One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 376 (Final Chapter 2): Kuina's Confession Operation [Part 2]

Tonight, Robin wore a white dress, looking elegant and sophisticated.

"Sister Robin."

Guina subconsciously pursed her lips.

"Oh dear, are you waiting for the captain?"

Robin's gaze seemed to see right through people. She blinked and said, "He was just here, chatting with Shanks. Now it seems he's gone to the terrace to cool off by himself."

A person?

On the terrace?
This couldn't be better.

Kuina's heart skipped a beat.

"I……"

She opened her mouth and hesitated.

"Go."

Robin gently nudged her back and said with a smile, "What are you waiting for? The moonlight is just right. With such a good opportunity, there are some things you might regret for the rest of your life if you don't say them to her face."

"how about you?"

Guina asked instinctively, then realized she had said something inappropriate. They both knew each other's feelings, so what was there to ask?
Could he possibly invite Sister Robin to come with him to the terrace and confess his feelings together?
Uh, that scene is too... The two of them will probably end up like last time, returning empty-handed due to shyness.

"There's always a proper order to things, right? You got on the ship before me and fell for that man before me, so naturally you should have come first, right?"

Robin took a sip of wine, looked at the distant horizon and smiled, "In order to unify the member states of the four seas, Lord Shano will be going on a tour in a while, and the West Sea will be a must-visit. I think that perhaps it is more appropriate for me to formally express my feelings there. As for tonight, it should belong to you."

Keep it up, girl!

I'm waiting for you to take the lead in charging that mountain, to boost my confidence.

To be honest, she always thought that only young girls like Kuina would be afraid to express their feelings in person.

I never imagined I would experience such anxiety and inner turmoil.

Really.

All I can say is that it's all that man's fault; he's just too dazzling and too outstanding.

"Thank you."

Kuina gave Robin a grateful look, took a deep breath, and headed towards the second floor of the castle.

The terrace is on the side facing the sea, so it's relatively quiet.

From here, you can overlook most of the island of dawn at night, with the harbor lights twinkling in the distance, the sea as dark as ink, and the starry sky hanging low.

Sure enough, Shano was there.

He leaned against the railing, holding a glass of low-alcohol sparkling wine, seemingly gazing at the distant sea.

With the war over, it was a rare occasion for him to wear a black formal suit tonight, a tailored look that was less sharp than usual and more relaxed and casual.

The moonlight shone on him, outlining his tall and straight features, and making his handsome face even more striking, as if he were not an ordinary person.

Guina's steps faltered instinctively; she gripped the hem of her skirt with both hands, and her breathing became heavy.

Fortunately, this moment arrived.

The girl's words from the dream echoed in my ears again: "Hesitation leads to defeat."

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, her gaze had returned to its usual firmness.

She strode over.

The footsteps startled Xia Nuo. He turned around, saw Guina, raised an eyebrow in surprise, but smiled the next second and turned back around.

The two stood side by side, leaning against the railing, and remained silent for a moment.

Only faint music and the gentle lapping of waves could be heard from the square on the other side of the castle.

"The day has finally come."

Xia Nuo suddenly smiled and looked up at the starry sky, "I'm not afraid to laugh at you, but we've held many banquets before. Although we drank and had a lot of fun, there was always something weighing on my mind. I was worried that enemies would come knocking on our door the next second, or that I would wake up to find myself in danger... This time, I can finally put all these worries aside. Looking back, it feels like a lifetime ago."

Guina also raised her head.

Yes, she used to be like that too, but now, there are no more major battles, no more of that burden.

The tranquil night sky is dotted with countless stars, and the Milky Way stretches like a ribbon.

"My lady," she called softly.

"Ok?"

"I...have something I want to tell you."

Xia Nuo turned her head and looked at her with a puzzled expression.

"I……"

Faced with that face so close to hers, Kuina instinctively tried to recognize it, struggling to organize her thoughts. The words she had rehearsed countless times in her mind seemed to be stuck in her throat.

