INIIDF-Chapter 286 Doctor Giorno

After finishing a cup of warm, flower-infused milk tea, Robin felt a pleasant warmth spread through her body.

Liam took the empty cup from her hands and set it aside. Noticing her gaze flickering uncertainly, he chuckled. "What's wrong? Still groggy from sleep?"

Robin curled her long legs up, hugging her knees, her toes lightly gripping the bedsheet. She lowered her head, letting her long hair fall over her face, and shook her head slightly.

Seeing her reluctance to speak, Liam was about to suggest swapping their Devil Fruits back when she suddenly buried her face in her knees and murmured, "I feel... so ashamed..."

Just the sight of that Marine Vice Admiral had made her feel unbearably fragile.

She thought that after everything she had been through with Liam, she should have grown strong enough to stand beside him.

But in the end, she still felt like she was holding him back.

Because she had been so nervous, so afraid, she had even needed Liam to use hypnosis to calm her down...

In the past, her weakness had led to Saul's death at the hands of that Marine Vice Admiral.

What if, in the future, Liam suffered the same fate because of her?

"Hey!"

Liam suddenly reached out and slapped the top of her head.

"..." Robin looked up, touching her head in confusion. "Why did you hit me?"

"No reason. Just wanted to get your attention."

Robin looked even more puzzled. 'What kind of explanation was that?'

Liam let out a huff, then reached forward with both hands, pinched Robin's cheeks, and pulled—

"Damn it!" he cursed.

He had forgotten that the outermost layer of skin on Robin's face was actually his own.

The body created by the Hana Hana No Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit) transmitted sensation in real time to its true owner— which, at the moment, was Liam himself.

Pinching Robin's face meant he was hurting himself.

A rare hint of amusement flickered across Robin's lips as she spoke, her words muffled by her stretched cheeks. "What exactly are you trying to do?"

Liam covered her face with his large hand, scrubbing it as if he were trying to wash it clean.

Petals withered beneath his palm.

As the part of her face that belonged to Liam peeled away, Robin's true features were revealed.

Because the body created by the Hana Hana No Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit) relayed sensation but not physical damage, her real skin— protected all these years beneath the "Jolyne mask"—was soft, fair, and flawless. If Boa Hancock was the embodiment of regal beauty, then Robin's features were the very definition of delicate perfection.

Yet, at that moment, a faint melancholy lingered on her perfect face.

Liam tugged at her flawless skin again, making Robin yelp in pain and jerk away.

"It hurts! Stop it! What's wrong with you? Why are you doing this?" Robin rubbed her slightly reddened cheeks, glaring at him in bewilderment.

"Because I'm mad."

Liam scowled. "You keep bottling everything up and wallowing in self-pity, and it feels like you're shutting me out. After everything we've been through, I thought we were close enough to share anything! Uh..."

"No, it's not that..." Robin shook her head, looking up at him before lowering her gaze again. "I just... I can't control these emotions..."

"Then don't!" Liam shot back, then hesitated. "No, wait, I mean— control them! Ugh, no, that's not right either!"

He stroked his chin, crossing his legs as he mulled over his words. After a moment, he finally said, "What I mean is, if you're going to complain, do it like this: 'Liam is such a joke. He can't even beat a mere Marine Vice Admiral! He's so unreliable. What a useless guy…'

"Hey, why are you crying?"

Seeing Robin's silent tears, Liam was stunned.

Robin wiped her eyes and shook her head repeatedly, steadying herself. Her emerald-green eyes were slightly red as she whispered, "I'm fine now. Let's swap the Fruits back."

"You sure?" Liam asked, skeptical.

Robin met his gaze, then suddenly leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips. She pulled back, turned her head away, then glanced back at him. Seeing his stunned expression, she coaxed, "Really, I'm fine now..."

She pursed her lips slightly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear before adding, "How about this? In the future, could you use hypnosis to help me 'heal'?"

"Oh?" Liam sat up straight. "Heal?"

Robin explained, "For example, let me see you as that frozen Marine… so I can gradually get used to him? Eventually, I want to be able to stay calm."

Liam frowned. "I don't know… turning my image in your mind into Kuzan's doesn't sit right with me. What if, after the hypnosis is lifted, you subconsciously see me as that guy?"

He pondered for a moment before snapping his fingers. "How about this— during your 'treatment,' I can make everyone you see look like Kuzan. You need strong medicine for this kind of thing! Just imagine it: street performers, the dancers in Kuja City, people confessing their love— all of them, Kuzan!"

Robin thought about it and chuckled. "That would be ridiculous."

"Exactly! Strong medicine for a chronic condition!" Liam nodded, pleased with himself.

"Yes, Doctor Giorno," Robin teased, lightly biting her lip. "I'll listen to you…"

"Doctor Giorno?" Liam echoed, raising an eyebrow. The title reminded him a little too much of Doctor Chopper, and he couldn't help but laugh.

Robin watched him with amusement, a warm light in her eyes.

"Bururu?"

The green Den Den Mushi on the table murmured lazily, not bothering to open its eyes.

Fearing that the Kuja warriors or Hancock might barge in, Liam quickly used his Stand-like mechanical arms to swap the Devil Fruit powers back— returning the Hana Hana No Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit) to Robin and absorbing the Jiki Jiki no Mi (Magnet-Magnet Fruit) back into himself.

Robin picked up a few petals, applying them to her face as a fresh layer of her "Jolyne mask," slowly concealing her true features once more.

As she watched Liam's strong and upright posture, reflecting on his words, Robin clenched her fists and murmured to herself, "If only I could be strong enough to stand on my own…"

Steeling herself, she swallowed the lingering emotions and calmly followed after Liam.

Still, B.I.B. noticed that the edges of her ears and the corners of her cheeks were tinged pink.

As they stepped out together, voices rang out in greeting.

"Princess!"

"Jolyne-hime!"

"Princess-sama!"

Robin saw the Kuja warriors, all of them recovered from their frozen state. She felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

Soon, she and Liam arrived at Hancock's cabin. As expected, the Pirate Empress was once again entertaining herself by teasing Bonney.

Though she rarely went too far, she did seem to enjoy bossing Bonney around like a maid. Her regal arrogance made it seem as if she treated Bonney as little more than a plaything.

"You do have some uses after all," Hancock mused, pressing her flawless toes against Bonney's soft lips.

Bonney trembled slightly, whether from anger or embarrassment, even she wasn't sure…

(End Of This Chapter)

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