Chapter Text
Kurapika woke up early. He’d never been one to linger in bed, so he stretched gently before tossing aside his blanket. He then headed to the bathroom to get ready. Today was the first day of school. In a few hours, he would be starting his senior year at one of the best high schools in all of California. Kurapika looked at himself in the mirror for a moment, staring into his determined blue eyes. In less than a year, he would finally be able to apply to the country’s top universities. Getting into Stanford was his dream. And he was going to give it his all to make it happen! He was determined to get the best grades possible. He would have an excellent application. Yes, he would make it! With that conviction, he got ready methodically. Fortunately, he had already packed most of his things the night before. So he didn’t have much left to do that morning. When he was ready, he went down to the kitchen, where he found Mito making breakfast.
“I’ll help you,” Kurapika said right away.
“Oh no, it’s okay,” Mito smiled. “Sit down. I made you some pancakes.”
“Thanks.”
Kurapika then sat down in one of the chairs and poured himself a glass of orange juice. Mito was really kind to him. And sometimes, Kurapika thought to himself that he didn’t deserve it. These past few years had been so difficult... Kurapika knew he hadn’t been easy to live with. When he’d lost his parents three years ago, he’d taken it very hard. And he’d found no better way to cope than to take it out on Mito, who’d taken him in. Despite her young age, Mito had fulfilled her role as his guardian to the very end. She had accepted him and given him a place to stay. She had treated him the same way she treated Gon, whom she considered her own son. But Kurapika, for his part, had done whatever he wanted at first. He’d shown himself to be truly mean, sometimes even cruel, toward her. He’d eventually calmed down, but he still blamed himself for acting that way toward the person who least deserved it. Now, he was doing everything he could to make her proud. Even though, for him, that would never erase the harm he’d caused her...
When she placed the pancakes on his plate, he smiled at her and thanked her again. Pushing his unpleasant thoughts aside, he began to eat with a hearty appetite. He thought back to the start of the school year. He couldn’t wait to go back to high school. And he wasn’t the only one, by the way, who had been eagerly awaiting this day.
Stomping noisily down the stairs, Gon burst into the kitchen a few minutes later. A broad smile lit up half his face.
“Good morning, Aunt Mito! Good morning, Kurapika!”
He sat down at the table. Mito served him some pancakes before finally joining them. She watched them closely. They couldn’t have been more different from one another. Kurapika ate carefully, while Gon wolfed down his food.
“So, are you all set for your first day?” she asked gently.
“Yeah,” Gon smiled between bites. “But we’ve got to hurry so we don’t get late!”
He seemed more excited than ever. Kurapika smiled, touched by the sight. He knew why Gon was in such a state. It had to be said that the summer vacation had been a very long one for him. Gon hadn’t been able to see his best friend for those two months. Kirua’s parents were very strict, and after yet another of Kirua’s pranks, they had simply decided to ground him for the entire vacation. Fortunately, since they went to the same school, Gon and Kirua would finally be able to see each other again today.
“Take it easy,” Mito laughed. “Take your time and eat properly.”
Gon nodded, but didn’t slow down any. He finished his breakfast well before Kurapika did. He then waited for Kurapika to finish, swinging his legs back and forth. When Kurapika swallowed his last bite, Gon jumped to his feet.
“Wait,” Mito called out, holding him back. “I made your lunches, here you go.”
She handed them bags with their sandwiches and gave Gon two more. He looked at her, confused.
“Those are for Kirua and Aruka,” Mito smiled. “Now go on, get going.”
Gon jumped toward her and kissed her on the cheek.
“Thanks, Aunt Mito! You’re the best!”
With that, he stormed out of the kitchen and hurried up the stairs to grab the rest of his things. Feeling a little more at ease, Kurapika took the time to help Mito put away all the dishes.
“Reassure me and tell me you’ll look out for them,” Mito sighed after a moment.
“Of course,” Kurapika smiled. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”
Still, Kurapika knew that was easier said than done. Gon and Kirua already had a strange knack for getting themselves into trouble very easily when they were alone. So when they were together… Every year, they managed to cause more chaos than the year before. So it was no surprise that Mito was worried. But Kurapika was going to keep an eye on them. She could count on him for that.
After reassuring her, Kurapika went to get his bag, then put on his jacket and shoes, alongside Gon, who was stamping his feet with impatience.
“See you tonight!” Mito said. “Have a great first day!”
