Early the next morning, before White Ghost even opened his eyes, his nose twitched.
…Something smelled good.
He washed up, headed downstairs, and found the table already full: rice porridge, steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and an absurd number of side dishes. In the kitchen, two girls were still busy.
Hearing movement, Ain turned her head. Her cheeks instantly went pink, probably remembering last night's… chaos in the next room.
Stella looked up with a gentle smile.
"Good morning, Mr. White. Just a moment, it'll be ready soon."
"It's fine. Take your time." Jin nodded.
Before long, breakfast was all Ryder out.
"It's done, Mr. White." Stella wiped her hands on her apron.
"Then I'll dig in." Jin didn't stand on ceremony at all—big gulps of congee, a bun in one hand, a youtiao in the other, two chews and swallow.
Because of training, Ain's appetite was also huge, though nowhere near his.
Stella, on the other hand, ate in small, neat bites, the picture of elegance at the same table as a human shredder.
By the time Jin got to about seventy percent full, the food was gone. Stella immediately tried to stand.
"I'll make some more—"
Jin pressed her shoulder, pushing her gently back into her chair.
"No need. Burp."
He let out a loud hiccup.
"Hehe." Ain couldn't hold back a giggle. She was a bit embarrassed herself—she'd eaten quite a lot too.
Once he'd eaten and drunk his fill, Jin stood and started clearing the table.
"Mr. White, let me! I can't trouble you with this!" Stella jumped up, wanting to take the dishes from him.
"Sit. I'm not crippled; I can wash a few bowls." Jin pushed her back down again and carried the dishes into the kitchen.
Ain leaned over and whispered,
"Ahh, Stella-nee, you don't have to fuss so much. White-nii is always like this. Before you came, I made breakfast and he did the dishes too."
"Is that so?" Stella glanced at Jin's back in the kitchen, then at Ain.
Under that strange gaze, Ain's face flared red.
"D-Don't misunderstand! There's nothing going on!"
"Hehe." Stella covered her mouth and laughed, her expression clearly saying: Sure, I totally believe you.
Right then, Jin finished washing up and came out.
"What are you two whispering about?"
Seeing Stella giggling and Ain practically trying to bury her head under the table, he lost interest immediately.
"Forget it. I don't want to know."
He went upstairs, rummaged around, and came back down holding a Devil Fruit.
"Stella," he said, setting it on the table, "this is a Paramecia-type: the Bubble-Bubble Fruit.
"Once you eat it, you'll be able to produce bubbles. Your whole body can generate bubbles that wash away anything on contact, and you can make anything you touch slick and frictionless.
"How far you develop it after that is up to you. I'll guide you over time. This is for your own safety—I can't be by your side twenty-four seven."
Stella stared at the Fruit on the table. She understood its value—any Devil Fruit started at around a hundred million berries.
"Is… is that really for me?" She looked up at him.
Jin nodded.
"Yeah. After you eat it, I'll have Ain teach you the basics of the Six Styles. Learn slowly, no pressure. The important thing is that you can protect yourself."
Ain perked up.
"Stella-nee, just one bite is enough. It tastes awful."
"You're a Devil Fruit user too?" Stella blinked.
Ain raised her hand. Pink, ghostly flames licked across her palm.
"This is my power.
"It's a Flame-type, but not like Akainu's magma or Ace's fire—my flames affect age. On living things they can make your body regress in age. On objects, they can revert them to an earlier state."
"Make people younger? That's—" Stella gasped and covered her mouth.
"You're thinking too much," Ain laughed. "It's only the body getting younger, not the lifespan. I can't turn someone back into a baby forever."
"Even so, that's amazing. I can't imagine how many women would go crazy for you." Stella dropped a lethal one-liner.
Ain's face went cherry-red.
Stella quietly picked up the Bubble-Bubble Fruit and bit off a tiny piece.
"Urk—"
She nearly spat it out, but forced herself to swallow.
Jin handed her a glass of water.
"Rinse your mouth."
"Thank you." She hurried off to rinse.
Within moments, both Jin and Ain could feel the change. Stella's skin became more dewy, more luminous—not to the cartoonish level of the Smooth-Smooth Fruit, but noticeable all the same.
