Lorne withdrew his gaze from the distance and pressed a hand against the slightly hot ship's rail.
"What, missing home already, fresh out of training?"
Garp strode over the rubble scattered across the deck, casually stuffed the last half of a donut into his mouth, and teased him through a mouthful of food.
Lorne turned around, looked at Garp's Justice coat, which had been reduced to strips of cloth, and shook his head with a chuckle.
"Old man, you should worry about what you're going to tell Fleet Admiral Sengoku when you get back to headquarters. You've abandoned your post again."
"Hahaha! All that fellow Sengoku does is hug his goat. Like I care!"
Garp waved a dismissive hand.
The Fearless cut through the thick fog, leaving a white trail across the mirror-smooth waters of the Calm Belt.
Lorne reclined in a deck chair, resting with his eyes closed.
"Lorne, have some water."
Kuina walked over, handed him a water flask, and sat down on a wooden crate beside him.
Her Wado Ichimonji lay across her knees. Even at rest, her hand never left its hilt.
Lorne opened his eyes and studied the girl before him.
"Thanks for all your hard work these past two years, Kuina."
"Compared to swinging my sword at wooden dummies in Shimotsuki Village, every day here makes me feel alive."
Kuina looked into the distance, her gaze sharp.
"If I met Father again as I am now, he definitely wouldn't say those things anymore."
"Of course not. Your slashes can cut through even warships like tofu now."
Lorne smiled.
"When we get back to Marineford, I'll ask Fleet Admiral Sengoku to grant you a military rank."
"Rank doesn't matter."
Kuina tightened her grip on the hilt.
"As long as I can follow you, Rear Admiral,