That night, Malverick lay down on the bed, ready to sleep.
Just as he was drifting off, half-asleep and half-awake, the door to the next room creaked open quietly — and Robin tiptoed inside.
Seeing Malverick lying there, she hesitated only a moment before slipping into bed beside him.
Malverick, used to the warmth of soft curves and familiar fragrance every night lately, instinctively assumed that the one beside him was Hancock.
So the moment Robin lay down, he wrapped his arms around her.
Robin froze.
She had only meant to lie down for a bit — how did it turn into this?
But she didn't push him away. In fact, a small smile crept onto her face.
Then—
Her expression changed.
Because after holding her for a few moments, Malverick murmured sleepily,
"Hancock… why do your breasts feel smaller tonight?"
BOOM!
Robin's eyes flew open wide.
Her fingers found the soft flesh at his waist — and pinched with all her strength!
The sharp pain jolted Malverick awake.
He sat up instantly — and was met with Robin's furious glare, a look that said she might bite his head off.
"Why are you here?" he blurted out.
Instead of answering, Robin snatched up a pillow and hurled it at him.
"Talk! Who's Hancock? And what's your relationship with her?!"
Malverick blinked, rubbed his eyes, and sighed. Too tired to care, he lay back down again.
Seeing him ignore her, Robin grabbed his shoulder and shook him hard.
"Say it! What's your relationship!"
Finally losing patience, Malverick muttered,
"Hancock is my woman."
Robin went completely silent.
Malverick reached out, wanting to comfort her — but she shoved him away.
"Humph!" （╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
She stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
Malverick sighed, staring at the door.
Of course he understood what Robin felt.
He'd known it since they were young.
"Forget it," he muttered. "I'll think about it later. Sleep first."
In her own room, Robin sat on her bed, furiously punching her pillow.
The next morning, Malverick's nose twitched. Something was tickling him.
He opened his eyes — and found Robin sitting beside him, brushing his nose with strands of her long hair.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
She didn't answer — just kept teasing him with her hair.
With a sigh, he caught her wrist to stop her mischief.
But he'd forgotten — Robin was never short on hands.
In an instant, dozens of arms sprouted from the bed and began to tickle him all over.
"Alright, stop it already!" he groaned.
"Hmph."
Robin turned away, pretending not to hear — then suddenly asked,
"That woman you mentioned yesterday… is she prettier than me?"
All women liked to compare — Robin was no exception.
Malverick rubbed his temple, broke free from her grasp, and stood up.
"In looks and figure, don't even think about it. She's unbeatable."
The world's most beautiful woman, after all!
But Robin just pouted, clearly not believing him.
Seeing her expression, Malverick took out his smartphone, scrolled to a photo of Hancock, and set it down on the bed.
"See for yourself. I'm going to wash up."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead. I already set out your breakfast, too."
Malverick turned in surprise.
Robin crossed her arms, chin lifted proudly.
"I've decided — no matter who that woman is, I won't give up!"
"I'll win you back, just you wait!"
Malverick stared at her, speechless for several seconds before sighing.
"You really don't have to. I'm not some great guy."
"Hmph! I'll decide that myself!" she said defiantly.
Malverick could only shake his head — Robin had no idea what she was up against.
Intelligence-wise, Robin might be higher.
But Hancock... well, she could just turn her rivals to stone.
When Malverick went to wash up, Robin curiously picked up the smartphone he'd left behind.
At first, she was fascinated by the glowing screen — then stunned by Hancock's photo.
"So pretty…" she whispered.
That face, that skin, that figure — she couldn't deny it.
"She's really… impossible to beat…"
Then her eyes narrowed in curiosity.
"What is this little thing, anyway?"
She began tapping around — and, as everyone knows, the photo gallery doesn't only have pictures… it also has videos.
Moments later—
When Malverick returned from washing up, he found Robin standing there, face red as a tomato.
"Hmph… Hentai!"
Malverick: "???"
Then he saw the screen — and froze.
Before he could explain, Robin covered her face and bolted out of the room.
By the time they met again, it was already ten in the morning.
Robin folded her arms, eyes still full of mixed emotions.
"That thing — the one I looked at earlier — do you have another? I want one!"
"…Sure," Malverick replied without hesitation.
He immediately exchanged for another smartphone, taught her how to use it, and even gave her a spatial ring, identical to Hancock's.
Robin's eyes sparkled. "Such a magical thing — where did you get it?"
"Secret," he said casually.
"Hmph, fine then!" she pouted.
Soon after, the two of them left the town together.
"I want you to take me out to play," Robin suddenly declared.
"You took that woman everywhere — I want the same."
"I don't have time," Malverick said flatly.
"I don't care! I want to go, I want you to take me!"
"Enough. I'm about to head to the Grand Line. I don't have time to fool around."
"Hmph! You're playing favorites!"
Her shoulders drooped; her tone was small and hurt.
She didn't even want much — just a few days together.
Then Malverick's eyes lit up with an idea.
He turned toward her, raising his hand. A dark vortex appeared in his palm.
"I can't take you traveling," he said, "but I can give you something special."
The vortex widened — and from within, a huge square stone slab emerged, inscribed with ancient text.
Robin's breath caught.
The Poneglyph!
The same stone from under the golden bell of Skypiea — priceless beyond imagination.
Her eyes shone with pure excitement.
But before she could touch it, Malverick waved his hand and withdrew it back into the vortex.
"Hey! Bring it back! I want to read it!"
Robin immediately clung to his arm, shaking it desperately like a child pleading for candy.
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