Captain Connie from headquarters looked at Yuta, the oldest child, with a warm smile. He squatted down and gently ruffled the boy's hair.
"What's this? Can't wait to join the Marines already?" he chuckled. "Then you'd better study hard and stay fit.
As long as you've got good grades and a strong body, you'll be able to enter the Marine Academy and become an excellent sailor."
"Yeah! I'll do my best!"
Yuta's head bobbed up and down like a drum, his voice ringing with determination. It was like music to Connie's ears.
Connie gave Yuta's shoulder an encouraging pat before turning his attention to Tama.
"It's been a while, Tama. You're still as adorable as ever~"
Connie didn't rush into business right away. Instead, he reached out and affectionately ruffled Tama's neatly combed hair, turning it into a tousled mess.
But Tama didn't mind. She smiled sweetly and called out, "Brother Connie!" in the softest, most innocent voice.
In that instant, every Marine present—including Connie—felt an imaginary arrow pierce their hearts. Her voice was so sweet it could melt bones.
The two female Marines in the group had hearts practically bursting with affection. They could hardly resist the urge to scoop Tama up into their arms and shower her with love.
But Connie, a seasoned Marine who had risen through the elite camp and followed Luffy for years, quickly snapped out of the cuteness overload. After coughing a few times to compose himself, he got down to business.
"Tama," he said gently, "can you show me your abilities?
If you really are a Devil Fruit user, I can recommend you for the Marine Academy in the Flower Capital.
There, you'll have professional teachers who can help you understand your powers and teach you how to control them properly."
Connie's tone was soft and kind, but Tama didn't immediately agree. Instead, she pouted slightly, her voice tinged with frustration.
"But I don't want to be a scholar. I want to be a Marine."
Connie couldn't help but chuckle at her response. He gave her nose a playful little tap and explained:
"Of course, you'll be a Marine!
Once you enter the Marine Academy, you automatically become part of the Marine. And if you learn everything well and graduate with top marks, you'll even have a chance to become a Marine officer.
Just like me—with a coat on your back~"
As he spoke, Connie lifted the edge of his justice coat with a grin, showing it off a little.
Then, turning to the rest of the children, he added:
"You all can do it too!
As long as you study hard, under the guidance of the senior members of the G66 branch—like Principal Luffy, Chief Instructor Yamato, Navigator Nami, and Secretary Kalifa—you'll have the chance to apply for the Marine School.
And if you excel in your physical training, you can qualify too.
Once you're in, you'll officially be Marine soldiers, and after three years of study, you'll graduate as full-fledged Marines!"
Hearing this, all the children, including Tama, leapt up with excitement.
Compared to the strict age requirement of waiting until they were 16 to enlist, the Marine Academy felt like a much easier and faster path. And they'd long admired Connie's justice coat.
Determined to earn their own coats one day, the children vowed to study hard.
Even those who struggled academically decided they would train their bodies and strive to become excellent Marine officers as soon as possible.
But while the other children needed to study and train hard, Tama's path was a little different.
As a Devil Fruit user, she could directly enter the Marine Academy to hone her abilities—assuming, of course, that she truly possessed such powers.
If she wasn't a genuine ability user, no matter how cute she was, she'd still have to prove herself in school to qualify for the Marine Academy.
But once Tama realized she had the chance to become a Marine officer, she stopped hiding her powers.
Just like before, she reached up, pinched her cheek, and pulled out a small, sticky rice dumpling[Mochi].
The Marines immediately began whispering among themselves, curious and intrigued by her ability. Even Connie watched intently, trying to figure out what kind of Devil Fruit power this could be.
But despite his experience, he couldn't quite guess the function of the ordinary-looking rice dumpling Tama handed him.
One thing was certain, though—this was undoubtedly the ability of a Devil Fruit.
Connie nodded toward Grandma and confirmed:
"Tama is definitely an ability user. I'd say her powers fall under the Paramecia class."
Hearing this, Grandma felt a wave of relief wash over her. But as the reality of Tama's abilities set in, she couldn't help but feel a little reluctant to let her go.
Connie studied the dumpling for a long moment, but he still couldn't figure out its purpose. Finally, he gave up and decided to ask Tama directly.
"Tama, can you tell me what your ability does?
Or… what's the effect of this dumpling? Can I eat it?"
Tama nodded seriously, standing as straight as a little soldier being questioned by her superior.
"It's edible," she said matter-of-factly. "But it won't fill your stomach."
Without further explanation, she reached up and pulled another dumpling from her cheek.
Her eyes scanned the orphanage courtyard, and suddenly they lit up as she spotted a target.
It was a black-and-white puppy lying lazily in the sun.
Aiming carefully, Tama swung her arm and tossed the dumpling toward the puppy. It landed right in front of its nose.
Connie and the other Marines watched the scene curiously, eager to see what would happen next.
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