One Piece: Shanks' Little Jasmine

Chapter 112 Nine Miles of Golden Snow

"that……"

An unfamiliar male voice came from behind. Turning around, I saw a man standing against the light at the edge of the path and the lawn. Under the sunlight, the man's hair was as dazzling as fallen golden osmanthus blossoms, but his skin was pale as if he had just recovered from a serious illness. He looked like a glass doll that was about to break, with a unique kind of sickly beauty.

A playful breeze tousled the strands of hair on Moke's forehead, leaving behind a lingering floral fragrance. Moke raised her hand to tuck the stray hairs behind her ear and smiled brightly at the man.

"Millet?"

Hearing Moko call out his nickname, Corazon was stunned for a long time. He had only suddenly decided to come and see the pine tree he had planted before, but he didn't expect to run into Moko standing under the tree.

The rain of osmanthus blossoms melted into a hazy floral mist, and a girl as beautiful as a flower stood in the mist. Her long pink hair was adorned with golden osmanthus blossoms, more dazzling than any gemstone. Her gentle gaze, like spring snow, made people want to get closer.

When Moko called out his nickname, Corazon suddenly realized that this dazzling young girl was the one who had saved him.

Are you feeling better?

Moko had somehow walked up to Corazon. She hadn't noticed it from a distance, but as she got closer, she realized how tall Corazon was. He must be over four meters tall! Did everyone in this world grow up eating calcium supplements with hormones? Thinking that everyone was so tall, Moko puffed out her cheeks, revealing a rare, adorable side.

Corazon snapped back to reality as Moko approached, but the next second he sensed that Moko seemed angry. Corazon was at a loss; he'd never coaxed a girl before, not even during his years as an undercover agent had he ever touched a girl's hand! Had he done something wrong? Why was this girl angry? What should he do?

"Um, I, I, I'm much better! I'm sorry >person

If you don't know why a girl is angry, just apologize. That's what Da Senbei taught him, so it can't be wrong.

(Author passing by ~ Why would a marshal from the Warring States period have such insights?)

Sengoku: Well (glances at the crane beside him)...

Crane: Hmm? Something's up? O(-person-)O

Sengoku: It's nothing! (((m -▽-)m

Author: Pfft~－＝≡ヘ(*?w?)ノ Running away first)

Hearing Corazon apologize out of the blue, Moko blinked in confusion, "Why is Xiao Miguo apologizing?"

"...I don't know either."

When Corazon said this, he seemed quite guilty, his eyes were even more confused than Moko's, and he looked conflicted as if he was still trying to find a reason for Moko's anger, completely unaware that Moko was only angry because of his height.

"Pfft~"

Moko couldn't help but laugh out loud. Her slight frustration about her height disappeared. Behind her, the golden osmanthus blossoms shimmered, their fragrance filling the air. Moko stood under the tree, her smile as bright as a flower, like the sunshine melting the snow of midwinter and bringing warmth straight to her heart.

Mihua and Ella flew down from under the tree. Sensing Moko's happy mood, Mihua happily landed on Moko's shoulder and rubbed her fluffy body against Moko's cheek.

Ella flapped her wings and flew to Corazon's side. She stroked her chin with her chubby paws and looked at this unfamiliar person with a puzzled expression. Suddenly, Ella's nose twitched. Perhaps she smelled a familiar scent. Ella blinked and became happy. She excitedly stretched out her chubby paws and hugged Corazon's face.

Suddenly being hugged by such a little guy, Corazon's body immediately stiffened and he dared not move, afraid that he would frighten the little guy with any movement. Seeing that Ella had no intention of letting go, Corazon looked at Moko with pleading eyes. Such a tall guy was frightened by such a little guy as Ella. The harmonious and cute scene made Moko laugh again.

"Xiao Miguo, you must smell like sheep. Ella and sheep are very good friends, so Ella also likes the people that sheep are willing to be close to."

After hearing Moko's explanation, Corazon nodded as if he suddenly understood. Hesitantly, he reached out and carefully poked Ella with his finger. Ella hugged Corazon's face tightly and refused to let go, showing no reaction even after being poked.

Seeing that Ella wasn't afraid and instead hugged him even tighter, Corazon mustered up his courage and pulled Ella off his face. Compared to the tall Corazon, Ella looked even smaller, sitting obediently in Corazon's palm like a plush toy. Corazon tilted his head, and Ella tilted her head too, looking adorably strange.

Moko slightly bent her index finger to cover the smile on her lips, picked up the basket, turned around and went back to the laurel pine tree. As for Ella and Corazon, she let the two play around with their big eyes staring at each other, and Moko did not disturb them.

"Let me help you."

Seeing Moko squat down to pick up the fallen osmanthus blossoms, Corazon stopped standing there in a daze with Ella and quickly stepped forward to help Moko pick the osmanthus blossoms.

