Zepheena woke up the next day feeling a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. She was sitting with Aoifa, who had become something of a mentor to her during their short time together.

The exam commission had provided food for the waiting applicants, and to Zepheena's surprise, it was actually quite good. After finishing her meal, she went to throw out the plastic tray from her lunch before making her way back to Aoifa, but she accidentally bumped into someone.

"I am so sorry! I should've been paying attention!" Zephi quickly apologized with a slight bow, her silver charm bracelet jingling with the movement.

"Hmm? Oh, it's whatever," the boy brushed it off as Zephi finally looked up at him.

He had fluffy white hair that seemed to defy gravity, ghostly pale skin, and brilliant electric blue eyes that reminded her of clear winter skies. He wore a dark blue long-sleeve turtleneck with a white t-shirt over it and baggy navy shorts. His number badge read '99'. He had stylish purple and white boots on as well. What caught her attention most, though, was the fact that he looked to be around her age—a rarity in this competition filled with seasoned warriors and adventurers.

As the boy started to walk away, Zephi hummed thoughtfully before turning to continue on her way.

"Hey, kid!" A male voice called, and both teens turned to see a chubby man with a rectangular nose running over.

The white-haired boy's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he observed the man who approached Zepheena.

"Oh, hello," Zepheena spoke skeptically, instinctively taking a step back as she prepared to walk away.

"Wait! I wanted to get to know you. I even have some juice to share if you'd like. The name's Tonpa," the man said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as he pulled out a can.

The white-haired boy took a step forward, about to intervene, but Zephi beat him to it.

"No, thank you. I'm not interested," Zepheena said firmly. "If you can't go near Aoifa, then I can't go near you." Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Now leave me alone before I make you."

Tonpa stiffened at the sudden change in her demeanor, nodded quickly, and scurried off to find another victim.

"Aoifa?" the white-haired boy spoke from behind Zephi, and she turned with a start, not having realized he was still there.

"She's my friend," Zephi explained, her posture relaxing slightly. "I noticed that guy yesterday. He kept looking at me, but he waited until I was away from Aoifa, which means he's bad news." She shrugged. "I'm not stupid. I could've taken him out easily, but he's not worth my time."

The boy nodded with a sly smile that transformed his whole face. "You're cool," he replied, and she smiled back, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie. "What's your name?"

"Call me Zephi," she said as she held out a hand, her silver eyes twinkling with friendliness.

The boy looked down at her hand and hesitated for a moment—as though he wasn't used to such casual contact—but he shook it. "How old are you, by the way?"

"I'm fifteen," Zephi answered as she put a hand on her hip, feeling oddly at ease around this stranger. "What about you?"

The boy's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "I'm fifteen too. That's kinda cool. I've actually never met someone my age. Though, I've never really gotten out of the house like this before."

Zephi nodded as she studied the boy in front of her, wondering what kind of life would keep someone so isolated. "Aoifa is really the only friend I have right now," she admitted.

"Cool," the boy replied blandly as he adjusted his skateboard under his arm, which caught Zephi's attention.

She looked at the board curiously, admiring its sleek design. "That's a really cool—"

"Oh, there you are!" Zephi turned when she heard Aoifa's concerned voice. "I got worried that something happened to you."

"Oh, I'm okay. I was just talking to Killua," Zepheena explained, and the silver-haired boy—Killua—gave a careless wave.

"Yeah, well I'm gonna go. See ya around, Zephi," Killua said before turning to walk away, hands in his pockets and skateboard tucked casually under his arm.

Aoifa hummed thoughtfully and then looked back at Zephi. "Made a new friend, huh?"

"I wouldn't say friend. I don't know anything about him other than his first name. I just bumped into him, that's all." Zephi shrugged, trying to downplay her interest. "Sorry I took so long."

"Don't worry about that. I just wanted to make sure that sketchy guy who was watching you before didn't try anything," Aoifa explained as they made their way back to the pipe they had been sitting on earlier.

As they walked, Zepheena accidentally brushed against someone—a tall, slender figure with an intimidating presence.

"Oh, my apologies," Zephi said quickly, looking up at whoever she had bumped into.

The man looked down with a smirk that sent chills down her spine. He had flamboyant styling, with hair dyed a pinkish-red and strange symbols painted on his cheeks. "It's quite alright, my dear. Apology accepted." His golden eyes shifted to her companion. "Hello again, Aoifa."

"Hello," Aoifa grumbled, and Zephi looked between the two, sensing the tension.

"Is this the friend you told me about?" Zepheena asked curiously.

