After emerging unscathed from Zephyr's office, Kane felt exceptionally lighthearted.
He even found the cafeteria's grilled steak appearing particularly appealing today.
Inside the recruits' cafeteria, the torrential rain outside did nothing to dampen the recruits' appetites as the clatter of trays echoed throughout the space.
At a corner table, plates were stacked higher than a person.
Crunch, crunch.
Kuzan held a large thigh bone in his hand, eating with unrestrained enthusiasm.
Across from him, Kane meticulously cut a steak with elegant movements that starkly contrasted with the crude surroundings.
"Mmph... Kane," Kuzan struggled to swallow a mouthful of meat, his cheeks puffed up like a hamster's, eyes shining with naive curiosity, "Did you hear? That guy Sakazuki..."
"What about him?" Kane speared a piece of beef, "Did I damage his brain so badly he decided to retire and sell sweet potatoes back in North Blue?"
Kuzan rolled his eyes.
"Don't be ridiculous. That guy tried to get out of bed as soon as he woke up this afternoon."
"The doctors wouldn't allow it, so he did squats while holding his hospital bed with one hand, the other still hooked up to an IV! Kept muttering nonsense like 'Justice must not fall'."
Kuzan made an exaggerated gesture, looking utterly exasperated: "The head nurse was so frightened she started crying. They're now emergency-feeding him high-calorie liquid food - heard he wants to replenish all the blood he vomited this morning."
Kane set down his cutlery, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and assumed a sorrowful expression.
"This is truly... deeply moving."
He sighed and shook his head, "As his dear friend, hearing how little he cares for his own health breaks my heart."
"What are you planning? Hey, Kane, I'm warning you." Kuzan lowered his voice, glancing around nervously, "If you go provoke him again, Instructor Zephyr will really throw you into the sea as fish food."
"Nonsense." Kane stood up, "I'm going to offer comfort. By the way, does logistics still have those leftover flowers from the venue decorations?"
Kuzan blinked, answering instinctively: "I think so, they delivered a batch of white chrysanthemums this morning for some old Vice Admiral's funeral who died of illness... Wait! Why are you asking?!"
Before he finished speaking, Kuzan's eyes widened as he stared at Kane as if looking at the devil.
No way?
Is this guy really...
"Perfect, that's exactly what I need."
Kane snapped his fingers, eyes shining with innocence, "White represents pure, unblemished Justice; chrysanthemums represent... uh, unwavering character. They're practically made for Sakazuki."
"Kuzan, want to come along? To witness our comrade's rebirth."
"No! I'd rather die than go!" Kuzan shook his head vigorously like a rattle-drum, "I want to live a few more years."
"What a pity."
Kane shrugged and turned toward the exit.
...
Naval Headquarters Hospital, Special Care Ward.
The soundproofing here was excellent, but the heavy thuds and labored breathing from inside could still be heard.
"Nine hundred ninety-eight... nine hundred ninety-nine... one thousand!"
"Boom!"
The massive metal hospital bed slammed heavily onto the floor, shaking the entire room.
Sakazuki stood bare-chested, his body wrapped in bandages, sweat trickling down his taut muscles and soaking through the gauze.
An IV tube was still inserted into the back of one hand, the medicine bottle swaying violently with his movements as if it might shatter at any moment.
"Damn that blond bastard..."
Sakazuki gritted his teeth, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked. "Next time we meet, I'll smash that hypocritical face of yours! I'll embed you into the foundation of Marineford!"
Every squat, every tearing pain in his muscles reminded him of the humiliation he had suffered during the day.
"Knock, knock, knock."
A knocking sound echoed.
"Get lost! No need for a nurse! Just leave the meat!" Sakazuki roared without turning around.
"Ah, Sakazuki, still as fiery as ever. Didn't the doctor tell you? That'll affect your wound healing, you know."
That voice—the one he dreamed of strangling—drifted in softly.
Sakazuki whipped his head around.
Standing at the doorway of the ward was Kane, dressed in a crisp Navy Uniform, wearing his trademark gentle smile.
The worst part was, this bastard was holding a bouquet of flowers.
A large bouquet of stark white chrysanthemums—the kind you only see at funerals.
The white petals trembled and fell, and in the center, a black bow was "thoughtfully" tied.
The air froze.