Stella had always been beautiful. Now, with the Fruit's added effect, Jin had to admit—he felt heat rise in his chest.
Stella noticed both of them staring, especially Mr. White's suddenly hot gaze, and ducked her head shyly.
"Ahem." Jin coughed twice and looked away, pretending nothing had happened.
Ain also snapped out of it and gave him a what are you doing look.
"Try your power," Jin said, quickly changing the subject.
"Okay." Stella took a breath and steadied her heartbeat.
Anyone who ate a Devil Fruit would instinctively grasp the basic "how." The rest was training and creativity.
After a moment of focusing, she raised her palm. A translucent bubble bloomed in her hand.
Jin clicked his tongue.
"Devil Fruits really are insane. All kinds of weird abilities. Try compressing it—make it smaller."
"Alright."
Stella concentrated. The bubble slowly shrank until it was about the size of a thumb.
"That your limit? Make it half that, then fire it outside."
Under his direction, she pushed her control further. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. For someone who'd just eaten the Fruit, this was stretching it.
When she couldn't hold it anymore, she thrust her hand toward the yard.
Whoosh!
The tiny bubble shot out like a bullet and detonated mid-air.
BOOM!
The shockwave tore up a small patch of lawn.
"So strong!" Ain yelped.
"Take your time with development," Jin said. "As for the Six Styles, Ain or I will teach you later.
"Don't stress. It's just so you're not defenseless."
"Alright, Mr. White." Stella's smile blossomed, sweet and soft.
Jin almost lost control right there.
"I'm heading to Marineford." He turned on his heel and strode out into the yard.
His black wings unfurled, and with a powerful beat, he shot into the sky.
Stella and Ain both covered their mouths, laughing. If they couldn't see what was going on by now, they'd have to be idiots.
Ain glanced sideways at Stella.
"I'm so jealous of you, sis. Great figure, beautiful face…"
"You're just young, that's all. When you grow up, you'll be like me." Stella patted her head.
Ain puffed out her cheeks, looked down at her own flat chest, then at Stella's curves.
"Sigh… I don't even know where it all goes. I'm already eighteen and you're only a few years older…"
Catching her friend's eyes drifting to that exact spot, Stella's face went bright red. The two of them wrestled and laughed all over again.
After a bit, Ain asked,
"Any other tricks, sis?"
"Mmm…" Stella thought for a second, then brushed her palm over Ain's right hand.
"Huh?" Ain felt a chill run through her fingers. When she looked, her right hand was smooth and glossy—round, slippery, and oddly weak. She tried clenching her fist but the friction was gone; her grip just slid.
"That's so good, sis. Imagine using that in a fight—just when the enemy is about to punch you, you hit them with a wipe, hehe."
Stella nodded.
"It's basically soap bubbles. I can wash away body strength and grip. The downside is obvious: it's afraid of water. If it gets washed off, it's gone."
Ain tilted her head, sensing carefully.
"It still works, though."
She flexed.
Duang—her right hand darkened, coated in Armament Haki, and instantly recovered.
"What's that?" Stella blinked, staring at the blackened fist.
"Hehe, this is Haki," Ain said, a little smug.
"Armament Haki—power hidden inside the body. White-nii said with strong enough Haki, any Devil Fruit effect can be broken.
"Besides that, there's Observation Haki, which lets you sense and anticipate attacks.
"And the rare one: Conqueror's Haki. Only one in millions can awaken it. White-nii has that one too.
"Once you've learned the Six Styles, Haki can awaken at any time. Teacher Zephyr said Rokushiki is the best shortcut."
Listening to Ain describe it so vividly, Stella couldn't help getting excited. If she became stronger, she could actually help Mr. White, not just cling to him.
"Talking isn't as good as doing. Come on, I'll show you the Six Styles and explain the basics." Ain grabbed her hand.
The two girls headed out to the yard. Stella watched Ain vanish and reappear behind her, then harden her whole body like iron.
Stella clenched her fists.
I have to learn. If I don't, I'll just drag Mr. White down.
Meanwhile, White Ghost was already cutting through the sky toward Marineford. A warship needed an hour or more. He needed only minutes.
His wings beat once, speed surging. Before long, Marineford came into view.
Since he'd flown in a few times already, the guards just confirmed his identity and didn't sound the alarm.
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