Chapter 328: Penacony Arc 『 Part Twenty-three』, The Eternal Matrix of the Penacony
〜Hunter x Hunter World〜
The twilight of East Gorteau was perpetually stained with a rusted hue. Killua and Gon sat side-by-side on a grassy slope flanking the derelict railway tracks, the celestial radiance of the Screen casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across their faces.
"Hey, Killua."
Gon stared unblinkingly at Hotaru's hesitant expression upon the Screen.
"Why didn't Hotaru just leave with Stelle? She clearly yearns for the 『 Trailblaze 』. If she wanted to, Himeko and Mr. Yang would definitely welcome her."
Killua was idling with a pebble, flipping it deftly between his fingers. At Gon's words, his hand froze, and he clenched the stone tight within his palm.
"…She probably has a reason she can't talk about, right? Maybe she has a terminal illness and doesn't have long to live… or maybe she looks like an ordinary girl, but her true identity is a galactic outlaw wanted across the stars. Or… maybe she's just insecure, and feels like she doesn't deserve to stand by Stelle's side."
Killua stammered out his conjectures.
Gon suddenly sat bolt upright, blades of grass fluttering from his hair.
"Then Hotaru has even more reason to join the Express! If she's sick, Stelle can take her across the galaxy to find a cure. If she's a fugitive… well, that's unlikely, but they could keep an eye on her so she doesn't commit any more crimes. And if she's insecure, Stelle would definitely help her overcome it! Anyway, they're friends. And friends are supposed to face things together to become better people, right? Killua?"
Killua stared at him, dazed.
This guy was always like this—taking the most complex problems and making them seem as simple as breaking bread. And yet, he was impossible to argue with.
"You really are something…"
Killua let out a soft chuckle, reaching out to brush a stray seed from the nape of Gon's neck.
Far off on the Screen, the imagery shifted. Hotaru and Stelle were running through the streets of Penacony like two feathers caught in the wind, gliding effortlessly over a neon ocean.
"…That's what friends do, Gon. You're right."
—
「 On the way to the secret base, Stelle suddenly spotted something crying out for help.
Drawing closer, she saw a cartoon character who looked exactly like Clockie shouting for assistance… no, he was Clockie!
"Tick-tock! Help! Help! It's a matter of life and death! Someone, help!"
Stelle politely inquired as to what kind of 'thing' he was, which sent Clockie into a frenzy, his bells chiming loudly: "Hey! I'm a clock, not a 'thing'!" But he quickly did a double-take. "Wait—you… you can see me?"
Stelle looked at Hotaru, who returned her gaze with an equally bewildered expression: "…What is it?"
"I see a… clock with arms and legs."
"So… you really can see me?" Clockie jumped for joy where he stood. "Tick-tock! Wonderful, wonderful! Misha is saved!"
"My name is Clockie. I'm a famous celebrity in Penacony! My friends and I keep the peace in this small town. They are Hanu, Mr. Soda, Origami Bird, Hamster Ball Knight... And Misha! Misha is in trouble! Tick-tock! Help! Help!"
Hotaru finally found her voice: "…A clock with arms and legs? Clockie? You're seeing an animation character that doesn't exist in reality?"
"You can't see him?"
Hotaru looked around, her confusion deepening. "Uh… where? I don't see anything…"
"Tick-tock! I reckon only children who are honest, pure, and innocent at heart can see me—like our gray-haired friend here!"
Stelle pointed expressionlessly at Clockie: "He says you aren't honest, pure, or innocent enough."
Hotaru looked wounded and innocent upon hearing this: "…In what way am I not honest, pure, or innocent…!" 」
「 .....」
〜Zenless Zone Zero World〜
New Eridu—
"YAY—!!!"
A receptionist on the first floor flinched, causing several drops of coffee to splash onto the daily visitor log. Soukaku's cheer echoed through the hallways, startling a flock of pigeons outside into flight.
"What's gotten into little Soukaku now…"
An intern looked away from the Screen, glancing toward the upper levels where the Hollow Special Operations Section was located. Up there, Soukaku was buzzing with excitement, shouting "Yay, yay, yay!" to celebrate her own preserved innocence.
"Soukaku can see him too! Sister Yanagi, can you see him?!"
Little Soukaku crowded excitedly against Yanagi's leg.
"It seems we can all see him…"
Lighter narrowed his eyes, analyzing the situation seriously.
"The Penacony on the Screen is crowded, yet so many people are oblivious to a vivid cartoon character standing right on the street… Do you remember? He mentioned Origami Birds. Hotaru couldn't see those either. Is Stelle the only special one in all of Penacony?"
Yanagi Tsukishiro adjusted the glasses on the bridge of her nose.
"No, Misha can see him too, but he's just an ordinary bellboy in Penacony. Does he share something in common with Stelle? For instance… do they both possess a Stellaron?"
Lighter couldn't help but laugh.
"Someone with that kind of power working as a bellboy… what a waste of talent. If he really had a Stellaron inside him, H.A.N.D. would be worshipping him if he ever came to New Eridu. The Family shouldn't be that stupid; besides, Stellarons aren't exactly something you find lying around in the gutter."
"Then… could it be the Path of 『 Trailblaze 』?"
"…That's even more unlikely."
Lighter shook his head.
"『 Trailblaze 』 requires doing something unprecedented, right? It carries a certain spirit of adventure. But a bellboy… where could he 'trailblaze' to? His life is static, entirely disconnected from adventure."
"It couldn't possibly be because Stelle actually is that innocent, could it?"
Yanagi smiled helplessly.
"If that's the case, I suppose I can understand… after all, Stelle is essentially a 'child' who was born not long ago."
—
「 Clockie insisted that Misha was about to lose his life—the situation was dire!
"He says it's a matter of life and death…"
Hotaru was startled. "Eh? Is it that serious? Then, do you want to go help this… uh, Clockie that only you can see?" Hotaru waved her hands dismissively. "I'm not doubting you; after all, anything is possible in a dream… We can go to the place I mentioned a bit later…"
Stelle felt that the name 'Misha' was too significant to ignore, so she took Hotaru and rushed over to see what was happening.
Not far away, several hulking men in black suits had Acheron and Misha cornered against a wall. The atmosphere was thick with tension.
Misha looked up at the thugs, trying to intervene: "Everyone, please, let's calm down…"
However, the group ignored him entirely, their eyes fixed solely on Acheron, declaring their intent to give her a thorough thrashing.
Acheron lowered her gaze, letting out a weary sigh. "How did it come to this…" 」
「 .....」