#77 - Chapter 77: Jiyuan
Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the towering flagpoles, casting dappled shadows, creating an unusually tranquil atmosphere in the Marine Headquarters plaza.
The usual hustle and bustle added a touch of vibrancy to the solemn space.
Kaji half-kneeling on the ground, Gion looking helpless, and Marines who didn't mind the commotion formed a peculiar scene.
Just as Gion's mind stirred, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure entered her sight.
It was a man of average height, wearing a Marine uniform. Although many years had passed, his face remained resolute, yet time had etched more maturity onto his features, causing her heart to skip a beat.
This was the person who had rescued her from the flames and smoke, now reappearing in her world.
Their eyes met in the vast crowd, and Gion's excitement was beyond words.
"Is it really you?" she murmured to herself.
Gion hesitated, her heart racing with an indescribable excitement and a longing that had been buried deep within her for many years.
She remembered that night of thunder and lightning when this man charged into the pirate fleet, risking everything to save her.
Of course, she wasn't the only one rescued at the time, but that person had left an indelible mark on her life.
And now, that figure she could never forget was suddenly standing before her. How could she not be excited?
The distance between them gradually shortened, and when Gion arrived in front of Jin An, her eyes were filled with memories of the past and the joy of their reunion.
Gion reached out her hand, trembling slightly. A nearly imperceptible smile appeared on her lips as she thought, "We've finally met again."
A trace of contemplation flickered in Jin An's eyes. He reached out and slowly grasped the hand offered to him.
"You are Gion? Hello..."
He couldn't find any related memories in his mind, but he knew the famous Toki.
His reaction made Gion a little disappointed, but she didn't show it on her face. "I am Gion. I've always looked up to you as an idol, Admiral Jin An."
Kaji also walked over. "Gion's... idol?"
After clearly seeing Jin An's face, Kaji frowned, thinking, 'How can this kid be so handsome? He's almost catching up to me. He's going to be a big problem.'
I have to keep Gion away from this guy...
"Gion, a nice new restaurant opened outside the headquarters recently. Let's go try it together," Kaji invited with a smile.
Gion ignored Kaji, her eyes scanning back and forth between Jin An.
"Cough, cough..." Garp coughed lightly.
He really couldn't stand it anymore. Could it be that Jin An had some unknown past with Gion?
Hearing Garp's cough, Gion quickly came back to her senses, and a blush unconsciously appeared on her cheeks.
"Vice Admiral Garp, hello," she said, using a greeting to divert her embarrassment.
"Don't mind me, I'm just here to join the fun... You guys continue..." Garp said, picking his nose and winking.
Gion turned her head unnaturally. She had long heard of Garp's nosy personality, and this was the first time she had witnessed it.
"I... I'm just greeting an acquaintance. I didn't do anything..."
Kaji's eyes were about to pop out. He had never seen Gion like this before. What had turned a heroic Marine colonel into this?
He knew that this had only happened after Jin An appeared.
Envy and jealousy were about to erupt from his eyes. Kaji wanted to rush up and fight him.
Jin An also realized that the atmosphere here was not right, and thought: 'Am I interrupting their confession? It looks like I can't stay here long.'
He knew how ridiculously in love Kaji was with Gion, confessing for decades without giving up.
To say it wasn't true love, Jin An he... couldn't be sure.
Seeing the look in Kaji's eyes, Jin An couldn't help but shudder.
It was too terrifying...
"Gion, Kaji, Vice Admiral Garp and I still have some things to deal with, so I'll take my leave first," Jin An said, putting his arm around Garp and hurrying away from this place of trouble.
Watching Jin An leave quickly, Gion felt a little lost, her eyes fixed on the place where he disappeared.
Alas... in the end, she still didn't recognize him.
However, it had been a long time since she was rescued, so it was normal for him to forget, she comforted herself in her heart.
......
"Hey... Gion... they've been gone for a long time..." Kaji stomped his short legs and waved his hands in front of Gion's dazed eyes.
"Why are you still here?" Gion asked, looking at the comical Kaji in confusion.
She seemed to have heard Kaji say he was going to eat something. Now that she saw him still here, she couldn't help but feel strange.
Kaji felt as if Gion's words were like a sharp blade, piercing his heart through and through.
"I've been here all along..."
Gion didn't care. "I'm going back. Just do whatever you need to do."
After speaking, she strode towards the headquarters with her long legs, not waiting for Kaji to reply.
She was going to ask Sister Tsuru why Jin An came here and how long he would stay...
"I... you... he..."
Kaji stood alone in place, his body as if it had turned to stone.
He felt like he had been abandoned by the world...
......
"It's all your fault for joining in the fun. Now you've affected other people!" Jin An said as he walked.
Garp didn't care at all. "I didn't affect anything. On the contrary, as soon as someone appeared there, they completely destroyed the atmosphere that Kaji had worked so hard to create."
"I didn't..."
Jin An instinctively wanted to refute, but after thinking carefully about the situation at the time, it seemed that this was indeed the case.
"Honestly, what is your relationship with Gion?" A gleam of light appeared in Garp's eyes. He was very curious.
"This is the first time I've met her. I don't know if Gion has mistaken me for someone else..."
Jin An really had no impression. If he had met such a beauty, he would definitely not forget her.
Moreover, he had no thoughts about women now. Wouldn't it be better to spend that time cultivating in the training space a little longer...
"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. I can't understand your generation..." Garp laughed loudly.
He suddenly brought his head close to Jin An and said: "I say, why don't you open a shop in Marineford? That way you can make a lot of money."
Jin An rolled his eyes. If you want to eat, just say it directly. Why go to so much trouble?
"We'll see..."
...
