Chapter 31
You know Ace was very popular in the Whitebeard Pirates, so when Ace returned to the Moby Dick after completing his mission, you weren't in a hurry to see him. Even as you sat in the infirmary receiving Marco's routine check-up, you could hear cheers from the deck.
Compared to your silence, Marco, who was checking on you, chuckled at their commotion. While quickly writing something on the paper, he still had the energy to talk to you.
"These guys, Ace probably brought something back again."
There are no nurses on duty today, so it's just you and Marco in the infirmary. In this situation, you're the only person Marco can talk to. Not knowing Ace well, you hesitate to engage in conversation with Marco. Perhaps because of your conversation last night, Marco, who knows you somewhat, doesn't seem to mind your silence and continues the topic about Ace.
"Don't be fooled by how well Ace gets along with the guys on the ship now. When he first came to the ship and challenged Dad, he was someone who could talk back to anyone."
Marco's words reminded you of Ace when you were traveling together. Although Ace was like a little sun in front of his companions, your impression of Ace is mostly of him gazing at the calm sea late at night, his face devoid of any smile.
Ace was very quiet back then, a completely different person from the Ace of the daytime. Even though Ace put on his daytime smile after noticing your presence, what you remember most vividly is Ace's overly quiet profile. So, when you hear Marco talk about Ace's completely different image from now, it feels very real to you.
"That's exactly what Ace would do."
Marco's expression froze for a moment when he brought up Ace with you, but then the smile that appeared on his face yesterday when he talked about the Red-Haired Pirates reappeared.
"I thought you would be surprised by this, after all, Ace's public image is quite different."
Six months ago, you would have been genuinely surprised by this, but now you're more accepting of it. The important thing is that Marco hasn't hidden his interest in you, or rather, in the matter between you and Ace.
"No matter what his image is, he is still Ace, so I'm not surprised."
In Marco's knowing yet teasing monotone, you shifted the focus of the conversation to Marco.
"Similarly, I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me that Dr. Marco was interested in becoming the head of the news agency."
Marco, realizing you were teasing him, gave a helpless look. At the same time, Ace, who should have been continuing his antics on deck, squeezed in through the infirmary window.
"What? Marco wants to oust Morgans? That sounds interesting!"
Ace stepped over with one foot, and that foot landed perfectly on the table in front of the window, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He was clearly a habitual offender who used the infirmary window as a door.
As luck would have it, Marco was sitting right there. More than complaining, Marco was concerned about his table.
"Ace, can't you just use the front door properly?"
Along with Marco's voice came a fist landing on Ace's head, and Ace's feigned "Ouch!"
"Stop pretending, you don't even look swollen."
Ace, exposed by the active-duty ship's doctor, stopped pretending and gave Marco a sly smile before stepping in with the foot that had been outside the window.
"Okay, okay, I'll come in through the front door next time. Please let me off the hook this time?"
By the time Ace finished saying that, he had already climbed into the infirmary through the window. At that moment, if he then clasped his hands together and begged Marco for forgiveness, even if Marco didn't forgive him, there was nothing Marco could do.
You, who had been watching the whole thing from the sidelines, couldn't help but laugh at the interaction between Ace and Marco. It was at this sound that Ace, who was talking to Marco, peeked out and gave you the same smile he had when they first met. Ace, who had been acting obediently in front of his brother, was now showing you the same smile he had when they first met.
"You're awake? I thought Sachi was just teasing me, but it turns out it's true."
"Yes, I'm awake. Long time no see, Ace."
Based on what you know about Ace, he preferred to reminisce rather than thank you right away, and that's indeed the case.
"Yes, it's been a long time."
-
The Whitebeard Pirates' dining hall was just as lively as the Red-Haired Pirates'. Perhaps because you knew Ace, you felt the atmosphere in the Whitebeard Pirates' dining hall was relatively better. Even so, you still preferred to eat in an inconspicuous corner.
No one pays much attention to your existence, which makes you feel at ease.
Whether it's the infirmary or the cafeteria, wherever Ace is, it's always bustling. You can imagine, this is inseparable from the Whitebeard Pirates' affection for Ace, and also from Ace's yearning for the Whitebeard Pirates. Speaking of which, you can't help but shift your gaze to Whitebeard sitting in the main seat, his distinctive laughter ringing out amidst the laughter and noise created by his "sons."
This is what Whitebeard hoped for, and it's the right he gave them called "family." Putting aside his identity as a pirate, Whitebeard was indeed a good father. Even if your only interaction with Whitebeard was that unpleasant "deck incident," your respect for Whitebeard as a "father" far outweighs your respect for him as one of the "Four Emperors."
