Kurapika's Reminiscences

Against a dark forest backdrop alive with swirling multicolored particles and glowing mist, two figures stand centered in the frame. An older Kurapika with shoulder-length blond hair wears a blue-and-gold traditional outfit and stands protectively behind a much younger Kurapika dressed in matching attire. The child version clutches the front of the older one's robe, both gazing forward with solemn expressions. Large red text on the left reads "THE DISTANT PAST REFLECTED IN THESE EYES...". Above them the Hunter × Hunter logo dominates the top, with Japanese text "ハンター" and the subtitle "KURAPIKA'S REMINISCENCES" to the right. The bottom right credits the author "TOGASHI YOSHIHIRO" in both Japanese and English. A small starburst note at the very top announces the first installment of a special movie-adaptation-linked one-shot with color opening.

Killua's face fills the top panel, eyes wide and mouth open in surprise as motion lines radiate outward. He exclaims that discussions are suddenly breaking down and demands to know why not. In the next panel a close-up shows an elderly bearded man with a stern, wrinkled expression glaring forward, motion lines emphasizing his intensity as he declares that it is the rule. The bottom panel reveals a wider view inside an ornate wooden building with carved pillars and archways. The old man sits cross-legged on a cushion at a low table, pipe in hand, while Killua stands opposite him. The old man insists Killua is just a child who should not speak as if he knows everything and that a rule is a rule that needs no reason. Killua leans forward and challenges whether any rational basis exists for such a rule, to which the old man replies that is not a reason.

Young Kurapika stares with wide, furious eyes, sweat and motion lines emphasizing his agitation. A large jagged speech bubble erupts: "A RULE THAT CAN'T EVEN PERSUADE A CHILD IS MEANINGLESS, ISN'T IT!" Another declares, "THERE'S NO WAY I CAN ACCEPT THAT!" From the shadows an unseen speaker calls "KURAPIKA." Kurapika shouts back, "WHY DON'T I JUST DO WHAT I WANT, THEN!?" An older bearded man with a stern expression points and retorts, "WE ARE DONE TALKING. GO HOME!" The bearded elder looms large in the next panel, fist clenched, warning, "BUT IF YOU BREAK THE RULE, IT'S YOUR FAMILY LEFT BEHIND THAT RECEIVES THE PUNISHMENT, YOU KNOW?" He continues, "IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, THEN GO AHEAD." A smaller panel shows the elder's face close, adding, "IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT, THEN I HAVE NOTHING MORE TO SAY." The scene shifts to a forest clearing at dusk where a large ornate mushroom-shaped house stands among twisted trees. Two figures walk away from the viewer toward the house while distant children play; one of them yells, "STUPID GEEZER!"

Two boys with spiky and curly hair discuss the village while standing with their backs to the viewer. One says, "IT'S A TERRIBLE PLACE WITH DISCRIMINATION AND PREJUDICE, ISN'T IT?" The other asks, "DOES HE REALLY WANT TO SEE IT THAT MUCH? THE 'OUTSIDE WORLD.'" A girl carrying a basket of round fruits replies, "IT'S LIKE THIS EVERY DAY." Beside her another girl adds, "HE'S AT IT AGAIN. KURAPIKA JUST DOESN'T LEARN." Two boys note, "THOUGH THERE ARE NO BETTER PLACES THAN RIGHT HERE." and "WHEN HE GROWS UP, HE'LL BE ABLE TO GET PERMISSION." The view widens to a lush forest path lined with flowers and giant trees. A large winged creature walks in the distance while a duck-like bird stands near a massive trunk. In the foreground Kurapika and a younger girl sit on a patterned mat eating from bowls. Text boxes state, "I HAVE NEVER" and "SEEN THE WORLD OUTSIDE."

