One Piece: Marine Luffy, Garp regrets it

There is no doubt that Sanji had endured a dark childhood. He had no freedom and was constantly bullied and ridiculed by his father and brothers.

But if that were all, Sanji would never have returned to the place where his most painful memories were buried.

The reason he made up his mind to voluntarily return to this so-called hometown was none other than for the last ray of light in his childhood—the one who had given him freedom.

His sister had personally freed him from his prison and pushed him toward the sea, toward freedom.

The reason he came back this time was initially just to see his sister again. To let the person who cared about him know that he was living a good life now.

But on the way here, he had looked through the information about the Germa Kingdom and learned what Germa had done over the years under Judge's leadership.

That's when Sanji changed his mind.

He decided to take Reiju away from this kingdom that bound her. Just as she had done for him when he was a child, he wanted to give her the freedom that belonged to her.

Back to the present. After hearing what Sanji said, Reiju also fell silent.

After realizing that Sanji had made up his mind to return to this painful place for her sake, she felt deeply touched.

She smiled and stretched out her arms. Without waiting for Sanji's reaction, she embraced him warmly.

Just like their mother had done back then, she gently stroked Sanji's head.

At first, Sanji was embarrassed and annoyed by her unexpected hug and head pat. He wanted to break free from Reiju's arms.

But gradually, perhaps recalling the past and feeling that familiar touch, he relaxed and stopped resisting.

Although he still felt a little embarrassed that he was a grown man being hugged and having his head patted by his sister, as long as Reiju agreed to leave with him, he would accept it.

What Sanji didn't expect was that after Reiju finished enjoying rubbing her brother's head and finally let go, her next words were a resolute and unyielding refusal.

"I'm sorry, Sanji, but I have another reason to stay here. Don't forget, besides you, I have three younger brothers here."

"Reiju, they're—!"

Sanji was furious and wanted to argue, but Reiju grabbed his shoulders and turned him around, allowing no rebuttal.

She pushed him toward the door from behind.

"Okay, okay, go and reunite with your companions. Turn left when you go out and there's a staircase. Your room is the last one on the left on the fourth floor. If you don't know the way, just ask any maid and they'll take you there."

In this way, she skillfully diverted the tense conversation.

He wanted to make one last attempt, but when he turned around, he saw that Reiju's door was half-closed, revealing only her beautiful face.

"No, I'm going to take a bath and have a nap. Or do you think that Sanji, at his age, still wants to take a bath with his sister?"

Leaving these words behind, Reiju chuckled, closed the door, and locked it from the inside.

Sanji, left outside, felt embarrassed and annoyed. His face turned red with anger, but he had no way to deal with Reiju.

After all, he couldn't just force his way in—what if she really had taken off her clothes and was preparing to bathe?

He didn't want to be labeled as a pervert with a sister complex.

After knocking on the door for a long time without any response, Sanji had no choice but to leave alone.

Inside the room, Reiju was leaning against the door, listening quietly to his footsteps as he walked away.

Only after the footsteps completely disappeared did she slowly enter the bathroom.

After adjusting the water temperature and removing her clothes, her smooth, pale feet—so white and delicate that one could clearly see the blood vessels beneath the skin—were the first to step into the bath.

Then her whole body sank into the pool, and only then did she let out a soft sigh.

In the large bathtub that was big enough for seven or eight people to bathe in simultaneously, Reiju hugged her legs and huddled in the corner, her beautiful face buried deeply against her smooth thighs.

It seemed that only at times like this could she remove her mask.

Free from being the well-behaved daughter in her father's eyes, free from the identity of the Germa 66 warrior that everyone feared.

She turned back into the helpless and confused girl who longed for freedom and family affection.

"I'm sorry, Sanji. One person is enough for this paranoid and cruel family. You can explore this world for me."