Chapter 45
The broad, warm touch makes you feel at ease, while the constantly shifting images in your mind give you a headache. It seems as if someone is whispering in your ear, making you slow your breathing.
Perhaps due to excessive pain and stress, you adjust your breathing according to the male voice in your ear, and the nerves that were aching from not being able to see the outlines and scenes are also relieved a little.
Next comes the stinging sensation of the medicine being injected into your body through the syringe. The dream that kept you awake dissipates after the medicine takes effect, and you are able to wake up from the dream.
What comes into view are intertwined hands. Still not fully awake, your gaze follows the strong forearm upwards to the golden eyes that had recently made you uneasy.
So, you're holding Mihawk's hand?
Realizing this, you quickly pulled your hand away from being held, but your body, which wanted to retreat, was unable to move due to a strange feeling of fatigue.
At the same time, Marco, who looked exhausted, pushed open the door to the infirmary. His listless eyes widened as he took in the situation inside.
While Marco stood frozen in place, Mihawk, who had subconsciously clenched his palm to confirm the feel of the touch, withdrew his hand from the edge of the bed and asked the question that should have been asked by Marco in an impressive tone.
"Does it still hurt?"
Mihawk reminded you that the splitting headache you felt before you fell into a coma had disappeared.
"It doesn't hurt anymore."
"That's good."
His tone, as if he'd known you for a long time, made you wonder if you'd done something while you were unconscious. Marco, who was standing at the door, called out to the deck and came over, picking up a flashlight to check on you.
After a frantic search, Ace burst through the door. The sound of the wooden door slamming against the wall was accompanied by Marco's helpless sigh, and Harta, following behind Ace, slowed his pace as he entered.
Before you could see if there were any other people, Ace, who had come in first, squeezed between Marco and Mihawk, his dark, bright eyes filled with undisguised worry.
"Are you still in pain?"
Besides Ace's worry, you could also hear faint sighs and muffled sounds of dissatisfaction. But it was only for a moment, and then only Ace's voice remained in the room.
During this brief respite, you, having recovered from your unconsciousness, responded to Ace with a reassuring smile: "It doesn't hurt anymore, don't worry."
Ace smiled upon receiving a positive reply, and in his overwhelming joy, he unconsciously shortened the distance between you and him.
"Then—"
Before Ace could finish speaking, Mihawk, who had been pushed aside by Ace earlier, casually reached out and stopped Ace's unconsciously leaning upper body. Ace looked displeased at being stopped, but his eyes lit up with a bright smile when he met yours.
"Want to go off the ship and explore? You've been lying in the infirmary for half the day, going down for a walk should make you feel better."
"long time?"
Catching the key phrase, you instinctively glanced at Mihawk, who had reached out to block Ace and then casually withdrew his hand. The moment your eyes met, realizing what you'd done, you quickly looked away, turning to Marco, who could give you a definitive answer.
Marco, noticing your unconscious reaction, raised an eyebrow and gave you an affirmative answer: "Yes, it's already noon."
If you're not mistaken, Mihawk, who just let go of your hand not long ago, should have stayed with you for half a day.
No, you can't think like that. Thinking like that will only add to your stress. You must not be fully awake yet to be thinking about these things. But the lingering sensation in my palm and the conversation we just had are enough to dispel Crocdale's claim of an "enemy."
What kind of enemy would care if the other is in pain?
Seeing that you were about to fall into a dilemma again, Izou, who was behind Harta, changed the subject at the right time.
"Sachi has prepared lunch. Do you want to eat in the cafeteria, or should I bring it to you?"
That's a good question. Your body, which was so exhausted you couldn't move a while ago, is now able to move as you wish, thanks to Izo's reminder. Perhaps your surprised expression was too obvious, because Marco, who examined you, chuckled and gave you a precise answer.
"As long as your head doesn't hurt, you can walk around normally."
Marco's affirmative answer reassured you considerably. Glancing out of the corner of your eye at Mihawk still sitting to the side, you quickly looked away and gazed at Ace, who seemed to be locked in a fierce battle of wits with Mihawk.
"Let's go eat at the cafeteria. Like Ace said, walking around will make me feel much better."
Your mind is so chaotic that you're afraid that if you stay alone for too long, your head will start to hurt again.
-
The Moby Dick's mess hall was always crowded, and it was especially lively when people from both ships gathered together. For one thing, the distinctive laugh of the white-bearded man sitting at the head of the table was enough to make everyone in the mess hall laugh.
Now, not only Whitebeard, but also Shanks, who was laughing heartily for some unknown reason, was sitting next to him, making the dining hall twice as lively.
My ears hurt a little from the noise. But liveliness is better than quiet, at least that's how it seemed to the people on both boats.
Ace said something to you, but there was too much noise around you, and you couldn't tell which one was Ace's voice from the cacophony. It wasn't until Shanks, who was sitting at the main table, noticed you at the door that Shanks, who had been chatting and laughing with Whitebeard, waved to you.
Seeing this, Whitebeard, who was sitting in the main seat, also looked at you. Whitebeard, who was smiling just a second ago, glanced at Marco, and Marco, who understood, whispered something, then looked at you and gestured for you to follow him.
With Marco leading the way, the crowded dining hall naturally had an extra path, enough to get you smoothly to Whitebeard.
Because the surrounding environment wasn't conducive to conversation, the white-bearded man extended his hand, inviting you to stand in his palm. This was a completely new experience for you, so much so that you hesitated to act rashly.
The experienced Ace gave you a push when you hesitated. Well, not exactly a push, more like a pat on the shoulder, prompting you to take a step forward. Once Whitebeard had you on his shoulder, Ace, having found a good spot to sit, gave you a bright smile.
