Roger winced in pain. "Ow, ow, ow! Rouge, I'm sorry!"
Ace, Sabo, and Ann: "...Mom, do you know this creep?"
Rouge let go and wiped her eyes. Then she suddenly smiled. "Of course I know him."
She gently pushed Roger's back. "Go on. Introduce yourself."
Roger rubbed his ear and stood up straight.
"Nice to meet you, kids." Roger grinned, showing his white teeth. "I'm your father."
Ace: "...Huh?"
Sabo: "???"
Ann: "...Oh."
The next second, Ace's roar echoed through Shimotsuki Village.
"Are you kidding me!!! I..."
The sea breeze blew. The mist disguising Roger's face quietly faded. It revealed a face Ace knew all too well. The face from the family photo hanging in Uncle Rhett's room. That always grinning, stupid face.
Ace's voice changed. His roar turned into... roar??
"Me? Father!!!!"
Just then—
"Everyone, stop!!!"
Rouge explained to the three little ones with a smile.
"He didn't use a move 'like' Divine Departure..." Rouge's voice trembled. "...He created Divine Departure!"
The three little ones were struck by lightning.
"Ace~"
"Yes, Mom!"
"Ann~"
Ann's expressionless face immediately switched to cute mode. She ran to Rouge and put Rouge's hand on her own head. Then she rubbed against it.
"Sabo~"
"Mom! I'm here! I see you haven't hung the laundry yet. I'll do it right now!"
The three little ones were each trying to awaken their mother's affection in their own way.
Rouge shook her head. "That can wait And Roger"
Roger was already sweating.
"The children's father~"
Roger's clothes were already soaked. It was a sunny day, but the rain was coming down hard on Roger.
Rouge looked at the four of them. "Can you explain to Mom why, when I shouted so loudly just now, not a single one of you listened? It must be Mom's fault for feeding you too much meat. Your nutrition is unbalanced. Today, we'll eat bitter melon to improve your diet."
Rouge's smile grew softer. Her fingers curled around her hair. "Oh dear It seems Mom has been too gentle"
She walked slowly toward the vegetable garden in the corner of the yard. The three little ones and Roger's backs were instantly soaked with cold sweat.
"Mom remembers planting bitter melon, golden thread, and that super bitter cactus we brought back from Skypiea" Rouge hummed as she picked a bitter melon. "Today, we'll have a specially made... 'Mom's Love Full Bitter Feast'"
"Wait, Rouge!" Roger slid on his knees and grabbed his wife's leg. "This is all my fault! I shouldn't have appeared suddenly and scared the children!"
Ace immediately caught on. "Yeah, yeah! Mom, we're sorry! We shouldn't have not recognized Dad!"
Sabo pushed up his glasses. "Aunt Rouge, I suggest Father eat it alone. After all, he's been absent for so many years..."
Ann nodded seriously. "Mom, Ann can eat double meat as punishment. Ann's share can go to Ace and Sabo."
Rouge tilted her head. Her smile was so sweet it was unsettling. "But Mom specially prepared this dinner with love"
Just then, Ace suddenly pointed at the sky. "Look! A flying dragon!"
While everyone looked up, the three little ones and Roger turned and ran.
Rouge's smile didn't fade. "Anyone who doesn't come home for dinner tonight—"
"Will have to eat bitter melon for the next month! Every single day! Okay~"
The four of them had barely run a few steps when they suddenly stopped at the same time. They looked at each other. Then they turned around and walked back, pretending nothing had happened.
Ace scratched his head and laughed dryly. "Ahahaha, Mom, that was all a misunderstanding!"
Sabo pushed up his glasses and looked serious. "We just suddenly remembered that we haven't finished hanging the laundry."
Ann nodded silently. Her face was serious. "Mm. Ann is very good."
Roger rubbed his hands together and smiled ingratiatingly. "Rouge Let me help you cook"
Rouge kept her gentle smile. The bitter melon in her hand shimmered with an eerie light. "Oh? Is that so?"
Just then—
"Oh, everyone's here?"
Rhett's voice came from the doorway. The four people's eyes lit up instantly.
"Uncle Rhett!!!" The three little ones shouted together, as if they had seen their savior.
Roger was so moved he had tears in his eyes. "Kid! You came just in time!"
At that moment, it was as if Rhett had a radiant light shining behind him. Even the sun wasn't as bright as Rhett right now.
"Looks like you're getting along..." Rhett saw the four people's sparkling eyes. Then he saw Rouge's smile, so gentle it was unsettling. He immediately understood.
He turned around smoothly. "Ah, I suddenly remember I haven't tied up the ship yet—"
"Little brother~" Rouge's voice floated over gently. "Where are you going?"
Rhett froze. He slowly turned back and gave a very forced smile. "Sis... I-I was just stretching..."
Rouge gently held up the bitter melon in her hand. "Since everyone is here, why don't you all try my specially made 'Mom's Love Full Bitter Feast'~"
Everyone: "..."
Rhett took a deep breath. He suddenly dashed to Roger's side and grabbed him by the collar.
"You old bastard!!! What did you do!!!! Bastard!!"
Roger: "??? I regret it too!"
"Rhett~" Rouge's voice came again. "Do you want to eat bitter melon with your brother?"
Rhett immediately let go of Roger and stood at attention. "Sis! I'll go help in the kitchen right now!"
With that, he ran to the kitchen without looking back. He moved so fast he left an afterimage.
Roger and the three little ones stared in shock. "..."
......
It was only then that Oden's family and Tesoro's group arrived. Rhett had only wanted to check if everything was alright.
Oden laughed loudly. "Kuhahaha! Rhett, look at you!"
Hiyori and Hizumi tilted their heads. "What's wrong with Uncle Rhett?"
Rouge saw the new guests and immediately returned to her elegant and dignified manner. Even though Rouge was still smiling, everyone felt that her smile was somehow different.
She gently smoothed her skirt and gave a gentle smile. "Nice to meet you. I am Roger's wife, Portgas D. Rouge."
Lady Toki held little Hiyori in her arms and returned the greeting gracefully. "I am Kozuki Toki. These are our daughters, Hiyori and Hizumi."
Just then, Stella walked over with little Rati. The baby was sleeping soundly in her mother's arms. Her soft little face made you want to pinch it.
"This is our ship's doctor, Stella," Rhett introduced, casually slipping back out of the kitchen. "And this is little Rati."
The three mothers smiled at each other. It was as if gentle flower petals were floating in the air. Rouge gently touched Rati's face.
"What an adorable child."
Lady Toki also came closer. "She looks just like her mother."
Stella smiled softly. "Thank you."