The house was quiet.
Garp moved carefully—far more carefully than anyone would ever believe possible for him. He pushed the door open with his shoulder and stepped inside, Kael still asleep against him, small fingers clutching his coat.
Garp lowered him onto the bed.
Kael shifted slightly, murmuring something unintelligible, then turned on his side. His breathing evened out, deep and heavy with exhaustion. Tear tracks still marked his cheeks.
Garp straightened slowly.
He stood there longer than necessary, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the boy. The same boy who whined during training. The same boy who joked, talked nonstop, and ate until he passed out.
The same boy who had just unleashed something that even grown men feared.
"…Tch," Garp muttered, turning away. "What a pain."
But his mouth was curved upward.
The night deepened. When Kael didn't stir again, Garp stepped outside and shut the door behind him.
Then he reached for a Den Den Mushi.
It rang once.
Twice.
"Garp," Sengoku's tired voice answered. "Do you know what time it is?"
"Yeah," Garp said cheerfully. "Middle of the night. Perfect time for good news!"
There was a pause.
"…I already regret answering."
Garp laughed loudly. "Listen up! My grandson awakened Haoshoku Haki today!"
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT."
Sengoku sat bolt upright on the other end. "Don't joke about that."
"I'm not joking!" Garp declared proudly. "Bandits attacked Foosha. Kid got scared, screamed my name—and boom! Everyone dropped like flies!"
Another long pause.
Sengoku rubbed his temples. "Garp, I'm telling you—this is serious. A child awakening Haoshoku Haki is—"
The Den Den Mushi blinked once.
"Your—" Sengoku stopped, stared at the receiver.
The Den Den Mushi blinked twice.
Then raised his voice. "Since when do you have a grandson?!"
Garp burst out laughing. "Hah! You're slow! Kid's been around for years!"
"YEARS?!" Sengoku slammed his desk. Papers flew. "You've been hiding a child for years and this is how I find out?! In the middle of the night?! After you casually mention Conqueror's Haki?!"
"Heh, slipped my mind," Garp said lightly.
"That is not something you forget!"
Garp leaned back, utterly relaxed. "Name's Monkey D. Kael. Tough kid. Loud. Eats like a monster. Reminds me of myself."
Sengoku went quiet.
"…Monkey D," he repeated slowly. "Garp."
"Yeah?"
"That child is Dragon's—"
"My grandson," Garp cut in, tone firm and proud. "Don't start."
Sengoku stared at the ceiling, silently questioning every life choice that had led him here.
"So let me get this straight," Sengoku said at last. "You've been secretly raising Dragon's child in East Blue… and today that child knocked out an entire group of bandits without touching them."
"Exactly!"
Sengoku groaned. "The world is doomed."
Garp laughed again. "Nah. The world's gonna be fine. Long as the kid's got me."
"That is precisely what worries me," Sengoku muttered.
He straightened, expression turning serious. "This stays between us. If anyone learns that Dragon's son—your grandson—has Conqueror's Haki, every power in the world will take interest."
"Relax," Garp replied. "Kid just wants to be a Marine like his grandpa."
Sengoku's heart skipped. "…He said that?"
"Proud as can be."
There was a long silence.
"…Damn it," Sengoku said quietly.
Garp smiled, softer this time. "I'm gonna train him properly—make him my legacy!"
"Absolutely not," Sengoku snapped. "You're already dangerous enough on your own!"
Garp grinned wider. "Too late! I've decided!"
Sengoku could already imagine it—Garp "training" a child with fists, cliffs, and impossible expectations. His headache returned in full force.
"…You're unbelievable," Sengoku muttered. "This stays quiet. If word gets out—"
"I know, I know," Garp interrupted, unusually serious for a moment. "He doesn't even know what he did."
Sengoku exhaled slowly. "…Then make sure it stays that way."
The Den Den Mushi clicked off.