Hunter X Hunter : The Boundary

Chapter 12: Plans

The rain fell, a fine and continuous whisper. Outside the window, water dripped from the eaves onto the bluestone bricks, a dense, pattering rhythm. Inside, the scent of herbs hung in the air.

For the past four days, Ryan's life had been a cycle of gauze, iodine, and warm water.

The gash on his left arm had scabbed over, but a slight tear in the underlying fascia meant high-load movements were still impossible. His mother was a constant presence, changing his dressing three times a day, her face a mask of worry.

"If I had just turned back sooner..." his father had murmured on the second night, his voice low. It was the first time Ryan had ever heard true self-reproach from him.

Ryan had simply looked at his father. "It wasn't your fault," he'd said, his voice calm and even. "You didn't see it. I did."

His words carried no blame, no complaint. He stated it as a simple fact, like explaining the answer to a math problem. His mother's eyes had reddened, and she'd turned away to hide her tears.

They were finding it increasingly difficult to explain their son's behavior with his age. He didn't cry or fuss. He comforted them. It wasn't precociousness; it was a conscious choice to reciprocate their concern with emotional stability, to not add to their burden.

However, just because one was in pain did not mean progress would stagnate. Ryan completely restructured his training, shifting from dynamic bursts to static control. His new morning routine was threefold:

First, single-hand grip strength, primarily with his right hand, cycling through sets with the goal of maintaining a ninety-second contraction.

Second, a pain tolerance. He would alternate warm and cold towels on his uninjured arm, using meditation to try and compress his body's pain-response window.

Third, consciousness. He continued his fifteen minutes of meditation, but now attempted to "transfer" his sensory focus, detaching it from the injured arm and projecting it to his ankle or his shoulder, testing his ability to mobilize his attention.

He dedicated the rest of his time to a module he'd long planned: Hunter World Knowledge.

His father, seeing his restlessness, had given him a stack of old newspapers and public reports from the northern port, Heavens Arena, and the Hunter Association's periphery—old work archives stored in a box.

"Think you can understand this stuff?" his father had asked.

"I want to know about the outside world," Ryan had replied.

His father had hesitated, then pushed the pile over. "Don't strain your eyes."

On a brittle, yellowed page, Ryan found a paragraph that made him freeze.

"The C-rank Hunter group 'Wind Eye' mentioned in their report... that unregistered Nen flow traces exist in a certain area... This area is currently marked as a gray zone by the Association."

He was surprised that the term "Nen," appeared. It confirmed his hypothesis: Nen wasn't an absolute secret, but a phenomenon subject to layered, bureaucratic control.

He divided a notebook into two columns. On the left: a Progress Chart. On the right: Hunter Common Knowledge. He wasn't just aspiring to be a Hunter. He was building the cognitive foundation for it. Knowledge was a way to make his goal real.

A few days later, the rain stopped. Ryan's arm could be lifted without pain. His recuperation had been his quietest, most introspective period yet.

The framework of the Hunter World became clearer in his notebook: the annual exam, the secret locations, the multifaceted tests, and the immense power of a Hunter License.

He posed a question to himself: If I took the Hunter Exam now, at which stage would I be eliminated?

The answer was immediate: I might pass the initial physical screening. However, I would be eliminated in a test of combat or ability.

The conclusion, however, didn't discourage him. It gave him more motivation.

On the last page of the notebook, he drew a flow chart.

Target: Hunter Exam

Target Age for Exam: 12

Current Age: 6

Remaining Period: 6 years

Tasks:

Years 1-2: Complete body strengthening. (Target: Surpass baseline adult combat fitness).

Years 3-4: Perceive Nen. (Target: Initial aura perception, construct a Ten-like state).

Years 5-6: Tactical cognition and combat style construction. (Target: Develop a complete combat response and run simulated practical exercises).

He looked at the six-year plan, a sense of purpose settling over him. He was no longer just someone who knew the future. He was a someone charting his own course with absolute clarity.

Outside his room, his mother watched him, a familiar worry creasing her brow. Her son seemed to be drifting further and further away from childhood. He was disciplined, sensible, and never caused trouble.

"Don't you think he's different? Could our child be autistic?" she asked her husband.

He scratched his head. "He's quite something, sure— but look at him. A kid like that, these days... it's a blessing."

"It's a blessing," she agreed quietly. "and... it's heartbreaking."

A few days later, Ryan's training resumed— but the first thing he did wasn't lift weights.

He took his old gloves, carefully re-sewed the seams, and added an extra layer of fabric to the palms. He was preparing for the next phase of intensity.

The countdown had begun.