Chapter 9: Mito × Negotiation × Friends
"Are you two done messing around?" Kite's voice broke the boys' joyful play.
Alistair and Gon froze, looking up at Kite.
Alistair's heart skipped a beat.
Uh-oh. I had so much fun, I almost forgot Kite was there!
Gon was different. He beamed, running up to Kite and hugging him—mud and all.
"You're here, Kite! Why'd you come?"
Alistair stared, confused, big eyes blinking. "What's going on? Gon? Master?"
"Master?" Gon was surprised too, turning to Alistair. "Kite is your master?"
Kite nodded. "That's right. Alistair's been my student for three years."
Gon grinned in sudden understanding. "No wonder you're so strong, Alistair! If Kite is your master, that explains everything."
"Hey! Hello? Anyone gonna listen to me?" Alistair protested, raising his voice as the two ignored him and kept chatting.
Finally, Kite looked at him. "This is Gon—Gon Freecss."
"Gon Freecss… Ging Freecss?" Alistair muttered, frowning in suspicion. "Wait, don't tell me…"
Kite nodded again. "Exactly. Gon is my master Ging's son."
Alistair's jaw dropped.
He started counting on his fingers. If this were my old world, I'd technically be Gon's 'martial nephew'… But this isn't the kind of place where seniority matters, and even if it was, I'd never call a kid my age 'uncle.'
"So, Kite, why did you bring Alistair to Whale Island?" Gon asked, seizing the chance while Alistair was still in shock.
Kite adjusted his hat to cover his eyes. "Let's get you two home first. I need to talk to your Aunt Mito."
"Huh?" Gon's mouth fell open. "You know Aunt Mito?"
Kite didn't answer, just walked ahead.
Alistair and Gon traded confused glances, shrugged, and got up to follow.
---
After leaving the forest, the view opened up. The three walked a narrow path until a small village came into sight.
Gon pointed at a house built around a giant tree. "That's my home, Alistair."
Alistair shielded his eyes for a better look. "Weird building."
"Cool, right?" Gon raised an eyebrow.
"Tch." Alistair made a face, unimpressed.
From a distance, they saw a young woman sweeping leaves by the door.
Gon's eyes lit up. He waved and ran ahead. "Aunt Mito, I'm home!"
"Welcome—back!?"
Aunt Mito's face went from happy to confused to angry as she saw Gon, head to toe in mud.
Gon looked down at his filthy clothes and squirmed awkwardly. "Aunt Mito, I can explain…"
"Gon, you're getting wilder every day! I told you to read at home, but you…" Mito scolded—then caught sight of Kite and Alistair, both muddy as well.
Her gaze met Kite's. He stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Hello."
"Oh, hello." Mito returned the bow. "Are you a guest? Wait, you came a few months ago and bought wine, didn't you?"
Kite nodded. "Yes. Miss Mito, could I have a word with you in private?"
Alistair clicked his tongue. Look at this old guy—all polite when he sees a pretty lady.
Mito was puzzled, but nodded and walked with Kite toward the fields.
A gentle breeze stirred her skirt and Kite's long hair; the sunset made the village scene even lovelier.
Alistair nudged Gon with his elbow. "Hey, look at those two."
Gon frowned. "What about them?"
Alistair threw an arm around his shoulders. "Are you clueless or just pure? Don't they look good together?"
"Huh???" Gon blushed bright red and squawked, "What do you mean, 'look good'?!"
Just then, the upstairs door opened and Grandma came down the steps. "Gon, you're home?"
"Yeah, Grandma!"
"You're filthy. Aunt Mito will be angry! Hurry up and get cleaned off."
She glanced at Alistair. "You're Gon's friend?"
Alistair nodded sheepishly—suddenly shy despite usually being bold.
Grandma came up and patted Alistair's muddy hair. "That's wonderful. Gon's never had friends growing up."
Gon nodded eagerly. "There's only one girl my age on Whale Island, but I don't like playing with her. Alistair, you're my first real friend. Happy?"
"Not really," Alistair mumbled, hiding a smile.
"What about you, Alistair? Got any friends?"
If it was before I transmigrated, sure, I had a bunch. But those guys only cared about gaming on their parents' phones—just classmates to kill time with, not real friends.
Here… maybe Bakul counts, but he's four years older. Not really the same.
Alistair brushed his hair from his eyes. "Nope. You're my first friend my age."
"Really?" Gon's grin spread.
"Nope." Alistair turned away.
"Huh?" Gon leaned in, trying to read his face. "Really?"
"Kidding." Alistair pushed his face away, grinning.
Gon got a little dizzy, struggling to figure out if Alistair was telling the truth or not.
Grandma watched the two boys' antics, not wanting to interrupt, but they were so muddy she finally called a halt and sent them to bathe.
After the boys trotted inside, Grandma glanced at Mito and Kite still talking, then went into the little shop.
---
Steam filled the bathroom.
Alistair was already clean, soaking in the tub with his chin resting on folded arms, enjoying the rare leisure.
Gon scrubbed himself on a stool, washing off the mud as he asked, "Alistair, you know about Hunters, right?"
Eyes closed, Alistair replied lazily, "Sure. Old man Kite's a Double-Star Hunter, isn't he?"
"Old man?"
Alistair shifted for comfort. "Oh, I mean Kite."
Gon asked, "But what do Hunters really do?"
Alistair stared at the ceiling, thinking. "All sorts of stuff. There are good Hunters and bad ones."
Gon's eyes widened. "There are bad Hunters?"
"Of course!" Alistair replied immediately. "Why, do you want to be a Hunter?"
Gon rinsed off and climbed into the tub, sitting beside Alistair, all seriousness. "Yeah! Kite said I can take the Hunter Exam at twelve. Only four years to go… feels so long."
Alistair frowned. "How old are you now?"
"Nine," Gon replied.
Bonk!
Alistair smacked Gon on the head, imitating Kite. "That's just three years, dummy! Never learn math?"
"Aunt Mito tries to teach me, but I hate studying—playing in the forest is better." Gon scratched his head.
If this was Earth, you'd basically be illiterate… But in the Hunter world, that's normal. Survival comes first.
Alistair stretched his arms along the tub. "I'm different. Kite makes me train every day and read books, too. I hate it. I read so much before, I got sick of it. This place is way better."
Gon asked curiously, "How old are you?"
"Nine."
Alistair had been about seven before transmigrating, and two years had passed since.
Gon's eyes sparkled. "Then when we turn twelve, let's take the Hunter Exam together!"
Alistair shrugged. "I was going to anyway."
"Great!" Gon shouted, bouncing in the water. "Hey, Alistair, why don't you stay and live on Whale Island with me?"
Alistair seriously considered it—it did sound tempting.
But then he remembered: Kite wouldn't stay. He still had to look for clues about Ging.
So Alistair shook his head. "Kite definitely won't stay."
Gon insisted, "Then you stay! We're friends, right?"
Alistair's usual joking faded. "I won't leave my master."
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