Hunter x Hunter: Guiding Shadows

Another night of sparring with Jake had come to an end. Orin had improved. He could now weave fluently between Jake's spear strikes, reading the movements better. While he had yet to beat Jake even once, their fights were growing tougher.

"It's summer again. It's going to start again," Jake said after the spar, his tone unusually somber.

Stretching his body, Orin didn't look up as he asked, "What's going to start?"

"Filtering," Jake replied simply.

That got Orin's attention. He glanced at Jake, noting the melancholy in his friend's usually bright expression. Jake rarely spoke of anything serious during their nightly sparring—most of their conversations were about Heaven's Arena fights, Ezek's losses in betting, or general gossip. This was different.

"What's the filtering?" Orin pressed, though he had a nagging suspicion. Mafia families were not known for their generosity, especially toward children like them.

"You'll know tomorrow," Jake said, brushing off the question. Then, he added softly, "Rest well tonight, Orin. You'll need it."

Without another word, Jake left, lost in thought. Orin lingered, curiosity gnawing at him, but he decided to heed Jake's advice. Crawling into bed, he drifted off, uneasily anticipating the morning.

----------------------------------------------------

Morning came quickly. Jake's cryptic words still echoed in Orin's head as he made his way to the dojo. He went through his stretches and conditioning exercises on autopilot, his mind preoccupied.

Something felt off. By now, Ezek's booming voice should have been echoing through the hall—his curses and scoldings were as much a part of the routine as their punches and kicks. But there was only silence.

Orin scanned the room. Ezek was nowhere to be seen. The man was many things—sadistic, brutal, and petty—but punctuality was one of his few virtues. His absence made Orin uneasy.

Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor. Ezek entered the room, followed by another man. The newcomer's presence was commanding—he wore a tailored suit, his golden hair slicked back, and his sharp blue eyes scanned the recruits with an air of practiced authority.

The recruits froze mid-practice, their movements halting as the man's gaze swept over them. It wasn't just his aura of confidence that made them stop—it was Ezek's uncharacteristic deference. The usually brash trainer stood a step behind the man, his head slightly bowed.

The man's lips curled into a smile. "You've trained them well, Ezek," he said, his voice smooth but laced with an edge.

"Thank you, boss," Ezek replied, his tone stiff but polite.

"File up, you lot!" Ezek barked, snapping back to his usual demeanor.

The children scrambled to line up. Orin took his place among them, studying the stranger with growing curiosity.

"I am Jonathan Clemence," the man began, his voice calm but powerful enough to command attention. "I trust you are all satisfied with the life the Clemence family has provided you."

The recruits nodded, some muttering timid affirmations.

Jonathan sat down in a chair that had been placed in the hall, his posture relaxed yet imposing. "Many of you came here as orphans, struggling for scraps. Others were sold to us by desperate parents. And a few of you, I suspect, came here with ambition." His eyes flicked briefly to where Jake stood, and Orin didn't miss the subtle tension in his friend's posture.

"The Clemence family took you in. Fed you, clothed you, trained you. Made you into fighters," Jonathan continued, his voice taking on a sharper edge. "And now it's time to repay that debt."

The recruits murmured nervously.

"Grateful children know to prove their worth," Jonathan said, his tone turning almost predatory. "Starting today, you'll have the chance to do just that. We've arranged a trial. Only the best among you will have the privilege of serving the Clemence family."

His words hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Ezek stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension. "You heard the boss. Follow me. Now!"

The recruits filed out after Ezek, their steps heavy with apprehension. Orin trailed behind, his mind racing. So this was the filtering Jake had mentioned.