The hotel room was dimly lit, a single lamp casting a warm glow over the small space.
Togiri leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his dark brown eyes scanning the area.
He had never been one for comfort; the coldness of concrete and the chaos of battles were more familiar to him than plush pillows and soft blankets.
But after the brutal skirmish that had brought him and Kuroha together, even he could admit a semblance of rest was in order.
The bed, however, was a problem. It was a small queen size, barely fitting two adults comfortably, let alone someone like Togiri, who was used to sprawling out.
He let out a sigh, breaking the silence. "Looks like we only have one bed. I can take the floor."
Kuroha, perched on the edge of the bed, shot him an incredulous look. "You're not sleeping on the floor. You did all the heavy lifting back there. You should take the bed."
Togiri shrugged, dismissing her concern. "I'll be fine. The floor is more than enough for me. I've slept in worse places."
He moved to set his things aside, adjusting to the weight of the uneasy peace that lingered after their confrontation with the gang.
Kuroha, however, didn't relent. "You're not going to sleep on the floor while I'm here. That's ridiculous. Just share the bed with me. It's not like I'm going to bite," she added, the corners of her mouth curling into a playful smirk.
Togiri raised an eyebrow, his expression inscrutable. "You might," he said flatly, but there was an underlying hint of amusement in his tone.
She rolled her eyes. "Just get in here. It's not that big of a deal. Besides, if I wanted to bite someone, I'd go for someone older, not my newfound partner."
With a reluctant sigh, Togiri nodded. "Fine. But I'm taking the side closest to the wall. I don't want to be caught off guard."
As he settled down, Kuroha turned to him with a curious glint in her eye. "You never told me your name."
His gaze flicked to her, surprised. "You've been following me this long to the hotel, and you don't know my name?"
"Why? Are you famous?" she teased, her tone light, but her eyes were serious. "So, what is it?"
He hesitated, weighing the decision in his mind. Names had power, but so did the truth. Finally, he relented. "Togiri."
Kuroha's eyes widened slightly. "Togiri. Huh. That has a nice ring to it. I'll remember that."
He regarded her for a moment, then turned his gaze to the ceiling, pondering the strange turn of events that had led them here.
"What about you? What's your last name?"
"I don't have one," she said nonchalantly, shrugging. "Not important. Just Kuroha is fine."
"Just Kuroha," he repeated, tasting the name as if it were something foreign. "It's fitting."
They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the weight of exhaustion beginning to press against Togiri's eyelids.
Kuroha, however, wasn't quite ready to sleep. She reached for the remote on the bedside table and clicked on the TV, the screen flickering to life.
A news anchor's voice filled the room, and Togiri shifted slightly, intrigued despite himself.
The image on the screen morphed into a live report showing clips of the aftermath of their battle—the bodies strewn across the field, the destruction the Blue Demon and the gang leader's had wrought.
The anchor continued, "In today's shocking events, the infamous battle at the industrial district has left many dead, raising questions about the involvement of powerful underground factions. Witnesses claim that a mysterious figure was leading the chaos..."
As the report rolled on, Kuroha squinted at the screen, her heart racing as she recalled the violence of earlier.
Just when she thought the segment couldn't get more intense, a commercial cut in, momentarily distracting her.
"Hello, everyone! My name is Togiri, and I'm hosting the biggest tournament the world has ever seen."
The Togiri on TV smiled brightly and energetically, a stark contrast to the boy who lay next to her, his face illuminated by the flickering light of the screen.
Kuroha looked dumbfounded at the television and then back at the boy beside her. She saw the ad for the first time, but she heard about it being spoken around her previous gang members.
"Hey... hey..." She poked Togiri's foot and then pinched him, but he still didn't react.
"Hey!"
"What?" he answered lethargically, opening one eye slightly to regard her.
"Are you the boy who made the tournament? The owner of the Phantom Society?" Kuroha asked, her voice a mixture of disbelief and curiosity.