Aoifa nodded with a resigned sigh. "Yep. Hisoka, meet Zepheena. Zepheena, meet Hisoka."

"Any friend of Aoifa's is a friend of mine," Hisoka quipped as he spun his hands around with practiced grace. Suddenly, he was holding out a blue moonlily—a rare and exquisite flower.

Zepheena gasped as she looked at the stunning blue and silver flower. It was native to only three places in the world, the Lukso Province being one of them. They were her favorite flowers, and seeing one here, of all places, stirred memories of home.

"How did you do that?" Zephi asked in awe as she tentatively took the flower he was holding out to her.

Hisoka chuckled, the sound making her skin crawl despite the beautiful gift. "A magician never reveals his secrets."

"Well, thank you. Blue moonlilies are my favorite," Zephi said as she studied the delicate petals of the gorgeous flower, wondering how he could possibly know this.

She looked back up at the pinkish-red haired man. Despite his elegant appearance and seemingly generous gesture, he gave off a deeply unsettling vibe that made Zepheena instinctively want to back away. She maintained her distance but smiled politely, not wanting to appear rude.

"Geez, when did you become nice?" Aoifa huffed in annoyance, shooting Hisoka a warning glare.

"Anything to get in a good word with the boss," Hisoka replied with a sly smirk that suggested hidden meanings.

"The boss? Who's the boss?" Zephi asked curiously as she looked between the two, sensing some underlying tension.

Aoifa's posture stiffened when she realized what Hisoka was doing. "The boss of our organization. He's also my boyfriend," she said flatly, clearly wanting to end this line of conversation.

Zepheena nodded slowly, noting how Aoifa had tensed up when Hisoka mentioned their boss. Whatever relationship existed between the three of them, it was complicated.

"Well, I wish you luck in the exam, my dear," Hisoka said smoothly before he turned and walked away, his movements graceful and predatory at the same time.

Zepheena carefully placed the flower in the bottom of her braid. "He creeps me out," she confessed once he was out of earshot.

"You and me both, Zephi," Aoifa grumbled as she glared at Hisoka's retreating back. "Stay away from him if you can. He's dangerous."

---

Zepheena was getting increasingly restless as the final day of waiting drew to a close. The anticipation of what lay ahead was almost tangible in the air.

She couldn't wait for the exam to start, and to pass the time, she skillfully twirled her batons, the silver metal catching the light as they spun through the air. As she practiced, she wondered if becoming a hunter would mean she might run into Ging again.

She had him to thank for her survival and current strength. Without his lessons—harsh as they sometimes were—she wouldn't have made it this far. Looking back, she realized that perhaps some of those lessons had actually been preparation for this very exam.

Whatever challenges awaited her, Zepheena felt ready to face them head-on. The training she'd endured had hardened her, both physically and mentally.

As Zepheena stretched to stay limber for whatever the exam might throw at her, a loud, jarring alarm suddenly blared from the opposite side of the room. The sound echoed off the concrete walls as a section of the wall began to lift up, revealing a long passage and a very lanky man with a thin mustache and an impeccable suit.

"I apologize for the delay. Thank you for waiting," the periwinkle-haired man spoke as he stood before the anxious pool of applicants. "The entry period for Hunter applicants is officially closed, so without further ado, the Hunter Exam will now begin."

Zepheena looked at him expectantly, bouncing slightly on the balls of her feet, her silver eyes bright with excitement.

"One final word of caution," the man continued, his voice serious. "If you're short on luck or ability, keep in mind that there is a very real chance you could end up seriously injured. Death is another distinct possibility." He paused to let his words sink in. "If you are willing to accept the risks involved, I'll ask you to follow me now. But for the rest of you, kindly exit through the elevator door located behind you."

Zepheena took a deep breath, steeling her resolve. Around her, the other applicants maintained their determined expressions, not a single one backing down from the challenge.

"Right then, very well. All four hundred and four applicants will now participate in phase one," the man said before turning on his heel and walking into the passage.

Zepheena glanced up at Aoifa, who wore a stoic expression as they all began to move, following the suited examiner deeper into the tunnel.

Very quickly, the pace picked up from a casual walk to a steady jog.

"So are we going to the first phase now?" Zepheena asked Aoifa, who hummed thoughtfully.

"If I'm not mistaken, this could be the first phase of the exam itself," Aoifa replied as they jogged alongside the other applicants. "This is just a guess, but I think we're being tested already."

