The Two-Choice Test

Port Dalle

Port Dalle is as lively as expected—a mix of travelers, merchants, and locals filling the air with the chatter of business and adventure. Leorio let out a low whistle as he scanned the city, hands on his hips.

"So this is Port Dalle, huh? Look at all these people... They also want to go to Zaban," he said, taking in the sight of the towering buildings and bustling streets.

Raiyo, on the other hand, barely acknowledged the scenery. His fingers absentmindedly brushed over the locket around his neck, he tucked both hands into his pockets, and his golden eyes scan the area, lazily, half-lidded, observing but uninterested.

"Most are likely to cross our path," Kurapika says.

As they move deeper into the city, they find themselves standing in front of a massive map. Gon tilts his head, studying it carefully. "The captain told us to go up the hill." He points toward the long path leading into the distance.

Leorio Frowns. "I'm not sure, gon. You see it? Zaban City is marked on the map, it's impossible not to notice. Why would we go up there knowing that it's the opposite way? Our best chance is to take the express bus to Zaban City." 

"I'm going up the hill. If you ask me, waiting for the bus is a waste of time," Gon says without hesitation.

Raiyo understands instantly. "Yeah, that makes sense," he says, agreeing with Gon.

Leorio groans. "Oh, come on! Not you, too!"

Raiyo shrugs. "That's where I'm going to go. You can take the bus if you want."

Leorio grumbles under his breath, but gon is already leading the way. Raiyo and Kurapika follow.

The street stretches out before them, absurdly long, the kill at the far end looking more like an unreachable dream.

Raiyo stops walking.

Then, without a word, he collapses onto the pavement, lying face down.

"I don't want to do this anymore," He mutters into the ground.

Gon, without hesitation, grabs Raiyo's foot and starts dragging him down the street. Raiyo doesn't resist, letting himself slide along like a ragdoll, his hoodie bunching up slightly as he's pulled along. The occasional bump in the road jolts him, but otherwise, he remains completely still.

Leorio, walking beside them, throws his hands up. "Gon, seriously, just take the bus! This is stupid!"

Gon doesn't acknowledge him. He just keeps dragging Raiyo, who is now gazing up at the sky as if contemplating life itself. Raiyo notices movement beside him and turns his head slightly. Kurapika is walking right next to him, matching his speed.

Kurapika raises an eyebrow. "Why don't you just get up and walk?"

"I don't want to."

"...I see."

After a pause, Raiyo lazily asks, "Where did the old man go?"

Kurapika glances back. "He went to the bus stop."

Raiyo suddenly chuckles. "Idiot."

Kurapika frowns. "Why do you say that?"

Gon slows down slightly, clearly curious as well. "Yeah, why?"

Raiyo sighs dramatically, as if explaining is the most exhausting thing in the world. "It's obvious. This is where the real test starts. The buses we saw before all had signs for different cities, but none of them ever mentioned Zaban City, even though the drivers told people they were going there."

Gon gasps. "Raiyo, you're a genius!"

Raiyo smirks slightly, accepting the praise without argument.

Before they can continue, Leorio's voice echoes from behind them. "WAIT FOR ME!"

The three turn to see Leorio running at full speed, his arms flailing, his face red with frustration. Raiyo bursts out laughing at his weird running form. "Why do you run like that?" he asks, genuinely amused.

Leorio ignores him and catches up, panting.

__

The four continue their journey, eventually stepping into a narrow alleyway.

Leorio looks around. "What a creepy and dirty place. And there is not a soul around."

"There's a lot of people here," Raiyo tells the group, looking at Leorio.

Kurapika suddenly tenses. "Yes, stay alert."

"Hey!? How do you know?"

"I can hear them breathing nearby," Kurapika mutters.

Raiyo lets out a long yawn, clearly unimpressed. He starts walking ahead without a care in the world.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" Leorio hisses, but he and the others still follow him.

Raiyo rounds a corner and stops. There, blocking their path, is a large group of masked people. Their outfits are uniform, their masks eerily plain.

In front of them stands an old woman, hunched over slightly, leaning on a wooden cane with a purple bulb at the top. She smiles, her wrinkled face full of mischief.

"It is time," she announces, her voice ringing through the alley. "For the exciting and overwhelming… TWO-CHOICE TEST!"

Raiyo stares at her, then slowly turns his head toward the others. "Who gave her the script?"

Leorio rubs his temples. "I already hate this."

"You four... are heading for that pine tree, right? You are going to have to go through this town to get to that. The other paths are like a maze that cross the abode of ferocious magical beasts."

"That doesn't sound too bad..." Raiyo mutters.

"I will ask you one question... And you'll only have 5 seconds to respond. If the answer is wrong, you fail. And none of you will get a Hunter s license this year."

"Hmm," Leorio sounds.

"I see, so this is another test to reach the Hunter Exam." Kurapika nods.

"Answer either with answer 1 or answer 2. If you dare say something else, however cunning, you will fail." The old lady says.

"Hang on a minute; is it a single question for all three of us? And if Kurapika is wrong, because of him I fail?!" Leorio points at Kurapika with his eyebrows raised.

"It is more likely that the one who will fail is you," Kurapika claps back.

