**Chapter 23 - Enrollment**
The moment Zephyr's summons reached his ears, Borsalino felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. He groaned, rubbing his temples as if a headache had already settled in.
"What's with the old man?" he muttered under his breath. "Doesn't he know how to let people rest on their days off?"
Meanwhile, across the room, Sakazuki had already stripped off his shirt, revealing his muscular frame as he pushed himself up and down in slow, controlled movements, balancing effortlessly on one hand. The floor beneath him creaked slightly under the pressure, but his rhythm remained steady, unbothered.
Borsalino, unwilling to face Zephyr alone, rubbed his hands together and turned toward him.
"Sakazuki, come with me!"
Sakazuki didn't even pause in his workout. "No. Teacher Zephyr only called you."
Borsalino let out an exaggerated sigh. "How heartless. I just treated you to barbecue, you know."
Sakazuki finally paused, glancing up with a deadpan expression. "Jiger paid for it."
"Hey, it's the thought that counts~" Borsalino shrugged, though the excuse sounded weak even to his own ears.
Sakazuki ignored him and resumed his push-ups. Clearly, he had no intention of getting dragged into whatever trouble Zephyr was about to unleash.
Seeing that persuasion was pointless, Borsalino slouched in defeat. He let his head hang as he trudged toward the door, dragging his feet like a man heading for execution.
He never got along with Zephyr. They simply didn't see eye to eye. And if Zephyr was calling for him out of the blue, it was definitely not for anything good.
And sure enough, the moment he stepped into the office, a loud voice immediately boomed at him.
"BORSALINO!"
Zephyr's glare was sharp, his thick arms crossed over his chest in a stance of absolute authority.
"I remember *clearly* telling you not to use your abilities carelessly outside, didn't I?! And yet I've received multiple complaints about a sudden flash of light nearly blinding people in the middle of a restaurant!"
Borsalino sighed internally. He had barely even done anything. These people were so sensitive…
Still, he kept his head lowered, letting his sunglasses hide the way he rolled his eyes.
"Whoever's making such a big deal out of this must have way too much free time," he mumbled under his breath.
*BANG!*
Zephyr slammed his massive hand against his desk, the force of it shaking the entire office.
"What did you just say?! Stand at attention!"
Borsalino grimaced, but obediently straightened his posture, raising his voice in mock formality.
"Yes, Teacher Zephyr! Everything you say is absolutely right!"
"Don't give me that fake politeness!" Zephyr snapped. "If you actually listened to what I said, we wouldn't be having this conversation in the first place! What about Sakazuki? What's he doing right now?"
Borsalino blinked. "Uh… exercising."
Zephyr scoffed. "Hmph! Of course, he is. Unlike you, Sakazuki actually understands the importance of discipline. He's an ability user, but he *still* makes sure to maintain his physical strength. And you?"
Borsalino raised a finger, as if making an important point.
"Well, I *wanted* to exercise, but then you called for me. And naturally, Teacher Zephyr's summons take priority over everything else!"
Zephyr stared at him, completely unimpressed.
Borsalino, despite his casual tone, knew he was walking a fine line. He had long mastered the art of saying just enough to avoid actual punishment while also getting away with minimal effort.
Sure enough, Zephyr rubbed his forehead in frustration before exhaling a heavy breath.
"Forget it. No matter how much I lecture you, it's useless. One day, you'll learn the hard way when it's too late."
"Teacher Zephyr! Does that mean I can leave now?"
Zephyr waved a hand as if swatting away a fly.
"Get out of here. But tomorrow, you *better* show up on time for training. If you're late, there *will* be consequences!"
"Understood!"
Borsalino snapped into an exaggeratedly perfect military salute, his back straight as a board. Then, without missing a beat, he turned on his heel and marched out in a goose-step, his boots stomping against the floor with unnecessary force.
The rhythmic *clack, clack, clack* of his steps echoed down the hall, but Zephyr didn't even bother to look up.
Instead, he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
"That damn brat…"
Zephyr crossed his arms and watched him disappear from sight. With a deep sigh, he turned back to his desk, reaching into a drawer and pulling out a file. His eyes landed on the attached photograph of Jiger, and he muttered to himself,
"Another Logia… I just hope he won't be as much of a headache as Borsalino."
The document had been handed over by Sengoku himself, who had even highlighted the key points for Zephyr's attention. The implication was clear—Jiger was someone worth keeping an eye on, a promising recruit with potential that the Marines couldn't afford to waste.
