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YOU WERE BACK on the airship, looking at the vast scenery below you. you were thinking about the armed detective agency and how they were doing. you didn't bring a cellular device since you thought it would just break if you were to get into a serious fight. your train of thought was stopped by a voice from the aircraft's speaker.

"attention all applicants, the chairman wishes to interview each one of you. when you hear your number, come to the reception room on the second floor. we'll start with number 44, hisoka. thank you for your cooperation."

your number was called after a short period of time and you made your way up to the second floor's reception room where you were met with chairman netero.

netero greeted you with a smile. "hello! please take a seat."

you complied and took a seat in front of him on the provided cushion.

"to start off, why do you want to become a hunter?"

you found no need to lie so you told him the truth. "i'm a detective. having a hunters license is handy if we need to go investigate somewhere where only hunters are provided access."

"ah, i understand. moving on, out of the other nine applicants, which one are you keeping a close eye on?"

"hisoka, number 44. he's been watching me for a while now. very creepy to be honest."

netero's eyesbrows raised as he wrote down your answer. "which one of the nine remaining applicants would you least want to fight?"

you hesitated, trying to think of someone you least want to fight but your mind kept drawing a blank. so, you answered with the most basic answer you could muster. "i'll fight anyone if they're a threat to me."

netero hummed has the ink brush grazed the paper. "this doesn't relate to the final phase, but do you know a man named fukuzawa yukichi?"

your eyes narrowed hearing the name of the president of your workplace who you deeply cared for. "...yeah, why..?"

"oh, nothing. just curious. alright, thank you. that is all." netero waved you off.

you stood up and walked out of the reception room.

'that old man is sketchy for no reason.'

────  ◡̈₊· • .  .° ( time skip )

the ten remaining applicants arrived at the final site of the exam.

"for the final phase of the hunter exam, you will be competing in a one on one tournament. you only need one win to pass this phase. it is the winners who will drop away and the losers who will advance to the next round. which means the person who finishes at the top, will not pass. make sense to everyone?"

everyone seemed to understand, causing chairman netero to reveal the bracket the hunter exam committee put together.

( a/n: it took me so long to make this bracket thing LMAO )

you watched the matches before you intensely. the first match was hanzo against gon. you grimaced each time hanzo took a blow on gon. you watched gon get kicked around making you subconsciously flinch each time.

'i've only known gon for a little, so why do i feel so defensive?'

three hours passed and streaks of gon's blood were spread on the floor. leorio's outburst didn't surprise you, considering that he deeply cared for gon. your eyes widened as hanzo broke gon's left arm without hesitation. your eyes averted to kurapika and leorio who were fuming with rage.

time passed and gon somehow won his match. the other matches slowly progressed until it was your turn to fight. you walked towards the middle of the room and faced your opponent, bodoro.

"i usually don't fight women, but you are an exception."

an irritated smile twitched on your face. "sounds like you're just scared."

this ticked bodoro off like you had intended to and he came charging at you. he had no weapons in hand so you didn't feel the need to use rashomon yet. your general combat skills would suffice until he really didn't want to surrender. you dodged his attacks every time. as you were nearing the wall you decided to use rashomon. the demon figure emerged from your back and it pinned bodoro against the farthest wall by his neck. a malicious atmosphere filled the room as you sauntered closer to your helpless opponent. you grabbed his wrist and looked at his nails. "i'll start with your finger nails, then i'll break your fingers, your wrists, and slowly crush every bone in your body. surrender now or feel your bones stab your insides every time you try to move."

your last sentence must've triggered bodoro's flight and he quickly surrendered. you let him go and retracted rashomon. stuffing your hands in your pockets, you stood next to pokkle who eyed you nervously. as you watched the matches, you were surprised when gitarrackur, now known as illumi, revealed himself to be killua's older brother.

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NEW CHARACTER: ILLUMI ZOLDYCK, THE MASTERMIND

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the final phase of the exam finally ended with the following participants as new hunters:
gon freecss
hanzo
hisoka marrow
leorio paladiknight
kurapika kurta (?)
pokkle
y/n akutagawa

the hunter orientation was rather, eventful. but nonetheless, you passed. you and the other eight, now official hunters, made your way to the garden where you conversed with kurapika, leorio, and gon.

"y/n! we're going to kukuroo mountain to rescue killua! do you want to come with us?" gon shouted.

"oh, sorry gon, i have to go back to the armed detective agency. they're probably waiting for me."

gon's smile slowly fell, sad that his friend had to leave so soon.

"but here's my number" you handed him, leorio, and kurapika a sheet of paper with your phone number and email. "if you want to contact me, just shoot me an email or give a call. my phone's back at home so i won't answer right away."

gon's smile reappeared as he nodded in understanding. you waved the trio goodbye as you made your way back to your home, yokohama.

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