"...Rear Admiral Natsuya Nao, although having held the rank for less than a year, has distinguished himself in service, with outstanding combat achievements and a reputation that has spread far and wide...
Therefore, after deliberation and approval by the Marine Headquarters' High Command, and with the authorization of Fleet Admiral Kong...
It is hereby decreed that Rear Admiral Natsuya Nao is to be promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral and recalled to Marineford to rejoin the Headquarters combat operations unit. Specific reassignment will be arranged at a later date.
This appointment is effective immediately as of the date of issue.
Sea Calendar 1502, October 12th.
Fleet Admiral Kong (Seal)"
Promoted to Vice Admiral already, huh…?
After finishing the final line, Nao set the official document back on the table, leaned into the sofa chair, crossed his legs, and fell into quiet thought.
"What's with that face?"
Gion glanced sideways at him, half-amused. "I know you're grinning like an idiot on the inside. If you're happy, just laugh. No need to hold back in front of me."
This little bastard!
Back when they first met, he was just a greenhorn recruit—meanwhile, she'd already been a Rear Admiral.
And now? In just a year and a half, he'd climbed above her, technically becoming her superior officer!
The ever-proud Gion ground her teeth in frustration. A mixture of envy, bitterness… and beneath it all, something else.
Even if she didn't want to admit it, deep down she was damn proud.
Twenty years old and already a Vice Admiral?
That's my man.
"Yeah… It really is a pleasant surprise," Nao finally said, looking at her. "But the more I think about it, the more I feel like I should turn it down. Maybe I should contact Headquarters and have them retract—"
"…What?"
Before he could finish, Gion had leaned forward and grabbed his face with both hands, squeezing hard.
"Are you out of your mind?! Do you have any idea how monumental it is to become a Vice Admiral at twenty?! In the entire history of the Marines, there's never been anyone younger than you!"
"I mean, of course I know."
Nao let her tug and twist at his cheeks without resistance, sighing helplessly.
"But… Rear Admiral, I spent almost half a year stuck in that hellhole called the New World. I only just got back to the West Blue, and now I've barely been here a few days? I really don't want to leave you again…"
Gion suddenly froze.
Nao looked up, confused, only to see her turning away—her pale, elegant face flushed with red.
After a long moment, she muttered, "You're… You're turning it down just because of that?"
"What do you mean 'just,' Rear Admiral?"
Nao clicked his tongue, pouting. "It's not like becoming a Vice Admiral at Headquarters was ever out of reach. So what if it's now or a year from now? Being the youngest ever doesn't matter to me."
"If I had the choice, I'd rather stay here at the First Branch with you. Go skiing, climb mountains, cook you breakfast every morning…"
"The last one's unnecessary."
Gion finally turned back toward him, her tone casual and face calm once more. "I'd like to live a few years longer, thanks."
"…Ouch."
Nao gave a dramatic sigh. "I swear I've improved a lot over the past half-year. At least it doesn't cause food poisoning anymore… Why don't you give me another chance?"
"Chance my ass!"
Gion kicked him. Then she flopped back onto the couch, eyes narrowing thoughtfully as she studied the boy's innocent face.
"There's nothing to argue about here. Headquarters broke protocol to promote you. That's a clear recognition of your abilities. Just accept it."
"As for me…"
She flipped through a stack of files on her lap. "After the New Year, Headquarters wants me back for a debrief. I'll probably be reassigned. If things go well, we might even be posted to the same place again."
"Really? That possible?" Nao blinked. "What about the First Branch?"
"Don't worry. There are plenty of capable officers to take over. We were only deployed to the West Blue last year because the situation was unstable."
She smiled faintly. "Now that you've taken out all the rising pirate stars around here, there's no need to keep such high-level combat power stationed in the region."
Fair enough.
Nao nodded. There was no doubt about his strength—and Gion was no ordinary Rear Admiral either.
The New World or Grand Line suited her far better. Keeping her posted here long-term would be a waste of talent. Headquarters wouldn't let that happen.
"In that case, I'll head back first and wait for you at Headquarters, Rear Admiral."
Nao checked the date. "Hmm… It's the 13th today. They didn't give a strict departure time, so I'll delay until the end of the month. That gives us another half-month together."
"Hmph. You think dragging your feet like that won't get you scolded by Fleet Admiral Kong? And I don't look like the kind of woman who needs a man sticking around all the time, do I?"
She wrinkled her nose with a snort.
"Then how about I leave now?"
Nao glanced out toward the port. "Rear Admiral Tokikake left early this morning. He probably hasn't gone far yet. If I use Geppo to catch up, I could still—mmph?!"
He never finished the sentence.
Because the flustered little rabbit had already launched herself at him, her soft, cold lips pressing tightly against his.
Nao briefly glanced at her tiptoes, satisfied, before wrapping his arms tightly around her and shifting from defense to offense—returning her kiss with passion.
...
Sea Calendar 1502, mid-October.
The news of Nao, at twenty years old, becoming a Headquarters Vice Admiral, first spread rapidly within the Marine system.
It then quickly disseminated, appearing on the front pages of major newspapers, causing another uproar in public opinion worldwide.
People everywhere couldn't stop talking about him—Natsuya Nao, the youngest Vice Admiral in history, graduated from the Elite Training Camp less than two years ago, stupidly handsome to boot. His photos alone could make girls swoon…
All of these factors combined to make Nao's promotion the hottest gossip across the world.
...
East Blue — Chaili Island.
"So noisy…"
Captain Natsuya Sr. had just finished seeing off another group of fellow officers who'd come by to offer congratulations.
