Again | See You Sequel ✮ 𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝑿𝑯𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑿 𝑫𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏 𝑩𝒂𝒍𝒍

CHAPTER 32 -Devil's Sea-

Third person POV

Step. Step. Step.

Tress walked with purposeful strides, her breath steady despite the cold. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Beside her, Killua moved like a shadow, his usual light-hearted demeanor replaced by a heavy silence. His hands were buried deep in his pockets, his shoulders hunched against the cold, but Tress sensed it was more than just the temperature or his concern for his friends that was weighing him down.

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, noticing how he seemed lost in thought, his eyes never meeting hers. The tension between them was palpable, a silent specter that followed their every step. Tress's patience was wearing thin; the silence was growing louder with each passing minute, gnawing at her nerves.

"..."

Her expression hardened a glint of irritation in her eyes. She stopped abruptly, turning to face Killua with a gaze that could pierce through the stone.

"If you have something to say, then, out with it," she demanded.

The suddenness of her question caught him off guard. He halted, his eyes widening in surprise before he quickly looked away, his gaze fixed on the icy ground.

"Killua," she urged, her tone a blend of impatience and icy resolve, "You saw something, didn't you?"

"Something you shouldn't."

Killua's heart pounded in his chest. He had been dreading this moment, hoping that the silence would suffice for the words he couldn't bring himself to say. He knew he couldn't hide from her perceptive gaze, yet he couldn't find the courage to voice his thoughts.

"..."

Tress's frustration was evident in the way she crossed her arms, her eyes boring into him. She stared at him, her sharp gaze cutting through his defenses. Somehow, she figured out what was on his mind. With that, she turned her back on him, her posture rigid and unyielding.

"Killua. Word of advice. Don't get yourself too attached to me," she warned, her voice as cold as the air around them.

"...!" Hearing that, Killua snapped his eyes to face her back, shock and confusion written across his face.

Tress didn't turn around as she continued, her tone devoid of any warmth. "Our relationship is merely contractual. Once I help you find the Dragon Balls and get my money, I'll be on my way."

'Don't you think it's already too late for that?!' Killua gritted his teeth, his hands clenching into fists.

"Tress," he called out, his voice breaking slightly. "Have you ever thought of us as your friends?"

"..."

Tress paused, her back still turned to him. For a moment, the only sound was the faint drip of melting ice.

"Someone like me doesn't deserve to have something like that." Her words were devoid of any warmth.

Killua gritted his teeth, his hands clenching into fists. Each word felt like a dagger, driving deep into the fragile hope he had nurtured. The icy tunnel seemed to close in around them, the silence now charged with unspoken emotions. He saw her terrible past and understood why she turned out that way. It was all the more reason for him not to let her go. He promised himself that he would never let her go.

"Then..." Killua spoke, his voice firm and resolute. "I'll never thank you for what you did."

Her brow furrowed in confusion, though she kept her back to him. "What are you talking about?"