The North Blue Branch's Monsters

Sakazuki turned and looked at the figure standing beside him.

Only then did his body, taut as steel, relax slightly.

"Borsalino." His voice was low. "You went off to slack again."

The newcomer was—

Borsalino, twenty-two years old and a Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit user.

His hands were in his pockets, his white shirt slightly open, with a yellow jacket casually draped over his shoulders.

His tinted glasses hid his eyes, revealing only that ever-present, somewhat careless smile.

"Well now~"

He drew out the words, his tone as lazy as the sea breeze.

"Life is meant to be enjoyed properly, you know~"

As he spoke, he lifted his head slightly and glanced at the sky, which was gradually turning red.

"Besides—"

"Haven't we already gotten off work~?"

As his words fell, his gaze casually swept to the side. A training post had been cleaved cleanly in two by a single slash. Its smooth, charred cross-section still gave off faint heat, and the air was filled with the mingled scent of scorching heat and metal.

Borsalino clicked his tongue softly. "How frightening~"

"Training so seriously will scare off all the instructors, you know?"

He turned around and waved a hand.

"Shall we go?"

"How about a drink?"

The heat waves still rolled across the training ground. After a long silence, Sakazuki's eyes lingered on the broken post for a moment before he slowly restrained his aura and returned the training saber in his hand to its rack.

"...Just one drink."

With that, he stepped forward and followed Borsalino.

One after the other, their long shadows stretched beneath the setting sun as they gradually vanished through the training ground exit.

Only after they had gone completely out of sight

did the recruits around the training ground finally dare to let out careful breaths.