One Piece: Marine Luffy, Garp regrets it

Ignoring the whimsical thoughts of his teammates, Sanji followed Reiju away in silence.

Zoro looked back at his retreating figure thoughtfully, then joined the larger group being led by Ichiji and the other two brothers to their designated quarters.

Walking through the corridors and stairwells of the castle, Sanji stared at the extremely familiar yet somehow foreign figure leading the way ahead of him. He kept hesitating on whether to speak up.

He waited until Reiju had brought him to her room. After inviting him to sit down on the sofa, Sanji finally stammered out his first greeting.

"Well, long time no see. How have you been these years?"

The awkward words matched the slightly embarrassed look on his face.

Reiju was so amused that she couldn't help but cover her mouth and burst out laughing.

"Are you talking to your long-lost ex? Do you want me to say, 'I'm fine, thank you for your concern'?"

His sister's teasing made Sanji's face turn red with embarrassment.

"Idiot! Who's your ex?"

After saying that, he stood up in annoyance, intending to distance himself from this woman with her terrible sense of humor.

Reiju quickly reached out and grabbed him, forcibly pulling him back onto the sofa.

"Yeah, yeah, I was just joking. Don't be so sensitive."

Smiling, she pushed him back down, and then Reiju took a closer look at the brother she hadn't seen for more than ten years.

After not seeing him for so long, Sanji had become more handsome and mature. He looked very good in his Marine uniform, with no trace of the timid, thin boy he had been in childhood.

"It seems our Sanji has grown up. Mom would be very happy to see you now."

Sanji was feeling dejected and was about to light a cigarette, but when he heard her mention their mother who had passed away long ago, he couldn't help but pause and look up.

He casually glanced at Reiju, who had also changed drastically, and said in a calm tone while preparing to light his cigarette: "You too. The short-haired tomboy has become quite the beauty."

As he said this, he pressed the lighter twice, but no matter how hard he tried, no flame appeared. It seemed to be out of fuel.

Just when he was getting a little annoyed and was about to give up and put the cigarette away, Reiju leaned over, took out a golden lighter, and lit the cigarette for him herself.

Sanji stared at her movements, and at the smile and tenderness that couldn't be concealed in her eyes. Somehow, the anxiety that had been building since he set foot on this land instantly eased considerably.

He silently accepted the cigarette lit by his sister. Taking a deep breath, the nicotine traveled down his trachea into his lungs, helping clear most of his complicated thoughts.

Looking at his practiced movements, Reiju curled the corners of her mouth and casually tossed the lighter into Sanji's hand.

"Cigarettes aren't good for you. Try to smoke less if you can."

"...I know."

Sanji had heard many words of concern in his life, but apart from his mother when he was a child, only the woman in front of him could express such genuine care from his family.

He never quit smoking, but Sanji's heart had already calmed under the comfort of familial affection.

"I wasn't... joking just now. Have you been happy following that bastard all these years?"

After a long silence, he finally asked the question that had been on his mind.

Of course, Reiju knew exactly who "that bastard" referred to, and she didn't hide anything from her brother, simply acknowledging it candidly.

"To be honest, it's boring, but I don't mind it. After all, he is our father, and we should follow his arrangements. Even though he's made many bad decisions."

Sanji sneered and said disdainfully:

"What a good kid. No wonder he likes you so much."

"Hmm~Hmm~"

Reiju shook her finger in disapproval and corrected him:

"Not anymore. He just admitted in front of everyone that you are his favorite son."

Sanji instinctively retched and retorted with a livid face:

"Ugh~Don't disgust me. He just thinks I'm worth using. For that guy, as long as the profit is enough, even his most treasured child can be sold as a bargaining chip."

As he spoke, he stared at his sister, who maintained a calm expression and seemed indifferent to it all.

"Reiju, stop following that bastard like an idiot. Do you think I don't know? On the way here, I read the Marine's files about Germa. You've been following him as a mercenary all these years, and he personally sent his underage child to the battlefield. He is not worthy of being a father! Why don't you give yourself a chance, just like you gave me back then?"