December 31, 1500, Age of the Sea Circle
Orion did not remain much longer with Whitebeard's crew. After sharing a banquet with them and having an important conversation with the legendary pirate about Wano, Orion simply bid them farewell and set out to return home.
Whitebeard even offered to send one of his ships to escort him, since he felt somewhat guilty for having forcibly interrupted Orion's journey back, but Orion declined because it truly wasn't necessary.
Now that Kuma's ability had worn off, Orion had no intention of continuing his trip by sailing. Above all, that would have meant navigating through the waters of the New World, and he was clearly not prepared to move across the most dangerous sea in the world.
Besides, he wanted to return to Pacific Kingdom before the New Year's celebrations, since he had promised several people there that he would not miss the great festival that had already become a tradition in the kingdom to welcome the new year.
For that reason, after saying goodbye to Whitebeard and exchanging Den Den Mushi so they could stay in touch, he simply used his Space Gate to return home.
Fortunately, on this occasion the red-eyed figure did not intervene in his journey through the space-time tunnel, so he had no trouble arriving safe and sound at Pacific Kingdom.
Now, a week had passed since his return, and only a few hours remained before the start of the grand New Year's festival. However, Orion was now facing a very different kind of problem, unrelated to the great issues of changing the world.
"Orion, you've neglected your wife. You must make it up to your wife," said Hototogisu, wearing her classic deadpan expression, although it was clear she was indignant about the way Orion had treated her in recent years.
It wasn't that Orion had been cruel to her or ignored her; rather, he simply had not treated her as his partner at all—because Hototogisu was only a child!
Orion was fairly liberal in matters of love, and he didn't deny the possibility of a future relationship with the girl, but that was something that would only happen once she reached adulthood. The girl, however, did not share that perspective, and she was angry that Orion showed no gestures of intimacy toward her, unlike what he did with his other companions.
At first, Hototogisu, who did not know much about human relationships, had happily taken on the title of wife without thinking too deeply about what it meant. Every time someone in the kingdom asked her about her life, she would answer that she was Orion's wife, to which most people reacted with a strange look or with laughter.
After inquiring about it and investigating for a while, the socially inept Hototogisu discovered the root of the problem: her status was nothing but an empty title!
People did not consider her Orion's wife at all, and simply believed she was a strange girl spouting nonsense. This discovery made the girl very angry, and she immediately decided to get to work to fix the situation.
However, every time she tried to bring up the matter with Orion, he was either busy or away from the kingdom. So now that Orion had returned home after being absent for months, Hototogisu had pounced on him and clung to him like a tick.
For the past week, she had been constantly at Orion's side, demanding his affection and reminding him of his marriage promise, leaving the unfortunate king of this realm with no choice but to run for his life.
Hototogisu was now fourteen years old, and her body had developed considerably in recent years, basically that of an adult woman. However, her mind had not matured enough, and of course Orion was not ready to accept her into his harem for the time being.
"Ahem! Hototogisu, I've told you before, but you're not my wife yet. Right now, you're my fiancée…" Orion tried to argue, but was immediately cut off by the girl.
With her dark glasses shielding her eyes from the sunlight, which bothered her greatly due to her high sensitivity to sensory stimuli, it was impossible to see her full expression, but her stance—with arms crossed, breasts pushed forward, and legs spread to form a triangle—made it clear that she was in a confrontational state.
Even so, her facial expressions remained very subtle, and it was difficult for others to know what she was thinking just by looking at her. Orion, however, had learned over the past years to understand her at a single glance.
"That's stupid, Orion," Hototogisu said flatly, tilting her head in an oddly adorable way.
This was the girl's favorite phrase, since she considered anything she couldn't understand or that seemed illogical to be simply stupid. Unfortunately, because of her personal traits, there was a great number of things she considered stupid, and most of them had to do with social interactions.
"What's the difference between being husband and wife now or being husband and wife later? We can skip the engagement and go straight to being married," she continued with her flawless logic.
"The difference is that you're not an adult yet!" Orion said, somewhat exasperated, not wanting to get dragged into the girl's rhythm.
Hototogisu tilted her head again in that adorable way, placing one finger—covered by the soft fabric of her gloves, which helped her cope with her tactile hypersensitivity—on her chin in a thoughtful pose, though the rest of her facial expression remained unchanged.
"Why am I not an adult?" Hototogisu asked, and after a brief pause she continued,
"My body is developed and I can have babies. I also have a formal job, I can fight on the battlefield… Why am I not an adult? I don't understand what I'm missing."
Orion listened to the girl's words and couldn't help but think that they carried a certain logic. In this world, Hototogisu truly lived the life of an adult, and she even possessed more power and responsibilities than many adults would ever have in their lifetime.
On top of that, she had a fully developed body, one that was incredibly sensual. This was mainly due to the logic of this magical world, where swordswomen could have hands free of calluses and soft as silk, and where children could grow several meters in a single year while exponentially increasing their strength.
