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“Order number 2650?”
“That’s me!” Gon gingerly picked up the plastic bag containing a piping hot tupperware container of fish noodle soup and weaved his way through the snaking line of hungry customers waiting to get a table at Ivory Pot restaurant. He briskly walked to his bicycle parked right outside, placed the plastic bag into the attached delivery box and set off right away. Can’t keep the customer waiting after all!
Gon hummed a simple melody as he biked over to World Tree Avenue, one of the swankier neighbourhoods around Yorknew, which was luckily only a ten-minute ride from the Ivory Pot. He watched as the squat shophouses faded behind him, making way for taller buildings, with shiny signboards and perfectly pruned shrubberies.
The tires of his bike squeaked as Gon braked to a stop right before the security booth. Peering upwards, Gon waited patiently for the cranky old security guard to shuffle to the window. “Whatcha here for kid?” He grumbled.
“Just food delivery. I’ll be in and out in no time.” Gon replied.
“Right, come on through.”
Gon pedaled past the gantry barrier, onto the pedestrian path and into the apartment complex.
“Let’s see… block 99A, floor 20, unit number 6.” Gon narrated the delivery location to himself as he parked his bike, securing it to a bike rack with his trusty old bike chain. This may have been a rich neighbourhood but you never know. Besides, this bike was a gift from Aunt Mito! He couldn’t bear to lose it.
After retrieving the noodle soup, Gon walked into the lift lobby and was greeted with a blast of cold air which made his eyes sting a little. He pushed the ‘up’ button and waited for the lift to arrive.
—
Delivery in hand, Gon approached Unit 20-06 and pressed the doorbell. “Delivery!” He called. He hummed a little tune- from his favourite cartoon, as footsteps approached him. The white door swung open, revealing a young man dressed in a grey Yorknew University tee and navy sweatpants.
“Thanks- huh?”
“Oh! Hi Killua!” Gon beamed, glad to see a familiar face.
“What the hell are YOU doing here?” Killua blurted.
“Just doing my job. Here ya go,” Gon said as he handed the plastic bag of fish soup to Killua. Just as Gon turned to leave, Killua stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
“H-hey wait, before you go… Don’t tell anyone where I live. Got it?” Gon’s amber eyes met sapphire blue ones, holding his gaze with a certain fierceness and an ember of unease. Gon smiled reassuringly and replied,
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Killua watched his classmate enter the lift and waited for the doors to close before shutting his front door. Great, just great. He’d just managed to dodge those annoying pests trying to track him down just for someone who knows him to show up. He hoped he could trust Gon. He huffed in frustration, setting the takeout on his kitchen island. Ivory Pot, he read. This restaurant was famous for its fish soup, with broth stewed for hours and fine cuts of sea bass. Maybe this time… he could relive that taste once more.
Killua brought a spoonful of soup to his mouth and blew on it gently before taking a sip. He took spoonful after spoonful, chewing the fish carefully and making sure to finish every ingredient. He sighed. The soup was hearty and the fish was cooked to perfection. Yet, something just didn’t feel right. It was delicious but it was still missing something that he couldn’t place. He got up and brought the empty bowl and utensils to the sink. He twisted a knob, releasing a stream of water from the faucet. While doing the dishes, he thought to himself that he was running out of restaurants in the area to try.
The setting sun cast a golden glow across a city that was winding down to rest, making way for another to emerge into the night. A cool breeze swept across Gon’s face as he pedaled, feeling the burn in his legs as he made the journey uphill back to his dorm. He lived in Beetle College, a student accommodation located right next to Yorknew Uni. Rent was stupid high, so he picked up a part time job to help pay rent. Juggling his work and studies was a challenge, but as Aunt Mito said, there was nothing he couldn’t do as long as he tried his very best!
“Don’t tell anyone where I live, got it?”
Gon couldn’t get that out of his mind. In classes, Killua kept to himself, interacting with others only when necessary. Whenever Gon asked his friends about the white-haired boy, they told him that he was either a stuck-up rich kid or a mysterious brooding loner type. Anyone who tried getting close to him was brushed off or kept at polite distance. “Scion of the Zoldycks… Heir to the Zoldyck Empire…” Those titles meant nothing to Gon. Instead, he saw Killua as someone lonely, in need of a friend.
