Gion swore that this was the best miso soup she had ever tasted in her life!
It was salty without being cloying, carrying the distinct freshness of seafood, and as she finished the bowl, a comforting warmth seemed to spread through her entire body.
This flavor… felt just like coming home.
"How is it, Gion-chan? Does it taste good?"
Toki's eyes sparkled as she looked at Gion, her face filled with hopeful anticipation.
Seeing Toki's crescent-eyed smile, with those long lashes trembling ever so slightly, Gion found her cuteness almost overwhelming.
Gion pursed her lips, not daring to meet Toki's expectant gaze. She simply nodded, her voice soft:
"Mmm. Sister Toki, your cooking skills are amazing. The miso soup is delicious."
"That's wonderful!"
Toki beamed with delight and took Gion's hand in hers, a lovely flush blooming across her cheeks as she said, her smile as bright as the spring sun:
"Since you like it so much, come to my house more often. I'll cook even more delicious things just for you!"
At home…?
She said it so casually, but Gion couldn't ignore the weight of those words.
The usually proud and cool Gion found herself unable to say anything to refuse under Toki's gentle, expectant gaze. She merely nodded silently, without uttering a single protest.
Darren watched Gion quietly, an amused smile playing at the corners of his lips.
It wasn't Toki's otherworldly beauty that charmed people—it was her gentle, nurturing air, the kind of warmth that made anyone instinctively want to cherish and protect her.
Because of that, she had won the hearts and devotion of so many people in the Land of Wano in the original story.
"Here, try some of this grilled eel I made too."
…
The meal was unexpectedly harmonious.
No arguments, no barbed words… Under Toki's tender hospitality, Gion kept her temper in check, and Darren didn't stir up any trouble. It was almost like they were one happy family.
After dinner, Darren pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and stepped out into the courtyard.
Beneath the shade of the trees, two lounge chairs stood in quiet repose.
For a moment, Darren's gaze turned distant.
Just a few months ago, a young man burdened by the weight of "justice," brimming with hope and ideals, had lain sprawled across one of these chairs, drunkenly proclaiming his hot-blooded dreams to the night.
Now, that youth's burning fervor and idealism had been replaced by a steely resolve and unshakable determination.
The boy who carried the blood of a "hero" had become one of the world's most dangerous criminals in the blink of an eye.
Times change; people change.
Even Darren, usually steadfast of mind, couldn't help feeling a surge of emotion at that thought.
He pressed his lips together, then stepped forward and sat down on one of the chairs.
Silently, he gazed up at the glittering expanse of stars above. He lit a cigarette and let the smoke curl upwards, quietly sorting through the turmoil in his heart.
"So… did Dragon-senpai really kill a Celestial Dragon?"
A voice suddenly rang out beside him.
Darren turned and saw Gion standing there, her expression calm. He gave a small smile, his voice low and even:
"Yes. I was the first one to go after him."
"Unfortunately, he got away… Otherwise, I'd probably have been promoted again by now."
Gion bit down on her lower lip and, after a pause, murmured in a low voice:
"Liar."
"Huh?"
Darren blinked, caught off guard.
Gion turned to face him, her eyes locked on his:
"I said, you're a liar."
"You're obviously hurting, aren't you?"
Darren fell silent for a moment, then gave a wry chuckle.
"How could that be? I barely even knew Dragon."
"He's the son of a hero, and I'm just a worthless disgrace. All I regret is that I didn't catch him myself."
Gion suddenly let out a cold laugh:
"So how long are you going to keep pretending to be a scoundrel?"
"If I'm not mistaken, you're still carrying injuries, aren't you?"
"Yet here you are, acting like nothing's wrong, strolling into this house with a smile on your face… You're clearly a very gentle man!"
Whoa, whoa, whoa—since when was calling a man "gentle" a compliment?
Especially in those certain anime from a certain country, "yasashii" was practically the exclusive domain of those pathetic, do-nothing protagonists.
Darren let out an exasperated sigh.
"I'm not pretending. I really am a disgrace."
"As for Dragon… rather than saying I'm sad, it's more accurate to say I feel a mix of emotions—regret, and maybe even envy."
He exhaled a thin plume of smoke.
"For a man to find a cause worthy of dedicating his entire life to while he's still young and strong—that's the greatest fortune he could ever have."
"And what about you?"
Gion's eyes bore into him, as if hoping for some deeper truth.
"What is the great undertaking you want to dedicate your life to?"
"Me, huh…"
Darren let out a soft sigh, his expression growing pensive as he pondered her question. Then his face grew solemn, and he said:
"You know, when you put it that way… I realize my life's been pretty messed up."
Gion's eyes widened in surprise.
Could it be… this man was actually reflecting on his life?
For the past month, Gion had been unable to come to terms with the fact that she had fallen for a man who called himself a scoundrel.
But if Darren was willing to change… if this was the moment he turned over a new leaf…
A faint hope rose up in her heart.
"I've thought a lot about it, especially after what happened with Dragon. I've been re-evaluating everything about myself," Darren said slowly, his brows slightly furrowed.
"What should a person live for?"
"If I spend my youth chasing nothing but pleasure—good food, love, strong drink, power, money, indulgence…"
"Making more money than most people could in a lifetime, living a life of luxury they couldn't even imagine—then by the time I'm old, I'll look back and find…"
Gion's eyes brightened with anticipation, her voice almost breathless: "Find what?"
"…Find that I have no regrets at all."
Darren exhaled again, his half-lidded eyes glinting with a wistful, almost profound amusement, as though he'd just discovered some great secret to life.
Gion: "…"
"You bastard! Disgrace! Piece of trash!!"
Her chest heaving with anger, Gion trembled all over, teeth clenched tight.
And to think—she'd actually let herself hope for a moment!
He hadn't changed one bit!
He was still the same infuriating bastard he'd always been!
She shot him a murderous glare, then turned on her heel and stormed out the door without another word.
Darren watched her go, feeling a bit helpless.
He'd only been speaking the truth.
If he didn't take the chance to enjoy life while he still had the power and freedom to do so—what, was he supposed to wait until the World Government found out he'd killed a Celestial Dragon and put a bounty on his head to start living?
That would be far too late.
Dragon was a living example of that. A cautionary tale.
He let out a long sigh.
"Dear, you really shouldn't make Gion-chan so angry,"
Toki said with an exasperated smile as she walked over to Darren and gently tugged on his hand.
"Hurry and go after her, comfort her. Gion-chan really cares about you."
"A few days ago, Vice Admiral Tsuru came to see me and mentioned something."
"Do you remember when you were captured by Kaido in the New World? Even though she wouldn't admit it out loud, Gion-chan went to Tsuru several times in private to beg her to persuade Admiral Sengoku to send troops to rescue you…"
At those words, Darren's expression froze.
---
To be continued…