The wheels touched down with a low, rolling thud.
A moment later—
Silence.
The airport of Republic of Padokea buzzed with life.
Announcements echoed overhead. Footsteps overlapped. Luggage wheels clicked rhythmically against polished floors.
And through it all—
Yuzuki walked.
Hands in his pockets.
Sunglasses on.
Expression neutral.
His eyes moved lazily across the space, taking everything in.
The structure.
The people.
The exits.
'So this is Padokea…'
He exhaled softly.
"…Now where is that granny kid."
A beat.
"…Probably late."
His steps slowed near a vending machine tucked beside a pillar.
Bright.
Overstocked.
Suspiciously expensive.
Yuzuki stared at it.
Longer than necessary.
"…No way."
He leaned closer, squinting slightly.
"…There's no way a soda costs this much."
A man nearby glanced at him.
Yuzuki ignored him.
"…This is robbery."
A pause.
"…Legal robbery."
He sighed.
Then pulled out some cash anyway.
Clunk.
Whirr.
A cold can dropped into the slot.
Yuzuki grabbed it, popping it open with a sharp tssshh.
He took a sip.
Paused.
"…Okay, that's actually good."
"YUZUKIIIIII!"
A voice cut through the noise like a missile.
High-pitched.
Familiar.
Dangerous.
Yuzuki didn't even turn.
'Incoming.'
He shifted.
One smooth step to the side.
A blur of pink shot past him—
BOOM.
A small body slammed face-first into the wall behind him.
Silence.
Then—
"…Owwww…"
Yuzuki took another sip.
"…You should really watch where you're going."
The girl peeled herself off the wall.
Pink dress.
Twin ponytails.
Aura barely contained—
Biscuit Krueger glared at him.
"YOU IDIOT!"
Her voice shook the air.
"WHO DODGES A HUG LIKE THAT?!"
Yuzuki raised a hand lazily.
"My life flashed before my eyes."
"You're not even hurt!"
"I could've been emotionally hurt."
Bisky's eye twitched.
"You—!"
Yuzuki sighed, lifting the soda slightly.
"…Sorry."
A beat.
"…I guess."
"…'I guess'?!"
"…Okay, sorry."
He paused.
"…Granny—"
The air dropped.
Silence.
Yuzuki froze.
Bisky's smile disappeared.
Completely.
"…What."
Yuzuki immediately raised both hands.
"Wait. That was a slip."
Her aura spiked.
"I TAKE THAT BACK."
"YOU BETTER!"
"I MEANT—uh—"
He pointed vaguely.
"…Young-looking individual."
A long pause.
Bisky stared at him.
Then huffed.
"…Hmph."
Around them—
People had started watching.
A couple nearby whispered.
"…They're kind of cute."
"Are they siblings?"
"Where are their parents?"
Yuzuki blinked.
"…Siblings?"
Bisky's eye twitched again.
"…Parents?"
They both turned slowly toward the voices.
The crowd awkwardly looked away.
"…Tch."
Bisky crossed her arms.
"…Uncultured."
Yuzuki took another sip.
"…You did run into a wall."
"BECAUSE OF YOU!"
"…Skill issue."
Bisky stomped her foot.
"…Whatever."
She suddenly leaned closer.
Squinting.
"…Where's mine?"
Yuzuki blinked.
"…What?"
"My drink."
"…You didn't ask."
"You didn't offer!"
Yuzuki looked at his soda.
Then back at her.
"…You want this?"
He held it out.
Bisky stared at it.
Then at him.
Slowly—
A smile formed.
"…You're offering me your drink?"
"…Yeah?"
"…After drinking from it?"
"…Yeah."
Her smile widened.
Yuzuki frowned slightly.
"…What?"
Bisky gently took the can.
Then—
Softly—
"…Welcome back."
Yuzuki blinked.
For a moment—
The noise of the airport faded.
He looked at her.
Really looked this time.
Then smiled.
"…Yeah."
A small exhale.
"…I'm home."
Bisky's grip on the can tightened slightly.
Then she turned dramatically.
Throwing a hand in the air.
"AND CONGRATULATIONS!"
People jumped.
"ON BECOMING A HUNTER!"
Yuzuki scratched his cheek.
"…You're loud."
"YOU SHOULD BE PROUD!"
"I am."
He paused.
Then—
Slowly—
A grin spread across his face.
Sharp.
Cold.
"…Now I can finally kill legally."
Silence.
A man nearby choked on his drink.
Bisky froze.
Then slowly turned.
"…Don't say things like that."
Her tone was light.
But firm.
"…You'll scare people."
Yuzuki glanced around.
Everyone was staring.
Again.
"…Too late."
Bisky sighed.
Then flicked his forehead.
"Idiot."
Yuzuki winced slightly.
"…That hurt."
"Good."
She took a sip from the can.
Paused.
"…Huh."
Yuzuki raised a brow.
"…What?"
