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"She lived with schemes and danger every single day."
"If it were me, I probably would've broken down long ago."
Not everyone could claw their way out of that mess of lies and deceit at just eight years old.
"Yeah."
Mikoto and the others nodded along.
They were certain they couldn't have endured it.
Kushina felt even worse. She had always thought her own life was miserable enough, but compared to Nico Robin's, she had been far better off.
Besides, she had already turned her fate around.
"Let's look after her more from now on and help her move past it sooner."
Kushina spoke without hesitation.
"Agreed."
Mikoto and the others all nodded too.
Still, everyone knew that getting Robin to lower her guard wouldn't be easy.
After being [redacted] for seven or eight years, spending time in hellholes like gangs and pirate crews, and experiencing betrayal, abuse, and danger, who could easily trust others anymore?
But they weren't worried.
They meant Nico Robin no harm, after all, and wanted nothing from her.
They simply wanted to lend her a hand.
Some time later, after Xunjing and the others had trained for over an hour, lunchtime arrived.
Only then did Tashigi bring Nico Robin, who had finished settling in, into the dining room.
Everyone gathered for a meal.
Throughout the meal, each of them sincerely reached out to Nico Robin.
Though Robin had always been suspicious, she could still sense it-these people really had no ulterior motives toward her.
Nico Robin was no longer the innocent little girl she had once been. She navigated social situations with ease, able to smile and exchange a few words with anyone.
As everyone extended their goodwill, she responded to each of them, striking just the right balance.
Ultimately, though, it was all