When Zephyr returned to his quarters, Yoriichi Tsugikuni was still seated along the veranda, head tilted toward the star-speckled night sky.
It wasn't until Zephyr approached that Yoriichi stood, offering a gentle smile.
"Welcome back, Teacher Zephyr."
"Oh!" Zephyr responded in mild surprise.
"You're still up, Yoriichi?"
Moonlight bathed half of Yoriichi's youthful face, casting a soft glow as the stars clustered around the silver orb. Zephyr looked at the boy's innocent expression, calmed himself, and asked with care.
"I don't usually sleep this early," Yoriichi replied.
Zephyr gave a slight nod at the answer. He hesitated for a moment, then said after some thought:
"Yoriichi, from this day forward, you are my disciple."
"However, as the Chief Instructor of the Naval Academy, I won't always have the time to guide you personally. And due to academy regulations, you won't be able to follow me around all the time, either."
"Do you know how to read?"
As he spoke, a thought suddenly struck Zephyr.
"I think I do," Yoriichi replied uncertainly. He had never encountered the written language of this world before.
"In that case, I'll prepare some books on navigation and sailing. Study them on your own when I'm not around. If you don't understand something, wait for me to return and ask."
"When I'm back, I'll carve out time to teach you what I can."
"To be a Marine, the first step is learning to read nautical charts, understanding navigation, and most importantly—knowing the world you live in."
"As for combat training, I already have a plan. We'll take it step by step."
"But for now, mastering knowledge comes first."
"Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow, I'll try to find someone to help tutor you."
With those words, Zephyr gently patted Yoriichi's shoulder. His voice was heavy with earnest care, and Yoriichi could feel his warmth.
"Understood, Teacher Zephyr."
Zephyr turned and left. Yoriichi stood quietly, watching his figure disappear into the distance.
Black Arm Zephyr. The Admiral Who Doesn't Kill.
This man had a unique kind of charm—one that made others want to trust him, to rely on him.
But as Zephyr walked away, his face was solemn and troubled. He couldn't shake the feeling that Yoriichi's prodigious talent would ultimately be wasted—by him, and by the Navy.
"I need to think of another way…"
Dawn broke, and a soft mist clung to the buildings of Marineford.
Suddenly awakened by subtle movements outside, Yoriichi opened his eyes sharply. He rose, grabbed the long blade by his bedside, and stepped out into the corridor.
What he saw left him stunned.
Though it was barely light, Zephyr's courtyard was bustling with craftsmen. Lumber was piled high near the yard, and Zephyr stood on the veranda with arms crossed, overseeing the work like a foreman.
"Teacher Zephyr, what is all this?"
Hearing the voice behind him, Zephyr turned to see a sleepy-eyed Yoriichi and greeted him with a chuckle.
"Oh! You're awake."
"I'm building a small dojo here at home—planning to renovate that spare room."
"When you're not studying, you can do your physical training in the dojo."
"Oh, and I brought you some books. Move them into your room when you get a chance."
He pointed to a tall stack of books by his feet, smiling as he spoke.
"All of those?!"
Yoriichi turned his head and stared at the mountain of books—it easily reached a meter tall.
How long would it take to read all that? Not that Yoriichi feared studying—he simply hadn't expected that becoming a Marine required this much academic effort.
If this was what it took to qualify, then Yoriichi could confidently declare that there probably weren't many true Marines in the entire pirate-riddled world.
"Teacher, are you sure I'm supposed to learn all of this?"
He walked over and picked up a book titled A History of the World, flipped through a few pages, and then switched to another called The Contributions of the Celestial Dragons. Again, only a few glances before returning it to the pile.
He crouched down and skimmed the titles of the books. His eyelids twitched.
This wasn't what he'd imagined as "learning." He had assumed he'd be studying things like sailing techniques or military strategy. But this stack? All history. All propaganda.
Just looking at the titles was enough to sap his enthusiasm.
"Oh, this is just the first batch. We'll take it slow. Start with these."
"If there are words you don't know, or if you have questions, come ask me anytime."
Zephyr's tone grew subtly irritable as he spoke.
He hadn't picked these books himself—they were sent by Kong, the Fleet Admiral. Zephyr understood exactly what the man intended by them.
Zephyr had hoped to start Yoriichi off with navigation basics—map reading, world geography.
But Kong's sudden interference had thrown everything out of order. What choice did Zephyr have? He could only bring the books home.
Still, he'd made up his mind: if Yoriichi was interested, great. If not—at least the books could serve as reading practice.
"Alright. I'll read them."
Yoriichi could hear the dissatisfaction in Zephyr's voice, but he knew it wasn't directed at him. After a brief moment of reflection, he understood.
"It seems the Navy still doesn't fully trust someone with an unknown past like me."
He sighed inwardly, though the suspicion from the higher-ups didn't upset him. He wasn't a child, after all—he knew that trust takes time.
After giving a few more instructions to the craftsmen, Zephyr handed Yoriichi some money and left for work. As the Chief Instructor of the Navy, his schedule was, of course, packed.
Yoriichi didn't comment on the dojo's construction—this was Zephyr's home, not his. He understood his place.
He carried the books back to his room.
"Looks like I won't be learning about Haki anytime soon."
"Until then, I'll focus on building up my body."
Once the books were moved, Yoriichi stared at the table of contents, took a deep breath, and forced himself to open A History of the World.
Initially, he was resistant. But as he read, that resistance faded.
Though the book was written from the "righteous" perspective of the World Government, the contents still helped Yoriichi gain a clearer understanding of this world.
As he delved deeper, he began to grasp the political chaos that plagued it.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The rhythmic sound of hammers echoed from the courtyard. The craftsmen had begun in earnest.
Still holding his book, Yoriichi stepped back out to the veranda, settled against a pillar, and continued reading in the morning light.
From time to time, the workers would glance his way—curious about this quiet, gentle boy.
It was the first time any of them had seen a child at Admiral Zephyr's house. They had all heard of the tragic fate that had befallen Zephyr's family.
Which only deepened their curiosity about who Yoriichi Tsugikuni really was.
"Anyone home?"
"Which one of you is Yoriichi Tsugikuni?!"
Just as Yoriichi was immersed in the text, a voice rang out at the gate.
He looked up and saw a blond-haired teenager stride into the courtyard like he owned the place. After a quick scan of the craftsmen, his eyes landed directly on Yoriichi.
"Red hair. Flame-shaped birthmark."
"That's him."
Rosinante said to himself, then walked straight up to Yoriichi and greeted him:
"Hey there! You must be Yoriichi Tsugikuni!"
He leaned close and whispered in Yoriichi's ear, lowering his voice:
"I'm Rosinante. Admiral Zephyr sent me."
Straightening back up, he extended a hand and grinned.
"Nice to meet you!"
"I'll be your 'teacher' from now on!"
"Looking forward to working with you!"
With golden hair and an easy smile, Rosinante wasn't exactly handsome, but his features had a certain charm. Tall and lithe in his standard Navy sailor's uniform, he radiated energy and sincerity—his warmth made him instantly likable.
Yoriichi, slightly taken aback by the boy's nearly two-meter height, stared at him for a moment.
Then he smiled too, reaching out to shake his hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm looking forward to it as well."
(End of Chapter)