"…It is good."
Yuzuki smirked.
"…Told you."
Bisky rolled her eyes.
"…Come on."
She turned, walking ahead.
"We've got a lot to do."
Yuzuki followed.
Hands in pockets.
A faint smile still lingering.
Padokea.
Heaven's Arena.
---
The city stretched endlessly beyond the window.
Neon lights flickered to life as dusk settled over Republic of Padokea, painting the streets in shifting colors. Gold, violet, electric blue.
Inside the car—
Silence.
Well… almost.
Yuzuki leaned back against the seat, one arm resting against the window, sunglasses still on despite the fading light.
Across from him—
Bisky sat comfortably, legs crossed, sipping from the soda he had given her earlier.
"…So."
She spoke casually.
Too casually.
"I heard something interesting."
Yuzuki didn't react.
"…That so."
Bisky smiled.
Sharp.
"From Chairman Isaac Netero himself."
A pause.
"…You chose to become a Variety Hunter."
Yuzuki nodded.
"…Yeah."
Bisky hummed.
Then tilted her head slightly.
"…That's not very wise."
Yuzuki glanced at her.
"…Why not."
She leaned forward.
Eyes narrowing with amusement.
"Because…"
A grin spread across her face.
"…it's a terrible path for someone who wants to become Chairman."
Silence.
Yuzuki froze.
Then—
Color crept up his neck.
"…He told you that?"
Bisky didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Yuzuki sat upright immediately.
"Wait. So everything we talked about just gets passed around?!"
Bisky burst out laughing.
"Ahahaha! Look at your face!"
"Does client confidentiality not exist here?!" Yuzuki snapped.
"Not when it's funny!"
"That's not the point!"
Bisky wiped a fake tear from her eye.
"You really said it so seriously too—'I want to become Chairman!'"
She mimicked his tone perfectly.
Yuzuki covered part of his face.
"…Stop."
"'I'll surpass him!'"
"…Stop."
"'I'll lead the Association!'"
"STOP."
The driver in the front seat tightened his grip on the wheel.
'What… are these kids talking about…?'
He didn't dare look back.
Inside—
Bisky leaned back, satisfied.
"…You're cute when you're embarrassed."
Yuzuki exhaled slowly.
Then dropped his hand.
The embarrassment faded.
Replaced by something steadier.
"…I meant it."
Bisky blinked.
Yuzuki looked straight ahead.
"I will become Chairman."
No hesitation.
No humor.
Just conviction.
The car seemed quieter.
Bisky studied him for a moment.
Then—
She smiled.
"…Yeah."
A soft nod.
"I believe you."
Yuzuki didn't respond.
But his shoulders eased slightly.
Outside, the city lights blurred past.
After a moment—
Bisky spoke again.
"So."
She rested her chin on her hand.
"What's your plan now?"
A simple question.
Yuzuki didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
He looked out the window.
The reflection staring back at him—
Was colder.
Sharper.
"…I need to get stronger."
The tone changed.
Bisky noticed instantly.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I don't like those eyes."
Yuzuki didn't turn.
"They look like the eyes of someone chasing revenge."
Silence.
A long one.
Then—
"…They are."
Bisky exhaled slowly.
"…I see."
No questions.
No probing.
Just understanding.
"I won't ask why," she said quietly.
Yuzuki finally turned to look at her.
Bisky met his gaze calmly.
"You'll tell me when you want to."
A beat.
"And I won't stop you."
The words hung in the air.
Yuzuki's eyes flickered slightly.
Bisky continued.
"But…"
She leaned forward just a little.
"Revenge isn't simple."
Her tone was softer now.
Less playful.
"It eats at you."
"It changes you."
"If you're not careful…"
"You stop knowing why you started."
Yuzuki listened.
Quietly.
Then nodded.
"…I get it."
A pause.
"But I'm not stopping."
No hesitation.
"No matter what."
His eyes darkened.
"I'll kill every single one of those bastards."
The temperature in the car dropped.
Up front—
The driver flinched.
His grip tightened instinctively.
'…What the hell…?'
He didn't dare breathe too loudly.
Bisky held his gaze for a second longer.
Then—
She leaned back.
"…Good."
Yuzuki blinked.
"I said I wouldn't stop you."
She crossed her arms.
"And I meant it."
Another pause.
Then—
A small smile.
"If you ever need help…"
She glanced at him.
"…don't hesitate to ask."
Yuzuki stared at her for a moment.
Then—
A faint smirk.
"…You offering your services for free?"
Bisky scoffed.
"Don't push it."
The tension eased.
Just a little.
Up front—
The driver swallowed.
'Chairman… revenge… what kind of kids did I pick up…?'
He decided—
He definitely did not want to know.
The car continued forward.
Toward the hotel.
Toward Heaven's Arena.
Toward whatever came next.
And between them—
An unspoken agreement had already been made.
Not mentor.
Not ally.
Something in between.
---
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