Grandma Airin

1512th year of the Sea Circle Calendar, East Blue, Loguetown

The morning sea breeze carried a salty, damp scent, and the Harbor of Loguetown was already bustling with activity.

A small Warship slowly approached the shore, its gangway lowered, and three figures disembarked one after another.

"Roy! Didn't you say you'd take us back to visit Grandpa Rock and Grandma Airin? What are you doing here?"

Nine-year-old Luffy skipped and hopped along at the front, a piece of meat dangling from his mouth, mumbling incoherently.

Roy, with one hand in his pocket and the other gently patting Luffy's head, said, "Let's meet an old friend first, no rush~"

Twelve-year-old Ace followed behind, carrying a small cloth bag containing a gift he had specially chosen at Marine Headquarters —an exquisite seashell wind chime, the sound of the sea breeze that Grandma Airin loved to hear.

"When I went back last time, Grandma said she wanted a wind chime that could be hung by the window..."

Thinking about seeing his grandmother soon, Ace couldn't help but smile.

Two years ago, when Roy first took them back to his hometown in East Blue, the scene was quite chaotic.

(Memories of two years ago: Dawn Island in the East Blue)

At dawn, before the morning mist had fully dissipated, an old house stood quietly in the sea breeze at the foot of Dawn Island.

Three figures walked slowly to the door. The young Ace and Luffy, carrying small bags, looked around warily and curiously.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

Roy stood in the doorway, a gentle smile on his lips.

"Squeak--"

The door slowly opened, and the burly Rock poked his head out, about to scold his son, "You finally decided to come back, huh...?"

Then he saw it: two little ones were peeking out from behind Roy, one on each side.

"Huh? Who are these two?" Rock raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting from anger to confusion, but the next second his face changed drastically.

"Wait, wait a minute..."

He sized Ace and Luffy up and down, his eyes wide like saucers. "You, you brat... you actually kept a child this big from us?! You bastard!! How can you be so irresponsible?!"

"It's not mine..."

Roy's face darkened instantly. He opened his mouth to explain, but Rock jumped up, grabbed his collar, and pulled him down (he immediately bent down to avoid accidentally hurting his father): "You still dare to argue? This grumpy brat looks exactly like you when you were a kid! And this chubby-bellied little monkey!"

"Wow! Stop pulling Roy's clothes!" Luffy to "rescue" him, only to be lifted up by Rock. "Wow! Grandpa, you're so strong!"

"Let me explain..." Roy's voice quickened, "They're not my sons, they're students I brought back!"

Just then, Airin rushed over upon hearing the noise, still wearing her apron. "What happened?"

She glanced at Ace and Luffy and froze.

"Son... son... this... this is your secret child?! You kept it from us for so long..."

"Mom! It's not what you think..."

"They've even learned to talk back!"

Airin's eyes reddened, and she was already sobbing involuntarily, "How could you let your child grow up without a mother?!"

"I said they aren't..."

"Who taught you that? You dare to do it but not admit it?!" Rock roared.

"We really weren't his children!"

Luffy kicked wildly in the air, tilted his head back, and protested loudly, "He's our big brother Roy! Not our dad!"

Ace, with a complicated expression that said "I don't know these people," finally couldn't help but take a half step back, until Airin suddenly stepped forward and hugged the two children tightly.

"Poor children..." Her voice was as soft as the wind, "Don't be afraid, from now on, this is your home."

Her embrace carried a faint scent of lavender, soft and warm.

Ace froze, and in that instant, he remembered those things he had never had in his bleak childhood.

Luffy burst into laughter and started nuzzling against her. "Grandma smells so good, even better than Aunt Bellemere!"

Airin chuckled and wiped away her tears. "You must be hungry. Grandma will go cook something right away."

That lunch was a welcome banquet of the highest caliber ever held in the East Blue.

Seafood hot pot, sweet and sour fish, dried plum rice balls, yam and pork rib soup... a whole table full of delicious food, the aroma filling the air.

"Eat more, it's the time when you're growing."

As Airin added more rice to her bowl, she murmured with concern, "You two are so thin, it breaks my heart."

After dinner, she took out the balls of yarn and fabric she had treasured for many years from the box and sewed clothes for her two children by hand.

