Aramaki, Let's Break Up

For the past three years, he had defended this botanical garden, driving off countless pirates who coveted the island's rare medicinal herbs.

Whether they were rare plants or man-eating plants, they were all his friends. This had much to do with his Woods-Woods Fruit. He believed plants were no different from humans and should not be treated differently. He had always considered this botanical garden his home, and every blade of grass and tree on the island his family.

But Ruyan's eyes were now filled with disdain.

"We can go on adventures together. One day, we'll—" Before Aramaki could say anything else, Alice Ruyan cut him off. "Adventures?"

Ruyan suddenly burst into laughter and pulled a crumpled wanted poster from her sleeve. "Look at Crocodile. His bounty is 890 million Beli, and he's even become one of the Shichibukai."

"Now look at you. Living in this shabby treehouse, with no subordinates, no money, no fine wine, and no cosmetics."

"I've had enough. Just say it."

He tore the wanted poster to pieces, and the scraps drifted down like snow around Aramaki's feet.

The treehouse fell into dead silence. Aramaki stared at the pearl necklace he had strung by hand around Ruyan's neck. He suddenly recalled their first meeting. It had been in a town burned down by pirates. Ruyan, covered in blood, had been curled up amid the ruins, while he had walked toward her through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, carrying a dripping blade.

Back then, she had looked up at him, and the light in her eyes had shone brighter than any gemstone. But now, her gaze was filled with nothing but disdain.

His heart felt as if someone had pierced it with a needle. It hurt terribly.

Yet his love for Ruyan remained unchanged.

"I'll