One Piece: It's always been you

Chapter 173 Children's Friendship

Yu could sense the awkwardness and disorientation around her without even looking up, along with the person beside her dressed in shimmering gold. Yu looked up and saw Tesoro pulling Stella's hand, giving it a disdainful slap and dragging Stella to sit down beside him. "What are you doing?"

"I've come to meet your brother and..." Tesoro glanced at Katakuri, unsure how to address him, "You are the queen, so naturally I must come to meet your family and offer them some hospitality."

Yu rolled her eyes at him. Ace and Law had arrived earlier, and Tesoro had already met them once before. "To be honest," Yu said helplessly. Tesoro had been cured by her slap, and later he found Stella. Ha, a completely abstract person nourished by love.

Tesoro leaned down to Yu's ear and whispered, "Of course I'm here to support you and let that person know that you have connections in Grantesoro."

Yu appreciated the good intentions, but there was really no need for that. "It's alright, she won't dare to make a direct move. Your actions won't affect her." After saying that, Yu leaned close to Stella's ear and said, "Why don't you do something about him?" That's too much. Although Yu wouldn't deliberately try to be low-key, she would never be this high-profile.

Stella covered her mouth and laughed helplessly, "He can't stop them. When he hears someone bullying you, his big sister, right under his nose, how can his little brother sit still? Look, he's even wearing the golden battle robe. And I think his intervention is effective."

"..." Well, you can't have two kinds of people sleeping in the same bed. Even her gentle Stella is being assimilated by Tesoro.

"Is this the one you've been longing for?" Stella said, looking up confidently at Katakuri beside Yu. He was taller than she had imagined and looked aloof, but his eyes were fixed on Yu, so he must care about her.

Stella observed Katakuri for a short while, during which Katakuri didn't make any extra movements, only nodding when he first noticed her scrutinizing him. It was likely because of her relationship with Yu that he responded politely.

"No wonder you like it so much." Stella looked away.

Yu casually rubbed Sweet's hands, "Want to touch it? It feels so good."

To be honest, Stella was tempted, but didn't dare. Sweet was too big, and besides, it had only shown kindness to Yu on their first meeting.

Stella's eyes and expression betrayed her. Seeing this, Yu immediately took Stella's hand and placed it on Sweet's skin. The fluffy texture made Stella unable to resist rubbing it herself. It felt so good.

In front of Yu, Sweet is just a big dog.

“If you like, we’ll get one too,” Tezzolo said to Stella, while also glancing at Sweet. “He seems to be bigger than a normal dog.”

Sweet understood and howled to express its anger. Tesoro quickly pulled Stella's hand back, "Be careful, it looks fierce."

Stella pulled her hand away and gently patted Tesoro, her tone slightly displeased as she playfully scolded, "It's all your fault." Then she continued to rub Sweet, saying apologetically, "Don't be angry, he didn't mean it. I know you're not a dog, you're a wolf."

Tesoro felt a little jealous and thought to himself, "I'd better not raise it."

"By the way, Saridon is already locked up. What do you plan to do with him? Hand him over to the Navy?" Tesoro was unsure. That guy did terrible things in Grantesoro, and given Yu's personality, he wouldn't show any mercy. However, Yu would hand over these pirates to the Navy.

After a long silence, I turned to look and saw Yu sleeping peacefully in Katakuri's arms.

Tesoro was a little confused. It had only been a few seconds, how could he have fallen asleep?

Katakuri had thought Yu wanted to lean on him, but she had fallen asleep. He picked her up and carried her back to the room. "Sweet, you stay with them." Katakuri glanced at Law and Ace, and Sweet immediately understood.

Yuuto's gone, so there's no point in Tesoro coming. He just couldn't understand how she'd fallen asleep like that. "What's wrong with her..."

“Perhaps he was exhausted last night.” Baccarat said thoughtfully, watching Katakuri carry Yu-chan away into the distance, looking as if she understood him. “After being apart for so long, we should cherish the time we spend together. Lord Tesoro, you can figure it out slowly.”

"Ok?"

Seeing that Tesoro was about to continue asking questions, Stella quickly interrupted him, "There are children here, so shut up. As the lord of a city, don't slack off here." Stella pulled Tesoro away quickly, leaving Baccarat to entertain the other two.

As Bakala watched the couples leave, she turned and asked, "Little ones, would you like me to take you to play?"

The two people involved, one helpless and the other with a dark expression, said in unison, "It's not necessary." They were not children anymore; after all, they were captains of a ship sailing at sea. It would be too embarrassing to be called "kids."

Ace added a thank you, then pulled Law away and ran off. Sweet quickly followed behind them, taking his time.

Bakara leaned over, her hands resting on the back of the sofa, watching with great interest as a couple walked away. It seemed that Miss Yu's two younger brothers had gotten along much better after last night.

Children's friendships are simple.

Ace was unaware of the intense gaze fixed on him. Since Law had taken care of him all night, he couldn't just leave without showing some appreciation. "Hey Law."

"Hmm?" Luo saw that he had stopped and withdrew his hand. Being held like that was very uncomfortable and awkward.

"Let me introduce myself. My full name is Portgas D. Ace, the user of the Flame-Flame Fruit, and the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates."

"If you ever encounter any pirates you can't handle, just mention my name. Also, if you ever get captured by the Navy, I'll come to rescue you."

Luo was confused, and what he said didn't seem like a friendly gesture. "Do you think that Nathan and I together can't handle any pirates? Also, why was I captured by the Navy and had to be rescued by you...?"

Is there something wrong with him that makes him want to end his seafaring career...?

Ace was annoyed by the comment about being with Nai-san, but he still explained, "I feel that as Yu's younger brother, I should share Yu's burdens and help each other. Of course, I might help you a little more."

I wouldn't have wanted to back down if I hadn't been taken care of all night.

Luo hadn't expected this. He crossed his arms and looked at him with interest. "Mutual help? If you're referring to last night, then..."

Drawing out the last word, Law watched Ace's reaction, pondering what to say next. This kid actually knew how to back down; it wasn't for nothing that he'd kept watch all night.

"Well, you can't make unreasonable demands." Even if we want to get along well, we can't accept unreasonable demands.

"I haven't thought of anything yet," said Trafalgar D. Wattello. "As for the fruit, I don't need to say anything more."

“It’s a matter of reciprocity,” Luo added.

Ace hooked his arm around Law's shoulder and smiled, "I thought you'd be cocky for a bit."

"...redundant." This statement is extremely redundant.

Ace didn't reply. Looking at the face that Ace had turned away, he smiled broadly, revealing his two rows of white teeth.

The full name Luo mentioned was different from what he knew before; the words "D. Vatier" didn't appear on the bounty poster. Hehehe, no wonder Yu said Luo was quite easy to get along with.

“Actually, Yu told me your full name before.” Ace grinned mischievously.

"Nai-san should have told you before that I am a cunning and vengeful surgeon who loves dissecting human bodies."

Ace suddenly felt this wasn't fun anymore, and there was a creepy feeling behind him. "..."

"Next time, make sure you understand things clearly before you lay a hand on him or say anything, otherwise you'll be the one who loses badly." Trying to fool him? He's still too naive. "Don't let me be the one to save you in the end."

"It's an honor to trouble the surgeon of death to do it," Ace said with a smile instead of anger.

Luo sighed helplessly, "You'll only cause trouble."