In the blink of an eye, two hours had passed.
The group's agreed meeting time had arrived.
Nojiko and Nami were the first to reach the plaza, sitting at the entrance of a café on the west edge, bored out of their minds as they waited for their friends.
The sky had darkened unknowingly, clouds gathering, with light rain pattering on the café's awning, creating fine misty splashes.
Nami held her coffee cup, flames dancing on her fingertips unconsciously as she rubbed the bottom to warm it. The dark brown liquid bubbled gently.
Occasionally, passersby with umbrellas would notice and glance in surprise.
"So cold…" Nojiko complained. "With this rain, the temperature must have dropped at least ten degrees. I should've bought a jacket earlier."
"Cold? I don't feel a thing," Nami said, puzzled.
"That's because you're a Mera Mera Fruit user!" Nojiko said, exasperated. "Your body's made of flames—how could you feel cold?"
"Oh, right." Nami brightened. "Then, shall I warm you up?"
Whoosh!
Her orange hair erupted in flames, a blazing fire in the rainy gloom, like a dazzling bonfire in the dark night.
Wow, it was surprisingly warm.
Nojiko's eyes lit up, raising his arms to warm his hands, when suddenly a scream came from inside the café:
"Fire!!!"
"Quick, save the customer!"
Splash! Two large buckets of water poured over Nami, soaking her and the chair, yet the blazing fire still raged.
"Not enough! Keep bringing water!" the middle-aged café manager commanded the baristas.
Nojiko couldn't help but laugh, pounding the table.
Nami stood frozen, still holding the coffee cup, her soaked orange hair steaming, coffee dripping onto her collar.
"Ahhh! Idiots!"
She furiously waved her fists at the staff. "This is my power! Do you know what a Devil Fruit is?! You can't just pour water on a customer's head without asking!!!"
A Devil Fruit user, huh?
The townsfolk of Logue Town were knowledgeable. The female manager quickly realized the situation and handed her a towel. "S-sorry! Your hair suddenly catching fire earlier was so frightening…"
"No need!"
Nami huffed. "I can handle it myself!"
Snap! She snapped her fingers.
Her skin immediately glowed orange-yellow, flames burning just beneath the surface, heat rising through her pores.
In no time, she was clean and dry again, only coffee stains remaining.
The manager and baristas were stunned.
"Ah, never mind. You meant well; can't blame you."
Nami looked at her ruined coffee, sighed, and said, "Just give me the check."
"Really sorry!"
The manager bowed. "We've caused trouble! How about this: our second-floor dining area has our signature steak pizza set. Since it's lunchtime, please let us make it up to you. Everything you want is on the house. How's that?"
Free lunch?
Nami smirked. Growing up in her household, she didn't care about a few coins.
Seeing the anxious manager, she mischievously smiled, "Really free? But several of our friends haven't arrived yet."
"No problem, it's all on the house!"
The manager relaxed, smiling gently. "As long as you accept, that's enough. Otherwise, I'd feel terrible…"
"Hey, Nami, don't bully the kind lady," Nojiko said, poking her forehead. Then he turned to the manager:
"No need to worry. Just give her free meal, but the rest of us—four people and a pet—we'll pay. Really, trust me."
He knew his brother's appetite well. If everything went free, the café would go bankrupt.
Gin was also a big eater, but negligible compared to his brother.
The manager hesitated but, after Nami cheerfully pushed her inside, returned to her duties, apologizing.
As Nami returned to her seat, Nojiko's confused voice rang out: "Huh, when did I become nearsighted?"
What?
Nami followed his gaze and froze.
In the plaza not far away, two Kuinas were walking hand-in-hand under a single umbrella, approaching them side by side.
Eh??
Did I become nearsighted too? Nami rubbed her eyes, looked again—still two?!
She was stunned.
"Haha, I knew you'd make this face!"
Kuina, who had been trying to hold back her laughter, could no longer contain herself.
"Ta-da!"
Kuina dramatically pushed the glasses-wearing girl forward. "Ta-da-da! Allow me to introduce: the Logue Town Navy branch's first-class soldier! A sword-obsessed girl who looks exactly like me, Tashigi!!!"
"Ni-nice to meet you!"
Tashigi flustered, adjusting her glasses and nearly dropping the books in her arms. "Lady Kuina, please don't introduce me like that. I-I'm not a sword freak! I just respect swords used to uphold justice…"
"Not a sword freak?"
Kuina smiled, putting her arm around Tashigi. "You don't know how funny it was when she found out I'm a swordmaster—she drooled like a pervy old man, constantly pestering me for tips, leaving me parched…"
She grabbed Nami's coffee and took a sip—spitting it out instantly. "Ugh! Terrible! Tastes like bath water!"
"Pretty much. That's shampoo water," Nojiko said dryly. "You're unusually expressive. But it's all mixed up—should we start from the beginning?"
"Right… sorry, got a bit too excited." Kuina patted her forehead.
...
A few minutes later.
Tashigi blushed slightly, clutching her books, sitting opposite Kuina, who had finished recounting how they met.
"So, you met her by chance at a bookstore? You'd never seen each other before?"
Nojiko and Nami exchanged amazed glances.
