"Robin..."
The crowd of archaeologists surrounding Robin and Dr. Clover tensed at her name, a collective chill passing through them. Cold sweat formed on their brows, and their expressions became uneasy.
They had all chosen this path knowingly. To uncover the true history, to decipher the ancient texts—it was a pursuit marked by danger and a looming death sentence. For them, it was a risk worth taking.
But Robin was just a child.
"...Even if you can read the Poneglyphs, Robin," Dr. Clover finally said, voice solemn as he knelt before her, resting his hands gently on her shoulders, "you must understand what that means."
"We're researching something forbidden. Something so dangerous that it's cost countless lives across history." His voice deepened, resonating through the hushed room.
"Eight hundred years ago, the World Government declared knowledge of the Void Century illegal. Since then, anyone who seeks the truth has paid with their life."
The other scholars had gathered tightly around them, creating a quiet, solemn barrier of silence. Hayden, carrying Asada and with a mask dangling from his belt, stood on the edges of the circle, unable to see clearly.
Straining, he squeezed through the crowd, finally catching a glimpse of Robin. Her eyes were brimming with tears.
Dr. Clover continued, raising his voice slightly. "Robin... we are the only ones in the world left who can read these texts. This is O'Hara's burden—and we cannot turn back now."
Suddenly, his tone shifted, sharp and commanding.
"Swear it, here and now—before the Tree of All-Knowing. If you ever enter the basement again without permission, you will no longer be allowed to step foot in the library or be part of this research."
The air inside the library froze. Dr. Clover's words struck like a final judgment. Robin and the surrounding scholars stood stunned by the weight of his command.
Then, without a word, Robin abruptly pushed through the crowd and ran outside, head lowered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Hayden called after her, but she had already disappeared into the dark.
"…Let her go."
Dr. Clover had appeared behind him silently, watching the doorway with a weary sigh.
"…Right."
Hayden remained at the entrance of the Tree of All-Knowing, quietly absorbing the weight of what had just happened.
Robin had just become an archaeologist, and yet—this was the welcome she received.
After a long silence, Dr. Clover finally spoke again, his voice softer, almost hesitant.
"Hayden, was it? It's late now. Do you live somewhere nearby? Would you like me to take you home?"
His tone had shifted into something more lighthearted, the kind one uses when speaking to a child.
"Uh... no, thank you. I can get back on my own."
With his small stature and an oddly mature expression, Hayden looked up at the clover-haired doctor.
"Well, be careful on the road then. Come visit Robin again sometime, if you can."
Dr. Clover smiled, waving kindly.
Hayden's face twitched slightly. It all felt like being sent home from kindergarten.
"…Bye."
Rolling his eyes, Hayden turned and walked out the door.
"...Wait!"
Just as he stepped through the threshold, a thought struck him, and he spun around, one small hand catching the door before it closed completely.
Dr. Clover paused. "Something wrong?"
Hayden looked up seriously, holding his shallow bowl in one hand and pointing behind the doctor.
"Uh, can I take two pieces of that cake on the table? The one we were going to give Robin. And also… Doctor, do you know how to make fireworks?"
That night was meant to be a celebration—Robin had officially become an archaeologist.
But Hayden knew that peace wouldn't last. The moment they dared to seek the true history, their fates were no longer their own.
Whether they escaped O'Hara or not, the future would be full of peril.
The sea was cruel. For the weak, it was hell. For the strong, a paradise.
But tonight, at least, Hayden could try to make Robin smile.
Even if just for a moment.
He walked through the quiet town under the darkening sky, cake in hand, the streets silent save for the occasional distant wind. No festivals, no lights—only the sound of his own footsteps, and a memory of a girl running into the dark, trying to carry the weight of the world.
There were only orange lights glowing from the windows of the stone-brick houses on both sides of the street. Laughter drifted out from some, while sharp voices and faint arguments echoed from others.
