...
Silence and chaos ruled the room.
With just one sentence from me—that Shion is a woman—the three men were left utterly confused. If I had to give their expressions a title, it would probably be something like: "W… what did you just say…?"
"H-hahaha. I see. That's not a very funny joke, Aisha."
"Y-yes, indeed. Well played—you got us there."
"S-so it was a joke!? I couldn't tell at all!"
Looks like their consciousness finally came back, but they took my words as a joke.
Too bad for them. Reality is cruel.
"No, it's true."
"..."
Hey, you don't have to look that devastated… Is it really that hard to accept that Shion is a woman?
"Honestly, I'm more surprised you didn't notice. I can understand Killua and Zushi-kun, but Wing-san, you've known Shion for years, haven't you?"
"Well, yes… we've known each other for over ten years, but… Shion has never once said anything about being a woman…"
"But she never said anything about being a man either, right?"
"...That's true."
How dense is this guy? Over ten years together, sparring and training as rivals, and he got her gender wrong the entire time? That's impressive in its own way.
"What if Aisha's just mistaken?"
"That's not possible, Killua. You can tell someone's sex by their bone structure and center of gravity."
That's just a skill I picked up after spending so many years immersed in martial arts. Of course, some people are harder to tell—but in this case, I already knew she was a woman to begin with.
"That's… seriously impressive…"
"S-so Shion really is a woman…?"
"No way… there wasn't any chest at all…"
"Judging by chest size is rude, Killua. There are people like that. Think of it as rare value."
Well… unfortunate, sure, but some people are into that. Probably.
"P-please wait. I'll confirm it with my master. That person might know."
As he said that, Wing-san pulled out his phone and called someone. If he said "master," then it must be Wing-san's teacher. Maybe it's Biscuit.
…Let's listen in a little. I'll focus Gyo in my ears and enhance my hearing!
"…Hello? It's been a while, Master. Do you have a moment?"
'What is it, fledgling Wing? You calling me is rare.'
Yep. Definitely Bisky. They say fate works in mysterious ways, but the world really is small.
If Wing-san is Bisky's student, then it's no surprise he knows Shion. After all, Shion was chosen as Riina's direct disciple. She had real talent. If things went smoothly, she should've been an assistant instructor by now… I wonder how things turned out.
"Yes. I wanted to ask you something… You remember Shion, don't you?"
'Of course I do. Riina's beloved disciple. Like I'd ever forget.'
"Then… um… is Shion… a w-woman?"
'...How did you find that out?'
"—! T-then it's true!? Shion really is a woman!?"
'That doesn't matter! Answer me—how did you realize it!? Did you figure it out yourself, or did someone tell you?'
"Ah… I'm ashamed to say, someone told me…"
'...Unbelievable!'
Uh-oh. This conversation is taking a weird turn.
Why is Bisky so shocked?
"M-Master? Is something wrong…? Was there some problem…?"
'A problem!? Of course there is! Why didn't you notice on your own!?'
Whoa!? She's yelling so loud I can hear it even without enhanced hearing!
Why is she that mad? Is it because Wing-san was too dense to notice?
"I-I'm very sorry—"
'—I lost my bet with Riina!'
"…Huh?"
…What?
'A bet! I bet that you'd notice on your own, and Riina bet that someone else would tell you! You betrayed your master's faith, you know that!?'
"Shouldn't you also reflect on the fact that betting on your disciple costs trust…?"
Seriously. That's what this was about? Riina, you're getting punished for this one.
'And the 20 million I promised Riina for shopping is gone! A huge loss! You idiot Wing! Go wash your face with soup and start over!'
The call ended with an explosive shout.
…Bisky, that was a bit much.
"…Haha. So she really is a woman. Why didn't I notice all this time…?"
"Well, don't worry about it, Wing-san. I thought she was a guy too."
"Y-yeah! I didn't notice at all either! Don't beat yourself up over it!"
"Shion-san bears some responsibility too. If Shion had dressed a bit more femininely, we might have realized sooner."
Though when it comes to clothing, I'm not really in a position to talk.
"Now that you mention it… I once saw Shion entering the women's restroom at the Shingen-Ryu dojo…"
'NO, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE CLUE!'
Is this guy for real!? His level of density is unreal. I'd bet anything he's an Enhancer.
Even Zushi-kun is facepalming him, and there's really no way to help at this point.
"At the time, I thought she'd just gone into the wrong restroom… Ten years without realizing…"
Yeah… that one's on you.
"A-anyway, I need to apologize to Shion properly!"
"…Yeah. I'll apologize too."
"I-I'll apologize honestly as well… After all the help I've received and still not realizing…"
Killua and Zushi-kun are one thing, but Wing-san definitely should apologize. Not noticing for over ten years is a bit much…
Enhancers really do tend to charge straight ahead once they've convinced themselves of something. At this point, I can't see him as anything but an Enhancer.