High above a dense forest and rugged mountains, winged creatures soar through the sky. Text boxes declare that leaving the forest is the gravest infraction that can be committed, and that no one knows what kind of punishment there is for breaking this rule. No one has ever broken it, after all. Below, two boys stand together on a forest path. The boy with the headband and dark hair looks forward with a serious expression while his companion in the ornate black-and-white outfit smiles confidently. A small inset panel shows a surprised girl and the name "PAIRO." In the woods, the headband boy suddenly shouts with determination, "I'M GOING TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD RIGHT NOW! FOR SURE!" His friend reacts with alarm, exclaiming "NO WAY!" and "SHOULDN'T YOU GIVE UP ALREADY?" A sound effect "KUMYAKU!!" punctuates the moment as they stand amid the trees and a winding stream.

The conversation continues in the forest clearing. Pairo explains he does not want to cause trouble for his family and that his eyes and legs are weaker than everyone else's, but he still considers going outside. The headband boy wonders why there is a rule like that. In another panel, Pairo insists he won't teach any outside language to kids and that one must be an adult to take the test to go outside. A dark panel shows the headband boy's intense profile. Later, the headband boy excitedly says he heard people in the outside world are different, while Pairo notes his eyes are scarlet. The headband boy reacts with shock, exclaiming "WHAT?" as a large "!?" appears in the sky above the treetops.

Kurapika sits with a serious expression as he explains the clan's unique trait. 'Which is why Uncle Mizeril, Chikita-san, and other people from the outside that entered the clan... their eyes don't turn red even when they're angry.' He continues, 'It's only us in the Kurta clan whose eyes become red when we're excited.' In a flashback, young Kurapika lies on the ground speaking to a friend. 'He said it was really supposed to be a secret, but he told me anyway. Why there was such a rule.' The friend replies, 'I tried asking my father, as well.' 'Yup.' 'Really!?' Young Kurapika looks worried and explains further, 'Which is why only 'adults' that can keep this secret are able to go outside. People in the outside world discriminate against those different from themselves, and treat them badly.' Later, young Kurapika sits alone on a rock muttering 'Tsk, tsk.' A small figure runs off into the forest calling 'See you later!' Another child turns and asks 'Kura-pika?' with a surprised '!!'

A massive explosion erupts from a tree as a figure is blasted backward. A determined young boy leaps high through the air with intense focus and motion lines. The scene shifts to a peaceful forest village with round huts and villagers going about daily life. Narration reads, 'To me, this was the entire world. The 128 of us and this rich, beautiful forest. Until a year ago... when I meet Sheila.'

In a swirling forest clearing, Alluka lies sprawled on the ground in a bulky spacesuit-like outfit, her pigtails with heart clips visible as she speaks in an unknown tongue. Gon and Killua stand nearby, watching with concern. Alluka sits up slightly, still dazed, as Gon asks if she is okay. Killua leans in, trying to decipher her words. 'What? What is she saying?' Gon wonders aloud. 'I don't know, it's outsider language,' Killua replies. Alluka's expression shifts as she weakly gestures. In a close-up, she looks exhausted. A panel shows a hand reaching for a water bottle. 'I'll go get water from the river,' Killua decides. 'Does she want to drink something?' Gon questions. Alluka clutches her throat, murmuring, 'Water... do you understand? I'm so thirsty, I might die.' Moments later, Alluka stands refreshed, holding a heart-shaped object. 'I've revived! Whew... thank you,' she beams happily.

Alluka holds up a small picture book as a present and offers it to Gon and Killua. 'I'll give you this,' she says. Gon and Killua look surprised at the gift. In the background, Alluka sits with another figure near the trees. Killua examines the book closely. 'Yes, yes, there's no need for kids to hold back!' Alluka insists, but Killua worries it will be obvious they spoke with an outsider. Gon stares at the book in confusion. 'What... is she giving it to us?' he wonders. Killua suddenly turns and shouts, 'Wait here!' while addressing Gon. 'Kura-pika!?' Gon reacts in surprise. Alluka points excitedly toward the trees. 'The river! Where the water's flowing like whoosh!' she exclaims. 'Hey... tell me where there's water,' she urges. Gon and Killua react with shock. 'It's the underground prison if we get out!' Gon exclaims. 'EH!? I'll go get dad's dictionary!' Killua responds. Alluka questions if they are stupid.

