The crowd of Potential Hunters was diverse, strong, and buzzing with anticipation.
All Potential Hunters: "YEAH!!!!!!!!!"
Arayuki: "Ow, my ears!"
Haruka: "*Patting his back* Oooh, that might've been a fright for you."
Natsuya/Akira: "Here it comes!"
Lee: "THE CHOSEN HUNTERS ARE… MIN TAE-GYU, JANG SAE-JU, KIM WOO-JI, OH DONG-GU, WANG GAE-BOK, JUNG DO-BUL!"
Chosen Hunters: "LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!!"
Min Tae-Gyu: "TAKE THAT! WE'RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO WIPE EVERY REALM!"
Jung Do-Bul: "WE WILL BE THE STRONGEST!!!"
Natsuya/Akira: "NO!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Haruka: "*Gently patting their backs* Next time works better. Let's return until June."
Arayuki: "Wait… there are two more. Didn't I tell you when we were buying the sodas?"
All Except Arayuki: "Ohhhhh! Sorry, we were busy with that."
Natsuya/Akira: "Hopefully… we two will be accepted."
Lee: "THE LAST TWO HUNTERS… ARE…"
Natsuya/Akira: "Please!!!!!!"
Lee: "AKIRA KITAMURA!!"
Akira: "*Jumping with joy* YES!!! YEAH!!! I TOLD YOU! IT WAS GUARANTEED!!!!"
Lee: "The last selected hunter is…"
Natsuya: "Yes… Come on…"
Lee: "...LEE HAE-JUN!"
Natsuya: *Whimpering, Shocked* Oh..."
Natsuya dropped to his knees, then to the ground, overwhelmed by tears.
All Except Natsuya: "It's okay, man. You'll get another opportunity!"
Administrator Lee: "Thank you all for participating! Those not chosen, we appreciate your effort. Only a few could be selected—this is a strict corporation."
Akira: "Not everyone can be accepted. You were strong, and that counts."
Natsuya: "*Sobbing* This can't be… I tried my best on the application!"
Haruka: "Look, if you want to feel better, I didn't want to be one of them either. Natsuya, you'll find a job that suits you. Or you can support Akira and Arayuki until you get another chance. Calm down—learn from this, even if it hurts."
Natsuya: "My resume is nothing but fast-food jobs! The application was my only shot! Miseong City… no one else will help recover it!"
Akira: "Don't worry. Arayuki and I will handle it. We'll do it for you!"
Arayuki: "We'll fight even if it kills us. Don't face this alone. At our strength, we need friends."
Akira: "Yeah… you weren't lucky. I'm sorry."
Natsuya clenched his fists, eyes shutting tight. Memories of the application, the hopes, the anticipation—all collided. He opened his eyes, tears threatening again, a new fire stirring.
Natsuya: "LUCKY??? WHY LUCKY?! THIS CORPORATION TAKES THE STRONGEST HEROES! THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE HERE!"
Akira: "Calm down, Natsuya. The corporation seems to pick randomly at times. That doesn't make you weak or a failure."
Arayuki: "Don't let rejection control you. We've faced it plenty of times. This corporation? You can apply again in a few months. It's not the end."
Natsuya: "THEN THIS CORPORATION IS FAKE! THEY CHOOSE RANDOM, WEAK HUNTERS WHO COULD DIE ANYWAY! SO AS Y—"
Arayuki: gritting teeth "Don't doubt your friends. If you do, we may all die. Stop it. I know this corporation better than you do."
Natsuya: "*Calming slightly* I… I know. Sorry. I guess… I have time to hone my skills."
Arayuki: "It's fine. We'll help you get ready."
Haruka: "See? Feeling better already. You can always ask us for support."
Natsuya: "Yeah… that sounds good."
Arayuki: "We have time. We'll train until June with no pressure. If it doesn't work, we'll handle it later. I need to introduce Akira to the corporation first. I'll message you once it's done. You message us if needed."
Natsuya: "Okay… see you!"
Arayuki/Akira: "*Waving* Bye! Oh, hold the weapons we bought until we message you. Take care!"
Natsuya: "I will! You too!"
Akira and Arayuki walked to the corporation entrance alongside the selected hunters. Excited, Akira explored his first hunter experience; Arayuki guided him flawlessly.
Natsuya and Haruka walked home.
Haruka: "Feeling better?"
Natsuya: "Y-yeah. Thanks for asking."
Haruka: "Always here for my friends, including you."
Natsuya: "Sometimes I show unpredictable emotions… sorry if I startled you."
Haruka: "All good. Anger's normal after rejection. I've been there worse."
Natsuya: "Worse? How?"
Haruka: "Once I argued with my dad about him being mad at me for not taking out the trash. I got grounded… cried, even tried to break my wrist because of finals. And the high school shut down anyway. Screw the demons."
Natsuya: "That's rough. I missed studying because I had to rush to Delaware to see my grandparents."
Haruka: "Lucky… I never had vacation time. I've always wanted to go to Japan, but tickets are crazy expensive."
Natsuya: "Japan's great—been twice. Food's amazing. Korea's better, though. Had one bad restaurant experience with my family; we only had a card, got kicked out."
Haruka: "Yikes… thanks for the heads-up!"
Natsuya: "*Smiling* You can always count on me."
Haruka: "I know. I wish you the best next application round."
Natsuya: "Thanks! You should try being a hunter too!"
Haruka: "Nah, I'll pass. Too risky."
Natsuya: "I joined to reclaim this world. There's something stronger behind it, I feel it."
Haruka: "I just want to stop all conflicts—wars, protests, riots. Our goals align, just different approaches."
Natsuya: "That's a solid goal. Ending chaos, breaking unseen chains… someday we'll succeed."
Haruka: "Yeah. Anyway, my parents messaged me. I have to go. See you tomorrow!"
Natsuya: "See ya!"
Haruka departed, and Natsuya headed home, sighing.
Natsuya: "Rejection… why does it always find me?"