They waved goodbye to her before finally leaving the house. The weather was sunny. The leaves on the trees were still bright green. The wind blew through their hair, soft and pleasant. They walked briskly. Gon started talking to him right away, still smiling broadly. He told him all the things he wanted to do with Kirua as soon as he saw him again. Kurapika listened, a slight smile on his lips.
But as they neared the school, Gon grew quieter. He kept looking all around him. Until a loud shout rang out behind them.
“Gon!”
He turned around immediately. He easily spotted Kirua, who was waving vigorously at him, with Aruka by his side. Without hesitation, the two friends ran toward each other. When they reached each other, they embraced without any hesitation. Kurapika smiled gently at the sight. They were so caught up in their own world that Kurapika didn’t want to disturb them. He quickly greeted Kirua and Aruka, wished them a good start to the school year, and then went on his way.
He made his way to the high school entrance and walked at a leisurely pace toward the reception desk. He looked for information to find out which class he was in. He was picking up the documents he needed when a voice spoke up behind him.
“Ah, Kurapika, you’re just in time!”
Kurapika turned around and saw one of the counselors walking toward him.
“Hello, sir. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Yes,” the counselor nodded. “The principal wants to see you. You can go straight to his office.”
Kurapika looked at him, very surprised. The principal wanted to see him? But… why? Kurapika had never been summoned by the principal before. Despite his surprise, he nodded. It couldn’t be anything serious, after all. So he made his way to the principal’s office. He knocked on the door, and as soon as he was given permission, he entered.
The room was far too large. Behind a large desk, the principal was sitting in a chair that looked particularly comfortable. A far cry from the chairs the students had to put up with all day long.
“Good morning, sir,” Kurapika greeted him politely. “Did you ask to see me?”
“Oh, yes, come on in! Have a seat!”
Kurapika sat down across from him, curious to know what the principal wanted. At least the principal seemed relaxed. That was something, at least...
“Kurapika,” the principal continued in a slightly louder voice, “you’re our best student. Your grades are excellent. The teachers have never complained about you. Your record is truly outstanding.”
“Thank you, sir,” replied Kurapika, who didn’t quite see where the principal was going with this.
“This year is more important than ever. You’re planning to apply to top universities, aren’t you?”
“Yes…”
It all seemed logical to him. He surely wasn’t the only student in that situation. It seemed like a trivial reason for a meeting… He had the impression that the principal was beating around the bush instead of getting to the point, which was quite annoying.
“You know that tutoring is also viewed favorably on college applications, right?"
"I suppose so… But we don’t do tutoring here."
"Well, that’s going to change,” the principal declared. “After all, it’s a proven method. And I’d like you to work with one student in particular.”
All right. So that was what he’d been getting at all along. Kurapika stifled a sigh of exasperation. He forced himself to keep a polite tone.
“I don’t know, sir, I’m already going to have a lot of work to do."
"Oh yes, no doubt about it. But going over the material with him will help you understand it better."
“Wait… You want me to tutor a senior?”
Kurapika hadn’t expected to have to tutor someone his own age. Why should he have to do that? Surely the person could afford private lessons, right?
“Exactly,” smiled the principal. “He’s a new student who arrived in the area not long ago. He doesn’t speak our language perfectly yet. So he’ll need constant help until he catches up. You’re the best person for the job. And, of course, I’d be happy to slip a letter of recommendation into your file.”
Kurapika frowned. Who did the principal think he was? He certainly wouldn’t be doing this just for the letter of recommendation. To be honest, he felt a little ashamed now. He’d reacted impulsively, without considering for a single second the possibility that this might be a foreign student. Starting high school in the senior year without knowing the language well couldn’t have been easy. Well. It would take him some time, but the principal wasn’t wrong. At least it would give him a chance to brush up on the material right away.
“All right,” he finally said. “I’ll try to help him.
"Great! Thanks, Kurapika! And if you have any problems at all, don’t hesitate to talk to your teachers. You’ll be allowed to use the classrooms between classes. All right, and now… Oh, he was supposed to be here at eight o’clock!”
The principal glanced at his watch in annoyance. Kurapika winced. So the student he was supposed to help was already late? Well, that was promising. He hoped he wouldn’t have to wait too long. Classes were about to start. Finally, after a few minutes, the office door opened. Kurapika turned and looked at the newcomer. He wasn’t very tall. Dressed entirely in black, he looked like a goth who’d taken a wrong turn. Kurapika had never seen anyone wearing that kind of clothing in everyday life before. He even had a skull on his jacket. Kurapika raised an eyebrow at the sight. Okay, there wasn’t a strict dress code at this school, but still… He then met the other boy’s gaze, framed by his black locks. Cold and bored.
