SOUR CANDY | killua z. ✔

1 | sister

THE NIGHT before Sen had to leave for the Hunter Exam, the triplets wouldn't stop crying. All week they'd been giggling about how much they would get away with while Sen-neesan was gone, but that abruptly stopped when they realized their big sister was actually leaving. For what was essentially an unknown length of time. 

To cheer them up (and finally get them to sleep), she made the mistake of letting the triplets choose what she would wear for the Exam. 

The black leggings and tank top were acceptable. As were her only pair of dirty sneakers. But the sweatshirt they picked out was a monstrosity from the resort gift shop— neon blue, three sizes too big, and covered in glittery sea creatures with I LUV THE SEA! printed on it in bubble letters. The only normal thing about it was the resort's logo on the shoulder.

Sen regretted everything.

"Thank you, I love it," Sen lied, giving each of them a head pat.

The things I fucking do for this family, she thought.

"Have fun at school," a voice drawled.

Sen's backpack was tossed at her head. She caught it before it could smack her, glaring at her brother. The asshole simply reached up to tie back his shoulder-length hair, pretending like he didn't just try to behead her. The triplets laughed, hugging her legs and chorusing a million and one variations of 'bye-bye, Sen-neesan'. 

She slipped on the backpack, knowing the place she was going to was probably worse than school. (Not that she'd ever been to an actual school.)

"Do you have to go now?" Eri sniffed against her thigh, hiding her face.

"No," Sen stroked her hair, careful not to mess up the neat braids the triplets all wore. "The ferry doesn't leave until six. The sun's not even up yet."

The pier was mostly empty save for Sen, her five siblings, and the handful of natives who worked on the mainland and not at the resort. The ferry that would take her away was moored off to the right.

For the first time in years, all six of the Inoues were quiet. No shouting, cursing, or attempted maiming of any kind.

"One of the aunties packed a bento in there for you," Kotaro gestured at her backpack. "It'll get you through today, but after that, you'll need to be frugal. I didn't have a lot of money to give you."

"That's fine."

"If you're quick, it should take you a day at most to reach Zaban City once the ship docks."

"Mm-hmm."

"A navigator will find and test you at some point," Kotaro folded his arms, eyes narrowed as he recalled his own experience of the Exam. "And don't use Nen unless absolutely necessary. Most of the other applicants won't even know what that is, and—"

"Oniisan," Sen cut him off, feeling far calmer than the rest of her family, apparently. "I know. We went over this yesterday."

"Smartass."

"Fuckhead," she returned.

"No bad words!" The triplets shouted up at her. 

"What, so it's okay when Kotaro does it, but not me?" Sen reached down to smush their cheeks, making them whine in protest.

Further down the pier, there was a small laugh, like a whisper.

There was Sen's little ghost.

▁▁▁▁▁▁▁▁

"Hey, you," she greeted Mai, who was standing stiff and straight-shouldered, a few yards away from the rest of them.

Any trace of the laugh from a few seconds ago was already wiped from the girl's face, leaving it in a state of lovely blankness.