None of them noticed the news gull circling lazily in the sky. After all, those birds were always there, flying back and forth to deliver newspapers. As long as no camera flash was seen, no one ever paid attention to them.
But this one gull wasn't just delivering papers.
It aimed its lens downward and, at the perfect moment, clicked—capturing a photo of Shanks holding Anna, while Marco's hand clasped hers.
The picture, of course, told only half the story.
In truth, Marco and Anna had simply been sparring in the backyard, testing her combat skills. Fists flew, kicks clashed—but it was clear Marco was still leading her around.
Realizing that brute force wasn't working, Anna decided to switch tactics. She turned her fist into an open palm, pressed against Marco's shoulders, leapt behind him, and tried to strike from the rear.
Unfortunately, Marco countered in an instant. He turned, extended his arm, and accidentally sent Anna flying.
Right—straight—toward Shanks.
Shanks caught her easily, his expression half amused, half startled. Marco, worried that she might fall, reached forward instinctively and grabbed her hand—creating a very compromising tableau.
From a distance, it looked like something far more romantic than it really was.
The onlookers froze for a heartbeat, then chaos erupted.
A few Red-Haired Pirates began to whistle and shout, while Thatch and the others rushed forward, trying to pull Anna away. The whole scene was a blur of movement and noise.
And high above, the newspaper gull took one last shot of the commotion—then flapped away, camera gleaming. Its next destination: Morgans' news office.
Down below, everyone remained blissfully unaware of how tomorrow's headlines were about to explode.
"Marco, you used too much force," Thatch finally said, giving the phoenix a look that was somewhere between concern and disbelief. Seriously, even if you had to knock her back, why send her flying into Shanks' arms of all places?
He could already imagine the gossip. What if Shanks kidnaps our little Anna?
"Sorry, Anna—are you okay? Do you want me to use the Healing Flame on you?" Marco asked, quickly pulling her back from Shanks' arms.
Anna waved both hands. "No, no, I'm fine! I just lost my balance."
"Hahaha, glad to hear that!" Shanks laughed, still lounging where he stood. "But since I caught you, shouldn't you thank me somehow? Maybe… another box of wine?"
Anna sighed helplessly. "Fine, how about we just use all the wine I brewed today for a party instead?"
Shanks' grin widened. "Oh, a party on you, huh? You heard her, boys!"
A chorus of cheers followed instantly.
"Thanks, little lady!""She's so generous!""Hahaha, Captain, since you're the one who hugged her, maybe she's yours now! She can brew wine, too—imagine the savings!""Yeah, Captain, it's about time you found yourself a wife!"
The Red-Haired Pirates burst into laughter, making the air lively with teasing.
But the Whitebeard Pirates weren't amused.
"Hey, hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Thatch barked, stepping forward. "Anna's one of our crew—and she likes Marco!"
"Eh?" Shanks blinked, turning toward Anna with a smirk. "Is that true, little girl? You like Marco?"
Anna flailed her hands. "N-no! I don't like Marco… I like Marco's phoenix form!"
Her eyes gleamed as she spoke, voice brimming with admiration. "Don't you think his phoenix form is beautiful? Those turquoise flames wrapping around the sapphire feathers—it's just breathtaking!"
Shanks chuckled, rubbing her head affectionately. "You know what? I get it. I've always wanted to lure that bird-brain onto my crew, too."
Anna gasped with excitement. "Finally! Someone who appreciates Marco's beauty as much as I do!"
And just like that, she began chattering endlessly to Shanks about Marco—his flames, his wings, his elegance—until Marco couldn't take it anymore.
"Alright, alright, little girl, I get it," he said, sighing with a hint of exasperation. "I'll let you ride me through the sky a few extra laps later, alright? But first, I need to check if you're injured."
"Okay," Anna nodded obediently. "But let's go to my room—it's too crowded here."
"Fine," Marco agreed, guiding her upstairs toward the guest room.
Inside, Anna closed the door behind them and, without hesitation, slipped off her top—leaving only her camisole straps visible.
Marco froze. His face immediately turned pink as he looked away.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
Anna blinked innocently. "You said you were going to check me, right? Why are you turning around?"
Marco groaned softly. "Anna… you're a young girl. You should be more careful around men."
"But you're not just any man, Marco," Anna said, tilting her head in confusion. "You're Marco."
Her words hit him like a spark. For a moment, Marco's heartbeat roared in his chest—loud enough that even he could hear it.
Then, just as quickly, the wave of warmth was doused by Anna's next words.
"Besides, you're a doctor, aren't you? Doctors aren't supposed to think about stuff like that. There's no difference between men and women in front of a doctor."
Marco could only stare as Anna began inspecting herself, completely unaware of the turmoil she'd caused in his mind.
He sighed, pressing a hand to his temple. Is she doing this on purpose? No… she's too innocent for that. I'm the one overthinking things.
But still… do I really—
He cut that thought short immediately. No. Impossible.
Focusing on his role as a doctor again, Marco examined her shoulder carefully. Sure enough, there was a faint bruise where she'd been hit.
"That must've hurt," he said softly. "Why didn't you tell me right away?"
Anna smiled. "It's fine! Getting bruised is normal when training. It's not like it broke skin or bone."
Marco frowned. "You shouldn't be so careless, little girl. And don't be this comfortable around other men."
Anna laughed. "Don't worry, Marco. You're the only one I'd ever act this way with."
Marco stared at her for a moment, torn between frustration and something else entirely. The girl was hopelessly oblivious—and yet, that very innocence made his heart ache a little.
"Alright," he said finally, exhaling. "Hold still. I'll use my Regeneration Flames to heal you."
"It's just a bruise—"
"No excuses." Marco's voice was firm but gentle. "Let me do my job."
Anna pouted slightly but didn't argue.
As soft blue fire enveloped her shoulder, the bruise faded away like it had never existed.
Marco smiled faintly. "There. Good as new."
Anna grinned, eyes shining. "Hehe, thank you, Marco. You really are amazing."
Marco turned his head aside, pretending to check his gloves—anything to hide the tiny smile tugging at his lips.