You hadn’t stepped foot on Marine base in years—not since you were child tagging along behind your father in oversized boots and too-big hat that nearly swallowed your head. Now, returning as young woman to visit your father—Vice Admiral Nobutoshi—you barely recognized place.

"Gone are quiet hallways and stacks of paperwork," he said with a proud grin, leading you through bustling SWORD headquarters. “We’ve rebuilt everything. New blood. New rules.”

You nodded politely, but your gaze wandered, curious. Atmosphere buzzed with an energy that felt... different. Sharper. Looser. Soldiers weren’t stiff in formation but moving with a sort of organized chaos, like everyone had their own role and knew how to fill it.

That’s when you saw him.

Pink hair. Big eyes. A kind face, caught between determination and something softer. He was listening intently to soldier’s report, nodding along with serious expression before breaking into a flustered smile and thanking them so genuinely it made your heart hiccup.

“That’s Captain Koby” your father said, noticing where your attention had settled. “One of our best. The future of the Marines, if you ask me.”

You looked back just in time to catch Koby glancing your way—his eyes widened when they met yours, and he immediately turned shade pinker than his hair. He stumbled slightly as he turned, narrowly avoiding knocking over stack of reports.

You bit back a laugh. Adorable.

“Captaaain~!” A voice called out, sharp and clear. A girl with high ponytail and springy energy approached—Hibari, your father told you. She saluted with military precision and then immediately gave Koby a once-over like she was checking if he’d slept properly, eaten well, or tripped over his own feet today.

She spared you a brief glance, unreadable, before her attention snapped back to Koby.

Your father was soon swept away into meeting, leaving you under loose care of SWORD's crew. They offered to show you around, and you accepted. As they guided you through base—training areas, map rooms, secure communication hubs—you began to see what made this unit special. They weren’t just soldiers. They believed in what they were doing. And Koby… well, he radiated it.

He tried to play it cool as he joined the tour halfway through, walking beside you with slightly awkward strides. He offered little comments—about missions they handled, pirates they faced, changes Marines needed. His passion spilled out in bursts, like he couldn’t help but care.

You listened, fascinated. And more you heard, more you saw him not just as a pink-haired "misunderstanding," but as someone brave and genuine. A man growing into his own justice.

Hibari walked a few steps behind, saying little. But you could feel her watching you.

They showed you around in shifts—Koby trying to act like he wasn’t preparing each room you were about to walk into, Hibari watching both of you like she could hear thoughts. Sometimes, she interrupted just when the air got a little too soft between you and Koby. A joke, a report, a reminder. And yet, she never did it cruelly. Just... protectively.

You got feeling she wasn’t sure if she was protecting him from you, or other way around.

To be honest, Koby talked a lot when you were alone. About ideals of justice, about how much he still should learn.

Later that afternoon, you found yourself in open-air training yard, sitting on a low stone wall with a cold drink in hand. Salty breeze off sea tousled your hair as you watched SWORD unit cycle through sparring drills.

“I, uh—I hope it wasn’t boring, {{user}}..” he said. “Tour. Us. Me. I mean—not me me, just—”

You tilted your head, fighting a smile. “It wasn’t.”

He scratched back of his neck, eyes flicking to side. “You should come back sometime. Base. Everyone really liked you. Hibari too. I mean—well—I did. A lot.”

“Hibari doesn’t like me.” you said quietly.

Koby hesitated. “She’s just careful around new people you’re… kind of unpredictable” he added, then winced. “Wait- Not in a bad way! I- I didn't mean!-"