Killua's POV.
Man, the dinner reunion was so expected. Leorio, despite going into the medical field, was dirt poor, and incredibly cheap. His world spun around the axis of money. Even for a reunion, he decided to go penny-pinching. I was hoping for some steak. Some expensive, mouth-watering meat served with chocolate-coated chocolate parfait for desert! But the bitterness of reality said so otherwise. All that old man ordered was a metallic hot-pot accompanied with a collection of seafood and vegetable dishes. There was no meat! No chocolate! Nothing that I had wanted!
Well, whatever. After all, the old man was the one treating us. Gon also seemed pretty hyped the whole time, his eyes glistening like a dazzling star. I didn't want to ruin his gleaming enthusiasm, but to ask for the same response from me was impossible. I sat across from Kurapika, right next to Gon. The narrow wooden bench was barely enough to fit both of us.
The discussions were enjoyable, though; overall, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the dinner. It was nice to see Kurapika again— he had a charismatic motherly presence, which was something I had lacked in my life. I dreaded my maternal parent; she, under no circumstances, would sincerely care about my wellbeing. She laid out the blueprint of my life without my awareness. All she wanted was me to succeed as the Zoldyck heir. Had she ever considered my opinion? No, never. So truth being said, I am actually very appreciative of Kurapika. But of course, I would never publicly admit this! To widely announce embarrassing remarks was something only Gon would do!
But anyways, by now, Gon and I were the only ones left at Loiseian Cuisine. Both Kurapika and Leorio had left the restaurant; the grouchy old man went to study for his upcoming medical exams, while the yellow-haired Kuruta departed for some Hunter mission. Their schedules seemed to be so preoccupied as opposed to Gon and I.
"I'm so full!" My unnaturally-spiky-haired best-friend remarked while leaning against me, planting his head into the comfort of my shoulder. I winced, but I welcomed his actions. "Too bad they didn't get to stay longer," Gon quietly muttered, his half-closed eyes gazing down on the empty plates.
"What's up? It's unlike you," I asked him while giving him a light pat on his gravity-defying black hair. "Should we go now?"
"Mmhmm," Gon nodded, standing up to a yawn. His eyes squeezed tightly as he extended his arms for a stretch. Without further delay, I brought myself up from the seat and planted my hands into the cozy pockets that my pants offered. While heading towards the entrance (or exit) of the restaurant, in my peripheral vision, I perceived Gon waving good-bye to the bartender.
"Hey you, the pale-kid— Catch!" announced an adult voice from behind me. I turned to see a mysterious black item launching towards me at great speed.
"What the-" In an act of reflex, I gripped onto the curved handle of the stick-like object.
"It's an umbrella. For you and the sweet boy here," the bartender grinned at Gon. "It's pouring outside, and I had an extra one."
"Thanks, mister!" Gon beamed, smiling jovially at him. Heh. Everyone seems to have a natural tendency to be attracted to Gon. Well, I'm no exception, I mused. His naïve kindness really makes a person want to help him. However, as Gon's network of friends endlessly expanded, would he still need me like he did now?
"Got it," I replied, expressing my thanks with a faint smile. I pushed the timber door open, and was met with a heavy torrent of rain. Pit-pat, pit-pat. The pit-pattering of the waterfall sang a euphonious lullaby, as if bestowed on Earth by the Heavens itself.
"Wow, it really is raining!" Gon stood beside me, sliding the dark umbrella out of my clutch to put it up. The ribs stretched outwards from the central rod, creating a circular cover for protection against the rain. "Eh, it's pretty small."
Gon was right— "Judging from the size, it's probably a single umbrella," I spoke with a voice reflecting vexation. "Damn, we're going to get wet!"
"Be grateful we actually have an umbrella, Killua!"
"Yeah, yeah," Both Gon and I stepped out into the downpour, mentally preparing ourselves for a war against an element of nature.
Droplets of water rapidly drummed on the umbrella's fabric, and I pressed closer to Gon to avoid the precipitation. "Holy crap!"
"Killua, you're pushing me out of the umbrella!" He fought back, squeezing against my arm, trying to dominate the haven where the water could not touch. While exchanging thrusts and pushes, we continued to travel through the turmoil of a night shower.
"This sucks," I projected a vexed sigh, as water soaked my left shoulder and arm. It was difficult to distinguish what was ahead— I felt like I was walking into an endless void. The streets were stripped of people; not a single soul lingering in the midst of the storm. Except for Gon and I, of course. Two teenagers sharing an umbrella under the violent outbreak of thunder and lightning like a pair of lovers. A pair of lovers, huh? I smirked at my remark. It's not that bad, I guess.
"Killua!" I squinted to define the outline of the place where Gon was pointing at. "It's a bus stop!"
