Yes, Daren had come to visit Yamakaji.
The resolve Yamakaji showed during the training camp battle had left a deep impression on Daren. Besides, he was the one who injured him—coming to check in was only natural.
"Commodore Daren!?"
Yamakaji stared at Daren, who stood there holding a fruit basket. He froze for a second, then quickly recovered. Smiling a little sheepishly, he introduced the visitor:
"Commodore Daren, this is my old man."
"Dad, this is Commodore Daren."
Daren gave a polite smile to the gruff-looking man.
"Hello, sorry to intrude."
...
A maple tree stood in the courtyard, its fiery red leaves drifting down in the cool breeze—breathtakingly beautiful.
"Why didn't you stay in the hospital a few more days?"
Daren set down the fruit basket and casually sat on the steps, glancing at Yamakaji, who was wrapped in bandages like a dumpling.
The Marine Headquarters offered free medical care to all its personnel, and Field-grade officers and above enjoyed even better treatment—private rooms and specialized recovery plans, for instance.
Yamakaji scratched his head with a smile.
"It wasn't that serious. I didn't want to trouble the doctors and nurses."
He jerked his chin toward the kitchen.
"And I don't feel comfortable leaving the old man here alone. You saw it—his eyesight isn't great."
Daren nodded.
His eyes swept briefly over the tidy yard. A few scruffy kittens napped lazily in the shade under the wall.
Just then, a yellow mutt bolted out of the house, ran up to Yamakaji, and started licking his hand, its tail wagging like a fan.
Daren suddenly understood where those claw marks on Yamakaji's arm had come from.
"You like animals?"
Yamakaji rubbed the dog's head and smiled.
"Not especially. But when I see them out there, barely surviving... I just feel bad."
Daren stayed silent for a moment, then pulled out a cigar and handed it to Yamakaji.
"Can you smoke?"
Yamakaji stared at the gold-embossed cigar for a moment, then calmly took it.
"Sure."
The two of them sat on the steps, smoking together in silence.
"Young man, stay for dinner. It's already ready," came a voice from the kitchen. The blind old man stepped out and called to Daren.
"It's rare for this grumpy brat to have a friend over. Don't say no."
Daren smiled and didn't turn him down.
"All right."
The dishes were simple, just home-cooked food. But Daren enjoyed it—it was a kind of warmth he'd never experienced before.
After dinner, Yamakaji took the initiative to do the dishes, leaving Daren alone with his father at the table.
"My boy's probably caused you a lot of trouble, hasn't he?"
The blind man suddenly broke the silence as he pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and offered one to Daren.
Daren shook his head.
"Actually, it's the other way around. I've caused Captain Yamakaji quite a bit of trouble."
As he spoke, he studied the man in front of him—roughly fifty, but with a face deeply marked by the years.
His skin was tanned, his hands covered in thick calluses, and a vicious scar ran from his left eye diagonally across his face to the right cheek.
Noticing Daren's gaze, the old man pointed at the scar and grinned. There was a sharpness behind that smile—something fierce, something deadly.
"Don't worry. I didn't let that pirate off easy."
Daren couldn't help but chuckle.
"You sound like someone decisive and tough... That's a good thing."
The blind old man took a drag from his cigarette and sighed.
"My son's too soft. I mean, he's a Marine, but he keeps bringing in stray cats from the street. I've thought about throwing them all out more than once... Tell me, young man, with a temper like his, can my brat really kill pirates?"
Daren exhaled a puff of smoke.
"You're overthinking it. Captain Yamakaji is an outstanding Marine."
"His resolve to hunt down pirates is stronger than anyone's."
He paused, then added with a smile,
"And I bet you didn't know—this year, in training camp, Captain Yamakaji ranked fifth."
The old man fell silent.
Just then, Yamakaji returned, having finished the dishes.
"You two go ahead and talk."
The blind old man threw the words out stiffly, then stood up from his chair and walked out of the house.
Yamakaji gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry, my old man's temper… it's a bit weird."
Daren smiled and waved it off.
"No worries, I think he's got a good personality."
Yamakaji went quiet for a moment, then suddenly asked,
"Daren, during that fight… you weren't going all out, were you?"
He stared at the Commodore, eyes burning with anticipation.
"No," Daren replied bluntly, not bothering to hide it.
Yamakaji let out a small sigh, clearly disappointed.
"I thought I'd finally grasped a new sword technique… thought I could keep up with you monsters."
"You will."
Daren answered seriously, not holding back his praise.
Anyone brave enough to draw their blade against the strong deserves respect.
"That slash was already impressive."
"Really?"
Yamakaji's eyes lit up.
He paused for a second, then seemed to remember something. With renewed excitement, he said,
"Hey… you know my dream is to become a hero like Garp, a true, full-fledged man!"
"Every hero has some cool name for their moves, but I've been racking my brain these past few days and still can't think of one... Daren, could you help me name that slash?"
His eyes sparkled with the fiery passion and innocence of youth, making Daren chuckle despite himself.
When it came down to it, Yamakaji was still just a kid—not even twenty yet.
"How about this…"
Daren thought back to the fierce, blinding flames that lit up the training ground. After a moment, he smiled.
"Let's call that slash 'Mountain Fire.' How's that?"
...
After chatting for a while, Daren didn't linger much longer and said his goodbyes.
As he reached the courtyard gate, he saw Yamakaji's father walking out of the kitchen, holding a steaming pot of chicken and rice. Grumbling under his breath, he bent down to divide the food among the stray cats and dogs.
Daren smiled at the sight, then turned to wave goodbye to Yamakaji.
"Daren!"
He had only gone a short distance when Yamakaji's voice suddenly rang out behind him.
Daren turned around.
There stood the young man, still bandaged head to toe, beneath the blazing red maple tree. Facing the sun, he raised his fist and punched the air with all his strength.
"I'll keep pushing forward! One day, I'll catch up to all you monsters!"
His eyes blazed with determination, glinting with sweat and sunlight.
"I'll make that slash—and my name—resound across the world!"
Daren froze for a beat, then broke into a wide, unrestrained grin.
"All right, I'll be waiting."
...
Every brilliant and glorious life, every soul weathered by time, once belonged to a young man sweating beneath the blazing sun, throwing punches with all his might.
It's because of youth this passionate and dreams so pure that this vast ocean shines so brilliantly.
...
(60 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake