Sunlight filtered through the gaps between towering flagpoles, casting dappled shadows across Marineford's central plaza. The usual lively atmosphere had settled into an unusual stillness, broken only by murmurs from the gathered crowd.
At the center of attention stood Commander T-Bone, down on one knee, holding out an ornate ring to a visibly exasperated Hina. The surrounding Marines watched with varying degrees of amusement and pity.
But just as Hina opened her mouth to deliver what would undoubtedly be another rejection, her gaze caught on a familiar figure in the crowd.
A man—not particularly tall, clad in the standard Marine uniform. Though years had passed, his features remained as sharp as she remembered, now tempered with a quiet maturity that made her pulse quicken.
Him.
The man who had once pulled her from the wreckage of a burning battlefield, the one whose face had lingered in her memories long after the smoke had cleared.
Their eyes met across the crowd.
"...Is it really you?" she murmured under her breath.
Hina hesitated, her heart hammering in her chest. The last time she had seen him, the world had been chaos—flames, cannonfire, and the desperate struggle to survive. He had been just another soldier then, but one whose actions had carved a permanent place in her memory.
Step by step, the distance between them closed. When she finally stood before him, her hand trembled slightly as she reached out.
A ghost of a smile touched her lips.
"We meet again."
Renji blinked, studying her face with mild confusion before recognition flickered in his eyes.
"Hina? Oh—right. You're... Vice Admiral Hina, right?"
His response was polite, but distant.
Hina's smile faltered, though she kept her expression neutral. He doesn't remember...
"Yes," she said smoothly. "Though I've always considered you something of an idol, Rear Admiral Renji."
T-Bone's head whipped toward them. "Hina's... idol?!"
His eyes narrowed as he took in Renji's face. Damn it. This guy's almost as handsome as me. Trouble.
"Hina!" T-Bone interjected loudly. "There's a new restaurant just outside headquarters! Let's go—my treat!"
Hina didn't even glance at him. Her gaze remained fixed on Renji, scrutinizing him as if searching for something lost.
A cough broke the silence.
Garp stood nearby, picking his nose with far too much enthusiasm. "Don't mind me! Just enjoying the show."
Hina's cheeks flushed slightly as she snapped back to reality. "Ah—Vice Admiral Garp. My apologies."
"No need, no need!" Garp grinned. "Carry on with your... reunion."
Hina stiffened, suddenly aware of how obvious she must have seemed.
T-Bone, meanwhile, looked like he was about to explode. Since when does Hina act like this?!
Renji, sensing the rapidly deteriorating atmosphere, cleared his throat. "Uh—Hina, T-Bone, I should probably go. Garp and I have... things to discuss."
Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Garp's arm and all but dragged the old man away.
Hina watched him leave, a pang of disappointment settling in her chest.
He really doesn't remember...
She exhaled quietly. It had been years, after all. Maybe she had been foolish to expect anything else.
"Hina...?" T-Bone waved a hand in front of her face. "They've been gone for a while now."
Hina blinked. "Oh. You're still here?"
T-Bone clutched his chest as if struck. "I—I never left!"
"Hm." She turned on her heel. "I'm heading back. Don't follow me."
With that, she strode off toward headquarters, her mind already racing.
She needed to find Vice Admiral Tsuru.
She had questions.
Meanwhile...
"You ruined that poor guy's whole moment back there," Garp cackled as they walked.
Renji groaned. "I didn't even do anything!"
"Didn't have to. You just existing was enough."
Renji opened his mouth to argue, then paused. "...Okay, fair."
Garp's grin widened. "So. You and Hina. What's the story?"
"There is no story," Renji said flatly. "I don't even remember meeting her before today."
Garp snorted. "Sure. And I don't like donuts."
Renji ignored him.
"Y'know," Garp mused, "if you opened a shop here in Marineford, you'd make a killing. Especially with those Sorbet Kingdom recipes..."
Renji shot him a deadpan look. "Just say you want free food."
Garp laughed, slapping him on the back. "Smart kid!"
Renji sighed.
This is going to be a long day.
...
...
(TL/N): If you are intressted you can read up to 30 chapter on patreon.com/Yanet96 search with this link.