Evening, 5:50 PM, Huntsdon Train Station.
Kisho and Amos arrived here before the designated time according to the tickets in their hands, preparing to begin their third pre-exam trial.
The two sat on chairs in the waiting area. Amos held a sketchpad, drawing and writing, while Kisho looked around. After spotting a snack shop, he said to Amos:
"Amos, I'm going to buy something to eat!"
"Mm. Get me a bottle of coffee." Amos didn't even lift his head. "Watch the time. The train will arrive in ten minutes."
Kisho waved back at him while running off. "OK~"
...Ten minutes later...
The two stood on the platform.
Kisho held a double-scoop ice cream and ate it, while Amos stood beside him, taking small sips of his coffee.
A long train slowly pulled to a stop in front of the platform. The connecting board was lowered, and the carriage doors opened soon after.
"Shall we go?"
Kisho licked the chocolate scoop in his hand and turned to look at Amos.
"Let's go." Amos tightened the bottle cap, put away the coffee, and nodded.
Then the two of them entered the carriage together.
This carriage was positioned toward the rear of the train, based on the direction it was heading.
It wasn't too crowded inside. About ten tables were arranged along both sides, with chairs facing the tables separating them.
The interior looked extremely similar to the old green-skin trains from the 1990s in Kisho's previous life.
He looked around at everything inside and let out a curious sound. "Whoa~"
Amos had black lines on his face. "...Hey! Have you never taken a train before?"
Kisho laughed. "A train like this? This is actually my first time."
He lowered his head to glance at the ticket in his hand. "34, 34, hmm..."
As he muttered, his gaze swept across the carriage. Then, near the entrance to the previous carriage, he found his seat.
He put his bag down beside him, sat comfortably, took out the novel he had bought earlier, placed it on the table, and began reading while licking his ice cream.
Amos sat down across from him.
"Huh?" Kisho looked up at him. "Your seat shouldn't be here, right?"
Amos shrugged. "What does it matter? There are plenty of seats. If someone comes, we'll just drive him away."
"Hehe~"
Kisho chuckled and lowered his head to continue reading.
But Amos wasn't as relaxed as he was.
He discreetly observed the passengers who had entered the carriage before them, as well as those who came in after he and Kisho boarded.
These were all examinees who had passed the second test—potential competitors.
Fortunately, there didn't seem to be anyone particularly noteworthy.
Amos glanced at Kisho, who was completely absorbed in licking his ice cream and reading, and sighed.
"Hey, you should be a little more vigilant too!"
"Hmph hmph~" Kisho didn't even look up. "I'm too lazy to turn around. Aren't you keeping watch?"
"Don't worry, Boss Fog." Kisho continued, "No one would attack here directly, right? And even if they did, they might not be able to beat me. I'll keep you safe."
Amos: "..."
His seat was backed against the wall behind him, giving him a full view of the entire carriage.
Kisho, sitting opposite him with his back to the carriage door, really wasn't in a convenient position to observe—fine, he had a point.
The train remained stationary for about ten minutes. Examinees boarding one after another gradually filled the seats.
At 6:15 PM, the sky darkened, and the station lights cast a dim yellow glow.
Another examinee slowly boarded the train.
The moment Amos saw him, his gaze turned cold.
It was a young man who looked like a university student, around his early twenties. He wore a black suit, held a book in his gloved hand, carried a travel bag on his back, and wore round sapphire earrings.
However... Amos subtly tensed his body.
Those who came from that place all carried a certain indescribable quality. No matter how well he disguised himself, Amos could instantly tell—this man, like himself, came from there.
He frowned and looked at Kisho, who remained completely unaware.
He truly didn't understand. Kisho had also lived in Meteor City, yet he completely lacked that kind of presence.
As if sensing someone watching him, the young man looked toward Amos and Kisho. Seeing Amos staring at him, he smiled.
Every hair on Amos's body stood on end from that smile.
