SOUR CANDY | killua z. ✔

10 | spiral

"THE CHAIRMAN said we were to arrive at eight sharp, yes? It's nearly nine."

"Lighten up, Kurapika," Leorio grouched. "At least we get to savor our breakfast! Who knows when we'll get to eat next."

Sen steadily made her way through a fruit salad bowl, squinting. The rising sun was poking into the cafeteria's windows at just the right angle to blind her. 

"Has anyone seen Gon?" She asked around a cube of cantaloupe. 

"The idiot probably passed out somewhere," Killua snorted, spooning scrambled eggs into his mouth. 

Around them, the other applicants speculated about Phase Three in hushed tones. The sound of forks and chopsticks clanking against plates filled the room, sizzling and scraping coming from the kitchen. 

It reminded Sen of mornings at home, lulling her into a temporary sense of security.

Speaking of mornings, Kotaro and Mai were well on their way to Yorknew. Their flight had been set to take off at 6:30.

All that's left is you, you straggler. Hurry up and get those coordinates, then go home.

"Oi, Sen!" Leorio interrupted her thoughts. "You should eat something else, get more nutrition in!"

"You're complaining about me eating fruit?"

Killua dropped some of his bacon onto her plate. 

She grimaced. Sen had never eaten pork before, and she was not about to start now. The greasy smell was sickening, and she tugged her sweatshirt's neckline up to cover her nose. The ugly neon thing was useful for something, at least.

"I don't eat pork," she said weakly, slouching in her chair.

Kurapika hummed sympathetically. "After Phase Two, it's no longer appetizing to me, either."

Strangely enough, it hadn't bothered her when she had to cook it yesterday. Now she couldn't stand it.

"You can't just eat fruit, dumbass, it's mostly sugar. Your twig body won't hold up," Killua pushed some eggs over as well.

She'd lasted longer without proper nutrition before. Sen wasn't some frail child.

"One, I do not have a 'twig body'," Sen used her chopsticks to place the eggs and bacon back on Killua's plate. "Two, you were a lot nicer to me last night. What happened to that Killua?"

Leorio choked on his orange juice. "What—"

Kurapika rolled their eyes and smacked Leorio's back to help with the coughing.

The two kids didn't know what Leorio was so scandalized about, but they ignored him.

"You're imagining things," Killua informed Sen, chewing off a piece of bacon.

Another applicant approached them; Number 53. A bow and quiver of arrows were slung over their back. 

"Sorry, I couldn't help but overhear," they said bashfully. "But the cafeteria offers plant-based protein alternatives if animal meat isn't your thing."

Sen loved fruits, but the thought of soy sausage made her mouth water. Her resort offered a wide variety of meat alternatives to suit their rich clients' lifestyles and palates. 

"Thank god," Sen groaned, dramatically clambering over Killua to get away from the table and back to the food counter.

Killua loudly protested the treatment. 

"SEN! Can you get me another milk carton?" Leorio called after her.

"You have legs, get it yourself," said Kurapika.