Day 1: Cornelia, the Quiet Girl
Cornelia went down the stairs towards the kitchen the next morning. She stopped when she saw Gon and Ging at the dining table. She nodded to them as a greeting.
"Good morning," Gon said to her.
She ignored him and went up to her mother who was busy making some pancakes. The mother smiled to her.
"What are they still doing here?" she asked in a whisper.
"I thought it was your dream to get to know those two better. You told me that once…" the mother replied with a smile.
Cornelia took the plate full of pancakes from her mother to bring it to the table.
She replied, "I only told you one time…"
She walked up to the dining table. She sat down after placing the plate on the table. She didn't say anything as she took a piece of pancake and placed it on her plate. She started to eat it, staring down at it. She was not used to staring at people when she knew that they were staring at her too. Gon and Ging ate quietly as they glanced up at her sometimes. Mrs. Koizumi sat down with them. She placed another plate of pancakes on the table.
"Thank you for letting us stay here," Ging said politely.
"Oh, you're welcome. Stay as long as you need," she replied with a smile.
Cornelia almost choked on her food when she heard her mother said that. She drank her drink and kept on staring at her food. The mother giggled to herself.
Ging nodded and said, "We may have to be going tomorrow."
"Yeah, it's my first time going around the world with Ging!" Gon said happily.
"I see…" Mrs. Koizumi nodded to his words.
Cornelia finished her food before anyone else did. She did her dishes, grabbed her hood and rushed to head out.
"Oh, Cornelia, pick up my magazine while you're at it," her mother called for her at the door.
"Yes, Kaa-chan…" she replied, waving her hand before exiting the door.
"I'm really sorry. She is always like that when we have guests in the house…" Mrs. Koizumi explained.
"But, isn't it dangerous for her to be out?" Gon asked.
"Things have been better for her. Still, some girls her age would pick on her at times," the mother replied.
Gon could see the worries in her eyes. Ging glanced up at his son. He was giving an interested vibe towards Cornelia. The boy finished his food. He did his dishes and rushed towards the door, saying that he would look after Cornelia in return for her mother's hospitality.
"He must be like that around his friends too…" Ging sighed.
"Is this your first time with him?" Mrs. Koizumi asked.
"Yes. He did a fine job looking for me," the man replied, proud of his son.
Gon searched the whole place for the hooded girl. He spotted her at a food stall, staring at the food that the seller was cooking.
"Seriously though…you should lose the hood, Cornelia," the young seller said to her.
"Sorry, Daphne-san. I can't. Some girls still hate me," Cornelia replied, sighing.
Daphne laughed. She handed the girl a packet of her freshly made kebabs. Cornelia took it with a smile. She placed one into her mouth. Gon went up to the stall, staring at the kebabs still cooking.
Daphne greeted him, "Welcome! Would you like some?"
"I'll have two," Gon replied, almost drooling over the food.
Daphne said that he had to wait and he nodded. He turned towards Cornelia who tried to ignore him. He smiled to her.
"Your mother is a bit worried about you," he said.
Daphne glanced up at Gon, a bit confused. She listened in the conversation while welcoming the other customers. Cornelia didn't reply. She pulled her hood to cover her face even more. Gon stood there, waiting for his food.
"I have to go. See you, Daphne-san!" she said, waved to Daphne and ran away.
"Wait up!" Gon called.
"Here you go. It's on the house. Watch her for me, will ya?" Daphne said and winked.
Gon took his kebabs. He nodded with a smile to her and rushed to catch up with Cornelia. The blonde bumped into three girls, who were actually her bullies. She looked away from them.
"Well, what are you up to now?" one of them asked.
"Sorry…" Cornelia muttered.
She was about to run away when another one pulled her hood. She fell onto the ground. The three stared down at her. Gon caught sight of them pulling at her hair and taking away her food, which she didn't mind at all. The three left after they were satisfied, laughing out loud at Cornelia. The girl grabbed the rabbit plush that fell off it's string. She brushed the dust off of it.
Gon approached her. He asked, "Are you okay?"
Cornelia stood up. She pulled her hood to cover her head. She nodded to his question. Gon handed her one of his kebabs. She glanced up at him. He flashed a small smile towards her. She took the kebab without a word.