Oh? It seems Shion has returned.
Has Shion cooled off a bit now?
◆
At last, I've calmed down. The nosebleed has stopped too, so now I can face Wing again. I can't let him see me with blood streaming from my nose.
…Hm? The atmosphere in the room feels different. For some reason, Wing is looking at me with a tense expression. Zushi-kun and Killua-kun also seem strangely nervous.
The only one acting the same as usual is Aisha-chan… What's going on?
…Wait, could it be because of what I said earlier? Are they all angry!? Th-that's bad! If Wing ends up hating me, my life will lose all meaning! I have to apologize quickly!
"I'm sorry. I went too far earlier. I lost my composure for a moment, but I'm fine now."
"Shion… I am deeply sorry!!"
"W-what's wrong all of a sudden, Wing!? Are you bothered by the fact that I shouted at you? That was my fault, so you don't need to worry about it."
He apologized so suddenly I thought for a second he was rejecting a confession!
Well, I've never actually confessed in real life, so that's impossible. I've done it tens of thousands of times in my fantasies though… and of course, every single answer was YES!
But it wouldn't be bad if, just once, Wing were the one confessing to me instead!
Ahh, my dreams are expanding… Wait, not again—the nosebleed…
61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, 97…
Whew, safe.
"No, that's not it. I must apologize to you…"
"…Whatever for?"
W-w-w-what is it, Wing!?
I've never seen him look so tormented!
Ah, Wing, please don't make that face. Seeing your smile is what gives my life meaning…
…Though this serious expression is also far too attractive…
For now, I'll use [Visual Memory / Otakara Folder] and save this instantly.
Rare image acquired!! I can live off this today.
Still… why does Wing look so troubled?
"…I am truly sorry! I… I have believed all this time that you were a man!!"
…Pardon?
"My bad… I misunderstood too."
"I'm really sorry! I'll bow down and apologize!"
"…What are you all talking about? …Are you saying I looked like a man to you?"
I'm sorry, what!?
Wait—huh? What does that even mean?
…Don't tell me… Wing never recognized me as a woman?
Eh? He thought I was a man all this time?
"…I only realized after Aisha-san told us. This is the greatest blunder of my life… I don't know how I can possibly make amends…"
"That's… that's too much, Wing. I've been by your side all this time…"
That's awful… Wing.
Wing… so in the end, Wing really…
…
…
Prefers women with big breasts!! Like Aisha-chan! Like Aisha-chan!!
Damn it! Why won't my chest grow at all!? I drink dairy every single day! I do bust-enhancement exercises! I've even been taking those mail-order breast-enlargement pills this whole time…!
No matter how hard I try, there's no growth at all…
Uuugh… should I just create a Nen ability that enlarges my chest?
"…I have no excuse. To mistake even the gender of a friend… of a rival. If there is anything I can do, please tell me. I want to atone, even if only a little."
…Hm? Did he just say he'd do anything?
Ah, this is bad—the nosebleed!
101, 103, 107, 109—no good, it's not stopping at all! That line was way too stimulating!
I can't let them see me with a gushing nosebleed! I have to get out of here!!
Anything…
W-w-w-w-would a kiss… be allowed too!?
N-no! Don't think about it! M-my nose is about to explode!
W-wait!? Why is Wing chasing after me!? I'm happy he's following me, but right now I need to be left alone!!
◆
"Ah! Please wait, Shion!"
Ignoring Wing-san's voice, Shion ran out of the room.
The shock must've been pretty severe…
"Everyone! I'm going after Shion. I can't just leave him—no, her—alone right now. Aisha-san, I'm terribly sorry you came all this way. Let's continue this another day!"
"Y-yes."
Leaving those words behind, Wing-san dashed after Shion at full speed.
I wonder how this will turn out? Maybe he shouldn't have chased after her… sometimes it's better to give someone space. Even I can't predict this. I just hope Wing-san is forgiven safely.
"Well then, it's getting late. Shall we head back, Killua?"
"Yeah, sounds good. Later, Zushi. Hurry up and make it to the 200th floor."
"Osu! Sorry about everything! I'll work even harder so I can catch up to Killua-san and Gon-san!"
He's such a serious, good kid. Honest too. He and Wing-san seem like a great match.
If he keeps up that steady effort, Zushi-kun will surely become a great martial artist one day.
Well, Gon and the others are probably waiting. Let's head back to Heavens Arena.
.
"Wing's something else, huh? Not noticing for over ten years?"
As we walked toward Heavens Arena, Killua and I naturally ended up talking about what just happened. Sorry to the two involved, but from a third-party perspective, it's hard not to bring up.
"Indeed. To witness someone entering the women's restroom and not question it…"
"Right!? Hah, I can't wait to tell Gon and Kurapika."
