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Gon, Kurapika, and [Y/N] have finally reached the gates to Phase 2.

"Looks like we made it in time," Kurapika said in relief as the trio began to look around for Leorio. [Y/N] halted in her steps when she felt someone watching her. She turned around and saw Riley and Hisoka, smiling as if nothing had happened. Hisoka lifted his long finger to point to the left and [Y/N] followed the finger and saw Leorio sitting under a tree. [Y/N] and her friends hurried over to their wounded friend.

"Man, that stings...Why am I all beat up?" Leorio wondered out loud, confessing he had no memory about what happened.

"Let's not tell him what happened," Kurapika whispered to Gon and [Y/N], who nodded in agreement.

"Gon!" A voice called out which turned out to be Killua. "I can't believe you actually got here. I thought you were done for!"

"I just followed Leorio's cologne!" Gon exclaimed.

"Cologne!? That's how? You're weird, Gon," Killua said with a deadpan expression.

"Excellent work everyone." This grabbed everyone's attention as they looked at Satotz. "Phase Two will begin after you cross the border of this gate. I shall take my leave now. Best of luck to you all," And with that he took off, disappearing from everyone's sight.

The towering gate split into two doors sliding open for the applicants to see what is inside. It is revealed to be a mansion with a sprawling garden that is set up for cooking. A woman's voice came from the inside, inviting the applicants to enter. They were greeted with the presence of two examiners, a green-haired woman with a rather revealing outfit, and a gargantuan man in a yellow top.

"Welcome all! I'm Menchi, your examiner for the second phase!" The woman greeted with a youthful voice.

"And likewise, I'm Buhara." The massive man added. All of a sudden an echoing growl emitted from Buhara's empty stomach.

"You must be hungry," Menchi said, looking up at the other examiner.

"I'm starving!" Buhara whined.

Menchi stood up from her seat to announce the next task, "There you have it. Phase Two will be....cooking!"

"Wait! Cooking? We're here to take the Hunter's Exam!" One of the applicants complained.

"That's right. Your challenge for the Second Phase is to produce a dish that will satisfy both of us." Menchi explained.

"And why do we have to cook!?"

"That is because we're Gourmet Hunters!" Menchi proudly answered.

Once hearing that, most of the applicants burst into laughter.

"Man, what a let down,"

"They're Gourmet Hunters,"

Menchi narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed.

"So Gourmet Hunters, what are we supposed to make?" The same applicant asked, his voice clearly mocking them.

Menchi sent him a glare before calling out Buhara's name. He stood up and announced the task, "Today's required ingredient will be pork!"

"Pork? As in pig meat?"

"Feel free to use any species of meat within Visca Forest. You must use the cooking facilities to prepare the pork. You only pass if we both find it delicious." Buhara explained.

"We will also evaluate more than just the taste, don't underestimate the intricacies of cooking. Got it?" Menchi asked, glaring at them. "When we've both eaten our fill, the exam is over,"

"We get it. We get it. Let's just start already!"

"Then, the Second exam's Phase," Buhara lifted his hand and slammed it against his stomach as if it were a gong, "Begins now!"

The applicants took off in a run.

'If I remember correctly the forest should have-' [Y/N]'s thoughts were interrupted when she felt someone grab her wrist. The female looked up to see Kurapika.

"What are you gazing for? We have to go!" [Y/N] just gave a nod and let him drag her towards the forest with her friends. The group went into the forest to track down the pigs.

"Catch a pig and cook it. This is way easier than the First Phase." Leorio commented.

"I hope it's that simple," Kurapika muttered. Gon then skidded down a hill, Killua following suit.

"I suppose we follow suit?" [Y/N] questioned.

"I guess we don't have a choice..." Leorio sighed as he slid down the slope, Kurapika simply shrugged followed him, and [Y/N] just sigh inwardly before sliding down the slope on her feet. When she came to a stop, the group stared at a certain animal.