But did you know that Whitebeard's status as "father" is inextricably linked to his status as one of the "Four Emperors"? It was precisely because Whitebeard was a powerful "Four Emperor" that his "son" was able to live as he pleased on the Moby Dick, and that you had the opportunity to board the Moby Dick as "Ace's friend".
Before your thoughts wander further, you turn your attention back to the half-eaten plate. Although your appetite has improved somewhat due to your physical condition, the kind-hearted Sachi has still given you too much food.
Your stomach is already full, but the "don't waste food" mentality ingrained in your genes prevents you from throwing it away. Luckily, no one in the cafeteria noticed the corner where you were, otherwise they would have found you staring at the leftover food.
Amidst the increasingly boisterous laughter nearby, you slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, picked up a spoon, scooped a spoonful of rice from your plate, and tried to put it in your mouth. But after hesitating for a long time, you finally put the spoon down.
Just as you were struggling with this, Sachi, who was in the kitchen while you were eating, appeared beside you at some point, giving you a look of both relief and helplessness.
"You don't have to force yourself to eat if you can't."
Sachi seemed about to clear your plate. By the time you realized what was happening, you had already moved the plate a few centimeters towards you. Sachi, surprised by your reaction, stood still, his pupils slightly wide, as if considering his next move.
Realizing your actions were somewhat rude, you felt a flush of embarrassment. Sachi meant well, and your behavior undoubtedly offended him, even making it harder for you to save face. In this situation, there was no other option but to apologize.
After making up your mind, you looked up and met Sachi's gaze.
"Sorry... I just felt it would be a waste not to finish the food, I didn't mean anything else."
"And Sachi is a very good cook. If possible, I hope I can finish it all."
Sachi's expression became even more subtle upon hearing this, making you wonder if you had said something wrong. The next second, Sachi, who was looking at you, turned his head away and raised his hand to cover his eyes.
"I understand. Take your time, there's no rush. If you really can't finish it... you can just throw it away."
Sachi's unusual reaction worried you, but after he finished speaking, he quickly walked into the center of the crowd, leaving you no chance to ask him anything or thank him.
But your brief conversation with Sachi made some room in your stomach. You felt you could still eat a little more. After making up your mind, you scooped up the leftover food from your plate and put it into your still-full stomach.
-
"Although Sachi's cooking is delicious, this is the first time I've ever seen someone eat so much they vomit."
You are very grateful to Ace for helping you to the public restroom to vomit, but the clear, bright starlight in his eyes makes you speechless with gratitude, especially since you've just vomited. Marco, noticing something amiss and thinking something has happened to you, first punches Ace on the head with his fist, then responds with a helpless expression from Ace amidst Ace's complaints of "You hit my head again."
"If I don't hit you, who will I hit? Even if it's true, don't say it in front of women who will be embarrassed by it."
"And this isn't the first time, it's the second."
Ace was surprised to learn that he was beaten for telling the truth, and tried to protest against Marco for being beaten for telling the truth.
"So this is the second time already? But you won't mind, right?"
When Ace finished speaking, he turned to look at you, seeking your approval. As the main character in their conversation, you strongly suspect that Marco's unintentional revelation of the "second time" was retaliation for your comment in the infirmary that he had replaced the president of the news agency.
But you have no evidence, and Ace's attention is focused on you, trying to gain your approval.
Rather than criticizing Marco and Ace for saying they were equally bland, you feel it's easier to answer Ace's question. Marco, no longer focused on the previous topic, hands you a clean towel before you nod, causing you to instinctively refuse and forget what you were going to say.
"I've already washed it in there, so let's not waste it."
Using a new towel to wipe your mouth is far too extravagant for someone who is penniless and unable to offer the Whitebeard Pirates any material reward.
Marco's expression became even more complicated after being rejected by you. Perhaps knowing he couldn't persuade you with words, Marco, who had maintained a sense of propriety since you woke up, crossed the line for the first time.
Your vision is obscured by a white towel, followed by the soft feel of the towel rubbing against your face and hair. At the same time, Marco's helpless voice comes from above you.
“I know, that’s why I gave you the towel, yoi.”
After saying what you needed to say, the sensation of Marco rubbing against your hair and face disappeared as he left, allowing you to remove the towel that was obscuring your vision. When your vision returned, you saw a helpless Marco, and Ace with eyes full of surprise and smiles.
Although you don't know what you look like now, you can tell from Ace's reaction that you've reached the point where Ace finds you funny.
Thinking about this, you feel you need to go back to the public restroom to tidy up your appearance.
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