Since the two of them were in the same photography elective, Gon tried to approach him and make some small talk in every class.
“Hey Killua! Good morning!” Gon exclaimed, waving vigorously at Killua. He got a side eye as a response. Well, maybe next time.
“Hi Killua, how’s it going?” Gon took a seat next to Killua, who shot him a blank look and proceeded to ignore him the rest of class.
“Yo Killua, whatcha working on?” Gon said over Killua’s shoulder, eliciting a startled jump from the young man.
“Dude what the hell? Don’t sneak up on me like that.” He turned around to yell at him, only to stop when he saw the cheeky grin on Gon’s face. “What are you smiling at?”
“Cuz it’s the first time you’ve actually spoken to me. Usually you’re like-” Gon mimicked Killua’s frown, scrunching his brows together, “-or like this!” he turned and whipped his head to give an exaggerated side eye to Killua.
“Pfft- I don’t look like that!” Killua failed to stifle a laugh, which only encouraged Gon’s antics.
“Yeah you do!”
“No I don’t!”
From then on, Gon and Killua would sit next to each other and hang out during class time. However, despite his best efforts, Killua kept refusing to go get lunch with him. Guess he had other places to be. Other than the photography elective, they rarely bumped into each other on campus. Could they really be called friends?
Gon sat on the edge of his bed, towelling his hair dry after his shower. He hadn’t expected to bump into Killua today. What was that about not revealing his location anyway? Sure, Killua has a super rich family, but it’s not like anyone’s out to get him… right?
The weekend rolled around again and Gon was once again working his food delivery job. His phone dinged with a notification alerting him of a new order from Baban Bro’s Seafood Restaurant. The delivery location was a familiar address.
“You again?” Killua said in disbelief when he saw Gon at the door.
“Yeah! Crazy coincidence huh. And you ordered fish soup again.” Gon said.
“Yeah,” A moment of silence lapsed between them. “So um, how long have you been doing this delivery gig?” Killua asked.
“Oh, just over two months. I work on weekends.”
“And you do this for the whole day?”
“Yep! Until dinnertime anyway.” Gon said. Killua frowned. “What’s up?” Gon asked.
“But you’re already so busy. How do you have the time for this?”
“Well, I have no choice. Gotta pay rent after all. As if the uni isn’t already squeezing enough money out of us.” Gon laughed.
“Huh, I see.” Killua trailed off. The ensuing silence bordered on awkwardness. Gon held out the delivery bag.
“Here’s your soup!”
“O-oh! Yeah. Thanks,” Killua said as he took the bag from the cheery delivery boy’s hands.
Gon waved goodbye and said, “See you around Killua! Good talk today!” Killua waved back and shut the door. “That was a weird coincidence,” he thought to himself. “But strangely, I don’t mind.”
The white-haired soup connoisseur set the takeout container of fish soup on his kitchen countertop and dug in. Hm, the soup this time was clearer and less rich and had a peppery kick to it. The fish, instead of steamed, was deep fried in a batter and added to the soup. He liked it, but it still wasn’t the soup he was searching for. Killua drank up the rest of the soup and wiped his mouth. There was always next time.
Killua closed his eyes and tried to remember the taste of the soup that welcomed him home all those years ago. He could recall it as clear as day, the warmth, intermingling of flavours and most importantly, the feeling that he was home. Whatever that meant. He longed to relive that feeling of being wanted and welcome. Travelling further into the depths of memory, he heard the rumbling of thunder, the rush of rain, and a soothing voice telling him that everything would be alright.
He opened his eyes again and surveyed his empty apartment for one. Aside from when the twins would stay over, he was alone. Alone but free. Free from Illumi’s surveillance, from his mother’s smothering and the weight of the Zoldyck name.
—
Rain poured down from the skies in torrents, beating on Gon’s body as he pedaled through the storm. He’d neglected to check today’s weather forecast and went out without thinking. His windbreaker was soaked through and the unyielding blast of rain was obscuring his path. Thunder boomed and lightning streaked across the sky as the delivery boy took turn after familiar turn into World Tree Avenue.
Gon waved at the security guard, parked his bikes and took off his windbreaker, wringing rainwater from the synthetic fabric. He unzipped his delivery box and heaved a sigh of relief. The soup was safe. Pushing ‘20’ on the button panel, Gon stepped back and hummed a cheery tune to the whirr of the elevator.
