No matter how long it takes, I will wait for you.

All through the night, the two of them remained nestled together in the courtyard.

The sky was filled with stars, and from time to time a streak of light flashed across it, turning the resplendent heavens into a world of flowers—so beautiful and enchanting.

Holding the lovely woman in his arms and breathing in the comforting fragrance of her hair, Xuanye wore an intoxicated smile.

Makino rested against Xuanye’s chest, listening to his powerful, reassuring heartbeat. For some inexplicable reason, she felt deeply happy.

“Makino, if you can’t stay awake, go to sleep first. I’m sorry for making you worry these past few days.” Unable to restrain himself, Xuanye tightened his arms around her, reluctant to let go.

“Don’t move. Just let me stay with you a little longer.” Makino burrowed her head deeper into his embrace, speaking in a muffled voice as she wrapped both arms tightly around his waist.

“I’m sorry.” After a moment of silence, Xuanye lowered his head. His dark eyes gazed at Makino with infatuation as he raised his right hand and gently stroked her silky hair.

“Why are you suddenly apologizing?” Makino asked, without lifting her head.

“I don’t know. I just wanted to say I’m sorry.” Xuanye drew in a deep breath of her hair’s fragrance and closed his eyes.

“You fool...” Makino nudged him again with her head and smiled.

“I am a fool. But there’s someone even more foolish—she actually fell in love with me.” Xuanye opened his eyes and smiled.

“Hmph!” Makino suddenly sat up and glared fiercely at him. “Earlier, you said that a girl died for you. What did you mean?”

Xuanye reached out and caressed her cheek, his voice filled with remorse. “She was a foolish girl.”

“Can you tell me about her?” Makino looked at him with both nervousness and anticipation.

“She was a fool, just like you. Her name was Peach Rabbit, and she was a Marine. I suppose you’ve already guessed the rest. That’s right—she fell in love with me. As for me, I once thought that kind of feeling could never take root in my heart, because I had more important things to do...

“When I was at the Sabaody Archipelago, I fought a great pirate in order to learn news of Xiaoxi. But I was too weak and ultimately lost. At the critical moment, she saved me—and she... died.

“I don’t know. I don’t know why she took that attack for me. Whenever I think about it now, I feel that she was such a fool. I wasn’t worthy of what she did for me.”

As he spoke, sorrow filled Xuanye’s face. Even he did not know what he had truly felt for Peach Rabbit.

“No, I think everything she did was worth it, because I understand how she felt.” Makino held Xuanye’s face in her hands and smiled foolishly. “For the person they love, anyone would throw themselves into danger without hesitation. Besides, in her world, you were the only one who mattered.”

“Did you ever love her?” Makino suddenly looked at Xuanye with utmost seriousness.

Xuanye’s heart jolted. He fell silent, but after thinking for a moment, he answered, “I don’t know either. All I know is that I regret it now. I want to make it up to her, but... it’s too late.”

“Was she beautiful?”

“Beautiful.” That face automatically surfaced in his mind, and Xuanye did not hide the truth.

“You hopeless fool!” Makino suddenly struck him on the forehead in anger.

“Are you angry?” Xuanye swallowed, his voice somewhat timid.

“I’m not! I just feel a little guilty.” Makino leaned back against his shoulder and gazed up at the starry sky. Her voice softened. “Perhaps I should thank her. If not for her, I might never have met you.”

“So I’m going to avenge her. I’m sorry. I promised you I wouldn’t kill anyone again, but... I’m going to break that promise.”

“You idiot. If you believe it’s the right thing to do, then go and do it. She was a good girl.”

“Thank you for understanding.” Xuanye held Makino tightly and finally let out a relieved breath.

To tell the truth, Xuanye had once been moved by Peach Rabbit. But to call it love—there had still been something lacking.

Now, however, if he were to speak of love, perhaps the woman before him was the one he loved most.

“You said you have a younger sister?” A breeze brushed past them, lifting Makino’s long hair as she asked the question. She wanted to learn more about Xuanye’s past.

“Yes. You can call her Xiaoxi. She’s a mischievous little fool.” His face softened with affection, and his thoughts filled with the image of that girl.

“Is she still alive?” Makino hesitated, but in the end, she asked anyway.

“I don’t know.” His voice held disappointment, and something even closer to despair.

“Hmm?” Makino murmured questioningly.

“The great pirate I pursued said she was already dead. But I believe Xiaoxi is absolutely still alive!” Xuanye clenched his teeth, recalling the moment he had questioned the Golden Lion.

At first, the Golden Lion had said that she was missing—not that she was dead. Because of that, Xuanye still held on to hope. No matter what, he would search for her, even if that hope proved to be nothing more than an endless nightmare.

“Xiaoxi must still be alive!” Makino encouraged him, unable to bear seeing the pain on his face.

“And your master...”

“My master was a great man. Without him, I would not be who I am today. To me, he was my father. But... but...” Xuanye’s face was filled with agony, and his eyes grew unbearably moist. Whenever he recalled the scene he had witnessed that day, it felt as though his heart were being torn apart.

It was impossible to imagine how much his master must have suffered upon seeing his student, his wife, and his child die before his eyes while he himself was powerless to do anything.

At the thought of it, Xuanye wished he could appear before his master immediately.

Makino said nothing. She merely wiped away his tears in silence, because she could clearly feel his pain—and his regret.

“No matter who did this, I will pursue him to the ends of the earth and tear him limb from limb!”

Xuanye clenched his teeth, his eyes bloodshot. His chiseled face twisted with fury, and the murderous intent radiating from him made Makino’s heart tremble.

Yet even then, she was not afraid. Instead, she tenderly smoothed the face that had captivated her.

“No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait for you.”

“Yes. Now, I have only you.” Xuanye embraced Makino fiercely and buried his head against her shoulder, his voice breaking with pain. “I have only you.”

“No matter what you do, I will support you. Promise me you’ll stay alive. Your life was saved by that girl—and by me. It no longer belongs to you.” Makino held him just as tightly, tears streaming down her face. Though she was filled with reluctance, she knew she could not stop him.

“Yes.” Xuanye murmured softly, holding her with all his strength and greedily breathing in her intoxicating scent.

A glimmer of dawn slowly broke across the horizon. In the blink of an eye, the entire world was bathed in golden light.

Day had come.

After embracing Makino one last time, Xuanye rose to his feet, determination etched across his face.

Sitting blankly on the ground, Makino bit her lip hard, unable to accept how quickly the night had passed.

Golden radiance spilled across the courtyard. Xuanye turned around, then suddenly bent down and cupped her delicate face in both hands. He pressed his forehead against hers and gazed into her yearning eyes with deep affection.

“Wait for me. I will definitely come back.”

“Yes.” Makino closed her eyes as two trails of tears silently slipped down her cheeks.

A breeze swept past, stirring her dark-green hair. When Makino opened her eyes, the familiar figure before her had already vanished, leaving behind only a trace of that lingering, intoxicating scent.

...