"Yeah," he confirmed, his tone casual. Kuroha leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "How did you become… this? The leader of a huge company and a feared killer?"
He hesitated, contemplating how much to reveal. "I'm not just a killer. I'm part of the Phantom Society. It's a group that specializes in... let's say, removing obstacles. In this world, you either adapt or you die. I chose to adapt."
"Phantom Society?" Kuroha's brow furrowed in confusion. "That sounds... ominous. And you're a leader of this group?"
"Yeah," he confirmed, his tone matter-of-fact. "I've built a company that operates in the shadows. We deal with problems that require… extreme measures."
"Right." Kuroha crossed her arms, her skepticism evident. "And I'm supposed to believe that? You expect me to buy into this whole 'I'm a powerful leader' act?"
Togiri's lips twitched in amusement. "You don't believe me?" Togiri lifted his upper body looking at the girl sitting next to his feet.
"Not really," she replied, her tone playful yet firm. "Believe what you want," he replied, leaning back against the headboard.
"The truth is rarely as comforting as a good story." Kuroha watched him for a moment, assessing. "Well, if you're such a big shot, what are you planning next besides more killing?"
Togiri chuckled softly, the sound almost surprising in its lightness. "You think I'm more than just a mindless killer, don't you?" His eyes twinkled with mischief, even as he remained propped against the headboard, clearly mentally tired from their earlier escapade when he endured gruesome pain.
"You're right. While that might have been part of my life, it's not all there is. There are plans, strategies, and bigger goals at play."
Kuroha leaned closer, still captivated by the juxtaposition between the boy on the screen and the one beside her.
"Then what are those bigger goals? If you're not just about killing and chaos, what's the endgame?"
"Control," he said simply, his expression turning serious. "In this world, chaos reigns unless you create your own order. The Phantom Society allows me to manage that chaos, to find balance in a realm that's constantly trying to tear itself apart."
"Control?" Kuroha echoed, processing the information. "And that makes you a leader? I thought leaders inspired people, not force them to-" "it's control that keeps people in line." Togiri interrupted coldly in a wise and experienced tone
"Inspiration fades when reality hits, and reality often involves pain or loss. The world is unforgiving, and sometimes it takes a heavy hand to maintain order."
Kuroha felt a chill run down her spine at the intensity in his voice. "That's a bleak perspective. Don't you think it's possible to build something without fear?"
Togiri considered her question, a contemplative look crossing his face. "Fear is a powerful motivator. It keeps people from stepping out of line. That said, I do understand the value of trust.
It's a balance, really. I can inspire loyalty, but if it comes down to it, fear is often what secures that loyalty. At least for the people I work with."
Kuroha nodded slowly, digesting his words. "So, what's your ultimate goal with the Phantom Society? You seem to have it all figured out."
"Survival," he replied bluntly. "In a world like this, you either grow stronger or you become prey. The tournament I'm hosting is part of that. It's a way to find talent, to bring together individuals with potential, and to eliminate those who are weak."
Kuroha raised an eyebrow. "So, you're recruiting? What happens to those who don't make the cut?"
Togiri smirked slightly, the flickering light from the TV casting shadows across his face.
"They vanish. This isn't a game, Kuroha. It's survival of the fittest, and the weak have no place in my world."
@Since when? All those who didn't pass the tests just got a nice compensation and a card to try again if they had potential@ 'I'm probing her, shut up and listen'
A heavy silence fell between them as Kuroha processed his words. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over her, yet she found herself intrigued.
"You really believe that? The survival of the fittest?" "I do." He leaned forward, his expression serious.
"Look at us. You and I are alive right now because we're strong enough to survive. Everything else is just noise."
Kuroha felt a rush of conflicting emotions. On one hand, she was captivated by his confidence, but on the other, she couldn't shake the feeling that his view of the world was dangerously cynical, caused by his bad experiences in this world.
"And what about the people you're taking advantage of? The innocent bystanders that suffer because of you?"
"Collateral damage," he replied coolly, as if it were an accepted fact. "You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, as they say."