“This is the seventh time now,” Gon said to himself. “Whatever soup Kil’s looking for has gotta be the best one on the planet!”
Killua’s head perked up at the sound of three knocks on his door and the familiar call of “Delivery!” He rose and opened the front door, a smile on his face, mouth open to greet his friend but stopped short at the sight in front of him.
“Gon! You’re soaked!” Killua’s smile dropped. He stared in astonishment.
“Haha, yeah, I forgot to bring a raincoat. But hey! Your food’s alright. Seventh time’s the charm amirite?” Gon said, smiling brightly as always. Killua took his soup from Gon’s outstretched hand and looked him once over. His usually tall, spiky hair that Killua kept teasing him about lay flat, plastered across his face in wet tendrils. His clothes were soaked and dripping water onto the floor. Killua stepped aside and gestured into his house.
“You gonna come in?”
“Huh? Um, well I’d hate to impose…” Gon said sheepishly. Killua doesn’t like when people try to invade his privacy. Gon thought to himself.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning on going back out there.”
“I mean, I’d love to but I have to get back to work so…”
“Dude it’s pouring like hell out there. Just come in and-”
“No, no I really couldn’t-”
“KRA-KOOM!!!” Thunder erupted like the crack of a bullwhip, illustrating Killua’s point.
“Get your soggy ass in here right now,” Killua ordered.
“Yep. Right away.” Gon grinned and pulled off his wet boots and socks before stepping inside.
The inside of Killua’s apartment looked nothing like what Gon was expecting. The walls painted navy blue were plastered with pictures, posters and artworks. Gon peered at what looked to be a family photo, with Killua and three people he’d never seen before. Two girls with long dark hair who looked identical save for the colour of their eyes; one with eyes the same shade of sapphire blue as Killua’s, and the others with eyes black as obsidian. To the far right was someone with a striking pink gaze and a blunt black bob cut to perfection. They were all smiling widely.
“Those are my siblings. My little sisters Allu and Nani, and youngest sibling Kalluto,” Killua explained with a fond smile on his face. Gon looked around, there were many more pictures of Killua and his family.
“You must love them a lot huh,” he said.
“Yeah. They’re my world.” Killua replied, a gentle smile on his face. Gon couldn’t help but stare at him. It was strange to see him so… soft. Just then, the white haired man ducked into a room and emerged with a large, fluffy towel and some clothes. “Here, you can borrow my clothes for the time being. Go dry yourself off. Bathroom’s down the hall and to the right.
“Thanks!” Gon accepted them gratefully and headed to the bathroom to dry off and change. Once inside, he stripped off his wet clothes and wrung them out in the shower- he didn’t want to get water all over the bathroom floor after all. Thankfully, his underwear was dry enough so he pulled Killua’s shirt over his head and put on the pair of comfy black shorts. He towelled his hair dry and gathered his wet laundry in a bundle to let air dry later. All dried off, Gon took the time to look around the bathroom a little. He found it fun to check out people’s bathrooms for some reason.
The bathroom walls were overlaid with large, grey tiles and smaller white ones covered the floor. Killua seemed to be a fan of a monochromatic colour palette. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap and other toiletries sat neatly on a rack affixed to the wall. Looking closer they all had a fruit scent to them. He scanned the rest of the room, noting the stacks of the exact same bar soap stocked up in a cabinet. Finally he looked in the mirror. The shirt Killua gave him was a white one with a design emblazoned on the front. Large font said “GREED ISLAND” overlapping a rectangular illustration depicting a grassy field, blue skies and a bulbous tower with a conical roof.
Finally, Gon stepped out of the bathroom to see Killua waiting in the hallway, plastic bag in hand. “Took you long enough. Here’s a bag for your wet clothes.” He handed Gon the bag. Gon smiled and accepted the bag, then spoke,
“So you like Greed Island too?”
“Yeah I do, so what? Just because it’s a kids’ show doesn’t mean it’s bad- wait. Too?” Killua began a well-rehearsed defence of his favourite show, then stopped in his tracks when he processed what Gon said.
“Yeah! I like Greed Island too, the fights are really well choreographed and the story’s engaging and surprisingly deep.” Gon replied.
