Tonpa decided not to use his juice scheme. He wanted Kaya to savor the slow descent into despair instead. That was the only pleasure he got out of taking the Hunter Exam.
Figuring the exam was about to begin, Tonpa turned and walked into the crowd.
Just then, a silver-haired boy approached him. "Mr. Tonpa, do you have any juice left?"
What's going on? Tonpa wondered. This kid's already drunk seven or eight cans of the diarrhea-inducing drinks I prepared for the rookies, but nothing's happened to him.
Tonpa hid his awkwardness behind a smile. "Haha, sure, sure. Here, take them all."
The boy downed a can, then looked at the baffled Tonpa and sneered. "Worried? Don't bother. I'm immune to poison."
With that, he tucked his skateboard under his arm and walked away.
Are all the kids this year monsters? That brown-haired brat was sharp-tongued and perceptive, and this silver-haired kid saw through my trick ages ago. Looks like this exam will be interesting.
At that thought, Tonpa actually felt a little excited. It was probably much like what the Fruit Farmer Hisoka felt when he found a delicious but unripe fruit.
Ring, ring, ring!
A shrill ringing came from the adjoining tunnel. At that very moment, the heavy iron door slowly rose.
Kaya took a closer look. A mustached gentleman in a purple suit stood behind the door, holding a peculiar-looking alarm clock.
Looking straight ahead, Satotz said, "Please forgive my slight delay."
"The passages leading to this venue are now officially closed. If there are no further questions, this year's Hunter Exam will now begin."
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's expression turned solemn. Of course, there were also powerful candidates who looked utterly unconcerned, not taking the exam seriously at all.
Among them were Hisoka, stacking cards in a corner; Illumi, lurking by the wall with his face covered in Nen needles and making rattling noises; Hanzo, whose mouth hadn't stopped moving; Killua, fiddling with his skateboard; and Kaya, who was yawning.
"One final warning. This Hunter Exam will be extremely dangerous. You may be injured, or you may die. If anyone wishes to withdraw, please do so now."
Having come this far, everyone was confident in themselves. Besides, if they chickened out in front of everyone, they probably wouldn't be able to hold their heads up for the rest of their lives.
After pausing for a few seconds, Satotz said, "Very well. There are 405 candidates participating in the first phase."
With that, Satotz turned and began walking forward. "Please follow me."
The crowd slowly began moving.
"Kaya, the exam's finally starting!" Gon excitedly grabbed Kaya's hand.
"What's there to get so excited about, country bumpkin?"
Though Kaya said that, he was thrilled inside too. After all, taking the Hunter Exam was his most basic goal after crossing over into this world.
After six years of hard work, he was finally standing at the starting line, with companions he trusted by his side. He really was lucky.
Kurapika's heartbeat also quickened, and his gaze grew resolute. He knew that only by passing the Hunter Exam could he take the first step toward his revenge.
"Don't be like that. You're making me nervous too." Leorio looked at his three companions, each with anticipation and determination in his eyes.
Satotz swung his arms and strode briskly at the head of the group.
"I am Satotz, the examiner for the first phase. My task is to lead you to the location of the second phase."
"Then what about the first-phase exam?" Hanzo, who had arrived early and was running in the front row, asked curiously.
"This is the first phase. Your test is to follow me to the second phase," Satotz explained.
Since Kaya and the others had arrived last, they were at the very back of the group.
For the first ten minutes of the exam, the entire group moved slowly, as though out for a stroll.
But gradually, the people ahead picked up speed. Walking was no longer enough to keep pace with the crowd.
"Have you noticed?" Kurapika asked. "We're moving faster and faster."
"You think you need to tell me? I noticed ages ago. But you think a pace like this can make me fall behind?" Leorio loosened his tie and quickened his steps.
Meanwhile, Kaya and Gon were fooling around beside them, completely unconcerned.
"This isn't looking good." Kurapika looked worried.
"Why?" Tonpa, who had somehow run up beside the four of them, asked shamelessly.
Kurapika gave him a disdainful look. "As the pace keeps increasing, the group will inevitably split into several packs. The gap between the first and second packs will only get bigger."
"And we're at the very back right now. In a tunnel this narrow, overtaking people won't be easy."
