Chapter 10: Parents
Dawn Island, dusk.
FWOOSH!
A tall figure appeared silently at the village entrance.
Short black hair, a crisp Marine uniform, and the commendation medal personally signed by Instructor Zephyr pinned to his chest—it was Roy.
He took a deep breath. The familiar smell of grass and earth hit him, awakening deep memories.
(It's been two years...)
He walked quickly toward the small house in his memory. From a distance, he could see his father, Rook, chopping firewood in the yard, and his mother, Erin, taking in the dry laundry.
"Dad. Mom."
The familiar voice was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, instantly sending out ripples.
Rook's axe fell from his hand with a clang—only for Roy to instantly warp it onto the table. Erin's laundry basket toppled over.
"R-Roy?!" Erin's voice trembled, her eyes immediately turning red.
Rook's eyes went wide. He looked his nearly 6'6" son up and down. The uniform was perfectly pressed, his gaze steady, his features sharp with a calm and resolute determination.
Was this the same mischievous brat who used to run around causing trouble?
"You kid..."
Rook strode forward and slapped a heavy hand on his son's shoulder, his own eyes red. "You're even taller than your old man now!"
Erin had already rushed over, throwing her arms around Roy's waist, tears streaming down her face. "My baby, you've gotten so thin! Aren't the Marines feeding you?!"
Roy didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Mom, I've gained sixty pounds since I left..."
Erin looked up at his face, wiping her tears. "But it's still... you're so tan..."
Roy hugged his mother, his gaze soft. "I'm fine, Mom."
The fire crackled in the hearth. The dinner table was piled high with food: stewed meat, fish, fried vegetables, and a huge, steaming bowl of rice.
Rook poured a cup of homemade wine. "Come on! Tell your old man what you've been up to these past two years!"
Roy smiled, clinking his own glass against his father's. "Mostly just training at Marineford. I came to the East Blue this time to help wipe out some pirates."
He took out his Marine commendation and a small bag of prize money from his coat and pushed them across the table. "This is from Instructor Zephyr himself, plus some rewards from boot camp."
Rook's fingers trembled slightly as he looked at the gold-stamped 'Commendation.' His face was a mixture of pride and heartache. "Good kid... That's my son!"
Erin hurriedly piled a mountain of food into Roy's bowl. "Eat more! Look at you, you're skinnier than the black bear up on the mountain!"
She reached out and squeezed Roy's arm, then gasped. "These muscles... Is-is this even human?!"
Roy just smiled and put down his chopsticks. "That's just 'Tekkai,' Mom."
"Huh?"
"I can catch cannonballs with my bare hands now," Roy said casually.
Rook 'PFFT—!' and sprayed a mouthful of wine, nearly choking.
Erin didn't know what to do, wiping her husband's face with a napkin. "Don't scare me like that! Don't you dare do anything so dangerous!"
Roy smiled gently. "Don't worry. Boot camp is more dangerous than a real battlefield. I'm used to it."
The meal was filled with warm, happy laughter.
After dinner, Roy helped his mother with the dishes and neatly stacked the firewood in the yard for his father. As night fell, Roy got up to leave.
Erin shoved a huge bag of rice balls and pickles into his arms. "Take this! The food on those ships can't be as good as your mom's cooking!"
Rook laughed. "Honey, I hear the food on a Marine warship is top-notch."
Erin glared at him. "A mother's cooking is better!"
Rook stood with his hands on his hips, looking at Roy with mock sternness. "Remember, kid. Don't you dare bring shame to my name!"
"Sir, yes, sir!" Roy gave a sharp salute, his face breaking into a bright smile.
FWOOSH!
The next second, his figure vanished into the night breeze.
The yard fell silent. Rook put an arm around his wife's shoulder. "Looks like... our boy's really grown up."
Erin wiped her eyes. "He just... he grew up too fast... I didn't even get to hug him enough..."
The next day, on the open sea, Garp's dog-headed warship cut through the waves.
On the deck, two figures blurred, the dull thud of their impacts echoing in the sunset.
"BAM! BAM! BAM!"
Roy's entire body was coated in black Armament Haki, his hair flying in the wind. Every punch seemed to tear the air itself.
Garp, however, was bare-fisted, his feet planted like a mountain, and his every punch was like the roar of a beast!
"Good power! But still too soft!"
"BAM!"
Garp's fist connected with the top of Roy's head, smashing him straight through the deck in a spray of wood chips.
The sailors on deck stared, holding their breath.
"H-He just got punched through the deck again..."
"Is that the third time today?"
"That's Vice Admiral Garp's fist we're talking about... terrifying..."
Bogard, puffing on his pipe, narrowed his eyes, a hint of admiration in them. "There aren't many men in the whole Navy who can take that many hits from Mr. Garp and not make a sound."
CRASH—
Roy slowly climbed out of the hole, wood chips in his hair, a few cuts on his face, but his eyes were still sharp as a knife. "Again!"
Garp laughed, hands on his hips. "You've got guts! But that's enough for today. Any more and my ship's gonna fall apart!"
Roy looked down at the caved-in deck and quietly shut his mouth.
The sun set, painting the ocean gold.
Roy and Garp sat side-by-side at the bow, each holding a steaming cup of tea.
Garp, munching on crackers, spoke with his mouth full. "You're improving fast, brat. You lasted three minutes longer than last time."
Roy's expression darkened as he rubbed his sore wrist. "But I still can't beat you."
Garp laughed. "Obviously! You wanna beat me? Train for another twenty years!"
Roy just shook his head, then his smile faded. He looked at Garp. "Mr. Garp, I want to learn your fighting style."
Garp paused, a cracker halfway to his mouth. "Oh?"
Roy's gaze was firm. "Not just regular Armament. I want to learn... your 'Fist of Love,' the one that can smash through anything!"
Garp stared at him for a few seconds, then exploded with laughter. "Bwahahaha! You're not ready, brat!"
Roy: "..."
Garp slapped him on the back, nearly knocking him into the sea. "Armament Haki is just the foundation! The real 'Fist of Love' doesn't come from fancy techniques. It comes from your spirit!"
He suddenly raised his fist, his eyes as sharp as if they could split the sea. "It's conviction! It's the determination to protect someone!"
Roy froze.
Garp's expression suddenly turned serious. "Roy, you've got a lot of talent. But a truly strong man isn't built on technique and power alone."
He jabbed a finger into Roy's chest. "What's in here... whether this is hard enough... that's what matters."
Roy looked down, silent for a long moment, his fists slowly clenching.
Just as suddenly, Garp's goofy grin returned. "But hey, it's too early for you! Come back when you can actually take one of my punches!"
Roy's mouth twitched. "And how long will that be?"
Garp raised an eyebrow, looking smug. "At least a hundred years!"
Roy: "...A hundred?!"
Garp waved his hand. "Not long enough? Make it two hundred!"
Roy: "..."
The sailors on deck were trying so hard not to laugh their faces were cramping.
Bogard sighed, his pipe wobbling. "Mr.Garp, sir... please stop bullying him..."
Garp just laughed. "Bullying? This is my love!"
The sea breeze carried their laughter as the boy's fists clenched, his gaze more determined than ever.