The heated interrogation came early in the kitchen.
"What's this?"
"Your breakfast, Rear Admiral — fried eggs and bacon..."
"Where are the eggs?"
"...Devoured by the oil."
"And the bacon?"
"The pan ate it."
"Then what's this black, mushy lump left here?"
"It's heart-shaped! Kinda like my love for you, Rear Admiral?"
"..."
Freshly awakened, the little rabbitt was left speechless.
"So your love is all charred, is that it?"
She extended one elegant finger and pinched Nao's cheek — but when she saw the innocent look in his eyes, her heart softened, and she couldn't bear to pinch any harder.
Was it just her imagination...?
Why did it feel like he'd gotten even more handsome overnight?
"With cooking skills like yours, where do you even get the confidence to make me breakfast?"
She finally sighed, took an apron from the hook, and tied it on.
"I'll do it. You just sit over there and wait like a good boy."
The apron was white, patterned with strawberries and edged with lace.
When Gion put it on, she looked more like a housewife than a Rear Admiral. And when she turned around, the loose skirt still couldn't hide the curve of her perfectly round, firm butt. Just a glimpse was enough to send Nao's heart racing — his mind drifting back to last night's… exercise.
"What are you staring at, idiot?" Gion kicked him, flustered. "If you're really that bored, go deal with the bedsheets."
"Yes, ma'am, Rear Admiral!"
Nao spun around, snapped to attention, and marched out of the kitchen.
In the bedroom, one glance at the bed made his head ache.
Great, he thought. I figured this would be quick and easy.
But the red stains on the sheets had already dried in large patches. There was no way he could just straighten them up and call it a day. This needed a proper wash.
He gathered the duvet, sheets, and blankets, dragged them to the sink, and got to scrubbing. And as he scrubbed, he couldn't help but grumble internally—
This world's tech tree is so messed up. They've got refrigerators, electric fans, even combat robots...
But no washing machines?! These thick bed sets all have to be hand-washed one by one. Utterly absurd.
...
By the time he'd finished washing and hanging the laundry, nearly half an hour had passed. When he returned to the kitchen, the dining table was already packed with food.
Gion had taken off her apron and was seated, waiting for him. When she saw him approach, she stretched out a long leg under the table — and with a "duang," kicked the chair across from her toward him.
"Sit. Breakfast is ready."
"...So thoughtful of you, Rear Admiral. But next time, maybe just pull the chair out by hand?"
They sat down and picked up their utensils in unison. Outside, sunlight filtered through the latticed windows, scattering soft flecks of gold across the table. Nao looked at the morning light, then at the hearty breakfast in front of him.
"What are you smiling about?" Gion noticed the corner of his lips curling up.
"Nothing, really..." Nao looked at her, voice gentle.
"Just... it feels warm. Like we're an old married couple. I like this feeling, Rear Admiral."
"You're the old one," she shot back, rolling her eyes and digging into her food.
"The omelet's good. The cheese-baked toast too… When did you get this good at cooking, Rear Admiral?"
"You weren't qualified to taste my cooking before."
"So now that I'm a Rear Admiral, I qualify? You're really fickle with your favors, you know. It breaks my heart."
"...Then this is the last time. You're cooking from now on."
"If you don't mind how it tastes, I'd be happy to play chef."
A long silence.
"...You win. I'll still do it."
Is my cooking really that terrible? At most, it only caused diarrhea once, right?
"There's dessert too? Huh — lemon slices? They're fresh. Don't remember seeing them in the fridge."
"Kuzan dropped them off last night. A big bag, said it was his gift to celebrate. Came with ice to keep it fresh. I left it by the front door."
"...Oh."
Having a cryo delivery man is kind of amazing.
With that level of skill, Aokiji could probably be recruited by Marine Supply HQ as a cold-chain logistics exec.
After the meal, Nao got up and offered to wash the dishes.
Gion didn't bother arguing. She reclined lazily on the couch, slowly sipping fresh-squeezed lemonade.
"Oh, right. I forgot to tell you something."
"What is it?"
Nao was gritting his teeth, wrestling with a stubborn grease stain.
"Looks like my new assignment came in. Sister Tsuru said Fleet Admiral Kong has already signed and issued the order."
"What's the role?"
"Not sure yet. I'll check with the staff office later." She put down her glass. "Dish soap's in the cabinet above your head."
"You didn't say so earlier."
With the last stain finally gone, Nao let out a breath of relief.
He paused, then asked, ""Should I also go find Fleet Admiral Kong and ask about my assignment?"
"You just got commissioned. Logically, any assignment wouldn't come so quickly. Headquarters probably intends for you to rest for a while, so waiting a few days is fine."
