The passenger ship's whistle rang across the harbor.
They had arrived at Whale Island.
The island's green trees swayed in the wind.
Gon stood at the bow.
He waved both hands excitedly.
"Aunt Mito!"
On the pier.
Mito stood in an apron, anxiously scanning the ship.
Seeing Gon and Luo Ye return safe and sound, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The moment the ship came to a stop.
Gon jumped down and threw his arms around Mito.
"I'm back!"
Mito ruffled Gon's hair.
Her eyes reddened a little.
She turned toward the other two as they came down behind him.
"Hello, Aunt Mito."
Killua offered an extremely awkward greeting.
His hands were shoved in his pockets, his shoulders rigid.
This was his first time facing an ordinary family elder like her.
He had absolutely no idea how to handle it.
Mito looked at the handsome, silver-haired boy.
Her voice softened.
"You must be Killua."
Mito smiled as she spoke.
"Gon mentions you in his letters all the time."
"Welcome to Whale Island. Make yourself at home."
That utterly unguarded kindness.
Made Killua's heart give a sudden thump.
His taut nerves miraculously relaxed.
Luo Ye strolled off the ship.
He still held a half-finished bag of potato chips.
He crunched away at them.
"Aunt Mito."
Luo Ye sidled up to her.
"I've gotten taller again, you know."
Mito shot him an exasperated look.
"You little rascal."
"You've been away for over six months, and somehow you've gotten twice as round."
"Clearly, you haven't suffered at all."
Amid laughter and chatter, the group returned to the house halfway up the hill.
They pushed the door open.
The familiar scent of wooden furniture greeted them.
Luo Ye tossed his backpack aside with practiced ease.
He walked straight into the yard.
And