Chapter 56
Mihawk's island is large and deserted. You might not be able to imagine living alone in the middle of nowhere, but Mihawk is no ordinary person, and this island is no ordinary island either. It has an old-looking castle and baboons that can wield knives.
Even though Mihawk had mentioned the baboons before bringing you to the island, and you were somewhat prepared, you were still startled when a group of baboons wielding weapons or hoes surrounded you, cheering like humans as they raised their objects. Instinctively, you hid behind Mihawk. Mihawk, who had been watching your every move since you entered the island, softened his voice and consciously moved half a step to the side, blocking your view.
"Don't be afraid, they are just welcoming you back."
"W-Welcome?"
You selectively ignore the word "come back" and cautiously observe the baboons surrounding you. The baboons, which resemble humans, maintain a safe distance and emit excited cheers, showing no intention of approaching further or attacking you. A mingled sense of wariness towards wild species etched in your memory and a strange familiarity arises, and when your gaze falls on Mihawk, your heart, which had been pounding, calms down along with his composed demeanor.
Although you have no memory of Mihawk or the castle, the subconscious sense of familiarity and the inherent sense of security that Mihawk brings make you breathe a sigh of relief, and your tense nerves return to their original peace.
"This is the first time I've ever seen such a welcome."
Once you've calmed down, even if you're still afraid of the baboons you haven't encountered, try greeting them. Although you don't speak the same language, the well-trained baboons clearly understand that smiles and waves have meanings. The already excited baboons responded with even more enthusiastic cheers, before being shooed away by Mihawk, who found it too noisy.
As the birds and beasts scattered, some of the anthropomorphic baboons even winked at you before leaving. Even if you didn't know them well enough, you could still read a hint of "teasing" in their eyes. Because of this, you began to have a different opinion of Mihawk, who continued to lead the way, and your gaze towards him became more respectful.
A master of animal taming.
Mihawk, who hadn't yet mastered mind reading, felt a slight itch on his nose, but the itch disappeared in the blink of an eye and was neither painful nor itchy, so he ignored the strangeness and continued to show you the environment of the island.
A vegetable garden planted with plenty of vegetables, a meticulously designed garden not far from the vegetable garden, a castle room that has been unvisited for some time and needs a thorough cleaning, and a room that, no matter how you look at it, is clearly meant for someone.
Before even seeing the room's layout, you can feel a sense of familiarity with the island, and the "lover" that Mihawk only mentioned once is confirmed in the process of getting to know the environment. Even so, when you see a closet full of clothes that fit your figure and style, the relationship you selectively forgot resurfaces in your mind.
Perhaps considering that you need a buffer period, Mihawk suggested that you stay in the room and rest while you lingered over the layout of the room and the clothes in the closet.
"You rest here first, I'll go cook."
Unaccustomed to receiving gifts, you turned around at a moment's notice, but before you could speak, Mihawk, who was standing behind you just a second ago, was gone. His movements were so swift that you couldn't help but wonder if there was actually no one behind you.
But having your own space definitely gives you a different experience; now you can observe the items in the room more closely. Like the picture frame you noticed as you entered—intentionally covered in front of the dressing mirror. Normally, you wouldn't be interested in these things, but the layout of the room and the undeniable sound of your heartbeat compel you to pick up the covered frame.
Your heartbeat grows clearer as you pick up the photo frame—perhaps it's nervousness, or maybe a subconscious expectation of the present. You unfold the frame, revealing a version of yourself you've never seen before. Just from the photo, you can guess how happy you were when it was taken, perhaps with a touch of shyness towards the camera or photographer, your cheeks flushed with the blush of someone in love. And the greenery in the background looks like a garden you visited not long ago.
In conclusion, the photographer who took the picture, and the person who clearly wiped the frame and protected it well, could only be Mihawk, who had shown you around the castle.
If the body's familiarity with the current environment is fake, then the fact that the layout and items in this room are arranged according to your preferences, along with the emotionally charged photo in your hand, are far more convincing than "I am your husband."
Just as it resists your attempts to delve into your memories, the throbbing temples urge you to put down the photo frame that's causing your emotional turmoil and focus on dealing with the physical pain.
Inhale, exhale, repeating the deep breathing motion. The throbbing temples eased somewhat, but the cold sweat from the pain made your reflection in the vanity mirror pale. Looking at yourself in the mirror, so different from your picture, you couldn't help but laugh out loud: "I feel like I've walked into a new trap."
In terms of revealing their identities, Mihawk and Crocodile are the same. The only difference is the way their bodies reacted to their statements when they revealed their identities.
Judging from the current situation, Mihawk's words are highly credible; it's just that you don't know how to face the castle with no memory and your "roommate" for the time being.
-
Mihawk has a very regular daily routine. Even if you get up later than him, you can feel the sense of peace called "routine" from the sight of him making breakfast in the kitchen. It's a feeling you've never experienced before, yet it feels familiar. Before you know it, Mihawk has come over with breakfast for two and familiarly handed one of the portions to you.
Even before your thoughts, your body moves. You not only accept the plate Mihawk hands you, but also follow him to the table, where you enjoy your breakfast amidst the sounds of knives and forks touching food and plates.
Even though you've been here for a while, the quiet yet comfortable atmosphere still feels novel. You think it's probably related to your time with the Red Crew and White Crew; after all, there was never a quiet moment on those two ships. Their conversations jumped around a lot, filled with pirate slang and hearty laughter.