In a rocky cave, the children sit together after providing shelter to a girl. 'We provided her with a cave for shelter and food, and she taught us about the outside world,' one narrates. The girl with pigtails and bear-ear accessories replies to a comment about hunters, while the boys discuss her injured leg. 'You got into trouble entering the forest because you're dressed like that!' someone says. 'Certainly, hunters should pay attention,' another responds. With the dictionary, their exchange continued until her leg healed completely, though she kept falling and injuring herself. 'Our interests were aligned,' the narration states. The book she gave detailed the adventures of a hunter main character. Each day, the boys absorbed themselves in it, dictionary in hand. 'Pairo and I hid the book in a secret place that only we knew about.'

Sheila writes a letter hoping they meet in the outside world someday, expressing her wish to become a pro-hunter by then and looking forward to her journey. 'Kurapika and Pairo - thank you for everything. My injured leg has more or less recovered, so I'll be returning to my journey. I hope we can meet in the outside world someday! (I hope I will have become a pro-hunter by then.) I look forward to it. Bye-bye! -Sheila' After reading the letter, the boys kept reading from the book every day. It would have been hard for her to say goodbye in person. By then they could read her letter without the dictionary. The boys run through an ornate hallway toward the elder, shouting 'Elder!' as their yearning for the outside world grows with each reading.

In a grand hall with ornate pillars, a young boy with spiky hair walks away from a seated elder behind a desk. The elder gruffly replies "WHO KNOWS." when asked about the book's location. The boy turns sharply and demands, "WHERE'D YOU PUT THE BOOK?!" The elder retorts that the book is important. The boy insists, "GIVE IT BACK." The elder explains that people developed wild fantasies about the outside world because of the book, asking how the boy read it so young. The boy presses excitedly, "HEY! HEY! TELL ME HONESTLY! WAS IT INTERESTING ...!?" The elder admits, "IT'S A GOOD BOOK," while muttering thoughtfully. Someone observes that the boy is asking as if he wrote the book himself.

The elder continues, acknowledging the book is ultimately a fabrication but noting how its dream of the outside world became reality for the boy. The boy shouts "RIGHT!?" and "AWESOME!" with excitement, his heart pounding with dreams and bravery. A close-up shows the elder's intense, furrowed face. Fantasy panels depict a giant creature, a robed figure with a staff, and a chaotic scene labeled "IT'S ONLY NATURAL..." Another panel shows a dark interior with a chest and figures, one saying "...NO." The boy points accusingly, yelling "YOU READ ABOUT D HUNTER, RIGHT!? FROM THAT BOOK! ELDER!!" The elder replies that if one goes outside, reality becomes the problem.

Young Kurapika leans forward with intense eyes and a wide grin, shouting that the Hunter's teachings are exactly about facing challenges head-on and living life to the fullest. In the next panels he turns to the bearded elder and firmly requests permission to take the test, addressing him respectfully as 'elder.' The elder, brow furrowed, questions how reality could ever lose to mere stories from a book. The scene shifts to a dense forest clearing where a young boy with short dark hair stands with his back to the viewer before an ornate round hut marked with swirling patterns. He declares he will never again ask to leave for the outside world if he fails. The elder, shown in close-up at the bottom of the page, closes his eyes and finally answers 'Very well...'

Kurapika sits at a desk surrounded by tall stacks of books, holding a pen and staring intently at an open volume titled with symbols. Nearby adults discuss the hotheaded boy who will take the exit test next week; one wonders where his personality came from. A woman with short hair hopes Kurapika passes. In a later panel a young girl with light hair and dark clothing stands with hands on hips, angrily pointing out that only the elderly still fear the scarlet-eyed clan members as devil agents. She stamps her foot while a boy in striped clothing gestures beside her. Other clan members note that times have changed and discrimination has lessened over the past century.

Young Kurapika shouts in frustration that he hates how everything is prohibited in the village. He wonders how the elder alone is allowed a cell phone when no one else can have one. In a series of panels, Kurapika tells a smiling man with short hair that the biggest reason he supports seeing the outside world is because that is what Kurapika himself wants. The man replies that Kurapika is really just like him. Later, Kurapika stands with the village elder and states he does not trust people from the outside world. The elder answers that he believes in Kurapika but worries because Kurapika is still a child. In the forest clearing, the elder warns that Kurapika has developed his own prejudice and discrimination from fearing the outside world before ever seeing it. Kurapika protests that he does not understand because he has never been outside, while the elder tells him he is just like the others in the end.

