Several days into our survival on Little Garden, a few things have become clear during my daily sparring sessions with Leona.
First—just as I suspected—she still hasn't mastered her Devil Fruit powers.
At first, I thought her berserk episode might've been caused by a nightmare while she slept. But it's more than that. It seems that whenever she uses her powers, she inevitably slips into a berserk state.
Even when she activates them consciously, she loses herself and comes at me.
That said, it's not as simple as "transform and instantly go wild" every single time. The speed at which she loses control—and how violent the rampage becomes—seems to depend on how deeply she leans into her beast form.
The first time she transformed, she went straight into full Beast Form and snapped immediately.
The next time, she chose her Hybrid Form. For a few minutes, she actually held onto her reason. We had a normal training session—she fought with awareness and control.
But it didn't last.
After only a short while, the light behind her eyes began to dim. Then it vanished entirely. Still in Hybrid Form, she bared her fangs and attacked with unmistakable killing intent.
The closer she gets to Beast Form, the higher the risk of losing herself.
Ah, right. I remember the setting mentioning that carnivorous Zoans become more ferocious when they transform… and beyond that, regardless of the type, you can't fully use—or control—these powers without training.
Leona's still a child. Her training is clearly insufficient. Maybe that's why she can't hold the reins, and ends up consumed by instinct.
Or maybe her power is simply too strong for her right now.
Which leads to the second thing I realized.
Leona's power—or rather, the animal she turns into.
Because she looks like a lion, I first assumed it was something like the Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Lion. But what bothered me was the color: a grayish, metallic hue, like steel.
And after actually fighting her, I understood something else.
That lion body is unbelievably hard.
Hitting it feels like punching a solid block of metal. I doubt an ordinary blade could pierce it.
Any weapon without Haki wouldn't even scratch the surface. And judging by the toughness… I'd bet it could take cannon fire head-on.
Whether she's berserk or not, a light punch barely registers. She just keeps coming without flinching.
Yesterday and the day before, when she went berserk, I shut her down immediately with Conqueror's Haki, so I didn't notice.
It isn't that Leona's human body is naturally that durable. That's not it.
Yes, her physique is remarkably well-trained for her age—but it isn't the kind of training that turns flesh into iron.
I know because I've seen her up close, and I've checked her condition myself.
You remember when I mentioned sharing a bed with her? Since we came here, we've also been bathing together after training to wash off sweat. And during those times, I make sure to check her body carefully for injuries.
…And yes, for a brief moment, I got thrown off by how soft, smooth, and shockingly supple preteen skin is.
But setting that aside—
Even I, despite my age, should still be perfectly beautiful. I told myself that very firmly.
So no. The steel-like toughness isn't her "natural body." It's the power.
Now, lions are sturdy animals. But even so, no ordinary lion—or any ordinary creature—should be this resilient.
Fortunately, I did have a piece of knowledge about an "exceptionally resilient lion," so I checked, just in case.
Bingo.
It was in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia—one of the books I always keep with me.
Zoan-type, Mythical Zoan
Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Nemean Lion
The Nemean Lion is a monster from Greek mythology.
As the name suggests, it's a lion—but its defining trait is its invulnerable, steel-like hide. No weapon can pierce it.
In the myth, Hercules—the legendary hero—tried everything: sword, arrows, club. Nothing worked.
In the end, he abandoned weapons altogether and fought it bare-handed, strangling it to death… a feat that supposedly took three days and three nights.
At that point, it's hard to say which one was truly the monster—the lion that endured strangulation for that long, or the man who did it with his bare hands.
Oh, and one more trivia detail: the Leo constellation is said to be named after that lion.
And apparently, Leona's power is based on it.
A Mythical Zoan—rarer even than a Logia.
Where in the world did she ever get the chance to eat something like that?
Her background, her power—everything about her only makes me more curious.
And also… why are monsters from Greek mythology—something that doesn't even exist in this world—still being spoken of here?
Well. At this point, it's hardly worth being surprised.
Still, if her power truly comes from a beast that formidable, then controlling it must be incredibly difficult.
Right now, Leona is being swallowed by it. Her physical abilities are impressive, but her reason slips away completely. That won't be solved without serious training.
And another thing—Leona was already in decent shape before all this.
More than that, she's had real combat training.
I realized it once we started sparring. Her movements are those of someone who's trained hard—someone who understands how to use her body in a fight, at least to a certain level.
Since she has amnesia, her body must be doing what her mind can't.
When I asked her, she said, "I just… moved. I didn't think. It felt like I already knew what to do."
In other words, she trained so much that her body memorized it.
That alone is impressive. Most people can't even move the way they want to.
So after several days together, that's what I've figured out.
Her memories still haven't returned. Her rampages haven't stopped. In that sense, nothing has really changed.
But it's not true that nothing has changed at all.
Since coming to this island, she hasn't had those episodes where she jolts awake and thrashes in her sleep.
The catch is… it only happens when I sleep with her, just like before.
When I tried letting her sleep alone once, after a while she started having nightmares again.
So I went back to sleeping beside her. The moment I did, she settled immediately—her breathing smoothing into soft, even snores. If I'd left her alone, I'm almost certain she would've gone berserk.
If you want to be blunt, she still rampages when I'm not around, so you could say nothing has changed.
