I Almost Starved to Death at the Hands of the Zoldycks

[1.0, The story starts with Hisoka’s younger sister in *Nen Ability: Feeding on Love*. The main family-head storyline begins in 3.0, *The Zoldyck Family Head*. Feel free to read either one!] As the eldest daughter of her generation of the Zoldyck family, Herui has a secret. She isn’t human, and the food she needs to keep herself alive is different from what humans eat. She feeds on emotions, and among them, love is the most delicious. But to survive, she has no choice but to eat all kinds of foul-smelling garbage. A grandfather who is never around, a mother who gives orders by screaming, a father who is always scrutinizing her, and Illumi, who tries to use her for target practice… Even though she has stopped being picky about food, her stomach still constantly cries out with hunger. At this rate, the Zoldycks are going to starve her to death! Fortunately, as her younger brothers are born, her food supply grows, too. Herui Zoldyck decides to raise her brothers to save herself. She’ll start with Milluki. [A little skit; details may be adjusted when it actually happens] After hearing that what happened with Nanika had been exposed, Herui, who had been living away from home, returned to Kukuroo Mountain for the first time in ages. When she left again, she held her sweet, well-behaved younger brother and sister by the hand. Her sister held the hand of the silver-haired cool guy who had wanted to keep both hands in his pockets, while Herui dragged along her reluctant cross-dressing brother. He wasn’t happy about it, but he stopped resisting when he heard he’d get to go out with his third brother. Following behind them was her chubby, housebound second brother, who hadn’t exercised in so long that he was panting after just a few steps. He was the mastermind behind this mass runaway: he swapped out the surveillance footage and opened the prison doors. Afraid their parents would punish him, he joined the group. Looking at her four younger siblings, Herui was very pleased as their eldest sister. All the important Zoldycks of their generation were right here. What a complete set of provisions! The eldest brother, whom his big sister didn’t consider important, returned home to find everyone gone: ? Illumi (thoughtful) (suddenly understanding) (utterly certain): Herui must be jealous that my younger siblings like me! …Maybe that’s what a loving family looks like. [Before you read] 1. This is an alternate-universe version of *Nen Ability: Feeding on Love*, the story next door, imagining what would happen if the heroine had been born into the Zoldyck family from the start. 2. Unlike the second-person narration in the main story, this one returns to third person. 3. You can read this without having read 1.0. Original characters from 1.0 appear, but the only difference is that there are spoilers (? ). 4. One world, no crossover. Unless something unexpected happens, the heroine will only have one identity: a Zoldyck. The story centers on the Zoldycks and focuses on family bonds. 5. My take on the Zoldycks: I think the second brother is the only normal person in the family. The third brother is an angel, so he doesn’t count. If you disagree, feel free to run for your life. 6. No dark angst and no tormenting the protagonist, but she won’t be invincible or crush everyone, either. This is self-indulgent writing from someone who can’t feed herself. I just want to write lots of relationship storylines, not limited to romance… I’ll try to write some dark humor, though I’m not good at it, so it might not be to everyone’s taste… 7. Anyway, it’s a heartwarming story about love and hope. Probably. Cover commissioned; please don’t use it without permission. == An advance notice for this story’s alternate-universe spin-off, which will be published as a separate book. It’s a multiverse story, so please take note: *[Hunter x Hunter] The Zoldyck Family Head* For Herui, who has never left the Zoldyck family, being a Zoldyck is both her pride and her responsibility. So after Silva goes missing, she becomes head of the Zoldyck family as planned, taking over and inheriting everything her father owned. How does one become a worthy family head? First, don’t forget to placate the previous family head’s faction. “I’m so heartbroken… I’ve already lost your father.” Kikyo clutched Herui’s hand, weeping. “Herui, my child, you’ll fill the void left by my darling and soothe all my loneliness, won’t you?” “The ‘wife inherits the family headship’ system has already been rejected, Mom.” Herui placed her other hand on Kikyo’s swollen belly, where Silva’s unborn posthumous child lay. “But I’ll treat Kalluto as my own.” Second, remember to warn allies who are getting too ambitious. “I’m already carrying the next generation of Zoldycks.” Illumi wore an unhappy expression as he put on his pregnancy stone, as he did every day. “This isn’t fair, Herui. We’re both pregnant. You can’t favor Mom over me.” “That’s no reason to test your claim to power with me.” Herui’s expression was calm, almost cold. “I’ll let it go because you’re pregnant. Don’t do it again.” Finally, she needs a worthy heir. Herui looked at Killua, devastated by the death caused by Nanika’s “requests,” and gently stroked his head. “You need the Zoldyck family’s power to protect Nanika and Alluka. You’re also the person I’ve chosen as the next family head. So you won’t let me down, will you, Killua?” Endless work, a missing father, a downcast mother, and younger brothers who bicker all day over who gets the most attention. The work of a family head is always so busy. Fortunately, everything is still under her control. Silva, who had been missing for a year, returned to find he’d been forced into retirement: ? Should he just leave again? Theme: Love is the greatest power. It can make people and the world better.