Inside a spacious classroom at Marineford Military Academy.
Ding-a-ling-a-ling!
Sephiroth stood on the podium, tidying up the swordsmanship textbooks on the desk while looking at the thirty First Class Military School Students below. His mouth curved slightly upwards, forming an evil smile.
"Hehehe! Tomorrow is the weekend, everyone must be looking forward to it, right? Two days without training, you can relax and play to your heart's content."
"That's right! I'm planning to go have a blast at Sabaody Archipelago for two days!"
"Hahaha! We're training ourselves to death every day. I'm so tired my whole body feels like it's falling apart. I plan to lie like a corpse in my dorm and rest for two days."
...
Because Sephiroth usually didn't put on airs and occasionally joked with others, coupled with their similar ages, the Military School Students in the class didn't feel much fear towards this swordsmanship instructor. Facing his questions, they frankly stated their plans.
"Hmm! What is it? That's really good! However, I have some good news to tell you. Next week, various theoretical exams will be held. Those who don't score full marks will receive various punishments. The lower the score, the more severe the punishment... Hehehe!"
Sephiroth burst into laughter as he told the Military School Students below the podium a very painful truth.
"Wait!? If we don't score full marks, we'll be punished!?"
"Ah! Oh my god! Won't we be punished only if we don't pass? It actually requires a full score..."
"Instructor Sephiroth, you're a devil, aren't you! It's my precious weekend, and you've said that, so how can I still play happily...!?"
...
"The reason there's no training on Saturday and Sunday is to give you time to freely review various theoretical knowledge... Of course, if you need to go crazy and play, that's not impossible... It's just that you should prepare to live in purgatory next week! Hehehe!"
On the podium, Sephiroth, who had finished tidying up his textbooks, walked out of the classroom with a twisted smile on his face, leaving behind a group of Military School Students wailing miserably in the classroom.
Tap tap! Tap tap!...
Sephiroth walked down the corridor outside the Marine Academy classroom. He suddenly heard a slightly hurried sound of footsteps behind him.
So, he stopped, turned around, and saw Domino, wearing a brown uniform short skirt and red knee-high boots, holding textbooks in her arms as she hurried towards him.
"Um... Sephiroth, are you free tonight?"
Domino raised her right index finger, scratching her fair cheek, appearing a bit shy.
Hearing this, Sephiroth thought for a moment. Today was his day off; he didn't need to accompany other girls, so he had nothing to do all day.
"Tonight...?"
"I don't seem to have anything special planned, what's up?"
Domino slightly lowered her head and said shyly:
"Um... um... You said you'd treat me to dinner if you were free...
Ah! Of course, I can treat you too... What do you say?"
"Hmm! I've been a bit busy lately. I almost forgot about this."
Sephiroth scratched his head, feeling awkward.
His schedule was packed every day. Sometimes, he had to rush to several places in a single day...
Although he'd been somewhat interested in Domino back then, he was too busy to spare any time!
So, after he got busy, he completely forgot about pursuing her...
"Then... tonight?"
A hint of hesitation crept into Domino's voice.
Back when she was still at the Marine Academy, her introverted personality made it impossible for her to initiate a conversation, even though she'd unknowingly fallen for this outstanding young man who attracted attention like the stars around the moon.
Domino clearly remembered accidentally running into Sephiroth and Kaji, who were walking back to the boys' dorm, arm in arm, chatting and laughing.
He'd opened his mouth with, "Yo! Isn't this the great beauty Domino?
You look really pretty today!"
Even though she was just wearing a standard Marine uniform that day, and even though she knew he was just being polite, her heart had still pounded. She was happy for a long time.
However, because she was too shy at the time, she didn't know how to reply. She just nodded quickly and fled as if flying...
Later, perhaps because of her impolite behavior, they'd only smiled and nodded as a greeting whenever they met, rarely talking.
Just like that, she could only silently watch the young man's back from a distance, letting the inexplicable feelings spread in her heart.
After graduating from the Marine Academy, she was assigned to work at the deep-sea prison Impel Down.
In a place filled with villains like that, she fully witnessed the ugliness of human nature.
Because she was inherently taciturn and not good with words, she put on a mask of being stern and serious, diligent and responsible, to hide the cowardice in her heart. Her attitude was always strictly business, whether towards colleagues or prisoners.
Domino had originally felt that after so many years of work experience, she was already a mature and capable woman who could calmly handle any unexpected events.
However...
When she met Sephiroth again some time ago, she was instantly broken by his praise!
The mask she'd been wearing on her face vanished without a trace. Facing Sephiroth, she seemed to transform back into the young girl from many years ago who was experiencing her first love. The shyness and cowardice in her heart continuously resurfaced.
But...
They had been colleagues for a while, and aside from the occasional greeting and work talk at the Marine Academy, their relationship hadn't progressed.
Domino frowned with worry. Then, she heard rumors circulating through Marineford about Sephiroth. They said he was a playboy, involved with Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, and that he had unclear relationships with Gion and Tina. Apparently, his private life was extremely chaotic.
To confirm the truth, she specifically went to inquire, even inviting Gion out for drinks to catch up, subtly trying to get information.
The result was...
After getting Gion drunk, she heard all sorts of juicy gossip spill out!
For example, the stories of Sephiroth and the two Dressrosa princesses, as well as the stories of him often bringing homeless girls home to take care of them...
After hearing one explosive piece of gossip after another, Domino was simply dumbfounded. She had never imagined Sephiroth was such a scoundrel!
Immediately after, a huge wave of ecstasy spread through her heart...
In the past, she'd always felt that a woman like herself, who only had a uniformly good-looking appearance but no depth, was simply not worthy of an excellent man like Sephiroth.
As a result, she'd always felt inexplicably timid and uneasy around him.
But...
Now, the image of the perfect, excellent man had suddenly collapsed, causing her to think, "Sephiroth is actually this kind of man, that's great! This way, I finally have a chance!"
Even if she didn't get any official status, being a hidden underground lover in private was fine too. Domino thought to herself silently.
Sephiroth looked at the blonde beauty in front of him. Through his Observation Haki's perception of emotions, as a master of romance, he naturally understood what she was hoping for.
Seeing the usually stern and serious Domino showing such shy and timid emotions when facing him...!?
The strong contrast between her two images made him inexplicably feel that the blonde beauty in front of him was truly delicious!
So, Sephiroth immediately gave a mischievous smile and said in a slightly flirty tone:
"How about this! Why don't you just come to my place tonight? I guarantee my cooking will leave you full of praise..."