"Let's take shelter over there for now!" I cried aloud, bolting under the glass-paned shelter with the brown-eyed boy.
"The rain doesn't seem like it wants to stop anytime soon," my best-friend frowned as he set down the water-drenched umbrella. "I don't think a bus will come neither!"
"Guess we'll stay here for a bit." Beads of water clung onto the edges of my metallic hair before making its way down to the floor. Due to the strong winds, the umbrella could only do so much. Pit-pat, pit-pat. The strong weather continued to carry a tune with its voice.
"Hey, Killua."
"Hmm?"
"I'm still curious."
"About what?" I furrowed my brow and studied him. Standing next to me, the cheery Hunter was thoroughly wet. How, I did not know— but his hair was still raised in an upright position, seemingly unaffected by the rain.
"You know….kissing," he asked with eyes reflecting curiosity.
"You're still onto that?!" I yelled back, as a red blush crept onto my face.
"Because you won't tell me!" Gon cried back; usually, he would forget about trivial matters like these pretty quick. I didn't understand why he was being so stubborn about it (usually, I'm the stubborn one too).
"Like I said, it's something you do when you love someone! Like, y'know, the love love!" It was tricky to explain. Drilling any sort of complicated explanations into Gon's oblivious thick-skull was impossible.
"You said I would only understand when I experience that kind of 'love love,' right?"
"Yes," I sighed, wondering how long this pointless discussion would drag on.
"Then who is it? Who is the person who you experienced the love love with!" The question was a razor-sharp dagger that went straight into me; dodging was infeasible. He left no escape routes at all.
"I—I…" What was I supposed to say? That I love you? I locked these affectionate thoughts of you into a vault at the back of my mind. I didn't want our friendship to be severed; staying like how we were right now— I'm completely okay with that. I didn't want more. I didn't ask for more. So why, Gon? Why were you doing this to me?
"Ki-llu-ah!" He stressed every syllable of my name, and at the same time, his head leaned towards mine, closer and closer until I backed into the glass pane. I avoided eye contact with him, my insecure eyes fixed to the left while a drop of sweat wriggled its way down my pale face.
"Gon…" I spoke, feeling his breath on my lips.
"Mm?"
"You, Gon," I repeated with coherent words. "It's you, Gon." I brought my gaze on him, eyes pure of resolution. If that's how he wants it, then fine. Let it be.
"The person you love love.. is me?" His eyebrows twitched as he shifted backwards to give back my space. "I don't get it!"
"How do you not?!" What a mood killer! How dense could you be, Gon?! I just completely— utterly— confessed to you! And you replied with a, 'I don't get it"?
"Because you said my love for you wasn't that kind of love!So, how can your feelings for me be love love?" exclaimed a perplexed Gon.
"The difference is that… ! You see, Gon. I want— I want you. I want all of you. From head to toe. I want to hug you. To kiss you. And do more things with you." How direct does he want me to be? I'm literally pouring my ulterior motives into a cup and serving it to the target of my love.
"So do I! Though, I'm not sure what you mean by 'more things.'"
"..What?" I inquired while wearing a blank mask devoid of expressions. What Gon had said to me wasn't processing in my mind.
"I'll prove it!" The tanned Hunter tiptoed, gently placing his cherry lips on mine.
"G-g-" My eyes enlarged with disbelief as my heart pounded at an uncontrollable rate. Desire accumulated and flowed through my veins, seeking for an opening in the vessel to release itself.
He pulled his head backwards and said, "I don't know if I did that right! But you see, I do love love you too, Killua!" His face revealed a light pink blush.
The flavour of his lips still lingered on my own lips. I brought my hand to my cheeks for a pinch. "A-am I in some sort of dream? I must be, right? I'm going wake up now, right? Right? Right?"
"No, relax! All I did was kiss you! Stop freaking out, Killua!"
Stop freaking out? All you did was kiss me? Do you have any idea what you were saying, you idiot?! Holy crap, I mean— you know— I'm speechless! Never had I thought my love would be requited... I just don't know. I don't know how to respond to this.
"Come on, Killu—" I broke off the tanned boy's statement by forcibly hauling him into a tight embrace. I hugged with full strength. I didn't care if Gon retaliated; I just wanted to lock him into my arms. I didn't want him to escape. I didn't want this moment to end.
"This is real," I spoke, my head comfortably in his shoulders. We were chest-to-chest, and I sensed his wet jacket getting glued to my top. I welcomed the mild warmth from his body that bounced onto mine.
Gon nodded, ruffling my moist silver hair with his fingers.
"Thank you, Gon." Though the rain continued to fall at a pit-pattering rhythm, I couldn't help but be flooded with euphoria. In this very moment with Gon, everything around me was drowned in a tender sweetness. Even the rain pellets were no exception, descending to the ground like pieces of candy.