Chapter 13: Chance Encounter with Pot-Bellied Pig

Marine Headquarters, residential area.

Walking side by side on the street with Gion, Chika curiously looked around at his surroundings.

On both sides of the street were various shops, mostly selling daily necessities. It was similar to the commercial streets of Earth but with a touch of modern style. Since it was located in a Marine base, the signage and decor were mostly blue and white.

"If you have free time, you can come here and explore on your own, buy some fruits or something to treat yourself. That's how you'll grow taller," Gion casually remarked.

Chika felt a bit speechless. He was already close to 1.9 meters tall at the age of 16, so why did Gion still consider him not tall enough?

However, when he saw that Gion estimated her height to be over two meters, he understood. It was a local characteristic after all.

Seeing Chika's lack of response, Gion thought he felt that she found him short and quickly changed her words.

"But you don't need to be too tall. Your current height is already enough for your age of 16."

"Well, I didn't mind that, Sister Gion. There's a middle-aged man over there who has been staring at you."

Chika noticed a creepy middle-aged man in casual brown clothes standing in front of a tavern. He had been looking in their direction since a while ago, so he reminded Gion.

"Oh?" Gion turned her head and immediately saw the man Chika mentioned.

There was no way to ignore that so-called middle-aged man. However, it wasn't the kind of attention Chika attracted due to his handsome appearance. This man's attention was drawn because he was extremely ugly.

The man had his hands in his pockets, a crooked mouth, a cigarette in his mouth, and two small eyes squinting on his round face. It seemed like he couldn't open them much, as if he were... Pot-Bellied Pig from Earth!

"Oh, I know that person. His name is Kaji, quite annoying. You should stay away from him in the future."

Kaji? The Pot-Bellied Pig who would later become a candidate for Vice Admiral alongside Gion, Chika thought while rubbing his chin.

At that moment, Kaji noticed Gion looking in his direction and immediately walked over with his creepy gait.

"Miss Gion, it has been a month since I last saw you. You are as beautiful as ever. Please accept my 88th confession!" Kaji arrived in front of Gion and Chika, somehow pulling out a bouquet of flowers from somewhere, and then made a "deeply emotional" confession.

However, Gion didn't even look at him and directly grabbed Chika's hand, ready to leave.

"Eh, Miss Gion, don't go. You haven't rejected me this time!" Kaji hurriedly caught up, eager to receive Gion's 88th rejection.

"I'm tired of rejecting you. Just give up already!" Gion looked disgusted.

"Why? Is it because I'm not handsome enough or not outstanding enough?" Kaji couldn't believe it and voiced the doubts buried in his heart.

Chika silently watched from the side, thinking to himself how someone with that appearance and behavior could have the confidence to ask such a question.

As Kaji noticed that Gion wasn't bothering to respond to him, he lowered his head in disappointment. Then, he finally noticed Chika, who was standing by, observing the situation.

"Oh? And who is this young man?"

Seeing that Kaji finally noticed him, Chika stopped eating the melon seeds and stepped forward to introduce himself.

"Hello, I'm Chika Uchiha, a rookie who just joined the Marines."

"Oh, hello. I'm Kaji." He also briefly introduced himself. Kaji couldn't help but wonder where this newcomer came from, as Gion was personally accompanying him, and he was so handsome! Suddenly, a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind.

Could it be? Did Gion have feelings for him?!

Thinking about how they had walked side by side on the street just now, Kaji shuddered and froze in place. Chika, surprised by his sudden reaction as if struck by lightning, wanted to step forward and take a look, but Kaji suddenly lifted his head, startling Chika.

He stared at Gion's face with extreme seriousness for a while, and Gion thought he had failed in his confession and wanted to challenge him to a duel.

Then, he glanced between Gion and Kaji, took a deep breath, and spoke with a tone that seemed to see through everything.

"Alright, I understand! I wish you happiness, Gion!"

After saying that, he left without looking back, displaying a hint of nonchalance.

"Where did the water come from? Is it raining?" Gion looked puzzled at the water stains left on the ground where Kaji had been.

"Don't mind him, he misunderstood again," Chika disregarded Kaji's behavior, not taking it to heart.

"Oh," Gion shrugged and turned to leave with Chika.

They arrived in a residential area, and Gion pointed to a small building and said to Chika, "That will be your temporary residence for the next few days. You'll be assigned permanent housing after you graduate."

Then, she pointed to a nearby villa with a garden and continued, "Next to it is where Tsuru Sister and I live. If you need anything, you can come find me. I'll be at headquarters these days."

Gion nodded to indicate that she understood.

Seeing that Chika had no objections to her living arrangements, Gion gave a few more instructions and then left.

Chika entered his own small building and prepared himself, awaiting news about the training camp.