Chapter 277: Age is a Weakness
A figure they never dreamed would appear suddenly stood before the two of them, causing both Koushirou and Zoro to wonder if they were hallucinating.
However, standing in front of them was indeed Kuina. She looked as if she had just gotten out of bed, wearing only a single robe. Her body didn't seem particularly weak, but the tomboyish girl they remembered from their impressions had now grown into a graceful young woman.
"Ku... Kuina, is it really you?" Koushirou's round glasses instantly fogged up with tears. He reached out a trembling hand to touch Kuina's face but hesitated, afraid that if it were an illusion, his touch would make her disappear.
Kuina pushed open the cabinet door and walked over slowly, tears welling in her eyes as well. She took Koushirou's hands and placed them on her cheeks, saying, "Father... it's me! I'm sorry for making you worry all these years!"
"Kuina!" Koushirou could no longer hold back. The paternal love he had suppressed for so many years burst forth in that moment. He pulled Kuina into his arms, stroking her head, holding her so tightly that he feared she would vanish if he let go.
Over the years, Koushirou had actually carried the greatest psychological burden. Because when Kuina had her accident, it was right after he had told her that a girl could never become the strongest. So Koushirou had always blamed himself for Kuina's injury. In recent years, his smiles had grown fewer, and his hair had turned much grayer, all because he worried that Kuina might never wake up again.
And now, Kuina had miraculously awakened on her own. Koushirou's suppressed emotions finally found release.
While the father and daughter embraced and wept with relief, Zoro stood off to the side with his mouth wide open, unable to snap out of it for a long time.
Over the years, he had grown accustomed to the quiet Kuina lying in bed with her eyes closed. Now, suddenly seeing her full of life and standing before him, he found it hard to accept at first.
Especially since he massaged her hands and feet every day without thinking much of it. Now that Kuina had gotten up on her own and grown into a beautiful young woman, Zoro realized that when he saw her, he was blushing again!
Looking at her beautiful long hair, was this still the tomboyish girl he remembered?
And the funniest part was when Kuina let go of Koushirou, walked over, and gave Zoro a hug as well, softly saying, "Zoro, thank you for taking care of me all these years!" The green-haired idiot Zoro completely turned to stone!
By the time Koushirou pressed Zoro down and the three of them sat back down, Zoro still hadn't recovered from his petrified state...
"Kuina, how... how did you wake up?" After the excitement, Koushirou finally asked curiously.
Kuina smiled slightly and said, "Actually, even though I was unconscious, it seems I could still hear some things from the outside world..."
As Kuina slowly recounted her story, Koushirou and Zoro learned the whole truth.
Kuina's state had been quite strange. Her consciousness seemed trapped in a dream. According to her recollection, she had been having a very long dream. In it, she was trapped in a pitch-black darkness, sitting there motionless with her arms around her knees. This dark dream occasionally had flashes of light and sound, which were probably Koushirou and Zoro chattering about things while taking care of her.
Thanks to this, Kuina had been desperately trying to remember who she was and what she needed to do in the dream. She felt there was a very important promise she had to fulfill.
Gradually, she stood up in the dream, wanting to find a breakthrough to escape the darkness. She couldn't receive much information from the outside world, but there was one special case: whenever Zoro muttered words like "get stronger" or "swordsman," Kuina would find a glimmer of light in the dream.
What truly shattered the dark dream for Kuina was when, two days ago, the news of Ian becoming a Warlord reached Shimotsuki Village. Zoro had taken the newspaper and angrily read the news in front of Kuina's bed.
At that time, Zoro had said, "Brother Ian has already become a powerhouse recognized by the World Government, but I'm still stuck here!"
With those words, Kuina suddenly remembered everything in the dream. She remembered who she was, the promise she had made with Zoro, and the words of encouragement Ian had given her.
The dark dream shattered in that moment, and Kuina's consciousness began to recover bit by bit. It was precisely when Koushirou was talking with Zoro earlier that Kuina truly opened her eyes and woke up.
Thanks to Ian and Zoro's careful care over the years, although Kuina had lain in bed for a long time, her muscles hadn't atrophied. After waking up and adjusting a little, she could barely stand. She slowly walked out of her room, came to the dojo outside, and after hearing the conversation between Koushirou and Zoro, couldn't help but speak up.
After Kuina slowly explained her physical condition, Koushirou breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled Kuina over, checked her condition, and then couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.
Shouldn't he laugh? His two disciples had grown up, and his only daughter had finally awakened. It was as if the greatest happiness had suddenly descended upon him. He felt that even if he died now, he would have no regrets.
But just then, Zoro angrily punched the floor, making Koushirou and Kuina look at him in surprise.
"What's wrong with you?" Kuina asked him.
Zoro pointed at her and said, "Are you an idiot? Can't you see I'm angry right now?"
"Why are you angry?" Koushirou asked with his signature squinting smile.
"Of course I'm angry!" Zoro shouted. "Ian went and got a Devil Fruit for Kuina, and I was thinking I'd find a way to wake her up when I went to sea. But now Kuina wakes up on her own, and it's because of the news of Ian becoming a Warlord! That means he's taken care of everything! What's the point of me going to sea then?!"
"Hahaha!" Koushirou laughed happily at this.
Indeed, both Ian and Kuina deeply cared for her from the bottom of their hearts. Zoro was actually frustrated because he couldn't be useful. Koushirou naturally found this amusing.
But an idiot is an idiot. He didn't stop to think how Kuina would feel hearing that.
Although she had grown into a graceful young woman, Kuina's original personality hadn't changed. She couldn't help but shout at Zoro, "You idiot, are you saying you wish I hadn't woken up so soon?!"
"I didn't say that!" Zoro blushed, turned away, and snorted, "I was just thinking, now that you tomboy are awake, I won't have any peace and quiet anymore!"
"You want to pick a fight, don't you!" Kuina reached out and poked Zoro's forehead.
Seeing this, Koushirou laughed happily again. These two really had such a special relationship—arguing the moment they met, neither willing to back down.
Zoro crossed his arms and gritted his teeth, saying, "You're the one who wants to fight, aren't you? I forgot to ask, what did you mean by that earlier? What do you mean my ship is yours to use first?"
"Hmph!" Kuina snorted. "I'm older than you, you haven't forgotten that, have you?"
"So what?" Zoro asked.
"Being older means I turn 18 before you!" Kuina poked Zoro's forehead again, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. "That means I can go to sea before you! So your ship has to be mine!"
Boom! Zoro was struck by a thunderbolt, completely stunned!