Yuzuki's mind spun as he followed the girl. This is bad. Really bad.
In Jujutsu Kaisen, the only real threat to his life would have been Sukuna — and even then, if he didn't want to fight, nothing could stop him. But this world? Hunter × Hunter didn't run on cursed energy or predictable rules.
He looked down at his small hands, trembling slightly. Unless I have Gon or Killua-level talent, I'll always be on the edge here. One wrong step, one mistake… and who knows which ability, which person, might kill me.
He had to consider the alternative, of course. If by some miracle, the powers of Satoru Gojo had come with him… then nothing in this world could touch him. Netero? Meruem? Ging? Even the Dark Continent itself? All would fall before him with ease. But that was a dangerous assumption. Until he knew, he had to treat himself as weak.
Shizuku glanced at him with one raised brow. Her gaze was direct, unnervingly calm, yet not threatening.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Yuzuki blinked, snapping out of his spiraling thoughts. He nodded quickly, forcing a small smile. "Y-Yeah. Thank you."
Shizuku's lips quirked slightly at his response, her expression unchanging yet almost approving. Then, without another word, she began to rise and move forward.
No, wait. Panic surged. Being with her is the safest choice right now. If she leaves, I'm on my own…
He scrambled to follow, his small legs almost stumbling over the piles of trash that littered the ground.
Shizuku noticed him catching up. She tilted her head, deadpan. "The bad guys are gone now."
"I… I'm scared of being alone," Yuzuki admitted, his voice soft, almost childlike. "They might come back again."
Shizuku paused, her hand brushing a piece of debris out of the way. She regarded him silently for a long moment, one finger resting lightly on her chin. Then she asked casually, "Where are your parents?"
Yuzuki swallowed hard. "I… don't have any. I'm alone."
Her expression didn't change, but the faintest glint of thought crossed her eyes. She tilted her head again. "You want to come with me?"
Yuzuki's heart leapt. Relief and gratitude washed over him in equal measure. "Yes," he said immediately, voice brightening with a tiny smile.
"Okay," she said simply, straightening her posture. "Then follow me."
---
As they moved forward, Yuzuki hesitated. He glanced down at his reflection in a small, grimy puddle and then back at Shizuku. No, I can't flaunt these eyes. Not here. Not like this.
He slipped a black cloth from a heap of discarded fabrics, wrapping it lightly over his eyes.
Shizuku tilted her head, curiosity in her voice. "Why are you covering your eyes?"
"The… bad guys," Yuzuki said, keeping his tone light, almost playful in a childlike way. "They said… they wanted my eyes."
Shizuku's lips curved in the faintest smirk, a look somewhere between approval and mild amusement. "Smart," she said simply, and without another word, continued walking.
Yuzuki hurried to catch up, matching her pace.
"Wait… what is this place?" he asked cautiously, scanning the chaotic piles of trash, the crooked shacks, and the grimy figures slouched everywhere.
Shizuku didn't pause. "Meteor City," she replied plainly.
Yuzuki nodded slowly to himself. Just as he had suspected. The way she carried herself — clean, composed, untarnished by the grime of her surroundings — suggested she wasn't one of the low-tier residents. And judging by her demeanor, she wasn't yet a member of the Phantom Troupe. Perhaps just passing through, or maybe living on the fringe of the "better" people of Meteor City.
He observed her carefully. She's a few years younger than in the manga, maybe three or four. She hasn't joined the Troupe yet, obviously. She's clean… but not elite. Definitely someone who knows her way around here, though.
He let his mind wander briefly to the future. If this was 1996 or 1995, the Chimera Ant Arc was still years away. The Queen wouldn't lay her eggs until early 2000. That gave him… five, maybe six years to prepare himself. To survive. To grow strong enough that he wouldn't be crushed by the whims of this brutal world.
The Chimera Ants. Of course there was no certainty that he would be around NGL during this time, but precaution didn't hurt. He thought about the little girl and boy who were the first show victims of the Ant Queen in her pursuit to birth the perfect child.
If possible he wanted to save them from their fate. Of course he's not trying to be a hero and die once again saving someone, doing it once is fine but twice is pushing it.
Besides I died saving a little child and my gift is being thrown in this treacherous world where the strong feast on the weak. So only if he got stronger, he thought to himself. He doesn't have to be at the level of Netero or so. Maybe Hisoka level, is he pushing it he thought to himself.
