That evening, after the day's training ended, the last rays of sunset spilled over Marineford's streets, bathing Marine Headquarters in a warm golden glow.
Gern followed Zephyr through several quiet alleys before they finally stopped outside a modest two-story house.
"We're here." Zephyr pushed open the door, and an enticing aroma drifted out.
The scent of food immediately drew a loud protest from Gern's stomach, making even Zephyr glance back at him. "That hungry?"
"Heh, training burns a lot of energy." Gern scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"Come in." Zephyr stepped aside to let Gern enter first.
Inside, a short-haired woman was emerging from the kitchen with a steaming dish of stew.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Gern, and a gentle smile spread across her face. "You must be Gern. Zephyr talks about you all the time."
"Hello, ma'am!" Gern immediately straightened and gave a textbook military salute. "Sorry for intruding!"
"No need to be so stiff." The woman set the stew on the table and wiped her hands.
"I'm Lina, Zephyr's fiancée. Just call me Lina. Come sit down and eat."
In an instant, Gern's gaze was helplessly drawn to the feast on the table.
Beef stew, grilled fish, vegetable salad, steaming bread... His stomach growled again.
"Sit down, kid." Zephyr patted Gern's shoulder, his voice unusually gentle.
The three sat around the dining table. Gern had just picked up his fork when Lina stopped him. "Wash your hands first."
"Oh!" Only then did Gern notice the dirt and blood from training still clinging to his hands. He hurried to the bathroom.
By the time he returned, Lina had filled a large bowl to the brim with stew for him.
"Thank you!" After thanking her, Gern immediately began wolfing down his food.
"Slow down. You'll choke." Lina smiled and handed him a glass of water. "There's plenty more."
Watching Gern demolish his meal, Zephyr couldn't help frowning.
"Were you a starving ghost in your last life, kid? Lina spent all afternoon working hard on this, and here you are, gobbling it down without a care.
"And how come your appetite is just like Garp's?!"
With his mouth stuffed full of food, Gern mumbled, "It's just so good!"
Hearing Zephyr's stern tone, Lina patted his shoulder and chided him.
"Don't say that. He's only sixteen. He's still growing."
"Still growing..." Zephyr glanced sideways at Gern, who was already nearly six foot three, and his mouth twitched. "Sixteen? This is fucking sixteen?"
"Haha." Lina covered her mouth and chuckled. "You've taught so many students part-time at the Marine academy,
"but Gern is the first one you've ever brought home for dinner."
"Hmph!" Zephyr snorted and said nothing more, though a hint of warmth flickered in his eyes.
Gern stayed silent and focused entirely on eating, soon clearing every dish on the table.
Seeing this, Lina got up and brought a plate of fruit and desserts from the kitchen. "Here, try the apple pie I baked."
"Thank you!" Gern's eyes lit up. He took the plate and continued feasting.
Zephyr shook his head helplessly, but the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward.
At the table, something suddenly occurred to Gern. He looked up and asked, "Teacher Zephyr, you and Lina aren't married yet?"
A faint blush colored Lina's cheeks at the question, and she gave Zephyr a tender look.
"He said we'd get married once he became an Admiral."
"Ahem..." Zephyr cleared his throat and turned his head away, looking a little uncomfortable. "That's right."
"Really?!" Gern smiled and pressed curiously, "Then how did you two meet?"
A nostalgic look came into Lina's eyes as she smiled.
"Zephyr protected me when I was very young.
"I was still a child then. Some other children tricked me, and he came to my rescue!"
"Oh?" Gern perked up. "Then what was Teacher Zephyr like as a kid?"
"When he was little..." Lina thought for a moment, then smiled. "Well, just like he is now-a hero of justice!"
As she spoke, Lina suddenly stood up and mimicked the pose from her memories, planting her hands on her hips and puffing out her chest as she shouted.
"I am the hero of justice-Z!!"
Zephyr, who always wore a stern expression in front of the Marines, instantly turned bright red and shot to his feet. "Lina!"
Gern froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"I never knew you were so fired up as a kid, Teacher Zephyr! The hero of justice, Z!"
"And there's more..." Lina was doubled over with laughter too. "He was such a blockhead.
"I followed him all the way from his hometown to Marine Headquarters, and he still didn't realize I liked him. I had to be the one to...
"Gern, don't take after Zephyr in that respect! The fool made the girl take the initiative!"
Watching the two of them, Zephyr finally let out a helpless sigh, but he couldn't hide the tenderness in his eyes.
Dinner ended amid laughter and cheerful conversation.
Gern volunteered to help clear the dishes, but Lina kept waving him off. "No need. Go get some rest. You must be tired after training all day."
"It's fine. I can at least do something this small," Gern insisted.
"Let him wash them! He ate enough." Zephyr stood nearby, watching Gern's clumsy but earnest efforts with a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
It was late when Gern said goodbye, and Lina even packed some pastries for him to take home. "Come again sometime, Gern!"
"Thank you!" Gern accepted them solemnly, warmth welling up inside him.
On his way home, Gern looked up at the starry sky, recalling the warmth of that evening.
He knew what suffering awaited Zephyr in the future, and that the gentle, caring smile he had seen would one day disappear.
I absolutely can't let that happen... Gern clenched his fists and silently made up his mind.
After Gern left, quiet returned to Zephyr's home.
Lina gently closed the door. As she turned, she found Zephyr standing by the window, looking in the direction Gern had gone with the faintest hint of a smile.
She walked over, wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, and rested her face against his back. "Gern is a good boy. Don't be too hard on him," she said softly.
Zephyr didn't answer right away. He simply laid a hand over hers, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles.
Only after a long while did he murmur, "Yes. He's a troublesome student, but... he's a good one."
Lina chuckled and moved around to face him, looking up into his eyes. "You rarely bring students home for dinner, let alone train them personally or even get Garp involved.
"You really must think highly of him."
Zephyr snorted, but his eyes softened. "The kid has talent, but more importantly, his heart is in the right place."
He paused, a rare trace of wistfulness entering his voice. "I see my younger self in him."
"Haha." Lina reached up to caress his cheek, her fingertips brushing the fine lines at the corner of his eye. "So that's why you admire him so much?"
Zephyr didn't deny it. He simply took her hand and lowered his head to kiss her fingertips. "Soon."
"Hmm?"
"Once I become an Admiral..." Zephyr's voice was low and firm. "I'll be able to marry you proudly, when I'm at my peak."
Lina's eyes grew a little hot, but she only smiled and pinched his nose. "You fool. I've been waiting for that day for so long."
For once, Zephyr didn't argue. Instead, he pulled her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head as he murmured, "I won't keep you waiting much longer."
Outside the window, moonlight fell over Marineford's streets, quiet and gentle.
Before you continue