Young Kurapika stands in the village square before a large domed building with intricate carvings, villagers gathered behind him. Inside the ornate hall, the elder stands with two attendants and asks if Kurapika is ready. Kurapika answers with a loud 'Yeah!' while seated on a bench. The elder raises three fingers and declares there are three tests in total that must all be passed to qualify. In a dramatic close-up, the elder points upward and announces that those who enter the outside world must master the common language, declaring the first test to be the language test.

The spiky-haired boy finishes the written test in just three minutes and declares he is done. The elderly examiner with glasses announces the rules: score 90 points or above to pass within the 90-minute limit. Three minutes later the examiner declares the boy has passed with a perfect 100 points, noting only minor spelling errors in two essay questions. The examiner then announces the second test on general knowledge. The bearded elder with the star marking on his forehead raises two fingers and passes the general knowledge portion as well. The examiner explains that those entering the outside world must master general knowledge. The bearded elder reacts with surprise to a question about a greeting custom involving touching noses from the Ebony clan versus the Miha clan's butt-touching greeting. The examiner then declares that the next and final test is about to begin.

The bearded elder declares that the final test is a test of self-control. He explains that only members of the Kurata clan have eyes that turn red when overtaken by emotion. The outside world calls these scarlet eyes. The elder states that those who enter the outside world must be able to protect the secret of the Kurata clan. He recounts that the clan has suffered endless misunderstanding, discrimination, prejudice, and curiosity, and has bled unmeasurable amounts of blood because of it. The light-haired boy listens intently. The elder concludes that the clan must avoid letting their eyes change color in front of others so that the tragedy does not repeat itself.

Kurapika stares in surprise at the small bottle held up before him. An elderly man with a star mark on his forehead and a thick white beard glares intensely while presenting the vial. In a grand hall with ornate pillars and patterned floors, the elderly man explains the rules of the eye drops. He states that even if Kurapika calms down, his scarlet eyes will not return to normal. If the eyes turn scarlet within twenty-four hours of applying the drops, they will stay that way for another twenty-three hours. Kurapika listens with wide eyes and a serious expression as the man continues: if the eyes turn scarlet twenty hours after application, they will remain scarlet for another four hours and so on. The drops are effective for twenty-four hours. The elderly man reveals that the bottle is a failed product created by their ancestors during attempts to suppress the scarlet eyes, yet its records have been preserved. He suggests using it for their test.

Kurapika reacts with explosive excitement, shouting that he can go to the outside world. The elderly man confirms that Kurapika will apply the eye drops and then travel to the nearest town to buy supplies. He warns that this is only a test. In the next scene the elderly man details the conditions: Kurapika must buy the goods safely and return within twenty-four hours without letting his eyes turn scarlet. The condition of passing is that if a companion's eyes turn red, both fail. To allow self-exercise of responsibility, the partner can handle communication if something happens to one of them. Kurapika is told to choose a partner carefully from the group of four waiting individuals standing in the hall. The elderly man raises his finger emphatically as he finishes the instructions.

A young boy stands in a spotlight of radiating lines and shouts with conviction, 'IT'S GOTTA BE PAIRO!!' Nearby, a group of silhouetted figures murmurs 'MMMM....' The boy, Kurapika, stares forward with wide eyes and a startled expression. Below, three young men watch intently; one has a prominent cross-shaped marking on his head. In the lower panel Kurapika clenches his fists and declares, 'IF I'M WITH PAIRO, THEN NO MATTER THE OUTCOME, I WON'T REGRET IT!' An examiner with wild hair responds, 'THAT'S WHY I CHOOSE PAIRO!' and warns, 'AND IF YOUR COMPANION'S EYES TURN SCARLET, YOU FAIL!' He continues, 'WERE YOU LISTENING?! YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A LARGE QUANTITY OF THE CLAN'S DAILY NECESSITIES! THIS IS PHYSICAL LABOR!'