"But that also means that only one of us has to get it right for all three of us to pass." Gon sticks his finger up.

"Oh, that makes sense too."

"Hey! You gonna hurry up or what?" A voice behind the four could be heard.

Raiyo looks behind him to see a weird look guy who seems a bit too cocky.

"Well, if you don't feel so sure, do you mind if I go first? Heh, heh, sorry, Kidd, I overheard the conversation between you and your sailor friend."

"What's that got to do with literally anything?" Raiyo sighs.

"So what's the deal?" The old lady asks.

"I'll go first." He tells her.

"Here's the question. Some bandits have kidnapped your mother and the love of your life. You can only save one. 1, your mother. 2 the love of your life. Who do you choose?" She asks the weird-looking guy.

Heh... Raiyo thinks as he listens to the question.

"1!" He tells her.

"What's your reason?"

The guy shrugs. "I only have one mother in the world... But I can always find another lover."

The old lady turns and talks with the group of people with masks on.

A minute passes, and they open up the path down the road for him.

"You may go." She tells him.

"You've gotta be kidding! What kind of test is this?! You crazy hag!!" Leorio yells to his fullest.

"There is no correct answer to that kind of question and there's never been one!! All you examiners are a bunch of phonies!! And i've had enough. I'm going back!! I'm gonna take a different route!" 

"Hmph, you're already too late. If you choose not to answer, you'll be disqualified. You'll lose your chance to be a hunter." The lady tells him.

Just as she says this Raiyo hears a scream in the distance, he looks around to see nobody else noticed it. 

Raiyo's senses have heightened ever since he has been able to use his Aura more easily, so he could hear it very well.

Looking around one more time he sees kurapika who looks at him. 

The two silently know that they've figured out the answer.

But as Raiyo looks at Leorio and Gon, they still haven't figured it out.

"Leorio!" Kurapika yells.

"What?! Do you intend to continue with this whole charade?" 

"Hey you-" Raiyo begins but is interrupted.

"Wait! I will not allow you to say another word. I will not allow any unnessecary speech from now on. Now answer!" The lady yells.

"Here's the question. Your son and daughter have been kidnapped by a bunch of bandits, but you can only save one of them. 1 your daughter. 2 your son. Who would you rescue?" She asks.

As she begins to count down.

"5."

Raiyo looks around as everyone is quiet.

"4."

Leorio clenches his fists, his face red with frustration as the old lady begins counting down. "3." She says, her voice calm but firm.Leorio's rage boils over. He grabs the nearest wooden plank, his grip tightening around it. "2." the old lady continues, unbothered by his aggression. Without thinking, he charges forward, swinging the plank straight at her."1."

Just before the strike lands, Kurapika moves in one swift motion, intercepting the attack with his long wooden nunchaku. The impact of the weapons sends a dull echo through the alleyway.

BEEP

"Times... up..." she says

"What are you doing?!" Leorio shouts, glaring at Kurapika.

Before he can react further, Raiyo moves like a shadow. With a lazy but precise motion, he grabs Leorio by the arm and flips him upside down.

"Wha—?!" Leorio barely has time to process what's happening before he crashes onto the ground with a loud thud.

Raiyo effortlessly pins Leorio's arms behind his back, keeping him restrained as he yawns. "Why are you guys stopping me?!" Leorio yells, struggling against Raiyo's grip.

"I'm gonna take this old hag's head to the exam site! I'm gonna bring her head and give the judges a piece of my mind!! A Hunter?! You can go shove it. The world is better without such a bullshit system!!"

Kurapika exhales, shaking his head. "Are you going to throw away this chance?" he explains calmly.

"?!Huh?" Leorio eyes widen

"We answered correctly, Leorio," Kurapika says.

"The answer is shutting up," Raiyo tells him.

Making Leorio, open his mouth in surprise.

"You said it so yourself; there can't possibly be a correct answer. You were right. There is no correct answer to this test, but the rule is you can only answer 1 or 2. So you can't say anything at all. There's only silence," Kurapika says Ah, " and he puts a finger to his lips.

"But that guy just now!" Leorio points in the distance, referring to the guy who answered.

"They didn't say he was right. They only said he could go. Just a moment ago, I heard a scream. He probably was attacked by a magical beast. In other words, this is not the correct path." Kurapika says.

"That's right." The old lady nods. Leaving Leorio dumbfounded.

"The true path is this way. It's a straightforward path, so you'll reach he top in about 2 hours." She tells the four.

"Old lady... I'm sorry..." Leorio says.

"No, there's nothing for you to be sorry about. I do this job to meet people like you. Work hard. I wish for you to become a good hunter," she smiles.

"Thank you..."

"Phew... I can't do it!" Gon says with his arms folded.

"I can't come up with an answer!" Gon smiles.

Raiyo stares at him for a second, as well as the other two before laughing.

"What? Were you still thinking about it? It's over now." Leorio says.

"Huh? Why?" Gon asks.

"The test is already over."

"I know that. But if there ever really comes a situation where we have to choose between two people who are precious to us... what would you do?" Gon asks, making everyone go silent.

"Neither one is the correct answer... But there might come a day.. when we must make a decision."

Raiyo looks at him for a second. "Mmm... I don't know..."