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"Okay, Big Sis Stella," Shirako said sweetly. "We'll help you."
"No, no, it's fine!" Stella waved both hands. "I can handle it. You three go sit in the living room for a bit."
"It's alright, sis," Shirako said, already reaching for the vegetables. "We're going to be living together from now on, right?"
"Mm?" Stella tilted her head.
So Shirako started explaining while washing tomatoes, Wanda and Ella moving beside her to help with quiet efficiency.
As she listened, Stella slowly pieced it all together—Wano, Orochi, Kaido, the execution, the ruined country, and a little girl whose entire family had been shattered.
By the time Shirako finished, Stella's eyes were a little red.
She set the knife down, bent over, and pulled Shirako into a gentle hug.
"Then from now on," she said quietly, "none of that will happen here."
"Thank you, Big Sis Stella…"
Shirako finally broke.
No one in the kitchen knew just how much the eleven-year-old had been holding in.
First her family was destroyed. Then she wandered, hiding her name, hiding her face, clinging to survival. And when she finally found her grandfather again…
He handed her to a man she'd only met once and told her to leave her homeland behind.
It all bubbled up at once.
"Okay, okay," Stella soothed her, rubbing her back. "Let it out. From now on, you can just live here with us and be a kid, okay?"
Shirako lifted her face, eyes wet and shining, and nodded hard.
"Alright." Stella helped her straighten. "Then let's make White-bro breakfast together. Yours too."
"Guu~"
It wasn't just Shirako's stomach that growled. Wanda's and Ella's bellies chimed in chorus.
"Hehe…"
The whole kitchen froze for a beat, then burst into awkward smiles.
Stella giggled.
"Then let's work hard, everyone. White-bro eats a lot, so we'll need plenty."
Wanda nodded. She'd seen Jin eat. If he really cut loose, she was pretty sure he could polish off a whole Sea King by himself.
It didn't take long for the four of them to finish.
"It's ready," Stella called, carrying out bowls.
"Then let's eat," Jin said simply.
They all dug in, mimicking Jin's method—scooping noodles into a bowl, ladling tomato-egg over them, sprinkling on condiments.
"Mmm—so good!"
Shirako had sauce all over her lips.
"Slow down, there's more." Stella smiled at her. "You can eat this whenever you want from now on."
"It's delicious!" Ella cheered around a mouthful. She avoided meat, but eggs were fine.
Everyone slurped happily.
As for Jin… he'd taken the biggest bowl in the house, inhaled it in a few bites, and was already working on his second while Stella quietly refilled for him.
"Uuugh—full," he sighed at last, leaning back and lighting a cigarette.
Once the four girls finished cleaning up, Jin clapped his hands.
"You've met Shirako and the other two. As for him—" He nodded at the leopard mink. "This is Pedro of the Mokomo Dukedom, a mink swordsman. He'll be sticking with us too."
"Nice to meet you. Please take care of us," Stella said gently.
"N-no, I wouldn't dare," Pedro said quickly. "Just… call on me if you need anything, ma'am."
Hearing someone call her "ma'am" while Jin didn't deny it made Stella blush all over again.
"Alright, Shirako."
"I'm here, White-bro!" She scurried over and knelt neatly in front of him, back straight.
"Relax," Jin said, grimacing. "I'm not an old samurai lord."
"O-okay, White-bro."
Her words said "okay," but her posture didn't budge an inch.
Jin gave up.
"Your grandfather entrusted you to me," he said. "In his mind, it's insurance against all the unknowns in that prophecy."
"The premonition Mother left behind…?"
Jin nodded.
"I know you're not satisfied," he went on. "You still want to do something for your brother's future war against Kaido and Orochi."
She opened her mouth but he held up a hand.
"Since you're with me now, being weak is not an option."
He reached into his bracelet and drew a sword.
Tenfuyu.
The blade gleamed as he ran it across his palms.
