Lunch

"Wow I'm surprised you two can keep up." Said Killua.

All around them applicants had begun dropping like flies. The now over 60 kilometers had taken its toll on them, exhausting most of the applicants.

"Really?" Asked Gon.

"I-I haven't really felt physically tired at all during this entire exam so far." Said Mary.

[Physically huh?] "Maybe it's just that everyone else is too slow that I feel I'm too fast. Maaan the Hunter Exam is going to be a breeze. How boring." Said Killua.

"Hey Killua why do you want to become a hunter?" Asked Gon.

"Me? I'm not really interested in becoming a hunter. I heard the exam was supposedly very hard, so I thought it'd be fun. But this is disappointing."

"W-well it has only just begun Killua, I'm sure there's going to be something that challenges you." Mary said with a smile.

"Maybe... well regardless why do you guys want to become hunters?" Asked Killua.

"Well, my dad is a hunter. So I want to become a Hunter, just like him."

"I-I want to become a hunter to fulfill my uncle's wish, it's because of him that I can stand here today."

[I'm getting more curious about both of them now particularly Mary, what kind of uncle could train someone to hide that kind of bloodlust, yet still be so much of an amateur when it comes to Assassination techniques.] "Hey Gon, what kind of hunter is your dad?"

"I don't know."

Laughing Killua said, "That's kinda weird."

"It is?" Asked Gon.

"You want to be like your dad, but you don't know anything about him?"

"I was raised by Mito, so I've only seen my dad in pictures."

"Who's Mito?" She's my aunt, Aunt Mito. When he was twelve, my dad took the Hunter Exam. That year he passed and became a hunter. Then he left the island. I want to find out why he chose to be a Hunter over staying with me."

"H-Hey Gon, what kind of person is your aunt?"

"Hmm... if I were to describe her she'd be like an older sister, she takes care of me and loves me a lot, but she can also be tough on me at times. So what about your uncle? What kind of person was your uncle."

It took her a few moments to recover after Gon had described Mito as an older sister, but she still answered nonetheless. "In a word, weird. He despised my sister, but he was always kind to me. He was the only person I'd truly consider a parent. My uncle was also extremely strong, stronger than anyone I've ever seen."

"What about your sister? Where is she now and what is she like?"

Thinking long and hard Mary was saved from answering as a bright light shined up ahead. It was a saving grace, it was beautiful, it was the exit.

Getting serious the three picked up their pace and began running.

——————

[Now then let's see how many are left.] thought Satotz with the foggy landscape behind him.

"Goal!" Said Kullua and Gon as they crossed simultaneously.

"N-No!" Said Mary as she was just a step behind because of being lost in thought.

"Yay! I win!" Shouted Gon.

"Don't you mean we win?" Asked Killua.

"Yeah, but I won first place." Said Gon.

"Huh?! I was faster!" Killua Shouted.

"No, I was."

"No, I was!"

"No, I was faster and that's that!"

The two turned to Satotz and Mary as Gon asked, "Hey, Who was faster?"

"I believe you two crossed the line at the same exact moment." Answered Satotz.

"I-I agree." Said Mary.

"Well it doesn't matter that much since I know I was faster." Reasoned Gon.

"Are you sure about that? Because I'm positive I was faster than you, Gon."

Laughing at the scene Mary jokingly said, "Why not play rock, paper, scissors to decide who won first place? Besides does it really matter who's first?"

The two stopped for a moment before Gon spoke up. "Hey Mary, you didn't stutter! Does this mean you're finally comfortable with us?"

"Huh? I-I guess it does." Said Mary while looking down as her face turned red.

Turning back towards Satotz Gon asked, "Hey Mr. Satotz, is this where the Second Phase of the exam is going to take place?"

"No, we still have quite a way to go."

"Oh..."

——————

"Hey Gon! Let's finish this!" Said Killua while getting into position.

"Yeah!" Said Gon while also getting ready.

A small period of time had passed as the other applicants made their way out of the tunnel and Gon and Killua's matches began. The two had already tied 68 times in their rock, paper, scissor match to decide who was the fastest. A crowd had already formed around them as Mary served as the referee for the battle.

As Mary counted down Killua Shouted, "I'll finish it now!"

And with that, the 69th match went to the one who had thrown rock, Gon won the prize that was first place.

"Damnit!" Yelled Killua.

——————

Time passed as Mary, Gon, and Killua sat down near the exit of the tunnel, after Killua had finished complaining about the injustice given to him the three had had a nice conversation. In fact, they had become so engrossed in their conversation that they didn't notice the nearly half-dead Leorio panting next to them. It was only because Kurapika had asked them something that they had realized he was there.

"Hey, Gon is this our destination?"

"No, it isn't."

"I see."

"Hey... Brats! Can't... you at least acknowledge my presence here?" Said Leorio panting.

"Hey Gon, Mary did you hear something?" Asked Killua.

"Why you! I-" before Leorio could even begin his angry lecture Mary had interrupted him.

"Hey guys! Look the fog is rising!"

"Really?" Asked Gon excitedly.

"Hey! Don't ignore me!"

Before them they could make out the tree line up ahead, or rather they could unknowingly see the location for one of the most gruesome and deadly places known to man, and it was not the beasts that would make it so deadly, no, it was the clown holding a deck of cards that would change the Exam and the perspectives of the five rookies that stood by each other.