"Honestly..." Roger sighed. He pressed his hand lightly on the Ace sword. "Looks like I'll have to use that..."
Ace had strongly returned the sword to Roger, saying he would formally take it back after he defeated him.
Buggy suddenly felt a chill down his spine. This movement. This tone.
"Divine..."
Roger's fingers glowed red.
"Departure!"
"This feeling..." Buggy's lips trembled. "It can't be wrong... only Captain Roger could..."
The slash had already arrived. But just before it reached Buggy, it hit an invisible barrier. The air made a sound like shattering glass. That slash, capable of splitting mountains, dissolved into countless golden light particles. They scattered like fireflies.
Buggy panted heavily. "Your strength has declined so much, Captain?"
"Hey, Buggy! You've gotten stronger!" Roger's incurable disease had indeed affected his strength.
Roger took a step forward. The void beneath his feet solidified into solid ground. He reached out and pressed down on Buggy's pirate hat. "Sorry you had to see such a sad sight."
Buggy's Haki suddenly disappeared completely. The surrounding environment began to repair itself, consciously guided by Buggy.
The five little ones stared in shock. Ace mechanically turned his head to look at Sabo. "Did Uncle Buggy just..."
"Split the entire street apart." Sabo watched the ground slowly healing. "And in a state of extreme anger, he instinctively protected us in a safe zone."
Ann looked thoughtfully at Buggy's trembling back. "Strong."
"I really am Roger! Remember when Shanks put a frog in your pants? When you first ate your Devil Fruit, you couldn't control your head and fell asleep in the crow's nest."
Buggy's entire body lost its color. He glanced at the five little ones watching him. "Shut up! Those things... those things... You're embarrassing me in front of the kids! Give me some dignity!"
"Kuhahaha, is that better? Sorry about that~"
Buggy's nose suddenly turned bright red. Tears and snot sprayed out together. "Waaahhh! Captain!!!" His body parts all lunged at Roger, wrapping around him like an octopus. "I thought you were dead, you bastard!!!"
Roger laughed and patted Buggy's back. "Kuhahaha! Easy! You're choking me!"
The five little ones watched this scene. Their expressions went from shock to disgust.
"That's so gross..." Hizumi muttered.
"Men's friendships are truly hard to understand." Hiyori elegantly covered her mouth.
Just then, a gentle female voice came from the alley entrance.
"You must be Buggy~ Just as Rhett said, you're very energetic."
Buggy turned around as if struck by lightning. Rouge was walking toward them with a smile.
"Then you must be... Lady Rouge?" Buggy's voice cracked. "Lady Rouge, hello..."
Rouge walked to Roger's side and sighed helplessly. "Roger, you scared the children again."
Roger scratched his head and laughed. "Kuhahaha! I just wanted to surprise Buggy!"
"So..." Buggy's head slowly floated to Roger's face, almost touching it. "How are you alive?"
Roger winked. "The real deal!"
"Then... all these years..."
"It's a long story. Ask Rhett for the details. I don't fully understand it myself. I'm just alive." Roger put his arm around Buggy's shoulder. "Come on! Let's go have a drink and talk! The Golden City has good alcohol! And I heard Ganryu and the others are there too! It's a shame Rayleigh said he wants to live in seclusion and won't come. We'll find him another day. Kuhahaha."
"You're all very interesting." Rouge cupped her face in her hands.
"Big Brother Rhett misunderstood Ann's personality. When Roger came back, Ace and the others also misunderstood him. Now you've mistaken Roger too. You really are from the same ship, aren't you? None of you like to listen to explanations~"
"It's really annoying~"
First time!
"It's really annoying"
Second time!
Rouge's voice suddenly became eight times sweeter. Her fingers gently curled around her blonde hair. The sunlight shone on her gentle smile.
Roger and Buggy shivered at the same time. The five little ones instinctively took three steps back. This was a survival lesson they had learned through countless painful experiences.
"R-Rouge..." Roger's throat bobbed. "I can explain..."
"Explain what?" Rouge tilted her head. Her smile grew even brighter. "Is it that you used Divine Departure in front of the children? Or that you and Buggy had such a touching reunion in the middle of the street? You could have explained things properly Why did you have to fight" With every sentence, she twisted her hair one more time around her finger. Now the ends were wrapped into a spiral.
Buggy's nose fell to the ground with a thud. He continuously split into smaller Buggy's. Finally, they all assumed a prostration position. "I-I-I'm so sorry, Lady Rouge! I'll restore the street right now!" He started to use his ability.
He had only restored the street and the ground. He realized he couldn't restore the buildings. At least not now. He hadn't memorized them!
"Damn it! I can't overcome it even with everything I have!" Buggy, who had just stood up, fell to his knees again. "Please let me spend the rest of my life atoning!"
Buggy knew how much this woman meant to his Big Brother Rhett. If he beat Roger up, Rhett would cheer. But if he hurt Rouge, Rhett would hang him up and beat him.
Buggy respected Roger. Buggy respected Rhett. Roger's wife. Rhett's sister. Buggy had to respect her even more. Maybe this was the so-called love me, love my dog.
The five little ones watched this man, who had been so fierce just a minute ago, now begging for forgiveness. Their worldview was once again shaken.
Ace asked Roger quietly, "Dad... is he really the famous 'Star Clown' Buggy?"
Roger laughed so hard tears came out. "Kuhahaha! That's right! That's always been Buggy. Super reliable when it counts. It's just normally..."
"To think that even Buggy is 'famous on the seas.' You've all left your marks on the seas. Hahahahaha."
"Roger." Rouge called softly.
"Yes!" Roger immediately snapped to attention.
"Did you just use Conqueror's Haki?" Rouge asked with a smile. "Little Brother Rhett said your body..."
Roger's smile froze on his face. "Wait, Rouge! This is a misunderstanding! Buggy started it—"
"Tonight's bitter melon feast," Rouge announced gently, "is three servings for you and Buggy."