Kuja City, the royal palace bathhouse.
Hancock sat by the pool, her long legs submerged in the water, her wet black hair clinging to her smooth back.
Resting her cheek on one hand, she stared unfocused at the water's surface, an inescapable melancholy gathered between her delicate brows.
"Don't worry. He'll definitely come back today."
At the other end of the bath, Stussy brushed back her short golden hair and rose from the water. Droplets slid down her beautifully curved body.
"It's your birthday today. No matter what, that guy wouldn't forget such an important day."
Hancock let out a soft sigh, her voice weak and listless.
"It's been over a year... Stussy, do you think he might meet other girls out there?
"Could he... find the outside world more interesting than Kuja Island and decide not to come back?"
Her voice grew quieter and quieter until it was nearly a whisper.
Having never gone through the life of slavery that changed her fate in the original timeline, Hancock was merely an ordinary girl caught up in her first love.
"There are so many of us here. How could that greedy guy just abandon us?"
Stussy rolled her eyes irritably and put an arm around Hancock's shoulders.
"Stop overthinking it. Dawn can be a little careless sometimes, but I can tell that he's sincere about you."
Seeing this, the other girls in the bath gathered around as well, all chiming in to comfort Hancock.
Looking at the companions around her who cared so much about her, Hancock took a deep breath and forced out a smile.
"You're right... I shouldn't be like this."
The girls began playing around again, splashing water everywhere as laughter echoed through the bathhouse. Hancock was dragged into the water and forced to join in.
Night