“Ah, there you are!” exclaimed the principal. “I’ll let it slide today, but next time, try to be on time! Let me introduce you to Kurapika. He’s in the same class as you. He’ll help you with your classes and the different aspects of school life. Well, given the time… Kurapika, you’ll explain all that to him later. Head to your classroom!”
Kurapika was clearly annoyed. He was going to have to rush through everything because the new student hadn’t bothered to show up on time. The two of them left the office, and Kurapika headed briskly toward the classroom he’d been assigned. But, remembering that the other boy wasn’t familiar with the high school, he forced himself to slow down. He took a deep breath. Come on, he could at least make an effort.
“Sorry for rushing things,” he said. “But the bell’s going to ring soon.”
With his hands in his pockets, the new student didn’t even answer him. He just shrugged. Kurapika frowned, already sensing that he was going to have a hard time keeping his cool.
“What’s your name, by the way?”
He realized that the principal hadn’t mentioned his name even once. The boy didn’t answer him right away. Kurapika was even wondering if he was going to when he finally spoke up.
“Faitan.”
His soft voice surprised Kurapika. He hadn’t expected him to have that kind of tone at all.
“…Welcome to California, Feitan,” he finally said. “I hope you’ll like it here.”
He smiled at him, still wanting to put him at ease, but Feitan showed no emotion. He remained completely silent. All right, he clearly wasn’t one for small talk. Kurapika gave up trying. He continued on his way to their classroom. Class was about to start in a few minutes. When he entered the room, he spotted Senritsu, his best friend. He smiled at her and walked toward her, then hesitated. He glanced back, but Feitan had already tossed his bag onto the back table without so much as a glance in his direction. With a shrug, Kurapika went over to join his friend. He sat down next to her. Senritsu cast a discreet glance at Feitan.
“Who’s that? Do you know him?
"It’s Feitan,” Kurapika replied in a low voice as the other students filed in one by one. “He just arrived in our country. The principal wants me to help him with his classes. ”
He grimaced at his own words, but Senritsu’s stern gaze made him feel ashamed all over again. After all, it wasn’t Feitan’s fault. He regained a more neutral expression.
“I’m annoyed with the principal,” he then made a point of clarifying. “He asked me to do this at the last minute. He even bribed me by promising to write me a letter of recommendation for college. I can’t stand that.
"I understand where you’re coming from. But coming from him, it’s no surprise.”
Kurapika stifled a laugh. It was true. Ever since he’d taken the job, the principal had never exactly stood out for his kindness or his good judgement. But before Kurapika could say anything else, their homeroom teacher walked into the classroom. Immediately, silence fell. The teacher introduced himself and took attendance. Then he moved on to the important announcements. Kurapika listened carefully. He didn’t want to miss a thing. Then, class finally began.
The morning flew by. When lunchtime rolled around, Kurapika waited for Senritsu to be ready to leave the classroom. But when he walked past Feitan’s desk where Feitan was packing up his things, he stopped. Senritsu gave him an encouraging look.
“Hey, Feitan,” he began. “Would you like to eat with us? I could show you the cafeteria while we’re at it.”
Feitan watched them for a moment with his cold eyes, which unsettled Kurapika a little. Then he nodded. He slung his bag over one shoulder and followed them. Kurapika walked at the head of their strange little group. The cafeteria wasn’t very far away. Kurapika scanned the large room as he entered. He quickly spotted an empty table near a large window overlooking the soccer field. He walked over and sat down in one of the chairs. His gaze drifted out through the window. A lower-grade class was having PE. Kurapika smiled fondly when he recognized Gon and Kirua. They were running all over the place. It was indeed one of the few classes where they had always been very diligent.
Senritsu sat down across from him, while Feitan plopped down beside him. It felt so strange to have a new person with them. Tearing his gaze away from the window, Kurapika forced himself to look at Feitan. Feitan was barely paying any attention to them. He had taken out his meal and was starting to eat. Kurapika and Senritsu exchanged a glance. Kurapika thought to himself that it wouldn’t be very nice not to talk to him. Besides… Even though the boy was already getting on his nerves, he had to admit that he also intrigued him a little. He was so different from the people he usually hung out with.
“Hmm, say, Feitan… So, where are you from?"
“China,” Feitan mumbled.
