"Mission accomplished?"
Gion was momentarily stunned before her eyes widened.
"You mean, you actually convinced Rear Admiral Chishio to return to Marineford?"
"That's right."
Nao glanced at the older woman across the room, who was already packing her belongings. He grinned.
"Chishio has made up her mind. She'll leave tomorrow for Marineford to report in."
"Really?" Gion's voice on the other end of the Den Den Mushi carried disbelief.
"But I thought things were a disaster before. How did you manage it?"
"Pure personal charm," Nao replied with a smirk, brushing off the mention of Rouge's situation.
"If you're curious, you can ask her yourself when you meet her. Let's focus on my reward first, shall we?"
"A reward, huh? What do you want?"
"How about Konpira?"
"…Boy, if you're looking to die, just say so directly."
"Sorry." Nao scratched his chin, the stubble there prickling his fingers. Clearly, Gion hadn't shaved him during their body swap.
"Nothing for now. I'll come up with something later."
"Fine. I owe you one," Gion agreed readily, then after a slight pause added,
"By the way… you didn't… do anything to my body these past few days, did you?"
"Of course not," Nao assured her.
"There's a saying back home in the East Blue: 'A man's word is like a Sea King's pull—once given, it can't be taken back.'"
"Didn't I warn you about making up proverbs? What Sea Kings in East Blue?"
Damn, caught again.
"…Anyway, I didn't do anything inappropriate. I swear on my honor. Though, I guess I don't have a chest to thump right now."
"If you're looking to die, you really don't need to be so roundabout about it."
"Sorry." Nao sincerely apologized again before asking the question he'd been itching to ask.
"Where are you right now?"
"In my room… Oh, you meant where the ship is?"
"Yeah."
"Still en route. The journey's been smooth. We should reach Silest Island by the morning after tomorrow," Gion replied thoughtfully.
"Are you planning to catch up and join the live combat assessment?"
"Of course. And I need to have a little chat with that rotten sea raccoon… wait, it didn't sneak off, did it?"
"No, it seems quite attached to Aokiji. Lately, it's been seen napping on his head," Gion sighed.
"Also, Nao, even though your body's back to normal, let me remind you: the ship isn't going to stop or turn back just for you."
"I know, don't worry."
With that, the conversation was winding down. Nao summed up,
"Alright then. Goodnight. See you on Silest Island, Gion. And I'm sure tonight you'll finally be able to get a proper night's sleep without being jolted awake at 5:30 AM."
"You've got some nerve…" Gion began, but before she could finish, the Den Den Mushi let out a crisp "kocha" sound—it had been hung up.
This brat had the audacity to hang up first?
Gion scowled and reached out to call him back for a scolding, but her hand hesitated, and she froze, a subtle, complicated expression crossing her face.
She distinctly remembered when she'd first met Nao—he had been so polite and respectful.
When exactly had he started becoming so familiar and casual?
…
Back in the living room.
After hanging up, Nao stretched, feeling refreshed.
"Rear Admiral Chishio, I'll be off now!" he called toward the other side of the room.
"I just checked with Gion—her ship hasn't arrived yet, so I'd better head over to join the combat assessment!"
"Leaving in the middle of the night?" Chishio paused her packing, casting him a sidelong glance.
"How do you plan to get there? Swim?"
"I'll borrow a log pose and a small boat from the 329th Branch," Nao shrugged.
"After all, we're all Marines, and Silest Island isn't far. I'll make it within two days."
"You're too naive." Chishio let out a sardonic laugh.
"Half the branch staff is probably asleep right now, and Bako, the current captain, likely won't be too thrilled to be woken up just for you."
"It's a small favor."
Nao scratched his head. "Besides, I'm from the Marine HQ's Elite Camp. Once I graduate, I'll be at least a headquarters lieutenant commander, right? That should give me some leverage over Bako."
"You said it—after you graduate. Right now, he has no reason to oblige you." Chishio fixed him with a stare.
"Is this assessment really that important to you?"
"It is," Nao said seriously.
"I can't afford to delay any longer."
"Got it."
Chishio picked up the phone, made a call, gave some instructions, and then looked back at Nao.
"I've told Bako to head over to the base and assist you with the log pose and a boat."
"That easy?"
Nao was surprised, but then he recalled how obsequious Bako had been when he'd visited as Gion, and it made sense.
"Right, with your authority as a Rear Admiral, he probably wouldn't dare disobey."
"Actually, it's Vice Admiral now," Chishio corrected, a faint smile on her face.
"Huh?" Nao was taken aback.
"After the Golden Lion incident three years ago, I was due for promotion, but I resigned. Now that I'm returning to Marineford, I'll resume my role as Deputy Chief of Staff—this time as a Vice Admiral."
"Ah, congratulations then…" Nao scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Shall I go buy a present? Maybe strawberries?"
"Enough." Chishio shot him a glare.
"I haven't even dealt with the matter of Hina yet."
After her misunderstanding with Garp was cleared up, Chishio had checked on Hina's condition. As Nao had guessed, she had indeed eaten the Ori Ori no Mi.
Just fate, wasn't it?
Nao figured that even if he hadn't been involved, that Devil Fruit hidden among the strawberries would still have ended up in Chishio's house and into Hina's mouth…
…
The rest of the chapter plays out with Nao's preparations to leave and his lighthearted exchanges with Chishio.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin