Of course, there was no way to spend any of the points just yet.
Nao wasn't about to let himself get carried away by this unexpected windfall.
He knew very well that spending the points would cause immediate changes to his physical condition, and such a drastic shift wouldn't escape Gion's notice.
He'd have to endure a few more days, wait until he was back in his own body, and then indulge all at once.
In a good mood, Nao closed the status panel, humming an old Showa-era tune from memory as he continued down the country road.
Passing through a small town, he recalled that Gion had mentioned on the ship that although Rear Admiral Chishio was getting on in years, she loved strawberries with cream—the bigger, the better.
Back at Marine Headquarters, the old lady was often seen cradling a bowl of strawberries, popping them into her mouth while working, much like Garp with his senbei crackers. She could easily eat several kilograms in a day.
Since he was paying her a visit, it was only proper to bring a gift.
So Nao stopped at a fruit stall, buying a large bag of strawberries with cream. These strawberries were huge, nearly the size of oranges, and cost a hefty sum—5,000 Berries in total.
Considering his monthly salary supplement was only 20,000 Berries, Nao winced at the expense, debating whether he should later ask Gion to cover the cost as an "official expenditure" when he returned to the ship.
Once out of the town, he quickened his pace slightly and arrived at the village where Rear Admiral Chishio lived just as the sun was about to set.
Smoke from cooking fires rose gently into the evening air, and the village exuded a tranquil and peaceful charm, like something out of a storybook.
"So this is Rear Admiral Chishio's home…"
Nao stopped in front of a two-story house with a small yard, looking up at the gate framed by white picket fences entwined with rose vines. "It's even more ordinary than I expected."
The only thing that stood out was how immaculately clean and tidy it was. Through the gaps in the fence, he could glimpse a garden filled with all kinds of carefully pruned flowers and plants.
He took a deep breath, mentally reviewing all the information Gion had shared with him.
Then he stepped forward and gently knocked on the gate.
"Coming, coming!"
Rapid footsteps approached from inside, accompanied by a bright and youthful voice. "Is that you, Aunt Gion?"
With a soft creak, the wooden gate swung open to reveal a little girl with pink hair, her face lighting up with delight. "Aunt Gion, what brings you here so late…"
Her words caught in her throat as she looked up, eyes wide, taking in the sight of a towering figure—long legs nearly level with the top of her head.
She blinked and craned her neck, barely managing to glimpse the imposing silhouette that stood in front of her home, as if a giant were blocking the way.
Startled, the pink-haired girl instinctively took two steps back, her expression panicked. Just as she was about to shut the gate, the "giant" suddenly bent down and asked gently:
"Excuse me, is this where Chishio-san lives?"
The soft tone, the refined appearance, and the natural air of confidence exuded from him, coupled with the faint, infectious smile, instantly calmed the girl's nerves.
Now able to see his face clearly, she hesitated and asked, "Yes, but… who are you?"
"Gion. Rear Admiral Gion from Marine Headquarters."
Nao looked at the girl, whose neatly parted short hair and delicate features seemed strangely familiar. "It's been years since I last saw Chishio-san. I've come especially to visit her."
"Oh, I see!"
The pink-haired girl tilted her head, sneaking a glance at Nao. Upon seeing the crisp white Marine uniform and the flowing cape of justice on his back, her wariness melted away.
"Please come in!"
She quickly stepped aside to make way. After Nao ducked slightly to enter through the gate, she closed it behind him and called into the house, "Grandma Chishio! Hurry, we've got a guest!"
"No need to call her. I'll just go in myself."
Nao chuckled and ruffled the girl's hair, walking along the garden's pebble path toward the house. As he went, he casually asked:
"By the way, little one, just now you called Rear Admiral Chishio 'Grandma'—I never heard that Chishio-san has a granddaughter your age."
"I'll be thirteen in a few months, so I'm not a little one!"
The pink-haired girl huffed, pushing Nao's hand away in irritation. She muttered, "She's not my real grandma. My grandma was Chishio-san's older sister, but she passed away when I was very young. So I've been living with Chishio-san these past few years."
Hina?
Nao didn't mind the girl's mildly rebellious behavior; his attention was immediately drawn to the name she'd used. His eyes widened slightly in surprise.
No wonder she had seemed vaguely familiar earlier. This little girl who had answered the door was none other than the future renowned Marine Rear Admiral, "Black Cage"—Hina?
What a coincidence…
He quietly thought to himself, then turned to scrutinize the pink-haired girl once more.
Sure enough, now that he had connected the dots, her resemblance to the Hina he would meet twenty years later was undeniable.
Fair skin, delicate features—she was already a budding beauty at such a young age. The only difference was her shorter hair and the lack of that sharp, commanding aura.
After another quick glance, Nao averted his eyes.
He had no particular interest in Hina—he wasn't some kind of lolicon. He was just surprised to run into a familiar face from the Marines in such a remote village.
The yard wasn't very big.
Following the pebble path past the flowerbeds and around the courtyard, Nao soon spotted a white-haired elderly lady in loose-fitting house clothes, standing at the entrance with a warm smile.
Alright, time to put his acting skills to the test!
"Chishio-san!"
Nao feigned surprise and dashed forward to give the old woman a warm hug. Laughing in delight, he said, "So you really live here! It's been so long—I've missed you!"
"It's been a while, little Gion."
Chishio affectionately patted Nao's back, her wrinkled face beaming. "I've missed you too. When Hina said there was a visitor, I thought it was just someone from the village, but when I looked outside—well, what do you know? It's you, you little rascal."
"Hehe, did I surprise you?"
Nao let go of Chishio and handed over the bag of strawberries. "Here, I brought these for you on the way."
Then, with a slightly playful tone, he added, "So you do remember me. But how come three years ago, when you left Marineford, you didn't even leave me a letter?"