You are grateful to Ace for giving you a push when you were hesitant, but you are afraid of heights and cannot feel grateful to Ace while sitting on Whitebeard's shoulder.
Even so, Whitebeard, who had offered you a seat, then revealed the purpose of your visit. He asked how you were doing and what your plans were for the future.
You honestly expressed your gratitude to all the crew members on the Moby Dick, and while there is no tangible reward yet, you promised to do your best to help in any way you can.
Upon hearing this, the white-bearded man chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping over the few people in the cafeteria who were glancing at you out of the corner of their eyes or staring directly at you, before teasingly continuing your conversation.
"There is one favor that only you can do. But never mind, emotional issues are not my concern."
After saying that, Whitebeard put you down, turned to Shanks and said, "You're a real bastard." Shanks, who was called a "bastard," was not angry. He grinned and said that he had only done it because he had promised his friend.
So nobody explained the situation to you? Actually, nobody did. Ace, seeing you standing there looking lost, pulled you to sit down next to him. The others who came with you also found seats, while Mihawk, who wasn't part of either group, sat next to Shanks.
-
After lunch, the two groups of people were discussing how to get to the island. Personnel allocation, supplies, and the distribution of resources after finding the treasure were all conditions that needed to be agreed upon beforehand. This surprised you, as you were hearing about it for the first time, but it was still within your comprehension.
The only thing you can't understand is that Mihawk is still following you, and he doesn't seem to have any interest in their conversation at all.
Based on your interactions yesterday and today, you're probably certain that Crocodile's claim of an "enemy" is part of a lie, but that doesn't mean you can accept Mihawk giving you excessive attention. Even if he's not an enemy, you're still complete strangers, aren't you?
Thinking of this, you carefully considered your tone and words, and looked at Mihawk standing beside you.
"Um, don't you want to go and talk to them? The Seven Warlords of the Sea are pirates too, they should be quite interested in treasure, right?"
Otherwise, you wouldn't understand why Mihawk came here. Furthermore, based on Marco and Ace's conversation yesterday, we know that the Seven Warlords are essentially part of the Navy's faction. In this situation, the treasure should be divided among three forces.
Having barely managed to grasp the situation, you slowly looked away under Mihawk's intensely focused gaze. Even if Mihawk meant no harm or murderous intent, you couldn't bring yourself to meet his eyes for more than three seconds.
Mihawk, who was watching your movements, let out a soft, almost chuckle-like sound and said something that left you stunned.
"I only promised the Navy I would look for it, I didn't say I would bring it back."
Is he really that capricious? Or should we say that he's just doing whatever he wants? You, who used to be a working-class person, were quite surprised. You looked at Mihawk with more respect and worry, to the point that you temporarily forgot that the person in front of you was actually a pirate.
"Won't this affect your work?"
You should know that in your original world, if a worker dared to play these kinds of word games with their boss, they'd be fired that very afternoon, not even waiting until the next day. But Mihawk, standing before you, showed no sign of panic; instead, his golden eyes revealed a helpless expression at your words, as if he'd heard similar things countless times before.
"No, they still need the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"And my main purpose in coming here is not the treasure."
The topic shifted, and the emotion in your golden eyes made your face flush. You're not a narcissistic person, yet even though Mihawk didn't specify the subject, his gaze seemed to say that he came because of you.
No, you've only just met him. What reason would he have to come because of you? It must be the incident at noon that's giving you this illusion.
You, barely managing to convince yourself, want to leave the environment that's making you uneasy, but faster than your actions comes Mihawk's voice.
Why did you look away?
It's out. He muttered to himself, unsure whether it was the embarrassment of his thoughts being exposed or the overwhelming pressure Mihawk exerted, but his gaze returned to Mihawk once more.
This time, however, a hint of composure and amusement, which you couldn't quite decipher, appeared in his sharp golden eyes.
"You guessed it, I came here because of you."
A single sentence can untangle your already chaotic thoughts into a knot.
Because of you? What do you have that Mihawk cares about? Ah, could it be that Mihawk isn't actually your enemy, but Crocodile's, and that's why he's seeking revenge on you?
In your haste, you quickly retreated a few steps to what you considered a safe distance. Before Mihawk could follow, you reached out to stop him from getting closer, hastily uttering the conclusion you'd guessed.
"Wait a minute, Crocodile and I have nothing to do with each other anymore! So if you come looking for me... it won't have any effect on Crocodile."
A strange silence hung between you and Mihawk. Not far away, the crew members were still chatting animatedly about the plan to land on the island. No one noticed what was happening in this corner. However, a crew member outside the encirclement whispered, "Why did it suddenly get so cold?" Only then did the chilling atmosphere that had sent a shiver down your spine dissipate.
When you come to your senses, Mihawk, who had been keeping his distance, is already in front of you, his golden eyes reflecting your image filled with helplessness.
"Is that really how he lied to you?"
"cheat?"
Perhaps things happened too suddenly, because you didn't instinctively dodge Mihawk's outstretched hand when you noticed how close he was, but instead let his broad, hot palm caress your face.
“You have nothing to do with him, and I didn’t come to see you because of him.”
The palms, large enough to cover her face, were held as if she were cradling something fragile, and your attention shifted from the overly intimate gesture back to the original topic.
Is there anything about me that you care about?
As if he had heard something absurd, Mihawk sighed and asked in a tone that suggested, "What should we eat tonight?"
"I am your lover. Do I need any other reason to come to you?"
Things have turned out differently than you expected.
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