"Who is Hina, if I might ask?" Cherry asked, though she had her own suspicions.
"Hina is Hina." Hina stated matter of factly, pointing at herself.
'Why is she speaking in the third person? It's adorable, but very strange.' Cherry thought to herself.
Normally Cherry would just shrug off the thanks and insist she was only after the money. However, there were two reasons she didn't want to do that this time.
'Firstly, judging by her looks there's a high likelihood she's related to the mayor somehow. I was planning to stay with his family while I'm here, so if she is related I won't be able to avoid her anyways.' Cherry pondered.
'The other reason is... my Life Sense has detected that Hina is a devil fruit user. I need to squeeze as much information as I can out of her while I have the chance. She is a very rare and precious sample for my research, after all.' Cherry concluded inwardly.
"Well, Captain Hina, there's no need to thank me. It would seem the fine people of Red Delta didn't have much longer to endure before our brave marines rescued them. I was only here a bit earlier than you by random chance. The rigid structure of the navy may not have been a good fit for me, but that doesn't mean I can simply stand by while good people are living under the tyranny of evil doers." Cherry spoke, doing her best 'good little citizen' impression.
Hina was somewhat perplexed after Cherry said this. She felt there was something hiding underneath her words that she was missing. However, she couldn't just start interrogating the town's hero on a vague hunch that may not even amount to anything. She made a mental note and moved on.
Hina lit a cigarette and took a puff. "If you have the time, Hina would like to invite you to dinner tonight. Red Delta is Hina's hometown and Hina's father is the mayor. The family chef is one of the best in West Blue, you won't be disappointed." Hina offered, hoping to observe Cherry a little more.
Cherry felt something, a vague hint from the universe that there was delicious mischief to be had.
"Ohhh! I would be delighted!" Cherry exclaimed with a smile. "Can we take it a bit slowly, though? I received an injury in the fight yesterday. It's no big deal, but the doctor said I need to take it easy." Cherry patted her hip and winced slightly.
"Of course, let Hina know if you need any assistance." Hina replied, showing some concern on her face that had been rather stoic until now.
...
The pair of women made it to the mayor's manor in the evening, not long before sunset. Cherry had favored a leg while they walked, but didn't seem to have too much trouble.
After they passed through the gate to the manor, Cherry "tripped" and let out a yelp of pain. She rolled onto her back clutching her hip.
"What happened? Are you alright?" Hina turned back and inquired with worry.
"I-I think I, AH, re-opened my wound..." Cherry spoke falteringly, between groans of pain.
Hina decisively scooped up Cherry in a princess carry and brought her to the front door swiftly, but carefully.
She banged on the door with her foot. "Let Hina in! It's an emergency!"
The door was opened by a butler who stood aside as Hina marched inside.
Arrieta was coming down the stairs in her paint covered overalls to see what the commotion was.
"Hina? Oh my, what's this? Cherry, you work fast. To think you'd win over both my daughters." Arrieta said, leaning her cheek into her palm.
"You know her? No, that's not important! Cherry's wound has re-opened! We should call the doctor!" Hina stated loudly.
"She looks like she's just fine to me though? Better than ever I'd say." Arrieta said nonchalantly.
Hina looked down confused and saw that Cherry no longer seemed to be in any pain. In fact, she was nuzzling into Hina's embrace with a mischievous smile.
*Flash* *Gacha*
"Nice! This girl is really troublesome you know. Ever since she learned to keep that stoic look on her face, I haven't been able to get any good shots of her..." Arrieta said, rather pleased and with sparkling eyes.
Cherry felt herself drop. She was surprised that Hina had not let her go, but that she had simply passed straight through her arms. When she hit the ground, she found her arms and legs were bound with thick iron restraints.
'How remarkable.' Cherry admired, as she observed Hina's devil fruit inscription.
Hina meanwhile had her face in her hands in annoyance and embarrassment. It had been years since her mother had been able to crack her. Then she just sighed and gave a small chuckle.
'Oh, well, at least Mom will be happy.' She consoled herself.
"HINA!!!" Marlene came barreling down the stairs and nearly tackled Hina to the ground in a hug.
Hina gently smiled at her sister's enthusiasm to see her and, although she didn't show it, Hina was just as happy.
'I'll definitely have a marine base installed here. I won't stand for pirates threatening my home again.' She resolved herself.
After Marlene released Hina, she noticed Cherry on the ground bound in iron.
"Hina, why did you tie up Cherry and drop her on the floor? She saved my life yesterday, you shouldn't treat her so rudely." Marlene pouted.
Hina hadn't heard about that yet, so she did feel rather bad for treating Cherry that way. She waved her arm to release the iron bars and helped Cherry to her feet with some reservations.
"That was a interesting experience, but I must insist on a few dates before we try any more bondage, Captain Hina." Cherry said shamelessly.
*Flash* *Gacha*
"A two in one this time. As expected of my future daughter in law, you really know how to bring the best out of my daughters." Arrieta beamed.
""Mom, stop it!"" Marlene and Hina shouted in unison.
...
Mayor Maximillian arrived a little later and the family had dinner together.
They caught up with Hina, sharing about their lives since Hina's last vacation the year before. Hina couldn't share too much, but she had some interesting stories to tell.
Cherry learned she wasn't just a captain, but a captain from Navy Headquarters. Cherry didn't miss the chance to ask about the Grand Line and learned a few things that would be important when she eventually ventured into that legendary sea.
"If you want to know about the Grand Line so much, you should just join the marines!" Hina was much more expressive after a few drinks.
"I told you, I'm not cut out for the marines! I don't wanna be told what to do and where to go! I wanna be free!" Cherry answered back, somewhat tipsy herself.
Marlene, on the other hand, was quite drunk and was struggling to decide whether to cling to her sister or Cherry, whom she was sitting between.
Arrieta and Maximillian were happy that their eldest daughter was cutting loose for once. Even when she came home for vacation she rarely just let go and truly relaxed.
Arrieta had only been teasing before, but she was now seriously considering trying to rope Cherry into a marriage. Sure, she wanted grandchildren, but her daughters' happiness came first. Adoption was always an alternative option for that in any case.
A shout shook her out of her thoughts.
"I challenge you to a duel!" Cherry suddenly stood and declared.
"Hoh? Hina accepts, we'll fight at dawn!" Hina accepted confidently.
"How did this happen?" Arrieta asked her husband. Maximilian had already passed out, however.
Marlene perked up. "OH! Hina-onee-sama is going to fight Cherry?! I'm sooo excited!" She slurred.
"We have to go to bed early if you're gonna fight at dawn..." Marlene stood up and began to drag Hina and Cherry out of the room.
"This'll be interesting..." Arrieta said with a grin, before helping her husband to his own bed.