Anita was clearly infuriated by Killua's words. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide open, as if they could spit fire.
Without another word, she drew her dagger. In one swift motion, she flipped the table over and prepared to attack.
When words fail, violence follows.
Already burning with anger, Killua's remark was like pouring oil on the flames. Instantly, the fire blazed out of control.
Crash!
With one hand, Anita overturned the table. She leapt forward, dagger in hand, charging straight at Killua. Her eyes saw nothing else.
"Close one."
Lu Ou had been watching Anita's movements carefully and barely managed to save his cup. Gon reacted the same way—at the instant the table flipped, he quickly shielded his drink with both hands.
As for stepping in, Lu Ou had always believed that if a companion could handle something themselves, he would not interfere. Being friends didn't mean meddling in everything—it meant helping when help was truly needed.
Whether it was the loud and impulsive Leorio, or Gon, whose innocence coexisted with wild instinct, each of them had their own code. Even without rules, there was still a sense of order.
As Anita lunged toward Killua, Kurapika, who stood nearby, immediately grabbed her shoulder, trying to restrain her.
But the fury burning in her heart was too fierce. With a violent motion, she broke free of Kurapika's grip and thrust the dagger straight at Killua.
Rip—
The sound of fabric tearing rang out. Killua, who had been sitting on the sofa, was gone. Anita's blade missed and stabbed into the couch.
She didn't hesitate. Relying on instinct, she spun and stabbed again.
But although she was fast, Killua was faster. With a quick shift of his body, he avoided her dagger once more.
After two consecutive misses, Anita was furious beyond measure. Gripping the dagger with both hands, her expression twisted slightly—she was about to unleash everything she had.
"That's enough."
At the critical moment, Chairman Netero appeared out of nowhere. With effortless ease, he pinched the tip of Anita's dagger between three fingers, stopping her attack completely.
"Ha… ha…"
No matter how much strength Anita used, she couldn't pull the dagger free from Netero's grasp to strike Killua again.
"Don't interfere, you meddling old man!" Killua said with his hands in his pockets, clearly displeased. He had just been about to get serious when he was interrupted.
"That's true. Ordinarily, disputes and fights between examinees are not something examiners should interfere with," Chairman Netero said calmly. "However, this candidate—number 111—was already eliminated during the retake of the second phase. No matter the reason, since she has been disqualified, she cannot possibly defeat you."
Sensing the change in Anita's struggle, Netero released his grip.
Clang—
The dagger fell to the floor. Anita seemed to lose all her strength at once. She stood there blankly, no longer resisting.
Only after Netero summoned two men to escort her away did the others snap back to reality.
Lu Ou watched Anita's retreating figure thoughtfully. He was curious how someone who had already been eliminated managed to sneak aboard the ship. She must have had some special method.
"She knew she'd be discovered as soon as she got on board," Leorio said, puzzled. "So why go through all that trouble to sneak in?"
"If I had been eliminated, I might have done the same," Kurapika said gravely. "How can anyone stay rational when they're seeking revenge for a murdered father?"
He understood that feeling all too well—the impulse to throw everything away for the sake of avenging a loved one.
"'No one can stay rational'…?" Leorio's already serious expression tightened further. He seemed to understand what Kurapika meant.
"No matter what you gain," Lu Ou said, patting Kurapika on the shoulder, "as long as you don't regret it, that's what matters."
"Yes. No regrets," Kurapika replied.
Lu Ou wasn't worried about Kurapika. He was more concerned about Killua, who had been silent since earlier.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor.
After watching Anita disappear down the stairwell, Killua turned and walked off alone.
"Killua! Kill—!" Gon called after him twice, but Killua didn't look back.
Worried, Gon hurried after him.
"Let's go too," Lu Ou said, motioning to Leorio and Kurapika.
No one could remain calm after being pointed at and called a murderer, then attacked. They all understood that Killua must be in a dark mood. At times like this, what he needed most was his friends' company.
"Right," Leorio and Kurapika replied in unison, following Lu Ou.
Because of Lu Ou's presence, Killua's relationship with the trio was even closer than in the original course of events. They were more attentive to how he was feeling.
"Why did you come looking for me?" Killua asked flatly. "You all know I'm the kind of person who's hated wherever I go."
"But her father wasn't killed by you, right?" Gon said.
"Killua, didn't you already tell us you come from a family of assassins?" Lu Ou added. "If you're from an assassin family, it'd be stranger if you hadn't killed anyone."
"Yeah. And that man wasn't killed by you," Leorio said loudly.
"It definitely wasn't you," Kurapika concluded from Killua's reaction.
"How do you know?" Killua asked.
"Just a feeling," Gon replied, as always relying on his intuition.
"Aunt Mito once told me that if you really want to understand someone, you have to first understand what they hate most. I've always wanted to know more about you, Killua," Gon said.
"And Kurapika and Leorio became friends the same way."
Kurapika and Leorio both recalled the fight they'd had aboard the Sea God ship. It did seem that way.
"Exactly," they said in unison.
"Every profession has its own rules—and its own burdens," Lu Ou said, placing a hand on Killua's shoulder. "Take assassins. If, as an assassin, no one seeks revenge against you and no one resents you, that only proves you weren't successful."
"You guys…" Killua muttered. The unease he'd been feeling inside was gradually dispelled by their words.
"No one hates you… you're unsuccessful…" he murmured under his breath.
Looking at Lu Ou, he couldn't help but feel that Lu Ou resembled someone he once knew.