Somewhere inside the castle.
In a private room Leno had commandeered.
Within the pitch-black chamber, only the sound of footsteps echoed—his steady tap, tap, and hers, slightly hurried.
He stood with his back to the door, listening to the faintly flustered steps behind him.
She no longer carried the calm composure of the past few days.
Robin kept her head lowered slightly.
Until Leno turned around, his gaze settling on her.
The air in the room froze.
"Nico Robin… give me an explanation," he said coldly.
At those words, her body trembled as if someone had flicked a hidden switch.
She lifted her pale face, forcing a stiff smile. "Captain, I—"
"I don't want to hear excuses. I only know you saved someone from the Straw Hat crew," Leno cut her off.
"Robin. As my crewmate, under my watch, you went to save a member of an enemy pirate crew."
"Do you think that's appropriate?"
He stepped closer, each footfall landing squarely on her nerves.
Her heart pounded.
"Not even the slightest report." He stopped in front of her, eyes glancing briefly over her face before settling, emotionless, above. "No notice. What do you take me for? Dead?"
The oppressive force pressed down on her.
Robin found it hard to breathe. She instinctively wanted to step back—but forced herself to stand still.
"Captain… Nami once…"
"Once your friend?" His voice turned icy. "So that makes it fine to ignore your current position? Ignore my authority?"
"Robin, have you forgotten? If I hadn't shown mercy, the entire Straw Hat crew would be dead."
"So by your logic, if someone was once your friend, you betray your current pirate crew?"
When he said betray, the atmosphere grew even more terrifying.
Robin's face paled further.
Leno suddenly grabbed her chin, forcing her to raise her head. "Looks like I've indulged you too much. You've forgotten what rules are."
She winced, letting out a soft grunt. Panic flickered in her eyes. "Captain, that's not—"
"Quiet."
His other hand swung.
Smack.
The crisp sound rang sharply in the silent room.
Robin's face snapped to the side. A vivid handprint bloomed instantly on her pale cheek.
The burning pain stunned her for a moment—then humiliation surged up, overwhelming.
She looked at him in disbelief, eyes reddening almost instantly.
She hadn't expected him to strike her—
And certainly not like this.
"…Aren't we partners?"
"Heh." He let out a short, cold laugh. "You know we're partners?"
His grip on her chin tightened. "Partners sneak behind their captain's back to save enemies?"
"That was for your presumptuousness," he said flatly.
Then—
He seized her wrists, twisting them behind her back and pinning her firmly in place, forcing her into a wide, utterly vulnerable posture she couldn't escape from.
"Captain!" Robin struggled in alarm, but the gap in strength was insurmountable.
Being completely restrained, powerless to resist—
The shame and fear were overwhelming.
Tears welled up uncontrollably.
Not because Nico Robin was weak—
But because it was unbearably humiliating. Almost everything about her was exposed to him at this angle.
Leno looked at her coldly.
"You're lucky it was Nami. If it had been someone else, you'd already be dead."
The weight of those words crushed her.
She knew he meant it.
If she had saved someone else, he truly would have killed her.
But the grievance was real too.
"No… I wasn't…" Her voice broke. "I saved her… to repay a debt!"
His grip on her chin loosened slightly. "What?"
Robin took a shaky breath. Tears slipped down, mixing with the red imprint on her cheek, making her look both pitiful and fragile.
"At Enies Lobby… they came to save me. Whatever the reason, they came!"
"Even though I chose to follow you in the end, I still owe the Straw Hats a debt!"
Her emotions spilled out as she continued.
"I just wanted to repay it! Only then… only then can I stay in the Leno Pirates with a clear conscience! Only then can I feel like I owe no one—like I truly belong here!"
Leno froze.
He stared at her tear-filled yet resolute eyes.
His hand fell away completely.
He hadn't considered that possibility.
He had assumed she was clinging to old ties—had even wondered if she still harbored feelings for the Straw Hats.
If today she had saved a man—say, that curly-browed cook—
he wouldn't have given her the chance to explain at all. And the consequences would have been far worse than a slap.
Silence fell.
Only Robin's quiet sobs remained.
After a long moment, he released her entirely.
Her legs nearly buckled; she steadied herself against the cold wall, shoulders trembling.
Leno watched her, an almost imperceptible flicker of discomfort crossing his face.
Had he… misunderstood?
But apologizing outright?
That wasn't his style.
He cleared his throat. His voice remained firm, though the earlier chill had softened.
"…Even if it was to repay a debt."
Robin sniffed, not lifting her head.
"You should have told me first," he said stiffly. "I'm your captain. If you don't say anything, how am I supposed to know what you're thinking? What if… what if I hadn't arrived in time? What if something happened to you?"
It sounded like reprimand.
But the awkward concern hidden within it—
Robin heard it.
She slowly turned around, tear stains still on her cheeks, eyes red.
"I… I was afraid you wouldn't agree…" she muttered softly.
Gone was the aloof Devil Child.
She looked like a woman who had made a mistake and felt wronged all at once.
Leno looked at her for a long moment.
The irritation and awkwardness in his chest gradually dissipated.
He let out a short huff and turned his head aside.
"…Next time, say it directly. Don't act clever."
"…Mm." She nodded lightly, stealing a glance at his rigid profile.
Inside, she quietly exhaled.
She knew she had been wrong too.
And now… maybe… perhaps…
She'd been forgiven?
And his attitude seemed… a little softer?
The tension between them faded, replaced by something subtle and unspoken.
After a while, Robin wiped her tears and asked carefully,
"Then… what about Nami?"
She paused, speaking earnestly.
"I think we should just return her to the Straw Hats. That way… I won't owe them anything anymore."
Though the Straw Hats were good companions too…
She kept that thought to herself.
Because now, she only wanted to stay with the Leno Pirates.
To stay by this man's side.
Leno glanced at her, seeming to see through her thoughts—but he didn't call her out.
"Do as you wish."
After all—
when they met again, the Straw Hats would still need women to protect them.
Sorry.
Looks like we'll be meeting a second time.
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