'The Big Stamp, the species that live in this forest.' [Y/N] thought. The pigs have a very huge body and huge nose, very sharp teeth and they seem to be eaten...bones.

"Uhh...they're chewing bones..." Leorio pointed out with a worrisome tone.

"Don't tell me..." Kurapika muttered, "They're carnivores!?"

One of the large pigs spotted them and snorted loudly in a defensive manner. Leorio screamed as the group ran away from the horde of angry pigs. The applicants were confused at first before they screamed when they noticed the pigs were chasing the group.

"THESE PIGS ARE CRAZY!" Leorio screamed.

"The Great Stamp," [Y/N] calmly spoke up, "The most ferocious pigs in the world. Using their large noses to attack their enemies,"

"How the hell can you be so calm!?" Leorio yelled at her.

"Take that!" [Y/N] watches Todo carrying a large boulder twice his size and throws it at the pig, but the pig just uses its nose to deflect the attack. Heck, even Hanzo used his shuriken on them, but the nose just blocks it.

'Hm. Then the only way to defeat them is...' [Y/N] thought as she jumped up high in the air, raised her sheathed katana, and slammed her katana on the forehead of the pig, knocking it unconscious. Everyone stared at her in awe as she just landed on the pig.

"So their forehead is their weakness?" Killua observed.

"Achilles heels. These types of pigs evolve large strong noses to protect their weak forehead. Use your weapons to hit them on their forehead." [Y/N] lectured. The rest of the applicants took her advice as they succeeded since they brought many boars back, much to the examiners' surprise.

[Y/N] went over to her station, picked up her chef knife, and started slicing the pig. Cooking is one of [Y/N]'s specialties. She starts taking out the bones, organs, and blood then cuts off the loin as her main dish. She rubbed the garlic mixture and sprinkled the meat with rosemary salt. Since she knew how to cook pork she just let the fire roast the pork as she just watches Menchi fail each applicant.

"No one has passed yet," Leorio pointed out.

"And Menchi hasn't taken a bite yet..." Kurapika added.

"Seriously? Can't anyone out there make something that'll satisfy me?" Menchi cried out, waving her pass or fail stick above her head.

Kurapika snapped his fingers as he discovered something, "That's it! The second phase is a cooking test, but they're judging us based on originality and observation,"

'That's half true,' [Y/N] thought to herself.

Leorio and Gon placed their fingers under their chin as if they understood what Kurapika meant. And with that, Leorio presented his dish with a Hunter Flag on the meat. Menchi snapped as she started to yell how it looked like a kid's meal.

Gon...well uh, his roasted pork was decorated with flowers which ticked off Menchi even more. She yelled at him saying that it was the same as Leorio's dish.

Kurapika took a different approach. His dish is like a meat sandwich because in between the meat were vegetables. Menchi was amused by his dish as she took a bite of the food, she then started yelling that the food is disgusting.

"Presentation is important, but not at the expense of the flavor," Menchi advised Kurapika. To make matters worse, Menchi put Kurapika and Leorio on the same level, taking a major blow at the blonde's ego. Ouch.

"I'm next," [Y/N] placed her dish on the table,

'This girl..' Menchi narrowed her eyes as she smirked, "I guess someone here actually knows how to cook. The pig's texture is perfect but a bit overcooked, but I'll let it pass." She then takes a bite on the pork as the female just stands there, already knowing what the results are.

"As expected from a member of [L/N] clan," [Y/N]'s eyes widened in surprise, "Don't look too shook. You probably don't remember but I've visited your clan before and tasted their food..." Menchi softly smiled as she recalled the memory, "It was delicious." Menchi then slid the food to Buhara who happily ate it.

"Menchi..." [Y/N] breathed out.

Menchi stood up, placed her hands on [Y/N]'s shoulders, and announced, "I'm stuffed! Therefore no one passes except for #406! We're finished here!"