Corazon was very tall and could just reach the osmanthus blossoms that hadn't yet fallen from the tree. Ella also took out her small basket from the bamboo basket and flew to Corazon's side, catching the osmanthus blossoms that Corazon had picked. When the small basket was full, she poured them into the large bamboo basket.

The warm sunlight gently pierced through the dense green leaves, like a fine brocade being gently spread out, scattering a fragmented and dazzling dreamscape. The two already dazzling people standing under the dazzling pine tree were like bright pearls, naturally attracting everyone's attention. For a moment, the passing sailors did not know whether to look at the tree or the people.

"Um, my name is Corazon, and I don't know your name yet?" Corazon suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Corazon? Hehehe, as expected, millet fruit sounds cuter." Looking at Corazon, whose face was gradually turning red but who was trying to remain calm while picking osmanthus flowers, Moko's eyes curved into crescents with laughter. "But speaking of which, this can be considered our first formal meeting. Hello, nice to meet you, my name is Moko."

"Moko".

It wasn't a secret at the Navy Headquarters that Moko was an assistant to an admiral. Corazon had been hearing about it from various doctors and naval personnel over the past few months. He never expected that the person who saved him was this rumored girl.

Corazon gently murmured Moko's name, gazing at her radiant smile, as if thinking of someone. His eyes filled with longing. Moko's every smile and gesture was bright and captivating, her smile radiating like a butterfly fluttering among flowers, releasing its fragrant threads into Corazon's eyes, mesmerizing him.

"Thank you so much for saving me, Miss Moko."

Under Moko's watchful gaze, Corazon bowed very solemnly. Ella, who had been perched on Corazon's head at some point, was suddenly thrown off. Ella, who was usually slow to react, grabbed Corazon's hair very quickly this time, and the bear was hanging in front of Corazon's head like a pendant.

Moko watched this scene with a helpless smile. Her gaze returned to Corazon, and she gently shook her head. "Little Rice should thank Meme. If it weren't for that child's request, I wouldn't have intervened."

Moko didn't hide the reason for saving Corazon. Corazon had the right to know who truly saved him—no, it was the sheep. Even if the sheep couldn't speak, that didn't erase the sheep's life-saving grace. Moko had no intention of taking credit for it.

“I know, but I still want to thank Miss Moko. At that time, even Marshal Sengoku was ready to give up on me, but you gave me another chance to live. Thank you so much.”

When Corazon woke up, Sengoku told him the general situation. Corazon also knew that Meimei had gone to find a doctor, but he didn't expect that the doctor would be such a petite girl.

“Miss Moko, you saved me. My life belongs to you. I will do whatever you want me to do.”

His voice was firm, and the unwavering determination in his eyes made Moko feel that even if she asked Corazon to do something that might endanger his life, Corazon would probably do it without hesitation. However, such gratitude was too heavy, and Moko did not need it.

“Xiao Miguo, you don’t need to do this. I told you, I saved you because it was Meimei’s request. As for your gift of gratitude, I have already received it.”

Moko chuckled and showed off her basket full of osmanthus blossoms. She then took out a cluster of perfectly blooming osmanthus and placed it in Corazon's hand. Before Corazon could say anything, Moko spoke first.

"I still need to prepare some snacks for Marshal Sengoku and the others. See you next time, Ella, we're off."

Hearing Moko's call, Ella, who had been holding onto Corazon's hair, finally let go. As she left, she took her little basket back from Corazon's hand, then flapped her wings and quickly caught up with Moko. After handing the little bamboo basket to Moko, she obediently sat on the edge of the basket Moko was carrying.

It wasn't until Moko entered the office building and disappeared from sight that Corazon finally came to his senses, inhaling the fragrance of the osmanthus in his hand, his brows and eyes relaxing.

The people in this world are physically different from ordinary people. Even though Corazon's injuries were almost fatal and he was bedridden for nearly two years, his recovery speed was extremely fast once he woke up. In addition, Sengoku had the hospital give Corazon the best medicine. In just a few months, Corazon was able to travel around on his own without any problems.

The moment they made contact, Moko examined Corazon's body and noticed that he was recovering well, so she didn't say anything more.

Even though he had recovered so quickly, Corazon still felt it was too slow. Looking at the exposed bandages, Corazon bit his lower lip and turned to walk towards the hospital building opposite the office building. He needed to recover faster. Once he was fully recovered, Daisenbei would definitely allow him to be discharged. After he was discharged, he could stay by Daisenbei's side and see Miss Moko often.

"Simply picking osmanthus blossoms doesn't really qualify as a thank-you gift..."

The figure of the pine tree slowly, like a long shadow under the setting sun, melts into the hazy mist of falling petals. Tiny, golden blossoms drift lightly and silently from the branches, twirling and dancing in the air, eventually gently covering the entire path, leaving behind a fragrant and delicate whisper. The soft murmur is the gentlest farewell, carrying with it the expectation of meeting again. The words, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus, echo and spread gently in the air.