The next morning, the first rays of sunlight had barely crept over Marineford's white walls when urgent knocking sounded at Gern's door.
"Gern! Open up! I know you're in there!"
Lipo's voice came through the door, accompanied by a series of thuds.
"If you don't open up, I'm coming straight in! Even though Gion said I shouldn't go into your room whenever I want..."
Before Lipo could finish, something heavy hit the floor inside, followed by Gern's sleepy mumbling.
"Lipo... it's not even light out..."
"Liar! The sun's already up!" Lipo pushed the door open and brought her face right up to Gern's.
Her white rabbit ears stood straight up with excitement. "You promised yesterday that we'd leave for Fish-Man Island today!"
Looking at Lipo's little face, the bleary-eyed Gern instinctively raised a hand and started rubbing it.
Only then did he struggle up from bed, rub his eyes, and glance at the bedside clock: 07:30.
"Lipo." After seeing the time, Gern opened his narrowed eyes.
By now, he had grown used to the comforts of administrative leave.
"The mess hall isn't even open yet. Let's sleep a little longer..."
Before he finished, Gern wrapped both arms around Lipo and pulled her against his chest. She shook her head from side to side, mumbling, "It is, it is..."
She wriggled out of his embrace and sat upright, straddling him with her little mouth twisted to one side.
Today, she wore a brand-new Marine uniform with a gleaming fish-shaped badge pinned to her chest. She also carried a small backpack covered in carrot patterns.
"Gern, get up!"
"Look!" She proudly turned halfway around. "The Fish-Man Island carrot souvenir badge I specially prepared for today! (A handmade craft from the Marine Headquarters shopping street.)
Tesoro also told me there are glowing corals