As long as he's strong enough he's willing to save some lives.
He sighed quietly. He had always hated seeing characters die. Minato. Ace. Everyone in Akame ga Kill!… He always wondered if he could have saved them if he was in their verse. Now… now he had that chance. But first, he needed to live.
---
Finally, they arrived at her home. It wasn't much — a single room, small, functional, and unimpressive among the chaotic landscape of Meteor City.
She opened the door with a slight grunt. "We're home. Follow me in."
Yuzuki stepped inside silently, his eyes hidden under the black cloth. He glanced at her cautiously. Shizuku's expression was still calm, almost detached, but there was an unmistakable aura of competence, confidence, and quiet unpredictability.
She didn't need to speak much; the way she moved, the way she handled the small space, even her posture — it all spoke volumes. She was pragmatic, clever, and dangerous if crossed, but not reckless.
Yuzuki couldn't help but smile faintly. Being here with her… I feel safer than anywhere else in this city.
he small room smelled faintly of smoke and stale air, but it was clean enough to make Yuzuki feel almost… safe. Shizuku moved around with quiet efficiency, pulling out some scraps of food from a worn wooden box and arranging them over a small, rusted stove.
Yuzuki watched her curiously, his little legs tucked beneath him as he sat cross-legged on the floor. She glanced at him briefly and tilted her head.
"You're cute," she said abruptly. "Even cuter than Blinky."
Yuzuki froze for a second, blinking. "…Blinky?"
She shrugged, almost as if it were obvious. "Yeah. Don't overthink it. You're cute. That's just a fact."
He felt heat rise to his cheeks, a strange warmth spreading through him. She's… doting on me? This girl… actually likes me?
---
While she cooked, Yuzuki's curiosity bubbled up. "Um… Shizuku?" he asked, voice hesitant. "Earlier… how did you hit those bad guys without even touching them? It was… so cool."
Shizuku glanced at him over her shoulder, deadpan as ever. "That's my Nen ability."
Yuzuki's eyes widened slightly. Of course he knew — he knew exactly what she did — but he let his voice rise a little in awe anyway, playing along. "…Wow… can… can you teach me?"
Shizuku paused mid-motion, chopping a scrap of something resembling a root vegetable. Her expression didn't change, but there was a faint trace of amusement in her eyes.
"I don't remember how I learned Nen," she said simply, resuming her work.
Yuzuki froze. What? He blinked several times, trying to process the words. "Wait… what do you mean you don't remember? How… how is that possible?"
Then, slowly, he remembered her personality — at least the version he had seen in the manga. Shizuku tended to only remember things she personally deemed important. Everything else? Gone, like it never mattered.
…Of course. That makes perfect sense. She probably didn't think the way she learned Nen was important. I guess… I'll have to figure it out myself.
He leaned back, trying to process it. "Alright… I guess I'll have to learn it myself."
Shizuku glanced up, her eyes narrowing slightly, as if sizing him up. "What's your name again?"
"Yuzuki," he replied.
She nodded approvingly, a tiny smirk tugging at her lips. "Cute name."
Then she carried the simple meal over to him and crouched down, patting his head once more.
Yuzuki's mind went into full internal revolt.
> I'm not a kid. I'm not a fucking kid! I'm sixteen!
He opened his mouth to protest, but the warm smell of the food distracted him. The faint doting gesture — almost affectionate, almost teasing — left him in a mix of confusion and warmth.
Shizuku plopped down across from him, eating with casual efficiency. "Eat," she said simply. "You're small. You'll need energy if you're going to survive here."
Yuzuki nodded, picking up the food carefully. He stole a glance at her, studying the way she moved, the calm way she treated danger as if it were a minor annoyance, and the subtle, unpredictable charm she radiated. This girl… she's dangerous. But she's… reliable. Somehow.
He took a small bite, chewing thoughtfully. If I'm going to survive here, I need allies. I need to learn. And I… I might actually be lucky. Somehow, I think I'll survive. With her.
And even though he'd never admit it aloud, a small part of him relished the fact that Shizuku — Shizuku! — had called him cute.
…I'm not a kid, he repeated internally, shaking his head. But apparently, I have to let her think I am, for now.