One Piece: Marine Luffy, Garp regrets it

Kizaru gazed contentedly at Nurse Kaede as she worked diligently on his wound, a lazy smile spreading across his face. How wonderful life had become since his injury—days spent lounging in bed without a care in the world, every meal and necessity provided without effort. Daily visits from lovely nurses who tended to his body and indulged his idle chatter.

If only this could last forever, he thought dreamily.

Unfortunately, as with all perfect moments in Kizaru's life, something inevitably arrived to spoil his bliss.

Three sharp knocks sounded on the ward door. Before Kizaru could even respond, the door swung open, and a familiar figure strode in with casual confidence.

The Admiral's heart sank. Oh no... not him.

But before Kizaru could voice his dismay, Luffy greeted him with a bright smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Hey~ Uncle Borsalino! You're looking well-recovered. Seems like you'll be ready for discharge in a couple of days."

"Arara? Don't talk nonsense, you little devil," Kizaru immediately protested, gesturing dramatically at the long wound across his torso. "Look at this terrible injury! I took a direct hit from Big Mom herself. My ribs are practically shattered. I can barely speak without pain. How can you possibly suggest I'm recovering well?"

Luffy's expression darkened at the Admiral's theatrical performance. This yellow monkey really has no shame, he thought.

Too exasperated to entertain Kizaru's victim act, Luffy turned his attention to Nurse Kaede, who had just finished applying fresh medicine to the wound.

"Kaede, what's your professional assessment of his condition? How's his recovery progressing?"

After packing away her medical supplies, Kaede straightened up and offered Luffy a respectful bow.

"Vice Admiral, sir, the Admiral is recovering exceptionally well," she reported with clinical precision. "An injury of this severity would typically confine an ordinary person to bed rest for one to two months. In Admiral Kizaru's case, given his remarkable healing capability, I expect he'll be fully recovered within three days at most."

Luffy nodded, satisfaction evident in his expression. He glanced at the wound on Kizaru's chest—already significantly less severe than when he'd last seen it—and couldn't resist a jab at his senior officer.

"Tsk, more than ten days to recover from such a minor scratch? If it were me, I'd just take a nap and eat a good meal, and I'd be back on my feet," Luffy remarked dismissively. "Uncle Borsalino, you're really losing your edge."

With that, he casually waved for Nurse Kaede to leave them alone.

Kizaru's expression soured as he watched his "lovely nurse" depart. This brat had not only mocked him from the moment he arrived but had now dismissed the one bright spot in his hospital stay.

"Oh my~" Kizaru drawled, his voice taking on that familiar sarcastic edge. "How impressive. Defeating one Emperor really changes a man. Even a mere Vice Admiral now looks down on an Admiral. Will you be dismissing Fleet Admiral Sengoku next week?"

Luffy caught the emphasis Kizaru placed on " Vice Admiral" and snorted, dropping into a nearby chair.

"You keep harping on about my rank," he retorted. "Bold of you, considering your situation. If I hadn't waited around for you to recover, I'd be back at Headquarters already, accepting the Fleet Admiral's appointment and heading to Mary Geoise to meet with the Five Elders about my new position."

Kizaru tilted his head in genuine surprise. "Ehh? They've decided so quickly?"

Luffy nodded matter-of-factly, rolling his eyes at the Admiral.

"Of course they have. I killed one of the Four Emperors. With that achievement and my demonstrated strength, if I don't receive a promotion to Admiral now, what would that say about the Marines?" He cast a pointed look at Kizaru's bandaged torso. "Unlike some weaklings who got sliced open by an old woman's sword. Isn't that embarrassing...?"

"Hey, hey, watch your mouth," Kizaru protested, genuine irritation creeping into his usually languid tone. "Do you want me to shoot you with a laser right here, you insolent brat?"

Despite his annoyance, a hint of nostalgia colored Kizaru's thoughts. This kid had changed so much. He remembered when Luffy was just a child, following him around Marine bases, eyes wide with admiration, calling him "Uncle" with genuine affection. Now look at him—brash, confident, and with an increasingly sharp tongue.

"Enough banter," Luffy declared, rising from his chair. "Get dressed. We're returning to Headquarters today."

He moved toward Kizaru's bed as if to yank away the covers, prompting an indignant response from the Admiral.

"Get out of here, you little monster!"

After a brief, childish standoff—one that would have shocked anyone familiar with their respective ranks—Kizaru finally relented. Grumbling all the while, he changed into a freshly pressed Marine suit and reluctantly accompanied Luffy out of the hospital, his expression a perfect study in wounded dignity.

As they made their way toward the Marine port, their progress was repeatedly halted by civilians who recognized them. What began as shocked stares quickly evolved into a swarm of excited onlookers seeking autographs and handshakes from the heroes who had defeated an Emperor.

While signing autographs for several young men, Kizaru couldn't help but cast envious glances at Luffy, who was surrounded by a crowd of admiring young women.

"You've become quite the celebrity," Kizaru remarked sourly. "I'm not bad looking myself. Why aren't any cute girls asking for my autograph?"

The nearby young women turned to regard the narcissistic middle-aged man who was touching his face with exaggerated self-appreciation. Their expressions conveyed nothing but thinly veiled contempt.

Those judgmental gazes pierced Kizaru's fragile ego like swords. In that moment, he felt the damage to his pride was far more severe than anything Big Mom's blade had inflicted upon his body.

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