Chapter 76: My Fangirls Are All Over the East Sea [Part 1 & 2 Combined]

In the blink of an eye, two hours had passed.

It was now the agreed-upon meeting time for everyone.

Nojiko and Nami arrived at the square first, sitting at the entrance of a café on the western edge, waiting boredly for their companions.

The sky had darkened at some point; dark clouds piled up, and a light rain pattered against the café's awning, splashing up fine mist.

Nami held her coffee cup, flames dancing at her fingertips as she unconsciously rubbed and heated the bottom, causing the dark brown liquid to keep bubbling with a gurgling sound.

Occasionally, passersby holding umbrellas would notice, casting astonished glances their way.

"It's so cold..." Nojiko complained, "With this rain, the temperature must have dropped by ten degrees; I should've bought myself a jacket earlier."

"Has it gotten cold?" Nami asked in confusion, "Why don't I feel anything at all?"

"Because you're a Flame-Flame Fruit user!" Nojiko said speechlessly, "Your body is made of fire; how could you possibly be afraid of the cold!"

"Oh, right." Nami suddenly realized, "Then should I warm you up?"

Hiss!

Her orange hair instantly ignited; amidst this gloomy, rainy weather, the roaring flames looked like a dazzling bonfire in the night.

Whoa, it really is quite warm.

Nojiko's eyes lit up, and she raised her arms to warm her hands, but just then, screams erupted from the café behind them—

"Fire!!! "

"Quick, save that customer!"

Splash! Two large buckets of water were dumped over Nami's head, instantly soaking both her and her chair to the bone, yet those roaring flames continued to burn.

"Not enough, quick! Go get more water!" the middle-aged female manager immediately ordered the barista beside her.

"Pfft—" Nojiko couldn't help but pound the table and burst out laughing.

Nami stood stunned like a wooden chicken, still maintaining the posture of holding the coffee cup with one hand; her wet orange hair emitted white steam, while coffee liquid dripped click-clack from her chin onto her collar.

"Aaaah, you idiots!"

She raised her fist at the staff in a rage, "This is my ability! Do you know about Devil Fruits or not? How can you just dump water on a customer's head without asking!!!"

This little girl is a Devil Fruit user?

The people of Loguetown were well-traveled; the female manager realized it instantly and hurriedly handed over a towel to help wipe her dry, "S-Sorry, the way your hair suddenly caught fire just now was truly terrifying..."

"No need!"

Nami said huffily, "I can handle it myself!"

She snapped her fingers with a sharp clap.

She snapped her fingers, and immediately, an orange-yellow glow began to emanate from the surface of her skin all over her body; it seemed as if flames were burning beneath her skin, with heat constantly rising and steaming through her pores.

In just a short while, she became clean and dry again, leaving only the brown stains left by the coffee.

The female manager and several baristas stared in dumbfounded amazement.

"Sigh, forget it, you meant well, so I can't blame you."

Nami looked at the coffee, which was now completely undrinkable, sighed, and said, "Let's just pay the bill."

"We are terribly sorry!"

The female manager quickly bowed and said, "We've caused you trouble! How about this: our second-floor private seats serve our signature steak and pizza set; since it's exactly lunchtime now, please let us make it up to you—all meals are on the house, pick whatever you like, how does that sound?"

A free lunch?

Nami pursed her lips; given the family environment she grew up in, she certainly didn't care about such a small amount of money.

Seeing the manager's anxious expression, however, a mischievous thought arose in her, and she said with a grin, "Really free? But we still have several companions who haven't arrived yet."

"No problem, it's all on the house!"

The manager instead breathed a sigh of relief, smiling gently, "As long as you agree, otherwise I would really feel uneasy in my heart..."

"Hey, Nami, don't bully the kind auntie."

Nojiko poked Nami's forehead in annoyance, then turned to the manager and said:

"That won't be necessary; just make her meal free. As for the rest of us, there are four people in total plus one pet; we'll pay for whatever we eat, really, believe me."

She knew her older brother's appetite all too well; if they really made it all free, this café restaurant would be left with nothing but the shirt on its back.

And then there was Ah Gin, who was also a huge glutton, but compared to her older brother, he could be ignored.

The manager was still hesitating when Nami, grinning, pushed her into the shop, after which the manager apologized and went off to get busy.

But just as Nami sat back in her original spot, she heard Nojiko's somewhat confused voice: "Strange, when did I start becoming nearsighted too?"

What does that mean?

Nami followed Nojiko's gaze, and instantly froze in shock as well.

—There, on the square not far away, there were actually two Sister Guyinas, sharing a single umbrella, arm in arm, walking side by side toward them.

Eh??

Am I nearsighted too? That makes no sense; Nami rubbed her eyes, looked carefully again, so why are there still two?!

She was instantly dumbstruck.

"Haha, I knew you would make that kind of expression!"

Sister Sister Guyina, who had been maintaining a serious face while barely suppressing her laughter, suddenly couldn't hold it back anymore.

"Ta-da!"