Returning to the living room, he lit a cigar, flopped into a chair at the dining table, and grumbled:
"A bunch of wide-eyed yokels. So what if Nao got promoted to Vice Admiral? You'd think the world ended. Can't even sleep in around here anymore…"
"Oh? And who almost fell off the second-floor balcony last night when they saw the paper?"
The sarcastic voice floated from the kitchen.
Yukika, fresh from washing dishes, still had her apron on. The moment she saw the cigar smoke, her face darkened.
"…It's a cigar, not a cigarette…"
Captain Natsuya swallowed hard. "It was a gift from Captain Samo! I'd never be able to afford one myself—just trying it out…"
"Hand it over."
Her tone was like ice.
"I—this is the first time I've ever tried one—"
"Three… two…"
"One! What, you think I'm scared? You've been counting down like that for decades!" The old captain puffed up his chest.
"My son's grown up and made Vice Admiral. I'm proud! What's wrong with celebrating a little?!"
"You're really not giving it to me?"
He took a big puff, tilted his head proudly. "Absolutely no chance!"
One minute later—
Captain Natsuya was kneeling on a flintlock, head swelling with three lumps, smoke still wafting from them.
Meanwhile, Yukika sat on the couch, legs crossed, calmly rereading the newspaper she'd already read twice.
"Oh my, he truly is my son, so much more handsome."
She didn't seem the least bit surprised about the promotion. Her eyes sparkled as she admired the photo.
"If Belle-mere saw this, she'd be overjoyed for days…"
"Yeah, too bad she's out on a mission," the old captain sighed. "It's a tough one too—long-term. Even if it all goes smoothly, she won't be back until at least December… OW! What was that for?!"
"Did I say you could speak?"
Ignoring his cry of pain, Yukika withdrew her foot and crossed her legs again, expression dimming. "Such a buzzkill."
...
New World — G1 Branch
"Already a Vice Admiral?"
Akainu read the early-morning bulletin from Headquarters and raised an eyebrow. A rare, faint smile appeared.
"…What a terrifying junior."
At twenty, Nao had already done what Sakazuki hadn't even dreamed of at that age—he hadn't even joined the Marines yet back then.
In just over a year, Nao had taken down Warlord William, defeated Drought Dugallio, and even fought Katakuri to a standstill.
Akainu shook his head, sighing.
If the Marines had a few more like him, maybe the seas wouldn't be so overrun with pirates. Maybe they wouldn't be so spread thin during this era of rampant piracy…
But even one might be enough.
He narrowed his eyes again, gaze falling on the photo in the file.
Nao smiled gently at the camera.
But Akainu knew—this black-haired youth, no matter how approachable he looked, was just like him beneath the surface.
Merciless.
Especially when it came to pirates.
Given enough time… who could say how far he might go?
"I look forward to that day…"
Akainu muttered.
"Don't disappoint me, Natsuya Nao."
...
Paradise — G2 Branch
"What's going on here?"
When Rear Admiral Buma left for breakfast, she saw her subordinate, Onigumo, who had just been promoted to Rear Admiral, squatting there numbly, holding a newspaper, his eyes vacant, an expression of doubting life on his face.
"He's been like this since he saw the news of Nao's promotion to Vice Admiral," said a nearby female Rear Admiral, stifling a laugh.
"Guess the blow hit him hard. Back when Nao was still in the Elite Camp, Onigumo was already a full Captain. They even sparred once."
"He's been working hard lately, thinking he could catch up. But now, the gap's only grown wider."
"Oh? They fought before?" Buma asked, intrigued. "Who won?"
"Who do you think?" the woman shrugged. "Obviously Vice Admiral Nao."
"…" Onigumo looked up and glared at her fiercely.
"Oh no, did I say something depressing again?" She covered her mouth, then turned to Buma with a mock-pleading look. "Please say something to cheer him up, Rear Admiral."
"Of course."
Buma nodded solemnly, stepped forward, and gently patted Onigumo's shoulder.
"Don't worry too much. Everyone's born different. Think of the positives—you've got something to be proud of too."
Onigumo blinked, his eyes regaining light. Gratitude flickered on his face—until Buma continued:
"Like how… when people talk about Nao in the future, you can proudly say, 'I was personally beaten by that man!'"
Onigumo was so enraged he nearly collapsed on the spot.
Meanwhile, several hundred meters away, in the office on the top floor of the fortress.
A scruffy man in a yellow-striped suit leaned against the railing, legs crossed, newspaper in hand.
"…Terrifying."
Kizaru rubbed his temples, troubled. "Only twenty years old, and he's already a Headquarters Vice Admiral, just like me, an equal…"
Damn it.
Didn't this mean he would never have the chance to pull Nao to the G-2 Branch and have him serve as his subordinate?
Kizaru felt a pang of regret.
He should have gone to observe the promotion ceremony at Headquarters back then, and then relentlessly pestered Instructor Zephyr and Fleet Admiral Kong. He should have insisted on having this guy assigned to his branch, no matter what…
Turning around.
The large stack of documents piled on the desk rustled slightly with the sea breeze. Kizaru struggled for a long time, but eventually, with a constipated expression, he sat back down at his desk…
...
The news continued to spread far and wide.
In the blink of an eye, it was the end of October.
After delaying for more than ten days and receiving a third urgent call from Headquarters, Nao had no choice but to pack up and leave.
At the port, he and Gion hugged tightly one last time.
"See you soon, Rear Admiral!" Nao grinned. "Don't be too sad—it's only two months. We'll see each other again in Marineford early next year!"
Gion smiled and nodded, though her lips pressed tight.
They waved goodbye.
Surrounded by cheering Marines and civilians who'd come to send him off, Nao boarded the warship—sailing off into the sunset.
With that, he departed from the West Blue, where he had served for exactly one year, and began his journey back to Headquarters.