"Now, now, it's not good to make fun of someone's mistake too much. Fufu."
"You're laughing too, Aisha."
Well, that can't be helped. It's still funny when I think about it.
"Still, putting Wing-san aside, I do feel bad for Shion-san."
"Yeah… must be rough, being misunderstood all that time. But Shion's kinda confusing too. The way she talks, the clothes—nothing really feminine."
"That may be true… but my clothes aren't exactly feminine either, are they?"
"Yeah, but you're… different. Your face and the way you talk are totally feminine. Shion's face is beautiful, sure, but it could pass as a guy's too. Kinda androgynous, you know?"
That's true… the kind of person who would be wildly popular in certain circles. Mostly with women.
Even I almost mistook Shion for a boy when we were little.
"Hey, Aisha."
"Yes? I'm not teaching you Nen, you know. You made a promise with Wing-san, didn't you?"
What could he want?
"That promise was with Gon. Doesn't apply to me. …And it's not about Nen. Well, not exactly."
"…? What is it?"
Nen-related, but not about learning Nen?
"Kurapika learned Nen today, right? Has he seen any other Nen users besides you?"
"No, I don't believe so. Not since learning Nen."
Before that, he might've unknowingly encountered some—but that's pointless to speculate.
"Thought so… Aisha, just how high up are you?"
…What? How high up I am? What does that have to do with Kurapika?
"How high…? Well, at least higher than a Nen beginner like you, Killua."
"Yeah. Probably way higher than I can even imagine. That's what it feels like…"
"Why… do you think that?"
Honestly, as sharp as Killua is, I didn't think he could gauge the depths of my strength yet. So why?
"To be honest, I didn't feel threatened by the guy Gon fought. Sure, he's above us right now—but only in terms of Nen."
Seems the overall quality on Heavens Arena's upper floors hasn't changed much. There are strong ones, sure—but maybe not enough to give Kurapika serious combat experience.
"And even that Nen wasn't impressive. Compared to Hisoka or Wing, it's bottom-tier. Just a little above us beginners. We'll surpass that soon enough."
"I agree. Both you and Gon have extraordinary talent. To be honest, I've even felt jealous at times."
If—if only I had even half their talent…
"But what does that have to do with how high up I am?"
"…You taught Kurapika Nen, right?"
"Yes. He's incredibly talented as well. He mastered Ten in just one week—"
"—That's it."
"…Eh?"
How does Kurapika's talent connect to my strength?
"Wing said it might take us a week—maybe less—to awaken Nen."
"…"
"And Kurapika awakened in one week. So he's on par with us in talent."
"Yes, that follows."
"And here's the key. Do you remember what Kurapika said in Gon's room?"
Kurapika's words?
"'I learned Nen from Aisha as well, but I have no intention of challenging something like that with newly awakened Nen.' He definitely said that."
—!
Incredible…! From such a casual line, he connected everything with his own experience…
"Kurapika, who's as talented as us, said he wouldn't dare challenge it. And I don't think I'd lose to guys like the one Gon fought."
So he's pieced it together this far…
"Do I need to spell it out? That means from Kurapika's—and our—perspective, you're far higher up."
"…I take my hat off to you. To reach that conclusion from so little information is impressive."
"Knew it. There were other hints too. You pushed that Chairman far enough to make him attack, right? That alone tells me you're stronger than us."
"Ah… I was hoping you'd dismiss that as a fluke."
"Idiot. No way."
Figures.
But… bringing this up now—does that mean he'll say we're not friends anymore because I hid things!?
"S-so if I hid my strength, are we not friends anymore!?"
"Why would it be that!? And why are you panicking so much!?"
Wait—really? Not ending our friendship?
"F-fuu… don't scare me like that."
"You scared yourself. …I'm not quitting being your friend over something like that. Everyone's got stuff they don't wanna talk about."
…Killua looks like he's glowing.
"Thank you… Someday, I'll tell you everything. I promise."
Yes. I will. I won't claim friends must share everything—but I want to tell them. Even if they reject me…
"Yeah. You better."
"I promise."
Something inside my chest feels lighter.
"Killua."
"Hm? What?"
"Thank you."
"D-don't make it weird… we're friends, okay?"
"Fufu, that's right. We're friends."
"Don't look so happy! You seriously didn't have friends before, did you!?"
W-what nonsense! If anyone didn't have friends, it was—
Wait! Killua made his first friend during the final exam! And I made mine—
"Ha! You're naive, Killua! I had a friend before you did!"
"No way! Who!?"
"Leorio-san! We became friends three days before the final exam!"
"…Are you stupid? I became friends with Gon on the first day of the exam!"
…What!?
"T-that's cheating! You didn't even say 'let's be friends,' did you!?"
