Trickery X Giving up X Trouble?

"Kaya, your turn." Gon wiped away his sweat and stepped off the court.

"Okay~"

Kaya lazily got up from the floor and shook out his slightly numb legs.

"My speed is on par with Killua's, but I've got a clever trick. Maybe I can luck into a win."

After watching Gon and Killua test Netero's abilities, Kaya knew he had no chance of winning through speed alone. He would have to rely on surprise.

He politely bowed to Netero, then, just as Netero was about to return the gesture, stamped his left foot hard against the floor and appeared at Netero's right side.

This was Kaya's usual trick. Who cared about fairness, as long as he won?

Especially with such a huge gap in strength, catching his opponent off guard was his only option.

"Fast enough, but the ball's in my left hand. What are you thinking, kid?"

Netero wore a pleased smile.

Kaya ignored him, clinging to Netero's right arm like glue while reaching out with his other hand to grab the ball from the front.

Netero instinctively moved his left hand back an inch, not realizing the move was a diversion.

Using his astonishing flexibility, Kaya raised his right foot and kicked behind Netero, knocking the ball forward and out of his control.

Rather than pay attention to Kaya clinging to him, Netero instinctively dashed after the ball.

Kaya cleverly borrowed Netero's speed, then pushed off against his arm and launched himself forward in an instant, actually pulling a little ahead.

"That's..." Killua was left speechless by Kaya's rather shameless tactics.

As if he could see how speechless Killua was, Gon patted him and said, "That's just how Kaya is. You'll get used to it."

Netero inwardly praised him. This kid really is clever. He borrowed his opponent's speed and combined it with his own for a double burst of acceleration.

"Got it!" Just as Kaya's fingertips were about to touch the ball, Netero appeared like a wall between him and the ball.

His sudden burst of speed was almost sonic.

Thud!

Unable to slow down in time, Kaya crashed into Netero's iron-hard body, clutched his nose, and cried out in pain.

"You sure have a lot of sneaky tricks, kid!" Netero said, bouncing the ball.

"None of your business!"

With that, Kaya copied Killua, raising his leg to attack Netero's lower body.

Netero paid it no mind and did not dodge. "Are you going to make the same mistake twice?"

Fell for it! Delight surged through Kaya as he changed direction just before their legs collided, aiming his kick at Netero's crotch.

Surely that can't be as hard as steel, Kaya thought.

Netero knew the kick packed enough force that he might ache for a year if he did not use Ten, but he feared that using it would injure Kaya from the recoil.

He had no choice but to extend his right hand to block Kaya's lineage-ending kick, then retreat a few steps.

"Kaya's really strong," Killua couldn't help remarking.

"Why? He didn't land that kick either, did he?" Gon asked in confusion.

"You're seriously slow on the uptake!" Killua gave him a disdainful look. "When we took our turns, Netero never used his right hand or his left foot."

"But Kaya forced him to use his left foot to accelerate the first time, and his right hand to defend the second time."

Understanding dawned on Gon's face. "So Kaya really is better."

Killua shook his head. "In terms of raw strength, we're actually about the same as Kaya. But fighting takes tactics, and he really is a little better than me at that."

"I'm done. I'm done."

After another hour of chasing, Kaya finally lost heart. Aside from those two surprise attacks having a slight effect, Netero had easily dealt with every other attack.

"Giving up so soon?"

Netero looked so relaxed that it was downright infuriating.

"I couldn't get it even if I tried for a year. What's the point? We still have the exam tomorrow."

Kaya wiped the sweat from his forehead and prepared to leave.

"I'm done too."

Killua's face was grim as well. Netero's strength had left him deeply frustrated, and the bloodlust inside him surged. If he kept going, he feared he would lose control.

"Huh? You're quitting already? Then I'll keep playing by myself."

Gon, unwilling to admit defeat, stood up to continue the challenge.

"We'll head off, then. Don't push yourself too hard. Save your energy for tomorrow's exam."