'I don't completly agree with that, but I'm not strong enough to have the luxury of saving everyone.'
Kuroha looked at the thirteen year old boy. "That's a pretty cold way to look at life," Kuroha remarked, her tone laced with disapproval.
Togiri shrugged. "Life isn't warm and fuzzy. It's brutal. Accepting that is part of what keeps you alive."
"Is that why you joined the Phantom Society?" Kuroha asked, her voice softer now, genuinely curious but still not fully convinced he was truly its leader. "Because of the brutality of the world?"
Togiri hesitated, a flicker of something almost human crossing his face. "I created it because I had to. I didn't have a choice."
The way Togiri spoke touched her heart. "Everyone has a choice," Kuroha countered gently. "You could have chosen a different path."
"Maybe," he conceded, "but those paths weren't as appealing as control. In this world, power isn't just a privilege; it's a necessity."
A minute passed of silence passed. "Power or control?" she questioned, her brow knitting in thought.
"Is there a difference?" he replied, his gaze unwavering, as he continued to speak. "Power is the means; control is the end. Without control, power is meaningless. I learned that the hard way."
Kuroha felt her heart beat faster, a mixture of empathy and intrigue swelling inside her.
"What about your friends? The people you work with? Do they not matter?" "Friendship in this world is a luxury I can't afford," he said, his voice dropping to a near whisper.
Since his system updated and rewarded him Shop Points for killing stronger foes, he was grateful that Fang was stuck training somewhere in the mountains with a hermit master.
He didn't like lying to him and his alter ego would have been easily exposed since Togiri often left the house in the middle of the night.
He took a deep breath as he said. "Everyone has their own agenda. Trust can't exist in an environment like this. The moment you let your guard down is the moment you lose everything."
Kuroha fell silent, mulling over his words. The depth of his experiences began to dawn on her, and despite the darkness, she could sense a flicker of something more within him—a desire for connection, perhaps, or a yearning for understanding.
"What about us?" she asked finally, her voice breaking the stillness. "You barely know me, and yet here we are, sharing secrets in a hotel room."
Togiri glanced at her, a bemused smile crossing his lips. "This is different. You and I have shared experiences that bond us. You were there in the fight; you've seen things. It's not the same as trusting someone from a distance."
"Is it possible to build trust from that distance?" she pressed, leaning forward with genuine interest. "Or is it all just an illusion?"
Togiri replied thoughtfully, the weight of his words hanging in the air "Building trust is always a risk, but perhaps the bonds formed through shared struggle can be stronger than those built on naivety like sharing the same hobbys and tv shows"
As he spoke, Fang's face appeared in his mind—a flash of memories, laughter, and camaraderie that made the corners of his mouth twitch up slightly and Kuroha noticed.
"I assumed from the way you talked that you didn't have anyone you trusted," Kuroha said, tilting her head, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
"I do," Togiri admitted, his voice softer now. "I have a brother. He's my best friend, really. We've been through a lot together. In this world, it's rare to find someone who fully accepts you even if they don't understand you"
Kuroha's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You have a brother? What's he like?" Togiri replied, a faint smile touching his lips as he remembered his brother's carefree nature "His name is Fang. He's… different from me. Lighthearted, always finding a way to smile even in the darkest situations. He balances me out."
Kuroha noted, her tone warm "Sounds like a good guy to have by your side. Do you two work together?"
Togiri's smile fading slightly as he said "No. He's taken a different path. While I walk in the dark, he walks in the light. We couldn't be more different, but... He's always been there for me when I needed him, even when things got tough."
'All those melt downs, panic attacks and torturous sleepless nights before I got my hands on those elephant tranquillisers. I don't know how Fang didn't once get angry while sharing room with me'
Kuroha smiled, "That's rare in this world," her voice thoughtful. "Having someone you can rely on." "...It is," Togiri agreed, the weight of their shared experiences heavy on his heart.
A million memories that Togiri couldn't forget were burned into his brain."But it also makes me more vulnerable. I've seen what happens to people I care about. It's not easy to watch."
