"See you around dude,"

"Yeah, just call me if you wanna talk or whatever,"

"I will!"

"Alright, take care Gon!"

That was the last time Gon had seen Killua or anyone he knew closely outside his family. Before returning to his homeland, he departed with Killlua at the bay. Killua planned to look after his sister while Gon went back to visit his Aunt Mito. He offered to let them stay, but Killua talked about how he and his sister had some plans.

So that's when they decided to part ways for a couple months and go from there.

Gon spent most of his time helping his aunt around the house and going out in the woods like usual. But this time, he would spend a lot of time reminiscing on his past adventures. Places and events including the Hunter Exam, Heavens Arena, the Yorkshin auction, and other things often popped in his head during his stay.

Memories that stood out more include meeting his friends, his encounters with Hisoka, Greed Island, his training, and meeting Ging for the first time.

Ever since he took off for the Hunter Exam, he has changed in so many way and meet so many new people and experienced so much. This was the first time in a while where he had time to himself.

But things we a bit different for Gon this time. Unlike when he had time to himself before the Hunter Exam, he has a lot of life experience to look back on. Gon simply matured. So naturally, he grew and became more sophisticated and complex. He still is the same optimistic and hard-headed person as before, but just a bit different.

And a little more cynical too.

"Wait up!" Mito called out, making Gon step back in the house as she scurried over to him. "Where are you going?"

"I'm just going off to the woods, why?"

"Are you caught up with school?"

"Yeah,"

"Did you do all of your homework?"

Answering this question was always a pain in the ass to deal with. "Not all of it, but most of it, I did all of the harder ones so I should be fine later. Besides, it's only Saturday and I usually finish my homework on Sundays anyway, so it's not like I'm slacking off or anything,"

"I don't know, Gon. I just worry about you sometimes, you know that," Mito smiled, attempting to rub Gon's head.

"Yeah, but you really don't have to smoother me all the time," he said while pulling his head back. "Besides, I've been a Hunter for a while now, so I'm more than capable of taking care of myself,"

"Well, you're still my little boy to me, I just can't help myself sometimes," Mito sighed. Watching Gon mature and grow up was just as exciting as it was mellow. While she was watching Gon grow into a handsome, independent young man, it was exactly that exciting factor to her that worried her. Sometimes, Mito wishes that she could just coddle and snuggle him like if he was a little boy.

This was a bit selfish of her, though. It's not like she could devolve Gon's purpose in life to being her own personal teddy bear. But, it's not like she couldn't try. "Gon, do you remember the old days when we used to spend all of those times together cuddling in bed and reading nighttime stories until you fell asleep?"

"...yeah," Gon responded, not sure if he should feel nostalgic or violated.

"Don't you wish we could go back, just for one night? It'll be so much fun! We could stay up late, play a couple of board games, maybe have a pillow fight, read together, and fall asleep in each others arms at the end of it all. Wouldn't that be adorable?"

Gon felt like he had to be a bit blunt at this point. "Mito, that would be great and all, but I'm fifteen now. It's really not the kind of things that someone my age is into,"

"Oh yeah, that's right. All you guys ever think about is sex, drinking, partying, gallivanting, and sometimes marauding, especially that one guy you always talk to,"

"Who, Killua?"

"No way, Killua is a sweetheart! Do you see the way he cares for you and his sister? That boy is such a darling, at least not when he mouths off,"

"I wouldn't go as far as to call him a 'sweetheart', but he's fine, I guess," Gon started. "Besides, things haven't been great between us ever since that argument I talked about,"

"Oh, that's too bad. So, you haven't heard from him?"

"No, we haven't talked since then, but I plan to call him soon to patch things up," he said. "So, if it's not Killua you're talking about, then who else could it be?"

"Old-man Leorio! Seriously, even If he was in his teens when he met you, I really don't buy it! He looks like Ging's age and he hangs around minors all the time?! I don't trust him one bit,"

"He's only twenty years old, though, it's not that weird,"

"How?"

This wasn't the ideal discussion Gon wanted to have about Leorio.

"Well, I'm going off now," he said, as if nothing ever happened.

"Alright, be safe out there love!"

"Yeah, sure," Gon nodded, walking off into the woods with his back-pack and sheepish half-smile.

It was a solid minute before he heard a booming voice in the distance.

"I loooooove you!" Mito yelled, stopping Gon in his tracks and making him blush.

"Love you too!" he forced out.

Jeez, why does she always have to be weird all the time? Can't she just be normal? He thought to himself, as a more resolute thought came to mind.

Well, maybe that's why I love her so much.