Wood's heart sank when he recognized the name of the sword, "Kinpira," and realized the person wielding it had connections to Vice Admiral Tsuru. There was no doubt—this individual had to be the infamous "Momousagi" (Peach Rabbit), whose real name was Gion.
Everyone knew that any Navy officer with a color and animal nickname was not to be trifled with, and Momousagi was no exception. She stood out among these formidable figures as the only female candidate for the admiral position.
Upon realizing that the person holding a grudge against him was none other than Momousagi, Wood knew he was in deep trouble.
Momousagi herself wasn't the immediate concern. With her competitive nature, she would likely seek to defeat Wood in the very place where she had lost, rather than causing him trouble elsewhere.
However, Wood's real problem lay with the young man in front of him named Tokikake. This seemingly unremarkable guy was destined to become one of the Navy's most powerful figures—known as "Chaton" (Tea Pig).
In the Navy, female officers were rare, and women like Gion, who had both beauty and skill, were even rarer. So, when Gion arrived at the Navy Academy, she instantly attracted many admirers.
Among them was Tokikake—later known as Chaton—who was one of Gion's most ardent suitors.
"Tokikake-senpai," Wood began cautiously, "I thought I made it clear a few days ago—I have absolutely nothing to do with Gion. Those rumors are completely baseless. Not only is it impossible for her to have any romantic interest in me, but right now, she's probably wishing she could knock me out!"
Tokikake, chewing on a toothpick, casually plopped down in front of Wood with a friendly smile.
To Wood's surprise, there was no sign of the anticipated confrontation.
And there wouldn't be. Both of them were still in the Navy Academy, where any unauthorized fighting would result in severe punishment. Even if they did fight, Wood knew he stood no chance against Tokikake. Despite his plain appearance, Tokikake had already mastered the Navy's "Rokushiki" techniques and was about to complete his training and leave the academy.
Elite students like Kuzan (later Aokiji) and Tokikake were required to start as ordinary soldiers after graduation, but their skills and performance quickly earned them assignments. They would rise through the ranks rapidly, often skipping the lower officer ranks entirely.
"I know those rumors are false," Tokikake said nonchalantly, "I'm well aware of how difficult it is to pursue Gion. But, Wood, even if she hates you, at least she remembers you. So, I came to ask for advice—if I could shoot at her target too, do you think she'd start to care about me? I'm pretty good at shooting, after all. As long as she remembers me, even if it's with hatred, I'd be fine with that."
Wood couldn't help but be baffled by Tokikake's words. Was this guy seriously trying to win her affection by being shot down?
"Let me clarify again," Wood said with exasperation, "It was my shot that hit Gion's… target! Her target! Please, in future retellings, emphasize that it was the target I hit, not something unforgivable!"
"Yes, the target. What else would your shot hit?" Tokikake responded, genuinely confused.
Wood sighed internally, unsure whether Tokikake was naive or simply had a one-track mind.
"Gion's not stupid, you know," Wood explained, "If you try something like that on purpose, she's only going to hate you more. Besides, aren't you about to officially join the Navy soon? I've heard Gion really admires Vice Admiral Tsuru. Maybe if you rack up some achievements and become a distinguished officer, she'll start to notice you?"
Tokikake's eyes lit up, thinking Wood might be onto something. However, he didn't seem to notice that Wood had phrased his suggestion as a question, not a guarantee.
As it turned out, Tokikake and Gion both eventually rose to the rank of Vice Admiral. Over the years, Tokikake confessed his feelings to Gion a hundred times, only to be flatly rejected every time. There could have been many reasons for this, but Wood suspected Tokikake's looks were a significant factor.
People who only care about appearances are shallow, and true value lies in a person's character. Unfortunately, most people are superficial, and who wouldn't want both looks and substance if given the choice?
Other qualities can be improved with effort, but in the looks department, Tokikake was out of luck. Meanwhile, people as naturally good-looking as Wood were born with it in the world of pirates.
"Brother, I think you're onto something," Tokikake said, his eyes gleaming with hope. "But you know, I'm about to leave the academy and officially join the Navy. Before I go, there's something I'm still worried about. You know as well as I do that there are way more guys than girls in the academy, and Gion is such an exceptional woman, so…"
"So you're worried someone else might swoop in while you're gone and want me to keep an eye on her?" Wood finished the thought for him.
Tokikake's smile grew even wider. He admired how Wood had understood him without needing further explanation.
As for Wood, he saw no reason to refuse Tokikake's request. He knew that Gion was someone who focused solely on her training and wasn't interested in romantic entanglements. Even without Tokikake's request, Gion would likely remain single for many more years. There was no reason to pass up an easy favor.
As for the possibility of Gion developing feelings for Wood, Tokikake had considered it. After all, Wood was good-looking, and he was an excellent marksman—almost on par with Tokikake himself.
However, Tokikake had already heard that Wood had seriously offended Gion during a recent test. Gion was now training hard in marksmanship, determined to beat Wood in the next test and reclaim her pride.
Given Gion's strong dislike for Wood, it was unlikely she would ever develop feelings for him—or at least, that's what Tokikake believed.
So, he felt confident in entrusting Wood with this task.
With a slew of promises and a copy of Tokikake's "Rokushiki" training notes, Wood left the cafeteria feeling quite pleased with his haul.
Watching over Gion and keeping other potential suitors at bay was an easy task, one that Wood could do without breaking a sweat. And the reward was basically free.
At the same time, Wood couldn't help but wonder what everyone saw in Gion. She was fiercely competitive and not particularly gentle, though she was undoubtedly beautiful, with legs that went on forever…