Orion couldn't simply ignore the logic of this world, but his memories from his past life made it impossible for him to accept the love of a fourteen-year-old girl—at least not actively, in the way Hototogisu wanted.
In the end, Orion fell back on his trump card, the one he could always rely on in conversations with Hototogisu.
"Even if your body is developed and you've gained strength, your mind is still in development! Only once you're an adult will your mind be fully developed, and then we can officially be husband and wife!" Orion declared with complete certainty. Yet Hototogisu's next words made his arguments stumble once again.
"But you said that at eighteen we could officially marry. But during your classes at school you also said that the brain doesn't finish developing until the age of twenty-three. So at eighteen, wouldn't it still be developing? Why could I be your wife then but not now?" Hototogisu asked, thoroughly confused by Orion's logic.
Orion immediately regretted having given those biology lessons, because now she had a new argument to use against him! Not wanting to continue the discussion and feeling a slight headache coming on, Orion tried another approach.
"Besides, we can't marry because of the law! The laws of the kingdom say it's not possible to marry before the age of eighteen," Orion finally said, hoping to convince Hototogisu.
However, she replied at once, her voice completely expressionless.
"But aren't you the one who makes the kingdom's laws? Couldn't you just change them?"
"Ah! What? They need me at the port? I'm on my way right now!" Orion exclaimed, pretending to have suddenly received a call, despite the fact that his Den Den Mushi hadn't made a single sound. The little snail even looked at him with concern and pity, fearing its master might have gone insane.
"Hototogisu, I have to go to the port. We'll talk later—go train!" Orion said as he put the snail away, then waved a hand in farewell before retreating at full speed, leaving Hototogisu alone.
Still without showing any expression, she whispered softly.
"The port is in the other direction…"
…
"And so I had to run away pretending I was headed to the port," Orion said, collapsing onto the couch.
Lucky Roux, who was cheerfully eating some oranges because Orion had told him to try eating healthier so his obesity wouldn't keep getting worse, said,
"Why don't you just screw her?"
"That's right, boss, show her who's in charge and dominate her completely!" added Garride, speaking with a rose in his mouth.
"Um… My girlfriend and I had a similar problem… When I got over my shyness and did it with her, the relationship improved a lot…" Gab said bashfully from the side.
"I don't agree. Rules are rules, and even His Majesty must abide by them. You have to wait until she's of age," Yukimura said firmly, showing his characteristic rigidity.
At the moment, Orion was in the company of his male subordinates, enjoying a rare moment where they could all gather together. Usually, each of them was far too busy with their own affairs, so it was unusual for them to all meet in one place.
But since today was New Year's Eve, they had taken the day to enjoy a well-deserved rest, and Orion had seized the chance to gather them all for a "boys' get-together."
Orion didn't have many male subordinates in the core of his forces, and aside from these four, there were only Kuma and Sharinguru, one currently in the West Blue and the other in the Grand Line.
It could also be argued that his uncle Lolo was his subordinate, but Orion could never stop seeing him as family, placing him in a completely different category.
"Your advice isn't much help; better we stop talking about this," Orion sighed at the poor assistance his subordinates offered in matters unrelated to battles.
Each of these young men had great potential, and they were developing at an astonishing pace, each with his own personality and personal ambitions.
Lucky Roux was carefree and straightforward, as he had just proven with his suggestion that Orion should simply screw Hototogisu. The boy, now fifteen years old, had fully completed his spherical shape and enjoyed spending his days cooking delicious food.
Even so, Orion hadn't allowed him to slack off, forcing him to train in order to reach his potential. Curiously, his current strength was actually greater than it would have been if the timeline had remained unchanged and he had followed Shanks instead of Orion.
Aside from Lucky Roux, the most talented in this group was Gab, who had been nicknamed Howling Gab because of his mysterious shamanic powers that allowed him to unleash powerful attacks with his voice.
Gab lived with his girlfriend and his teacher in shamanic arts. He led a rather happy life in Pacific Kingdom, yet he remained as shy as ever, despite now having a girlfriend and having taken the final step with her.
Gab was already twenty years old, and it seemed unlikely that his personality would change in the future. He had exponentially increased his power over the last two years since joining Orion's kingdom, thanks to his training in the Six Techniques (Rokushiki) and the control of Haki, in addition to refining his shamanic abilities.
As for Garride, who as usual was chewing on a rose, he had spent very little time in the kingdom and was still adjusting to his surroundings. Even so, he and Reira would soon join Olive's pirate crew, so he would not remain in Pacific Kingdom for much longer.
Finally, Yukimura continued to be as serious as ever, a trait that had only been reinforced since he joined the royal army. He currently held the rank of general, wielding great power and influence in the newly created institution.
Both he and the army itself had grown by leaps and bounds, with every passing day bringing new improvements. Although Yukimura certainly did not possess as much talent as some of Orion's other subordinates, his passion and discipline partly compensated for his lack of talent.
He would probably have no trouble far surpassing the strength of his counterpart in the original timeline—it was only a matter of time.
"I agree with the suggestion that you should just screw her," a voice suddenly echoed in the small courtyard where the young men had gathered.
