The Future He Wanted to Protect

Marine Headquarters, Residential Area, and Courtyard

As the sun sets, its warm orange light spills into the courtyard, bathing everything in a soft golden glow.

Roy stood quietly at the door, gazing at the scene before him. His usually stern face now wore a gentle smile.

Inside the Kitchen, three slender yet capable young women were busy at work:

Fifteen-year-old Nojiko, dressed in a simple and neat apron, stir-fries the steaming dishes in the wok, the aroma filling the air, her eyes focused and gentle;

Thirteen-year-old Nami stood on tiptoe, carefully placing the hot dishes one by one onto the plates. Her short orange hair swayed gently with her movements, and her eyes were as focused as a Battlefield commander.

Sixteen-year-old Kuina wielded a knife with lightning speed, precisely slicing the ingredients with the same decisiveness and composure she displayed when drawing the knife.

The three worked together seamlessly, and the delicious aroma wafting from the Kitchen filled the entire courtyard.

In the courtyard, Luffy and Zoro, unable to contain themselves any longer, sat on the ground, their bodies wrapped in bandages, each clutching a meat and bone club thicker than their arms, gnawing on it greedily, making "woo-woo-woo" sounds as if trying to speak, their faces filled with bliss.

"Slap! Slap!"

Ace flicked them on the head with one hand, veins throbbing on his forehead. "Don't talk while you're eating!!"

The two men immediately developed large bumps on their heads, but they still clung tightly to the meat stick, expressing their protest with their eyes, while their mouths never stopped.

On the other side, Luo Zheng calmly prepared the medicinal soup, his gaze steady and his expression focused.

Meanwhile, Rosinante clumsily set the table, humming a tune to herself.

Not far away, Baby-5 was nervously trying to refill the teapot, but accidentally spilled it all over the table and hurriedly apologized, "I'm so sorry!"

"Mr. Rosinante! Don't let her touch the glass!" Nami shouted from the side, her hair practically standing on end.

Rosinante smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents, and gently comforted her, "It's okay~ Baby-5 is just too nervous, she's already tried her best."

The girl who once selflessly risked her life for others because of a simple "I need you" is now blushing and lowering her head, softly humming in agreement, and quickly picking up a rag to wipe the area carefully.

--Since joining the Navy, under the patient guidance of female officers such as Vice Admiral Tsuru, and with the ability to "wash away the dust" through her "Wash-Wash Fruit" to "cleanse her soul," Baby-5 has gradually shed her past habit of blindly trying to please others.

She has gradually learned to think, respect, and grow personally.

She has formally apologized to Luo, acknowledging her past immaturity and impulsiveness.

Although they still bicker sometimes, they are both earnestly trying to get closer to each other.

"She's a good person," Rosinante once said with a laugh, patting Ro on the shoulder. "Maybe... she'd be perfect for you."

Luo's ears turned bright red, and he didn't reply to a word, but silently turned his face away to continue stirring the medicine pot.

Laughter, fragrance, and the glow of the setting sun mingled in the courtyard, where the boys and girls who had once stood on the brink of life and death were now immersed in a brief but genuine moment of tranquility.

Roy stood outside that warmth and laughter, quietly watching them, his gaze slowly softening.

He murmured softly, as if answering a long-forgotten question in his heart, "This is the future I want to protect..."

The wind gently brushed against my shoulder.

At this moment, he was no longer the "Galaxy Fist" on the Battlefield, nor the "Marine Vice Admiral" weighing the situation in high-level meetings.

He just--

A kind older brother who silently protects the smiles of these children.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

A familiar sense of oppression and heavy footsteps approached from behind; he knew who it was without turning around.

Garp and Zephyr arrived side by side.

Two veterans, nearing eighty yet still standing as steadfast as steel, stood at the entrance, watching the growing New Generation in the courtyard.

Luffy was eating meat with gusto, while Ace roared at him to stop. Luffy chuckled and stepped forward to pull Ace away.

Nojiko, Nami, Kuina work side-by-side in the Kitchen;

Zoro, covered in bandages, sat to the side practicing his breathing exercises.

Rosinante was correcting the placement of the cutlery for Baby-5, and she listened attentively with her head down, her expression unusually quiet and docile.

All of this was like a tranquil yet vibrant painting, causing even seasoned veterans to pause in surprise.

Garp's gaze slowly swept across each child's face, finally landing on Roy.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and patted Roy's shoulder heavily.

His tone, unlike his usual gruff manner, was unusually low and solemn. "You brat... I think the best thing I ever did in my life was bringing you back from the East Blue."

Roy paused for a moment, then turned his head to look. To his surprise, he saw a hint of redness and moisture at the corner of the Iron Fist hero's wrinkled eyes.

"Grandpa Garp..."

His voice lowered, as if he was about to say something.

Garp suddenly turned around, as if his emotional defenses had been breached, and immediately reverted to his "rough old man" demeanor, his voice booming like a cannonball. "Luffy--! Did you miss your grandpa?!"

"Puff--!"

Luffy, who was gnawing on a meat stick, was caught off guard and was so startled that he spat out a mouthful of meat and immediately began coughing violently!

"Cough cough!! Ugh--!"

"Hey, you idiot Luffy!" Nami quickly put down her plate and rushed over, patting him on the back and shoving water into his hands. "Why are you eating so fast?!"

Luffy gulped down a mouthful of water with tears in his eyes, finally managing to catch his breath. Looking up at Garp's wrinkled, smiling face, he instantly broke down, screaming, "Grandpa!! I just woke up!!"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Ace laughed heartily, hands on his hips. "Serves you right! The way you ate just now was like a wild boar!"