The odds! Two girls, thousands of miles apart, unrelated, looking exactly alike—even the same height.
Their hobbies and interests were strikingly similar: sword training, Japanese culture, famous swords, reading…
From the moment Tashigi noticed the Ichimonji sword, the two hit it off, talking non-stop.
Of course, once she learned Kuina had reached the Cutting Steel level, becoming a swordmaster, Tashigi mostly asked questions and Kuina answered.
Despite the apparent age difference, their skill gap was massive.
Kuina casually giving a few tips gave Tashigi immense benefit, her sword-related knowledge flowing effortlessly.
Her admiration for Kuina skyrocketed, even calling her "Lady Kuina."
"So calling her a sword freak isn't wrong…"
Nojiko glanced at the thick stack of books Tashigi held: Quick Sword Atlas, Swordsmithing Notes, When a Famous Sword Falls into Evil Hands! The Pain Left by Ace and Murakumo for the World…
Eh, Ace?
She frowned, vaguely recalling a boy with that name her brother had met in Goa Kingdom. Probably just a coincidence…
Kuina sighed. "It's a pity we're about to head to the Grand Line. Otherwise, I'd bring her to Shimotsuki Village, see if my father could tell us apart! He'd be astonished."
"She wouldn't fool Mr. Koshiro," Nojiko shrugged. "Even us, Nami and me, were initially fooled—but after a while, we could tell."
Nami nodded in agreement.
Indeed. Their appearances were nearly identical, but their aura was different.
Kuina often smiled warmly, approachable—but ambitious and with a cool, proud air, confident in her sword skills.
Tashigi…
Maybe her glasses made her look dazed, but she seemed timid, clutching her books nervously despite knowing them for a while.
This girl, Kuina said, was even a Navy trainee.
"Destiny brings us together, Tashigi. Want to join us for lunch? Our treat. By the way, Kuina, did you see my brother?"
Nojiko checked her watch. "11:52. Only eight minutes to the meeting. Where is he?"
"No sign of him," Kuina shook her head. "Don't worry. Wait a little longer. Lord Shanu is always punctual; if the meeting is at noon, he'll be here."
"You trust him unconditionally," Nojiko muttered.
Just then, Tashigi gasped, blushing furiously. "Wait! Wait! Lord Shanu?! The same one famous in the East Blue years ago? He's… your brother?"
"Technically, he's their brother."
Kuina sipped her tea, sighing. "Jealous? I've envied them forever. Why could they grow up with Lord Shanu, while I had only two annoying idiots?"
"You put lemon in it?" Nojiko shook Nami's coffee.
"Nope, it's not soda. Why lemon?"
"Then why's it so sour?"
The sisters laughed. Kuina smirked. "Doesn't matter. We're all on the same ship now, can see Lord Shanu anytime—no difference."
"I… I really want to see him!"
Tashigi clapped her hands, pleading. "Where is Lord Shanu? Is he on this island? Can I see him? I've been his fan since I was a child! I read all the reports multiple times! I even started swordsmanship because of him!"
She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a wallet. On top, a photo from the Asakura Island incident: a young black-haired boy holding a bamboo sword, standing proudly on a platform, cheered by a crowd.
"Here, look."
"That's ages ago…" Kuina took the photo, her expression strange.
"Five years, right? Cut from a newspaper? Still kept till now… slightly yellowed…"
She wouldn't admit she had a copy too, kept carefully on her lamp.
A year later, a thief stole her lamp. Furious, she vented by beating Zoro.
"Old… but super cool, right?"
Tashigi pushed her glasses, nostalgic. "Seeing this report, I carved a bamboo sword from a drying pole, practiced hard, joined the Navy, dreaming to one day protect the seas with justice's sword, like him…"
The shy girl suddenly erupted with passionate words, making Nojiko and Nami glance sideways.
"Hey…"
Nami listened intently; Nojiko whispered to Kuina:
"This is just like you! You two really aren't related? Call Mr. Koshiro to confirm?"
"Shut up!"
Kuina pushed her away, smiling at Tashigi. "Don't worry, today's your dream come true. Just wait a few more minutes; he'll be here. You can look all you want, and have lunch together."
Eh? Lunch together?!!
Tashigi's glasses slid down her nose, breathing quickened, face turning red.
"R-really… today's my lucky day! I must be dreaming—first meeting Lady Kuina, then… with Lord Shanu…"
Ah! She covered her face, almost fainting from happiness.
Suddenly, a loud shout interrupted:
"Private Tashigi!"
A stern Navy Sergeant passed by, noticing her. "Why are you still wandering? Didn't you hear? Colonel Smoker's ship is returning early!
"All personnel cancel leave immediately! You too—back to the base! Change into uniform and report to the dock for formation!"
What? Right now?!
Tashigi, shocked, looked up in disbelief, her euphoric mood crashing to the ground.
"W-why, Sergeant?"
Tears threatening, she struggled, "Isn't Colonel Smoker usually against pomp? Why give this order?"
"This isn't Colonel Smoker's decision; it's from higher up. I don't know who exactly."
The Sergeant glanced at Kuina, then coldly said:
"A VIP is arriving. The Logue Town Marshal and administrators are at the dock. You're a small recruit—don't worry about it, just follow orders!"