"It turns out... we're neighbors."
Gion blinked in surprise as Kyle stepped out of his apartment just as she was approaching hers. She hadn't noticed him there before — but now it made sense why her Observation Haki had picked up someone interesting nearby.
Admiral Sengoku, meanwhile, was growing weary of relying on Aokiji and Kizaru. One was too lazy, the other too indifferent. And Akainu? Far too extreme.
If Kyle's potential was going to be tested properly, it had to be someone level-headed — someone like Gion.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, who had taken Gion under her wing like a younger sister, agreed with Sengoku's thinking. And naturally, as Fleet Admiral, Sengoku knew it was best to explain the plan personally.
"This is your chance, Gion," Tsuru had told her earlier. "You're already well on your way to becoming an admiral. If you can assess a promising recruit like Kyle fairly, it'll reflect well on your leadership."
Gion hadn't objected. Testing another swordsman's potential was nothing new, and Kyle seemed… different. Not just because he'd survived a clash with the Golden Lion, but because he'd walked away with his swords — a gift from none other than Sakazuki himself.
That wasn't something she could ignore.
---
As the conversation around him quieted, Admiral Zephyr stepped in with his usual warm grin.
"You two," he said, eyeing Sengoku and Tsuru, "don't go making all the decisions without me."
Then he turned to Kyle.
"You just picked up a legendary pair of blades, huh? I'm not known for swordsmanship, but I know enough. You'll train with me until the test."
Kyle understood immediately.
Zephyr was giving him more than a warm-up — he was preparing him to pass with flying colors. If Kyle performed well, he might even bypass the midshipman rank entirely.
That meant the next few days would be critical.
---
Back at Marineford, Kyle was given his own quarters — a privilege typically reserved for officers ranked midshipman or higher. Sengoku had made the arrangements personally, knowing Kyle's promotion was only a matter of time.
The room was modest but clean, with a bedroom, living space, and a view of the ocean. The golden sands and the crash of the waves framed Marineford's training beach below, where dozens of Marines were sweating through their drills.
Compared to life at sea or on pirate-run islands, this was paradise.
Out on the Grand Line, pirates lived in chaos. Constant danger, strange islands, sea monsters, betrayal.
But here in Marineford? It was the heart of order.
Kyle knew it wouldn't always be easy — Marines had their share of deadly missions — but this place offered structure, training, and a real chance at strength.
He would make this his base.
---
From time to time, his system would trigger in his mind:
> [Ding! You received 5 Attention Points from Marine Headquarters Soldiers!]
[Ding! You received 8 Attention Points from Vice Admiral Gion!]
[Ding! You received 12 Attention Points from Vice Admiral Gion!]
[Ding! You received 15 Attention Points from Vice Admiral Gion!]
He smiled slightly.
So she's nearby after all.
At that moment, a familiar presence filled the hallway.
Gion stepped around the corner, holding a small folder of mission reports. She wore her officer's coat draped over her shoulders, and the sword Jinbiro gleamed at her side. Her expression was calm, unreadable — until she saw Kyle.
"Oh," she said, blinking. "You live here too?"
Kyle looked at her, startled for just a second. Then he grinned.
"Guess we're neighbors."
She gave a small, amused nod.
"Looks like it."
She hadn't expected that. Though she was supposed to assess his potential, Gion had thought of Kyle as a distant, rising name — not someone she'd be bumping into by the mail chute.
Now, here he was. The kid who had survived the Golden Lion, walked away with his swords, and earned the respect of a man like Sakazuki.
This just got a lot more interesting.