The two of them carried on with their discussion in Killua’s living room, taking a seat next to each other on the couch.
“Then, when he was about to beat the final game master and the show pulled that twist, my mind was blown. Didn’t see that coming at all. But now that I think about it, there were a number of hints that pointed right at this outcome,” Killua said excitedly.
“Dude I had no idea. But Genthru always gave me major bad vibes.” Gon said.
Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by the loud sound of someone’s stomach grumbling. Killua stopped mid sentence, face turning pink. “Uh, right. I forgot I ordered dinner.” Gon laughed, a bright sound that filled the room. Killua found himself wanting to hear more of it.
Killua went to the kitchen and removed the container of fish soup, still warm, from the plastic bag and poured half into one bowl and the other half in another. Pulling open a drawer in one swift motion, he then retrieved two pairs of chopsticks and soup spoons. Balancing them all in both hands, he stepped out of the kitchen and placed the bowls and cutlery on the low glass table in front of the couch. He took a seat on the floor, cross legged, and motioned Gon to come over.
“Are you sure? There was only enough for one person in that bowl. I don’t want you to be hungry,” Gon said as he slid down the couch onto the floor.
“I’d be a shit host if I let my guest go hungry. Besides, it’s too much for me to finish myself anyway.” Killua replied. He took a spoonful of soup and drank it, savouring the flavour. Gon took it as his cue to begin eating.
“Thanks for the food,” he declared before digging into his soup. He hadn’t realised how hungry he was with all the rushing around. Usually he only had time to stop for a quick sandwich at Grubway. He piled rice and fish into his spoon with his chopsticks and practically shoved it into his mouth.
Watching Gon eat like his life depended on it, Killua let out a quiet huff of laughter. He dipped his spoon into the soup and took a mouthful of broth and fish. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the flavour, texture and the way it made him feel. He chewed on the slices of fish. Firm, well cooked but not tough. When he opened his eyes, Gon had stopped eating and was instead gazing at him intently. He swallowed his food.
“What’s up?”
“Just wondering if this soup is the one you’ve been looking for,” Gon said. He cocked his head to the side, observing. Killua shook his head.
“Nope. Not this time,” he said. His heart sank a little. He’d exhausted most of the restaurants in the area. He was so sure that this was the place where he had that unforgettable soup but now seeds of doubt began to sprout in his mind. It must have shown on his face because Gon spoke up to fill the silence.
“Don’t be sad Killua, I’m sure you’ll find what you’re searching for. But y’know, this whole time I’ve been meaning to ask; why are you looking for the perfect fish soup? You don’t like this one?”
“No it’s not that- this soup is good. But… it’s a long story.”
“And I’m all ears!” Gon beamed. He leaned forward, resting one arm on the low coffee table. At that, Killua smiled softly and sighed.
“Alright. It was a long time ago. On a stormy night like this one, I ran away from home.”
“Stupid mom, stupid dad, stupid gramps! Illumi and Milluki too!” A young boy with hair white as the full moon yelled as he ran, blinking tears out of his eyes. He followed the same path he used to run, whenever he wanted to sneak out to escape his endless tutoring. Distant thunder grumbled in the skies above, dark clouds loomed with the promise of rain. Killua didn’t care about all that. He just wanted to be as far from home as possible. His heart pounded against his chest and his legs ached with how hard he was running; but he wouldn’t stop. No, couldn’t stop, because stopping meant defeat. And a Zoldyck never loses.
“I forgot why I ran, it’s probably some stupid reason. I ended up pretty far from where I started though.”
The boy dragged aching feet across drenched pavement, clutching his shivering frame in a vain attempt to shield himself from the gusty downpour. Killua sniffled, leaning against a wall. “Stupid,” he thought to himself. There was no turning back now. He trudged along slowly, sticking to the walls of buildings in the now empty food district.
“Ugh!”
He clutched his stomach as the stabbing pain of hunger pangs jabbed at his insides. What time was it? Where was he? Killua sneezed at the same time lightning struck, turning the sky white for a split second.Then, out of the corner of his eye, Killua spotted a warm, golden light pouring from the windows of a shophouse. The warmth beckoned him, giving him just enough strength to inch closer and closer, close enough for the scent of something delicious to fill his nose.
