After Peter gave Hina some final instructions, he felt that this round of training had reached its limit.
He pointed toward the ship below, then was the first to bend his body and fly back down to the deck.
Hina, having carefully memorized his advice, followed after him.
The moment her feet touched the deck, Kaya rushed over in a panic and, without giving her a chance to protest, pushed her straight into the infirmary.
Once they left, Peter crossed his arms and turned to the rest of the girls, who were still caught up in the excitement of the earlier spar.
"Did you enjoy what you saw?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Want to see more?"
"Yes, yes!"
"In that case, how about being the ones to fight next time?"
"…Huh?"
Peter grinned as he announced cheerfully:
"I think this kind of training is useful, so from now on, we'll do it daily—and everyone will participate!"
At once, the girls split into two opposing camps.
Carina, Vivi, Nami, and Nojiko turned pale with fright, retreating to the corner like startled birds.
Meanwhile, Mikita, Stussy, Kalifa, and Alpha were the complete opposite—their eyes burned with excitement as they raised their hands high, eager to be Peter's next opponents.
And so, with just a single declaration from Peter, the crew gained two factions: the "battle enthusiasts" and the "battle refusers."
As for Robin, she lifted her hand with her usual calmness, wearing an apologetic smile.
"I won't take part in direct combat. Instead, I'll focus on mastering my Ki and exploring its potential."
"Alright then, it's settled."
Peter nodded in satisfaction, then chose Mikita and Stussy as his next opponents, while entrusting Carina and the others to Kalifa and Alpha.
Since Nami had recently quarreled with the two, she looked to her friends confidently and shouted with enthusiasm:
"Four against two—we've got the advantage! Let's go, girls!"
They all charged in full of spirit, but Kalifa and Alpha quickly showed them what a real gap in strength looked like.
With just a few swift, effortless moves, the two made them realize the vast gulf between their abilities.
By dinner time, the scene was hilarious: four battered girls with swollen faces, barely able to lift their heads from the table.
Peter couldn't hold back—he burst out laughing mercilessly.
"So, where did all that confidence go? Didn't you say you had the advantage? How did you end up like this?"
Nami didn't even lift her head—she just grabbed a fork and threw it at him.
Peter caught it easily, then used it to scoop up a huge bite of pasta and stuffed it into his mouth.
After swallowing, he said in a half-joking attempt to cheer them up:
"Don't be discouraged. This is just the beginning. In a few months, once you're used to training—"
"We can get our revenge?!" Carina interrupted eagerly, her bandaged face shining with hope.
Peter shook his head, barely containing his laughter.
"No… you'll just get used to it."
And then he broke into uncontrollable laughter.
Kalifa and Alpha—the culprits behind their defeat—slapped the table and laughed along.
Even Robin, Hina, and Stussy couldn't hide their smiles, covering their mouths as their laughter slipped out.
The four girls couldn't bear the mockery any longer. They picked up anything within reach on the table and hurled it at Peter, forcing him to dodge left and right in a rather comical fashion.
Amid the chaos, Mikita stopped laughing, patted Vivi's shoulder, and tried to comfort her.
"Don't worry. Losing doesn't mean anything. As long as you put in the effort, that's what matters."
But Vivi, her swollen face full of despair, replied:
"Try looking in the mirror before preaching to me."
"I'm different! My face got swollen because Peter hit me. Yours is a whole other story."
Vivi could only roll her eyes at the sky in exasperation.
"How strange… to get punched in the face and still smile about it. Do you have some weird tendencies?"
"Idiot! Of course not!"
The room was filled with laughter and bickering, but Kaya quietly pushed her food around with a sigh.
Aside from Robin, she was the only one physically unscathed.
But that hardly brought her relief. On the contrary, it only added to the burden on her shoulders.
She was now responsible not only for treating everyone's injuries and taking care of them, but also for her own training and medical studies.
The pressure weighed heavier on her with each passing day.
Robin noticed her troubled look and asked gently:
"What's wrong, Kaya? You seem down."
"…Yes." After hesitating for a moment, Kaya explained her problem.
At first, everyone thought it was serious. But when they heard her words, they relaxed and smiled.
"These small wounds are no problem," Alpha said confidently, placing a hand on her chest.
"If it bothers you that much, just leave it to me. I may not be a doctor, but as a secret agent I picked up some skills—I know how to handle minor injuries. From now on, I'll be your assistant."
"Really, Sister Alpha?!" Kaya's eyes lit up with joy.
Alpha faltered under the unexpected enthusiasm, trying to hide her fluster.
"Of course! I wouldn't joke about something like this."
Kaya hugged her happily, while Alpha froze for a moment, unsure how to react.
Kalifa watched with a side-smile, a rare warmth flickering in her eyes. Her heart finally felt at peace.
"Wonderful… I can laugh and spend time with my family again."
