Kuina grabbed Hera's hand, brought her inside the ship, and asked with a smile, "Don't you have anything to say?"
Hera was a little flustered: "Kuina, let me explain, they all initiated this."
Kuina looked at Hera's embarrassed appearance, hugged her, and said, "It's fine, I'm not here to settle scores with you."
Then she started kneading Hera's little face, shaping it into various expressions, and said fiercely, "It's all your fault for having such a cute face, such strong appeal."
Hera's face was being contorted by the kneading, and she draped her arms over Kuina's arms.
Kuina took the opportunity to hug Hera tightly and whispered, "When we were on Fish-Man Island, I asked Shyarly, and I knew back then that there would be many people by your side in the future."
"After all, throughout this journey, no one knows your charm better than I do."
Kuina's voice grew softer, and Hera, unsure how to handle the situation, wrapped her free hands around Kuina.
"I was the first one here, those Lustful Cats."
Saying this, Kuina's tone turned somewhat angry. She suddenly looked up, staring intensely into Hera's eyes.
"I've decided. From now on, you have to tell me everything others do to you, and I have to do it too."
Hera's eyes widened in shock at Kuina's words.
Kuina continued, "What's wrong? Don't you like me? Didn't you say that once someone boards the ship, they belong to you? Why are you scared now?"
Then, Kuina covered Hera's eyes. She felt a warmth on her lips as Kuina kissed her. After a long moment, their lips separated.
The hand Kuina used to cover Hera's eyes had long since dropped. After calming down, Kuina realized how bold her action was, and her face immediately flushed red. As if she had nothing left to lose, she declared:
"It's too late even if you're scared now. The will of the future Strongest Swordsman in the World will not be swayed by others."
Hera was still immersed in the soft sensation on her lips. Only then did she finally react, murmuring, "Do it again."
Kuina didn't quite hear her and asked, "What did you say?"
Hera looked at Kuina's lips with a hazy gaze and whispered, "Kiss me again, I didn't open my eyes just now."
Seeing the shy Hera, Kuina could no longer suppress the desire in her heart. She pushed Hera onto the bed and kissed her.
After another long moment of separation, Hera recalled the time spent with Kuina. Yes, ever since entering the Dojo, this girl had always been by her side,
From the Dojo, to the Marine Training Camp, and now aboard the argo, she had always been with Hera. When Hera encountered enemies, she always confidently entrusted the enemy swordsmen to Kuina.
They had long since become inseparable.
Hera said, "It's been four years since Teacher Genzo's Dojo. Whether it's four years, forty years, four hundred years, or forever, we will be together. I won't let my Swordsman run away."
Kuina looked at Hera pinned beneath her, leaned close to Hera's ear, and said, "Then tell me, what did Ain and Reiju do to you?"
As she spoke, she took hold of Hera's hands, imitating Reiju who had just been helping Hera absorb poison.
Hera looked at Kuina sitting on top of her and could only weakly say, "Other than what Reiju just did, she didn't do anything else. Ain just touched my ear."
The shy Hera's voice grew quieter and quieter.
But even a faint sound couldn't escape Kuina's ears. She released Hera's hands, her waist went soft, and she leaned her upper body beside Hera.
"Is that so?" Saying this, she touched Hera's ear in the same way Ain had.
Hera trembled slightly, a change Kuina, who was straddling her waist, immediately noticed: "Oh, so this is a weak spot? Then I'll have to train it thoroughly."
Then, she leaned close to Hera's ear and asked, "Anything else?"
Hera said in a trembling voice, "N-nothing else, just that."
Seeing Hera's reaction, the beast inside Kuina seemed to awaken, and she said to Hera, "Then what happens next will be the first time."
Hera's expression was shy yet held a trace of anticipation, though her mouth protested, "No, isn't doing something like this right now inappropriate?"
However, her spirit dress honestly began to disperse on its own.
Kuina's hand touched Hera's Peaks. The fullness in her grasp made her involuntarily squeeze twice, saying, "Captain, yours isn't small either."
Panting sounds came from Hera's mouth. The bedroom door was quietly closed by an Elf yet to be noticed by anyone. Tonight was still very long.
Reiju, who had run halfway and returned, asked Ain curiously, "Where are the Captain and Kuina? Why aren't they coming out for dinner?"
Ain pouted and looked at the closed door: "Kuina pulled the Captain into the room, and they still haven't come out."
Perona, standing nearby, volunteered, raising her hand: "I'll go. I'll go see what the Captain and Kuina are doing. They won't even come out for dinner."
Saying this, she was about to let her soul leave her body and pass through the door to call the Captain.
However, her soul form was caught by Ain's hand, which was imbued with Armament Haki: "No, no, no, just let those two stay alone a bit longer. They'll come out when they're hungry."
The more mature Reiju seemed to realize something too and advised, "Yeah, they aren't coming out because they must be busy with something. What if you interrupt them by going in?"
Perona said, "Fine, it's just that I'm a little worried about the Captain and Kuina. I wonder if something happened since they've been in there so long."
Ain said, "You still don't trust the Captain's strength? Besides, the argo hasn't had any anomalies, right, Nami?"
Nami nodded. Being connected to the argo through the wires, she knew the ship's status best. Other than some vibrations from the room where Kuina and Hera were behind the closed door, there were no other incidents.
It wasn't until deep into the night that the locked door was opened. A sneaky head peeked out. After Kuina observed that no one was around, she walked out, picked up the food left outside, and prepared to return to the room.
As soon as Kuina stepped out, the lights on the argo turned on, and everyone's gaze fell upon Kuina. Reiju asked in a teasing tone, "Where's Hera? Why isn't she coming out?"
Kuina quickly said, "Hera is a bit tired. I came out first to grab some food."
Ain also teased, "What about the City of Devouring Time? Isn't it filled with lots of food?"
Kuina's face flushed red. She took the food and returned to the room, leaving only the words behind in the air: "She fell asleep. I'm going back too."
Laughter from the other crew members was heard outside.
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