"Idiot. Leorio said we were already friends! You don't 'decide' to be friends. It just happens!"
Killua's words made my knees buckle… so deep… what profound wisdom…
"I-I lose…"
"Yeah. And I win."
Grr… that smug face is irritating!
"But remember this. Even if you defeat me, the second and third me will—"
"What are you, some final boss?"
"No, what are you two even doing?"
"Eh?"
.
Apparently, we'd already arrived at Gon's room.
Both of us were so absorbed in our conversation that we didn't notice until Kurapika pointed it out… embarrassing. Killua's face looks slightly red too.
"Honestly. It's fine since there aren't many people on the 200th floor, but you should be mindful of causing disturbances."
"…Since when were you listening?"
"From around the 'friends' part."
"…You could've called out to us."
"Eh, you looked like you were having fun."
"Having friends is a good thing."
"Shut up!"
"Please leave it alone!"
We chatted and laughed for a while after that.
But it was getting late.
"Kurapika, as much as I'd like to stay, we should go."
"Mm. Yes, we still need to arrange lodging."
"You're both still under the 20th floor, right? No private rooms until 100."
"You're climbing slowly. You could go faster."
It's for Kurapika's training.
"We'll catch up to the 200th floor before you resume Nen training."
"Oh? Big words. Can you meet those conditions in under two months?"
"Avoid every attack, right? Sounds tough."
"Really? Sounds easy."
Killua's combat skill is far above the others here. Under the same conditions, he could probably reach 200 without a single loss.
"Of course I'll manage it."
"That's the spirit."
Looks like Kurapika isn't overburdened—meeting Gon boosted his motivation.
"Oh! Hey, you two haven't booked a place yet, right?"
"That's correct."
"Why, Gon?"
"I've got an idea! You can both stay here!"
Eh? But there's only one bed.
"Oi. What are you saying? Where would they sleep?"
"The sofa?"
"Haha, I appreciate it, Gon, but I'm one thing—Aisha is—"
"That's fine with me. I've always wanted to have a sleepover with friends."
"…What?"
"Seriously?"
Killua and Kurapika synchronized perfectly just now.
"You serious, Aisha?"
"Yes. There are two sofas. And the bath is quite spacious—impressive for a 200th floor room."
"But you're a woman and I'm a man."
"I don't mind. It saves lodging costs too."
"I mind!"
"Huh? Why does Killua mind?"
"Isn't it fine? It gets boring just resting. I'd be happy if someone stayed."
"See? Gon says so. Let's accept the offer."
"…I'm not exactly refusing…"
If the sofa's that unbearable, we can get lodging instead.
"Understood. Let's find an inn then. There are many around Heavens Arena. …Gon, since Killua's here too, it should be fine, right?"
"…By the way, Aisha, how many rooms were you planning to book?"
"Eh? Just one—"
"Gon, sorry, but we'll stay here until we get private rooms," Kurapika said firmly.
Why? Didn't you object? Or… does he not want to be alone with me?
"Kurapika!? Tch!"
Killua suddenly ran out.
"What's wrong with Killua?"
"No idea. Did I say something offensive?"
"Hopeless… I've gotta fix this."
Oh? Killua's rushing back.
"Haa—haa! I'm staying here too!"
He dropped what looked like a sofa from his own room onto the floor.
Going that far just to stay… Killua wanted a sleepover too.
"Honestly, you should've just said so."
"I don't know what you're thinking, but I know it's completely off."
Haha, don't be shy.
"Well then, let's sleep. We don't want to disturb Gon's injuries."
"Yeah. Good night, everyone."
"How did it end up like this…?"
"Put too many airheads together and this is what happens."
Rude… but whatever. Good night~
...
"Zzz…"
"Mm…"
"Three thousand two hundred eleven sheep… three thousand two hundred twelve sheep… three thousand two hundred thirteen sheep..."
…
Morning light is bright…
Ahhh. Slept well. Nice weather. Today feels promising.
"—Kurapika, reach the 100th floor as fast as possible!"
"Of course. I'll give every match my all!"
"No injuries. Win without a scratch. Then you might get scheduled twice a day."
"Understood. All for—"
""All for comfortable sleep!!""
…What are they doing?
"Gon, what's with those two?"
"No idea… I just woke up too…"
Well… they do seem closer than before.
That's good, I guess… but what happened?
...
---
New Nen Ability Details
(This is a proper Nen ability… probably.)
Shion's natural affinity is Transmutation.
[Visual Memory / Otakara Folder]
Manipulation-type ability
An ability that manipulates the brain's memory center, allowing the user to perfectly record and store any image they see.
Stored images can be recalled freely at will, or replayed continuously as configured—like having a projector inside one's head.
Restrictions:
• Only images that include Wing within the user's field of view can be saved.
Vows:
• None.
---------
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