Over the past days, fighting side by side with Alpha, Kalifa had gradually accepted her sister's presence.
They shared many private talks, revealing the years they had spent apart—the harsh training, the false identities they had worn under others' control.
But now, everything was different.
They could laugh and play freely. They could wear what they liked without restrictions. They could shop and train together, like normal sisters.
It was a life neither had ever dared to imagine.
Even serving Peter together was seen as a kind of joy by the sisters.
With that thought, Kalifa couldn't help but smile. She joined in teasing Alpha until the younger girl, her face turning red with embarrassment, finally begged them to stop.
Peter, for his part, loved this warm and cheerful atmosphere.
Honestly, if the relationships among the girls had been filled with hostility, coldness, or rivalry, it would have been a headache for him.
Fortunately, everyone got along, and the three newest members were gradually blending into the crew. Satisfied, Peter officially acknowledged them as part of his team.
Stussy: "???"
After dinner, as night fell, the girls went to their rooms after clearing the table, leaving only Mikita and Kaya on watch duty.
Hina, meanwhile, had already recovered from the bruises she suffered earlier that day.
She peeled off her torn, sweat-soaked shirt from her spar with Peter, grabbed a towel, and headed for the bath.
At that moment, Robin set aside her book and smiled warmly.
"Would you like me to wash your back?"
Hina paused, meeting Robin's eyes, which held no trace of mockery or guile. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded.
"Then… I'll trouble you."
Robin shook her head gently, then soon slipped out of her own clothes.
Minutes later, steam filled the bathroom. Hina let out a long sigh, savoring the warm water cascading over her body.
Robin moved gracefully, seating her on a small wooden stool before gently scrubbing her back.
The atmosphere was friendly and serene—nothing about it suggested one was a wanted criminal and the other a Marine officer.
When Robin finished, Hina closed her eyes in contentment, then offered to return the favor.
Robin didn't refuse, and they switched roles.
The moment Hina's soap-covered hands touched her back, Robin's body tensed instinctively.
But as she felt Hina's gentle motions, she soon relaxed and let go.
As she continued, Hina clearly understood what Peter meant when he praised Robin before.
"Wow… your skin has gotten so much fairer since we first met. How do you take care of it?"
Robin smiled softly.
"Perhaps because I don't go out much anymore. I was always busy running Crocodile's operations, traveling nonstop. But after following Peter, I no longer had to worry about that, and I spent more time indoors."
Hina nodded.
"So you're the type whose skin is sensitive to the sun… When I trained, I was afraid I'd have the same issue, but luckily I didn't."
Then she realized her words could be misunderstood and hurriedly added:
"Of course, I didn't mean to boast!"
Robin chuckled.
"My dear Marine officer… you're still too kind. Don't worry, I never cared much about such things."
Hina pouted sadly.
"Stop… I'm not a Marine anymore. Headquarters has probably forgotten me altogether."
Silence hung between them, and regret touched Hina for bringing up something so painful.
Robin glanced at her sideways, changing the subject.
"Have you gotten used to life here? I mean… back then, you never would have imagined bathing with a 'wanted criminal' like me."
Hina was startled by the self-mockery in Robin's tone and quickly interrupted.
"Don't say that! Ohara… the Marines were at fault."
Her voice trembled as emotions overwhelmed her, her hands stopping mid-motion.
"Ohara broke the law, yes. It researched the Void Century. But the Marines' decision was far too cruel. Wiping out innocent civilians… that went against the very meaning of justice. And the worst part… placing a bounty on an eight-year-old child! Forcing you to run for twenty years…"
Robin cut her off with a weary smile.
"Alright, that's enough. I didn't mean to burden you. I don't blame you—it was never your fault. I just wanted to know… have you adjusted to this new life?"
Flustered, Hina apologized softly.
"Sorry… I got carried away."
Then she resumed scrubbing, speaking honestly.
"To be honest… I'm not entirely sure. But after spending time here, I feel like I really have changed. I may clash with Peter sometimes… but overall, I've come to accept this life… even enjoy it."
Robin smiled.
"That's only natural. Humans are incredibly adaptable. Even I don't know how I accepted all this… and how I ended up carrying his child."
Unconsciously, Robin's eyes fell to her belly. Hina bit her lip, then asked hesitantly:
"When you first found out… how did you feel?"
Robin's tone was calm.
"Are you asking if I thought about… getting rid of it?"
Hina flailed her hands nervously in denial, but Robin continued with a light smile.
"Actually… the thought never once crossed my mind. Aside from the initial shock, it felt completely natural. I even began to look forward to that day—the day of birth. I wondered: will it be a boy or a girl? Will it be obedient? Will it inherit my traits, or Peter's?"
Then she closed her eyes, her smile serene.
"I thought about everything… except the idea of giving it up."