The sun was high, casting golden streaks across the pavement as Killua and Gon walked briskly down the street, their laughter bouncing between buildings. Gon was animated, arms waving as he recounted something ridiculous from earlier, and Killua—grinning, relaxed—was too caught up in the moment to notice the figure standing directly in his path.

Thud.

He collided hard, stumbling back and landing on the ground with a muttered curse. “Tch—dammit…”

Killua’s eyes flashed with irritation as he pushed himself up, brushing dust from his clothes. “Hey, watch where you’re going, id—”

And then he looked up.

And everything stopped.

The words died in his throat.

Standing before him was a girl bathed in light—her silhouette framed by the sun, her golden eyes wide with surprise, her pale skin glowing like porcelain. Her hair shimmered softly in the breeze, and her expression held a quiet grace that made the world around her blur.

Killua stared.

His anger dissolved instantly, replaced by something unfamiliar. Something electric.

His heart skipped.

No—plunged.

He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. All he could do was take her in, every detail etched into his mind like a painting he never wanted to forget. Her presence was magnetic, pulling him in with a force stronger than any fight, any thrill, any danger he’d ever known.

Gon blinked beside him, confused. “Killua?”

But Killua didn’t answer.

Because in that moment, he knew.

This wasn’t just attraction.

This was everything.

And all he could think was: I need to know her name.