As if presenting a treasure, Sister Sister Guyina pushed the glasses-wearing girl sharply forward, "Ta-da-da-da, let me formally introduce to everyone: Private First Class of the Loguetown Navy Branch! A sword-obsessed girl who looks exactly like me, Tashigi!!!"

"N-Nice to meet you, everyone!"

Tashigi fumbled to adjust her glasses, the books she was clutching in her arms nearly falling: "Lady Sister Guyina, don't introduce me like that; I'm not, not a sword-obsessed maniac! I merely hold respect for blades that uphold justice..."

"And you say you're not?"

Sister Sister Guyina smiled and put her arm around her shoulder, "Hey, let me tell you, you have no idea how funny she looked, drooling like a fan girl ever since she found out I'm a Sword Master; it was just like some lecherous old uncle, pestering me all the way to ask this and that until I talked until my mouth was dry..."

She casually grabbed Nami's coffee from the table, took one sip, and immediately spat it all out:

"It tastes terrible! What is this? It's like bathwater!"

"Close enough; that was more like shampoo water," Nojiko said languidly. "It's rare to see you so elated, but your story is quite jumbled. Shouldn't we start from the beginning..."

"That's true... Sorry, I got a bit too excited." Sister Guyina tapped her forehead.

A few minutes later.

Tashigi sat opposite them at the original table, her face slightly flushed, honestly clutching her books, while Sister Guyina finished recounting how they had met, seemingly reluctant to stop.

"So, you two just happened to bump into each other at a bookstore? You'd never met before?"

Nojiko and Nami exchanged a glance, their eyes full of astonishment.

Who would have thought such a coincidence could exist under heaven.

Two young girls born thousands of miles apart, with no blood relation whatsoever, yet their appearances were identical, down to their height differing by not a single fraction.

Moreover, their interests were quite similar; both loved practicing swordsmanship, favored Japanese style, cherished famous blades, and enjoyed reading...

Ever since Tashigi noticed the Wado Ichimonji, both had opened up, their conversation growing more harmonious as they went, feeling regret that they hadn't met sooner.

Of course.

Upon learning that Sister Guyina had already pierced the Iron-Cutting Realm and become a Sword Master, the dynamic shifted primarily to Tashigi asking and Sister Guyina answering.

Though their ages were nearly identical, the disparity in their realms of swordsmanship was truly immense.

A few casual pointers from Sister Guyina greatly benefited Tashigi, while she freely offered all sorts of trivia and knowledge related to the Way of the Sword.

Sister Guyina's status in her heart skyrocketed instantly, even changing how she addressed her to "Your Excellency."

"So when you said she was a sword maniac, you really weren't wrong..."

Nojiko looked with interest at the thick, towering stack clutched in Tashigi's arms.

Titles like "Complete Illustrated Guide to Fast Blades," "Written Exchanges on Sword and Blade Forging," "When Famous Blades Fall into Evil Hands! The Pain Ace and Murakumo Left to the World"...

Huh, Ace?

She frowned slightly, vaguely recalling that among the few brats her brother had met back in the Goa Kingdom, there seemed to be one with that name?

It must be a coincidence...

Just as she was pondering this, Sister Guyina sighed with emotion, "What a pity; we're heading to the Grand Line soon. Otherwise, I would definitely take her back to Shimotsuki Village to see if Father could tell us apart! He'd probably be so shocked his jaw would drop!"

"That wouldn't fool Mr. Teacher Gengsilang."

Nojiko shrugged. "Let alone him; even Nami and I were only fooled by you two at first. With a bit more observation, telling you apart is easy."

Nami nodded in deep agreement.

Indeed.

While their appearances were nearly identical, their temperaments were worlds apart.

Although Sister Sister Guyina often wore a gentle smile on her surface, looking very approachable,

in reality, she was wildly ambitious, possessing an innate coldness and arrogance born of absolute confidence in her swordsmanship talent and strength.

As for this Tashigi...

Tsk, perhaps due to her glasses having a stronger prescription, she seemed a bit airheaded and muddled.

She didn't seem very bold either; despite chatting until now and technically becoming acquainted with the two sisters, she still sat nervously clutching her books, looking timid and shy.

To think, according to Sister Guyina, such a girl was actually a Marine recruit?

"Meeting is fate. Tashigi, why not join us for lunch? Our treat. By the way, Sister Guyina, did you see my brother on the way?"

Nojiko glanced at her watch. "Eleven fifty-two. Only eight minutes left until our agreed time. Seriously, why haven't we seen him yet?"

"Didn't run into him."

Sister Guyina shook her head. "No need to rush; wait a little longer. Lord Siano has always been punctual and trustworthy. If he said to gather at twelve, he will definitely arrive before that time."

"You certainly trust him unconditionally."

Nojiko was speechless. Just as she was about to speak, Tashigi beside her suddenly let out a cry of surprise, her face flushing red with excitement: "—Eh??? Wait, hold on!"

"Lord Siano?! Are you talking about the renowned Lord Siano who made a name for himself in the East Blue several years ago? He, he... He is your brother?"

"To be precise, he is the brother of these two."

