Surrender Tomorrow, Two Women Clash

Only then did Kalifa grab Roya and say to him, "Roya, you should surrender tomorrow!"

"Surrender? Why?"

Roya looked at Kalifa beside him.

"B-because..."

Kalifa looked somewhat bashful. After glancing at Roya, she said, "Because I don't want you to get hurt! That guy Akainu really won't hold back. Aside from Doberman, many of the people who fought him suffered serious injuries. Some of them couldn't even stand again for the rest of their lives!"

"Mm, I understand. But surrendering isn't my style. Akainu isn't my opponent."

Kalifa stared at Roya, her hands clenched tightly. "I'm obviously worried about you. Why won't you listen? I-I'm never going to care about you again!"

With that, Kalifa turned and left the training ground.

Watching Kalifa's departing figure, Roya wore a strange expression.

He did not know why Kalifa was experiencing such emotional turmoil.

She had clearly been the one to make the first move not long ago!

Not dwelling on the matter for long, Roya looked up toward Sengoku's office at the top.

Now, he was just waiting to become an admiral so he could clock in at Sengoku's office.

At the same time, he wanted to experience what it was actually like to become an admiral.

Elsewhere, Kalifa arrived at a training ground in a corner.

Because this training ground was so remote, few people ever came here.

Kalifa began venting the resentment in her heart wildly upon the wooden dummies!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

As though she could not feel any pain at all, Kalifa drove punch after punch into them.

These wooden dummies were specially made and exceptionally sturdy. Even if an ordinary person swung a hammer at them with all their strength, they would not leave the slightest dent.

Yet in Kalifa's hands, such a wooden dummy had cracked in several places!

"Kalifa, Hina came to ask you something."

A young woman with long pink hair came over to Kalifa's side.

Kalifa recognized the woman before her: someone with a strange verbal tic!

"Hina, what do you need from me?"

"Hina wants to ask what Roya usually likes."

"Why are you asking about Roya instead of worrying about Smoker?"

Kalifa instantly became alert.

"Hina and Smoker are merely concerned about each other as friends. Hina is asking about Roya because Hina wants to pursue him!"

"Pursue Roya!"

Kalifa's eyes widened as she stared at Hina in disbelief.

"Do you know what you're saying? Roya doesn't even know you, and you're saying you want to pursue him?!"

Hina nodded at Kalifa. "Ever since Roya defeated Smoker, Hina has been watching him. Whenever Hina sees his smile, Hina feels so happy. Isn't that love?"

Hearing Hina's words, Kalifa grew even angrier.

He was so gentle with everyone else, so why was he so cold toward her?

But when she thought of other women pursuing Roya, her heart felt even worse.

Only then did Kalifa realize that, at some point, Roya's figure had quietly entered her heart.

Thinking of this, Kalifa immediately said to Hina, "Hina, I can tell you clearly that this isn't love. And besides, I like Roya too. You definitely can't compete with me!"

Hina raised an eyebrow at Kalifa's words. "Then let's compete fairly! Hina will never admit defeat!"

With that, Hina turned and left.

Watching Hina leave, Kalifa felt that she needed to expand her advantage and could not give Hina the slightest opportunity!

As for the frustration from earlier, Kalifa had already tossed it to the back of her mind.

With that thought, Kalifa smashed the wooden dummy with a punch, then headed toward Roya's room.

According to the promotion tournament's rules, after achieving such a winning streak, Roya already held the rank of vice admiral.

Therefore, he lived in a vice admiral's quarters as well.

Upon arriving outside Roya's room, Kalifa took a deep breath. After doing her best to calm herself, she finally gathered her courage and knocked softly on the door.

The door was opened by one of Roya's illusions, which dispersed into the air the moment it opened the door.

It had to be said that, from a certain perspective, the Illusion-Illusion Fruit was truly a godly skill for slacking off!

He could just have illusions do everything.

Walking into the room, Kalifa saw Roya looking out the window.

For some reason, seeing Roya lost in thought made her heart ache.

In Marineford, aside from herself, no one ever spoke with Roya. He must be terribly lonely!

Before Kalifa could speak, Roya said softly, "Sit wherever you like. I just might not have anything to offer you."

Hearing Roya's words, Kalifa hurriedly shook her head. "N-no, there's no need for that. I came this time..."

At that point, Kalifa lightly bit her lip, and for some reason, her face turned a little red.

"Do you need help with something?"

Roya turned to look at Kalifa.

"I came to apologize, Roya. Earlier, I was far too impulsive, willful, and unreasonable. I'm truly sorry!"

"A-and please, please do your best tomorrow. I'll cheer for you with all my strength! I believe you can definitely defeat Akainu, Roya!"

Looking at Kalifa, who was so shy that she wanted nothing more than to find a crack in the ground to crawl into, Roya's lips unconsciously curved upward.

Sunlight shone through the window and into the room, warm and comfortable.

Roya walked over to Kalifa's side, raised his right hand, gently tucked several strands of her hair behind her ear, and smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I won't let you down. Akainu isn't my opponent!"

Feeling the warmth of Roya's palm, Kalifa could no longer hear what he said afterward.

Her eyes were now filled with Roya's gentle smile for her.

"You finally smiled at me!"

Kalifa was so excited that her voice rose a little higher.

"That's wonderful! You finally smiled at me!"

As she spoke, Kalifa threw herself directly into Roya's arms, leaning her whole body against him and looking utterly delighted.

In Roya's arms, Kalifa looked up at him and said, "Roya, from now on, you won't be alone in Marineford anymore. I'll stay by your side!"

"Mm."

This time, Kalifa did not resent Roya's indifferent response.

Instead, she was incredibly happy, because it meant Roya had accepted her.

The next day...