Kaya turned back to remind him, then took Killua by the hand and left.

It was almost one by the time they left the gym.

"Want to grab something to eat? I'm starving!"

Kaya cautiously glanced at the grim-faced Killua beside him. He had already sensed Killua's unconcealable bloodlust and was trying to calm him down.

At the sound of Kaya's voice, Killua gradually relaxed, but his hands still trembled. He desperately wanted an outlet, suppressing his urge to kill like an addict fighting a craving.

"Would the dining hall still have food this late?" Killua asked, bringing his emotions somewhat under control.

"It should. If not, we can buy something from a vending machine."

Killua looked him over. "You have money?"

Kaya scrunched his brows. "What's with that look? You think that little of me?"

Then he pulled the 500,000 Jenny he had won in the arena out of his bag and waved it in front of Killua.

"So? Coming or not? I just saw a machine selling chocolate balls."

Killua's big eyes lit up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go, let's go!"

With that, he slung an arm around Kaya's neck and quickened his pace.

"Slow down! You're going to choke me to death."

Kaya was only a little shorter than Killua, but he simply couldn't break free of his arm. He could only let Killua drag him along, stumbling as he went.

He had no idea that Killua's arm strength had already reached sixteen tons.

The two laughed and joked along the way, playfully tussling now and then.

Two stern-looking examinees approached from the opposite direction. Despite the spacious corridor, they deliberately refused to move aside.

Seeing that they were about to bump into him, Kaya stuck to his good-boy principle of If you won't make way for me, I'll make way for you, and shifted slightly toward Killua.

The two examinees seemed deeply annoyed by their noisy antics, and one deliberately stepped sideways to bump into Kaya.

Kaya paid the minor incident no mind. He turned back and continued chatting and laughing with Killua.

But sometimes, even when you didn't look for trouble, trouble came looking for you.

"Hey, brat!" an irritated shout came from behind.

Killua frowned and was about to turn around, but Kaya gently held him back.

"Forget it. I'm starving. Just ignore them," Kaya urged quietly.

But the two examinees clearly had no intention of letting it go. "You with the brown hair! Stop right there!"

Killua glanced at Kaya, seemingly waiting for his opinion.

Kaya merely shook his head.

Killua clicked his tongue. Fine! I'll keep putting up with it.

Seeing that the two children didn't dare turn around and instead quickened their steps, the examinees grew emboldened. They rushed forward and grabbed Kaya's shoulder.

"Stop right there! Are you deaf, you little punk?"

This time, Killua finally couldn't take it anymore. The urge to kill that Kaya had just suppressed instantly flared back to life.

As he raised his right hand, veins bulged across it, and his nails lengthened and sharpened like switchblades, becoming as sharp as daggers.

Kaya grabbed Killua's arm and shouted a warning. "Killua!!! Don't!"

That sight alone was enough to terrify the two examinees, and they turned to flee.

But at that moment, pain shot through their legs, and both collapsed helplessly to their knees.

Killua had already flashed in front of them and pressed his razor-sharp hand against one man's neck.

"Apologize!"

Killua's voice was icy enough to send a chill down their spines even on that somewhat muggy night.

Blood seeped from the cut in the man's skin. Neither dared breathe too loudly, and, breaking into cold sweats, they hastily apologized to Killua:

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! We were wrong!"

"Not to me! To him." Killua jerked his chin toward Kaya.

With Kaya stopping him, Killua had nowhere to vent his bloodlust, leaving him visibly impatient.

Still kneeling like dogs, the two turned 180 degrees to face Kaya. "We really were wrong. Please spare us."

To them, the brown-haired brat looked far more "kindhearted" than the silver-haired one.

Kaya leaned close to them and whispered in their ears, "Sure, I can. But you'll have to kowtow to me."

As though they had received an imperial decree, the two eagerly complied.

In the narrow corridor, only the unceasing sound of foreheads striking the floor remained.