The residential district of Marine Headquarters.
Walking side by side with Gion along the wide, sunlit street, Kane glanced around with quiet curiosity. Both sides of the street were lined with shops small markets, bakeries, and general stores selling everything from daily necessities to fruits and flowers. The atmosphere wasn't all that different from a shopping district back on Earth, though Marineford's architecture carried a sleeker, more modern flair.
Because this was a Marine base, even the shop signs followed the same color scheme blue and white, sharp and disciplined like their uniforms.
"You should come here on your own sometime," Gion said casually, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Pick up some fruit or snacks, treat yourself a little. You're still growing, after all. It wouldn't hurt to get taller."
Kane blinked. Taller? He was already sixteen and nearly one meter ninety. Did she really think he still needed to grow?
Then again, he figured it made sense coming from her. Gion stood at least two meters tall graceful, yes, but undeniably towering. Perhaps her idea of "average height" was a little skewed.
Noticing his silence, Gion frowned slightly, mistaking it for insecurity. "Actually," she added quickly, "you don't need to worry about height. You're tall enough already. Sixteen's a good age you've still got plenty of time to grow."
Kane chuckled softly. "I wasn't thinking about that, Gion. But… you might want to know there's a man staring at you from over there."
He gestured toward a tavern across the street, where a man in a brown casual outfit was leaning lazily against the doorframe, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The guy's expression was somewhere between smug and sleazy, his small eyes squinting beneath thick brows. His round face and crooked grin didn't help. Kane thought privately that the man looked like the human version of a pig from an old Earth folktale.
Gion followed his gaze, and when she saw who it was, her expression turned sour. "Oh, him? That's Tokikake. He's annoying. You should probably stay away from him."
Tokikake… Tea Dolphin, Kane thought, recognition sparking. He's supposed to be one of the candidates for Admiral in the future alongside Gion herself.
As if summoned by her glare, Tokikake's eyes lit up the moment their gazes met. He stubbed his cigarette against the wall, straightened his wrinkled jacket, and strutted toward them with all the confidence of a man who thought he was irresistible.
"Miss Gion!" he exclaimed dramatically. "It's been an entire month since I last saw you! You're as beautiful as ever. Please, accept my eighty-eighth confession of love!"
He presented a bouquet of flowers with exaggerated flourish, his face shining with what he probably thought was charm.
Gion didn't even glance at him. With the patience of a saint wearing thin, she reached out, grabbed Kane's wrist, and started walking away.
"Wait Gion! Don't go! You haven't rejected me yet this time!" Tokikake cried, trotting after them like a puppy desperate for attention.
"I've lost count of how many times I've rejected you," Gion said sharply. "You can stop wasting your breath."
"Why though?!" Tokikake clutched his chest as if she'd stabbed him. "Is it because I'm not handsome enough? Or because I'm not successful enough?"
Kane's lips twitched. You're seriously asking that? Have you looked in a mirror lately?
Tokikake drooped in defeat when Gion ignored him, sighing like a man whose world had just collapsed. Then, as if noticing Kane for the first time, his small eyes widened.
"Hey, and who's this young man?"
Kane, realizing he could no longer just spectate, stepped forward politely. "Hello, sir. I'm a new recruit. My name is Kane Uchiha."
"Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Tokikake," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. But inside, his thoughts were spiraling. A new recruit? Why's he with Gion? And she's actually walking beside him? Don't tell me
A horrifying realization struck him like lightning. She's fallen for him!
He froze mid-step, eyes widening in disbelief. Kane blinked, uncertain whether to be concerned or amused. Then Tokikake suddenly looked up, his face filled with melodramatic resolve.
For several tense seconds, he stared deeply into Kane's eyes as if trying to read his soul. The intensity was unnerving. Kane half-expected him to start a duel right then and there.
But instead, Tokikake looked between the two of them, took a deep breath, and with the grave tone of a man who had accepted a great tragedy, said, "Alright. I understand now. Gion, I wish you happiness!"
And with that, he turned and walked away without another word, shoulders slumped but oddly dignified.
A moment later, a few drops of water splashed at Kane's feet. He frowned. "Huh? Is it raining?"
"No," Gion sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "That's just Tokikake. He… tends to get emotional."
"Ah." Kane shrugged, deciding not to question it further.
They continued walking until they reached a quieter part of the district where rows of houses lined a cobblestone path. Gion stopped and pointed to a modest three-story building ahead.
"That'll be your temporary residence," she said. "Once you complete your training, you'll be assigned a permanent home."
Then she gestured to the neighboring villa surrounded by a manicured garden. "That's where I live with Vice Admiral Tsuru. If you need anything, you can come find me there. I'll be staying at headquarters for the next few weeks."
Kane nodded in acknowledgment. "Understood."
Satisfied that he had no complaints, Gion smiled faintly. "Good. Get some rest, Kane. The training camp won't be easy you'll need your strength."
With that, she turned gracefully on her heel and walked off down the path, the click of her heels fading into the evening breeze.
Kane watched her go for a moment, then entered the small building that would be his home for the time being. The place was simple but comfortable clean sheets, polished floors, and a faint scent of sea salt drifting in from the window.
He dropped onto the bed, folding his hands behind his head as he stared at the ceiling.
So far, Marineford had been far more lively and far stranger than he'd imagined. Between Gion's teasing, Garp's chaos, Sengoku's authority, and now Tokikake's absurd theatrics, it was clear that the Marines were anything but boring.
A faint smile crossed his lips. "Well," he murmured to himself, "guess it's time to see what this world's 'elite training' is really about."
Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long golden streaks across Marineford. A calm before the storm because soon enough, Kane's real journey in the Marines was about to begin.