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Chapter 31 — A Garden Beneath the Stars
Sunny & Nojiko POV
The evening began quietly, just the way Nojiko liked it. While Nami might have dragged Sunny into a whirlwind of mischief and Aqua would have thrown him into chaos, Nojiko carried herself with a different kind of grace — calm waters that ran deep.
Sunny noticed it the moment he stepped into her garden. Moonlight draped across the rows of citrus trees and herbs she'd tended with her own hands, the air thick with the gentle perfume of blooming flowers. It wasn't grand like Aqua's conjured island or thrilling like a flight through the sky — but it was alive, warm, and intimate.
"Not bad for a small place, right?" Nojiko teased softly, tucking a strand of blue hair behind her ear. Her voice carried both shyness and pride.
Sunny's sharp eyes softened. "Small? Nojiko… this is more beautiful than half the palaces I've seen. You grew this all yourself?"
She gave a little shrug, pretending nonchalance. "It's nothing. Just a habit." But the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her pleasure at his words.
Sunny stepped closer, inhaling. Her scent was fresh and grounding — citrus blossoms with a hint of earth, the kind of fragrance that felt like home after storms.
"Smells like you," he murmured.
Her breath hitched. "W-what?"
"You smell like this garden. Warm, alive, unforgettable." He leaned in just enough that his words brushed against her ear. "It suits you."
The composure Nojiko usually carried wavered, and she had to look away, heart hammering. This wasn't a flashy flirt — Sunny was being bold again, just as he had with Nami, but there was a sincerity in his tone that pierced straight through her.
They strolled among the citrus trees, their shoulders brushing now and then, electricity sparking each time. Nojiko's hand lingered near his, and Sunny — grinning at her hesitation — simply took it. His grip was firm, steady, the warmth seeping into her skin.
"You don't hold back, do you?" she said softly, though she didn't let go.
"I don't believe in holding back," Sunny replied. His Haki shimmered faintly, blue threads of will weaving around him, protective and quietly powerful. In the moonlight, it gave him an aura that made Nojiko's chest tighten.
They sat down at a wooden table beneath a trellis of vines, dinner waiting — a spread of simple, fresh dishes she had prepared herself. "It's nothing fancy," Nojiko admitted, embarrassed.
Sunny picked up a slice of orange, popped it into his mouth, and smiled. "Then it's perfect. Because you made it."
Heat flooded her face. "You really know how to say things that…" She trailed off, unable to finish as her chest swelled with an emotion both sweet and overwhelming.
The conversation flowed easily, laughter breaking between moments of comfortable silence. Nojiko found herself watching him — the way his eyes gleamed, the curve of his smile, the way his presence seemed to wrap around her like a shield.
Halfway through dinner, he leaned across the table, closing the distance. "You keep looking at me."
She froze. "I wasn't—"
"Yes, you were." His grin was playful but his eyes burned, blue Haki flickering faintly as if echoing the intensity of his feelings. "So… should I close the gap for you?"
Before she could respond, he brushed his lips against hers.
It wasn't hurried, nor demanding — it was slow, deliberate, tender. A kiss that matched Nojiko's soul. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she leaned into it, heart racing as his hand rose to cradle the back of her neck.
When they parted, she whispered, "You really don't give me room to breathe, do you?"
Sunny chuckled low in his throat. "Do you want me to stop?"
Nojiko's answer came in the form of another kiss, this one bolder, her fingers curling into his shirt. She'd always been the calm one, the steady one… but tonight, with Sunny's warmth pulling her in, she allowed herself to be swept away.
They lingered like that, stealing kisses between bites of dinner, until the meal turned into nothing more than an excuse to stay close.
Later, when the candles had burned low and the garden was drenched in starlight, Sunny wrapped his arms around her from behind as they looked up at the night sky. His chin rested lightly on her shoulder, his breath warm against her skin.
"You deserve more than just a garden date," he whispered. "I'll give you the world, Nojiko. Whatever you want."
Her eyes shimmered. "I don't need the world, Sunny… just you."
He tightened his embrace, smiling against her hair. And under the quiet stars, their hearts beat together — steady, strong, and endlessly warm.