Three days after Garp recruited me into the Marines, the treated soldiers had stabilized, so I left them with the villagers and the military doctor and returned home with my father.
"Welcome home, Akari."
"I'm back, mama."
This woman with the same purple hair as me was my mother in this life.
"Not 'mama'—'mommy,' right? How lonely."
She pressed her kimono sleeve to her eyes in a gesture, but... Like dad, why did they insist on the papa/mommy thing?
"So, mama..."
"Mommy, Akari."
"Mom..."
"Mommy, Akari."
"...Mommy."
"What is it, Akari?"
If only she didn't force the mommy thing, she'd be a beautiful, perfect mother. I suppressed a sigh and decided to tell her about Garp's Marine recruitment.
"I was recruited by the Marines..."
"No."
"But mommy—"
"No way."
Even said so cutely...
"I heard from Bunta about it, but what did you think of the fight between Akari and that Marine Vice Admiral and Bunta?"
"It was just... amazing."
"I had Bunta show me his sword, but it was damaged enough to need reforging. From that Vice Admiral's fists."
As expected of someone called Fist of Love Garp...
"He damaged a sword that much with bare hands?!"
"According to Bunta, he was holding back after the first strike."
"No way..."
"It's true, Akari."
"You're in the way, lass."
Dad and Garp entered the room munching on rice crackers. Poor manners, both of you.
"My Armament Haki and Garp's have a gap between them. If he hadn't held back, I might've had my sword broken."
"Bwahahaha! You were adjusting your strike points to avoid breaking it!"
Armament Haki...
"Akari can use Observation Haki since she was little, but what about Armament Haki?"
"Mama..."
"Outside Wano... on the sea, you'll meet various ability users. What would Akari do if she encountered a Logia-type ability user?"
I couldn't answer mama's question.
"So wait one year."
"Huh?"
"I'll train you for one year to use Shirakawa-style basics and at least minimal Armament Haki."
Mama told me with a smile. I was happy, but... was this really okay?
"I know Akari looked very happy when she went to sea with Bunta. So Bunta and I were already discussing Akari's future."
"When those marriage proposals came for Akari, I opposed her going outside, so I was going around trying to get her to accept the meetings."
So that's what happened...
"Even if Bunta stopped worrying, Akari didn't cry or complain when he kicked her out—she just became self-sufficient, right? That's when Bunta accepted that Akari wanted to go outside."
"Dad..."
"I'm sorry, Akari. I wanted us to stay together as a family longer."
I'd known what kind of place this world was before reincarnating, so I'd been looking forward to various things. That probably came out naturally as longing for the sea.
In my previous life I'd lived alone, so I naturally thought leaving home was normal in this life too. My parents, sensing this, were trying to teach me skills needed to survive in this world. I hadn't really considered my parents' feelings...
"I'm sorry..."
"What do you have to apologize for, Akari?"
"I wasn't thinking about you and dad..."
Mama approached and petted my head. Such a gentle mother's hand.
"I'll definitely be lonely when Akari leaves home. But children eventually leave the nest."
Mama's words and the warmth of her hand made my face heat up. I was about to cry.
"So I'll train you thoroughly for one year, but in exchange, spoil me lots, Akari."
This time I really did cry. I sobbed out loud. Mama held me gently through it all.
"Hehe, she cried herself to sleep."
My daughter Akari slept in my arms. Despite being mature for her age, her sleeping face was absolutely adorable—my pride and joy.
"Vice Admiral, I think you heard our conversation, but if you truly intend to recruit Akari into the Marines, could you come get her in one year?"
"Are you really sure about this?"
"Yes. It's better than her going to sea without navigation skills and getting lost."
"Bwahahaha! You're absolutely right!"
"Quietly! You'll wake Akari!"
"Oops, sorry, sorry."
Cute little footsteps approached from outside the room. Looks like those children came.
"Mama, is Akari going outside?"
"Is Akari going away?"
My daughters asked anxiously. I'd have to explain properly later.
"Who are these young ladies?"
"Akari's older sister Yukari and younger sister Hikari. Girls, greet our guest."
"I'm the older sister, Yukari."
"I'm the little sister, Hikari!"
My daughters' energetic greetings were so cute. I'd have to praise them later.
"I'm Garp. You lasses want to join the Marines too?"
"Unlike Akari, I can't use Haki yet, so it's impossible."
"Hikari wants to stay with mommy, so no!"
I'd have to make lots of Hikari's favorite foods today.
"Hmm, too bad."
"Garp, please don't try to take away my daughters so easily."
"The Marines are short-staffed. I have to recruit when I get the chance, or I can't even take proper leave."
"Are pirates increasing that much?"
"More precisely, we lack people who can handle the big threats. We're having trouble training successors."
I see, so that's why he sought talented youth.
"Is that why you recruited Akari?"
"That's part of it, but... it's mostly my intuition. Bwahahaha!"
Garp laughed as he answered my question. Such a likeable personality.
"Well, I should be going soon."
"Don't be distant, Garp. Stay for lunch—Shiori's cooking is exquisite."
"I'd like to, but I need to write reports soon or my aide Bogard will scold me. Bwahahaha!"
"Too bad."
Bunta really seemed to like Garp.
"Tell Akari training comes first, no need to see me off."
"Leave it to me."
"See you later, young ladies."
"We haven't decided Akari's definitely leaving yet."
"You're a bad person trying to take Akari away!"
Oh my, Garp got disliked by Yukari and Hikari.
"Farewell, madam."
"Yes, I pray for safe sailing."
Garp returned to his subordinates. Now I had to explain to the girls about Akari, but first I needed to make lunch.
"Garp's ship left, dad."
"Yes, he had a good temperament."
Dad and I watched Garp's ship sail away from Wano. Garp had said seeing him off wasn't necessary, but I really wanted to.
"One year of serious training from Shiori. She won't listen to complaints."
"I know, dad. But I understand mama's the instructor, so why not you?"
"Each Haki user has a specialty color. My specialty is Observation Haki. So Shiori's the right choice for teaching Armament."
Specialty colors, huh? Mine should be Observation, but could I learn other colors too?
"Can I really learn Armament Haki in one year?"
"Normally impossible. Even talented people need years of training. But since Akari can already use a different color, the chances are high."
So it normally took years. Good thing I had the goddess give me that ability.
"Besides..."
"What is it, dad?"
"Once Shiori says something, she'll make you master it by force if necessary..."
"That mama?"
"Shiori never compromises on swords..."
Silence fell between dad and me.
"It'll be fine, right dad?"
"Do your best to survive, Akari."
After that, I spent every day suffering hellish muscle pain from mama's training, just like dad said. But thanks to that, I learned Armament Haki in one year just like mama promised.
One year later, Garp visited Wano as promised. Finally, it was time for me to leave Wano.