"I……"

She gritted her teeth and finally managed to turn herself back:

"I am very grateful to you. Starting from Frostmoon Village in the East Sea, you gave me new possibilities and a new life, allowing me to continue to pursue the way of the sword further, to see this vast world, and to participate in a great cause."

"Eh?"

Xia Nuo was even more puzzled: "Why are you suddenly bringing this up? Aren't we partners? It's only right that we support each other."

"No! Not just partners!"

Guina couldn't help but interrupt him; her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear.

Xia Nuo was stunned for a moment.

Guina immediately tried to turn her face away again, her cheeks flushed slightly in the moonlight, but in the end, she did not look away and stared directly into Shano's eyes.

“My lord, to me you are not only the captain, but also a benefactor and a partner.”

She said earnestly, "Haven't you noticed? Ever since a long time ago, I haven't been able to take my eyes off you. Your figure when you're fighting, your profile when you're thinking, your smile when you're joking with everyone... all of these are deeply imprinted in my heart."

She paused for a moment and saw that Xia Nuo's eyes widened, but it was only in surprise and he did not show the slightest disgust.

This gave her the courage to continue speaking.

"I know you are the king of the world, the center of this era, while I am merely a swordsman. I ask for nothing, and I'm not sure if you feel the same way, but..."

Kuina's voice became even more resolute, "I don't want to just stand silently behind you anymore. I don't want to regret it someday in the future because of today's cowardice."

"So, I stand here today, under this moonlight, because I really want to tell you my feelings."

"I love you, Lord Shano!"

"It's not the reverence a subordinate has for their leader, but rather the affection a woman has for the person she admires! I love you! I love you the most, most, most, most, most, most, most of all, Lord Shano!"

Finally said it.

The moment those words left her lips, Guina felt all the strength drain from her body. But at the same time, an unprecedented sense of ease and relief welled up inside her.

It felt as if a huge boulder that had been weighing on my heart had finally been removed.

She no longer hid or concealed herself, but instead, openly and bravely, raised her head and smiled at Xia Nuo, presenting her true feelings to the most important person in her life.

Even the night breeze seemed to pause for a moment.

Xia Nuo remained silent for a long time, simply watching Guina quietly. His expression gradually changed from initial surprise to complexity, as if he was seriously considering something.

Kuina's heart sank. Had she really been too hasty? Would he find it troublesome? And what about the future...?

"Kuina."

Xia Nuo finally spoke.

"Yes," Guina replied uneasily.

Xia Nuo suddenly laughed, but it wasn't his usual hearty and unrestrained laugh; instead, it was a gentle smile tinged with helplessness.

"You really... gave me a big surprise."

He shook his head and tapped his temple with his index finger. "Or rather, sorry, I'm just too slow-witted."

Eh?
Guina blinked, not quite understanding what he meant.

"Actually, I guess I wasn't completely unaware."

Xia Nuo said, "I just always felt that you trusted and followed me more. We are too familiar with each other and have known each other for too long. I always subconsciously regarded you as an important family member and partner like Namino and Chiko. I really didn't think in that direction much."

He looked at Guina and said earnestly:
“But after hearing what you just said, I thought about it carefully… If I had to choose someone to spend the rest of my life with, Kuina, you are indeed the most special one.”

Guina's breathing stopped.

and many more.

What did she hear?
"We've fought side by side for so long, we trust each other, and we understand each other's strengths and weaknesses. You are strong, persistent, and pure, which are the qualities I admire most."

Xia Nuo continued sincerely, "Moreover, I don't know when it started, but I've gotten used to having you by my side. I worry when I see you get hurt, I'm happy when I see your swordsmanship improve, and when I see your occasional smile... I feel, um, that's really nice."

He paused, then gave a self-deprecating laugh:
"However, I must admit that I'm really clumsy and inexperienced when it comes to matters of the heart. I was so focused on training to become stronger and overthrowing the World Government that I didn't think much about this aspect. So, I'm really, really happy to hear you confess your feelings. If you're willing... we can give it a try?"

Try it... and see?

try it?
"!!!"

An overwhelming joy surged through Guina like a tidal wave, leaving her dizzy and disoriented.

