Two Strange People

"You're really taking this seriously, Gon~"

Gon had been worrying about how to snatch Hisoka's number badge.

Then he suddenly heard Cordis's voice.

He turned around in delight.

And saw Cordis sitting on a tree branch, watching him.

Once Cordis saw that Gon had noticed him.

He flipped off the branch and landed on the ground.

He instinctively reached out and rubbed Gon's head.

One look at Gon's miserable expression told him exactly what was going on.

"What are you scared of? Hisoka isn't actually as strong as you think."

Gon said dejectedly.

"Cordis, you don't have to comfort me. I know Hisoka is strong."

With no other choice, Cordis sat down beside Gon.

Together, they watched the crystal-clear river.

They watched the fish diving beneath the water one moment.

And surfacing the next.

As well as the birds overhead that were catching fish.

"Cordis, have you already got all six points?"

Cordis nodded proudly and said.

"I got them yesterday. I told you, the Hunter Exam is easy for me."

Gon was happy for Cordis, too.

But that happiness was followed by deep worry.

Cordis pointed at the fishing rod in Gon's hand and asked.

"Don't you have a fishing rod? You should be able to snatch it with that, right?"

At that, the worry on Gon's face deepened.

He glanced at the birds flying overhead and said glumly.

"I can't even catch those birds with my fishing rod. Hisoka must be much faster and more agile than they are."

Cordis rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before speaking.

"Instead of practicing so hard to catch those birds, why not think about the right moment to strike?"

"As long as you find the perfect opening, snatching Hisoka's number badge will be a piece of cake."

"The perfect opening?"

Gon murmured as he watched the water.

A bird flapped its wings, gradually slowing as it approached the surface.

It stretched out its claws and snatched a fish that had just surfaced out of the water.

Watching this, Gon suddenly realized something.

He sprang to his feet and joyfully hugged Cordis, who was sitting beside him.

"Cordis! I've got it! If I want to get Hisoka's number badge, I have to find the perfect opening!"

"Just like these birds! The perfect opening is when they're catching fish!"

Seeing that Gon had finally figured it out, Cordis.

Got up and stretched.

He waved a hand and started to walk away.

"Now that you understand, I'll get going."

Gon followed behind him and asked.

"Where are you going, Cordis?"

Cordis scratched his head and thought for quite a while, but still couldn't decide where to go.

"I have my own things to do, of course. Keep practicing."

With that, he gave Gon's hair another vigorous ruffle.

Then he gradually disappeared from Gon's sight.

After leaving Gon.

Cordis wandered aimlessly around Sabir Island.

He inevitably ran into two or three examinees along the way.

Of course, Cordis chose to pretend he hadn't seen any of them.

He already had enough points, anyway.

There was no need to make things harder for anyone else.

Even if he knew those people had no chance at all.

Sometimes, you still had to believe in miracles.

He headed east the whole way.

And reached a clearing.

Sighing, he leaned against a tree and slowly sat down.

"This is so boring~"

As he spoke, he began plucking blades of grass from the ground.

And fashioned them into a small, delicate ring.

"Oh my~ Looks like Pai Pai is bored~"

"Then why don't you play with me~?"

Before he finished speaking, Hisoka jumped down from the tree.

Looking at Hisoka, who had suddenly appeared before him.

Cordis rolled his eyes without the slightest restraint.

"No, thank you."

"And I told you, don't call me Pai Pai."

Hisoka narrowed his eyes, studying Cordis curiously as he asked.

"If you clearly dislike that surname, why did you choose it in the first place~?"

Cordis merely glanced at Hisoka without answering.

When his question went unanswered, Hisoka kept pestering Cordis.

He kept fishing for information, hoping to find even the smallest clue in whatever he could coax out of him.

To be honest.

Hisoka had known there was more to Cordis's identity from the very first time he saw him.

Both his strength and his name.

Had sparked Hisoka's intense interest.

Faced with Hisoka's incessant probing.

Cordis chose to ignore all of it.

But Hisoka's interest faded as quickly as it came.

Seeing that Cordis's mouth was sealed tighter than a locked iron plate.

He couldn't be bothered to keep making a fool of himself.

He picked a random spot to sit down, took out his playing cards, and started playing with them.

Just then, several blood-red butterflies flew toward Cordis.

And circled around him.

Cordis held out a hand.

And a butterfly obediently landed on it.

"So beautiful."

Cordis murmured.

These butterflies were the most beautiful creatures he had ever seen.

In the past, the creatures he had seen most often were cockroaches and rats.

He lowered his hand.

The butterfly fluttered its blood-red wings a couple of times and circled around Cordis.

After knocking down his house of cards yet again.

Hisoka looked over at Cordis.

Seeing that he was practically surrounded by those blood-red butterflies.

He waved his hand a couple of times.

And chased away all the butterflies in front of Cordis.

When Cordis saw that all the beautiful butterflies before him were gone.

He shot Hisoka a somewhat resentful look.

But in the end, he said nothing.

"Pai Pai~ You're such a strange person~"

Anyone could call Cordis strange, but not a complete pervert like Hisoka.

Cordis retorted without backing down.

"Hisoka dear~ You're a strange person, too~"

Hearing Cordis imitate his tone, Hisoka instinctively licked his lips.

"Pai Pai~ You always stir some inexplicable urges in me~♡"

Seeing Hisoka's orgasmic expression.

Cordis only felt even more disgusted.

Cordis had no intention of sitting there wasting any more time.

Without so much as a goodbye.

He got up to leave.

As he was about to go, Hisoka's voice came from behind him.

"Once the exam is over, remember our promise to visit the tour group together~"

Tour group?

Cordis thought for a while before remembering.

He seemed to have agreed to visit the Phantom Troupe with Hisoka after the exam.

At that thought.

Cordis nodded to Hisoka and left.

He spent the next two or three days in peace.

Though some arrogant examinees occasionally bothered him.

Life was still pretty good.

Three days had passed since he last saw Gon.

And the fourth phase of the exam was already more than halfway over.

He returned to the little river from before.

Sure enough.

Gon was still practicing there.

And Gon's nose, which worked like a tracking device.

Clearly picked up Cordis's scent when he was still two or three meters away.

"Cordis!"

Gon waved as he ran toward Cordis.

And plunged straight into his arms.

He didn't know why.

But being in Cordis's arms always made him feel especially safe.

Yesterday, when I was getting out of the car, I accidentally caught my little finger in the door as I closed it.

My little finger is a bit swollen. It looks like it might be somewhat serious.

But!

That's no big deal!

I still have nine fingers!

I'll keep updating every day!