ANIMOSITY | hxh

four

Killua had finally caught up, meeting Tsuno right Ioutside the location for the second phase. It was strange that Gon wasn't with him though she didn't ask why. It wasn't until much later that he showed up along with his blonde friend, who still had yet to be introduced. 

The strange part, was that Tsuno watched Gon make eye contact with Hisoka, and then walked towards a tree in the far back. Leaning against the tree was Gon's dark-haired friend with a large bump on his face. Tsuno poked Killua's side, who hummed. "Gon's here." She says plainly, pointing in their direction. Killua perked up, getting quickly to his feet and waking over with Tsuno in tow.

"Gon!" Killed called out, grabbing his attention. Gon grinned widely at the sight of his two friends, exclaiming their names with glee. "You sure took your time. I thought you were done for." Tsuno teased. The boy just laughed. Tsuno blinked, shifting her head to see Gon's two friends staring at them as they spoke. Gon noticed her shift in attention, and smiled as he introduced his friends. 

"Killua, Tsuno! These are my friends," He pointed to the blonde one, "Kurapika." The blonde gave them a polite smile. "And Leorio." The shirtless male gave them a dull greeting as he rubbed his sore cheek. Killua and Tsuno didn't say anything back, but all of their attention was drawn away by Satotz's voice.

"The second phase of the exam will take place here, in the Visca Forest Preserve. I shall be taking my leave. Good luck to you all." He then walked away in his strange way. And as soon as he was out of sight the doors of the building swung open, seemingly on their own, revealing two figures. 

One was a woman, with bright teal hair sticking out in various places and green eyes. The other was a huge man, with short black hair and eyes. "Welcome! I'm Menchi, the second phase examiner." The woman pointed a thumb at herself. "And I'm Buhara! Your other examiner." The man said with a joyful tone. The applicants were introduced to a grand green lawn with rows of kitchen counters. Each one with its own set of appliances. 

Before the woman could continue speaking, there was a loud rumble that caused applicants to stumble. Menchi looked to Buhara, "Hungry?" He patted his large belly. "Absolutely Famished!" How ironic.

Menchi stood up and faced the applicants with a grin. "There you have it! Your challenge for the second phase will be... cooking!" She declared gleefully. The applicants yelled and shouted.

"Cooking!?"

"We're supposed to be taking the Hunter Exam!"

One participant was more apparent than the rest, glaring at Menchi who ignored them. "Your job is to create a dish that will satisfy us both. If you don't, you'll fail." She says boredly. 

The same applicant from before, a wrestler it seems, began to shout at Menchi again. "Hey! Answer me! What the hell do you mean cooking!?" The man clenched his fists. Menchi gave him a hard stare. "You are cooking because you're examiners are Gourmet Hunters." She says with a guilt of her chin, proud of her title. 

There was a moment of silence before the majority of applicants began laughing to her face. Killua and Gon stayed silent but Tsuno scratched her head. She's never had to cook before. How the hell was she gonna pass?

Once the wrestler had gotten the last bits of his laughter out, he mocked Menchi. "So, Miss Gourmet Hunter, what will we be cooking?" Menchi clicked her tongue, as her eye twitched. "Buhara." She commanded, obviously agitated.

He spoke out to the examinees, "Your main ingredient will be pork. You have the option of any species of pig in Visca Forest. Based on your dish, Menchi and I will decide if you pass." He said, and gestured to the gates behind them. 

"May the second phase of the Hunter Exams, begin!"

---

The applicants ran into the forest, searching for a pig to bring back and cook. Gon, Tsuno, Killua, Kurapika, and Leorio stayed close in a group to search. Gon, the line leader, gasped in delight veggie sliding down a steep hill. Tsuno and Killua followed right behind, giggling with Kurapika and Leorio in tow. Gon had made it first to the bottom but didn't get up. Killua scrambling to stop the momentum and Tsuno screaming at Gon to move. He pays no attention to them and continued to sit there even as all four of them rammed into his back. 

"Gon, what gives?" Killua exclaimed as he groaned. Gon simply pointed forward. "I found them." In front of them was a field of burly pigs with large snouts. The pigs were chewing on giant clean bones. 

"They're carnivores!" Kurapika warned. "Well, darn." Tsuno said simply before the five of them scrambled up the hill again, followed by a herd of the giant pigs chasing them. They led the stampede around to the area of the other applicants causing everyone to run to higher ground to avoid the pigs. Tsuno jumped into a tree, planning to kill it quickly and go back to the second phase venue. 

She threw her leg up, trying to use her feet to uppercut the pig's jaw. It knocked her foot away using its nose as a shield. The girl clicked her tongue, jumping above it and landing on the pig's head. She cackled as she pulled its ears, the pig squealing. She used them as a lead to steer the pig right into a tree. Unfortunately, it's nose absorbed the impact. The collision caused Tsuno to fall onto her back and accidentally kicking the pig in the center of its forehead. The pig shuddered, before falling to the ground. 

"Huh?" Tsuno said. She sat upright, kicking the pig a bit more to make sure its dead. It was. She grinned gleefully, lugging the large animal above her head before she heard Gon call out. "Guys! Their foreheads, it's their weakness!" He shouted out, alerting every applicant in the vicinity. Tsuno huffed lightly, only an idiot would reveal that aloud. Did he have no shame?  Tsuno made sure she ran as fast as possible, easily making it first to the venue. Menchi and Buhara didn't say anything as she arrived. 

Tsuno stuck the dead pig over the fire, turning it slowly. She had no long she was supposed to cook this for. But if it looked cooked enough, it should be fine, right? 

She was still turning her pig before the rest of the examinees arrived in a stampede, with pigs over their heads. They all began to do the same as she was doing. Tsuno took this as her taking too long, and spun the pig a few more times before removing it and dropping it on the counter. She stared at it for a moment with a hand under her chin. How do you present this? She assumed some salt or something was a must, she's had restaurant food before. But what to do with the pig? 

She was distracted by Killua coming over with his hands behind his head. "You got here fast." Tsuno didn't respond nor did she move her eyes from the during pig. Killua frowned and poked her harshly in the back of her head. Tsuno squeaked and pursed her lips. "What?" She groaned. Killua shrugged, "I'm bored." 

"What about the second phase?" She pointed to his pig on the other side of the area. "That lady is rejecting everyone that comes up to her. And I can't cook so why bother?" Tsuno's expression turned blank as she turned her eyes away from Killua. "Well some of us actually need to pass. Go bother Gon or whatever." Killua narrowed his eyes but did end up walking away.

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