The Girl Next Door, Ain (A Fluffy Romance Chapter-Skip If You Dislike)

After exchanging a few words, Aokiji suggested returning to the warship. Now that the battle was over, his laziness returned, and he didn't want to stay a moment longer. All he wanted to do was return to the deck of the warship and sunbathe.

Senga and Zephyr, who Aokiji's personality well, were somewhat helpless. Zephyr even sighed, knowing that Aokiji wasn't always like this.

When Aokiji first joined the Navy, he was actually pursuing a passionate "burning justice." However, after the Ohara Incident, he became confused about the Navy's justice and gradually developed a "lazy justice."

Zephyr, as his teacher, also wanted to persuade him, but his own "justice of not killing" wasn't exactly correct in reality. After thinking it over, he could only place his hopes on Senga.

Seeing that Aokiji was so eager to return home, Senga gave in to his wishes. However, because Zephyr was still injured on his back, Senga used the power of the Heavenly Path to lift Zephyr up on the way back, slowing down their journey.

Senga's actions made Aokiji glance at him slightly and nod in approval. Aokiji greatly admired Senga's approach, but being a similarly reserved person, he certainly wouldn't show it.

As soon as they returned to Aokiji's warship, a soft body rushed into Senga's arms—it was Ain.

God knows how worried she was during that time; when she saw Senga return safely, she could no longer contain the surging emotions within her.

Gently patting Ain's back, Senga didn't say anything. He knew it was better to calm Ain down first.

After hugging for a while, Ain slowly pushed Senga away, took out a package from behind her and handed it over. This was the unknown Devil Fruit she had obtained during the assessment.

Senga did not refuse, took the package from Ain's hand, and then opened the Door-Door Space put it inside.

When Ain saw Senga accept the fruit, a faint smile appeared on her lips, just like a girl next door, so natural and beautiful.

She quietly looked at Senga standing in front of her. When she saw Senga's upper body, Ain's delicate eyebrows furrowed. At this moment, some shallow scars could still be seen on Senga's body.

After all, Weevil's Haki is no joke. When Haki is cultivated to a certain level, attacks can cause some hidden injuries. At first glance, it may not seem serious, but in reality, the body has already suffered considerable damage.

Senga's recovery speed is already extremely fast. Marineford War, Marco was punched by Garp and had to be wrapped in bandages for several episodes, even though he had the Phoenix Fruit.

Ain wanted to reach out and touch the scars, but hesitated, and could only ask,

"Don't you have a rapid recovery ability? Why don't you use it?"

Senga smiled and shook her head, then leaned close to Ain's ear and whispered something.

"Idiot, how can you use that ability continuously? But it's fine if you can use it."

Upon hearing this, Ain froze on the spot. Yes, such an extraordinary ability must have limitations, but Senga had actually used this precious opportunity on her. Was she worthy of it?

As she thought about it, tears welled up in Ain's eyes, but she didn't want Senga to see her so vulnerable, so she turned away and wiped the tears from her face.

Well, most girls are quite easily moved. What Senga considers nothing, is like a nuclear weapon to Ain.

Rubbing his temples, Senga patted Ain's shoulders with both hands, gently turning Ain back around, and reached out to gently wipe away the tears on her face.

"Alright, relax. We'll probably be attending graduation when we get back. Considering your contributions this time, you're at least a colonel now, don't you think, Colonel Ain?"

Hearing "Colonel Ain" from Senga's mouth, Ain couldn't help but laugh and gently punched Senga's chest with her little fist.

Senga immediately put on a hurt expression, as if Ain had hit him hard. Although his acting skills weren't great, he actually fooled Ain.

Ain quickly moved closer to check the spot where she had just hit the ground, and even gently blew air into that spot with her little mouth, looking extremely cute.

Seeing Ain like this, Senga couldn't help but lower his head and kiss Ain's fair forehead.

Startled by Senga's "attack," Ain jumped up from the ground like a little rabbit, staring at Senga in disbelief.

Senga blushed slightly under the gaze, but her expression remained unchanged, calm and composed, as if she knew nothing about what had just happened.

Seeing Chika's somewhat shameless Senga, Ain puffed up her cheeks in anger, making her look even cuter.

No, if this continues Senga feels she's about to break down.

With a Haki flick of his Justice Coat, Senga walked away without looking back, leaving behind only one sentence:

"Come find me after graduation, I'll take you!"

Ain wanted to say, "You think you can just take it like that?" but the words stuck in her throat for a long time before she finally blurted out, "..."

"Then you'd better keep your word!"

Back at headquarters, Zephyr was immediately surrounded by the stretcher-bearer team who had been waiting for him. Zephyr felt somewhat embarrassed; after all, he was a former Marine Admiral, and to be put on a stretcher like this—where was his dignity?

But it was a few nurses who came up to pull him, and he didn't dare to use force. So he was half-pushed and half-forced onto the stretcher. The several strong men waiting next to the stretcher suddenly stood up and ran away in a flash.

Zephyr was dealt with, and the remaining stretcher bearers all turned to stare at Senga. Senga pursed his lips, took off into the air, and disappeared from everyone's sight in the blink of an eye.

After leaving, Senga went to Sengoku's office. As soon as she entered, Sengoku asked her anxiously,

"How are things? Zephyr and the students alright?"

"Zephyr was injured, and the number of casualties among the students is about one-third. The attacker was Whitebeard Jr.., Edward Weevil."

Sengoku stood up angrily and slammed his fist on the table, veins bulging on his forehead. He gritted his teeth and said...

"Damn pirates!"

Senga also fell silent. Although his intervention had minimized casualties, it wasn't perfect. This reminded him that, due to his arrival, the timing of some events was no longer accurate.

Sengoku pressed his hand on the table and took a few deep breaths, his anger finally subsiding slightly. He sat back down in his chair and pushed a document on the table towards Senga. Senga didn't take it, but instead asked in confusion,

"This is?"

"Your appointment Vice Admiral is well-deserved. No one can ignore your contributions this time; you could say you saved the future of the Navy. The graduation ceremony for the Training Camp is tomorrow, and I will be awarding you your medal then. Go and prepare."

Good heavens, Senga was promoted to Commodore Vice Admiral in less than a day! In an era before the Marines went to Marineford and began World Military Draft, such a speed of promotion was unheard of.