Mount Colubo, Dadan's house.
After Garp had pounded the three useless little rascals outside, he strolled back in.
Sephiroth sat at the table, leisurely cutting into a black pepper tiger steak with a knife and fork.
"Old Man Garp, not to complain…"
He shook his head.
"But your teaching method is useless."
"Hahaha! I taught you the same way back then," Garp boomed. "Look at you now—a Marine who can stand on his own!"
Sephiroth made a rude gesture.
The memory of those brutal beatings surfaced. He forced an insincere smile.
"Heh. Right. So, after all these years… how about a spar? See who's stronger now?"
Garp immediately raised a finger, dug in his nose, and shrugged.
"This vacation wasn't easy to get. I'm too lazy to spar with a kid like you."
He gave a weary sigh.
"Besides, you planning to bully a useless old man?"
"..."
Sephiroth's mouth twitched.
The number of people in this world who could actually bully an old monster like you wouldn't fill one hand, he thought. Who are you trying to fool with the 'old and weak' act?
Seeing Garp genuinely had no interest in fighting, Sephiroth changed the subject.
"Your grandson's a Devil Fruit user.
If that power is developed properly, it could really boost his combat strength.
Want me to train him?"
"Hahaha—! Then I'll leave him to you!" Garp laughed, clapping Sephiroth on the shoulder. "Make sure you turn my grandson Luffy into the strongest Marine!
Oh, right—that brat Ace has good potential too. Train him along with the other one."
He said it casually, as if handing over a pair of stray cats.
But then—
Bang!
Sephiroth's fist smashed into Garp's face, sending the man flying back two meters.
"You old bastard!" Sephiroth growled through clenched teeth. "You wiped your snot on me. You think I won't kill you today?"
"Tch. Stingy kid." Garp pouted, swiping the blood from his nose. He hopped up from the ground. "It was just my hand."
After dinner, Sephiroth and Machino got ready to leave. Garp planned to stay the night.
...
Night fell, the moon caught in the branches.
The two walked close together along the dim forest path toward Windmill Village.
Machino recalled the day's events and chuckled softly.
"Sephiroth, you and Mr. Garp seem very close."
The silver-haired young man thought back.
When he'd first joined the Marines, he'd been a naive recruit. He barely knew how to fight, relying entirely on his Devil Fruit to bully his way through.
But after a certain naval battle, Garp had Boggart start training him in swordsmanship. His strength began to surge from that point.
And then came Garp's daily beatings. They hammered practical combat experience into him. Within a month or two, he was transformed—rising to stand among the top of the military academy students.
Harsh? Brutally so.
But effective.
His constant urge to fight Garp, to pay him back, was just that—a student's itch to show off for his teacher.
Well, that and a little personal revenge.
He let out a helpless sigh.
"Uh… I guess we are.
When I first joined the Marine, I received a lot of special attention from him."
Machino sensed Sephiroth's reluctance to keep talking about it and quickly changed the subject.
"That grilled tiger steak you made today was amazing! Any special secrets?"
"Ah, that. It's all about the timing when you add the seasoning."
They walked and talked, and before either realized it, they were back at Windmill Village, standing beside the side door of Party's Bar—Machino's usual home.
"How about inviting me in for a glass of water? We've walked a long way. I'm a little thirsty," Sephiroth suggested.
"Mm… alright."
Machino smiled and nodded. Without a second thought, she pulled out her key, unlocked the door, and led him inside.
Since the bar was right next door, Machino usually cooked and prepared meals there. The side house was just a bedroom and a bathroom. The bedroom doubled as a living room, furnished with a table and a long sofa.
Other than that, the room held only a dressing table, a bookshelf, and a wardrobe—simple and sparse.
Sephiroth and Machino sat side by side on the sofa. She picked up the kettle from the table and poured him a glass of water.
"It's getting really late. Drink up, then you should head back."
Machino felt Sephiroth's hand settle on her waist, his touch growing restless. She finally understood: she'd invited a wolf inside.
"But… I want to stay with you."
Sephiroth leaned close, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered.
"Um… Sephiroth… isn't this… a little too fast?"
Machino pressed her hands gently against his chest, trying to ease him back.
But—
Sephiroth directly kissed Machino's lips...