Several dark lines appeared on Daren's forehead, and the corners of his eyes twitched.
That bastard Tokikake… Sooner or later, I'll deal with him.
He rolled his eyes in annoyance, then looked down at Amatsuki Toki, who was sobbing in his arms, and gently said,
"That was just some nonsense Tokikake made up. Don't worry, I'm fine—tough as ever."
A mischievous grin crept across his face.
"If you still don't believe me, I can prove it to you right now."
Toki blinked, confused for a second, then seemed to realize what he meant. With a startled "Ah!", her face turned crimson as she quickly pulled away from Daren's arms, shyly fidgeting with her long fingers.
"Ahem..."
A dry cough interrupted them from across the room.
"Hey, I'm the Lightning Man, not the Invisible Man."
Momonga's voice cut through the moment, his face full of exasperation.
Daren shot him a glare.
"You say you're the Lightning Man? Then you should've disappeared like lightning already."
"And quit pretending to be some wide-eyed innocent. I may not be stationed in the North Blue, but I've heard plenty. You're a battle-hardened Marine officer, don't act so pure."
Momonga: ...
His face flushed red, and he stammered but couldn't come up with a rebuttal.
"You must be Momonga-san, right? It's a pleasure to meet you—I'm Amatsuki Toki."
Toki, ever gentle and thoughtful, stepped in just in time to ease the tension and smoothly changed the subject.
"My husband's mentioned you many times. He says you're the comrade he trusts most, someone he'd entrust his life to."
Still blushing faintly from the earlier moment, Toki carried herself with composed maturity. She smiled softly and extended her hand.
Momonga blinked, momentarily caught off guard. Her graceful demeanor and quiet strength won him over instantly.
No wonder Daren, that shameless flirt, is completely wrapped around her finger…
He gently took her hand, giving it a brief shake before pulling back with a smile.
"Nice to meet you, sister-in-law."
Toki responded with a shy smile.
"All right, that's enough, Momonga. Quit standing around."
Daren didn't bother hiding the dismissal in his tone.
"Time to get back to the North Blue."
Momonga: ...
He sighed, then vanished in a flash of lightning.
...
"Now that we're alone, how about I show you just how strong this body of mine really is?"
Daren grinned at Toki, his throat suddenly dry.
Ever since he'd completed the training for his Indestructible Body, his physical constitution had undergone massive enhancements. His appetite—among other urges—had grown significantly.
Maybe it was a side effect of his inhuman body. Daren suspected elevated hormone levels were the cause.
Take Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, for example—she had a "steel body," but was constantly binge-eating and obsessed with having kids. Then there's Kaido, who also had an indestructible body, but ended up drowning himself in booze and self-harm.
It had been nearly half a month since their last time together. Now, seeing the gentle and captivating Toki again, the urge was hard to ignore.
Toki shot him a playful yet reproachful glare.
"Your injuries still haven't fully healed. You need more rest and shouldn't push yourself too hard."
"Also, there's something I want to tell you."
Daren casually wrapped an arm around Toki's slender waist, his hand beginning to wander as he smiled carelessly.
"Hmm? Go on, I'm listening…"
As Daren moved, Toki's voice gradually turned soft and breathy, her cheeks flushed as she whispered,
"Husband… I'm pregnant."
Daren's hand froze mid-motion, his expression stiffening.
I'm going to be a father!?
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Really?"
"Mm." Amatsuki Toki gave a gentle nod, her face blushing as she looked up at him expectantly.
"That's amazing!!"
Daren stood there stunned for a moment, then quickly snapped back to reality, his face lighting up with joy. He carefully helped Toki sit up, his voice tender.
"When did you find out?"
Seeing the warmth in his eyes and his gentle movements, Toki's heart felt like it might melt.
"I found out the last time you came back. But things were intense with the war going on, and I didn't want to distract you, so I kept it to myself."
A pang of guilt surged through Daren's chest. He had been so focused on training and fighting that he hadn't even realized Toki was pregnant.
He pressed his lips together and said sincerely,
"Toki, I'm sorry."
Toki gently shook her head and smiled.
"You're a great hero, husband. I shouldn't trouble you with things at home."
Her hand moved softly over her slightly rounded belly, her beautiful face glowing with a maternal warmth that made her all the more captivating.
"I'm truly happy to be carrying your child."
Seeing her like this, Daren suddenly became flustered. He stammered,
"T-Then lie down and rest. I'll get up…"
This was his first time becoming a father, even across two lifetimes. A wave of emotion he couldn't put into words washed over him.
He began to push himself up, trying to make space for Toki on the bed.
Watching his awkward fumbling, Toki couldn't help but giggle, covering her mouth as she smiled.
"I'm fine. You're the one who needs to rest right now, husband."
"Promise me you'll heal up soon, okay?"
Daren nodded seriously.
"Mission accepted!"
Then, looking a little embarrassed, he added,
"Um… Toki, I didn't know just now…"
A blush crept across Toki's cheeks. She avoided his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I can… help you with that, husband…"
"Huh?"
Daren blinked.
"No, no, your body's under more strain—"
Before he could finish, Toki had already lowered her head, her face burning red.
...
Fifteen minutes later.
Toki rinsed her mouth in the bathroom of the private ward, then said goodbye to Daren.
As her figure slowly disappeared through the door, a gentle smile tugged at Daren's lips.
He was going to be a father.
The thought alone brought a new weight to his shoulders—an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
After a moment of contemplation, he pulled out his military Den Den Mushi and dialed Sengoku's frequency.
The line connected quickly.
"Daren? What's the matter?" Sengoku's puzzled voice came through.
Daren spoke calmly, "Admiral Sengoku, I took down Shiki this time. That should count as my main achievement, right?"
"Of course. I won't take your credit. Promotions are still under discussion, but I can guarantee one thing—you're definitely getting that Admiral candidate spot. Don't worry, Daren. Besides that, as long as your requests are reasonable, I can approve them on behalf of headquarters."
"That's good."
Daren lit a cigar and said,
"I'd like to use part of my military merit. Please arrange for the best doctors and medical team in headquarters, and raise the security level of my residence to the highest."
"That sudden? Something wrong with your body? Why the need for protection?" Sengoku asked, confused.
Daren exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes gazing out the window at the sea beyond.
Gone was the sharp, cold, and rebellious edge in his gaze—what remained was a calm maturity.
"Toki's pregnant," he said with a soft smile.
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Sengoku burst into laughter.
"That's fantastic news! Congratulations, you little brat!"
"Don't worry, I'll get everything arranged right away!"
He pounded his chest over the line, promising with full confidence.