Rosinante, twelve years old, was now Yoriichi's true peer.
His full name was Donquixote Rosinante—the younger brother of Donquixote Doflamingo.
Once Celestial Dragons residing in the Holy Land of Marijoa, Rosinante's family had renounced their status and relocated to an island nation along the Grand Line. Yet when the locals learned of their former Celestial Dragon lineage, they sought vengeance.
Young Doflamingo, believing the family's misfortunes were his father's fault, awakened his Conqueror's Haki, journeyed to Marijoa to reclaim their Celestial Dragon status, and was rejected. Rosinante, surviving this chaos, was rescued by Sengoku and adopted as his son.
The first half of Rosinante's life had been a mixture of fortune and misfortune. His father's kindness lingered in him, though he had lost some of his innocence. Yoriichi sensed this subtle kindness in Rosinante.
Since meeting him, Yoriichi's life had gained a new rhythm. Like Yoriichi, Rosinante had not yet been admitted to the Naval Academy, nor officially commissioned as a Marine. Sengoku guarded him fiercely, and only a few close friends knew his true background.
Yoriichi's days were spent at home with Rosinante—reading, strolling through the family quarters, and sharing quiet companionship. Zephyr often regaled him with stories from the Naval Academy. Academics were secondary; Yoriichi learned from experience. These days were peaceful, almost nostalgic.
But this peace ended two weeks later, when the dojo Zephyr had built was finally completed. Yoriichi's life changed dramatically.
---
"Hey! Yuichiro, Yuichiro!"
"I'm coming!"
"Come on! I'll show you how good I am today!"
Early one morning, Rosinante burst into Zephyr's home, bamboo sword in hand, shouting with excitement. He had known the dojo was complete and had been eager to teach Yoriichi kendo. Although he hadn't officially joined the Navy, Sengoku had privately trained him, giving him basic skills.
"Huh?" Yoriichi glanced up.
"Oh! The kid from Sengoku! Hahaha, you're here!" Zephyr chuckled as he appeared from another bedroom. Today, the Naval Academy was on holiday, and Zephyr had planned to train Yoriichi in the dojo he'd built. Seeing Rosinante, he laughed heartily—fond of the young Marine-in-training.
Rosinante immediately straightened and saluted Zephyr respectfully. As they spoke, Yoriichi emerged in loose training clothes.
"Kid, you're here! Let's go to the dojo!" Yoriichi called. He affectionately called Rosinante "Kid," partly because Rosinante's identity was a secret, and partly because of his slender frame.
"Asshole! Don't call me brat, I have a name!" Rosinante protested, though secretly amused.
"Okay, brat," Yoriichi replied with a smile.
"Come on, show me how good I am! Let's see if you still call me brat!" Rosinante raised his bamboo sword.
Both had dreams of becoming elite Marines. Learning together, training together—they made a pact to grow stronger side by side.
---
The dojo was nearly 100 square meters, sparsely furnished except for bamboo swords along the walls. Yoriichi entered barefoot, casually picking up a sword. Two swings rustled the air, precise and effortless.
"Not bad. Hey, kid, come here," Yoriichi called. Rosinante stepped forward, and they faced each other.
Zephyr, seated to the side, smiled. "I'll be your referee! Go for it, both of you!"
"Begin!" he shouted.
Rosinante attacked with all his energy, slashing downward toward Yoriichi's head. But Yoriichi easily parried the blow with minimal force. He countered, lightly tapping Rosinante's chest—just enough to destabilize him.
Rosinante staggered three steps back, recovering quickly.
"Hey, you're dead," Yoriichi joked, teasing his friend.
"Come on!" Rosinante's eyes sparkled with excitement. He hadn't expected his friend to be so skilled—what a thrill!
Yet, after a dozen minutes, the novelty wore off. Yoriichi's attacks were precise, swift, and seemingly effortless. Every attempt Rosinante made was countered, leaving him frustrated.
Finally, he slumped onto the tatami, sweating.
"I'm done! I can't beat you!"
"Yuichi, why didn't you tell me you knew kendo? This is so one-sided and boring!"
Yoriichi watched silently. He understood why Rosinante, despite being Sengoku's adopted son, hadn't advanced far—he lacked Haki and the Six Styles. He realized he had to train Rosinante carefully, to prepare him for future challenges without harming his reputation.
No shortcuts. Step by step. I'll help him grow, Yoriichi thought.
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(End of Chapter)