"Are they always so mean?" he asked.
She nodded as an answer. Gon really wanted to talk to her but it was hard. She just kept on replying with a nod at anything he said.
"Have you picked up the magazine your mother asked?" he asked again.
She shook her head. She started to walk towards the bookshop. Gon followed beside her. She ignored him like always. She entered the book shop and was welcomed by the shopkeeper. She took off her hood, seeing how Gon decided to wait outside. She smiled to the shopkeeper.
"Has the magazine Kaa-chan ordered come in yet?" she asked.
"Ah, yes!" the shopkeeper replied, fishing something from under his counter, "Here you go."
He handed her the magazine. She paid for it, staring at the magazine in her hands. She pulled her hood and then, went outside where Gon was.
"Are you done?" he asked.
She nodded. He insisted on holding it for her but she ignored him like always. Eyes were on her as she walked the street with Gon, who was somewhat famous after the incident of Ging getting punched by Leorio for his sake. He walked behind to stop the gaze and glares, but they knew he was accompanying her.
"How do you survive with all the glares?" he asked her.
She bit her lower lip, before replying in a low voice, "Just ignore them. It doesn't hurt me, so it shouldn't hurt you…"
"Hmmm…" Gon hummed, looking down.
Cornelia stopped at a dress shop. She went in while Gon waited outside as always.
"Welcome, Miss Koizumi. Would you like a new hood?" the manager asked.
"Yes, please. Something in a more daring color…" Cornelia replied.
The manager nodded and suggested some colors: red, yellow and black.
"Black stood out too much… Maybe a more dull color…" the girl muttered.
The manager nodded again. "How about you ask your boyfriend?" he teased.
"That boy is not my boyfriend… He's not even a friend…" she replied coldly, choosing a yellow hood.
She paid for it using her Hunter license. Then, she exited the shop. Gon stood up from his leaning position. He smiled when she stared at him.
"W-Will you hold this?" she asked, showing her paper bag to him.
"Sure!" Gon replied, happily taking the paper bag from her, "Is there anything else you need to buy?"
She shook her head. He nodded. They started their walk back to her house. Mrs. Koizumi greeted them as they entered the house. Gon handed her the magazine. Cornelia rushed upstairs with her new hood.
"Did you go out with her?" Mr. Koizumi asked.
"Oh…I thought I could talk to her, but all she did was nods and shakes her head," Gon replied, sighing.
"Well, she hasn't gotten to know you yet," Mrs. Koizumi replied.
Her phone suddenly rang and she had to take the call. It was from one of her customers. Gon smiled to Cornelia's father. Ging didn't say a word as he drank his coffee.
"Gon, I have a favor to ask…" the father started.
"Yes?" Gon replied, turning to him.
"My daughter is actually quite interested in you. She just doesn't know how to interact with people..." he explained to the boy.
Gon listened attentively. The father continued.
"She couldn't stop talking about you after she knew who you were. She researched about you and was excited when she knew more about you. She came back home immediately when she got words that you were coming to this town… She's just…shy…" he sighed after his last sentence.
Ging spoke up, "What do you want my son to do?"
Mr. Koizumi turned to Gon's father and said, "I just thought he could befriend her. Take her with you?"
"If she agrees…we would…" Ging muttered.
He was actually interested in the girl too. He just didn't know how to say it out loud like his son did. Cornelia was different from Mana, for sure. The discussed girl suddenly came down the stairs without her hood and her hair was loose, not tied like always. The males eyed her as she went to the kitchen. Her mother was just about done with the call. She hung up and turned to her daughter.
She said, "Cornelia, darling, somebody ordered some of our finest flour again…"
"Where is it this time?" the young blonde asked without second thoughts.
"Whale Island… It's going to take a few days to go there…" the mother replied.
After a moment of silence, the girl replied, "I can do that I guess…"
"Great! I'll prepare what is needed to be delivered," Mrs. Koizumi said happily.
Cornelia sighed. She started to wash some vegetables to cook for lunch. She took out the chicken and a packet of mushrooms. She started to prepare the ingredients her mother had told her.