The night passed, but Garp felt as though he had survived another nightmare.
Teacher Jiro’s class had been pure torture.
Even if he had to climb the mountain three times, he would still choose that over attending another lesson.
He didn’t want to study.
He only wanted to play.
Garp was preparing to begin the day’s mountain training when his father stopped him.
With the first stage of Garp’s education complete, Jiro claimed the previous night’s rewards.
He learned another Six Powers technique—Shave—while Iron Body and Finger Pistol both increased by one level.
The upgraded Iron Body was twice as powerful as before.
Finger Pistol had also become stronger, but without a suitable target, Jiro couldn’t tell exactly how much it had improved.
“Come on.
We’re going to town.” He needed to buy paper and pens for Garp’s homework.
Listening alone wasn’t enough; the boy needed to practise writing as well.
Writing things down was better than relying on memory alone.
His son’s education couldn’t be neglected.
The moment Garp heard they were going to town, he was overjoyed.
“Yay!
Dad is the best!” He assumed his father had finally recognised how hard he had worked and decided to give him a day off.
In town, he could eat all kinds of delicious food and spend the whole day playing with his friends without a care in the world.
Had Garp known they were going there to buy paper and pens, he probably wouldn’t have wanted to go.
After a long walk, the two finally reached town.
It was the only town on the island, and it was tiny enough that one could practically see from one end to the other.
As soon as they arrived, Garp suggested that they split up.
Jiro knew exactly what the boy intended to do, but he nodded anyway.
A proper balance between work and rest was important.
He couldn’t push Garp too hard.
“Be careful.
Come find me if anything happens.” “And watch out for pirates.
If you see any, don’t do anything reckless.” “Got it, Dad.” Garp understood how serious that was.
Pirates were dangerous.
Even he wasn’t foolish enough to confront them head-on.
Right now, all he wanted was to find his friends and play.
He had no interest in looking for trouble.
Garp made his way through the familiar streets until he reached one of his usual spots, where he found a small boy playing with mud.
“Hey, Sengoku!” The mud-covered boy looked up and grinned.
“Garp!
Long time no see.
Where have you been these past few days?” Garp shook his head bitterly.
No one would believe what he had gone through.
He glanced at the mud.
Playing alone looked incredibly boring.
“Sengoku, where’s Tsuru?” “I don’t know.
I haven’t seen her for the past two days.
Maybe something happened at home and she couldn’t come.” “Oh.” Garp was disappointed that Tsuru wasn’t there, but seeing Sengoku still made the trip worthwhile.
“Sengoku, you have no idea what I’ve been through these past few days.
I—” Garp was about to pull him aside and complain, but after thinking it over, he decided to leave out the tragic parts.
He didn’t want his friend to know how miserable he had been.
More importantly, he couldn’t be the only one who suffered.
“Let me tell you, my dad’s roasted meat is amazing.
It smells incredible.” Garp smacked his lips as he spoke, describing the food as though it were the greatest delicacy in the world.
In short, his father was apparently an incredible cook.
Sengoku looked doubtful.
It wasn’t as though he had never met Jiro before.
“Doesn’t your dad only know how to drink?” Every time Sengoku had seen him, the man had been drunk.
Garp forced a smile.
“He’s sober now.
Maybe he finally had a change of heart.” “He hasn’t gotten drunk lately.
He only drinks a little now and then.
The rest of the time, he’s been taking care of me.” Garp placed a great deal of emphasis on taking care.
His father had certainly cared for him.
He had nearly been cared to death, and only his remarkable vitality had kept him alive through the past few days.
“Really?” Sengoku asked.
“Is his roasted meat actually that good?” He was beginning to feel tempted.
Garp nodded seriously.
“Of course.
Do you want to try some?” “We eat roasted meat every day.
You should come over tonight.” There would be roasted meat in the evening.
There would also be class.
Once Sengoku arrived, Garp guaranteed that he wouldn’t be able to leave.
With his father around, did Sengoku really think he could simply eat and go home?
Dream on.
“Can I really come?” Sengoku rubbed his hands together, already wishing it were evening.
He desperately wanted to try the roasted meat.
“Of course.
You can come tonight.” Sengoku immediately lowered his head in disappointment.
Garp frowned.
“What’s wrong?” “Nothing.
I’m busy for the next few days.” Garp stared at him.
“You have time to play with mud, but you don’t have time to come to my house?” “I have to help my family for the next few days.” “Not even in the evening?” Sengoku shook his head.
What a pity.
Garp would have to wait several more days before Sengoku could fall into his trap.
Until then, he would have to endure the classes alone.
Life was truly difficult.
Elsewhere in town, Jiro had finished buying paper and pens when he encountered a large woman on the road.
The moment she saw him, she grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him violently in greeting.
Before Jiro could react, she lifted him off the ground and slammed him onto the street.
At the last moment, he activated Iron Body and protected himself.
Only then did he get a proper look at her.
She was powerfully built, even sturdier than he was, with a fierce face and a booming voice.
Picking her nose, she looked down at him.
“Well, if it isn’t Jiro.
Long time no see.
You’re still as weak as ever.” Someone like him couldn’t even last a single round against her.
Instant defeat.
Jiro stood and stared at the woman in confusion.
He didn’t recognise her.
Could this be Aunt Karim, the woman Garp had mentioned?
“Long time no see.” Karim studied him suspiciously, then leaned closer and sniffed him.
Her suspicion deepened.
“You haven’t been drinking?” Jiro rubbed the back of his head.
“I haven’t been drinking much lately.” “You quit?” “How could that happen?
I’ve just cut back.
I still have a couple of drinks now and then.” Karim clicked her tongue in amazement.
A notorious drunkard had actually stopped drinking himself unconscious every day.
How strange.
She examined Jiro from head to toe.
It was definitely him.
“How rare.
You’re actually sober.
Where’s Garp?” “I don’t know where he ran off to.
The moment we reached town, he went to play.” Karim could probably guess where the boy had gone.
Then she noticed what Jiro was carrying.
“Paper and pens?
What do you need those for?” Jiro held them up with a smile.
“Garp is old enough to start learning, so I’m preparing some study materials for him.” Karim stared at him again in disbelief.
“Did I hear that correctly?
Are you really Jiro?” A man who used to do nothing but drink was now buying school supplies for Garp.
It was nothing short of a miracle.
If word spread through town, no one would believe it.
“It’s me,” Jiro said with a smile.
Karim continued staring, unable to understand how someone could change so completely.
“Unbelievable.” Jiro laughed.
“But this is better,” Karim said.
“Garp will have a much easier life now.” She slapped Jiro hard on the shoulder.
Her strength was no joke.