Dive into your creative stream
^almost literal foreshadowing begins on just page 16, VOLUME 1.
Anyway, @godxspeed brought something to my attention that I’d never noticed before, and I’m pretty irritated with how the anime not only left out 95% of the first chapter in general, but also made things seem “happy” – like Gon as the “happy kid with dumb luck and positive upbringing despite XYZ…”
For starters, Gon had (obviously) spent a lot of time in the forest; he was clearly able to feed and fend for himself, and even had a small set up to dry his clothes, cook, etc. (he’s also shown washing / drying his clothes when they’re on the island during the Hunter’s exam). This is where he first meets Kite when he was younger, as well.
^ (more foreshadowing?)
^okay, that was uncalled for. don’t freaking lure a little boy into you by making him think you’re worried and then punch him in the face as he wobbles over to you, i mean what in the…(that scene always bothered me.)
But I’m only bringing all of that up bc of this:
^ Mito was drunk. (and i don’t feel like this should need proof, but you never know and i have some anyway)
(She was also the bartender at the pub they owned in the ‘99 version.)
They don’t even own a bar in canon so that’s like ‘99 trying to stay close to the story but not make it^ obvious bc it’s technically a shonen. And the scene above is pretty harsh and deep – i.e., her slamming things, stumbling away just after telling Gon he was abandoned, and then Gon having to clean up after her. (fucking sad, alright. that is fucking sad.)
She basically has a mini-bar set up at that table – just for her – so I highly doubt that was a one time ordeal, and it’s pretty likely that Gon had spent a lot of time away (living in the forest, etc.) because of it. (It may also be why she had to “fight” Ging for Gon in court – and I only bring that up bc I know it was a question and that’s just a possible reason, lol.) what also makes this plausible is the fact that Killua was the one who’d suggested going to Whale Island after Heavens Arena – not Gon. Gon even said, “uh, are you sure?”
But I find it so sweet and heartwarming how Killua had taken Gon right under his wing after they’d first met – like a guide, a form of support in the same direction he was going, that Gon had never really had before. They both helped each other below the surface during the Hunter’s exam.
*also - reminders from previous posts* Mito wasn’t originally going to see Gon off – he was both surprised and happy when she showed up. She also tried breaking his Hunter’s license when he & Killua came to visit. Like, really? //side eyes// does what he just went through to get that not mean anything?? (…or are you really just bitter as hell and still mad that Ging left?) I don’t know, but either way i don’t like the fact that the anime left out (basically all of it) and put Mito in a “better” light.