Quasar stepped into the blimp's dining hall, her boots barely making a sound against the smooth, polished floor. The room was spacious, lined with its long tables and chairs bolted to the floor. Large windows stretched along the walls, offering a view of the endless sky as the blimp drifted through the clouds. Overhead lights cast a bright glow, and the faint hum of the engines was a constant background noise.
Her eyes immediately darted to the far end of the room, where a serving table displayed trays of food. A dull ache gnawed at her stomach as the smell of warm bread and roasted meat filled her senses. After days with her meager supplies and drinking only water, her body practically screamed for sustenance.
She approached the counter, scanning the options. Her eyes landed on a tray piled with roasted chicken legs, steamed vegetables, and bread rolls. She grabbed a tray and loaded it quickly, adding a bowl of stew and a small pile of fruit at the end.
Sliding into one of the empty tables, Quasar exhaled heavily, her shoulders ached from days of tension, and the bruises and scrapes along her body throbbed faintly beneath her clothes. She ignored it, grabbing one of the chicken legs and biting into it without hesitation. The warm juices hit her tongue, and she nearly groaned in relief as she chewed.
She ate quickly, her focus entirely on the food in front of her. The bread roll was soft and buttery, the stew thick and savory. It was enough to momentarily drown out the exhaustion pressing down on her.
Halfway through her meal, a sudden crackle from the blimp's intercom system made her freeze mid-bite. The voice that followed was recognizable, Beans.
"I have an announcement for all applicants. The chairman wishes to interview the remaining candidates. When your number is called, please come to the first reception room, on the second floor. Then, we will start with #44, Hisoka."
Quasar swallowed hard, lowering the chicken leg as her thoughts churned. She leaned back in her chair, the edge of the table pressing lightly against her ribs as she stared down at the half-eaten tray of food in front of her. Her fingers tapped idly against the smooth surface, her mind wandering despite her efforts to keep it silent.
The announcement replayed in her head like an echo that wouldn't fade. An interview?
Her brows furrowed, and her gaze drifted toward the cafeteria entrance. What kind of interview required the chairman to personally oversee it? The entire exam had been grueling, testing their physical and mental endurance, but this sounded different.
Was it another test?
The thought lingered, sharp and persistent. The Hunter Exam was brutal—she knew that by now—but there was something unsettling about this. The phrasing alone was enough to put her on edge. An interview. It implied judgment. Evaluation. They'd been fighting tooth and nail for survival, and now they were expected to just... sit and talk?
Her eyes narrowed slightly as unease coiled in her stomach. Was this about their performance? The kills?
Her mind flashed back to the bodies she'd left behind—the man in the tower, the others on the island—and she swallowed against the sudden dryness in her throat. Would they question her about that? Would they test her further, try to dig into her reasons?
She forced herself to breathe, pressing her palms flat against the table to steady herself. No—if it was about the kills, then almost everyone here had something to explain. It wasn't just her.
But that didn't ease the tension pulling at her shoulders.
Her thoughts turned briefly to Hisoka. He was first, and if anyone had a questionable performance worth scrutinizing, it was him. She couldn't imagine the chairman—or anyone, for that matter—being able to rattle him, though. Hisoka wasn't the kind to let anyone get under his skin. If anything, he'd probably enjoy the opportunity to toy with whoever was asking the questions.
![Toyed [hisokaxreader] by regatoni](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/238686246-80-k376782.jpg)
Quasar huffed quietly, leaning her elbows on the table and resting her chin against her knuckles. She wasn't sure if that thought was comforting or not.
What if they ask about Zetsu? About Nen?
Her heart skipped at that. She'd only just started to scratch the surface of it—she barely understood it herself. And if they were going to prod into what she could or couldn't do, she had no idea what to expect.
She rubbed at her temples, it could be anything. Another game, another layer to this exam that she hadn't anticipated.
What was the point of an interview now, after everything they'd already endured?
Pushing those thoughts aside, she finished the rest of her meal more slowly, savoring every bite despite her inner turmoil. If this was the last chance to eat before another trial, she wasn't going to waste it.
Once her tray was empty, she reluctantly, she pushed herself up from the table, gathered her tray, and set it aside before heading toward the hallway. Her boots echoed faintly against the floor as she walked, her steps slower than usual. As much as she wanted to prepare herself for whatever awaited, the fatigue weighed heavier with each step.
At the very least, her stomach was full now. That was something.
Quasar sank onto one of the benches that lined the hallway, the cushioned seat did little to ease the ache in her muscles, but she leaned back anyway, letting her head tilt against the cool glass of the window behind her.
The blimp hummed softly, its massive frame floating high above the world below. Through the window, rolling forests stretched far into the horizon, breaking occasionally into patches of grasslands and glimmering rivers that twisted like veins across the earth.
Her fingers fidgeted at the hem of her sleeve as her eyes followed the passing view before movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention.
Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika stood near a bench at the other end of the hall, their voices low but animated. Gon's usual excitement was there, his hands moving in quick arcs as he spoke. Leorio leaned against the back of the bench with his arms crossed, throwing in comments with his characteristic bluntness. Kurapika stood upright, calm and poised, his eyes scanning the scenery through the window.
Quasar hesitated. They weren't really friends. Not yet. But she wanted them to be. Despite not knowing them before the exam, they'd fought through the same trials, struggled through the same exhaustion and hunger. And even if it wasn't spoken aloud, a quiet understanding had formed between them. She clung to that.
Taking a breath, she pushed herself up and approached them. Gon spotted her first, his face brightening immediately.
"Quasar!" he called, waving her over.
She managed a small smile and stepped closer, her hands sliding into her jacket pockets. "Hey."
Leorio grinned. "You survived the island," he said, leaning off the bench to face her.
"Barely," she admitted, her tone lighter than she felt. "But yeah. I made it."
Kurapika's gaze lingered on her for a moment before he gave a slight nod. "You look...worn out."
Quasar let out a short breath that could've been a laugh. "That obvious?" She pulled at her sleeve, revealing faint scrapes and bruises along her forearm before quickly covering them again. "I'm intact. That's enough."
"Looks can be deceiving," Leorio muttered, his tone dropping.
Gon tilted his head at her, his bright eyes suddenly more serious. "You don't seem okay," he said. "Are you?"