Yukimura, Gab, and Garride turned in the direction the voice came from with some surprise, as none of them had sensed anyone else arriving. On the other hand, Lucky Roux continued eating his oranges without concern, since with his monstrous Observation Haki it was impossible for him not to notice someone's arrival.
Orion's forehead filled with black lines, and looking at Hototogisu—who was standing to the side with her arms crossed, nodding her head to affirm the words she had just spoken—he said,
"Hototogisu, when did you get here?"
The girl had greatly improved her stealth techniques and could now even appear in a place without alerting anyone, except for Lucky Roux, whose perception was anything but normal.
Although it was true they had been completely relaxed, it was still an impressive feat to achieve such a degree of stealth, and it was evident that the special training she had undergone—similar to the one Orion had endured in Guanhao—had borne fruit.
"I've been here since Lucky Roux suggested you screw Hototogisu," the girl said naturally, then added,
"By the way, I completely agree with that suggestion. You should do it, Orion."
"Why are you saying it as if it had nothing to do with you? Are you going to start talking in the third person now?" Orion asked with some irritation.
"I don't want to speak in the third person, that's stupid," Hototogisu replied dryly.
However, after a short pause, she tilted her head adorably and added,
"But if you like that kind of thing, I can do it…"
"Well, guys, I have to go to the farms to help with the planting!" Orion suddenly said, springing to his feet and waving before running off.
"Planting season is already over…" Hototogisu murmured as she watched Orion's back disappear into the horizon.
…
"Orion, this new book you brought is amazing!" Robin said with a big smile, raising the large and heavy volume above her head.
"Ha! See? This is a book I got especially for you in Wano, I knew you'd like it!" Orion replied with a broad grin. His eyes looked much brighter than usual, and that was because little Orion was in control of the body at the moment.
Every time Orion met with Robin, she would ask him to "release" little Orion, so he had simply gotten used to interacting with her in the state where he had no memories of his past life.
Generally, this only meant that Robin and Orion related to each other in a much friendlier and closer way, since they were the same age. However, something had changed after Orion's return from his last journey: little Orion was no longer the same as before.
After meeting Makino and falling in love for the first time, little Orion had opened the door to a new world, and the way he began to see girls had changed. Up until then, he had related to Robin as a true friend and nothing more, but after returning from his last trip, for the first time he realized that Robin was very adorable and fit perfectly with his tastes!
For that reason, little Orion, who took his adult self as a polygamous model to follow, began openly declaring his love for Robin, which led their current relationship to become a little strange, since the girl didn't know how to respond to his feelings.
"Mmm… Thank you," Robin said shyly, looking at the intense gaze of little Orion.
"Robin, I say you should be my girlfriend, and in the future we can get married and have a family!" Orion said, suddenly grabbing Robin's hands.
However, Robin blushed like a tomato and materialized two hands on Orion's shoulders, giving him two strong slaps that forced him to let go.
"D-Don't say such nonsense… That's something we have to think about later…" Robin said, her words growing softer and softer until they ended in an unintelligible whisper.
"That's right. There will be time for you to think about a relationship with Robin later, right now you need to think about your relationship with Hototogisu," said Hototogisu, who had appeared inside the kingdom's great library like a specter, speaking in third person for some strange reason.
"If you want it that badly then come here! I'll give you what you want!" said little Orion, who was tired of Hototogisu's pursuit throughout the day and didn't have as many reservations as his adult self.
However, Hototogisu stretched out her hand and placed it on little Orion's face, just as he was leaning in to kiss her.
"No, I'm not interested in children, go back to your adult form," Hototogisu said dryly.
Although the people of the kingdom didn't know all of Orion's secrets, the core of his subordinates knew part of them. They knew that Orion could be in his adult or child version, and that his personalities varied depending on the case.
Even though Orion had clarified many times that they were the same person, those who interacted with him still had their preferences. For example, Robin wanted to interact with little Orion, since only in those cases did he show himself to be much closer.
In contrast, Hototogisu had no interest in little Orion at all; what she wanted was an adult, passionate relationship—the kind of relationship a married couple should have.
"Arrrg! Make up your mind! Do you want a kiss or not?" little Orion said in frustration after being denied in his attempts.
"Sorry, I'm not interested in children, please go back to your adult form," Hototogisu repeated without changing her expression.
"That's it! I'm going to kiss you right now!" little Orion shouted, feeling his pride was at stake.
Hototogisu knew she was no match for Orion, even in his child state, so she immediately turned around and started running without looking back.
"Wait! Come here, Hototogisu!" Orion yelled, using Soru and chasing after the girl, completely reversing the roles and the dynamic that had been maintained with Hototogisu chasing Orion throughout the day.
Only Robin was left in the great library, holding the heavy book in her hands, lost in thought.
"A kiss… What will it be like?…" Robin murmured, touching her lips with her fingers, her cheeks flushed.
It was another peaceful day in Pacific Kingdom, and a new year full of adventures was about to begin.
...
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