"EH!?"

"Seriously!? Only one passes!?"

"It's over?"

"What the hell?"

"Are you serious?"

"Oi! This isn't funny!"

They then heard noises from afar who had destroyed his station out of anger.

"I won't accept it..! I refuse to accept this!" Todo angrily yelled.

"In the end, you all still failed," Menchi simply stated.

"Stop screwing around! You asked for pork, so we risked our li-"

"I said prepare pork in a manner where we both found it delicious." Menchi cut him off as she sent him a glare. "None of you made anything remotely except her. You all almost did the same thing. There was no effort made. Right when I thought someone tried, they only changed the appearance. No one emphasized the flavor, I'm positive none of you took cooking seriously!" She then patted [Y/N]'s back as she continued, "#406 here, she did everything to satisfy me. She roasted it well, emphasizing the flavor and appearance. Therefore she got every right to pass,"

"Pork dishes are all the same..." Oh boy Hanzo, what have you summoned. Once Menchi heard that she straight up snapped at him. She started yelling at him how she would pretty much beat him to a pulp. Once she's done yelling she plops herself back on the couch.

"You people don't have the guts to try anything new, besides from #406."

"Shut up!" Todo snapped, "I'm not trying to cook for a gourmet...I want to become a Hunter!" Then everyone joined in, except for [Y/N]'s friends, and started chanting "Yeah!"

"My goal is to become a blacklist Hunter, I refuse to let a Gourmet Hunter decide my fate!" Todo furiously yelled.

Menchi growled at him then looked over to [Y/N], "Hey, kid. What's your goal?" She asked out of nowhere.

[Y/N] blinked at her in surprise before answering, "A Blacklist Hunter,"

Menchi nodded her head before looking back at Todo, "Too bad you got stuck with a mere Gourmet Hunter as an examiner this year." She sarcastically sneered, "Apparently, this girl has more potential than you to become a blacklist hunter. Better luck next year."

Of course, that pisses Todo greatly, "Why you..! Don't mock me!" He then tries to attack her only for Buhara to retaliate against him by knocking him off.

"Buhara, don't interfere," Menchi said.

"Well...if I haven't interfered, you'd kill him, right?" Buhara asked.

"Probably," Menchi answered as she stood up. She then started to juggle her knives as she was walking down the stairs. "Let me clarify something. We frequently venture into dens of numerous creatures, searching for ingredients. Every Hunter knows the same form of martial arts, you lack focus and the willingness to experiment. That alone disqualifies every one of you from becoming Hunters!"

Everyone remained silent after hearing Menchi's lecture until a sound was heard out of nowhere.

"That said, it would be excessive to fail every single applicant except for one," They all look up to see a large blimp with the Hunter's Association emblem on the side. A figure jumped out of the blimp and landed gracefully.

"W-Who's that geezer?" Someone in the crowd questioned.

"The chairman of the selection committee," Menchi informed, stepping forward to face the man, "He's in charge of the Hunter's Exam, Chairman Netero."

"Well, I work behind the scenes. I only take action with issues that involve intrusion, like now," He continued, looking at the female with a nonchalant expression, "So, Menchi-kun, you failed all applicants except one because you disapproved of their reluctance to try new things?"

"No," She answered unhesitantly and truthfully, "I lost my cool when one of the applicants insulted Gourmet Hunters and I made the exam harder than necessary,"

"In other words, you're aware that this exam was unacceptable,"

"Yes, sir. When cooking is involved, I tend to lose control. I'm unqualified to be an examiner. I will resign as an examiner, so please redo the Second Phase!"

[Y/N] let out a soft sigh in relief, 'Kurapipka and the others now have a second chance,'

"But it would be difficult to find another examiner on a short notice,"

"I apologize,"

"Very well, how about this? I'd like for you to continue as an examiner but you also must participate in the new test you propose. You to #406."

"Yes, sir," [Y/N] gave a nod.

