The wind outside the base was calm.
Inside the small Marine tent—
A single figure stood by the open flap, light pouring in as it danced across her face.
Gion.
In her hand—
The same newspaper.
Worn.
Folded.
Opened so many times that the creases had nearly split.
Her eyes lingered on one spot.
A face.
"…Hmph."
She exhaled softly.
"Vice Admiral Gion?"
A voice broke the silence.
One of the Marine officers stepped forward, scratching the back of his head.
"…That newspaper again?"
Gion didn't look away.
"…What about it?"
Another Marine leaned against a nearby crate, arms crossed.
"You've been staring at that thing every day."
A third one smirked.
"…It's always the same page too."
Gion finally folded the newspaper.
Calmly.
"It's nothing."
"…Nothing?"
The second Marine raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah."
She said flatly.
"Just… keeping track of criminals."
A pause.
Then—
The third Marine's smirk widened.
"…Ah."
"…I get it."
Gion's brow twitched.
"…Get what?"
He pointed lazily.
"That is your crush."
Silence followed.
"…What?"
Another Marine burst out laughing.
"Yeah! That pirate kid!"
"Vice Admiral's got a thing for rookies now, huh?"
Gion's face froze.
Then—
"…WHAT?!"
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
Bright and obvious.
"H-He's a PIRATE!"
She snapped, pointing at them.
"I would NEVER—!"
"Ooooh~"
"So if he wasn't a pirate…"
"…you would?"
Her face went even redder.
"I DIDN'T SAY THAT!"
"You didn't deny it either!"
"YOU—!"
The tent filled with laughter.
Gion clenched her fists.
Her entire face burning now.
"GET BACK TO YOUR POSTS!"
She barked.
"OR I'LL HAVE YOU CLEANING THE ENTIRE BASE WITH A TOOTHBRUSH!"
"…Yes ma'am."
"…Right away."
"…Worth it."
They scattered quickly.
Still chuckling.
Gion stood there for a moment.
Breathing.
Then—
She turned sharply.
And walked out.
Outside—
The sea stretched endlessly.
She stopped.
Placed a hand over her cheek.
"…What the hell…"
Her fingers pressed lightly against the warmth.
"…Why am I reacting like that…"
Her expression tightened.
"…He's a pirate."
A pause.
"…And a coward at that."
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…He disappeared."
Her eyes narrowed.
"…Ran away from piracy."
Another pause.
"…Someone like that…"
Her voice dropped slightly.
"…I could never…"
She exhaled.
Long.
Slow.
"…Ridiculous."
Her expression hardened again.
Composed.
Vice Admiral Gion—
Restored.
---
The sea.
Endless.
Open.
A broken piece of wood drifted aimlessly across the waves.
And on it—
A man laid flat on his back.
Arms behind his head.
One leg lazily dangling over the side.
Giovanni.
Completely relaxed.
Drifting.
Singing.
"🎵 Gather up all of the crew~ 🎵"
His voice echoed softly across the empty ocean.
"🎵 It's time to ship out Binks' Brew~ 🎵"
The waves rocked gently beneath him.
"🎵 Sea wind blows, to where, who knows~ 🎵
🎵 The waves will be our guide~ 🎵"
A small smile rested on his face.
"🎵 O'er across the ocean's tide~ 🎵
🎵 Rays of sunshine far and wide~ 🎵"
A bird passed overhead.
"🎵 Birds they sing of cheerful things~ 🎵
🎵 In circles passing by~ 🎵"
His fingers tapped lightly against the wood.
Keeping rhythm.
"🎵 Bid farewell to weaver's town~ 🎵
🎵 Say so long to port renowned~ 🎵
🎵 Sing a song, it won't be long~ 🎵
🎵 Before we're casting off~ 🎵"
His voice softened slightly.
"🎵 'Cross the gold and silver seas~ 🎵
🎵 The salty spray puts us at ease~ 🎵"
A wave gently splashed against the wood.
"🎵 Day and night, to our delight~ 🎵
🎵 The voyage never ends~ 🎵"
Silence followed.
The song faded into the wind.
Giovanni stared up at the sky.
A long pause.
"…Yeah…"
He sighed.
"…I fucked up."
The wood creaked slightly beneath him.
"…How am I supposed to get out of this…"
A beat.
"…No boat."
"…No direction."
"…No food."
He blinked.
"…Actually… no, I have food."
He glanced at a small tied bag beside him.
"…But still."
Another pause.
"…I'm definitely lost."
The ocean didn't respond.
"…Great."
He closed his eyes.
"…This is fine."
A wave rocked him slightly.
"…Totally fine."
Another pause.
"…I should've listened to Rayleigh."
Silence.
"…Nah."