Memories of countless lives where he and his loved ones were brutally slaughtered, because he was lazy and didn't train, gnawed at him every single minute of living.
Kuroha studied him for a moment, appreciating the vulnerability beneath his hardened exterior. "You're more complicated than I thought, Togiri."
He shrugged, the playful glint returning to his eyes. "Aren't we all? But enough about me. What about you? What's your story?"
Kuroha shifted, suddenly self-conscious. "There's not much to tell. I've always been just… me. I've had my share of fights and struggles, but nothing compared to what you've experienced."
Togiri spoke with sincerity threading through his tone, "Don't downplay your own journey. Everyone has their battles." "...." Kuroha looked down at her hands.
"Maybe," she said, her voice softening. "But I've mostly focused on survival. I've never really thought about power or control. I just want to find my place and purpose in this world."
Togiri raised an eyebrow. "Finding your purpose is a noble goal. But it's a dangerous world out there. You have to be prepared for the worst."
She rolled her eyes again, a playful smile on her lips. "You're so serious all the time. You know that?" @I like her@
"It's hard not to be serious when your life is a battlefield," he retorted, but there was a softness to his voice now, a subtle shift from the coldness he usually exuded.
Time passed quiety by. They continued to talk, exchanging snippets of their lives—though nothing too personal.
Togiri shared tales of his past skirmishes, a few lessons he learned along the way, while Kuroha recounted her own brushes with danger, how she had learned to navigate the chaos that surrounded her.
Hours slipped away as they shared stories. Togiri found himself surprised at how easy it was to converse with her.
There was an understanding between them, a recognition of the struggles they had both faced.
Eventually, fatigue began to take hold. Kuroha stifled a yawn, her eyes heavy.
Togiri noted the way she fought to stay awake, and after a while, he offered, "If you want to sleep, go ahead. I'll keep watch."
Kuroha shook her head, her resolve firm. "No. We're partners now, remember? I'll sleep when you do." "...Fine," he said, though the warmth of companionship was an unfamiliar feeling.
Kuroha was sleeping on her arm and looked at Togiri laying on his back with closed eyes. He could feel her eyes on him. "Just know I'm not exactly the cuddly type." He said drawing a line.
"Trust me, I've noticed," she shot back, a smirk on her lips. As the conversation dwindled, Togiri's eyes grew heavy, the exhaustion of the day's events finally catching up to him.
He ordered Seven—to wake him if he sensed any disturbance, a lingering habit born from years of over preparation or maybe paranoia.
The room fell into silence, and as Togiri drifted off, he found himself blessedly free of the nightmares that had plagued him for the past five years.
After Togiri's nightmarish night ended with Seven forcing his consciousness to sleep he didn't even notice something this special.
This was the second night he slept peafuly without the help of the system and the first time happened just the night before.
Morning broke quietly, the sun casting soft rays through the window.
Togiri slowly opened his eyes. 'Another night where I overslept.' Togiri lifted his head and looked around.
He saw the beautiful teenage girl sleeping next to him. He stood up and walked to the bathroom.
'I thought I slept that one night well because I killed enough to satisfy my bloodlust, but yesterday I barely killed a few dozen with my own hands. The Phantom Warriors and Timebombs did most of the work.
Yesterday wasn't so fruitful. I exposed many personal things about me, but she barely talked about herself. I'm still not sure if this gamble will pan out. What do you think?' Togiri washed his face as waited for Seven's opinion.
@Worst case she leaks your identity, no one will believe her since she is just some young girl. Best case you gain another ally.
From what I could tell, she belongs to either one of these categories: Conjuration, Manipulation, or Specialization. Just her being able to erase memories is another valuable card in your deck.@
'I obviously know that, but I have no way to truly know her intentions towards me now or in the future. She is very intelligent and mature for her age. I thought I was talking to someone my own age.'
@Maybe she lied about being almost 17 years old. She could just said that to loosen your guard around her@ 'You're right.'