"This is—" Shirako's eyes went wide.
"Yeah," Jin said. "This is your father's blade. After Kaido executed him, your grandfather took it into hiding. Then I came to Wano…"
He smiled, not bothering to sugarcoat it.
"Threatened him a bit, and he handed me all three swords."
The room collectively facepalmed.
So he did just bully her grandpa out of them…
"He only agreed," Jin continued, "on the condition that I take you away with me."
He held the sword out.
"So from today on," he said, "you'll be the one to train with it. I'll teach you."
Shirako took Tenfuyu with both hands.
It was almost as tall as she was.
"So that's what Grandfather meant," she whispered. "When he said you had something I 'needed'…"
She stared at the sword as if seeing her father for the first time.
"Keep the blade by your side," Jin said. "But for training, we'll start with bamboo. Once your basics are solid, then you can swing Tenfuyu."
"Yes, White-bro." She bowed deeply.
Jin let it go.
If she wanted to be formal that badly, he wasn't going to argue.
"I'm a Devil Fruit user," he said. "And also just a totally average, nothing-special Great Swordsman."
Pedro and Wanda both twitched.
Totally average?
Out of the whole damn ocean, how many Great Swordsmen did they even have?
"And sure, I haven't really had a proper sword fight in a while," Jin went on. "But training a little girl? I can manage that much."
He pointed to the wall.
"See that rack over there? Grab one of those bamboo swords."
"Okay!"
Shirako carefully set Tenfuyu aside and picked up a bamboo practice sword from the stand.
"There are thirteen main foundational movements," Jin said, standing and taking up a stance. "Slash, carry, lift, deflect, strike, thrust, tap, smash, stir, press, cleave, cut, and wash."
He moved slowly, talking as he demonstrated.
"A thrust is just a straight line—you drive the point where you want it to go. A cleave is from high to low, cutting down the center.
"A rising cut is from low to high, driving through with the front third of the blade.
"A hook catches and pulls—tip forward, then up or down. A 'cloud' is a circular motion over your head, keeping the blade moving so it can flow into anything.
"A 'drop' is a quick snap from high to low with the tip. A 'smash' is the opposite—low to high, explosive power…"
He flowed through each motion once, smooth and relaxed, then held the bamboo sword out to her.
"Those thirteen form your base. Learn them first."
"Yes!"
Shirako copied the form step by step, tongue poking out a little in concentration.
Jin watched closely.
"Too fast," he said. "You're rushing your breathing. At the start, you don't need speed. You need clean form. Foundation first."
"Yes, White-bro."
He had to admit, for a kid, her memory was excellent.
He'd only shown her once and she already had the sequence down. Her body just needed to catch up.
Not bad. Worthy of Oden's kid. Way better than that idiot brother of hers…
Wanda and Pedro watched from the side, both swordsmen themselves.
"You two can drill this as well," Jin said over his shoulder. "I'm sure you've learned your own styles, but basics are king."
Then he turned back to Shirako, adjusting her hands, nudging her stance, correcting where she put her weight.
"Relax your shoulders. Don't clench the grip. The sword moves, not your whole body."
They'd been at it for a while when a girl's voice came from the door.
"Stella-nee, I'm back!"
The door slid open.
Jin turned, eyebrows lifting.
When did another kid move in?
A petite girl in a white dress stood in the entryway. Half her hair was white, half bright red, pulled up at the back into two little ear-shaped tufts.
Her face was small and delicate, eyes bright.
She froze as she saw him.
And he froze seeing her.
"…Huh?" Jin blurted.
His brain took a second to catch up.
Why is this brat here?
White dress, half-white half-red hair, rounded hair-buns like little animal ears at the back of her head…
The kid practically screamed "energetic idol."
"Ah, Uta, you're back," Stella said with a smile. "Hurry in. White-bro's back too—and he brought some friends."
She'd already told Uta before: the man of this house was the one called White Ghost.
