One Piece: It All Started When I Found Shanks' Arm

Chapter 26: Zoro's Desire to Challenge

"Father!"

Being called out by Koshiro like that, a vein popped on Kuina's forehead. "Why do you tell outsiders everything?"

"Oh?"

Koshiro said with a grin, "Are you suddenly feeling shy in front of your idol? But aren't you still holding onto his arm?"

Huh?

Kuina subconsciously looked down. Her cheeks instantly felt like they were on fire, turning red all the way to her ears. She quickly let go of his arm and bowed. "I'm so sorry! How rude of me, Mr. Shane!"

"It's fine, it's fine."

Shane waved his hand. Of course, he wouldn't take it to heart, let alone mistake it for any kind of romantic admiration. Kuina was only eleven this year, one year older than Zoro, the same age as Nojiko. A little girl just entering puberty, her personality changed from day to day and was very hard to predict. It was very common for her to suddenly become a fangirl of someone, and then just as suddenly lose interest and "un-stan."

"Mr. Shane."

Kuina had just sat down when she couldn't help but ask again, "Are you just passing through? You're not leaving tomorrow, are you? Why don't you stay for a few more days? This is a rare opportunity, and I'd like to ask for your guidance in swordsmanship."

Just what I was afraid of.

"No rush," Shane said with a dry laugh. He rubbed his empty stomach and cast a pleading look at Koshiro. "How about... we eat first?"

Dinner was held in a spacious side room on the west side of the dojo. A long, low table was placed in the middle, and everyone sat on the tatami mats on either side.

The Isshin Dojo was quite large; about a dozen people were having dinner together. Besides Koshiro and Kuina, there were two assistant instructors from the dojo, the granny who cooked the meals, and a few children who lived and ate at the dojo.

Zoro was also among them. The little brat hadn't finished his extra training yet and had been dragged back by Kuina, still looking reluctant.

The dinner was simple: rice as the main dish, a few stir-fried seasonal vegetables, served with grilled eel and miso soup. The color, aroma, and taste were all ordinary, but Shane was so hungry his stomach was touching his back. In his eyes, everything was a delicacy right now.

After they started eating, Shane keenly noticed a gaze secretly sizing him up from time to time. When he looked up, Kuina would quickly avert her eyes and, acting nonchalant, hold her bowl and chew her rice in small, ladylike bites.

At first, Shane thought he should maintain his image and ate with restraint. But after being watched by Kuina for a while, he got annoyed and couldn't be bothered anymore.

—This unlucky kid, peeking once or twice is fine, but why is it endless?

He decided to just drop the act. He rolled up his sleeves and started shoveling food down. In an instant, the mountain of plates he'd piled up was taller than his head, which conveniently blocked the girl's line of sight.

"This guy... eats so much..." Zoro, who was sitting opposite him, watched with wide eyes. "And his table manners are even worse than mine..."

"Mind your own business!"

Kuina immediately looked displeased and shot him a fierce glare. "It's only natural for a powerful swordsman to have a large appetite. As for you, a guy who can't even beat a girl, you have the nerve to get a fifth bowl?"

"You!"

Zoro was furious. Why is this stuck-up girl being so hypocritical today?

He wanted to retort but couldn't find a reason. He felt even more aggrieved, especially when he remembered that he had just lost to her for the 1,950th time this afternoon.

He could only lower his head and stuff his face sullenly. When he got up to get his sixth bowl, he secretly sized Shane up again.

Senior Brother Junichi says this guy is strong, and Kuina also says he's strong. What's so strong about him? I can't see it.

Zoro narrowed his eyes. Maybe... I should find a chance to test him later?

After dinner, the night grew darker, and a light, drizzling rain began to fall again.

In the Japanese-style courtyard, the ancient bamboo shishi-odoshi made a soft "clack" sound from time to time, startling the fish in the pond into scattering.

Shane stood under the eaves, silently watching the rain. Junichi suddenly walked in hurriedly. "Boss, everything's settled at the clinic."

"How's the situation?" he asked.

"That kid named Sanji is fine. He's looking much better after taking some medicine. He should be up and about tomorrow after a night's rest," Junichi said with a sigh. "But that uncle, Zeff, his wound is infected and festering. It's a bit troublesome to treat. Granny Shiran isn't strong enough, so she just called Master Koshiro over. The two of them will figure something out. It should be properly resolved tonight."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Shane nodded. Just as he was about to say something, a hand suddenly clapped him on the shoulder from behind.

He turned around. The little moss-head was straining on his tiptoes, trying to look him in the eye, but the height difference was too great. In the end, he was still looking up.

"Hey! Mr. Shane!"

"What is it?"

"Let's have a sparring match! How about it!"

Zoro grinned, holding up two bamboo swords and shaking them. "The sword on your back looks really powerful. I'd like to see if you, as a swordsman, are worthy of it!"

Shane glanced back at his Masamune, his eyebrows raised slightly, but he didn't say anything.

"Zoro," Junichi frowned. "Boss Shane is very tired. He doesn't have time to fool around with you."

"But Senior Brother, I trained all day today, I'm tired too! Doesn't that make it fair?!"

Zoro continued to stare straight at Shane. "Are you scared?"

Shane couldn't be bothered to argue with the kid. He shook his head and was about to walk away, but after his gaze swept over the boy's bamboo sword, he suddenly changed his mind.

Fine.

Since I can't avoid it anyway, might as well solve all the trouble at once.

"Alright, let's have a match."

Shane reached out to take a bamboo sword, but Zoro pushed his hand away, glaring. "What are you doing?! You think I'm going to give you one? I'm a two-sword style swordsman! I need both of these!"

Right, I forgot. Shane smiled and gestured for Junichi to get him a sword. Then he suddenly turned his head and looked towards the end of the corridor.

"Master Koshiro's daughter, how about you join us too?"

"Eh?"

In the dim light, Kuina's eyes widened from behind a pillar. She was nervously clutching the hem of her clothes. When did he notice I was hiding here and peeking?

In the dojo's backyard.

The empty space here was covered by a thatched rain shelter. Normally, if the weather was bad, the dojo's outdoor activities would be moved here.

"Hey! Are you serious?!"

Zoro was so angry his hair was about to stand on end. He pointed his bamboo sword at Shane. "We agreed to a sparring match! It should be one-on-one! How did it turn into the two of us against you?!"

"Zoro!"

Kuina scolded, "Watch your manners! Mr. Shane is a famous swordsman in the East Blue. It's already a rare opportunity that he's willing to give us a match. We should both do our best to live up to this honor. Why are you shouting here?"

"What kind of potion did you drink? Why are you always siding with an outsider!"

Zoro was even more annoyed. "Fine! Let's just have this one match! I'll attack on my own anyway, so I'll treat it as a one-on-one. I won't cooperate with you!"

"Who needs you," Kuina scoffed. She gripped her bamboo sword and said solemnly to Shane, "Then we'll begin our attack. Be careful, Mr. Shane!"

Just a moment ago, she had been shy and timid in front of her idol. But now that she was in a serious state, her back straightened like a green bamboo, and her entire demeanor suddenly became sharp.

"Come on."

Shane smiled and hefted the bamboo sword in his hand.

Under the eaves behind them, Junichi rested his forehead in one hand and sighed softly. This scene was all too familiar. He could guess what would happen next with his big toe.