The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the hospital room.
Machines beeped softly in the background while evening rain tapped gently against the windows.
Kastro sat upright on the hospital bed, one arm resting behind his head as a doctor reviewed several scans on a clipboard.
"Well," the doctor said with a relieved sigh, "considering the kind of match you people fight in, this is surprisingly mild."
Kastro smiled faintly.
"I'll take that as good news."
The doctor nodded.
"A slightly cracked nose."
"Minor internal bruising."
"Nothing life-threatening."
He adjusted his glasses.
"With proper rest, you'll recover completely."
Kastro exhaled softly.
"That's good to hear."
Then—
Knock knock.
The door opened.
And Yuzuki stepped inside.
Still wearing his sunglasses.
Still looking absurdly calm for someone who had nearly demolished half an arena earlier.
The doctor blinked.
Then immediately recognized him.
"O-Oh."
Without another word, the man awkwardly cleared his throat and headed toward the exit.
"I'll give you two some space."
The door shut behind him.
Silence settled briefly between the fighters.
Then Kastro smiled.
"You came."
Yuzuki shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Obviously."
Kastro chuckled quietly.
Then his expression softened.
"You're an incredible talent, Yuzuki."
He shook his head slightly in disbelief.
"At your age…"
"To already be that strong…"
His eyes sharpened with genuine admiration.
"And your growth speed during battle is terrifying."
Then he smiled again.
"Congratulations on the win."
Yuzuki immediately looked away awkwardly.
"…Can you stop complimenting me?"
Kastro blinked.
"What?"
"You're going to make me blush."
Kastro stared.
Then laughed loudly for the first time since the match.
"You really are a strange kid."
Yuzuki sighed dramatically.
Then suddenly—
His expression became flat.
Completely serious.
"Kastro."
"…Are you stupid?"
Silence.
Kastro blinked twice.
"…Excuse me?"
The abrupt insult hit him so hard his brain genuinely lagged behind.
Yuzuki stepped closer.
Then reached up and slowly removed his sunglasses.
The moment Kastro saw Yuzuki's eyes—
His breath caught.
Brilliant blue.
Complex.
Infinite.
Like entire galaxies compressed into human irises.
The Six Eyes.
For several seconds, Kastro completely forgot what they had even been talking about.
"…Beautiful," he muttered instinctively.
His voice carried genuine awe.
Then finally—
"Who the hell are you?"
Yuzuki immediately put the sunglasses back on.
"Never mind that."
He pointed lazily toward his own face.
"These are called the Six Eyes."
"With them, I can do a lot of things."
"One of those things…"
"…is seeing someone's Nen type instantly."
Kastro's expression sharpened immediately.
Yuzuki crossed his arms.
"You're an Enhancer."
Silence.
Then Yuzuki frowned deeply.
"So why the hell are you using Conjuration and Manipulation?"
Kastro opened his mouth slightly.
Yuzuki pointed accusingly.
"Are you stupid?"
A visible vein popped on Kastro's forehead.
"…You really like calling people stupid."
"Because this is stupid."
Yuzuki began pacing the room.
"You're an Enhancer."
"Your natural efficiency drops massively when using Conjuration and Manipulation."
"You're basically forcing your body and aura into an unnatural direction."
Kastro frowned.
"I thought it would provide versatility."
"More options in combat."
Yuzuki immediately stood up straighter.
Then pointed again.
"IDIOT."
Another vein appeared on Kastro's forehead.
Yuzuki continued mercilessly.
"You created a high-level ability in categories horribly incompatible with your affinity."
"You know what happens if you keep developing it?"
His voice became colder.
"You'll plateau."
"Then eventually lose against someone with actual Nen mastery."
His eyes sharpened behind the sunglasses.
"And if that opponent is experienced enough…"
"…you'll die."
The room became silent.
Kastro's expression slowly changed.
From irritation.
To thoughtfulness.
Because deep down—
Part of him already knew.
The Doppelganger was powerful.
But exhausting.
Difficult to maintain.
Inefficient.
And despite how much effort he poured into it…
It never truly felt natural.
Yuzuki sighed.
Then shoved his hands back into his pockets.
"…Seriously."
"What a waste of talent."
Kastro looked up sharply.
Yuzuki turned toward the door.
Then paused.
Without looking back, he spoke casually.