"Then what do we do?" Leorio's heart sank.
Kaya stopped fooling around with Gon and turned back. "It's no big deal. Some people are bound to run out of stamina and give up. We can just sprint ahead then."
"You've got the nerve to talk?" Leorio snapped. "This is all because you slept in."
"Why wouldn't I? This face is my ticket to pride."
"..."
Up ahead, Satotz increased his pace once every hour. By now, the group had been running for five hours.
Just as Kaya had expected, the second pack had fallen apart. Every so often, they would see a candidate sitting at the side, gasping for breath.
By now, Leorio was panting like an old ox.
Even someone as strong as Kurapika had begun sweating at his temples.
Kaya and Gon didn't catch up to the first pack just because the crowd ahead had thinned. Both unconsciously slowed down to stay with Leorio.
Seeing his chance, Tonpa chuckled. "Why don't I stay with Mr. Leorio while he rests? You can go ahead. I have plenty of experience with this exam."
The scoundrel had already worked out his strategy: take them down one by one. First Leorio, then Kurapika and Gon, and finally Kaya.
Leorio forced himself onward. "Cut the crap. It's way too early for that. As if I'd collapse here."
Tonpa knew Leorio couldn't hold out much longer. Even after being refused, he wasn't in a hurry. He stayed close beside him, waiting for his chance.
The sound of skateboard wheels scraping against the ground came from behind them.
A moment later, Killua skated right past Kaya and Gon, then slowed down until he was moving alongside them.
Whether that was deliberate or accidental was unclear.
Kaya and Gon instinctively looked at the silver-haired boy. The breeze from his movement stirred his silvery hair, making him look especially cool.
But his gaze didn't linger on them. He simply stared straight ahead.
It wasn't that Killua didn't want to speak. His upbringing had simply made him exceptionally proud and awkward about showing interest.
Gon, naturally friendly, exclaimed, "That's so cool."
Kaya studied Killua closely. His outfit was so distinctive that one glance was enough to tell he belonged to the main cast, and he was plenty strong too.
Just then, Leorio ran up beside Killua, panting. "Kid, what you're doing is disrespectful to the Hunter Exam. I absolutely refuse to accept it."
"Why?" Killua asked curiously.
"Isn't this an endurance test?" Leorio snapped.
"It's not against the rules," Gon argued. "The examiner only said to follow him. He never said how."
Kaya rolled his eyes at Leorio. "Save your strength. Your lungs look ready to burst, and you're still sticking your nose into everything."
"Whose friends are you two, anyway?" Leorio demanded furiously. "I'm seriously considering ending our friendship."
Since Gon had spoken first, Killua took the opportunity to ask, "Who are you? How old are you?"
"I'm Gon. I'm twelve."
"Kaya. Same age."
Killua asked curiously, "Do you two know each other?"
"Yeah. We grew up together and came here to take the Hunter Exam together," Gon answered honestly.
"Really? That sounds pretty nice." Something stirred in Killua's heart. Perhaps that kind of bond was a feeling he would never get to experience.
"What about you? You haven't introduced yourself yet. Young people should know how to return a courtesy," Kaya said.
"I'm Killua. I'm twelve too."
Killua glanced at the fishing rod hanging from Gon's backpack.
"Is that your weapon?"
"Yeah. Can I borrow your skateboard for a bit?"
Gon looked at Killua eagerly. After all, a backwater place like Whale Island didn't have toys like skateboards.
"Sure, but you have to let me play with your weapon too, Gon." Killua picked up his skateboard, his tense expression softening a little.
"Huh?" Hearing Killua call him by name for the first time and agree so readily, Gon couldn't help freezing for a moment.
Then he held out a finger. "Okay. Let's pinky swear."
"Pinky swear?" Killua looked bewildered. "What's that?"
"It's a promise to each other. The kind you can't take back."
After explaining, Gon took Killua's hand without waiting to see whether he agreed.
Killua's pupils contracted, and his gaze flickered uncertainly before finally meeting Gon's beaming face.
The ripples in his heart grew stronger and stronger, finally turning into a heartfelt smile.
And it was that single glance.
One glance that lasted an eternity.
Before you continue