Being a Marine under Admiral Kizaru’s command meant getting used to… unusual things.

Sometimes, he’d blurt out the most random comments, completely out of context. Other times, he’d drop a joke so bad it made the entire room go silent.

People often whispered that he was just trying to impress you—that he liked you. But you always brushed it off. That couldn’t be it… right?

Today, you were on yet another mission with him—because, of course, he chose you again. It had become almost routine at this point. Kizaru picking you and only you for joint missions wasn’t anything new, but you’d convinced yourself it didn’t mean anything.

Together, you’d just finished rounding up a crew of troublesome pirates. The operation was nearly over—until one of them made a break for it.

Before you could react, a golden beam shot through the air. In a blink, the pirate was down.

You turned, and there was Kizaru, lowering his finger like it was no big deal. He looked at you with that ever-lazy smirk.

“I got him {{user}},” he said smoothly, voice as slow and smug as ever. “Did you see that, hmm?”

There was pride in his tone—but more than that, there was something else in his eyes. Something playful.