"So…" Ginny crossed her arms tightly, her fingers digging into her sleeves. "What exactly are you here for?"
Realizing that resistance was pointless, she dragged Kuma down onto a wooden chair beside her with a sharp tug.Her almond-shaped eyes burned as they locked onto Gern, as if she wanted to bore holes straight through him.
"I already told you," Gern replied lazily, leaning back against a chair by the window. Sunlight cast sharp shadows across his sharply defined profile."I came to get treated."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted—almost deliberately—toward Kuma.
"Ginny," Kuma said gently, resting a calming hand on her tense shoulder."Mr. Gern really did come because he was injured. I was just about to help him remove the pain…"
"Big Kuma!" Ginny spun around, her hair quivering with anger."This guy—!" She stormed up to Gern, her slender finger nearly poking him in the nose."No—this man! He's a Marine! A Marine! You heard him admit it himself!"
Watching her agitation, Kuma scratched the back of his head and smiled in his usual simple, gentle way.
"I know. You just said that, didn't you?"
"Then why are you—?!"
"Mr. Gern doesn't intend to capture us."Kuma met Gern's eyes steadily, his voice calm beyond belief."And… his eyes are peaceful."
"Peaceful?!" Ginny snapped, whipping her head around to glare at Gern again.
Peaceful?! She didn't see that at all!
What she did see was unmistakable intent—an unmistakable desire aimed straight at her future husband!
No explanation needed. A woman's intuition was screaming at full volume.
"Hey! Marine!" Ginny retreated to Kuma's side and clung to his arm like a territorial cat."What exactly are you plotting?!"
"You don't have to call me 'Marine,'" Gern sighed, rubbing his temple. "I have a name. It's Gern."
"I don't care what your name is!" Ginny buried her face into Kuma's arm and shouted muffled words."All I see in your eyes is desire—for Big Kuma!"
"Hey! Don't say things like that, idiot!" Gern snapped back instantly.
…Even though he did have an ulterior motive.
The Paw-Paw Fruit might be out of reach, but Kuma himself?That was a different story.
For a moment, the two glared at each other like sworn enemies, while Kuma stood helplessly between them, looking back and forth like a lost giant puppy.
"Enough!" Ginny suddenly popped her head out from behind Kuma."Just say it! What do you really want?!"
"I want Kuma to join the Marines—"Gern paused, his gaze sharpening."No. To be precise… I want him to join my side."
The air froze.
Even Ginny stopped breathing.
"No!" she blurted out instantly, gripping Kuma's clothes."Big Kuma is a Buccaneer! And I'm—"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"A… slave."
"The World Government would never allow it! You're lying to him!"
"Mr. Gern," Kuma said quietly, placing a hand over Ginny's trembling fingers."I truly have no intention of joining the Marines."
As he spoke, his massive palm subtly brushed against Gern's arm.
A faint pink glow flared.
Tiny, cherry-sized paw-shaped bubbles drifted out of Gern's body.
"Your pain…" Kuma murmured, gazing at the small bubble in his hand."It's very small."
So small it barely even registered.
Gern stared at it for a moment—then smiled.
"Yeah… because my real pain is far heavier than that."
"There's more?" Kuma asked, startled.
"You just said you wouldn't join me," Gern replied calmly."That hurt more than you think."
Ginny: "...…"
"You really like joking around, Mr. Gern…"
Outside the Church
The two stood together on the grass.
Ginny peeked from the church window, watching them like a wary cat.
"You're happy here, aren't you?" Gern asked quietly. He already knew the answer.
In the original timeline, this period had been the happiest time of Kuma's life.
"Yes," Kuma nodded without hesitation."With Ginny here… I'm happy. I don't want to leave."
This place—was his home.
"You rejected me pretty cleanly," Gern said with a shrug."Aren't you afraid I might force you?"
"You wouldn't," Kuma replied gently."I knew it the moment I met you."
"Being that kind is a good way to be chained for life," Gern muttered.
Kuma lowered his head, his large hands slowly curling into fists.
Gern glanced toward the window, where Ginny was still staring daggers at him, then spoke again—this time including both of them.
"If one day… you could go anywhere you wanted—where would you go?"
Kuma looked up, hesitating.
"I…"After a pause, he spoke softly."I'd like to see what lies beyond the sea."
"Beyond the sea?"
"Yes. I've heard there are countries where people don't suffer."
Ginny suddenly burst out laughing from the window.
"Big Kuma, you idiot! A place like that doesn't exist!"
Gern smiled. Kuma laughed too—though his carried a familiar, heavy gentleness.
This boy…No one should ever have to carry a life like his.
After a moment of silence, Gern placed a hand on Kuma's shoulder.
"Kuma."
"Yes?"
"If one day someone told you that by sacrificing yourself, you could save the people you love…would you do it?"
The air seemed to freeze.
Kuma's pupils tightened slightly.Ginny shot to her feet in alarm.
"Hey! You—what are you saying?!"
Gern ignored her, his eyes fixed on Kuma.
"If it were for Ginny…"Kuma hesitated—then smiled softly.
"I would.""I would accept any fate."
"Big Kuma?!" Ginny cried out in disbelief.
Gern closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.
Of course…He already knew the answer.
He reached into his coat and took out a small Den Den Mushi, placing it in Kuma's hand.
"Take this."
Kuma blinked. "This is…?"
"If one day you lose something precious," Gern said quietly, glancing toward Ginny,"and you can't do anything about it… contact me."
"But—"
"No buts. Consider it payment for easing my pain."
Kuma hesitated. "But… I want to know what the real price will be."
Gern paused, then gave a crooked smile.
"Then… don't refuse me when that day comes."
He turned to leave, then stopped.
"And one more thing—"He looked back over his shoulder.
"You possess the freest power in the world.Don't let yourself be bound so easily, you idiot."
And with that, Gern walked away.
Kuma stood there in silence, slowly closing his hand around the Den Den Mushi.
"He's gone?" Ginny burst out of the church moments later.
"He is," Kuma nodded.
Ginny stuck her tongue out in the direction Gern had left.
Kuma smiled faintly.
"If possible… I hope the day never comes when I have to call you, Mr. Gern."
Because right now—
"I'm truly… truly happy."