But even so, maybe because she's finally sleeping properly, Leona's complexion has improved.
She's still anxious about her lost memories, but she's more relaxed than she was at first. Her spirits are higher. She laughs more now.
And that soft, spontaneous, innocent smile she makes while eating—the kind that makes me smile back without thinking—really is… age-appropriate and absurdly cute.
With that healthier routine—exercise, good food, sound sleep—she's started to fill out a little. In a healthy way.
Before, she was too thin. Now, it feels like she's returning to what her body was meant to be. At least, that's how it looks to me.
Which only makes me wonder even more… why was Leona so thin to begin with?
And… she still calls me "Mama," sometimes.
Every time, she flusters and corrects herself. It's adorable.
…Am I being mistaken for her "missing mother" in that blank, amnesiac mind of hers?
Maybe it's because I was the first person she saw after losing her memories?
No, it's not like she's a baby bird imprinting on the first thing she sees…
Well, it isn't causing problems, so I'll leave it be.
---
A few more days passed like that, until Shuraiya-kun contacted me via Den Den Mushi.
He'd explained everything to Tesoro, and we got approval for Leona's admission to the Facility. They said they'd accept her, as long as we contacted them in advance with our arrival date.
Of course, this was with full awareness of Leona's "rampages," and with plans in place to manage them.
I told Leona, naturally… but she still doesn't seem ready.
When I brought it up, she looked worried—almost disgusted. Then, when I said, "There's no rush. We can stay together a while longer," her face lit up with pure relief and joy.
Easy to read.
Besides… taking her to the Facility right now would honestly feel like a waste.
"Huff… huff… Still not enough, huh…"
"Ahahaha! You'll never beat me like that!"
Leona collapsed onto the ground, sprawled out, panting hard and drenched in sweat.
I stood over her, laughing, barely winded.
Well, it is hot, so I'm a little damp—but the spar itself didn't tire me out.
"Not only can I not win, I can't even land a clean hit… I've barely moved you from your spot! Even without using your powers, you deflect everything… Mama's way too strong…"
"Well, you don't survive thirty years in the pirate world for nothing. But honestly, I think you're improving a lot. You've sharpened your technique in a short time. You've got talent."
"Ugh… that smug tone. But since I haven't landed a single blow, I can't even argue… damn it."
Every day, we spar.
And day by day, her movements become cleaner.
She's still rough, but her attacks are sharper now. Her steps are more precise. She's getting quicker at reading her opponent. Everything is improving.
Her overall power is still lacking, sure… but she's been training for less than two weeks. That rate of growth is absurd.
It isn't just her determination, either. Like I said, she's finally putting on healthy weight. She was far too skinny before.
If that's the case, then maybe now—or rather, from here on—once her body truly returns to its natural strength… that's when her real growth will begin.
And thinking that way, I can't help it. I want to see what she becomes.
Guiding a talented kid is rewarding. And beyond that… I enjoy the quiet parts, too. Talking. Laughing. Eating together. Waking up and simply being in the same space.
Those small moments matter to me.
So I'm staying with Leona a while longer.
…Oh? You're happy about that, Leona?
Good girl. Good girl.
Kids really are cute, aren't they?
"Hey… about what you said earlier… Mama's actually a pirate?"
"Hm? Oh, that. Well, I didn't plan on it, but at this point, what's the difference? I've got a wanted poster. Want to see it?"
"Wanted poster?"
I pulled out the wanted poster I keep stored in my body and showed it to her.
Because of this, the world treats me like a criminal—and since I operate at sea, they call me a "pirate."
Venerdi Toto Sue. The 'Pirate Literary Master.'
Nice to meet you. Against my will.
…Well, I'm used to it now, so it doesn't bother me much.
And considering Papa's situation, denying it would feel wrong anyway. I've accepted it. Being called a pirate.
Leona took the wanted poster—my photo printed across it—and stared, comparing it to my face with puzzling intensity.
Wait… that poster hasn't been updated since I was first wanted, has it?
I think I was nineteen back then.
Over ten years ago.
"…Do I really look that much older?"
"Nah, not really… Actually, Mama, I think you look even prettier now."
"…H-ho-ho?"
Oh no.
I'm grinning like an idiot.
Being praised so innocently by your own kid is lethal.
To be honest, I'd kind of thought so myself—but I always assumed I was biased, or just full of myself.
Hearing it out loud hits different.
"…Leona. I'll make whatever you want for dinner tonight. What are you in the mood for?"
"Really? Awesome! Then… that thing we had two days ago! The Triceratops steak bowl! Super-sized!"
"Alright, leave it to me. You can have as many refills as you want."
"Yay!"
I'm such a pushover, I thought—then decided I didn't care. If she was going to say sweet things like that, I was going to spoil her rotten.
Good thing I have Triceratops meat on hand. No need to hunt.
As I retrieved rice, seasonings, and other supplies from the "storage" space inside my body…
'…Somehow, without even noticing, I've slipped into the role of "mother" without any awkwardness. And Leona doesn't even get embarrassed about calling me "Mama" anymore.'
I mulled it over.
But I don't mind. And Leona looks so bright and happy.
So there's no harm done.
I went back to cooking.
To be continued...