The ferry horn blew a long, mournful note as it approached the small harbor of Whale Island. Compared to the bustling ports he'd seen on the mainland, this was a haven of tranquility. Colorful fishing boats bobbed gently in the clear water, their reflections dancing on the surface. Quaint houses with red-tiled roofs lined the shore, smoke curling lazily from their chimneys. The air smelled of salt and the sweet scent of wildflowers.
Stepping off the ferry was a young boy who looked to be around twelve or thirteen, with a sheathed katana strapped securely across his back. In a place where the most dangerous weapon was likely a fishing knife, the sight was striking. He wore practical travel trousers and a high-collared tunic, a green cloak draped over his shoulders, but it was the sword that drew the eye.
Kess walked through the small village. The islanders he passed – fishermen mending nets, women tending their gardens – couldn't help but stare. Their gazes flickered between his young face and the weapon he carried with such apparent ease. Whispers followed him like the seagulls overhead. He followed the main path until he found a modest building with a sign that simply read "Inn." He went inside to secure a room.
The next day, as he explored the island, he noticed a young girl, who looked to be around his age, often observing him. He saw her perched in a fig tree, her gaze curious, and later near the beach, her attention fixed on him. There was a spark of youthful inquisitiveness in her eyes.
One evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant hues, he sat on a large rock overlooking the western shore, the sheathed katana resting beside him. He sensed someone approaching and turned to see the same young girl. She walked towards him with a mix of shyness and determination.
"Hello," she said, her voice a little breathless.
He studied her for a moment, her expression a mixture of shyness and bold curiosity. "Hello," he replied, his voice quiet but steady. "Kess Kobayashi. And you are?"
"Mito Freecss," she replied, a slight blush rising on her cheeks. "Everyone's been talking about you… the boy with the sword."
A faint smile touched his lips. "Well, Kess Kobayashi, the boy with the sword, at your service," he said with a slight inclination of his head. "Mito Freecss," he thought, the name resonating with a quiet significance. "Gon's future guardian. A steady presence in his life. I should be mindful of this encounter." "And yes," he glanced down at the katana, "I suppose it's not every day you see someone my age carrying one of these around here."
"It's… cool," Mito admitted, a hint of awe in her voice. "Are you a… a warrior?"
He hesitated for a moment. "Something like that," he said finally. "I'm a Hunter."
"A Hunter!" Mito exclaimed, her eyes widening with genuine interest. "Like the ones in the stories? Who travel the world and find amazing things?"
"Sometimes," Kess said. He looked out at the sunset again. "It's a way to see the world, to learn, to become stronger."
"I want to see the world someday," Mito said, her voice filled with longing. "This island… it's beautiful, but it's so small."
"The world is vast," Kess agreed. "Full of wonders and dangers." He turned back to her. "Being a Hunter… it's not always easy, but it can be rewarding. You mentioned wanting to see the world. Have you ever thought about becoming a Hunter yourself, Mito?"
Mito's eyes widened further at the question. "Me? A Hunter? I don't know… it sounds exciting, but it also sounds really hard."
"It is challenging," Kess acknowledged. "But it's also a path that opens up many possibilities."
The days that followed settled into a comfortable rhythm. Kess found himself spending a significant portion of his time with Mito. What began as a polite acknowledgment of a curious islander blossomed into an unexpected camaraderie. He hadn't anticipated forming any connections here, his focus solely on observing and preparing for the future. Yet, Mito's genuine interest and unpretentious nature drew him in.
They explored the island together. Mito, despite her young age, knew every hidden cove, every winding path through the lush interior, every local legend whispered by the older residents. She showed him the best fishing spots (though Kess confessed his patience for angling was limited), the hidden tide pools teeming with strange and fascinating creatures, and the ancient, gnarled trees that stood sentinel on the island's highest peaks.
As they spent time together, Kess couldn't help but notice the striking similarities between Mito and the image he held of a young Gon. They shared the same unwavering stubbornness, a refusal to back down once their interest was piqued. They possessed an insatiable, almost childlike curiosity about the world around them, their eyes wide with wonder at the simplest of discoveries – a uniquely shaped seashell, a bird with vibrant plumage, the intricate patterns on a butterfly's wings. Mito's questions were endless. Kess answered them all with a patience he hadn't known he possessed, carefully filtering his responses to avoid revealing too much of his past or the future he knew awaited them.
He found himself genuinely liking her company. There was an honesty and a straightforwardness to Mito that he found refreshing. Her laughter was infectious, her enthusiasm boundless. He hadn't expected to forge a genuine connection here, on this small island that held such significance for the future.
One sunny afternoon, they were sitting on the familiar rock overlooking the western shore, the gentle sea breeze carrying the scent of salt and blooming jasmine. Mito, who had been peppering him with questions about his travels, suddenly paused, her brow furrowed in thought.
"Kess," she began, her gaze serious. "You said you're a Hunter. What kind of Hunter are you?"
Kess hesitated. It was a question he hadn't fully answered even to himself. "That's… a good question, Mito," he admitted, looking out at the horizon. "To be honest, I'm still figuring that out. There are many paths a Hunter can take."
