Guina and Tashigi

"Are you really not Tashigi?"

"I am Shimotsuki Guina, swordsmanship instructor at Isshin Dojo." Guina frowned at Miss Nami, who had leaned in close before her. She was also somewhat puzzled and curious. Just who was this Marine sergeant named Tashigi?

Why did everyone mistake her for Tashigi?

"Miss Nami, my name is not Tashigi."

And yet...

"Just because you're not wearing glasses? How could there be two people who look that alike and don't even know each other? Could this really be a conspiracy by Marine Headquarters?"

Faced with Guina's explanation, Nami still did not believe her. Stroking her chin, she frowned as she scrutinized Guina from head to toe, her tone suspicious. "Then why did you come back? Did you see Xia Che surrounded by so many pretty girls, plus this beautiful young lady, and decide to use a honey trap..."

Before she could finish.

Thump~

Xia Che, his face dark, rapped her on the head and said irritably, "I'm just a Marine Colonel who was transferred down here. I have no status, and I haven't done anything bad. Why would Marine Headquarters need to use a honey trap on me?"

"That hurt~, I was only joking."

"She really isn't Sergeant Tashigi." Xia Che helplessly shook his head and turned to Guina, who stood before him.

Unlike Tashigi's checkered shirt and suit trousers, Guina wore a white women's dress shirt on top and fitted cropped jeans below, ending just past her knees and revealing her long, fair calves. It further accentuated the graceful, voluptuous figure unique to a beauty of the sea.

Moreover, Guina did not wear her short hair loose like Tashigi. Instead, she tied it into a simple ponytail that fell just past her shoulders. Together with Wado Ichimonji, one of the Great Grade Swords: Twenty-One Works, hanging at her waist, she gave off a clean and capable impression.

Gentle, yet carrying a hint of heroic vigor.

Xia Che smiled. "I thought you'd arrive a few days later. I didn't expect you to get here so quickly."

After receiving a call from Marine Branch 16, he had rushed over from Cocoyasi Village. Sure enough, Guina had already arrived and had even been mistaken for Tashigi.

Xia Che had met Guina not long after arriving in East Blue. He had taken Robin to Isshin Dojo to further their swordsmanship training.

Although he had joined later than both Guina and Zoro, he had become their senior disciple through his age and strength. That was how the two of them had come to know each other.

And he intended to have Guina teach swordsmanship to the Marines of the 16th Branch.

"Senior Brother Xia Che." Seeing that her senior brother had not mistaken her for that Tashigi person, Guina was quite happy. She bowed with a delighted smile.

Back then, she had been stuck in her own mental rut. If not for her senior brother's guidance, for telling her stories of female swordsmen on the seas and letting her know that women could become outstanding swordsmen as well, she likely would have given up on her dream by now.

At that time, she had sworn that she would not only become a great swordsman as formidable as her senior brother, but since her father refused to acknowledge her, she would no longer seek to inherit Isshin Dojo. She would open her own Guina Dojo and steal away all of Isshin Dojo's students.

Then...

She would defeat her father, beat him up badly, and make Isshin Dojo shut down.

"Please take care of me from now on." Then she turned to Robin, who was smiling beside her, and happily said, "It's been a long time, Sister Robin."

"Welcome~" Robin replied with a smile. She nodded, looking Guina over from head to toe. "You really do look very much like that Marine sergeant—Tashigi."

"Right? Right?" Nami chimed in from the side, hands on her hips. "I told you they look exactly alike! If she put on glasses, they'd be practically identical!"

"Tashigi?"

Hearing that name again, Guina became even more curious. She wanted to meet this Marine sergeant named Tashigi as well. Just as she turned toward Senior Brother Xia Che to ask him something—

"Oh, right~" Xia Che seemed to recall something. Looking at Guina, he asked, "Where's that kid Zoro? Why didn't he come with you?"

Since they had run into each other, then... for the sake of padding his achievements, he naturally wanted to bundle them together and bring them both over~

"Zoro?"

Guina froze at Senior Brother Xia Che's question. After blinking her crystal-clear eyes, she frowned. "He hasn't arrived yet?"

"He already set sail?"

"He got Father's permission a year before I did. That guy didn't even beat me, yet Father allowed him to go to sea and still refused to agree to let me."

"..."

And yet...

After hearing Guina's words, Xia Che fell completely silent. Then the corner of his mouth twitched as he asked, "Did he... set sail by himself?"

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"Nothing~"

Xia Che covered his face.

He had planned to get that kid Zoro to do some work too, but now... that guy had probably gotten lost somewhere already.

He looked up again at Guina, who seemed somewhat dejected over her father acknowledging Zoro but not her.

Smiling, Xia Che reached out and patted Guina's head as he had when they were younger. "Don't worry. When you open your dojo someday, your senior brother will definitely support you. We'll steal all the students from your father's dojo together, make Isshin Dojo shut down, and piss him off for looking down on Guina."

As soon as he finished.

Hearing her senior brother's words, Guina, who had been a little downcast, burst into laughter. Looking at Xia Che, she puffed out her cheeks and said happily, "Senior Brother, I've grown up already!"

Honestly, he was still patting her head.

Then determination returned to her delicate face as she said indignantly, "And then we'll beat that old man up too!"

"That's right, beat him up!" Xia Che nodded with a smile. Looking at Guina, who had arrived only today, he said, "Then let your senior brother show you around first and help you get familiar with the place!"

And yet...

"Later." Guina refused, looking seriously at Xia Che. "I have something more important to do right now."

"???"

Before Xia Che, full of confusion, could ask what it was.

He saw—

Guina's slender, fair right hand grasp Wado Ichimonji's hilt. Then she raised her head, a serious expression appearing on her face. "First, let Guina see whether Senior Brother Xia Che has grown rusty over the past few years."

As she spoke, Wado Ichimonji was already drawn. Gripping the hilt with both hands, she assumed the opening stance of Isshin-style swordsmanship. Her formerly gentle aura abruptly changed, turning sharp as if filled with flashing blade light.

"Please instruct me, Senior Brother Xia Che!"

Before Xia Che could react, a trace of mischief flashed across her resolute face. She blinked, then launched the first attack at him.