Not that Zephyr needed Sengoku to tell him that. A strong Logia user was an invaluable asset to the Marines. What surprised him, however, was Jiger's age. Normally, he might have been concerned about someone so young, but at this point in his career, Zephyr had learned that talent and ability mattered more than years.
Ever since he had stepped down as an Admiral and taken up the mantle of an instructor, his perspective had shifted. Instead of leading battles, his focus was now on raising the next generation of Marines—shaping them into warriors who would uphold justice long after he was gone.
For students like Borsalino and Sakazuki, he dedicated even more effort. Even though Borsalino constantly frustrated him with his lazy attitude and carefree manner, Zephyr knew the truth.
That damn kid was strong. *Ridiculously* strong.
Even if he hadn't eaten the Glint-Glint Fruit, his physical prowess and swordsmanship alone would make him nearly unbeatable among the other students, with only Sakazuki capable of challenging him.
Still, Zephyr often found himself thinking,
'If only that brat put in even half the effort Sakazuki did…'
The reason he was so harsh on Borsalino wasn't because he disliked him. If anything, it was because he saw just how terrifyingly strong he *could* become.
And now, there was another Logia user joining the school.
Zephyr exhaled, staring at Jiger's picture one more time before shutting the file.
"Let's see what you've got, kid."
**Registration Day**
Early in the morning, Rear Admiral Babs arrived at Jiger's residence, standing with his usual disciplined posture as he prepared to escort Jiger and his companions to the Marine School.
After a short journey, they arrived at the grand gates of the institution, where Babs came to a stop and turned to them with a smile.
"This is as far as I go," he said, his tone light but firm. "Once you enter, head straight to the office building. The top floor is where Instructor Zephyr's office is."
Jiger stepped forward, shaking Babs' hand with a respectful nod.
"Thank you for taking the time to bring us here, Rear Admiral. We appreciate it."
Babs let out a hearty chuckle. "Haha, think nothing of it! The three of you are rare talents—I'm sure your future achievements will far surpass mine. Who knows? One day, I might have to salute you as my superior officer!"
The group exchanged smiles at his words, and after one last wave, Babs turned and walked away, leaving them to take their first steps into the Marine School.
As Jiger and his group walked through the campus, he immediately noticed the intense training happening all around. The schoolgrounds were filled with students pushing their bodies to the limit—some running laps, others sparring, and a few lifting weights that looked anything but normal.
Jiger's gaze landed on a familiar figure among them.
In the far corner of the training ground stood Sakazuki, the same man he had just shared a barbecue with not long ago. However, he wasn't just standing—he was lifting a *massive* barbell, one so heavy that any normal person would have struggled to even move it.
Yet, in Sakazuki's hands, it looked no more troublesome than a toy.
Jiger raised an eyebrow at the sheer absurdity of it. The other students hardly reacted, clearly used to seeing such a feat. They simply glanced at him before returning to their own training.
After a moment, Sakazuki seemed to sense the attention. He paused, looking up, and his gaze met Jiger's.
Ginny waved cheerfully at him, while Jiger simply gave Sakazuki a smile.
Sakazuki, surprisingly, reacted. He let go of the barbell, allowing it to crash to the ground with a deep, reverberating *thud*. Then, to the absolute shock of the students nearby, he actually *smiled* and gave a small wave back.
The people around them stared, dumbfounded.
"Wait… is Sakazuki actually smiling?"
"That can't be right. Are we seeing things?"
"He only ever talks to Borsalino… who *is* that guy?"
"He must be a newcomer. But if he's getting a reaction out of Sakazuki, then he's probably another monster in the making."
"I hope he is. If not, he won't last long here."
The murmurs continued, but they quickly turned to hushed whispers as someone nervously mentioned an infamous incident.
"Hey… remember those guys last time? The ones who insulted Borsalino to piss off Sakazuki?"
A shudder passed through the group.
"They thought they could beat him if he didn't use his Devil Fruit…"
"And he still *demolished* them."
"They were in the hospital for *weeks*."
The whispered gossip quickly died down. No one wanted to make the same mistake.
Jiger and his group were about to move on when, suddenly, a presence appeared behind him.
Jiger's instincts flared. Without hesitation, he turned and raised a hand, catching an incoming arm with a firm grip.
The moment he made contact, he heard a low chuckle.
"Impressive reflexes."
Jiger's gaze snapped up, meeting the sharp eyes of a tall, imposing man.
Zephyr.
His thick arms remained steady in Jiger's grip, but there was a flicker of approval in his gaze.
"You must be Jiger," Zephyr said, a hint of a smile in his otherwise stern expression. "Not bad. Not bad at all."
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