Kurapika shakes with excitement, eyes sparkling. He urges, 'COME ON! PAIRO!' while reaching forward. Pairo stands with arms raised beside the cross-marked examiner, who says, 'DO AS YOU WISH...' and 'AWESOME! COME ON, PAIRO!' Another voice warns, 'DON'T BE SILLY. ARE YOU REALLY OK...WITH ME?' Kurapika stretches his hand out dramatically, insisting, 'IT'S POINTLESS IF IT'S NOT YOU!' In a smaller panel Kurapika looks surprised as a hand drops an object. The examiner hands over eye drops, saying, 'THEN, BOTH OF YOU, COME APPLY THESE EYE DROPS.' Kurapika and Pairo exchange a thumbs-up and fist pump with a bright 'YEAH!' as they walk away together.

Inside a furnished room, Killua and Alluka search the floor near an ornate dresser. Killua kneels and reaches under the furniture while Alluka watches from the side. "It's okay, I can find it on my own!" Alluka calls out. "Pairo, let me..." Killua replies. A small key-like object lies on the patterned carpet. Alluka leans in with a determined expression. In a close-up, Killua smiles confidently and declares, "I have to try my best to do things on my own if I can! As your partner..." Alluka responds with a soft "...Yeah!" The furry creature bends down, spots the item, and shouts "Got it!" as he lifts the small object from the floor. Killua and Alluka both look relieved.

In a forest clearing, a large bearded man warns the group from the background: "Then stop immediately and come back! If your eyes turn scarlet along the way." He adds that "Sunglasses and colored contacts just buy time." Alluka leans from a window and shouts "I'll definitely pass!" Killua answers "No problem!" from atop a giant bird-like creature. Gon, Killua, and Alluka ride three massive feathered mounts that begin to run forward. The furry creature stands nearby as the birds accelerate. With a dramatic burst of speed lines and impact effects, someone yells "Here we go!" The birds charge ahead through the trees while the riders hold on tightly.

In a lush, swirling forest canopy, a large bird-like creature carries two young passengers through the treetops. The rider with light hair studies a map and states that Nancha City lies directly west from their current position. The dark-haired boy calculates the travel time at six hours, doubled due to the bird's extra weight. As the bird flies onward with determined strides amid repeated HII sound effects, the light-haired rider exclaims there is no time to sleep. The dark-haired boy notes that shopping will take four to five hours. In a close panel the light-haired boy named Pairo urges the other to rest first, receiving an okay in reply before they agree to take turns sleeping.

The light-haired boy Pairo reflects that the reason his eyes and legs are in their current state is his own fault, even though the other has forgotten the shock from back then. He asks if Pairo is asleep. A dramatic flashback shows the dark-haired boy falling from a cliff while trying to save Pairo, who was unharmed. Pairo notes that his eyes are getting worse every day. The scene returns to the present with the pair still riding through the forest canopy.

In a starry void, two speech bubbles declare their shared dream: "WE'LL ENJOY THE OUTSIDE WORLD TOGETHER..." and "AFTER THAT, WE'LL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TIME LIMITS AGAIN..." A determined voice continues, "I'LL FIND A DOCTOR THAT CAN CURE YOUR EYES AND LEGS... SOMEWHERE IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD... AND THEN I'LL COME BACK AS SOON AS I DO." The speaker, a light-haired boy with a fierce expression, stares ahead. The scene shifts to a massive bird-like creature racing forward with powerful strides, carrying two boys on its back. The light-haired boy, Kurapika, grips the reins while the bandaged dark-haired boy, Pairo, clings behind him. Smaller similar birds run alongside as motion lines streak the background. Kurapika shouts, "ALWAYS TOGETHER, FROM NOW ON!" Pairo echoes, "TOGETHER! PAIRO!" A bold caption reads, "SPEEDING AHEAD! FOR THE SAKE OF HIS FRIEND - INTO AN UNKNOWN WORLD!" Large letters proclaim "ALWAYS!" at the bottom of the page.