"Come see me once you're discharged."
Kastro blinked.
"Huh?"
Yuzuki opened the door.
"If you're going to learn Nen…"
"At least learn it properly."
Then he walked out of the room.
Leaving Kastro staring silently after him.
Confused.
Annoyed.
Curious.
---
The hospital hallway was quiet.
Yuzuki stepped out of Kastro's room while adjusting his sunglasses back into place.
Then immediately paused.
Leaning casually against the wall nearby was Chrollo Lucilfer.
Hands in pockets.
Expression calm.
Like he had all the time in the world.
Yuzuki blinked once.
"…Were you waiting there the whole time?"
Chrollo smiled faintly.
"I was curious."
His eyes drifted toward the closed hospital room behind Yuzuki.
"Do you usually visit opponents after beating them half to death?"
Yuzuki shrugged.
"Not really."
Then narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What are you doing here?"
Chrollo pushed himself off the wall smoothly.
"I wanted to talk."
Then after a brief pause—
"I'll treat you to a meal."
Yuzuki opened his mouth.
Fully intending to refuse.
Because eating with the leader of the Phantom Troupe probably qualified as a terrible life decision.
But then his stomach betrayed him.
Meal.
Food.
Free food.
Yuzuki hesitated.
Then sighed dramatically.
"…Fine."
Chrollo's smile deepened slightly.
'Easy.'
Thirty minutes later—
The two sat inside a quiet upscale restaurant overlooking the city lights.
The atmosphere was calm.
Warm lighting.
Soft music.
Expensive everything.
Yuzuki stared at the menu.
Then at the prices.
Then back at Chrollo.
"…You're paying, right?"
Chrollo nodded calmly.
"Of course."
Yuzuki immediately relaxed.
"Then I'll take everything."
The waiter looked alarmed.
Chrollo simply chuckled softly.
As food arrived one dish after another, the conversation gradually began.
Unlike previous discussions, this one felt strangely… normal.
Chrollo rested his chin lightly against his hand.
"So."
"What was your life in Meteor City like?"
Yuzuki paused slightly while eating.
Then answered honestly.
"…Hard."
He didn't elaborate immediately.
But eventually the words came easier.
The hunger.
The violence.
The constant survival.
The fear.
The isolation.
Chrollo listened quietly the entire time.
Never interrupting.
Then eventually Chrollo spoke himself.
He looked out the window toward the distant city lights.
"When I was younger…"
"…Meteor City was different."
His voice carried faint nostalgia.
"We had very little."
"But we had each other."
He spoke about the church.
The children.
The videotapes.
The small moments of happiness.
Then eventually—
Sarasa.
The warmth in his expression faded slightly.
And for the first time that evening, genuine darkness entered his eyes.
He explained why the Phantom Troupe was created.
Not for greed.
Not for chaos.
But as a response.
A declaration.
A monster created so no one would ever prey upon Meteor City's children so easily again.
Yuzuki listened quietly.
Because unlike most people—
He already knew this story.
And honestly?
It made the Phantom Troupe infinitely more tragic.
Chrollo eventually looked directly at Yuzuki again.
"You know…"
"…you remind me of her."
Yuzuki blinked.
"Sarasa?"
Chrollo nodded.
"For someone raised in Meteor City…"
"…you're unusually kind."
His gaze softened slightly.
"You still believe people deserve saving."
"You still hesitate before killing."
"You still want justice."
He smiled faintly.
"Just like she did."
Silence lingered between them.
Then Chrollo folded his hands together.
"That's why I want you with us."
"Even if only as an honorary member."
"Not because of your strength."
"Because of who you are."
Yuzuki looked down at his drink quietly.
Then sighed softly.
"…I still don't agree with what the Troupe does."
"I know."
"But…"
Yuzuki glanced toward Chrollo.
"…I'll think about it."
For the first time all evening, Chrollo looked genuinely pleased.
"That's enough for now."
Then suddenly—
Chrollo's eyes narrowed slightly.
Very subtly.
His gaze shifted toward the restaurant entrance.
Then toward the reflection in the window.
Yuzuki noticed immediately.
Because he had sensed it too.
Chrollo spoke calmly.
"Yuzuki."
Yuzuki took another bite casually.
"Yes."
A brief silence passed.
Then Yuzuki's expression flattened slightly.
"We're being watched."
---
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