But what startled him even more was that although he had been openly staring at the man, the young man's gaze settled on Kisho, whose back was turned to him.
Then, as if discovering something interesting, the smile on his face became meaningful.
Amos: "..."
He instantly realized—this person knew Kisho.
The young man walked toward them step by step and stopped at their table.
"Excuse me."
He smiled gently. "Is this seat taken?"
Amos's pupils contracted.
He wanted to tell him to get lost, but under that bright, open smile, he couldn't even utter a single word.
Why?
He clearly hadn't seen any "Ten" or "Zetsu" on him—this man obviously didn't have Nen abilities!
Then why did he feel so terrifying?
Kisho heard the voice, looked up at the smiling young man waiting quietly for an answer, then turned to Amos with an inquiring expression.
Amos: "..."
He wanted to refuse—but... he didn't dare!
Did this brat Kisho really not sense anything wrong?! Did he really come out of Meteor City?!
"If no one is sitting here."
The young man looked at the two silent figures and smiled warmly.
"May I sit here? There aren't any seats left elsewhere."
After a long silence, Amos nodded in reluctant surrender. "...Fine."
"Huh?" Kisho said in surprise. "I thought you wouldn't agree."
Amos: "..."
Suppressing the urge to punch Kisho, he watched the young man sit down gracefully without the slightest hint of awkwardness. After sitting, he calmly took a book out of his bag and placed it on the table.
Watching his perfectly natural movements, Amos only felt a chill run through his body.
This person was here for Kisho. But Kisho didn't know him.
This person knew that Amos had recognized his origins—and was warning him not to say anything unnecessary.
"Who exactly is he..."
A drop of cold sweat slid down Amos's temple.
"What should I do... Should I drag Kisho off the train?"
...
"Ah, I almost missed it!"
Along with hurried, breathless words, the final examinee boarded the train.
His voice gave Amos's frozen body and mind a moment to breathe.
Amos looked up toward the source of the sound.
The man glanced around the carriage, then walked toward him and Kisho. Stopping at the table, he looked at Kisho and said in feigned surprise:
"Oh, it's the kid from last night. So you're an examinee too."
"Ah~" Kisho looked up at him. "The uncle who tried to grab the last can of drink from me."
"Hahaha, I wasn't grabbing it from you. Didn't I let you have it?"
As he scratched his head while speaking, he placed his yellow shoulder bag on the table and sat down beside Kisho as if no one else existed.
"Since we're all examinees, why not stick together? We can look out for each other."
He raised his thumb and pointed at himself with a grin.
"Don't let appearances fool you—I'm a veteran examinee who's taken the Hunter Exam 32 times. I can definitely provide you with plenty of information."
Kisho shrugged and tilted his chin slightly toward Amos.
"I don't mind. He's my boss—ask him."
Whether it was because he had read something interesting or because of something Kisho had said, Amos heard an almost imperceptible light chuckle from beside him.
Amos: "..."
Help. He really felt like he was about to die.
Like smashing a broken jar, he nodded fiercely. "...Fine."
Forget it. Having someone share the pressure from the guy sitting next to him wasn't so bad.
He shot Kisho a fierce glare—how could this guy act like an idiot at such a critical moment? Talking about keeping him safe—bah!
Seeing the glare, Kisho showed a confused and aggrieved expression.
"Then thanks a lot. My name is Tonpa. What should I call you?"
Kisho: "Just call me Kisho."
Amos: "My surname is Eros."
"Got it. I'll remember."
Tonpa nodded with a friendly smile, then looked at the young man who had been immersed in his book the entire time.
"And what about this young gentleman?"
Amos: "..."
Mr. Tonpa, you are truly brave.
The young man detached himself from his book, lifted his head, looked at Tonpa who had asked him, then glanced at Amos—whose face was tense despite his attempt to appear calm.
And at Kisho, who still knew nothing and was comfortably reading while eating his ice cream scoop.
He smiled gently and said, "C·L."