The wood drifted.
Aimless.
Toward whatever awaited next.
---
The ocean lapped quietly against the shore.
A lone rock sat at the edge of the coastline—
Half-submerged.
Worn smooth by years of waves.
Sitting on top of it—
Legs crossed, posture relaxed—
Was Gion.
In her hand—
A small, flat stone.
Tap.
It skipped once.
Tap… tap… tap…
Then sank.
"…Tch."
Another stone.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Her eyes followed it lazily.
"…Why am I even out here…"
She muttered under her breath.
Another toss—
Tap—tap—tap—tap—
"…Idiot pirates…"
Her grip tightened slightly around the next stone.
"…Especially that one."
She flicked it harder this time.
SKIP—SKIP—SKIP—
Farther than the others.
"…Hmph."
She reached down for another—
Then paused.
Something—
Out on the water.
A shape.
Floating.
Her eyes narrowed.
"…?"
She leaned forward slightly.
"…A person?"
Her expression changed instantly.
"…A civilian?!"
She stood up abruptly.
Her heartbeat quickened.
"…Don't tell me…"
Her gaze sharpened.
"…Drifting out here alone…?"
She stepped forward—
Hand already moving to her sword.
"…How long have they been—"
She stopped.
Her eyes focused.
Closer now.
Clearer.
A figure.
Lying casually.
Too casually.
"…Wait…"
Her heart skipped.
"…No…"
Her pupils shrank.
"…That—"
Her chest tightened.
"…It can't be…"
A beat.
"…Giovanni…?"
Out on the water—
Giovanni blinked lazily.
"…Hm?"
Something ahead.
He lifted his head slightly.
Tents.
Flags.
Uniform layout.
His eyes narrowed.
"…No way…"
He sat up.
"…That's…"
A symbol.
Clear as day.
The World Government emblem.
"…Ah."
A pause.
"…That's not good."
He scratched the back of his head.
"…If I get spotted here…"
He sighed.
"…I'm cooked."
A breeze passed.
"…Maybe I can just quietly—"
A sudden shift.
WHOOOSH—
His instincts screamed.
Without thinking—
He moved.
BOOM!
A blade pierced straight through the wood—
Exactly where his head had been seconds ago.
The driftwood split.
Giovanni flipped mid-air—
Landing lightly on a nearby rock.
Water splashed around him.
"…That's rude."
He straightened.
Turning—
And then—
He saw her.
Standing there—
Sword extended.
Eyes locked onto him.
Gion.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"…Well damn."
He tilted his head slightly.
"…If it isn't my woman."
Silence.
Gion froze.
"…Your—?!"
Her face exploded red instantly.
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
Her voice echoed across the shore.
"I AM NOT YOUR WOMAN!"
Giovanni blinked.
"…Harsh."
He shrugged casually.
"…Been a while though."
Gion's grip tightened on her sword.
"…Yeah."
Her voice sharpened.
"…It has."
A step forward.
"…Where the hell did you go?"
Giovanni raised a brow.
"…Hm?"
"…You disappeared."
Her voice carried a faint edge.
"…No sightings."
"…No reports."
"…Nothing."
Another step.
"…Just vanished."
A pause.
"…What, did you run away from being a pirate?"
Giovanni stared at her for a moment.
Then—
Smirked.
"…Aww."
He leaned slightly forward.
"…You missed me?"
"…WHAT?!"
Her face went red again.
"I DID NOT!"
She pointed her sword at him.
"DON'T GET FULL OF YOURSELF!"
Giovanni chuckled.
"…Relax, relax."
He stretched his arms slightly.
"…I was training."
A pause.
"…You know."
His eyes flickered briefly.
"…Getting stronger."
Gion didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze sharpened.
"…Training…"
She muttered.
"…Hmph."
Giovanni clapped his hands once.
"…Anyway—"
He smiled.
"…Perfect timing actually."
Gion frowned.
"…What?"
Giovanni pointed behind her—
Toward the base.
"…I need a ship."
"…Excuse me?"
He nodded seriously.
"…Yeah."
"…Mine's… uh…"
He glanced back at the broken wood.
"…Out of commission."
A beat.
"…So I figured—"
He grinned.
"…You could help me out."
Silence.
"…Shut up."
Her voice was flat.
Cold.
She stepped forward.
Blade raised.
"…You think I'm helping a pirate?"
Giovanni scratched his cheek.
"…Worth a shot."
Her stance lowered.
Deadly.
"…Giovanni."
Her voice steadied.
"…By order of the Marines…"
She pointed her blade directly at him.
"…I'm placing you under arrest."
The air shifted.
Giovanni stared at her for a second.
Then—
"…Oh God."
He sighed.
"…Please not this."
---
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