CHAPTER 17 -Devil's Sea-

208 10 3
                                        

Third person POV

In the serene ambiance of a traditional Japanese inn, the dining area exuded a tranquil charm. Gon, Ringo, and Killua found themselves seated around a low wooden table, their faces adorned with faint blushes that betrayed a subtle unease.

"..."

The room was filled with an awkward silence as the trio avoided making eye contact. The air was thick with unspoken tension, and the occasional clink of chopsticks against porcelain plates echoed in the hushed surroundings.

Gon shifted uncomfortably on the zabuton, stealing fleeting glances at Ringo, who in turn seemed preoccupied with tracing patterns on the tablecloth with her fingertips. Killua, not one to be easily flustered, found himself at a rare loss for words, his gaze fixed on the steaming bowl of miso soup before him.

Slid.

As if on cue, the sliding door opened, revealing Kurapika and Leorio, who entered the room with casual nonchalance. However, their keen instincts picked up on the palpable tension hanging in the air. Kurapika's perceptive eyes darted between the three blushing individuals, while Leorio couldn't help but vocalize his thoughts.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Did someone accidentally spike the tea with a love potion or something?" Leorio's boisterous voice sliced through the awkward quietude.

Startled, Gon, Ringo, and Killua looked up, their eyes widening in embarrassment.

"Leorio, don't be absurd. But it does seem like something is amiss. Did... Something happened between the three of you?" Kurapika raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

Leorio smirked, sensing an opportunity for playful banter, "Oh, I don't know. Maybe Gon here confessed his undying love for Ringo, and Killua's feeling left out. What do you think?"

Gon sputtered, and Ringo shot a surprised glance at them.

"I'll tell you what happened!" Her face flushed with both indignation and frustration as Ringo jabbed an accusatory finger at Gon and Killua.

"These two are perverts!" she seethed, her eyes narrowed. "What were you thinking, barging into the women hot spring like that?!"

"Wait, Rin, it's not what you think! We didn't mean to—" Gon, visibly flustered, stammered.

But before he could finish his sentence, Killua interjected, "Maybe next time, try not screaming if you don't want people to think you're in trouble!"

"Maybe if you had mentioned your sister was a boy, none of this would've happened!" Ringo shot back.

"Alluka's a girl!" Killua's eyes narrowed in protest.

"Are you blind? What girl has a ****?" Ringo's frustration reached its peak as she snapped.

The bickering continued to escalate, creating a chaotic symphony of accusations and protests. Just as the tension threatened to spiral out of control, the shoji door slid open with a soft swish, revealing Tress and Alluka.

SLID!

Tress, with an air of nonchalance, stepped further into the room. The tension seemed to subside momentarily. Alluka, the innocent bystander in this chaotic tableau, turned her gaze towards Tress with a look of genuine confusion.

"Tress Nee-chan, did I do something wrong?" she asked, her eyes wide and innocent.

Tress, maintaining a serene composure, smiled down at Alluka, gently patting her head.

"Alluka, sweetheart," Tress began, her tone gentle, "You haven't done anything wrong. You're just confused, but that's alright."

However, Tress's attention quickly shifted back to the bickering trio, her smile transforming into a subtle smirk.

Again | See You Sequel ✮ 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝑿𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑿 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒍Where stories live. Discover now