She casually grabbed Nami's coffee from the table, took a sip, and promptly spat it out:
"This tastes awful! What is this? It's like bath water!"
"Close enough, that counts as shampoo water." Nojiko said in a haunting tone, "You rarely look so animated, but it's all over the place. Maybe you should start from the beginning..."
"That's true... Sorry, I got a bit too excited." Kuina smacked her forehead.
...
A few minutes later.
Tashigi sat honestly across the original table, holding a book with a slightly flushed face, and Kuina had just finished recalling how they met.
"So you met her by coincidence in a bookstore? You've never seen each other before?"
Nojiko and Nami exchanged glances, full of astonishment.
There are indeed such coincidences in the world.
Two girls, born thousands of miles apart, without any blood relation, looking exactly alike, not even differing in height.
Moreover, their interests and hobbies are quite similar, both enjoying practicing swordsmanship, liking Japanese aesthetics, appreciating famous swords, loving to read books...
Once Tashigi noticed the Wado Ichimonji, they both opened the floodgates of conversation, chatting more and more agreeably, feeling like they've known each other forever.
Of course.
Upon learning that Kuina had already entered the Iron-Cutting Realm and became a Sword Master, it became mostly Tashigi asking and Kuina answering.
Even though they are similar in age, their swordsmanship realms are vastly different.
Kuina casually pointed out a few things that greatly benefited Tashigi, various knowledge about Sword Dao coming to her easily.
Her esteem rose sharply in Tashigi's heart, even addressing her as "Your Excellency."
"So calling her a Sword Fool isn't wrong after all..."
Nojiko looked with interest at the thick stack Tashigi was holding.
Like "Complete Collection of Swift Blade Diagrams," "Sword and Saber Forging Discussion," "When Famous Blades Fall Into Evil Hands! The Pain that Ace and Murakumogiri Left to the World"...
Eh, Ace?
She frowned slightly, vaguely recalling that among the youngsters her brother met back in the Goa Kingdom, there seemed to be one by that name?
It should be a coincidence...
As she was pondering, Kuina sighed again, "It's a pity we're about to set sail on the Grand Line, or I'd definitely take her back to Shimotsuki Village, see if my father can tell the difference! He'd probably be too shocked to close his mouth!"
"That shouldn't fool Koushirou."
Nojiko shrugged, "Not to mention him, even Nami and I were only initially fooled by you two, but after observing for a bit longer, we can still easily tell you apart."
Nami nodded in agreement.
Indeed.
These two may look almost identical, but their temperaments couldn't be more different.
Kuina always has a mild smile, seeming very approachable on the surface.
But she is ambitious, with a cool and proud demeanor deep down, an absolute self-confidence in her swordsmanship talent and strength.
As for Tashigi...
Eh, perhaps due to her glasses having a higher degree, she seems a bit naturally dazed, muddle-headed.
She seems timid too, despite knowing Nami, Nojiko, and Kuina by now, still clutching her book nervously, appearing shy and apprehensive.
This kind of girl, as Kuina says, is actually an Apprentice Navy?
"Meeting by chance is fate, Tashigi, why not have lunch with us? Our treat, oh, Kuina, did you see my brother on the way?"
Nojiko glanced at her watch, "Eleven fifty-two, only eight minutes left until the agreed time, really, why haven't we seen him yet."
"Didn't run into him."
Kuina shook her head, "No need to rush, let's wait a bit longer, Lord Shano is always punctual, saying we'll rendezvous at noon, he'll definitely make it before then."
"You trust him unconditionally, don't you?"
Nojiko chuckled, about to speak, when suddenly Tashigi exclaimed excitedly, her face flushed red, "——Huh??? Wait, wait!"
"Lord Shano?! You're talking about the Shano who's been famous in the East Sea for years, he's, he's... Is he your brother?"
"To be precise, he is their brother."
Kuina held her tea, lamenting:
"Jealous, aren't you? I've been envious for a long time, why is it they got to grow up living with Lord Shano, while I have two noisy fools who argue all the time."
"Did you add lemon?" Nojiko curiously shook the coffee cup at Nami.
"No, it's not cola, why add lemon." Nami wondered.
"Then why did it suddenly taste so sour?"
The two sisters laughed cheerfully, Kuina glanced aside: "It's alright, everyone's on the same boat now, I get to see Lord Shano every day anyway, no difference."
"I, I want to see him too!"
Tashigi suddenly clasped her hands together, pleading, "Where is Lord Shano? Is he also on this island? Will he come over here? Let me see him in person, please! I've been a devoted fan of his since I was a kid, read those reports about him many times! Starting my path on Sword Dao was influenced by him, too!"
As she spoke, Tashigi seemed to suddenly remember something, hurriedly took out her wallet from her arms.
At the top of a section, it was the photo used in the Asakura Island incident report, a black-haired youth with a clear face holding a Bamboo Sword, standing proudly on a wooden platform, surrounded by a crowd cheering him on.