This evening, after training, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the streets of Marineford, bathing Marineford in a warm golden hue.
Gern followed Zephyr, passing through several quiet alleys, and finally stopped in front of a modest two-story building.
"We're here." Zephyr pushed open the door, and an inviting aroma drifted out from inside.
Smelling the food, Gern's stomach immediately let out a loud protest, making Zephyr turn his head to glance at him: "That hungry?"
"Hehe, training uses up a lot of energy, you know." Gern scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
"Come in." Zephyr stepped aside to let Gern enter first.
Inside, a short-haired woman was walking out of the kitchen, carrying a steaming pot of stew.
When she saw Gern, her eyes lit up, and a gentle smile appeared on her face: "You must be Gern? Zephyr talks about you often."
"Hello!" Gern immediately stood straight and saluted properly: "Thank you for having me!"
"Don't be so formal." The woman placed the stew on the table and wiped her hands.
"My name is Lina, Zephyr's fiancée. Just call me Sister Lina, and please, sit down and eat."
In an instant, Gern's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the lavish dishes on the table.
Stewed beef, roasted fish, vegetable salad, steaming hot bread… His stomach rumbled again.
"Sit down, kid." Zephyr patted Gern's shoulder, his voice unusually gentle.
The three of them sat around the dining table. Just as Gern picked up his fork, Lina stopped him: "Wash your hands first."
"Oh!" Only then did Gern notice that his hands were still covered in dust and blood from training, and he quickly ran to the restroom to wash them.
When he returned, Lina had already served him a large bowl of stew.
"Thank you!" Gern thanked her, then immediately began to wolf down his food.
"Eat slowly, don't choke." Lina smiled and handed him a glass of water, "There's plenty more."
Zephyr watched Gern devour his food like a whirlwind, and couldn't help but frown.
"Are you a reincarnation of a starved ghost, kid? Lina worked hard all afternoon, and you're eating without a care in the world.
And why is your appetite just like Garp's?!"
Gern's mouth was full of food, and he mumbled indistinctly: "It's too delicious!"
Seeing Zephyr's serious tone, Lina patted his shoulder and chided him,
"Don't say that. He's only 16, he's at the age where he's still growing."
"Growing..." Zephyr glanced sideways at Gern, who was almost 1.9 meters tall, and his mouth twitched: "He's 16?"
"Haha." Lina covered her mouth and chuckled: "Although you've mentored so many students part-time at the Navy School,
Gern is the first one you've brought home for dinner."
"Hmph!" Zephyr grunted, saying nothing more, but a hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes.
Gern remained silent, burying his head in his food, and quickly cleared the table.
Seeing this, Lina got up again and brought out a plate of fruit and dessert from the kitchen: "Here, try the apple pie I baked."
"Thank you!" Gern's eyes lit up, and he took the plate, continuing to feast.
Zephyr shook his head helplessly, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
At the dinner table, Gern suddenly remembered something and looked up to ask: "Teacher Zephyr, are you and Sister Lina not married yet?"
Upon hearing this, Lina's face flushed slightly, and she looked at Zephyr tenderly.
"He said we'd get married after he became an Admiral."
"Cough cough..." Zephyr coughed lightly, turning his head away uncomfortably, "That's right."
"Is that so?!" Gern smiled, asking curiously: "Then how did you two meet?"
A look of recollection appeared in Lina's eyes, and she smiled.
"Zephyr protected me when I was very young.
I was just a child then, and I was tricked by other children, and he saved me!"
"Oh, really?" Gern became interested, "So, what was Teacher Zephyr like when he was little?"
"When he was little~" Lina thought for a moment, then smiled: "Well, just like now, he was a hero of justice!"
Saying that, Lina suddenly stood up, imitating a movement from her memory, putting her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest, and shouting loudly,
"I am the hero of justice—Z!!"
Zephyr, who always maintained a serious expression in front of all Marines, instantly flushed crimson and stood up abruptly: "Lina!"
Gern was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"I didn't expect Teacher Zephyr to be so passionate when he was little! The hero of justice, Z!"
"And, and..." Lina also laughed so hard she was bent over, "He's completely dense.
I followed him all the way from his hometown to Marineford, and he still didn't realize I liked him; I had to...
Gern, don't be like Zephyr in this regard! He's an idiot who makes girls take the initiative!"
Zephyr looked at the two of them, finally letting out a helpless sigh, but the tenderness in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
The dinner ended in laughter.
Gern offered to help clear the dishes, but Lina waved her hands repeatedly: "No need, you go rest. You must be tired after a day of training."
"It's fine, I can still do this little bit." Gern insisted.
"Let him wash! He ate so much." Zephyr stood by, watching Gern's clumsy but diligent movements, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
It was late, and when Gern said goodbye, Lina even specially packed some pastries for him to take away: "Come again next time, Gern."
"Thank you!" Gern accepted them solemnly, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
Walking on the way back to his own home, Gern looked up at the starry sky, and the warm scene of the evening came to his mind.
He knew the pain Zephyr would experience in the future, and that gentle and virtuous smile would also disappear one day.
"I absolutely cannot let that happen..." Gern clenched his fists, silently making a resolution in his heart.
.......
At Zephyr's home, after Gern left, the house returned to quiet.
Lina gently closed the door. When she turned around, she found Zephyr standing by the window, looking in the direction Gern had left, a faint smile on his lips.
She walked over, wrapped her arms around Zephyr's waist from behind, and rested her face on his back, saying softly: "Gern is a good kid, don't be too strict with him."
Zephyr didn't answer immediately, he just raised his hand and placed it over hers, his thumb gently stroking her knuckles.
After a moment, he said in a low voice: "Hmm, although he's a troublesome disciple, he's... truly good."
Lina chuckled, walked around to face him, and looked up into his eyes: "You rarely bring students home for dinner, let alone personally train them or even invite Garp.
It seems you really value him."
Zephyr grunted, but his eyes softened: "This kid has good talent, but more importantly, his 'heart' is righteous."
At this, Zephyr paused, his tone unusually tinged with emotion, "I see my younger self in him."
"Haha." Lina reached up and caressed his cheek, her fingertips gently tracing the fine lines around his eyes: "Is that why you appreciate him so much?"
Zephyr didn't deny it; he just held her hand, lowered his head, and kissed her fingertips: "Soon."
"Hmm?"
"When I become an Admiral..." Zephyr's voice was deep and firm, "I will be able to marry you honorably at the peak of my career."
Lina's eyes welled up slightly, but she just smiled and pinched his nose: "You idiot, I've been waiting for this day for a long time."
Zephyr, for once, didn't retort. Instead, he pulled her into his embrace, resting his chin on the top of her head, and whispered: "I won't make you wait any longer."
Outside the window, Moonlight spilled onto the streets of Marineford, quiet and gentle.