“Oh, really?” Senritsu exclaimed. “And where exactly?”
Feitan gave her a long look, as if he were judging her.
“…Jinan,” he finally replied.
Silence fell once again. It was clearly not easy to get the conversation started.
“So why did you come here?” Kurapika asked. “Because of your parents’ work?”
“No.”
He didn’t elaborate and continued eating. Kurapika decided not to press the issue. After all, if Feitan didn’t want to talk about it, it wasn’t his problem. It wasn’t really any of his business. The meal then unfolded in a peculiar atmosphere. Senritsu and Kurapika, seeing that Feitan remained silent, eventually ended up talking just the two of them. Once the meal was over, they went out into the courtyard. At that moment, without a word, Feitan walked away from them and settled into a corner. Sitting on the ground, he took a book out of his bag—which looked nothing like a textbook—and immersed himself in it.
“He’s… strange, isn’t he?” Kurapika asked after a while.
“It can’t be easy to arrive from abroad,” Senritsu replied wisely. “Let’s give him some time to adjust.”
“I hope the private lessons won’t be too complicated. Oh, I didn’t even ask him what kind of schedule he wanted. I’ll have to talk to him about it later.”
Kurapika couldn’t help but be annoyed by Feitan’s attitude. Still, he knew Senritsu was right. It couldn’t be easy for him. Kurapika kept glancing at him from time to time throughout their break. Feitan seemed completely lost in his own world, still engrossed in his book. Kurapika wondered what on earth was going on in his head. Up until now, he’d never had much trouble understanding the people around him, but this… This time, he had to admit that this boy was an exception. Anyway, in any case, Feitan had better make an effort because Kurapika certainly wasn’t going to chase after him.
When afternoon classes resumed, Kurapika tried to stay focused solely on the new information he was receiving. Just like in the morning, time flew by. When the last bell of the day rang, Kurapika packed up his things before heading over to Feitan’s desk. Feitan was slipping his black jacket back over his shoulders, paying him no attention whatsoever.
“So, as for private lessons, if you want, we can talk about a schedule.”
Feitan finally looked at him with those cold eyes of his. Kurapika felt, once again, a little unsettled. No one had ever looked at him that way before.
“Not now,” Feitan muttered. “I’m going home.”
Kurapika raised his eyebrows. He hadn’t expected that kind of response. Feitan slung his bag over his shoulder and left the room without looking back. Well, now… He sure had some nerve! Kurapika was doing this for him! He felt anger rising inside him. But when Senritsu placed a soothing hand on his arm, he calmed down a little.
“Give him some time,” Senritsu advised.
Kurapika took a deep breath before nodding. She was right, as always. And anyway, it wasn’t his problem if Feitan wasn’t motivated. With that thought, he left the room as well. Accompanied by Senritsu, he headed toward the school exit. They said goodbye, then went their separate ways. Kurapika then walked to the school exit and waited. A few minutes later, he spotted Gon laughing with Kirua. The two boys caught up to him.
“So?” Kurapika smiled. “Did your first day go well?”
“It was great!” Gon exclaimed.
“It’d be even better if those other idiots weren’t in our class,” Kirua retorted dismissively. “Pff, this sucks. I have to head home now if I don’t want my mom to throw yet another fit. She’s such a pain. Alright, I’m off to meet up with Aruka. See you tomorrow, Gon! See you later, Kurapika!”
Gon waved vigorously at him and waited until he was out of sight before walking away with Kurapika. The two of them then set off. They chatted quietly about their first day. Kurapika wanted to make sure Gon hadn’t gotten into any trouble yet. And when they got home, it was Mito’s turn to put them through a real interrogation.
“The principal asked me to tutor,” Kurapika told them. “He wants me to give private lessons to a student in my class who just arrived in the country.”
“That’s great!” Mito exclaimed enthusiastically. “Where did he live before?”
“In China.”
“You should make the most of it, Kurapika! It’s always very enriching to understand another culture. I’m sure this boy can teach you a lot, too.” ”
She seemed so excited that Kurapika didn’t have the heart to complain about Feitan’s attitude. So he simply nodded. She wasn’t wrong. If Feitan had a different attitude, there could have been a nice exchange between the two of them. But oh well, that’s just how it was...