Sister Guyina held her black tea and sighed mournfully:

"Jealous? I've been dying of envy for a long time. Why do they get to live and grow up with Lord Siano every day since childhood, while I'm stuck with two idiots who argue all day and annoy me to death?"

"Did you add lemon slices?" Nojiko asked puzzledly, shaking her coffee cup at Nami.

"No, it's not cola; why would I add lemon?" Nami replied, confused.

"Then why does it taste so sour all of a sudden?"

The two sisters burst into giggles, while Sister Guyina shot them a sidelong glance. "Doesn't matter; anyway, we're all on the same ship now. I'll be able to see Lord Siano every day too, so there's no difference."

"I, I really want to see him too!"

Tashigi suddenly clapped her hands together with a snap, pleading, "Where is Lord Siano? Is he on this island? Will he come over here? Please let me see him with my own eyes, I beg you! Since I was little, I've been his loyal fan. I read those reports about him over and over again! The reason I embarked on the path of swordsmanship was because of his influence!"

As she spoke, Tashigi seemed to suddenly remember something and frantically pulled her wallet from her bosom.

In the top compartment was clearly the photo used in the original report on the Asakura Island incident: a clear-featured, black-haired youth holding a bamboo sword, standing proudly on a wooden platform, surrounded by a large crowd of cheering spectators.

"See, this is it. Take a look."

"This really brings back memories from long ago..." Sister Guyina took the photo, her expression turning somewhat strange.

"It's been about five years, hasn't it? Did you cut this out of a newspaper? You've actually kept it until now; it's even turned somewhat yellow..."

She would never mention that she had cut one out back then too.

It just wasn't carried with her; instead, she had carefully pasted it onto her beloved desk lamp, so that every time she looked up while reading, she could see it.

Unfortunately, a year later, some damn thief stole her lamp, leaving her so furious with nowhere to vent her anger that she casually beat Zoro to a pulp.

"It is quite old... but it's super cool! Isn't it?"

Tashigi pushed up her glasses, recalling past events, her eyes filled with longing.

"Do you know? When I saw that report back then, I stayed up all night carving the clothes-drying pole at home into a bamboo sword! I practiced hard every day, and later joining the Navy was also driven by the dream that one day I could be like him, using a sword of justice to guard the tranquility of this sea..."

The girl who had just been shy and bashful suddenly blurted out such a long string of fanatical, excited words, making Nojiko and Nami glance at her sideways involuntarily.

"Hey, let me tell you."

While Nami was still listening with great interest, Nojiko could no longer hold back; she quietly leaned close to Sister Sister Guyina's ear:

"This is exactly like you; are you two really not blood-related? Or should we just call Mr. Teacher Gengsilang right now and ask?"

"Get lost!"

Sister Sister Guyina pushed her away in bad humor, turned her head to look at Tashigi, and said with a smile:

"Rest assured, today is the day your dream comes true; at most, wait a few more minutes, and he will be coming over. By then, you can look as much as you want, and at noon, you can even have a meal together with him."

Eh? Eh? Eh?

Have a meal together?!!

Tashigi's glasses slipped down to the tip of her nose with a clatter, her breathing suddenly became rapid, and her face was about to turn as red as an apple:

"R-re-really...? Huh, why am I so lucky today? Am I dreaming? First I run into Lady Sister Guyina, and n-now I can be together with my lord Siano..."

Ahhh! The girl covered her face, so happy she was nearly fainting.

Just as she felt like she was about to float up into the sky like a bubble, she was suddenly interrupted by a thunderous roar exploding beside her ear.

"Recruit Tashigi!"

A Navy Sergeant with a face full of bulging flesh, who had somehow passed by at just the right moment and noticed this side, shouted sternly:

"Why are you still loitering? Haven't you received the news? Colonel Smoker's warship is returning ahead of schedule and will be back in port immediately!!"

"All personnel at the base have their leave temporarily cancelled; that includes you. Hurry up and get back to the base! Put on your uniform and rush to the dock immediately to line up and stand by!"

What?

Of all times, it had to be now!

Tashigi felt as if struck by lightning; she looked up at her superior in disbelief, her mood, which had just reached the clouds, plummeting straight to the bottom.

"W-why, Sergeant?"

She was so aggrieved she was about to cry, attempting a final struggle: "Doesn't Mr. Smoker usually dislike that kind of pomp and circumstance? How could he issue such an order?"

"This is not Colonel Smoker's intention, but comes from a higher level; as for exactly who, I am not clear either."

The Navy Sergeant glanced strangely at Sister Sister Guyina, then turned back and said coldly:

"In short, I heard some incredibly important big shot is arriving; the security officer and administrative officer of Loguetown have already rushed to the dock to welcome them. You, a mere little recruit, shouldn't worry about such things; just execute the order!"

Received notice from the editor: tomorrow is the Sanjiang recommendation, next Wednesday we go on sale, so I need to start writing a bit more each day to stockpile chapters; on the day we go on sale, I'll try to update several more chapters so everyone can read to their heart's content.

If you are suffering from a book shortage, you can also check out my old book; this one is 'East Sea Pirate King,' the previous one was 'East Sea Sea King.'

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(End of Chapter)