To Hayden, walking quietly through this ordinary island town, the warm scenery felt oddly unsettling—a calm before the storm.
This feeling made him subconsciously quicken his pace.
Earlier that day, at the Tree of Knowledge, Hayden had asked the scholars to help him sew a cloth wrap for Asada(Asauchi) and change her into clean clothes. She'd been exposed to the elements for far too long. Now, carrying her on his back would be easier—and she'd be more comfortable.
In one hand, he held a bundled cake; in the other, fireworks prepared by the scholars. He was heading to one place—Robin's home.
Before long, he found it.
Following the hazy impression in his memory, Hayden arrived in front of the house. The stack of newspapers on the wooden boxes near the wall reassured him—it was the same spot where he had tossed them before.
Carefully, Hayden pressed close to the side window and listened.
He could hear multiple voices inside. One of them—sharp and grating—must have been Robin's aunt. But Robin's voice was missing.
She must have already gone to her room.
He recalled from memory that Robin's room had a small, round window near the top archway of the second floor.
Hayden rounded the house and looked up.
Under the silver moonlight, a small circular window stood just above the curved masonry. He exhaled and set down the cake and fireworks carefully on the ground.
Staring up at the window, Hayden felt his head ache a little.
Looking around, he spotted two empty wooden crates. He quickly dragged them beneath the window and stacked them. Standing on top, he picked up a small branch and used it to lightly tap against the window—just enough to make a sound only Robin would notice.
If only I had a little helper to boost me up, he thought with a wry smile.
Moments later, the small window creaked open, and Robin's face appeared.
"...Pervert? What are you doing here?" she whispered down, frowning in confusion.
"Robin, come down quickly. I'm going to show you something amazing," Hayden called back in a hushed but excited voice.
Though surprised, Robin didn't hesitate for long. The voice calling her belonged to her only friend. Even if she didn't understand why he came so late, she didn't ask questions.
Using her Hana Hana no Mi ability, she climbed out of the window quietly.
…
Hayden led the way with his hands full, and Robin followed silently behind. Neither of them spoke.
Eventually, they reached the familiar, quiet beach where Hayden had spent the previous night.
"Here," Hayden said, sitting down on the sand and unwrapping the cake. "You ran off earlier without eating a bite. This is from the doctors."
Robin sat beside him, her expression still slightly gloomy, but she accepted the cake with a soft "Thank you…"
Hayden took a huge bite from his own portion and then stood up, eyes gleaming.
"Alright, now for the main event, Robin."
He held up the fireworks and grinned.
Jogging toward the sea, he planted the firework in a patch of dry sand, far enough to avoid the tide but close enough for impact.
"Robin! Watch this!"
He called back to her, pulling a match from his pocket and striking it.
Fssh— the fuse caught fire.
Robin tilted her head curiously.
A piercing hiss broke the silence of the night. Then—
BOOM!
The first firework erupted over Hayden's head, painting the sky above O'Hara with golden light.
Robin's eyes widened. More bursts followed—the second, then the third—filling the sky with a cascade of dazzling colors and shimmering sparks.
"AHHH—!" Hayden's voice was lost in the roar.
He staggered backward, stunned by the sheer force of the explosion.
That old man didn't say it'd be this powerful! he cursed inwardly, frantically scrambling away from the launch site and rushing back toward Robin in a panic.
When he finally reached her, winded and disheveled, their eyes met.
For a moment, silence.
Then—
"Hahahaha!"
Robin burst into laughter. Her cheeks flushed, and the piece of cake nearly dropped from her hand as she doubled over.
"You're laughing? I almost died out there!" Hayden groaned, his brows twitching.
"Hahaha, sorry! I promise I won't laugh next time…" Robin gasped between giggles.
Hayden muttered something under his breath and plopped down beside her again, attacking the cake in big, dramatic bites.
The fireworks continued overhead.
Robin slowly looked up at the sky, the reflection of starlight dancing in her eyes.
"…Thank you, Hayden," she said softly.