"Can't do that. I plan to take long leave to visit the East Blue. If I sit around now and it messes up my chance to go back, who do I cry to?"
He smacked his fist into his palm.
"That settles it. I'm coming with you to the fortress!"
"Sure." Momousagi shrugged. "We'll meet at the entrance after we're done."
"Got it."
...
Roughly an hour later.
Top floor of the Marine Headquarters fortress.
Fleet Admiral Kong had just finished processing a pile of documents and finally made time to see Nao, who'd been waiting patiently in the reception lounge.
"Ah, youth..."
Across the desk, Kong looked at the young Rear Admiral in his white uniform, composed and clear-eyed, and couldn't help but sigh.
"So full of spirit. Looking at you reminds me of myself decades ago."
His female aide, quietly organizing documents nearby and occasionally sneaking glances at Nao, couldn't help the dark lines appearing on her forehead.
—Seriously, Fleet Admiral? Even in your prime, you were nowhere near Nao's league in the looks department...
"Zephyr's always said you were a prodigy — a training maniac in the Elite Camp. Now I see it's true." Kong smiled.
"What, you just got commissioned and you're already restless, looking for something to do?"
What a good kid.
If only all his officers were this motivated...
"Yes, sir. I came to ask about my new assignment." Nao nodded.
"But... if there's an urgent mission, I may have to sit it out. I'm planning to take leave and visit the East Blue."
He explained briefly.
Kong raised his brows but nodded without hesitation.
"A year and a half without going home, huh? No problem. I'll give you forty days' leave for a proper family visit. Sound good?"
Forty days?!
Way better than expected.
Nao lit up, quickly stood, and saluted.
"Plenty, sir. Thank you for your kindness."
"Hahaha, forty days isn't much. Just crossing the Calm Belt both ways takes almost a month."
With a laugh, Kong pulled out a folder from his drawer and slid it across the desk.
"Actually, I decided your appointment before yesterday's ceremony. Planned to announce it next week, but since you're here, take a look."
"Yes, sir."
Nao opened the folder — and his brows lifted.
The first page was an official appointment.
His new position: Rear Admiral, Deputy Base Commander of West Blue's First Branch.
Which was... odd.
The highest-ranking officer at a branch base in the Four Seas was usually a Captain, and at the more important bases, a Commodore was the ceiling.
What's more, a Commodore's rank, once transferred to Marineford, would be downgraded by three levels — roughly equivalent to a Headquarters Lieutenant Commander.
So when had a full-fledged Headquarters Rear Admiral ever been assigned to a base like this — and only as a Deputy Base Commander, no less?
"West Blue's a mess. Pirates everywhere, underground organizations running rampant. The First Branch is the largest out there," Kong explained.
"Over 3,000 troops. The fifteen surrounding branches all follow its command. It's always had at least one HQ Rear Admiral stationed there."
He looked at Nao with a smile.
"It's a heavy responsibility. What — you think it's beneath you?"
"It's not that I feel it's beneath me, it's just that there aren't any particularly strong guys in the West Blue, so it might get a bit boring there…" Nao scratched his head, speaking honestly. "And why do I have a superior? I just feel a bit uncomfortable."
With his strength and merit, he could've easily been a Vice Admiral — if not for the seniority thing.
Wouldn't his direct superior just end up crushed by comparison?
"Sending someone like you to the West Blue is exactly so you can show what you're capable of," Kong said. "The place is crawling with pirates and criminal organizations. There's no shortage of work. How could that possibly be boring?"
Kong seemed to remember something and shook his head with a faint smile. "As for your superior… don't worry. Once you meet them, I doubt you'll have any complaints about Headquarters' decision. You might even thank me."
Nao blinked.
What was that supposed to mean?
He was about to ask, but Kong was already waving him off with that same mysterious grin, gesturing for his aide to show him out.
Is this just what happens when you hit a certain rank? You all start talking in riddles?
Nao left the office, muttering to himself as he politely nodded to the blushing female aide and made his way down the corridor, appointment papers in hand.
When he reached the main entrance, the midday sun hit him straight in the eyes. Blinking at the sudden glare, he instinctively stepped back into the shade of the stairwell to wait for Momousagi.
"Hm?"
Glancing around absentmindedly, Nao suddenly spotted a large bouquet of roses sitting on top of a trash can near the door.
Easily a ninety-nine-rose arrangement — the kind you'd get for something serious. The petals were a rich, glistening red, still beaded with dew. Fresh, flawless, gorgeous.
Who the hell throws something like this away?
What a waste. Even if you got rejected, don't just toss it like garbage…
Nao picked up the bouquet and turned it over in his hands, inspecting it with a twinge of pity.
