And That's Just How It Is, Meow-nega

Of course, there was no way he could spend his points right now.

Noah wasn't so dazzled by this unexpected windfall that he lost his head.

He knew perfectly well that spending points would immediately change his body's physical constitution. Momousagi couldn't possibly miss such a huge difference.

He'd just have to hold out for a few days. Once he was back in his own body, he could enjoy it all at once.

In a good mood, he closed the attribute panel and hummed a little Showa-era tune from his memories as he continued along the country road.

As he passed through a small town, he remembered Momousagi mentioning aboard the ship that although Rear Admiral Shizi was getting on in years, her favorite treat was cream strawberries—and the bigger, the better.

At Headquarters, the old lady often held a bowl of strawberries in her hands, popping them into her mouth as she worked. She was just like Garp with his senbei, and could get through several pounds in a day.

And since he was visiting her, he ought to bring a little something along.

So Noah stopped at a fruit stand and bought a big bag of cream strawberries. They were enormous, almost as big as oranges, and the price was steep. He spent five thousand Beli in all.

Noah's monthly salary and allowance currently came to just twenty thousand Beli. Looking at the strawberries in his hand, he winced at the expense and wondered whether he should ask Momousagi to reimburse him as an official expense once they were back on the warship.

After leaving the town, he picked up the pace a little and arrived at the village where Rear Admiral Shizi lived just as the sun was about to set.

Smoke curled from the chimneys. The village was quiet and peaceful, a veritable hidden paradise.

"So this is Rear Admiral Shizi's home..."

Noah stopped in front of a two-story house with a small courtyard. He looked up at the gate and the white fence entwined with roses around it. "It's even more ordinary than I expected."

The only thing that stood out was how exceptionally clean and tidy it was. Through the gaps in the fence, he could just make out the courtyard, filled with all kinds of carefully pruned flowers and plants.

He took a deep breath and ran through all the information Momousagi had shared with him once more.

Then he stepped forward and gently knocked on the courtyard gate.

"Coming, coming!"

Quick footsteps approached, accompanied by a bright, sweet voice. "Is that you, Gong-jie?"

With a creak, the wooden door swung open from the inside, and a pink-haired little girl peeked out. Her face lit up with delighted excitement. "Gong-jie, what is it? Why are you so late..."

Her voice abruptly caught in her throat. She stared blankly at the two long legs in front of her, nearly level with the top of her head.

Then she gazed up in bewilderment, only to see a towering figure blocking the entrance to her home, as huge as a giant from her perspective.

The pink-haired girl jumped in fright and instinctively took two steps back. Looking panicked, she was just about to shut the gate when the "giant" suddenly bent down and asked softly:

"Excuse me, is this where Big Sister Shizi lives?"

The voice was gentle, the features exquisite, and the person had a spirited, dashing air about her. The smile that played at the corners of her mouth was infectious.

When the pink-haired girl got a good look at the visitor, she inexplicably felt much calmer. Hesitantly, she looked at Noah. "Y-yes... Who are you?"

"Gion, Marine Headquarters Commodore Gion."

Noah looked at the little girl in front of her, with her short, center-parted hair and pretty features. She seemed a little familiar. "I haven't seen Big Sister Shizi in years, so I came all this way to pay her a visit."

"Oh, is that so?"

The pink-haired girl tilted her head and stole a few glances at Noah. When she saw the white Marine uniform and the Justice coat fluttering behind her, she finally relaxed completely.

"Please, come in!"

She hurriedly moved aside. Once Noah had carefully ducked through the gate, she closed it and called toward the house, "Grandma Shizi, come out! We have a guest!"

"No need to call. I can go in and see her myself."

Noah smiled and ruffled the little girl's hair. As she walked along the pebble path toward the house, she casually asked:

"By the way, little one, why did I hear you call Rear Admiral Shizi 'Grandma'? I've never heard that Big Sister Shizi had a granddaughter your age."

"In a few months, Tina will be thirteen! I'm not a little one!"

The pink-haired girl pushed Noah's hand away in annoyance and gave a huff before grumbling, "She's my great-aunt. Tina's grandmother was Grandma Shizi's older sister, but she passed away when Tina was very little. So Tina's been living with Grandma Shizi for the past few years."

Tina?

Noah barely registered the pink-haired girl's rebellious gesture. Her attention was entirely caught by the name she'd given, and she froze, a look of surprise appearing in her eyes.

No wonder the girl had seemed oddly familiar. The one who'd opened the door for her was none other than the future Marine Headquarters' renowned beauty, Commodore "Black Cage" Hina?

What a coincidence...

She thought to herself, then turned her head and took another careful look at the pink-haired girl.

Sure enough, now that she'd made the connection, the girl looked exactly like Hina would twenty years later.

Fair skin and delicate features. Even at such a young age, she was already a little beauty. Her hair just wasn't as long yet, and she didn't have that same dashing, spirited air.

After another couple of glances, Noah looked away.

She wasn't interested in Hina, and she certainly wasn't a lolicon. She was just surprised to find a familiar Marine face in such a remote village.

The courtyard wasn't large.

Following the pebble path, passing through the flower beds and around the courtyard, Noah spotted a thin, white-haired old lady in loose house clothes standing at the entrance. She looked at her with a smile.

All right, time to put her acting skills to the test!

"Big Sister Shizi!"

Noah put on a suitably delighted expression, then rushed forward without hesitation and gave the old lady a warm hug. She cried out in joy:

"You really are living here! It's been so long. I've missed you so much!"

"It's been a long time, little Gion."

Shizi patted Noah's back affectionately. Her deeply wrinkled face was lit up with a broad smile. "I've missed you too! When little Tina told me a guest had arrived, I thought it was someone from the village. But then I came out and—well, would you look at that? It was you, you little rascal."

"Hehe, I surprised you, didn't I?"

Noah let go of Shizi and handed her the bag full of strawberries. "Here, I bought these on the way. They're a gift for you."

Then she said, with a hint of reproach, "So you did miss me after all. Then why didn't you say a word when you left Marineford three years ago? You didn't even write me a letter!"