I want a red cape!

Luffy rolled around on the pile of fabric, "I want to be like Brother Roy! I want to be cool!"

"I'd like to make you a pair of pajamas like a navy uniform, is that alright?" Airin asked Ace, who was still being stubborn.

Ace paused for half a second, then finally nodded, blushing.

At night, the two children finally lay in the soft bedding.

Ace stared at the wooden ceiling, the wind chimes tinkling softly outside the window, and heard Luffy muttering in his sleep, "Grandma's fried rice is so delicious," and the sound of Airin gently closing the door.

It was as if something had been slowly stitched up.

The next morning, before dawn, Ace unusually stood at the Kitchen door and whispered, "Thank you."

Airin turned around, smiled, and patted his hair. "From today onwards, you and Luffy are both my children."

From then on, every time she returned to the East Blue, Airin would prepare a delicious meal in advance, sew new clothes for them, make snacks, and tell them stories of sea legends.

Ace respected her like a mother and never easily refused her;

Luffy is also known throughout the village as a "grandma-lover," constantly shouting at the village entrance, "I have the gentlest grandma in the entire East Blue!"

He even boasted that "when I grow up, I'll build my grandma a flying boat!"

(End of flashback)

The morning sun shone on the docks of Loguetown, a gentle sea breeze blew, and the air was filled with the aroma of fresh fish and the smell of boat fuel.

As Luffy chewed the last bite of his rice ball, he kept muttering, "Who am I supposed to see? Is it really more important than seeing Grandma Airin? I really want to eat Grandma's stewed meat, that soft and incredibly fragrant kind!"

"Almost there, almost there, don't rush." Roy rubbed his head helplessly.

Before he finished speaking, the air suddenly became viscous, and a thick white smoke rose from all directions.

"Fog?!" Luffy's eyes widened as he reached out to grab it, but the smoke easily slipped through his fingers.

It's not a natural phenomenon.

Ace immediately became alert, flames igniting on his fist, the bluish-white light radiating a warning heat, "Ability User."

From deep within the smoke, a familiar yet deep voice rang out, carrying barely suppressed anger and weariness:

"... Roy, you brat, are you about to cause me trouble again?"

As the words fell, a tall, silver-haired man slowly emerged from the center of the thick fog.

His broad frame was wrapped in a white navy coat, with thick cross stripes draped over his shoulders. He had two burning Cigars between his lips, and his sharp gaze swept over the crowd.

"Long time no see, Smoker!"

Roy smiled as if he were meeting an old friend, spreading his hands to look completely harmless.

Smoker took a deep drag on his Cigar, his eyes narrowing slightly as the smoke swirled around him. "These are the two brats you brought along?"

"Hey!" Ace stepped forward, his fist Flash with fire, "You're the brat!"

"Wow!" Luffy wasn't angry at all. Instead, he leaned close to Smoker's face, his eyes sparkling. "You can make smoke! That's so cool! Did you eat the 'Smoke-Smoke Fruit'?"

"Smoke-Smoke Fruit!" Smoker said, biting his Cigar, veins throbbing on his forehead, the thick fog churning slightly as his emotions stirred.

Seeing this, Roy quickly patted Smoker on the shoulder. "Don't be so serious, I'm really here on important business. Want to have a drink first?"

"Come on, you suddenly appeared in my jurisdiction, and you're acting all mysterious. You're definitely up to no good."

"No way! I often go back to my hometown to see my Dad and Mom, and I also drop by to see you, my old neighbor."

Roy blinked, then changed his tone, lowering his voice to say, "But this time... there is indeed something else."

Smoker narrowed his eyes. "Speak."

"... It's about Red-Haired Shanks his arm."

The moment those words were spoken, the air seemed to fall silent.

Smoker's pupils contracted slightly.

"Really..."

The two exchanged a glance, neither saying anything more, but an unspoken sense of danger filled the air.

Ace and Luffy were still fooling around in the back, completely unaware of the undercurrent between the two adults.

"You really don't let anyone have a moment's peace as soon as you get back."

Smoker, puffing on his Cigar, sighed, "Investigate is one thing, but don't cause any trouble."

Roy smiled without saying a word, then waved his hand lightly. "Take me to our usual spot in Loguetown, we can chat."