Kaya was already awake when the morning sunlight streamed through the window.
He glanced at Gon, who was sleeping soundly beside him with drool trickling from his mouth, and kicked him off the bed with a look of disgust.
Thud!
"Ow, ow, ow!" Gon grabbed the edge of the bed and hauled himself up, his face still bleary with sleep. "What was that for?"
Kaya pointed at his stomach. "I'm hungry."
Just then, a knock came at the door.
Aunt Mito's voice sounded from outside. "Gon, Kaya, time to get up and eat."
Talk about perfect timing. Kaya rolled out of bed, got dressed, and ran to the dining room.
After breakfast, Gon eagerly dragged Kaya into the forest.
When they reached a patch of bushes, he took a plate and some milk out of his bag.
Kaya was a little speechless. "Did you bring me here for a picnic?"
Gon pressed his index finger to his lips, shushing Kaya.
A little while later, rustling came from the bushes. Kaya was about to investigate when Gon stopped him.
A cute creature barely larger than a puppy emerged from the bushes. It had brown fur and looked like a cross between a fox and a grizzly bear.
The little fellow glanced at Kaya beside him and looked a little nervous.
Seeing this, Gon picked up the little Fox Bear. "Don't be scared. Kaya's my friend. He won't hurt you." He gave Kaya a meaningful look, then handed the Fox Bear to him.
Kaya took the Fox Bear and stroked him, casually picking up some food to feed him.
Before long, the Fox Bear had dropped his guard around Kaya. Once he finished eating, Kaya picked him up and smothered him with affection.
Kaya stroked the little Fox Bear's fur and nuzzled his face against him. It felt pretty nice. "Where did you find this little guy? Where are his parents?"
"Oh," Gon said. "Kite killed his father."
Kaya looked surprised and confused. "Huh? That doesn't sound right. The old man rarely kills animals unless they're dangerous to people."
Gon nodded. "Half a year ago, I got tangled in some vines in the forest. That adult Fox Bear was going to hurt me, so Kite killed him. I've been raising this little Fox Bear myself ever since."
Understanding dawned on Kaya's face. "That explains it."
Gon suddenly asked excitedly, "Kaya, this little guy doesn't have a name yet. Let's name him together."
"Huh?" Kaya frowned. "I'm no good at naming things."
Gon thought for a moment, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "How about Jeya? It's got part of my name and part of yours, and we can raise him together."
Kaya joked, "Then why not Kagon? Why does your name have to come before mine?"
"Aww, Kaya, you're so petty. Because I started raising him first! But if you want to call him Kagon, that's fine too."
Seeing how seriously Gon took it, Kaya was speechless. "Why are you taking this so seriously? I was just saying it. Jeya it is."
Gon happily lifted Jeya into the sunlight and looked at him. "That's great, Jeya!"
The two spent some time catching fish and climbing trees with Jeya. When they noticed it was almost noon, they headed home.
Before they even stepped through the door, the two boys caught the aroma of food in the air. They exchanged a smile, then raced each other up to the second floor.
Yesterday's dinner, today's breakfast, and now lunch-these were probably the three most regular meals Kaya had eaten since arriving in this world.
Mito's gentleness and thoughtfulness, Grandma's kindness, and the sense of security he felt around Gon all put Kaya at ease. But the thought that he would soon have to leave made him a little downhearted.
After lunch, Kaya stood up to clear the dishes, but Mito took the plate from his hands.
"I'll take care of this. You and Gon go read."
Naturally, Gon looked unhappy. He had originally planned to take Kaya into the mountains to catch stag beetles.
Checking the time, Kaya forced the corners of his mouth upward into an awkward smile. "Thank you for taking care of me, Aunt Mito, Grandma. I'm going back to the harbor to find my master."
Mito froze with her back to him. "Kaya, have some fruit first. Once you're finished, there's something I need to tell you."
"Okay," Kaya answered, returning to his chair and fidgeting with his fingers.
A while later, Mito came out of the kitchen, wiped her hands, and said to Gon, "Go help Grandma watch the shop. I need to talk to Kaya."
She turned to Kaya. "Come outside with me."
The two went out to a field, where golden wheat stretched all the way to the horizon.