Togiri brushed his teeth and went back to the room and looked at Kuroha lying in bed. Even her sleeping face was very cute and beatiful. She way sleeping on her arm, that made her breasts press against the mattress.
@Ho ho. You should write this down in your notebook: [Today I slept together in bed with a beautiful girl]@ Seven said teasingly.
'She is younger than me by 8 or nine years, and you know that a relationship would never work,' Togiri thought coldly to Seven.
@Yes, yes. The pain of the memories don't let you get close to anyone, ... but what about Rika? What was that moment when you buttoned her shirt? If she didn't stop you, you would have seen her two treasure chests, keke.@
'Shut it. Why do you treat everything as a joke? Her life was in danger and I just wanted to check shoulders wound.'
@Remember that I was modeled after your personality without any memories. I am just another you before you changed.@
'I don't believe I was this vulga-' A memory of Togiri commenting on sexual things in a novel's comments section he read came to mind.
'Anyways, shut it. System!' Togiri looked at the upper left corner and saw all his points.
Existence Points (EP): 22,173,947
Shop Points (SP): 70,049
Reviewer Points (RP): 0
Togiri smiled, satisfied. He had gained 69,000 Shop Points from killing over two thousand people and almost 30 Nen users
The problem in using weapons or external objects like the Timebomb is the radius of collecting the Shop Points.
If Togiri he is too far away like the one time he used Ko and the roof colapsed squashing most men inside the warehouse, he doesn't earn any points from them. The Phantom Warriors are different since they are a part of him.
'Seven, is there a new pill in the shop that lets me break through the meridian refining stage quickly, just like the bone refining realm?'
@Yes, but I'm pretty sure you'll explode if you take it.@ Togiri's mind tingled as he heard this.
'Can you explain properly?' Togiri, as often, was annoyed by Seven. @This is gonna be a long explanation, pay attention stupid Master. This isn't knowledge I gained from the system but from the cultivation novels I have been reading inside your mind.
Listen carefully, stupid Master. Usually, taking pills in cultivation is a shortcut that will make your foundation unstable and limit your potential. You already know that.
Cultivators in novels always visit special places or train in harsh environments to advance even minor realms. Master, you have been swallowing pills like crazy while doing intense but still normal workouts for mortals, because you don't have any idea or body cultivation methods to progress faster.
I think that's why, when most of your body was destroded from the grenade and you were healed by Existence Points, your foundation became better.
That made you broke through from bone refining to meridian refining. You passed the skin, flesh, organ, and bone refining realm.
Now you are at the first layer of meridian refining realm. In my opinion, you either need to survive near-death experiences, like the grenade and Yotsuba who pushed you past your limits or you will be stuck forever in this major realm.
Cultivators train dozens years or centuries to advance a single minor realm. You have advanced 4 major realms since the system update half a year ago.
Body tempering pills, toxin removing pills and aura condensation pills barely do anything for you anymore. You could risk it and swallow the meridian refining pill, but I think you'll blow up and the Existence heal isn't almighty@
Togiri processed Seven's words, and his thoughts realigned with his own, but... 'I don't care about my future potential. I need strength now. I have seven weeks left to transform my strength to a completely new level for the tournament.'
@So what is your plan?@ Seven asked curiously. Togiri could block out Seven from his thoughts, something he often did because Seven always refuted him and talked as if he knew better, so Seven was in the dark about Togiri's plans.
Togiri smiled. 'At the end, before the tournament, I will use most of my Existence Points to upgrade my Nen mastery and Nen affinity.
In the meantime, I will farm Shop Points and try to increase my physical strength, but now that it's harder to break through, I will focus more effort on Nen.
It's weird that I feel my talent increasing every time my body gets stronger. Soon my talent should be equal to an above-average person. Pull up my status and skills.'
A plain white system panel appeared before Togiri, listing his numbers.