"How rude of me," the examiner spoke in a clear, carrying tone. "I neglected to introduce myself. I am Satotz, your examiner for the first phase of the exam. It's my responsibility to lead you all to the second phase."

"Second?" A bald man toward the front of the group asked, confusion evident in his voice. "What happened to the first?"

"The first phase is already underway," Satotz replied calmly as he continued his peculiar walking style, arms and legs extending in an almost robotic fashion.

A ripple of surprised murmurs spread through the crowd of applicants.

"The first phase is quite simple," Satotz explained. "All you have to do is follow me to the second phase, so try to keep up."

"Follow you? So that's it? There's nothing else?" The bald man questioned, sounding both relieved and suspicious.

"That's right. I cannot tell you where or when you must arrive. You need only to follow me," Satotz replied simply, increasing his pace slightly.

Zepheena settled into a comfortable rhythm, conserving her energy. She had a feeling this seemingly simple task would prove to be more challenging than it appeared.

---

They had been running for what felt like hours, the monotonous tunnel stretching endlessly before them. Zepheena had noticed that many applicants had already fallen behind, their stamina failing them. She was grateful for her rigorous training now.

Suddenly, she heard a voice shouting beside her.

"Hey! Wait up, kid!" A man yelled, and Zepheena glanced over to see Killua gliding effortlessly on his skateboard.

"Hmm?" Killua turned to look at a tall, black-haired man with small round glasses who was addressing him.

"You should show the Hunter Exam some respect!" The man shouted, indignation clear in his voice.

"What do you mean?" Killua asked innocently, though Zepheena caught the hint of amusement in his tone.

"Why are you using a skateboard? That's cheating!" The man explained, gesturing angrily at the board beneath Killua's feet.

Killua raised an eyebrow, genuinely perplexed. "How's that?"

"How?! This is an endurance test!" The older applicant complained, his face reddening with exertion and frustration.

"No, it isn't," a new voice interjected confidently.

Zepheena looked toward the source of the voice and saw another boy who appeared to be around her age. He had spiky black hair with striking green tips. He wore a cropped green jacket with matching shorts and sturdy knee-high boots.

Looking at him, Zepheena experienced a strange sense of familiarity, as though she had seen him somewhere before. The feeling nagged at her, but she couldn't quite place where she might have encountered him.

"Huh? Gon, what are you saying?" The glasses-wearing man asked, so Zepheena assumed the boy's name was Gon.

"The examiner only told us to follow him," Zepheena added, and all three males turned to look at her.

"Who even are you?" The oldest of the three glared at her, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

"She's right, Leorio," Gon agreed with her, his honest brown eyes gleaming. "Mr. Satotz never said anything about how we had to follow him."

Leorio growled, clearly displeased that his friend was siding with a stranger. "Whose side are you on, eh?"

Killua pulled alongside Gon on his skateboard, studying him curiously before asking, "Hey, how old are you?"

"I'm twelve years old," Gon answered with a bright smile that seemed to light up the dim tunnel.

Killua hummed as he glanced over at Zepheena. 'Just like us,' he thought to himself before making a decision.

With practiced ease, he flipped his skateboard into the air, catching it mid-jump before landing smoothly on his feet and breaking into a run alongside Gon. "Guess I'll run too."

"Wow! That was cool!" Gon exclaimed, looking at the silver-haired boy with undisguised admiration.

"How did you do that?!" Zepheena asked, staring at Killua with wide-eyed wonder. The move had been executed with such fluid grace that it seemed almost supernatural.

"Just practice, I guess," Killua answered with a casual shrug before looking at Gon. "I'm Killua."

"I'm Gon," the spiky-haired boy introduced himself cheerfully before turning to Zephi. "What's your name?"

"My name is Zepheena, but you can call me Zephi," she replied with a small smile, her usual reserve warming a bit in the presence of these two boys.

Gon noticed that her voice carried a certain duality—there was a coldness to it that hinted at past hardships, but also an underlying sweetness that suggested a kind heart. He sensed that she had experienced much for someone so young.

They all continued running, occasionally exchanging bits of conversation as they settled into a comfortable pace together.

As they pressed on, Zepheena noticed that Leorio was beginning to fall behind, his breathing becoming more labored with each passing minute.

She tapped Gon on the shoulder. "Your friend doesn't look so good."

Gon hummed in concern and slowed to a stop, looking back at Leorio. Killua, though clearly impatient, stopped as well.

Leorio was now hunched over, hands on his knees as he gasped for breath. His briefcase lay abandoned about a meter behind him on the ground.

