Marine Headquarters Hospital, Fifth Floor.
When Nao finally confirmed the room number, he arrived at the fifth-floor corridor—just in time to see a man in a brown cowboy hat walking out with a dejected face, clutching a bouquet of roses.
Even though the man kept his head down, Nao recognized him immediately.
Tokikake, the one known as Chaton—a future candidate for Vice Admiral, same as Momousagi. He looked to be in his early thirties now, holding the rank of Rear Admiral.
"Mr. Tokikake."
As they passed, Nao politely saluted him—always the respectful Marine.
"Ah—oh, hello…"
Tokikake looked up as if snapping out of a daze. Upon seeing Nao's face clearly, he froze, blinking in confusion. How could anyone be this handsome?
If he had even half that face, would Momousagi have rejected him so mercilessly all those times?
Life really isn't fair.
"You're here to visit Rear Admiral Gion too, huh?" he asked.
Nao blinked. "How'd you know?"
"Mozambia was discharged a few days ago," Tokikake muttered, scratching his unruly curls. "All the east-side rooms up here are empty now—only Gion's left."
He frowned. "Let me give you a heads-up, kid. Probably best not to go in. She's in a bad mood. Got her aide Marsha standing guard at the door, told her she doesn't want to see anyone today—not even me. I just got kicked out."
Nao remembered the name Marsha — Momousagi's longtime adjutant. A Marine Commander with a frosty personality, not the friendliest.
He looked down the hall — sure enough, a woman with long ash-blond hair stood like a sentinel at the door, arms crossed, face cold and unreadable.
"…"
Nao glanced at Tokikake's limp bouquet of roses and sighed inwardly. "She's in a bad mood," huh? Let's be honest — it was probably because this guy confessed again out of nowhere.
"Thanks for the warning," he said with a shrug. "But since I'm already here, I might as well give it a try."
He gave Tokikake a polite nod and walked toward the door.
This kid… still going for it? Where's that confidence even coming from?
Tokikake lit a cigar and shook his head, watching Nao's back in disbelief.
He knew Gion well — if she said no visitors, she meant it. She'd shut out anyone, even an old acquaintance like himself.
And Marsha was a whole other wall to climb.
But then—
Tokikake watched as the black-haired teen approached the door, smiled, and whispered something to Marsha — something that looked half like a request, half like flattery.
And just like that…
The ice melted.
Marsha's frosty expression bloomed into a bright blush. She giggled and actually stepped aside, letting him in.
…What the hell?
Tokikake stood there stunned, staring as Nao disappeared into the room.
"Just a smile…?"
He frowned thoughtfully. So that's the trick? A smile and some sweet words?
So Marsha's weakness is compliments, huh.
Maybe he could try that next time?
Emboldened, Tokikake puffed out his chest, straightened his uniform, and walked up holding his rose bouquet. Marsha was still floating on air, her cheeks red from that earlier interaction.
He took a deep breath, plastered on his most charming smile—
—and the next second, her face turned ice-cold again.
Inside the Room.
Gion had just closed her eyes to rest, but her sleep was light — the slightest sound roused her.
Is that Tokikake again?
She told Marsha to keep him out, didn't she?
She opened her eyes in irritation, ready to scold, but then saw a familiar figure sitting by the window.
There, by the sunlight filtering through the glass, sat a young man — legs crossed, quietly peeling an apple with a small knife.
Golden light spilled over his black hair, outlining his features in a soft glow. His chiseled face looked almost ethereal in the warmth.
The air was still, the scent of gardenia faint. The only sound was the gentle shh-shh of the blade against apple skin.
Is it just me… or did this little punk get even better-looking than before?
She stared at him in silence, then finally spoke, voice soft:
"…When did you get here?"
"Eh?"
Nao had just finished peeling the apple into a perfect spiral and was admiring his handiwork when her voice made him jump. He nearly stabbed his own hand.
"You—you're awake?"
"Wasn't really asleep," she said, watching him fumble.
"I'm being discharged tonight," she added. "Didn't expect to see you before then. A pleasant surprise."
Was that… sarcasm? A subtle jab for not visiting sooner?
"I've been buried in training," Nao said as he took a bite of the apple. "Didn't even hear about your injury until I saw the news today."
He chewed and shrugged. "You know how it is. I'm just a kid from the East Blue — no connections, no information network. Nobody tells me anything."
"Even just finding your room… I had to ask around for ages."
He took another bite and noticed her staring at his mouth with a strange look.
"What?" He held up the half-eaten apple. "You want some too?"
It was pretty tasty, actually. Someone must've left it on the bedside table — no sense letting it go to waste.
"I thought…"
Momousagi began, then stopped, glaring at him. Her pale hand shot out from under the blanket. "Give me the knife. I'll peel it myself."
But before she could grab it, Nao gently placed a perfectly peeled apple into her palm.
She froze.
"Ha! Gotcha, Rear Admiral."
Nao grinned like a kid who'd just pulled off the perfect prank.
"What do you take me for? Seeing you stuck in bed, the least I could do was bring some fruit. You think I'd peel one just for myself?"
Only a total brick-headed idiot would do that.
He barely had time to enjoy his cleverness before his face contorted—because Momousagi had stuffed the apple back into his hand, and was now pinching his cheek with alarming force.
"Ow."
Nao winced.
"With how thick your skin is, you can still feel pain?"
Her expression was somewhere between a smile and a warning. "Didn't I tell you not to lie to your superior? And no teasing either."
"Someone must've been badmouthing me again," Nao huffed. "All lies. Defamation, I swear."
He straightened up solemnly. "Anyone who knows me — Nao Natsuya — knows I'm the shy type. My face turns red just talking to girls. My skin's thin as— OW OW OW! Okay, that really hurts!"
He yelped. Looking down, he realized her fingertips had turned pitch black.
Wait, what?!
She's using Armament Haki… over a dumb joke?
Nao stared at her smiling face in disbelief.
Back before she left, she'd never treated him this rough...