Status:
Title: Man of Justice (5% increase when killing evil entities)
Name: Togiri
Age: 13
Strength: 82.00
Agility: 82.00
Vitality: 86.00
Aura: 170,120
Body Cultivation: First Layer of Meridian Refining (entry-level)
Combat Power: ★★★☆
Skills:
Nen (minor success)
Mastery:
Ten: 45%Ren: 31%Ken: 21%Zetsu: 38%Gyo: 23%In: 11%En: 20%Shu: 29%Ryu: 25%Ko: 13%Hatsu: 20%
Nen Ability:
Phantom Pages (Entry-Level)
Phantom Book (Entry-Level)
Phantom Pages: 2/32
Phantom Warrior:
White: 4.20 / 1 hour, 22 minutes
Light Blue: 5.02 / 1 hour, 6 minutes
'What?! My Nen mastery changed from entry-level to minor success. Most of my Nen techniques also increased by 1 percent.'
Togiri used Ten, a basic Nen technique to use Aura and shroud his body to keep his life energy from escaping. It slowed down his agin process, granted a simple defense against Nen and conserved more of his stamina.
"Wow" He felt how much smoother it flowed. 'My talent and mastery in Nen is definitely increasing. Seven, do you know anything about that?'
@....@ Seven didn't answer for a long time until he started speaking cryptic noises again.
@♤◇•◇■●■○■●soul@
Togiri's eyes widened. He understood the last word. 'Soul? What about my soul?'
Whoosh
With his enhanced senses, Togiri heard a sound. @Master, you have been poisoned. It's lethal!@ Seven loudly informed.
Togiri held his breath and ran to kick the door open. He kicked with half his power, but it didn't budge.
He tried again, but with all his power and his Ken flaring at maximum — Bang, it still didn't budge.
'Shit! Seven, scan the surroundings for any powerful Nen users.'
Enemy detection:
4 Unknown: ★★★
'Four three-star Nen users. I stand no chance—I need to escape.' Togiri raised his fist, a whirlwind of bright orange Nen gathered around his fist.
POW
Togiri punched the wall. 'The wall should have exploded, but my fist didn't leave a scratch'
Togiri tried every wall, but he couldn't break through. 'One minute already passed... The window!' Togiri tried again. He used Ko his most destructive Nen technique.
He poured all his energy into his right fist and with all his might he punched the glass window.
Crack
The window formed a small crack. 'Again!'—Crack— 'Again'. Togiri punched repeatedly and his hand started to become a bloody mess.
Whack Whack Whack Crack.
The window finally broke. @The poison is not leaving the room, the poison concentration is instead increasing.
Togiri looked over to the bed and saw Kuroha sleeping soundly, feeling the urgency rise within him.
He couldn't stay here. They had to get out.
"Kuroha, wake up!" Togiri slapped her, but she didn't react.
He quickly threw Kuroha on his shoulder and jumped. "You bastards!" Togiri fell from the 27th floor, gaining speed as he fell 100 meters.
He summoned his Phantom Book and ripped the remaining two pages. He held onto the ripped pages, and in his hands, two Phantom Warriors appeared.
They immediately started attacking Togiri midair, but their weak katana blades didn't even tickle him.
"You bastards, thank you for being my cushion." Togiri threw the two Phantom Warriors under his feet and focused his Nen to envelop only his feet and Kuroha on his shoulder with Nen.
This all happened in less than three seconds while Togiri was falling, his mind was working at maximum thinking capacity.
Kuroha's eyes opened. Disoriented, she saw the ground coming closer. Her eyes widened, but calm and collected she assessed the situation in a fraction of a second.
Kuroha's finger started glowing, and she quickly drew a symbol on her arm. "Feather!" She yelled as she bit the symbol on her arm.
Togiri mentally prepared himself as he was gaining speed while falling. He held onto both Phantom Warriors with one hand. "Brace for impact!" He yelled.
BOOOM
An explosion slightly shook the hotel. Men and women were screaming as they felt a bomb a go off near them.
Luckily it was early in the morning and no bystanders were injured. A dust cloud formed on the point of impact of a certain celebrity.