Zoro moved a few steps to the side, his lips twitching, trying to put on an expression that said, "This has nothing to do with me."

Taking advantage of the moment, Rosinante pulled out some snacks from under the table and handed them to Baby-5: "Have something sweet to calm your nerves..."

Baby-5's eyes were slightly red, she nodded gently, and a rare smile appeared on her lips.

Zephyr stood in the doorway, his lips twitching, but he couldn't help shaking his head slightly, a long-lost smile appearing on his lips, "... a bunch of noisy brats."

Roy stood at the doorway, his eyes as deep as mountains and seas, yet his chest seemed to be gently touched by something.

"That smile..."

"Such a future..."

He silently vowed to himself, "I will definitely hold out."

"Wow, it looks pretty lively."

As a lazy voice rang out, Admiral Kuzan pushed open the courtyard gate and slowly walked in, his hair still looking like he had just woken up.

"Why are you here too?"

"Well... how could a lively occasion be complete without a marginal Admiral like me?"

Immediately following, a bolt of lightning struck the ground.

Thump!

Enel appeared, his entire body shimmering with golden light, his face bearing his usual arrogance and taciturn nature.

"... Where is the Kitchen?"

"You're here to eat too?" Rosinante's eyes widened.

"Even gods get hungry," Enel replied sternly.

"Where did you learn to talk like that?!"

Just as everyone was joking around, the door was pushed open again--

Sengoku, dressed in casual clothes, walked in carrying a large portion of pastries in his hands.

He looked around and saw that everyone was gathered there. His gaze fell on Roy, and he nodded slightly.

"No business to discuss today."

Everyone, please relax.

Thus, in the afterglow of the setting sun, this officer's Residence, which should have been austere, became like a lively home.

Laughter filled the courtyard, the aroma of food wafted through the air, and the afterglow of the setting sun was warm.

The food was served. Garp sat in the Head Seat, heartily tearing into the Barbecue. Zephyr, sleeves rolled up, flipped the ribs over the grill. Nami tiptoed and stuffed a freshly picked lemon into his apron pocket. "The old man needs a bit more sourness," she said.

Sengoku was struggling to deal with the combined attack from Luffy and Ace when he was forced to eat a large skewer of Barbecue.

Not far away, Zoro and Kuina's chopsticks clashed on the dining table, neither giving an inch.

"A guy who can't even pick out fish bones properly..."

"It's better than some idiot who can't even tell directions!"

Luo originally wanted to sit alone in the corner, but Baby-5 dragged him to sit down. She enthusiastically piled food onto his plate, causing him to pull his hat brim even lower and his ear tips to turn slightly red.

Under the cherry blossom tree at the edge of the courtyard, Kuzan was still lazily leaning against the trunk, pretending to doze off, until Roy silently approached and gently touched the rim of his wine glass.

"Senior brother, you can't drink alcohol if you pretend to be asleep."

Kuzan smiled slightly, opened his eyes, and raised his glass; the ice wine reflected an amber light under the lamp.

As night fell completely, the lights in the courtyard were lit one by one, casting a warm yellow glow on everyone's faces.

The meal was over, but the laughter and chatter continued.

Nojiko suddenly pulled a small camera bug out of the house, beaming, "Let's take a group photo to commemorate today."

The crowd cheered and stood up, gathering around the camera.

Nami helped set the angle, and Nojiko adjusted the timer. The camera bug's light flashed twice, and the countdown began.

"Hurry up, hurry up— Luffy, you still have meat in your mouth!"

"Ace, get out of my way!"

"Zoro, don't stand too far back! You're almost out of frame!"

"Enel, can't you be serious for once?"

"3--2--1--"

"Snap!"

The shutter clicked, freezing that moment of joy.

In the scene, a group of people gather under the courtyard lights, their smiles relaxed and carefree.

Garp laughed heartily, hands on his hips, as if he had just finished recounting some exaggerated old story;

Sengoku stood to the side, a smile on his face, his eyes revealing a rare gentleness;

Rosinante stood on the other side of the Sengoku, leaning against him with a smile, one hand raised in a V-sign, looking like a sunny boy;

Zephyr and Kuzan stood side by side; the former stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze gentle yet resolute, while the latter appeared casual and lazy.

Enel leaned against the railing, arms crossed, but couldn't help but smile.

Luo sat side by side with Baby-5. Baby-5's eyes were bright, and she smiled shyly. Although Luo's lips were slightly parted, his eyes held a gentle light.

Zoro, with a meat club in one arm, leaned back in his chair. Kuina stood behind him, her hand tugging at his shoulder, a smile playing on her lips.

Nami, hands on her hips, flashed a peace sign at the camera, her smile as bright as spring. Nojiko stood to the side, playfully sticking out her tongue at the camera, her other hand also flashing a peace sign.

Ace had one arm around Luffy, and with the other hand outstretched, he flashed a "V" sign at the camera, his face beaming with a bright, boyish smile.

Luffy, with a large piece of meat still in his mouth, looked completely satisfied, his eyes crinkling as he smiled like a child basking in the sunshine.

Roy is in the very center.

He lowered his head slightly, placed his hands on Ace and Luffy's shoulders, his smile gentle, his eyes resolute and serene.

It was as if he was telling them, "I will always be by your side."

The background behind the photo features flickering lamplight, a gentle night breeze, and a courtyard filled with laughter.

This moment is simple and heartwarming.

That photo was eventually hung in the most prominent position in the living room.

Below the wooden frame, a line of small characters is engraved. "This moment is worth remembering forever."

--To the New Generation of naval personnel, to the future.