Chapter 228: Volume 2 – Chapter 130: So Sweet

A gentle breeze stirred the fallen leaves.

Gion's sudden return had caught Daren completely off guard.

He stared at the fruit basket lying on the ground. The fresh fruits inside had burst through the elegant plastic wrapping and were now scattered everywhere—like the broken heart of a heart-struck girl.

"I'm such an idiot..."

Daren gave a helpless, bitter laugh, his headache only getting worse.

"Daren-san... are you alright?"

Amatsuki Toki, seeing his twisted expression—like he'd just swallowed a mouthful of mud—and watching him pinch the bridge of his nose in silence, couldn't hold back any longer and asked softly.

"I'm fine, Toki."

Daren shook his head.

Toki fell quiet again. Then, she suddenly walked to the door, carefully picked up the scattered fruits, wiped the dust off them, and put them back into the basket. She carried it over to Daren, then looked up at him and asked curiously,

"That girl named Gion... seems to like you."

Daren instinctively nodded in agreement—but immediately caught himself and slammed the brakes.

He looked up to see Toki standing there with the fruit basket in her arms, lip slightly bitten, staring quietly at him.

That slightly pouty look in her eyes, paired with her faintly puffed-up cheeks, left Daren completely at a loss for how to respond.

Daren: ...

Damn it!!

In all his life, Daren had never felt this flustered. He was completely thrown off.

Sure, he'd never claimed to be a good guy—and the nickname "the Marines' biggest scumbag" didn't bother him.

But there's a difference between a scumbag and a beast.

Even scumbags have standards!

"Ahem... Toki, actually, my relationship with Gion... isn't what you think."

Daren forced a smile and tried to explain, but was cut off by Toki's next question.

"So... Daren-san doesn't like Gion-san?"

Daren: ...

He opened his mouth, but under Toki's calm, serious gaze, he couldn't bring himself to deny it.

He didn't like lying to women.

But what she said next left him completely speechless.

"Then you should pursue her!"

Toki gave a bright, sincere smile.

In that moment, her smile bloomed like a swan dancing gracefully on a still lake—stunning and serene.

"Wha—what!?"

Daren's eyes went wide. He looked like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

Over the past few days, his relationship with Toki had progressed by leaps and bounds, far beyond that of ordinary friends.

While there hadn't been any major steps taken physically, the two of them shared a natural rhythm now—so in tune they could often read each other with just a glance.

Living together in the family quarters, Toki had effortlessly taken on the role of a gentle, caring partner—handling chores, tidying up, and filling what was once a cold, empty home with warmth and life.

The living room was now dotted with cute plush toys, paper cuttings brightened the once-gray windowpanes, and the kitchen gradually filled with pots, pans, and the sound of home.

Daren hadn't minded any of it—in fact, he enjoyed it. Sometimes he even helped Toki with the housework.

And then there were the regular visits from those two old men, Zephyr and Sengoku, who would drop by with overly cheerful grins, looking all too pleased with their little "family." Occasionally, they'd shoot Daren warning looks that practically screamed, "If you dare hurt Toki, we'll make you regret it."

Somehow, without even realizing it, Amatsuki Toki had already slipped into the role of a "wife."

As if she'd been made for it from the very start.

"But Toki, if I go after Gion... wouldn't you be upset?"

Daren actually started to stutter.

For someone usually so smooth and confident, he was completely thrown off by Toki's "crazy" idea. It felt like a barrage of formulas and theories flashed through his mind, his brain running at full capacity.

What did she mean by that?

Was she testing him?

Or... was she really not mad?

But how could she not be mad? She's a woman too!

Or maybe Toki never liked him in the first place, so she didn't care?

No, no, no, that couldn't be it. He had some charm.

Otherwise, back in the North Blue, he wouldn't have had so many sleepless nights.

Not to mention how Toki would get flushed and her heart would race when they locked eyes up close.

"Nope."

Amatsuki Toki smiled, bright and serene.

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze full of innocent cheer.

"You already told me about this before, didn't you, Daren-san?"

"I understand what kind of person you are. Since I chose you, I also chose to accept everything about you—both the good and the bad."

"My father once told me that true heroes don't sweat the small stuff, and that the strong deserve more privileges than the weak. That's what real fairness in the world looks like."

"And someone like you, Daren-san—bold, responsible, with great ambition—being loved by multiple women at the same time... that's a blessing for those women."

Na—Na—Nani!!?

Daren was dumbfounded, staring at the look of absolute certainty on her face.

What a girl. Seriously.

So Toki was saying... she supported him having more than one woman?

Not only was she not angry, she was actually encouraging it!?

This... this... this was too good to be true!

Daren's brain completely shut down.

Sure, he was a scoundrel—but even scoundrels had their limits.

Even after all these years since crossing over, he still clung to a few moral standards from his old life.

Yes, he was a flirt, but it was always mutual, nothing more than a fleeting moment of fun.

You're happy, I'm happy.

But this felt different...

People from Wano really did think differently, didn't they?

Never mind the outdated stuff like Bushido, but Toki's way of thinking... now that was a truly excellent "noble tradition"!

Daren's eye twitched for a solid minute before he finally squeezed out a sentence:

"...I can see your father's a very wise man."

"Mhm, he really makes a lot of sense."

Even Daren couldn't believe he'd just said that.

Toki beamed.

"Yes, I think so too..."

She set the fruit basket down, went inside, and returned with a clean military uniform, holding it out to him with both hands.

"You should head out, Daren-san. Aren't you going to training camp today? Oh, and don't forget to apologize to Gion-san."

Still in a daze, Daren let her help him into the uniform and walked out of the compound.

"Good luck! Don't forget to come home for dinner, Daren-san."

Toki stood in the doorway, smiling and waving goodbye.

Daren waved back stiffly, his body moving on its own toward the training camp.

He still hadn't fully processed what just happened.

...

Once the Commodore's figure disappeared down the street, Toki lowered her hand.

She closed the wooden door, crossed the courtyard scattered with falling leaves, and carried the fruit basket back inside.

After washing the fruit in the kitchen, she quietly moved to the living room and brought out an intricately carved fruit plate.

Kneeling on the tatami mat, she patiently arranged the fruit, one piece at a time.

She looked to be in a great mood.

The same sweet, innocent smile from earlier still lingered on her face as she softly hummed a gentle, melancholic tune from her homeland.

One pale arm propped up her chin, the hem of her pink kimono flowing across the spotless floor. With the newly bought folding screen behind her, she looked like a beauty straight out of a ukiyo-e painting.

"The fruit is really fresh. Gion-san is such a kind girl. I hope Daren-san won't make her cry."

She spoke softly to herself, picked up a pear, and took a small bite.

Juice burst across her lips.

Her smile remained gentle, graceful...

But her eyes were slightly red.

"So sweet."