Chapter 149: The Future I Want to Protect
Marine Headquarters - Residential District - Courtyard
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the courtyard, plating everything in a layer of soft gold.
Roy stood quietly at the entrance, watching the scene before him. His face, usually stern and cold, now wore a gentle smile.
Inside the kitchen, three slender but capable young women were busy at work:
15-year-old Nojiko, wearing a simple, clean apron, was stir-frying a hot dish in a wok. The aroma was mouthwatering, her eyes focused and gentle.
13-year-old Nami stood on her tiptoes, carefully arranging hot dishes onto plates. Her short orange hair swayed with her movements, her expression as serious as a battlefield commander.
16-year-old Kuina wielded a kitchen knife like a sword, the blade flashing like snow. Ingredients were sliced with precision at her fingertips, mirroring the decisiveness and calm she showed when drawing her blade.
The three worked in tacit understanding, the delicious scents drifting from the kitchen enveloping the entire courtyard.
Out in the yard, Luffy and Zoro could no longer contain themselves. Wrapped head-to-toe in bandages, they sat on the ground, each clutching a meat bone thicker than their arms, gnawing voraciously while mumbling "Mmph-mmph-mmph" in happiness.
WHACK! WHACK!
Ace delivered a sharp knuckle sandwich to each of their heads, veins popping on his forehead. "Don't talk with your mouths full!!!"
Huge bumps instantly swelled on their heads, but they clung to their meat bones for dear life, protesting with their eyes without stopping their chewing for a second.
To the side, Law was calmly mixing a medicinal soup, his gaze steady and focused.
Rosinante (Corazon) was clumsily arranging cutlery nearby, humming a quiet tune to himself.
Not far away, Baby-5 nervously held a water pitcher, trying to refill glasses. Her hand slipped, spilling water all over the table. She panicked instantly. "I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
"Mr. Rosinante! Don't let her touch the glass cups!" Nami yelled from the side, looking like her hair was about to explode.
Rosinante, however, smiled until his eyes turned into crescents, comforting her softly. "It's okay~ Baby-5 is just a little nervous. She's trying very hard."
The girl, who once would risk her life for anyone who said "I need you," now blushed and lowered her head, giving a soft "Mmh," before quickly grabbing a cloth to wipe the table earnestly.
Since joining the Marines, under the patient guidance of Vice Admiral Tsuru and other female officers—coupled with the "heart-cleansing" effects of the Wash-Wash Fruit—Baby-5 was gradually breaking free from her old habit of blindly pleasing others.
She was slowly learning to think, to respect herself, and to grow.
She had also formally apologized to Law, acknowledging her past childishness and impulsiveness.
Although the two still bickered, they were earnestly trying to get closer to one another.
"She's a good girl," Rosinante had once said, patting Law on the shoulder after a few drinks. "Maybe... she's a good match for you."
Law's ears had turned bright red. He didn't say a word, silently turning his face away to continue stirring his medicine pot.
Laughter, the scent of food, and the evening glow wove together in the courtyard. These young men and women, who had just stood on the edge of life and death, were now immersed in a brief, authentic moment of peace.
Roy stood outside that circle of warmth and laughter, watching them quietly. His gaze softened.
He whispered, as if answering a question he had asked himself long ago, "This... is the future I want to protect."
The wind brushed gently over his shoulder.
In this moment, he was no longer the "Galaxy Impact" warrior of the battlefield, nor the Marine Vice Admiral weighing political situations in high-level meetings.
He was just—
A big brother silently guarding the smiles of these children.
Footsteps approached from behind.
The familiar oppressive presence and heavy gait told him who it was without needing to turn around.
Garp and Zephyr arrived side by side.
The two veterans, nearing eighty but still standing like pillars of steel, stopped at the gate. They looked at the new generation growing up in the courtyard—
Luffy was stuffing his face with meat; Ace was roaring while trying to stop him; Law chuckled as he pulled Ace back.
Nojiko, Nami, and Kuina worked side-by-side in the kitchen.
Zoro sat wrapped in bandages, practicing his breathing techniques.
Rosinante was correcting the placement of cutlery for Baby-5, who bowed her head and listened, looking rarely quiet and docile.
It was a tranquil yet vibrant picture. Even the battle-hardened old soldiers paused, their expressions softening.
Garp's gaze slowly swept over each child's face before finally landing on Roy.
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and patted Roy heavily on the shoulder.
His tone, usually loud and boisterous, was rarely low and solemn. "Stinky brat... I think the best thing I've ever done in my life was bringing you back from the East Blue all those years ago."
Roy was slightly stunned. He turned his head and saw a hint of moisture quietly reddening the corners of the Iron Fist Hero's wrinkled eyes.
"Old Man Garp..."
His voice lowered as well, intending to say something.
But Garp spun around abruptly, as if his emotional defenses had been breached. He immediately reverted to his "rough old man" persona, his voice booming like a cannonball. "LUFFY—!!! DID YOU MISS YOUR GRANDPA?!!"
"PFFT—!!!"
Luffy, still gnawing on the meat bone, was caught off guard. He sprayed a mouthful of meat and started coughing violently!
"Cough-cough-cough!! Mmph-mmph—!!"
"Ah, you idiot Luffy!" Nami quickly put down the plates and rushed over, patting his back while shoving water into his hand. "Why are you eating so fast!"
Luffy gulped down a large mouthful of water with tears in his eyes. Finally recovering, he looked up to see Garp's wrinkled, grinning face and screamed in despair, "GRANDPA!!! I JUST WOKE UP!!!!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
Ace laughed heartily, hands on his hips. "Serves you right! You were eating like a wild boar!"