Right then, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
He looked up — and there stood Momousagi, just reaching the landing, her expression lit with surprise and delight.
"Well, well, look at you. You even went out and secretly bought roses?"
She took the bouquet from Nao's hands and lowered her head to sniff it gently. A pleased smile curved her lips.
"High quality… You really put some thought into this. I'm touched."
"…"
Nao's eye twitched slightly, but he decided not to ruin the moment. He gave a dry laugh. "As long as you like them, Rear Admiral."
"You get your appointment?"
Gion cradled the bouquet contentedly and glanced at the file tucked under his arm.
"Yeah." Nao handed it to her with a sigh. "Deputy Base Commander of the West Blue First Branch. It's a long way out... I don't know when I'll be transferred back to HQ. Looks like we'll be apart for a while again."
He really didn't want to go.
"Is that so?"
Gion didn't open the folder. Instead, she tossed her own appointment letter over with a playful glint in her eyes. "Wanna take a peek at mine?"
"Huh?"
Nao instinctively caught the document, opened it — and his eyes immediately bulged.
Right under the title, in bold black letters:
This document appoints Rear Admiral Gion to the position of Base Commander of the West Blue First Branch. She is to oversee and coordinate the operations of Branches 12, 13, and fifteen other subordinate bases. This appointment is effective immediately.
Marine Calendar Year 1501, October 28
Fleet Admiral Kong (Seal)
...
At that moment, Nao finally understood the sly smile Kong had worn when he left the office.
"So that's what he meant…"
He turned toward Gion, who was smiling from ear to ear, and sighed. "You knew all along, didn't you, Rear Admiral?"
"Of course." She snapped her fingers with a grin. "Remember before you left for that deserted island trial? I told you something was in the works. Once Sister Tsuru learned you were about to graduate, she personally went to Fleet Admiral Kong and asked him to delay my assignment so we could be posted together. He agreed."
So that whole "back to business" act at the breakfast table this morning… total performance, huh?
"…She really went the extra mile for me. Make sure you thank her for me later."
Nao gave the rabbit a long, helpless look and sighed again. "Still... doesn't this count as using your position for personal gain, Rear Admiral?"
"You're really gonna complain while getting exactly what you wanted?"
A voice cut in from the side. Tsuru, holding a teacup, floated by like a ghost, casting a calm glance at Nao. "Forget the nonsense. Go to the West Blue, do your job, and give it your best."
Why are these old legends always lurking in the shadows…?
Nao's temple twitched. First Garp, then Sengoku, now Tsuru — what was it with these old-school Marine veterans and their impeccable timing?
Seriously, how do they always show up right when I say something dumb?
"Lunch break just started."
Tsuru's voice echoed from outside the doorway, as if she'd read his thoughts.
"It's midday. Just going to the mess hall for lunch. Running into you by the entrance is perfectly reasonable, don't you think?"
Nao: "…"
The next day.
A medium-sized Marine warship departed from Marineford's harbor, bound for the East Blue.
There weren't many Marines on board — only twenty or thirty. After all, this ship had been arranged specifically for Nao's personal leave, so there was no need for ceremony or security detail.
At the stern of the ship, Nao sat quietly with a fishing rod in hand, gazing at the sun-dappled ocean. It took a long time of salt wind and silence before his groggy head finally cleared.
"…Still got a bit of a headache."
He rubbed his temples, groaning. "How much did I even drink last night...? Can't remember. At least ten pounds' worth?"
For a normally disciplined nineteen-year-old, Nao rarely touched alcohol. Only when he was feeling particularly down would he allow himself a few quiet sips — just enough to catch a buzz.
But last night was different.
He'd gone back to Elite Camp to formally say goodbye to the recruits who had trained beside him for a year and a half — and the instructors who had guided him.
Maybe it was because he'd been their pillar of strength, but this class had a rare kind of unity.
Nobody wanted to see him go. Some of the girls even cried, eyes red as they clung to his sleeves, unwilling to let him leave.
Even the instructors seemed reluctant, which really touched Nao… until someone suggested a farewell party.
And that was when things spiraled out of control.
Both he and Shiryu had shown up — but for some reason, only he got dragged into a drinking gauntlet by the instructors.
Even through the haze, he could remember seeing a few of them gritting their teeth with twisted faces.
Brandon, with his grassy green mohawk, had even switched Nao's cup with a jumbo-size one — and then grinned smugly when he thought no one noticed.
Those bastards... Totally settling scores from all those brutal training sessions.
"When I get back, I'm taking you all down."
Nao flicked his line into the sea and muttered grimly, "One by one."