"Is that acceptable?" Netero asked, "I'm certain that will help the applicants to accept results,"

Menchi smiled, a new determined look on her face, "That's true... The new challenge will be boiled eggs.

Of course, whispers broke out.

Menchi simply ignored them, "Chairman, can you take us to Mt Split-in-Half in your airship?" Menchi inquired.

"I see what you're doing," He mused, causing the applicants to feel nervous, "Certainly I can!"

The applicants boarded the ship and eventually made it to the mountain with a straight line down the middle. The applicants hop off the ship and take a peek down the ravine. [Y/N] picked up a few rocks before letting them drop down into the ravine.

'That's quite a drop,' [Y/N] thought.

"Now everyone.. Look over there," Menchi said.

"W-What is that?" Someone asked.

"A Spider Eagle Web," [Y/N] answered.

"They build webs down there?" Gon questioned, staring at the egg with Killua by his side. All of a sudden [Y/N] felt the wind rushing past them.

"Look below the web," [Y/N] pointed her finger at the webs, "Spider Eagle Eggs, also known as 'Dream Eggs.' They build their webs deep in ravines, to protect their eggs from predators. This makes their eggs hard to obtain." She informed.

"I'm impressed. You sure know a lot of things," Menchi praised the girl.

"I have to know everything if I want to become a Hunter," [Y/N] simply said while shrugging.

"W-Wait... You don't mean..." One of the contestants mumbled in fear.

"I sure do!" Menchi replied. She jumped off of the edge of the ravine. She caught herself with the webs and hung there before dropping below.

"Is she trying to kill herself!?" Leorio exclaimed.

"No she's not," Both Kurapika and [Y/N] said in unison.

"Oi, don't do that! It's weird..." Both [Y/N] and Kurapika look at Leorio, tilted their head at the same time, and asked, "Do what?" Leorio just shivered at the creepiness.

Suddenly an updraft lifts Menchi up.

"That looks fun," KIllua commented.

"This ravine has updrafts that help the hatched chicks fly up the web," Netero explained as Menchi landed on the ground, showing the egg that she grabbed.

"There. Now you just have to boil the egg." Menchi said, like that stunt that she did was nothing.

"Y-You must be joking...No reasonable person would jump down there..." Todo muttered, shaking his head.

"I've been waiting for something like this!" Gon announced enthusiastically. [Y/N] and her friends jump off the cliff, not even fazed by the height. An overzealous applicant decides to drop before the right time.

"Let's go," Right when Leorio is going to drop, Gon stops him.

"Not yet," Gon stated.

"Why not?" Leorio asked.

"No wind," [Y/N] answered, "There isn't always an updraft."

"So, when's the next one?" Leorio impatiently asked.

[Y/N] closes her eyes, silencing everything out. Everyone turns their attention to the female, waiting for her to say when the next updraft is going to occur. The web suddenly shook, shocking Leorio.

"The web won't hold us all!" Kurapika exclaimed. Some applicants drop themselves off of the string of anxiety.

"[Y/N], not yet?" Killua asked the girl who was still concentrating. [Y/N] picked up the wind's noise and snapped her eyes open.

"Now!" They obeyed her orders and released their grip, grabbing an egg, and getting carried upwards by the updraft.

"And the rest of you?" Menchi asked, looking at the rest of the applicants who didn't even dare to jump off. "I guess you quit,"

"It takes courage to concede, too," Netero added.

After that, they all boiled their dream eggs and feast upon it. [Y/N] sits down ready to eat on her boiled egg when she spots Kurapika walking over.

"Mind if I sit here?" He shyly asks. [Y/N] just blinks at him before a soft smile curves upon her lips.

"Don't mind," She responded before taking a bite of her egg. Kurapika smiles at the girl. Whenever she lets out a smile, his stomach always flutters with butterflies by the sight. He didn't know why he felt that way, but he hoped he could obtain an answer.

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