Zoro silently scooted a few feet away, mouth twitching, trying to look like this had nothing to do with him.
Rosinante took the opportunity to pull a sweet from under the table and hand it to Baby-5. "Have something sweet to calm your nerves..."
Baby-5's eyes reddened slightly. She nodded, the corners of her mouth lifting into a rare smile.
Zephyr stood at the door, mouth twitching, but eventually shook his head, a smile appearing on his face. "...A bunch of noisy brats."
Roy stood at the door, his eyes deep as the ocean, his chest feeling touched by something gentle.
"Smiles like this..."
"A future like this..."
He vowed silently in his heart, I will definitely protect it.
"Oh my, oh my~ It looks quite lively here."
Accompanied by a lazy voice, Admiral Kuzan (Aokiji) pushed open the courtyard gate, walking in slowly with his messy hair.
"You came too?"
"Well... how could a lively occasion lack a fringe Admiral like me~"
Following closely behind, a flash of lightning landed.
THUD!
Enel appeared, sparkling with gold, wearing his usual arrogant and taciturn expression.
"...Where is the kitchen?"
"You eat food?" Rosinante's eyes widened.
"Gods get hungry too," Enel replied with a straight face.
"Where did you learn to talk like that?!"
Just as everyone was teasing him, the gate opened again—
Sengoku, dressed in casual clothes, walked in holding a large box of snacks with both hands.
He looked around, seeing everyone gathered. His gaze landed on Roy, and he nodded slightly.
"No official business today."
"Everyone, just relax."
And so, in the afterglow of the setting sun, the usually cold and austere officer's residence became like a bustling family home.
Laughter filled the courtyard, the smell of food wafted through the air, and the sunset was warm.
Dinner was served. Garp sat at the head of the table, tearing into roast meat heroically. Zephyr rolled up his sleeves to flip steaks at the grill, while Nami stood on tiptoes to stuff freshly picked lemons into his apron pocket. "Add some sourness, old man!"
Sengoku had a headache dealing with the pincer attack of Luffy and Ace, who were forcing giant skewers of meat into his hands.
Nearby, Zoro and Kuina's chopsticks clashed on the table, neither giving an inch.
"A guy who can't even pick out fish bones..."
"Better than an idiot who can't tell directions!"
Law originally wanted to sit alone in the corner, but Baby-5 dragged him to sit down, enthusiastically piling food onto his plate until the brim of his hat was pulled lower to hide his red ears.
Under the cherry blossom tree at the edge of the courtyard, Kuzan leaned lazily against the trunk, fake-sleeping, until Roy walked up silently and clinked his glass against Kuzan's.
"Brother, you can't drink if you're pretending to sleep."
Kuzan smirked, opening his eyes and raising his glass. The ice wine refracted amber light under the lamps.
Night fell completely. The lamps in the courtyard lit up one by one, casting a warm yellow light on everyone's faces.
The meal was over, but the laughter didn't stop.
Nojiko suddenly brought out a small Photography Snail from the house, smiling brightly. "Let's take a group photo to remember today."
Everyone cheered and stood up, gathering toward the camera.
Nami helped set the angle, and Nojiko adjusted the timer. The snail's light flashed twice, starting the countdown.
"Hurry, hurry—Luffy, you still have meat in your mouth!"
"Ace, don't block me!"
"Zoro, don't stand so far back, you're almost out of the frame!"
"Enel, can't you look serious?"
"3—2—1—"
CLICK!
The shutter sound rang out, freezing the laughter in that instant.
In the photo, everyone was gathered under the courtyard lights, their smiles free and relaxed:
Garp was laughing with hands on his hips, as if he had just told an exaggerated story.
Sengoku stood to the side, smiling, his eyes showing a rare softness.
Rosinante stood on Sengoku's other side, leaning against him with smiling eyes, one hand held high in a peace sign, grinning like a sunny boy.
Zephyr and Kuzan stood side by side; the former standing straight with hands behind his back, eyes gentle but firm, the latter looking casual and lazy.
Enel leaned against the railing, arms crossed, but unable to stop the corners of his mouth from turning up.
Law and Baby-5 sat side by side. Baby-5's eyes were bright, smiling shyly; Law had a faint smile, but his eyes were gentle.
Zoro leaned back in his chair, holding a meat bone in one hand; Kuina stood behind him, pulling at his shirt, a smirk on her lips.
Nami hands on her hips, gave a peace sign to the camera, smiling as bright as spring. Nojiko stood to the side, sticking her tongue out playfully, also making a peace sign.
Ace had one arm around Luffy, the other hand open in a "V" toward the camera, wearing a brilliant, boyish grin.
And Luffy, with a big piece of unfinished meat in his mouth, looked utterly satisfied, eyes curved into crescents, smiling like a child who had soaked up enough sunshine.
In the very center was Roy.
He lowered his head slightly, hands resting on Ace and Luffy's shoulders. His smile was gentle, his eyes certain and peaceful.
As if telling them: "I will always be by your side."
The background behind them was swaying shadows of lamps, a gentle night breeze, and a courtyard filled with laughter.
This moment was simple and warm.
That photo was eventually hung in the most prominent spot in the living room.
Below the wooden frame, a line of small text was carved:
"This moment is worth remembering forever."
—To the Marine New Generation, To the Future.
♧♧♧
-> SUPPORT ME WITH POWER STONE
-> FOR EVERY 200 PS = BOUNS CHAPTER
♧♧♧
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.patreon.com/c/Segais
(Just remove the hyphen to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you