"R–right, Stella-nee."
Uta shot Jin one quick, nervous glance, then bowed.
"Good morning, Mr. White. …It's been a while."
She scampered to Stella's side, clinging to her sleeve.
Jin watched her go and squinted.
How the hell did she end up here…?
Two more figures stepped through the door behind her.
No—one person, one skeleton.
"Yohohohoho! White Ghost-san, you've returned!"
"You must be White Ghost," the man beside him said, smiling politely. "My name is Gordon. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Mm. Brook. Long time no see," Jin said. "Good to finally meet you too, Gordon."
"Oh-ho-ho, long time indeed," Brook said, ever the gentleman as he bowed.
Jin rubbed his temple.
"Come in," he said finally, giving up on untangling the logic for the moment. "Stella, put on some tea. Shirako, take a break."
"Okay, White-bro," Shirako chirped, setting the bamboo sword aside.
Ella hurried over with a cloth to dab the sweat from her forehead.
Jin settled in the living room with Brook and Gordon. Stella poured tea and sat with Uta, holding the girl's small hand.
Uta was extremely tense.
She'd seen this man fight before—back when she'd still been on Shanks' ship.
She had no idea if he would actually accept her, or if she was about to be turned away all over again.
Next to her, Shirako stole curious glances at the girl about her age.
Wanda's gaze, meanwhile, was fixed firmly on Brook.
Specifically, on his bones.
Ever since he'd walked in, she'd been sneaking looks whenever she thought no one was watching, ears perked, tail twitching.
Bone. Walking bone. Talking bone.
Brook felt it.
He definitely felt it.
He'd been very restrained so far.
As a matter of professional ethics, he never used his… usual opening line on any of the women around Arakaki Jin.
But Wanda's eyes…
Those eyes were staring holes into his ribs.
Jin leaned his chin on his hand and watched her, amused.
Knew it.
Glare at me all you want, but the moment my ultimate weapon walks in, all your pride as a canine mink goes out the window.
Bones. Your natural enemy—and greatest temptation.
Eventually Brook couldn't take it.
He stood and walked over to Wanda.
"Miss Wanda, if I may—"
From the moment she'd first seen him, Wanda had felt like the world had cracked open.
A skeleton.
A living, moving skeleton.
She'd been holding on by sheer willpower, only daring to sneak quick looks when she was sure no one would notice.
She absolutely did not want to embarrass Shirako by doing something crazy.
But she hadn't realized just how obvious her staring was.
To everyone.
Don't come over. Don't come over. If you come closer I'm going to lose it.
"Miss Wanda…?"
Don't come any closer, you walking bone, she warned in her head. Or I won't be able to stop myself…
Ella watched, thoughtful.
Is… Wanda-nee just really excited or something? She always teases me about being too obvious…
Pedro also looked between Brook's skeleton frame and Wanda's expression, then nodded to himself.
…Yeah, this tracks.
Brook opened his mouth to speak—
And Wanda tackled him.
"Eh~?" Stella blinked. "Are minks this… direct?"
Uta, Shirako, and Ella all stared, cheeks pink.
Brook, for his part, had been expecting something very different.
Are all minks this… forward?
He was about to say something when Wanda's voice came out muffled against his ribs.
"Bones. Bones."
Her tail whipped back and forth.
"Crunchy bones. Moving bones. Talking bones…"
She sounded half-dazed, half-ecstatic.
"Wait," Brook thought, eyes going hollow in alarm. "Something feels wrong about this situation."
"Wait, Miss Wanda, please calm down!" he yelped, panic creeping into his voice.
"I can't take it anymore!" she cried.
With one swift motion, she yanked his sleeve aside, leaned in, and chomped down on his bare humerus.
Crunch, crunch—
"KYAAAAAAH—MY BODY!!"
Jin doubled over laughing.
The rest looked from Wanda to Brook and back, collectively speechless.
So that's what this is about…
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