A few minutes later, Mito left for work at the restaurant. Gon then rushed over to the computer so he could chat with Kirua. Kurapika, meanwhile, decided to go up to his room. He sat down at his desk, enjoying the quiet of the room. He then organized his binders with his various classes and personalized his class journal. After that, he studied his schedule more closely. He had an hour free every Tuesday and Thursday after lunch. That would be perfect for his lessons with Feitan. Assuming, of course, that the other boy was up for it. That guy was weird. Kurapika hoped he’d at least cooperate a little. If not, so be it. He clearly wasn’t going to waste his time on him.
When he was done with his schoolwork, he settled down on his bed. He put his laptop on his lap and watched a Netflix series. The evening passed quietly. At dinnertime, he reheated the food that Mito had kindly prepared for them and ate it with Gon. Gon kept talking to him about Kirua, but it didn’t bother him. Kurapika was relieved to see him smiling like that again. That summer, Gon had really been affected by their separation. So it came as no surprise that he quickly went back to talk to him after dinner. Kurapika, for his part, cleaned up the kitchen before heading back to his room. He resumed watching his Netflix series until it was time to go to sleep. He brushed his teeth, then made a detour to Gon’s room. He had to threaten to cut off the Wi-Fi to get him to finally go to bed. Kurapika then wished him good night before slipping into his own bed.
He fell asleep fairly quickly, and by the next day, he was already well-rested. Just like the day before, he walked to school with Gon. They parted ways a little before reaching the school entrance. Kurapika headed toward his own courtyard, where he spotted Senritsu after a few minutes. He walked over to her and smiled.
“You look tired,” he remarked.
“I’m starting violin lessons again tonight. I practiced all evening and reviewed my music theory. I felt a bit rusty.”
Kurapika chuckled softly. Senritsu could say whatever she wanted, but he knew her skill level. He was convinced she was anything but out of practice. They chatted a bit about music until the bell rang, signaling the start of class. They headed to class. Once seated in his chair, Kurapika watched the other students settle in. Feitan was among the last to enter. Their eyes met for a moment before the shorter boy sat down in the same seat as the day before. Kurapika then forced himself to focus on the blackboard.
When lunch break arrived, he saw that Feitan was walking away without waiting for them. Clearly, he preferred to eat alone on his own. Still… Kurapika felt a little lost. He didn’t know how to react to this kind of behavior. Especially since he needed to talk to him about their private lessons. After finishing his meal, he mustered up his courage and walked over to the table where Feitan was eating alone. Feitan looked up at him with a bored expression.
“We have an hour break after lunch,” Kurapika began. “I suggest we meet in our classroom. We could set up a study plan. And if you already have any questions, you can ask me those, too. Is that okay with you?”
As usual, Feitan didn’t answer him right away. But after a moment, he finally shrugged.
“All right,” said Kurapika, sensing he wouldn’t get any more out of him. “I’ll wait for you in our classroom after recess.”
With that, he walked away to join Senritsu. When lunch break was over, his friend headed to the study hall while Kurapika made his way to the classroom. He hoped Feitan would show up. If he didn’t, Kurapika wouldn’t hesitate to go talk to the principal to put an end to this whole business. But Kurapika was pleasantly surprised when he opened the door and saw that Feitan was already there. He had settled back into his usual seat. Kurapika gave a slight smile and walked over. He pulled out a chair and sat down across from him.
“Well,” he said as he took his things out of his bag, “given our schedule, I suggest we meet every Tuesday and Thursday after lunch. We can also meet for an hour on Monday mornings, since we start later, and on Friday afternoons, since we finish early. Maybe you should write that down, huh?”
Feitan gave him his usual look, without moving a muscle. Kurapika sighed.
“All right, whatever you say,” he muttered. “Okay. Let’s talk about the classes we had yesterday and this morning. Do you have any questions?”
Feitan shook his head.
“Do you want to start our English homework?”
Feitan shrugged noncommittally, as if he didn’t care. This attitude was exasperating Kurapika more and more.
“You can talk, you know!” he hissed grumpily. “It’s not going to kill you.”
Feitan mumbled something Kurapika didn’t understand.
“What?”
Feitan whispered a few words under his breath. Kurapika thought he heard “bad accent” amid all those mumbled words. Kurapika froze. Oh… He hadn’t thought of that at all. He’d assumed Feitan didn’t want to cooperate, but in fact… Kurapika had completely underestimated the language barrier. He felt guilty about his attitude.
“It’s okay,” he reassured him right away. “I mean… If I tried to speak Chinese, it would be a disaster, that’s for sure!”
For the first time, Feitan gave him an amused look. Kurapika relaxed. He really liked that look. It was much more pleasant than his usual coldness.