She stared wide-eyed at Xia Nuo in disbelief, tears welling up unexpectedly and blurring her vision.

happy!

He said he was really happy to hear the confession!
There was no rejection, no distance; he said... he received it, and he was happy! He wanted to try being lovers with me!

What exactly am I worried about and struggling with?
So that's how it is. The reason I hadn't felt the adult's feelings for me before was because, just like me, even if the adult was incredibly powerful, when it came to emotions, he was a complete idiot and a complete novice!
"I do, sir!"

Kuina shouted those three words with almost all her might, then realized that she had spoken too loudly and that people on the other side of the square might hear her. She quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks turning bright red.

But Xia Nuo didn't care about her loss of composure at all; he just kept gazing at her and smiling gently.

A night breeze swept across the terrace, ruffling the stray hairs at Guina's temples and fluttering the sleeves of Shano's dress. The laughter and chatter from the distant square and the murmur of the waves faded into the distance.

"grown ups……"

Guina's voice choked with emotion, a thousand words stuck in her throat, finally turning into hot tears that slid down her cheeks as she murmured:
"I'm not dreaming, this is real, isn't it, sir?"

"Still calling me 'sir'?"

Xia Nuo feigned displeasure and wiped away the tears on her face with her fingers. "It's one thing to be reserved when there are outsiders, but it's just you and me here. Can't I just call you by your name?"

"Xia...Xia Nuo?"

Guina tried to call out with difficulty, and her cheeks flushed even redder.

This is too difficult!
Saying her name without any suffix felt just as difficult as confessing her feelings in person.

"Is this right?"

Xia Nuo moved her hand up to pat his head and comfort him, while secretly putting the hairpin hidden in her sleeve back in...

Sigh, my professional instincts kicked in. I figured Kuina's one-year cooldown period was over, so I grabbed this thing as soon as we met. Who would have thought Kuina came specifically to confess her feelings? Cough cough.

The one who spoiled the mood was my hand, not me!

“Xia Nuo…”

Just then, Kuina tried calling out again, her voice more natural than before, but still trembling slightly.

"Hmm."

Xia Nuo responded, her gaze falling on her reddened eyes, and she couldn't help but chuckle, "Alright, stop crying, or your eyes will get swollen. When we go downstairs for the banquet later, I won't know how to explain it to everyone."

Kuina quickly raised her hand and wiped her face haphazardly, then lowered her head somewhat embarrassedly: "I... I was just too happy..."

“I know,” Xia Nuo grinned. “Actually, I’m very happy too.”

Putting aside the flaws in his hand, everything he just said was the truth.

Previously, just as he had said on the way from the East Sea to the New World when he brought Bellemere here, he had never seriously considered matters of the heart.

Overthrowing the world government, self-torturing hellish asceticism, dealing with powerful enemies one after another, handling territorial affairs... these occupied his entire mind.

Up to this point.

Looking at the girl who had accompanied him on his long journey, and at the undisguised love and courage in her eyes, an unprecedented warmth and joy spread through his chest.

Does your heart flutter?
His romantic relationships weren't particularly dramatic.

But what's even more precious is the unspoken understanding that flows like a gentle stream, the trust built up through fighting side by side, and the habit of relying on each other that has long been integrated into life.

On this moonlit night, in the gentle sea breeze, everything fell into place naturally.

"..."

Guina looked up in fascination. In the moonlight, Shano's eyelashes appeared even longer, his nose higher, and his lips more defined...

so good.

This was a profile she had glimpsed countless times in battle, but she had never gazed at it so closely and intently as she did now.

"Xia Nuo".

She called out the name for the third time, and this time it flowed much more smoothly. "I...can I hug you?"

Xia Nuo's response was an open arm.

Almost without hesitation, Guina stepped forward and threw herself into his arms.

warmth.

That was her first impression.

Xia Nuo's embrace was wider and softer than she had imagined countless times before. The fabric of the black dress was originally a bit stiff, but the body heat transmitted through the clothes was so real that it almost made her turn into a little crybaby on the spot.

(End of this chapter)