered to speak out loud.
By now, he had already used suggestion to make everyone around him think it was normal for him not to talk.
Just standard psychic behavior.
Back to the point—he realized he couldn't slack off too much either. No thank you to prison play.
Actually, his fourth birthday was coming up pretty soon.
Lately, there was a tense atmosphere in the house.
What kind of parent doesn't want their kid to succeed?
Too bad. My powers are basically god-level. Can't you just let me off the hook, dear family?
That last part, of course, was something he could never say out loud.
Especially not to Kikyo.
Saiki Kusuo, dressed in long sleeves, followed the butler to the family's guest hall.
Before even entering, he already knew—every member of the family was there, including that ancestor who looked like he was from another planet... maybe not that ancient, but definitely old. His skin was all wrinkled.
Everyone had arrived.
Normally, family meetings were held in darker, more gloomy places—something that fit the whole assassin-family vibe.
But since Saiki Kusuo was playing the role of a sickly kid who was always cold...
His loving family had thoughtfully changed the location.
The moment the door opened, he was greeted by his mother's scream.
"Kusuo!! Ah—It's my fault! My poor baby! It must've been because I didn't twist the head off my eighth target properly while I was pregnant with you…"
Thanks, Mom. Please stop reflecting on things like that.
Saiki Kusuo didn't dare use any strength when hugged by his mom. Some of his psychic powers had already started to return, and hurting her by accident—or letting her realize he was actually fine—wasn't something he wanted.
"I actually gave birth to such a weak child… Ahhh!!"
Her screams made Kusuo want to cover his own ears.
It was a little scary.
But he knew from the original story that Kikyo Zoldyck was like this. Knowing that helped him keep up the act without feeling guilty.
Still, his mom seemed so caught up in guilt that she clearly wasn't planning to get pregnant again anytime soon.
And he was kind of looking forward to the arrival of his lazy second brother, Milluki, to make himself look more normal in comparison.
"All right, Kikyo, let go of Saiki Kusuo now." Silva finally spoke. When he said something, people usually listened, and Kikyo let go right away.
Actually, despite seeming crazy, Kikyo had been very careful. She hadn't hurt Saiki Kusuo at all.
"Saiki Kusuo."
…Saiki Kusuo sat up straight.
"You're almost four now, so it's time I told you: our family has a tradition."
Once you turn four, you go through trials—hellish training—and maybe even start learning to kill within six months to a year.
He already knew this from reading everyone's minds.
"Every child in the Zoldyck family begins special training at age four. This helps them learn the skills passed down through the generations…"
He made it sound so casual, like it was woodworking or pottery.
[But with Kusuo's health, even running is hard. Let alone killing someone.]
[What should we do? It really worries me.]
As Silva kept talking, Saiki Kusuo caught a different voice through the noise.
Not different in meaning—most of the family was worried about the same thing.
It was the tone. It sounded young. It came from his rarely-seen older brother, Illumi Zoldyck.
The fact that they barely saw each other said a lot about how intense Illumi's training was.
Illumi noticed Saiki Kusuo looking at him.
Those seemingly empty eyes met Kusuo's, and he actually gave a small smile.
Wait… he can smile? I thought he had no facial expressions.
[Don't worry. Big brother will protect you. Everyone in the family will.]
So this is what a normal big brother is supposed to be like? He seemed dependable.
But as a psychic, I don't need anyone to protect me.
Even in a family of assassins, I'll live a normal childhood as a normal person.
Eventually, Silva finally got to the point.
"So from now on, we hope you'll at least do well in your studies, Kusuo. Do you understand?"
Kusuo—that was the closest thing to affection his father ever showed. He never called him "Little Kusuo" like he did with Illumi, who had "Little Illu."
It was, in a way, a kind of silent giving up.
And that was exactly what Kusuo wanted.
Stay unnoticed, stay invisible, and wait for the day he could leave this place for good.
[Don't worry, Father. I'll study hard.]
Saiki Kusuo sent the thought out with his mind.