“And do you understand what I’m saying? Sorry, I hadn’t thought about that at all.”
Feitan watched him for a moment before answering.
“You speak fast.”
“Ah… um… sorry…”
All right, so that was why Feitan sometimes took a while to answer. Kurapika felt completely stupid now. He mentally gave himself a good slap.
“If I’m going too fast,” he continued in a slower tone, “just interrupt me, okay?
"Okay."
“And the same goes if there’s a word you don’t understand.”
Feitan nodded.
“And as for your accent,” Kurapika continued, “you don’t have to worry about it. The more you talk, the better it’ll get! Let’s just start with that.”
Kurapika closed his notebook. Suddenly, he felt much more motivated.
“Let’s just have a simple conversation,” he suggested with a smile.
Feitan didn’t seem convinced. Kurapika tried to put him at ease.
“Let’s go back to the basics. And try to answer me in complete sentences, okay?”
Feitan didn’t answer, but he eventually nodded. Kurapika then began.
“Hello, my name is Kurapika. What’s yours?”
“My name is Feitan,” Feitan replied in his soft voice.
“Nice to meet you, Feitan. How old are you?”
“I’m… seventeen.”
Kurapika nodded and continued asking him basic questions, trying to put him at ease. Feitan did have an accent, but Kurapika understood what he was saying. Even if his sentences were simple, that was the main thing. Plus, it allowed him to hear his soothing voice for longer. It was such a shame that Feitan remained silent so often.
“You’re doing great,” he encouraged him.
“It’s easy,” Feitan muttered. “It’s afterward that… I don’t like it as much.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll take it slow. Anyway, the teachers know your situation; they won’t bother you right away with the oral exam.”
Feitan nodded. Kurapika glanced at his watch. Time was flying by.
“Okay,” he continued. “If you want, I can help you with your homework. We finish early tomorrow, so we can work on it then. I don’t know where you live, but we can also meet up on the weekends if you need to.”
Feitan didn’t answer, and this time, Kurapika sensed that it wasn’t a matter of understanding. He seemed to have withdrawn into himself. Kurapika decided not to press the issue and began explaining the assignment they had to do for English class. Now that Kurapika understood Feitan’s attitude, he felt much more committed to helping him. The atmosphere had changed, too. Feitan seemed less cold. He was even listening to him more attentively. In the end, Kurapika told himself that maybe these tutoring sessions were going well after all...
The days passed quietly. Kurapika managed to establish a routine he enjoyed. His lessons with Feitan were going well. Feitan still wasn’t very talkative, but he was trying his best. However, outside of those lessons, Feitan never spent any time with him. He preferred to keep to himself. He’d read his book without mingling with anyone. No one really dared to approach him, for that matter. It had to be said that Feitan gave off a strange vibe. Not exactly icy anymore, but still a little unsettling.
Kurapika always had a little trouble understanding him. He tried, but Feitan seemed to belong to a completely different world than he did. Yet, when they were in class together for their shared lessons, Kurapika felt a little closer to him. Feitan seemed more approachable then. And Kurapika had to admit that he didn’t mind those moments.
But soon, the school schedule picked up pace. Kurapika sensed that weekday classes would soon no longer be enough. September was now drawing to a close. The wind began to blow harder against the classroom windows. Feitan seemed absorbed by the movement of the trees. It was Friday, and even Kurapika was having trouble staying focused.
“We can stop there,” he finally sighed. “That wasn’t bad. You’re getting better.”
He smiled at him. Feitan turned his gaze toward him and smiled back. Kurapika thought it was such a shame that he couldn’t be like this more often.
“Unfortunately,” he continued, “the teachers are starting to give us more and more homework. I’m going to be studying all day tomorrow. If you want, you can come over. We’ll study together.”
“...At your place? Tomorrow?”
“Yeah. That could be nice. Here...”
Kurapika wrote his address on a scrap of paper and handed it to him. Feitan looked at it for a moment. Then he pouted slightly, clearly not very enthusiastic about the idea. Without answering him, he began to pack up his things.
“I’ll see,” he finally murmured once he was done. “See you later, Kurapika.”