Mihawk, on the other hand, would most often talk to you about whether you needed any other household items, which vegetables in the garden were ready to be picked, or which tree in the orchard had a bountiful harvest. Besides that, he would also encourage you to go out and explore more.
Like now: "If you get bored in the castle, you can go for a walk in the back hill."
Mihawk doesn't seem to have found a topic to talk about with you yet, or perhaps you haven't had many conversations with him, which is why Mihawk suggests you go outside the castle every now and then. Looking back on your time living in the castle, you've spent a lot of time there, either reading or helping Mihawk grow vegetables or cook.
But in your opinion, Mihawk, who spends his time gardening, practicing swordsmanship, reading, cooking, and occasionally drinking, seems to be the one who needs to venture out of the castle. Thinking this, you swallow your food and redirect Mihawk's suggestion back to him.
“I will. Rather than that, wouldn’t Mihawk like to go out and explore? Although there’s probably no place on this island you haven’t been to yet, it’s nice to change your surroundings once in a while.”
Mihawk paused for a moment, and your gaze followed his hands. When he resumed his movements, you looked up along the veins on the back of his hand, and what caught your eye was Mihawk's slightly upturned lips.
"Is this an invitation?"
He seemed to be in a good mood. Having reached this conclusion, you looked away, not wanting to be burned by the emotion in Mihawk's smiling golden eyes.
"Hmm... I'd say it's an invitation."
Using this as an excuse, you successfully "invited" Mihawk to take a walk with you on this island inhabited only by two people, baboons, and other small animals. However, judging from the lunch and picnic blanket that Mihawk had prepared meticulously, as well as the location he chose for resting, he seemed to equate the walk with a "date," which made you feel a little awkward since you hadn't verbally or practically established a relationship with Mihawk.
But the one who misunderstood was Mihawk... You don't mind.
-
Flowers and pirates don't seem to go well together, but Mihawk has a flower field with all sorts of varieties. When you first arrived on the island, the flowers were still closed, but now they're in full bloom and look quite beautiful. And just like that, you, who used to read in the living room, have recently taken to reading in the flower field.
Perhaps because he had always kept an eye on you, Mihawk placed two chairs and a table with a parasol in an open space not far from the flower field, so that you or he could enjoy the blooming flower field.
It would be a lie to say you weren't moved, but what surprised you most was Mihawk, who was sitting on the chair in the backyard at the same time as you. Perhaps your expression was too conspicuous, because Mihawk, who was holding today's newspaper, sighed and then spread the newspaper out to cover his face.
"It's not bad to read the newspaper in a different place."
You deeply agree with this, but it's hard not to notice that Mihawk, usually so sharp-eyed, is unusually quiet today. Ace, who's been in contact with you about this, let out a strange laugh upon hearing it, while Harta muttered curses in the background, and Marco sighed, clearly enjoying the spectacle.
Marco said he hadn't expected Mihawk to take the innocent route. You paused for a few seconds, still processing what he meant, and just as you were about to ask Marco what he meant, a vibrant rose caught your eye, and the Den Den Mushi, which should have continued the call, clicked shut.
The call ended with Mihawk's arrival, and in his place was a bouquet of roses presented to you.
"This is?"
"Gift."
Mihawk then placed a bouquet of roses, neatly trimmed and ready for sale in a florist, into your lap and took the Den Den Mushi from your hand.
Even if you're slow on the uptake, you can't pretend to be clueless now that you know the meaning of roses. Cohabiting partners with only a casual relationship wouldn't give roses as gifts, let alone someone like Mihawk whose relationship is anything but casual.
It was burning hot, and a little too hot for my face. The person who was making you feel so hot hadn't left; their golden eyes, reflecting your image, were fixed on you, as if waiting for your answer.
Judging from your daily interactions and your emotional fluctuations when facing Mihawk, your relationship with Mihawk is just one of two things waiting for someone to make the first move. Even so, you still have to say something.
"Actually, it's fine if you just express your feelings directly. These flowers don't last long, it would be a shame to pick them..."
Upon hearing this, Mihawk, who had been expecting your answer, fell silent, followed by a barely audible sigh.
"You're still good at changing the subject."
Looking into Mihawk's helpless golden eyes, you, knowing your place, tried to cover your face with the bouquet of roses. But Mihawk, anticipating this, bent down and closed the distance between you, until you could feel each other's breath. Then, Mihawk pushed aside the bouquet you were using as an obstacle.
"You already have flower fields and bouquets, why not consider hiring a flower farmer as well?"
What kind of flower grower would come this close to promote their own flower? Looking at Mihawk's face magnified by the distance, and being stared at by his golden eyes, you have the illusion that you are the bouquet.
If that weren't the case, how could the gaze of a self-recommended "flower grower" have burned your face so much?
-
Mihawk does indeed grow flowers, but his methods are downright frustrating. His gentle approach is tinged with the wickedness typical of pirates, often leaving you exasperated. Even so, the meals that appear on the table on time every day usually make you forgive Mihawk's occasional whims.
The nutritionally balanced and delicious food, the perfectly positioned sunlight, and the neatly arranged interior made the lunch time for just the two of us more cozy than we had imagined.
The only downside is that Mihawk's cooking is so good that you end up eating too much and need to take a walk afterward to digest.
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