Mito considered his answer for a moment, her gaze thoughtful. Then, with the same straightforwardness he had come to expect and admire, she offered her own surprisingly pragmatic perspective.
"Well," she said, tilting her head slightly, "if you haven't decided yet, why not just earn a lot of money first?"
Kess turned to her, surprised by the simplicity and unexpected wisdom of her suggestion. "Earn a lot of money?" he repeated, a slight furrow in his brow.
"Yeah!" Mito exclaimed, her enthusiasm returning. "Think about it. If you have tons of money, you can do anything you want! You could travel anywhere, study anything, become any kind of Hunter you want without having to worry about how to pay for it!" Her eyes sparkled at the thought.
Kess stared at her, the idea turning over in his mind. It was so simple, so logical, yet it hadn't occurred to him in quite this way. He had focused on the power and freedom that came with being a Hunter, but the direct link between financial wealth and the ability to pursue any Hunter specialization hadn't been his primary focus.
But Mito's words resonated with a surprising clarity. With significant wealth, he wouldn't be limited by resources. He could fund his training, travel to find the best instructors, and ultimately choose his Hunter path based on his passion, not his financial needs.
A slow smile spread across Kess's face. "A Money Hunter?" he said aloud, the words feeling surprisingly right. "Huh…"
He looked at Mito, a newfound appreciation in his eyes. For someone so young, her perspective was remarkably insightful. He had been so caught up in his own plans that he had overlooked such a straightforward and practical approach.
"That… that actually makes a lot of sense, Mito," he admitted, nodding slowly. "With enough money, the possibilities really are endless." He found himself even more favorably inclined towards this bright, perceptive young girl. Her simple suggestion had unlocked a new way of looking at his future, a path that combined his skills as a Hunter with the tangible power of wealth.
He paused, a thought occurring to him. "Freecss… that's an interesting last name," Kess said later, after they had spent more time together, his tone casual. "Have you ever met any other Hunters with that name? I seem to recall hearing of a rather… well-known Hunter with a similar name." He was curious about what she thinks of Ging.
Mito's expression shifted, a hint of pride entering her voice. "Well, my cousin is a Hunter. His name is Ging Freecss. Do you know him?"
Outwardly, he kept his expression neutral, a slight curiosity playing on his lips. "Ging Freecss," Kess repeated slowly, as if considering the name. "Yes, I believe I have heard that name before. He's supposed to be quite… remarkable, isn't he?"
"He is!" Mito said, her chest puffing out slightly with familial pride. "He's an amazing Hunter. He travels all over the world, finding the most incredible things. He hasn't been back to the island in a long time, though. He's always busy with his adventures." A hint of wistfulness entered her voice.
Kess nodded, absorbing this information. "You mentioned wanting to see the world someday, Mito," Kess said, turning the conversation back to her aspirations. "The path of a Hunter, while challenging, is one way to achieve that. Have you ever seriously considered becoming one?"
Mito's expression became thoughtful, a flicker of internal conflict in her eyes. "I don't know," she admitted, her gaze drifting towards the familiar horizon. "Part of me loves it here. It's safe, and I know everyone. But… the stories you tell, the things Ging does… it sounds so exciting. Like there's a whole world out there waiting to be discovered. But leaving… it feels scary too."
Kess watched her internal struggle, recognizing the universal pull between comfort and the unknown. "It's a big decision," he acknowledged gently. "It requires dedication and a willingness to face the unpredictable. But if you were truly interested," he paused, a thought forming in his mind, an impulse to perhaps nudge this pivotal character onto a different path, "I wouldn't mind staying on the island a bit longer. I could… perhaps share some of what I've learned. Train you, if you are serious about it."
Mito's head snapped up, her brown eyes widening with a sudden, intense light. The indecision that had clouded her face vanished as if it had never been. "Really? You'd do that?" Her voice was filled with an eagerness that surprised even Kess.
"If you're serious," he reiterated, trying to maintain a neutral expression despite the unexpected swiftness of her decision.
"Yes!" Mito exclaimed, her earlier reservations completely forgotten. "Yes, I want to! I want to learn about the world and become strong like you and… and Ging!" Her enthusiasm was infectious, a bright spark of youthful determination.
Kess felt a surge of surprise at the speed of her transformation. One moment she was uncertain, the next she was radiating unwavering resolve. He fought back a sudden urge to grin, a chuckle bubbling up inside him. This was… unexpected.
"Alright then, Mito Freecss," Kess said, a small, genuine smile finally gracing his lips. "Looks like we have a plan."
As the last rays of the setting sun painted the sky in fiery hues, Kess found himself staring out at the ocean, a slow, almost mischievous grin spreading across his face. He couldn't help but wonder about the ramifications of this seemingly small decision. A Hunter Mito? How would that alter Gon's upbringing? Would she still be there to care for him in the same way? The potential deviations from the established timeline, the possible ripple effects on the entire course of events… it was a tantalizing, slightly terrifying prospect. A grin that bore a striking resemblance to the "troll face" from his past life stretched across his features. "Well," he thought, a spark of chaotic curiosity igniting within him, "let's see what happens."