He slung his bag over his shoulders and left the room. Kurapika held back a sigh. Yes, things were clearly better between them, but communication was still very complicated. Kurapika shook his head, then gathered his things as well. He wasn’t going to let it get to him. He had far too much to do for that. So he went home, putting the whole thing out of his mind…
The next day, Kurapika got to work, all the while wondering if Feitan would show up. He found himself waiting for him, despite himself. But the hours ticked by, and Feitan didn’t show up. Kurapika really didn’t know what to make of him anymore. But that wasn’t his problem, strictly speaking. He was doing his best to help him, but Feitan had to do his part. After a while, he managed to stop thinking about the young man altogether and focused solely on his studies.
As the afternoon drew to a close, Gon burst into his room.
“Kurapika, am I bothering you?"
He looked at him with such an innocent expression that it was hard to say yes. So Kurapika shook his head.
“No, go ahead."
"Kirua and I want to go to the arcade. But Aunt Mito doesn’t want us to go by ourselves. Would you mind coming with us?”
Kurapika smiled, amused. Ah, that was a classic. He’d lost count of how many times he’d gone there to keep an eye on them. He glanced at the clock. It was past four o’clock. He’d been working all day; he might as well take a break. So he nodded, much to Gon’s delight.
“Thanks, thanks, thanks, Kurapika! I’ll let Kirua know!”
Kurapika closed his books and left the room. He didn’t mind having to keep an eye on them. He knew full well that those two were capable of wreaking havoc in less than a quarter of an hour. Besides, if he could give Mito a break, he’d be happy to do it. It would take his mind off things, too. He really needed it. He could already feel the tension building up in his back, that wasn’t good.
A few moments later, he and Gon set off. Luckily, the arcade wasn’t very far away; they could walk there. After about twenty minutes, they spotted the building. Gon couldn’t wait to have some fun with Kirua and Kurapika. But as they approached the entrance, Kurapika noticed some suspicious movements in the alley below. One boy in particular caught his attention.
“I’ll let you go in first, Gon,” he muttered. “I need to check something.”
“Okay!”
Eager to rejoin Kirua and not impose himself, Gon stepped into the game room. Kurapika, meanwhile, stepped back a little. His eyes were fixed on the exchange unfolding before him, and especially on that boy. He hadn’t been mistaken. It was indeed Feitan. And he was hanging out with some really shady characters. Kurapika knew these guys all too well, unfortunately. They had a bit of a reputation around here. They were dangerous men. They loved causing trouble wherever they went. They even spread terror in certain neighborhoods. They were clearly not good people. So why was Feitan hanging out with them? Kurapika felt his stomach churn. They weren’t giving Feitan any trouble. Clearly, they were talking among themselves without any tension. So Feitan had fit right in with this group. But why? When there were so many nice people at school who would be more than willing to talk to him, why did he prefer to hang out with this kind of crowd? Kurapika felt uneasy. The group gave off a bad vibe. And Feitan… Feitan seemed to get along well with them…
After a while, Kurapika decided to look away. It wasn’t worth continuing to watch them. He went inside to join Gon. And, unsurprisingly, he found Kirua there as well. He watched the two boys play various arcade games, trying to stay calm. But it was hard. If there was one thing he couldn’t stand, it was this… The jerks who were causing trouble all around them. He was starting to feel angrier and angrier. Kirua and Gon must have sensed it because they both chose to give him some space rather than invite him to join them. Kurapika was grateful to them for that.
He didn't enjoy his evening at all. Too many bad memories were flooding back. He thought about his parents, about how they had died. He kept dwelling on everything he knew about those scumbags Feitan was hanging out with. They were thieves who could get violent. Kurapika just wanted to go punch them in the face! Still, he stayed in the arcade. He forced himself to watch Gon and Kirua. And, slowly, he managed to calm down a little. Toward the end, he even managed to join them for a round of car racing. He wasn’t very good at it, but at least it helped him relax.
But when he finally stepped out of the arcade, his gaze immediately turned toward the alley. The group was gone. Good. Still, the sight of that deserted alley was enough to reignite his anger. It took hold of his whole body. He clenched his fists. No. He couldn’t let that emotion take such control over him anymore. So he walked away with Kirua and Gon. And as soon as he got home, he collapsed onto his bed. He really wasn’t feeling well. When he closed his eyes, he saw his parents’ bodies again. It was ridiculous. He shouldn’t let himself get so worked up. These guys had nothing to do with what had happened to them. And yet… and yet, it still reminded him of all those horrors… Kurapika shook his head. He did his best to push all his memories aside. He wanted to enjoy the rest of his weekend without thinking about them. And he would do whatever it took to make that happen.
