Chapter 169: Tashigi
Loguetown - Ipponmatsu Arms Shop
Zoro pushed open the shop door, carrying several newly purchased swords on his shoulder, ready to step out.
Just then—
"BAM—!"
"Ah!"
A figure rushed in hurriedly, slamming right into his solid chest before falling onto the wooden floor with a loud thud.
"Oi, are you okay?"
Zoro bent down reflexively, steadying her shoulder with one hand while using the other to pick up the glasses that had fallen to the ground.
"I-I'm so sorry!" The girl's cheeks flushed red, and she waved her hands frantically. "I wasn't looking where I was going... I'm really sorry!"
She took the glasses, put them on hastily, and looked up—
Their eyes met.
Zoro froze completely.
The girl before him had neat short hair and delicate features, but her eyes held a distinct stubbornness and heroic spirit.
Especially that quiet, determined expression—it instantly summoned a figure buried deep in his memories.
—The girl he had chased countless times in his childhood.
"Kuina?!!"
Zoro blurted it out instinctively, looking utterly confused. "Didn't you go to buy supplies? Why is your hair short again??"
The girl paused, tilting her head with a puzzled look. "...Kuina? Who is that?"
Just as she was about to speak further, her peripheral vision caught the swords at Zoro's waist—
Three swords, hung diagonally in an orderly fashion. The scabbards were worn, a clear sign of frequent battle.
She recognized two of them instantly, especially the black blade glowing with an eerie aura!
"Wah, wah, WAH!!!"
The girl's eyes instantly turned into sparkling stars. Completely forgetting she was still sitting on the floor, she lunged toward him, pointing excitedly at Shusui.
"Th... th... is this Shusui?! The legendary Black Blade?!!"
"And this one... is Sandai Kitetsu, right?!!"
"Y-Your sword loadout is like a dream come true!!!"
Zoro stared at her as she got uncomfortably close to his face, his eye twitching. "...Kuina, what kind of game are you playing?"
Hearing that name again, the girl paused. Finally realizing the misunderstanding, she quickly stood up, dusted off her pants, and corrected him seriously, "My name is Tashigi. You've mistaken me for someone else!"
"...Hah???"
Zoro was stunned. He took a half-step back, looking the girl up and down.
Deep blue short hair, a cool temperament, stubborn eyes, and that scholarly vibe when wearing glasses—
"You're not Kuina? ...But you look exactly like her?!"
Tashigi, however, was already completely captivated by his swords, her eyes shining. "Excuse me, sir! Are you a swordsman? Can I please take a closer look at your swords?!"
Zoro's mouth twitched. "...Weren't you just sprawled on the floor a second ago? Where did all this energy come from?"
Tashigi froze, suddenly remembering her earlier clumsiness. A blush quickly spread across her cheeks. She flusteredly tidied her uniform, then stood straight and bowed.
"I'm sorry, I just got too excited!"
"I am Master Chief Petty Officer Tashigi of the Marine Loguetown Branch! Please treat me well!!"
Zoro frowned, his expression complicated. "A Marine... and a Master Chief Petty Officer?"
"But this personality... isn't the cold type like Kuina at all..."
He sighed, pulling Shusui from his waist and handing it to her. "Fine. You can look, but don't touch anything weird."
Tashigi took it with both hands carefully, almost tearing up the moment her palms touched the scabbard.
"It really is Shusui...!! One of the 21 Great Grade Swords, the national treasure Black Blade lost in Wano Country!"
"Being able to observe it up close is the happiest thing to happen to me all year!!"
She began muttering about the blade's texture, center of gravity, and craftsmanship characteristics, looking like a professional researcher possessed.
Zoro felt a headache coming on. "Did the Marines send you to research swords or to fight wars?"
Tashigi looked up, her eyes filled with respect and excitement. "Wait... You... You are Roronoa Zoro, right?!"
"The Marine Headquarters Captain known as the fiercest swordsman of the new generation, who cut down a Supernova in Sabaody?!!"
Zoro scratched his head. "Ah... that stuff... it's nothing special."
"The newspapers just write whatever they want."
Tashigi, however, looked ready to spin in circles of joy. "It really is you!! I-I'm so lucky! To meet you in person here—"
"Please, you must, must have a spar with me!!!"
Zoro: "...Hah??"
"I'm serious!"
She straightened her back, her eyes shining with determination. "To cross swords with a top-tier swordsman is my lifelong dream!"
Loguetown - Square in front of Ipponmatsu Arms Shop
The sun was fierce, and the streets were bustling.
Right in the small square in front of the arms shop, a sudden duel between swordsmen attracted a crowd of onlookers.
"CLANG—!"
Yubashiri and Shigure collided in the air, creating a crisp metallic echo!
Sparks flew, streaking like tiny meteors between them in the afternoon sun.
Tashigi gripped her hilt with both hands. Her stance was stable but clearly strained, sweat trickling down her forehead, her breathing rapid.
"So strong... Is this an elite swordsman from Marine Headquarters?"
She gritted her teeth and held on, the light in her eyes burning brighter.
Opposite her, Zoro held a single sword. His movements looked casual, yet they were despairingly precise.
He wasn't using his full strength. Just with Yubashiri in a One-Sword Style, he firmly suppressed Tashigi's offensive.
"Your basics aren't bad."
With that, he flipped his wrist, bringing his blade down like a collapsing mountain!
"BAM!"
A powerful force transmitted through the blade, instantly knocking Shigure aside. Tashigi stumbled back, her feet slipping as she nearly fell.
Zoro flicked his sword lightly and sheathed it with a clean click. His voice was calm. "That's enough."
Tashigi stood up straight, panting, but her eyes were full of excitement and respect. "You defeated me so easily... using only one sword..."
The surrounding crowd erupted in applause and cheers.
"Master Chief Tashigi is already very strong!"
"To be able to exchange blows with a Headquarters Swordsman, she's amazing!"
"You'll win next time!!!"
Clearly, Tashigi was very popular in Loguetown.
The support from the crowd made her lower her head and smile shyly, her ears turning red.
Zoro scratched his head, looking uncomfortable. "Oi, you..."
Just as he spoke, a roar came from behind him—
"ZO—RO—!!!"
"BONK!"
A fist slammed heavily onto the back of his head!
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!"
Zoro spun around clutching his head, shouting in grievance, "What was that for, Kuina?! She asked me to spar!! I didn't even want to accept!!!"
Kuina stood there holding several bags of groceries, her face written with anger. Clearly, she had come back to see a huge crowd around the weapon shop, with Zoro seemingly bullying a little girl in a fight!
"Don't you think your stance, from behind, looks exactly like you're bullyi—"
She stopped halfway through her sentence.
She finally saw the girl standing opposite Zoro—
Similar build, similar aura, sharp short hair, red-framed glasses, wearing a Marine uniform... standing straight with a serious expression.
"..."
Kuina froze.
Opposite her, Tashigi's eyes widened the moment she saw Kuina, freezing in place as if looking into a mirror.
The two stared at each other, the air instantly still.
"This person... why does she look..." Both murmured in their hearts simultaneously.
Zoro stood in the middle, looking left, then right, with a blank expression.
Then, he slapped his forehead and blurted out:
"Wait, are you guys twins?!"
Kuina: "..."
Tashigi: "..."
The next second, both of them turned their heads and roared in unison:
"AS IF!!!"
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