The Otonari's Last [Draft, Discontinued]

III - the Second Phase

Leorio showed up first...slung over the shoulder of #44.

I shot him a glare as he sat Leorio down next to me, and I began to tilt his head in different directions, trying to get a good look at his injuries. Number 44 walked off, and Killua moved toward the center of the crowd to look for Gon. Kurapika and Gon arrived soon after, and I called them over as Leorio stirred.

"Leorio!" Gon yells as he runs to us.

"Man, that stings..." Gon sets Leorio's briefcase next to him. "Why am I all beat up? My memory is kinda hazy." Kurapika whispers to Gon, and the young boy nods in agreement.

"Gon," Killua calls out as he approaches us.

"Killua!" Gon yells back.

"I can't believe you actually got here... I thought you were done for."

"I just tracked Leorio's cologne." I shoot Kurapika an incredulous look, and he just shrugged.

"Cologne? That was how? You definitely are weird." I laugh, Kurapika chuckling slightly.

"Excellent work, everyone. Phase Two of the exam will occur here, in the Biska Forest Park. So, I shall take my leave. Best of luck to all of you." With this, Satotz walks off. The doors slide open, revealing a large mansion-like building.

"Will all the applicants who passed the First Phase please enter?" a feminine voice rings out. We do as she says, all of us gathering around the steps in front of her. "Welcome. I'm Menchi, the Second Phase examiner."

"And I'm Buhara, the other examiner," says the larger man behind her. I stood between Kurapika and Leorio, every one of us silent. A loud grumble is suddenly heard, and Menchi turns to Buhara.

"You must be hungry," she says.

"I'm starving..."

"There you have it. Phase Two will involve...cooking!" Menchi stands as she says this, pointing at us.

"Cooking?" number 294 asks.

"Wait! Cooking?" yells #255. "We're here to take the Hunter Exam!"

"That's quite right," Menchi agreed. "Your challenge for the Second Phase is to produce a dish that will satisfy our palate."

"Why do we have to cook?" shouts another participant.

"That's because we are Gourmet Hunters."

"Huh?" The same man from before, #255, laughs loudly. Several other participants laugh with him, and Menchi sighs. "So, Gourmet Hunters, what are we supposed to make?"

"Buhara," Menchi says simply, and the man behind her stands.

"The required ingredient is pork."

"Pork? As in pig meat?" voices a participant.

How did these people even get to the Exam?

"You're free to use meat from any species of Biska Forest pigs. You must use the cooking facilities here to prepare the pork. And you only pass if we both find it delicious."

Oh, great! Just what I needed. Two professional Gourmet Hunters to judge my cooking skills. Well...it's not like it's any different than at home...

"And we will evaluate more than just the taste. Don't underestimate the intricacies of cooking. Got it? When we've both eaten our fill, the exam will end," Menchi announces.

I'd never dream of underestimating how difficult it is to cook. Not after what Maru-san did to me. I rub the back of my head, remembering the raw chicken thigh she used to hit me when I didn't cook it thoroughly.