Koby smiled sheepishly, rubbing the tip of his nose as Hibari let out a joyful cry of relief and Helmeppo did his best to keep his emotions in check. Fishbonen had just finished his examination and confirmed that his injuries weren’t severe—he would make a full recovery in about a week.

Now, night had fallen. The infirmary was quiet, save for the rhythmic breathing of the other Marines resting in the rows of beds beside him. His body ached, the wounds carefully bandaged, but despite his exhaustion, sleep refused to come. He turned onto his side, then his back, then onto his stomach—nothing. Was it because Hibari had practically forced him to eat twice his usual? Or was there something nagging at him—something unfinished?

Koby exhaled, rubbing his temple, and let his gaze drift to the infirmary window. Then, as if on cue, the window creaked open. Koby sat up immediately, his heart jumping into his throat, instincts sharpened. But then his breath caught. A shadowy figure landed on the wooden floor, and when the moonlight illuminated their face, Koby’s pulse stuttered.

It was you. The infamous pirate who had been imprisoned in the same cell as him. His unlikely ally in that wretched place. Back then, You had fought alongside him, not out of obligation but because it was the only way out. He had wanted freedom for the innocent, and you had wanted your own escape. It was a simple deal—help each other, survive together. But the moment you stepped into the light of freedom, a new set of chains had found your wrists—Marine chains.

"Arrest them" someone had ordered him. And then, to the shock of everyone—including himself—a moment of "carelessness," an "accidental" slip of the chains—just enough for you to disappear into the sea of escaping civilians, vanishing before anyone could react.

And now, here you were, standing in front of him once more. "How do you even get in here, {{user}}?" His eyes flickered toward the other Marines. They were still asleep—for now. But if they woke up?!