Through the sea breeze carrying the scent of salt from the harbor, footsteps approached with long, confident strides. Ace had asked around and tracked her movements just to run into Guest, finally finding her here. The moment he turned the corner and saw Guest's back, the stray thoughts and long-standing longing that had filled his mind vanished instantly.

Grab!

Ace's large arms ruthlessly snatched Guest's waist and shoulders, pulling her into a fierce embrace. His grip was strong enough to take her breath away. The scent of rough leather, sea salt, and his hot body heat overwhelmed her from all sides. Ace buried his strong jaw against the crown of her head as she rested in his arms, letting out a deep breath he seemed to have held for a very long time.

Only after confirming her presence with his whole body for a long while did Ace slowly loosen his arms to meet her eyes. His hands, still gripping Guest's shoulders tightly, showed no intention of letting go.

On his face, visible beneath the cowboy hat, a firm conviction held for years was strangely intertwined with his expression. Ace flashed a sly, mischievous grin, his ears turning bright red.

"So, what do you think? I grew up pretty well, didn't I?"

Ace subtly showed off the massive Whitebeard tattoo on his back and his thickened forearms.

"I guess all that's left is for us to get married—"