The door chime jingled as Killua pushed through the front door before collapsing in a shuddering, wet heap on the floor. His vision was hazy, his stomach crying out in hunger and his body so, so cold.
Before he knew it, his tiny frame was dried off in warm, fuzzy towels and bundled in a thick blanket. Strong, gentle arms lifted him up and placed him on a seat near the counter while a kindly woman’s voice soothed him.
“You poor thing, let’s get you something to eat.”
A warm bowl of sliced fish soup was placed before him, the savoury aroma causing him to drool. Killua took a small spoonful, then another, and another. He couldn’t stop. It was the best thing he ever tasted, far better than the usual fancy dinners and high-class food. This tasted like…
“...home.”
Gon listened intently, not only taking in Killua’s story but also the way he looked in that moment. He had a faraway gaze, eyes sparkling like reliving an old, comforting dream. His ocean blue eyes were cast downwards to his empty bowl of soup. A small smile played on his lips.
“Hey Killua?”
“Hm?” He started, jolting out of his reverie. His eyes flicked back to look at Gon, widening slightly, then reverting to a more neutral gaze.
“What do you mean by home?” Gon asked.
Killua paused for a moment, choosing his words. After a beat, he replied, “If I had to put it into words… it’s more than just tasting good. Eating that soup made me feel safe, like I belonged. Like…” Killua trailed off. “Sorry, it’s stupid I-”
“No it’s not,” Gon retorted. “Your feelings should be taken seriously. And if that bowl of soup made you feel that way then it’s something important to you.”
Killua stared for a moment, the tips of his ears turning the faintest hint of red. Turning his face away, he said, “Psh, you sound just like Allu.” Gon laughed.
“But seriously, I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to share your story with me. It means a lot,” Gon said. Something about the sincerity in his expression stirred up something within Killua. It wasn’t unpleasant. He welcomed the feeling.
“Yeah. I guess something about you puts me at ease.” Killua whispered.
“What was that?” Gon asked. A small smile tugged at his lips.
“UH I said you’re a total weirdo, geez!” Killua spluttered. Gon shook his head, laughing quietly.
“C’mon, let’s clean up.”
-
Gon ended up spending the night at Killua’s apartment in a guest room since it was far too late for him to bike home. In the morning, Gon waved goodbye to Killua at the apartment lobby, wearing his now dry clothes. The air was fresh with the scent of petrichor, the pavement slightly damp from last night’s rain. The spiky haired young man pedaled leisurely back to his dorm, an idea budding in his head. Once in his room, he dialed a number he knew by heart. His phone beeped, then rang shrilly with the sound on a ringtone.
“Hi, Aunt Mito? It’s me! Yeah, I’m doing fine, nothing’s wrong. So hey, there’s something I wanna ask you…”
—---
“Delivery!”
Killua looked up from the book he was reading. Perched on the couch, he had decided to spend the weekend chilling after the end of midterms. “Weird, I don’t remember ordering anything. Unless,” he said to himself. By some freak coincidence, every single one of his recent deliveries had been sent to his doorstep by Gon. He opened his front door.
“Surprise!”
Just as he suspected, it was Gon. He had a big goofy grin plastered on his face as he held up a large beetle patterned lunch bag. Instead of his usual jacket, Gon was dressed casually in a National Geographic graphic tee and forest green cargo shorts. And the ugliest crocs Killua had ever seen.
“What are you doing here? I don’t remember ordering anything,” Killua questioned.
“I have something for you,” Gon gestured to the lunch bag. “Besides, it’s almost lunch time. I bet you’re hungry, cuz I am!”
Killua moved aside so Gon could come in. He said, “If you wanted to hang out you could’ve just texted me.”
“But that would ruin the surprise,” Gon whined. He slipped off his crocs, wiped his feet and entered Killua’s flat. He made his way in and placed the lunch bag on the counter, removing two sky-blue ceramic lunch containers. They were circular and about the size of a large noodle bowl. Killua peered at them curiously.
“What’s inside?”
“You’ll see!”
Gon unscrewed the lids of each lunch container, releasing a divine aroma which filled Killua’s living room. Killua’s eyes widened in amazement. This was the best thing he’d ever smelled. Judging by the scent, it was-
“Fish soup?” He asked. Gon nodded enthusiastically.
“You’re right! Wow, you’re pretty good. You can tell by the smell.”
