"You're... Little Hibari?!"
Looking at the bright, lively girl before him, Gern felt long-buried memories spring back to life.
He vaguely remembered that, years ago, after a meeting filled with heated debate over establishing the Shichibukai system,
he had been invited to Akainu's home in Marineford.
It was there, in Akainu's somewhat quiet but spotless home, that Gern had first met the baby girl still wrapped in swaddling clothes.
Akainu had been rather stingy about it, though. He had simply said, "My daughter, Hibari."
Then he had her mother take her away, without even giving Gern a chance to pinch her cheeks.
Time had flown. The tiny newborn who could only babble back then had grown into a vibrant young girl.
Gern couldn't help thinking, Time... really waits for no one!
Beside him, Lipo recognized her too. She blinked her beautiful, wide eyes, a delighted smile spreading across her face.
"Is that Little Hibari? She's grown so much!"
Before the words had even faded, Lipo cast aside her usual gentle, older-sister demeanor. As though she had turned back into the little girl who used to shout "Justice Partner" all those years ago, she gave a happy cry and rushed toward Hibari.
"Lipo!" Hibari called out happily.
The two girls, despite being nowhere near the same age, immediately hugged each other and bounced with excitement.
Watching them, Gern shook his head with a chuckle.
By then, Akainu had walked up to Gern and was looking him up and down.
He looked at the young man who, back in G-3, had occasionally needed a little "discipline" from him, yet whose sharpness and potential he couldn't help admiring,
and who had now become the Marines' chief strategist, holding the New World in check single-handedly and capable of severely wounding even the Four Emperors.