Disclaimer: Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
Things to know: Takes place during Hunter Exam, dialogue taken from Viz Media's translation.
Halo Effect
The tendency to assign positive traits to a person after observing one specific positive trait.
(This story uses the general idea of observing one trait and jumping to a conclusion)
Gon's nose feels like it's going to fall off. The tunnel had already stunk of nervous sweat when they walked in, but now that the actual test is under way, the added element of running on top of everyone's combined body heat makes the air reek like week old meat. Even when Gon starts breathing through his mouth out of exertion, he can taste the stench of perspiration in the air. Then there's also the scent of Leorio's cologne that stings the back of his throat and tongue with every inhale.
It's all a mild annoyance though, compared to all the side looks and chuckles he keeps receiving from the older examinees as they write him off.
The darkness doesn't really bother him. There's enough light that his sharp eyes can see clear as day. It's kinda boring though, running through a featureless tunnel of brick and tubes after facing down magical beasts and saving sailors from a storm. He thought the exam would be a bit more difficult, and so far this is just tedious.
His ears suddenly pick up a soft grating sound somewhere behind him, obnoxiously obvious among the heavy breathing and footfalls (at least to Gon). He's not exactly sure what it is, but it reminds him of the agitated snake that always hunts in the tall grass near the lake back home by the way it seems to hiss through the crowd, slowly gaining on him. It's going at least three times the pace Gon's set for himself, and whoever it is will pass him in the next few minutes at this rate.
Soon enough, a blur of white shoots passed him…on a skateboard! It's been forever since Gon's seen a skateboard! The little girl back at home had one once, but her mom threw it away after the girl rolled half way down a hill, wiped out on a rock, and broke her arm. Mito wouldn't let Gon have one after that, so he never did quite figure out how the thing exactly worked. He has no idea how this guy (kid, actually, now that Gon gets a better look) manages to stay up right, let alone weave so skillfully around the examinees.
"A skateboard?!" Leorio snaps, jabbing an angry finger at the kid. "That's cheating!"
The kid looks back at him curiously, magically steadying his speed just by shifting his body the slightest bit. "How so?"
Leorio's temper explodes. "How d'ya think?! He told us it's an endurance test!"
"No, you said that," Gon butts in, trying to diffuse the situation. "He only said to follow."
"Hey! Whose side are you on?!"
"Yelling just wastes energy, Leorio," Kurapika lectures, sounding a lot like Mito, "and it irritates me. Don't forget we could bring whatever we wanted to the exam!"
"…" Leorio looks like he's going to explode, but he resigns himself to silence. Gon wonders how Kurapika does that strange scolding nag thing with his voice that always quiets the older man. He thought only mothers could do it, but the blond has it down to a T when it comes to Leorio.
The white haired boy casts an appraising look back at Gon, completely disregarding the fuming man beside him. It'd be disconcerting if there were any real emotion behind the look, like challenge or stress or even apathy, but there isn't even the smug confidence the other examinees have when they look at him. It's an empty look, but not dead by any means. Subdued.
"Hey, you!" The boy swiftly drifts back to Gon (How does that skateboard work? Does it have to do with shifting his weight?) without breaking eye contact, ignoring Leorio's lingering glare. It's much easier for Gon to see how relaxed he is up close, how at home he is among the intimidating group and the darkness of the tunnel. "How old are you?"
"Almost twelve!" Gon reports proudly.
"Oh yeah?" Another one of those looks, but this time there's something—an emotion Gon can't quite pint down before the boy hides it back behind the emptiness. He feels curiosity grow in the pit of his stomach the longer they look at each other.
And suddenly the boy's foot is stomping hard on the front of his skateboard, flipping it out from under him in a beautiful arc as he jumps. There's a moment where he seems to hover in front of Gon, frozen, before catching the spinning board with practiced ease and landing nimbly on his feet in a run.
"Think I'll run for a bit," he offers, tucking the skateboard under his arm.
"Cool!" Gon nearly yells, quickly jogging up to match pace with the boy. His sudden spike of admiration for the boy shots through his body, sending his curiosity through the roof.
"I'm Killua." The boy—Killua says it nonchalantly, but the tone isn't unwelcoming. It's no invitation for friendship or an alliance, but gives just a moment of company on a quick jog down a long tunnel. He seems content for the moment being, and something— another emotion Gon just can't figure out— seems to tease Gon as it flutters quickly in Killua's eyes again, filling the emptiness if only for a moment.
And Gon knows right then this kid will definitely be his best friend.
"I'm Gon!"