Sakazuki's face flushed red, then turned pale, then purple, and finally darkened like the bottom of a pot.
"You..." Sakazuki pointed at the bouquet, his voice squeezed through gritted teeth, trembling. "You bastard... are you here to send me off?!"
"What nonsense!"
Kane looked shocked, striding into the ward and solemnly placing the bouquet of white chrysanthemums in the vase on the bedside table.
"Sakazuki, you disappoint me. How can your mind be so vulgar?"
Kane pointed at the bouquet with a pained expression. "I searched all over headquarters to find these flowers! Look at these pure white petals, symbolizing the untainted nature of Justice; this black ribbon symbolizes... uh, our determination to purge evil in the darkness!"
"In my hometown, only true warriors are worthy of such flowers when they 'lie down.' I'm wishing you, like these chrysanthemums, to stand tall and proud in the autumn wind no matter how many storms you face... or to rest peacefully."
[Ding! Mental blow inflicted on the injured!]
[Violation Value +200!]
Sakazuki stared at the bouquet of white chrysanthemums facing him, feeling his blood pressure skyrocket and the blood in his IV tube begin to flow backward.
"I'll kill you—!!"
He ripped the IV needle from his hand, ignoring his splitting wounds, and lunged at Kane like a wounded beast.
"Good! Very spirited!!!"
Kane didn't retreat but instead stepped forward, a glint flashing in his eyes.
He shifted his body slightly, his feet sliding in an eerie motion, effortlessly dodging Sakazuki's furious attack.
Then, he reached out and slapped Sakazuki heavily on his bandaged shoulder.
"Smack!"
The slap landed right on the wound.
"Hiss—!" Sakazuki gasped sharply in pain, his movements freezing.
"Looks like you're recovering well enough to hit people." Kane withdrew his hand with a smile, taking two steps back to create a safe distance. "But your movements are still too slow, Sakazuki."
He raised a finger and gently shook it.
Sakazuki stared intently at Kane, his chest heaving violently. Though furious, he had to admit that Kane's evasive movement just now had been absurdly fast.
This bastard... just how strong is he?
"What do you want to say?" Sakazuki suppressed his anger and asked coldly.
"I want to help you."
The smile vanished from Kane's face, replaced by an expression of utmost "sincerity."
"The Elite Camp's end-of-month assessment is in seven days. I heard the top three performers will qualify for a Devil Fruit."
Sakazuki's pupils contracted slightly.
"I don't want my dearest friend falling behind due to injury. That would make me very lonely."
Kane walked to the hospital bed, picked up an apple, and took a crisp bite without peeling it.
"So I've decided to sacrifice my personal rest time. Starting tomorrow, I'll come here daily to conduct one-on-one 'rehabilitation training' with you."
"I'll personally demonstrate my combat techniques and impart them to you without reservation. Until I've beaten... no, trained you back to health."
"Of course, if you're afraid of getting beaten to tears, you can refuse. After all..." Kane glanced at the bouquet of white chrysanthemums and shrugged, "you really are quite fragile right now."
A provocation.
But Sakazuki happened to be susceptible to this kind of taunt. His pride wouldn't allow him to back down before anyone, especially this nonsense-spouting bastard.
"Hmph."
Sakazuki snorted coldly, bent down to pick up the bloodied needle from the floor, and expressionlessly reinserted it into his vein.
"Nothing would please me more."
Sakazuki turned his back to Kane, his voice icy.
"As long as you're not afraid of dying, come right ahead. Just don't come crying and begging for mercy later."
"Deal!"
Kane swallowed the apple in his mouth, a curve forming at the corner of his lips.
Perfect.
A durable, daily-renewable "mobile experience pack" that also provides high emotional value - successfully bound!
"Rest well then. Eat more meat so you don't collapse from one punch tomorrow."
Kane waved his hand and walked out of the hospital room in high spirits, casually turning off the lights for Sakazuki on his way out.
"Goodnight, my dearest friend."
The moment he stepped outside the hospital entrance, the smile in Kane's eyes deepened.
This operation should net him a good haul.
"System, check current Violation Value balance."
With a thought, a pale blue screen unfolded across his retina.
[Current Balance: 34,082 points.]
Kane looked at the number and nodded in satisfaction.
"Let's max out the remaining Six Styles techniques first... After all, as an instructor, I should have some new tricks to surprise the Cadets."