RealTalkAJ

Why does Machi help Hisoka?

Machi might help Hisoka because there’s an instance where he paid her in advance for her help. They were comrades at some point being in the Phantom Troupe together. There’s even fan speculation that they might even be in a romantic relationship. At the very least without money involved might point to them having a brother and sister type of friendship.

Hisoka paid her in advance

One of the most straightforward explanations is that Machi helped Hisoka because he paid her.

There’s a scene where Hisoka offers her money in advance, essentially securing her assistance through a business-like transaction.

This fits with both of their personalities—Hisoka is manipulative enough to know the value of leveraging resources, while Machi is pragmatic enough to accept payment when offered.

Machi’s ability, using Nen threads to heal wounds and stitch injuries, makes her extremely valuable in the aftermath of battles.

For someone like Hisoka, who often finds himself bloodied in fights with powerful opponents, her skills are a lifeline.

If the money is right, it would make sense for Machi to perform the job.

While this transactional layer doesn’t explain the full scope of their relationship, it does establish a practical foundation.

At minimum, Machi helps Hisoka because it makes sense to do so when resources are exchanged.

Hisoka was her comrade

Beyond money, there’s also the fact that Hisoka and Machi were once comrades, at least loosely connected through the Phantom Troupe.

While Hisoka’s membership in the Troupe was always tenuous—he joined largely to fight strong opponents and was never fully committed to the group—he nonetheless shared missions and moments with the other members, Machi included.

That shared history creates a bond, however fragile.

Machi isn’t one to show her emotions openly, but her actions sometimes reveal a lingering sense of familiarity with Hisoka.

Even if she doesn’t fully trust him, she recognizes that at one time, he stood alongside her as a partner.

That kind of bond, especially in the dangerous world of Hunter x Hunter, can be difficult to sever completely.

Her willingness to heal him, for example, could partially stem from that shared sense of loyalty or acknowledgment of the past.

It’s less about friendship in the traditional sense and more about acknowledging a former comrade who, despite his unpredictability, fought by her side.

There might be a romance between the two

Fans have long speculated about whether there’s a romantic undertone between Hisoka and Machi.

While nothing in Hunter x Hunter explicitly confirms this, there are moments where the chemistry between them seems charged with something beyond mere business.

Hisoka, always teasing and provocative, often singles Machi out in ways that feel playful yet pointed.

Machi, for her part, doesn’t respond with outright hostility in the way many other characters would.

Instead, she often remains calm and collected, which has led some fans to interpret their dynamic as having underlying romantic or flirtatious energy.

If there is even a hint of attraction or respect between them, it could explain why Machi goes out of her way to help Hisoka at times when she might otherwise walk away.

Romance in Hunter x Hunter is rare and subtle, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Togashi intentionally leaves their relationship ambiguous, adding intrigue to their interactions.

They might have a brother and sister like relationship

If romance seems like too strong an interpretation, another plausible explanation is that Hisoka and Machi share more of a brother-sister type of bond.

Machi’s demeanor is often cool and even maternal in certain contexts—she shows care for her Phantom Troupe comrades and has a natural ability to take charge.

With Hisoka, she occasionally displays a similar kind of tolerance, as though she understands him more than others do.

This interpretation suggests that Machi helps Hisoka not because of romance or money alone, but because she sees him as someone she can’t entirely abandon, despite his flaws.

That sibling-like bond, even if unspoken, provides another layer of depth to their relationship.