"Aunt Mito?" Kaya called tentatively, feeling uneasy.
Mito turned around and gently stroked his head.
Kaya's pupils contracted instantly. It was as though an electric current had struck him, his whole body going taut as a fully drawn bowstring.
He had never known what it felt like to have a mother, whether on Blue Star or here.
So when Mito made this gesture filled with maternal love, an indescribable emotion welled up deep inside him.
Seeing how tense Kaya looked, Mito took a letter from her pocket and handed it to him. "This is a letter from your master. Read it first. I'll wait nearby. Whether you're upset or heartbroken, Gon, Grandma, and I will always be here for you."
There was nothing in Mito's eyes but tender concern.
Those words made Kaya's heart stop for a moment. Sensing that something bad was about to happen, he quickly opened the letter.
Kaya,
By the time you read this letter, I'll have left Whale Island and set off on my journey to find Ging.
Are you getting worked up already? Don't. Hear out my excuses first.
First, I'm your master, so you have no right not to forgive me. Besides, I have no reason to apologize to you.
Second, the journey to find Ging is extremely arduous. You're lazy, greedy, and never work hard. I don't think I can find him with a burden like you in tow.
By this point, Kaya already wanted to punch someone, though he knew Kite was deliberately keeping his tone light so Kaya wouldn't feel so sad.
Still, he couldn't suppress the urge to stab someone.
Gathering himself, Kaya continued reading.
Third, I owe you an apology. Three years of living rough have left you almost completely cut off from the civilized world. You also told me you couldn't remember your past, so I want you to experience the warmth of a home. Mito's family and Gon can give you the warmth and safe haven that I cannot.
Fourth, take care of yourself, and take care of Gon and his family.
Fifth, if you want to see me, take the Hunter Exam when you turn twelve. Only by obtaining a Hunter License will you have a chance of finding clues to my whereabouts.
Finally, these are the words I most want to tell you:
Kaya, remember this: no matter when you were born or where you find yourself, never submit, never debase yourself, and never be cruel.
Your old man, Kite.
He was, after all, the master Kaya had followed for three years, and his only family since arriving in the Hunter world. Kaya struggled to accept that he had simply left without a word.
Watching the lonely figure Kaya cut from a short distance away, Mito immediately ran over. "You still have Aunt Mito. Don't be sad."
Kaya paused for a moment, then smiled. "I'm fine. Thank you for caring."
Looking at his smile, which seemed more painful than crying, Mito sighed deeply. She reached out and drew him into her arms. "Don't worry. I'll take care of you as though you were my own child."
There was a mother's warmth to Mito, and it helped Kaya relax a little. With his face buried in her embrace, he nodded.
Kaya sat at the edge of a cliff, staring blankly at the sunset and the sea. The ships in the distance looked like fallen leaves floating on the ocean.
"Kaya! Found you!" Gon rushed over and threw his arms around him, laughing happily. "Aunt Mito told me. You're going to stay on Whale Island with us."
Kaya gave a listless hum of acknowledgment.
Seeing this, Gon hurried to apologize. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be happy. I know you must be really sad that Kite left, but whenever I think about getting to live with you, I can't help feeling happy."
Gon was terrible with words, and Kaya felt a little bewildered listening to him.
With a sigh, Kaya reached up, grabbed Gon's cheeks, and pulled them hard in opposite directions.
"I get it. I'm not angry. But starting tomorrow, let's train together."
Gon knocked his hands away. "Of course! Teach me everything Kite taught you, okay?"
"Sure," Kaya said. "But you'll have to pay."
Gon let out a startled cry, looking troubled. "But I don't have any money!"
Kaya pressed a hand to his forehead. He actually believes that nonsense?
He really was a country kid: innocent and easy to fool.
Kaya glanced at a ship in the distance and asked quietly, "Yesterday, we agreed to take the Hunter Exam. Does that still stand?"
Gon nodded firmly. "Of course! We're definitely taking it. But we'll have to keep it a secret from Aunt Mito for now."
Kaya turned and made an OK sign. "By the way, how did you find me?"
Gon pointed at his nose as though it were obvious. "By your scent, of course."
"My scent?" Kaya lowered his head and sniffed himself. "What scent? Are you a dog?"
"Yep."
Before you continue