Thanks to his steely resolve, Kurapika managed to have a good Sunday. But on Monday morning, as he was leaving early for high school for his private lesson, he quickly became annoyed. Just knowing that he would soon see Feitan again was enough to make his anger boil up inside him once more. To make matters worse, Feitan had the misfortune of arriving late. That was all Kurapika needed to lose his temper.
“You’re just now showing up?! I’ve been waiting for you for ten minutes!”
“The bus was late,” Feitan replied in his soft voice.
“Oh, come on, that’s a cheap excuse! Do you think I enjoy sitting around waiting like this? I’ve got better things to do!”
Faitan’s eyes fixed on him with an icy glare. But Kurapika refused to be intimidated. He was truly angry.
“Sit down, now, so we can finally get started!”
Faitan slumped into the chair across from him. The atmosphere was clearly frosty. Kurapika tossed his English textbook onto the table, and Feitan flinched.
“If you don’t want to, I’m leaving,” he hissed.
“No, but if you’re not motivated to learn, don’t waste my time!” Kurapika retorted. “It’s just like this past weekend! Do you even realize I waited for you?”
“I didn’t say I was coming. I was busy.”
“Oh yeah, with what? Hanging out with a bunch of jerks?!”
Feitan looked at him, his eyes betraying no emotion.
“My business,” he murmured after a moment. “Not yours.”
“Yes, it is my business. Because I don’t want to hang out with a criminal. Do you even know what they do? This isn’t a joke! They hurt people!”
Feitan shrugged, clearly unconcerned. Kurapika couldn’t believe his eyes.
“How can you be so indifferent?! Doesn’t the misery and suffering of others move you at all?!”
Kurapika felt beside himself. How could anyone act like that? How could anyone... break into a house and... and kill all its occupants just... just like that?! This was serious... It wasn’t a game... It was...
“...It’s normal,” Feitan replied. “It’s a habit.”
“A habit? How can that become a habit?”
Feitan shrugged again. He seemed very relaxed, as if it didn’t affect him at all.
“My neighborhood in China. That’s how it was. My father was killed by a gang. ”
There was no emotion in his voice. But his words were enough to stop Kurapika in his tracks. He blinked, surprised. He could never have imagined that. It was just… horrifying…
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
He hesitated for a few seconds before continuing.
“Is that why you left China? I mean, you don’t have to tell me if it’s too personal, of course!”
Feitan didn’t answer right away. Kurapika realized he’d spoken too quickly again.
“Yes,” he finally said. “My mother wanted us to. For safety. And she has family here.”
Feitan seemed completely detached from all of this, but Kurapika wondered if that was really true. He felt bad. He’d gotten carried away without knowing anything about Feitan’s past. Thinking about it, he told himself that it must already be hard to be forced to leave one’s country, but if it was under such circumstances on top of that...
“But why are you hanging out with them, then? I don’t get it.”
“Some of them speak Chinese,” Feitan replied as if that explained everything. “And they know the city well.”
Kurapika watched him for a moment. He realized he knew nothing about Feitan. But something made him want to reach out to him. Even though Feitan gave off a bad vibe too, Kurapika wanted to believe he wasn’t like those guys. That he could still stay on the right path. And, without really knowing why, Kurapika wanted to help him do just that.
“I know the city well, too,” he said. “I could show it to you if you want.”
All right, Kurapika suspected that wasn’t what Feitan was after. No doubt Feitan mainly wanted to know the best ways to commit crimes. But Kurapika thought he might be able to show him something else. Seeing that Feitan wasn’t answering, he continued.
“What do you like to do?”
Feitan thought for a moment.
“Playing games."
“All right,” Kurapika smiled. “Then I’ve got a proposal for you. If you get at least a B on Wednesday’s English test, I’ll take you to the arcade next Saturday, and we’ll play as many games as you want.”
Feitan’s eyes began to twinkle mischievously. Kurapika felt his heart skip a beat for a moment at the sight. But he quickly regained control of his emotions.
“Okay.”
They had a deal. For the first time since he’d met him, Kurapika felt like they were on the same page. He still couldn’t stand the idea of Feitan hanging out with people like that. But he told himself that if he gave him a good alternative, then maybe… maybe Feitan would make the right choices.
With that thought in mind, Kurapika began the lesson. Feitan listened to him. He even seemed much more attentive than he had been the last few times, finally asking several questions. Kurapika smiled to himself. Clearly, he had found a way to fully capture Feitan’s attention. And he had no intention of letting it slip away anytime soon...