"Hey, forget about him. We've gotta keep moving," Killua urged, and Zepheena nodded in agreement, though with a hint of concern. Gon, however, remained firmly in place.

They all stood there watching as Leorio stared blankly ahead, his internal struggle evident on his face. After about a minute, he looked down at the ground.

"Man, screw this," he grumbled loudly before suddenly straightening up, a new fire in his eyes. "I'm becoming a Hunter, no matter what! Damn it all!" With renewed determination, Leorio sprinted forward faster than before, blowing past the three young applicants.

Gon smiled proudly at his friend's perseverance before turning his attention to the abandoned briefcase. With a swift, practiced motion, he grabbed his fishing rod from his back and cast the line toward Leorio's discarded possession.

The hook sailed through the air with precision, snagging the handle of the briefcase like a fish on a line. With a quick flick of his wrist, Gon reeled it back. "Got it!"

"Woah..." Zepheena smiled, genuinely impressed by the display of skill.

"That was awesome!" Killua exclaimed, his eyes wide with appreciation as they all started running again to catch up. "Can I try that later?"

"Sure, if I can try your skateboard," Gon replied with an easy grin.

"I want to try both," Zephi added, a rare playfulness entering her voice.

Once they caught back up with the main group, Killua's eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Hey! I have an idea!" he proposed. "Let's race to the finish! See who's faster!"

Gon considered this for a moment before nodding enthusiastically. "Sure, okay! But the loser has to buy the other two dinner!"

"Free dinner? You're both on!" Zepheena agreed excitedly, her competitive spirit awakening.

"Ready? Go!" All three shouted in unison before accelerating forward, leaving many older applicants in their dust.

Zepheena panted lightly as she ran beside Killua, pushing herself but carefully managing her energy reserves. She knew she could go faster—just as she suspected Gon and Killua could as well—but they were all being strategic, ensuring they wouldn't exhaust themselves too early.

For the first time in years, Zepheena felt a genuine sense of joy bubbling up inside her. She was actually having fun.

As they drew alongside Leorio and another applicant—a blonde-haired young man with tribal clothing—she couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"See you at the finish line!" Gon called out with a cheeky grin as they passed.

"Yeah! Catch ya later, old man!" Killua teased as Gon laughed.

"Hey! I'm not old!" Leorio shouted indignantly after them. "Can't you tell I'm a teenager just like you?!"

The blonde-haired young man caught sight of Zepheena as she passed, and his eyes widened slightly. He seemed to study her intently for a moment, a flash of recognition crossing his features. Zepheena kept her gaze forward, focused on the path ahead, unaware of his scrutiny.

As Gon, Zephi, and Killua pulled further ahead in the tunnel, the blonde youth continued to watch the familiar girl until she disappeared from view.

"Hey, Kurapika, you good?" Leorio questioned after trying to get his attention several times.

Kurapika shook his head slightly, as if clearing away cobwebs, and turned to Leorio. "What is it?"

"You've been zoned out for like five minutes now," Leorio remarked between labored breaths.

"Hmm, it's nothing," Kurapika replied distantly. "Just thought I recognized someone... but it's impossible anyway." His gray eyes remained troubled as he maintained his steady pace forward.

---

After what seemed like an eternity of running through the dimly lit tunnel, Zepheena could finally see the exit ahead, a bright patch of light growing larger with each step. The sight filled her with renewed energy.

As much as she was enjoying the camaraderie with her new acquaintances, she could definitely use a brief respite. Still, she didn't slow down—if anything, the proximity of their goal spurred her to push harder.

"I've gotta tell you guys, I'm pretty impressed that you can keep up with me," Killua remarked suddenly, and both Gon and Zephi glanced at the silver-haired boy.

"You are?" Gon asked with a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head.

"Or maybe they're all just so slow that you both seem fast," Killua mused, casting a dismissive look at the struggling applicants around them. "Man, I thought the Hunter Exam was gonna be more of a challenge. This is boring."

"Hey, why do you want to be a Hunter, anyway?" Gon asked Killua, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Who, me? I never said I wanted to be a Hunter," Killua replied with a casual shrug. "I just heard the exam was supposed to be really hard. It sounded kind of fun, so here I am." He sighed dramatically. "But it's not as fun as I thought. What about you?"

"Well, the thing is, my dad's a Hunter," Gon explained, his expression softening. "So I decided I was gonna be just like him, no matter what!"

"So what kind of Hunter is your dad?" Zephi asked as they maneuvered around an applicant who had collapsed on the stairs, his strength finally giving out.