"Ha! Fuck! I survived," Togiri groaned, taking deep breaths. Like a small explosion, Togiri hit the ground. He felt a crack as he landed.
The two Phantom Warriors braced his fall, but he still fractured his feet and pelvis. Togiri was laying in his own shaped creator in the ground.
As he closed his eyes, thankful that he was alive, but he breathed heavily, adrenaline coursing through his body. "I am alive. I am alive, phew~. @Now that I remember, you weigh an additional 100 kg. Ups, sorry. Thehe@ Seven said cutely.
'Ups, sorry? You bastard! I almost died!' Togiri's hands were shaking from the near death experience.
@You took away my permission to freely adjust your clothes weight without your permission. You should be happy. Both your shirt, pants and underwear could have weighed 200 kg. You could have hit the floor with 600 kg and became pizza@
'I only did that because you were messing around with the weight when I was eating. I was thrown out of the restaurant and broke a chair and a table you childish prick.'
Togiri became even more angry. He clothes his eyes almost about to fire up the Training Simulator, just so he could enter his subconscious and break a few bones of Seven's artificial created body.
@Hahahaha. That was very funny. All the food landed in your face. I wish I could have taken a picture@
"System, put Seven into hibernation and activate automatic healing" @Honorable Master, let's talk about this, wait. WAI-@ Seven's voice echoed as it dissapeared along with him.
Togiri opened his eyes and saw from above Kuroha slowly falling and drifting like a piece of paper or a feather, almost as if she weighed barely anything.
Togiri laughed in disbelief. 'Hahaha. Seven, you were wrong. She isn't either an Emitter or Manipulator. Oh,... I forgot.'
Kuroha gracefully landed on the ground beside Togiri's small crater. "Togiri, are you okay?" She leaned over Togiri, who was lying on his back.
"Yeah, you? Are you poisoned?" he asked in a defeated tone. Kuroha answered nonchalantly, "No, you?" Togiri laughed bitterly.
"Not really. Help me up—I hurt my feet." Togiri reached out his hand, and Kuroha helped him into a sitting position.
"Only your feet? You fell 100 meters; your body is very tough." Togiri mustered a small smile. He put his hand into his pocket and pulled out three pills, swallowing them all at once.
He energetically stood up. Kuroha looked curiously at the pills Togiri swallowed. "What are those pills?" she asked.
"Healing pills. One of the benefits of joining the Phantom Society." Kuroha tilted her head, curiosity piqued. "You just carry them around? Are those the pills that healed you when Tazoki's grenade hit you?"
Togiri looked at her. "....Yes." 'I noticed it yesterday, but she is asking many questions.'
'This is the third time I've shown her the existence of the System. First, Existence Heal. Second, the clothes I took out from the system. And now the pills.
She is very intelligent. She already knows my Nen ability is creating paper-like clones. I wanted to send her to Momo City and have her monitored by Kaizen and Rika, but I think it's better for her to stay next to me for the time being.'
"What's wrong?" Kuroha asked, worried.
Togiri revealed his natural bright smile that he had mastered from years of acting. 'If she chooses not to join the Phantom Society, I'll need to silence her.'
"Where to next?" Kuroha asked, brushing off the dust from her clothes. Togiri thought for a moment, looking at the crowd that had begun to gather from their abrupt landing.
"Let's get some food." They walked until they found a restaurant—a charming establishment with a sign that read [Amore's Haven].
It had a soft, inviting glow from the inside. When they entered, they quickly realized it was a couple's restaurant, with tables set for two, dim lighting, and a romantic ambiance.
Togiri paused at the doorway, and Kuroha's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Aw, Togiri, are you asking me out on a date?" She batted her eyelashes playfully.
He rolled his eyes. "It's just a place to eat. What kind of couple restaurant opens this early anyway"
Kuroha smirked. "Oh, of course," she replied, feigning innocence. "But if you fall for my beauty, don't say I didn't warn you." Togiri looked her deadpan in the eyes. "Just order your food."
