*I do not own the anime. This is fanfiction only. May have some fighting scenes later on but none in this chapter. Please review and help me improve. *
Rick gaped at the small green man, who a beamed in response and handed him a tag with the number 89 on it.
"Here's your tag. Pin it to your chest. Don't lose it."
Rick fumbled to pin the tag to his dark red t-shirt before returning the smile.
"Cheers."
Rick took a long look at his surroundings. It looks like a gigantic sewer.
A few more people filtered in through the elevator at the end of the room. He propped himself up against a wall and yawned. Reaching inside a jacket pocket, he bought out a notepad and pencil and attempted to draw his surroundings. The result was a drawing that looked like a 6 year hold had gotten a hold of a pencil scrawled to his heart's content before smudging it in several places. He tore out the page but before he could take a second attempt, he was interrupted by a voice.
"Ah! You must be a rookie." A fat, balding man in a blue t-shirt loomed over him.
Rick smiled. "Yes, I am. How many times have you done it? You seem experienced."
The man took the compliment well. "I am. This will be my thirty fifth attempt."
"I should've known. It's amazing to meet such a veteran as yourself. My name's Rick, nice to meet you, to meet you nice." Rick answered.
"I'm Tonpa. How about it? Here, let's drink to your first attempt at the hunter exam." Tonpa reached for a can of juice and offered it to Rick.
"I'm good thanks. I don't like orange juice. Or any juice, to be honest. Don't like the flavour." Rick shrugged.
"Oh! Don't worry, I have water also." Tonpa offered a bottle of water.
"No, no Tonpa san, that won't do." Rick waved his hand dismissively.
"Huh?"
"At first you were convincing, now you're just being forceful. If you offer someone a beverage, you need to be subtle and appealing, like this." Rick explained, snatching the water from Tonpa's grasp. He noticed beads of sweat appearing on the man's forehead. Not so comfy now, are you?
"Here! Ladies and gentlemen, I have a bottle of the world's most nutritious, mineral-filled water! Does anyone care for a sample? It is good water! The best you can find!" Rick said loudly enough for other applicants to turn and stare. Tonpa seemed to have frozen in place. Rick was thoroughly enjoying the look of puzzlement that was plastered across his face.
"Anyway, I have stuff to be doing. See you, Tonpa san!" Rick waved, dropping the water and leaving Tonpa in confusion.
Just be thankful I didn't blurt out to the entire world that you were trying to slip me laxative.
Rick quickly turned his attention to the other applicants. Two of the applicants immediately stood out to Rick. A muscular man dressed like oddly like a clown and a man (probably) dressed entirely in green with pins sticking out of his outfit. His face was contorted at odd angles from the pins. Rick contemplated the idea of introducing himself. His contemplation was broken by unholy screams.
A man was on his knees next to the clown, his arms seemingly disappearing into confetti.
"Ah, how peculiar…" The clown started to speak.
Rick didn't listen to what he was saying, though. He was too busy focussing on the man's arms.
What Nen was that?
He noticed that he wasn't the only one staring. Behind him Tonpa and a group of his next victims were looking on at the strange turn of events. A small boy with spiky brown hair, a blonde teenager dressed in some kind of robe and a suited man tightly clutching a black suitcase. Even in this odd crowd of aspiring hunters, they stood out.
Rick smiled.
This should be fun…