"No idea!" Gon replied cheerfully, as if this was a perfectly normal answer.

Killua burst out laughing. "It's the weirdest thing I've ever heard! You want to be the same kind of Hunter as your dad, but you don't know anything about him? That's nuts!"

"Mito's the one who raised me," Gon explained, his eyes taking on a distant, fond quality. "And she told me a little, but I've only ever seen him in pictures she showed me from a long time ago."

Zephi could tell from Gon's tone that whoever this "Mito" was, she meant a great deal to him.

"Wait, so who's Mito?" Killua asked, voicing the question that was also on Zepheena's mind.

"She's my aunt," Gon clarified. "She said that my dad took the Hunter Exam when he was only twelve years old, too. He passed on his first try and became a Hunter. That's when he decided to leave the island." A hint of determination entered his voice. "So I came here to find out why he chose being a Hunter over staying at home with me."

"What about you, Zephi?" Killua asked, turning the conversation to their new companion. "Why are you here?"

"Oh, well, I never really dreamed about being a Hunter or anything like that," Zepheena replied carefully, choosing her words. "I ran into a woman named Aoifa in the woods, and she said she could take me to Zaban City. She was coming for the exam, so I asked if I could tag along. That's how I ended up here."

Killua sensed that she was omitting significant details, but he didn't press her. Despite the obvious gaps in her story, he didn't detect any malicious intent or dishonesty from her.

"The exit!" someone ahead shouted excitedly as the opening grew larger and larger.

"Finally! We're getting out of this dark tunnel!" another applicant exclaimed, his voice filled with relief.

All three children exchanged competitive glances before summoning their remaining energy for a final sprint, each determined to reach the exit first.

As they approached the finish line, Zepheena let out a genuine laugh—a sound she hadn't made in longer than she could remember—and they all leapt across the threshold in unison.

"Goal!" they shouted together as they crossed the invisible line where Satotz stood waiting, all three collapsing into fits of breathless giggles.

"Yeah! I did it! I finished first!" Gon cheered triumphantly, pumping a fist in the air.

"Oh no, you didn't! I did!" Zephi contested with a playful grin, her usual reserve momentarily forgotten.

"What are you guys talking about? I totally won," Killua disagreed confidently, hands on his hips.

"Huh? No, I won," Gon insisted, his expression becoming comically serious.

"I was obviously faster than both of you," Zepheena declared, crossing her arms with mock indignation.

"I won," Killua maintained stubbornly, and Satotz observed the friendly dispute with subtle amusement.

"I was faster than both of you, so one of you two has to buy me dinner," Gon continued, unwilling to concede.

"No way! I was faster, so one of you is buying me dinner." Killua matched Gon's determination.

"Nu-uh! I was faster!" Gon argued before suddenly having an inspiration. He turned to Satotz. "Hey, which one of us was fastest?"

"You crossed the finish line simultaneously," Satotz answered with diplomatic precision.

Gon's face scrunched up in thought before brightening. "Okay... fine! Guess I'll have to buy you your dinner, Killua, then you have to buy Zephi dinner, and Zephi will buy my dinner! Okay?"

"I don't get it," Killua mumbled, looking at Gon with confused amusement.

"Hey, Mr. Satotz, is this where the second phase begins?" Gon asked, his attention already shifting to what lay ahead.

"No, it isn't," the examiner replied. "We have quite a ways to go."

"Aw, man." The spiky-haired boy slumped slightly in disappointment before quickly bouncing back with characteristic resilience.

---

After finally reaching the exit, Kurapika emerged from the tunnel, breathing heavily as he surveyed their new surroundings.

"Hey, Kurapika!" Gon called cheerfully from where he sat resting on the ground.

Kurapika looked over and offered a small wave. "Oh. Hey. Is this our destination?"

"Nope, not yet!" Gon answered with his ever-present smile.

Kurapika noticed that the mysterious black-haired girl from earlier was no longer with the boys.

"Where did your other friend go?" he questioned, trying to sound casual as he glanced around.

"Oh, she went over to her friend Aoifa. She said she would see us later," Killua explained, and Kurapika nodded thoughtfully.

"What's her name?" Kurapika asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

Gon looked up with a bright smile. "Her name is Zepheena!"

Kurapika's eyes widened almost imperceptibly at the confirmation, and he turned away to hide his expression. The name had stirred something deep within him—memories he had long attempted to suppress. Could it really be possible? After all this time?

He would need to find a way to speak with her alone. There were questions that needed answering, and if she was who he suspected... well, that would change everything.