Togiri opened the door to the establishment and immediately a man in a suit came rushing to them. "I'm sorry, but this establishment requires a reservation." While smiling he looked Kuroha up and down.
She wore a dirty hoodie, no shoes and hadn't showered in a few days, but she was still stunning that even the older middle aged man became infatuated with this 16 year old.
Togiri looked even worse. He was completely disgusting to look at. His clothes had holes in them, rubble and dust in his hair and unlike Kuroha he didn't even have socks on.
Togiri noticed his gaze and pulled out his Hunter License from his pocket and flashed it. The host's eyes widened, and he quickly stepped aside. "Right this way, sir."
As they were led to a table, Kuroha whispered, "That was kind of a flex."
Togiri shrugged. "I use what I have."
Once seated, they browsed the menu. Togiri ordered nearly the entire menu, except for desserts: pizza, steak, spaghetti, omelets, risotto, sushi, grilled salmon, roasted duck, lamb chops, ramen, fried rice, stir-fried vegetables, chicken skewers, soup dumplings, crispy pork belly, sautéed shrimp, garlic bread, caesar salad, beef stew, and teriyaki chicken.
Kuroha blinked. "Are you feeding an army?"
"No. Just hungry. Excuse me let me go to thr toilet real quick."
'I doubt she'll before the food arrives. Let me check my inventory real quick. Hm~. I only have my custom made weighted clothes and no shoes. I need to go shopping'
Togiri returned to his table and saw Kuroha trying to clean her dirty hoodie. He sat down as if he didn't notice and talked with Kuroha while waiting for their food.
The food arrived in waves, filling the table. Kuroha marveled at the display. "You're either insane or a genius." "Eat," Togiri said, taking a slice of pizza.
As they ate, Kuroha cracked jokes about the couple-themed setting. "So, what would you say if I declared my undying love for you right here?" "Don't choke on your food, kid. You are a little to young for me" Togiri replied flatly, but there was a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.
"Young? Don't you mean too old, you brat. Look at you trying to act all grown" said Kuroha playfully while Togiri was stuffing his face.
Other diners watched them, drawn to Kuroha's unusual, doll-like white eyes and her captivating beauty.
Togiri noticed the stares and, for a brief moment, let out a wave of killing intent. The room grew tense; whispers ceased, and eyes quickly averted.
Kuroha frowned. "That was unnecessary."
Togiri bit into his steak. "They were getting annoying."
Kuroha leaned in, her gaze serious. "You can't just silence everyone who looks. That's not necessary control—that's tirany."
"Call it what you want," he said, taking another bite. Kuroha irritated continued to dig into her food.
They ate in relative peace after that, with Kuroha pointing out how absurd their situation was.
"Dinner for two at a couple's restaurant after a near-death experience. Romantic, isn't it?"
"It's food," Togiri said simply. "You are no fun, I guess the attack was not something usual for you either" "....I'm almost full. When you are finished, let's go"
After finishing, Kuroha stretched. "That was good. Now, let's go shopping. We need shoes." Togiri nodded, pulling out a black credit card. "I have money."
She rolled her eyes. "Of course you do. Let's see how far your 'flex' gets us this time."
And so, they walked out together.
Author note: the chapters are getting longer and longer. At the beginning I felt the 1k or 2k chapters were a lot and now the 6k and 8k Chapter feel too short.
I roughly finished generating all the side character images with Chat GPT, except of Kastriot. They will be updated with time when time skips happen and so on.
Bad news. Chat GPT couldn't make Arthur, Togiri's and Fangs dead half bald. In my heart he will forever be half bald *Author sheding a tear noise*
Serious now. Big problem. I don't know how it worked for you guys last time when I uploaded a chapter called "Character Design".
On the pc its not possible to copy the link. On phone its also weird. I am thinking about of leaving a comment with a discord sever link.
I will create a discord server where i just post the images in the chat. What do you guys think? Do you have better ideas?