Miracles in a Lifetime

VII • CHAIRMAN NETERO ☓ A GAME

     I look at each one of their shocked faces.

     "Yes. He is actually a she. Her real name is Tenshi-sama," Ren explains briefly.

     "What!?" my four companions shout.

     "Tenji-san– I mean Tenshi-san, you're a... girl?" Gon asks with caution and I nod. There's no longer a need to hide it anymore. I didn't want them to know so soon, but I wasn't planning on deceiving them forever. It's my own fault that I got caught, anyway.

     Kurapika opens his mouth, seeming as if he was about to say something, but then an announcement informs us to get back onto the blimp that brought us here. It's apparently time to head on to the Phase Three site. Once we enter, Kurapika motions for me to follow him. I wonder what he wants...?

     After Gon and Killua leave, Leorio goes straight to sleep.

     "Tenj– Tenshi-san, why did you pretend to be a boy?" is his first question. I raise an eyebrow.

     "Tenshi-sama and I do not understand why such information is relevant to you, but alright. We'll give you an answer. Similar to your wonder, I also did not understand why my master would want to pretend to be the opposite gender at first, but I understood later.

     "When I first met you, many people were already suspecting Master, and then you claimed that she was a boy. People overheard that Master was a 'boy' and shrugged it off. If Master did not hide her true gender, people would've found it peculiar and foolish that a girl of her age would try this exam.

     "If Master claimed herself that she was a boy, then others would try to get her to take her cloak off. I don't understand why, but maybe that's because they're humans, specifically talking about Gon and Killua. They're too curious, and Master is not one who likes attention," Ren explains. Kurapika's expression remains stoic and his eyes look determined.

     "Alright," he says with a sigh. "Now I understand."

     Ren nods once with a hint of arrogance and a "that's right" attitude.

     "My next question is... why is the dragon speaking instead of the person I'm actually talking to? I don't believe in such a ridiculous idea that her voice can put someone under a state of hypnosis and follow her command."

     Ren and I share a troubled look. I'm troubled because I don't really want to prove him wrong, and Ren's probably just bothered since Kurapika sounded a bit rude. From how Ren is looking at me, I can tell that he wants me to show Kurapika that manipulating someone with my voice is as easy as breathing, but he still understands that I don't want to use my voice for the rest of the exam.

     "She simply wants it that way," Ren replies curtly. Kurapika smirks for a split second, but then continues his interrogation with a straight face.

     "All right, last question," he says quietly. "Now, tell me..."

     He pauses for a moment, raising the tension and suspense. Ren and I lean in unconsciously.

     "Are you really a girl?" I mentally facepalm, reprimanding myself for expecting anything other than such a foolish question.

     "Yes, Tenshi-sama is female. Do you have any other real questions? Because I'm starting to get quite irritated conversing with an ignorant being such as yourself. Curiosity can kill you, you know?" Ren growls with a hint of frustration, resting his head onto his folded arms. He must be really tired. Kurapika glares at him.