“I mean, I have eaten lots of it over the past few weeks. Say, Gon. Why did you decide to bring this here? I mean, it’s not like you HAVE to but-”
“You don’t want it?”
“N-no! That’s not what I mean. I mean, uh-”
Gon smiled and said, “After you told me your story, I couldn’t just sit there and do nothing! So, I thought I’d help you out. It’s the least I could do since you let me stay over for the night.”
Killua was lost for words. The entire time, Killua felt that their friendship was that of circumstance. That just by chance, Gon went from someone in his periphery to a recurring presence in his life. It was then, looking at the open containers of delicious-looking soup, and back at that warm amber gaze, that Killua realized that he had really been looking forward to Gon’s visits. At every ring of the doorbell, his ears were pricked for the sound of his call. It was the same today, despite it being illogical, that Killua hoped it was Gon behind that door.
“...Thanks.” Killua finally spoke. “I’ll go get some cutlery.” With that, he turned and walked briskly toward the kitchen.
Gon couldn’t help but notice the way Killua’s expression changed when he saw the soup. From one of surprise, to quiet reflection. It reminded him of when he first met Killua. The image of a boy with hair white as the moonlight on a cloudless night sky, gazing off into the distance. His friends at the time joked about Killua being a stereotypical moody kid trying to come off aloof and mysterious. Yet, there was something so deeply sad in his eyes that awoke a curiosity in Gon.
Killua returned with two sets of chopsticks and spoons and handed one to Gon, who accepted gratefully. “Let’s eat!” Gon announced. A few moments of silence passed as both boys dug into their food. Just then, Killua put his chopsticks down and stopped eating.
“What’s wrong?” Gon asked gently.
“This soup…” Killua began. His voice sounded choked up. His eyes were wide and watering. “This is it. This is exactly what I was looking for.” He scooped up more fish and shoved a big spoonful into his mouth. “Mmm…”
Gon breathed a sigh of relief and smiled in satisfaction. Thankfully he managed to follow the recipe perfectly. He watched as Killua struggled between wolfing the food down and savouring each mouthful. He cherished this moment. He put his heart and soul into his cooking, the first time since he last cooked for someone else; his family. Gon took a bite of the fish- yep. Exactly the same as he had growing up.
“Heheh, haha!”
“What’s so funny?” Killua said in the middle of mouthfuls.
“Nothing, it’s just that, you look so happy!” Gon exclaimed.
-
After the two of them cleaned out their bowls and did the dishes, Gon sat down next to Killua on the couch. Killua turned to him and asked,
“Where did you get this soup from?”
“Oh, I cooked it myself!” Gon replied cheerily. Killua’s mouth dropped in shock.
“You did?!”
“C’mon, do I look like a guy who can’t cook?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Just kidding! Well, it’s not like I did it from scratch. I followed my aunt’s recipe.”
“I see. So how did you know it was the right one?” Killua asked.
“I didn’t!”
“What.”
Gon shrugged sheepishly. “I just thought, since my Aunt Mito always cooked for me growing up, I’d try recreating one of her recipes. If it wasn’t the right soup, I’d still help you find the right one. But if it was, then great! Actually now that I think about it, she used to run a restaurant here in Yorknew before returning to Whale Island to care for me and Granny Abe.”
Killua smiled. “I guess I’ll have to thank your aunt in person one day. Thank you for doing this Gon.”
“Oh, you’re welcome! Maybe someday we could go visit Whale Island together.”
“Yeah… some day.”
They sat in companionable silence for a while, until Gon broke it by asking, “Hey so, would you like the recipe?” For a moment, Killua looked like a startled cat.
“Oh! Uh, sure… but,”
“But…?”
“I can’t cook.”
…
“You’re a college kid living alone and you don’t know how to cook?” Gon asked in disbelief. Killua’s cheeks pinked in embarrassment.
“It’s not like I didn’t try! I just keep burning everything, or it tastes funny and shit like that.” Killua tried to make excuses while Gon continued laughing his ass off.
“Alright alright… Why don’t I teach you how to cook?” Gon asked, eyes shining bright with glee.
“You just want to see me mess up, don’t you.” Killua deadpanned.
“Nooooooooo….yes.”
As the two carried on with their banter, Killua thought to himself,
At last, I’ve found the taste of home.