Chapter 16: From Now On, You’re My Big Brother

"As for me, I was teaching him a lesson. Resorting to violence indiscriminately doesn’t solve anything; you need to have a scale in your heart, weigh the other’s intentions, and understand the difference between good and evil. Unfortunately, he couldn’t discern my goodwill. I couldn’t truly hurt him, but I had to quiet him so he’d reflect. Honestly, I’ve gone to great pains," Tang Shen said, his face full of sighs.

It seemed reasonable, yet there was something off about it. Still, everything the teacher said was right.

Kuina looked up respectfully and said, "Teacher, your intentions are noble."

Tang Shen didn’t blush at all; he nodded silently, then gazed with pride at Zoro, who was grimacing, wanting to touch his forehead but afraid, tears trembling in his eyes—a masterpiece of an expression.

This was the later arrogant, invincible Zoro, and bullying him now felt exhilarating. Tang Shen only felt utterly refreshed.

Yes, you guessed right.

Indeed, he simply wanted to beat him.

Zoro climbed up from the ground, baring his teeth, glaring fiercely at Tang Shen, and declared arrogantly, "You defeated me. From today on, you’re my big brother. Any objections?"

Tang Shen was speechless. Is this how you acknowledge a big brother?

So brazen—almost like begging for another beating. And he even asked if there were objections? Are you recruiting followers?

He never expected that the future swordsman, so calm and rational, who dared to challenge anything, would have such a proud, petulant personality now.

[Roronoa Zoro’s affection for you +20]
[Roronoa Zoro’s respect for you +10]

Just then, a system prompt sounded in his ears.

Surprised? Unexpected?

Didn’t see that coming, did you?

Indeed, Tang Shen was utterly unprepared. At the sound of the notification, his eyes nearly popped from their sockets, disbelief spreading across his face. He wanted to shout 'awesome!' to express his complicated and indescribable feelings.

He found himself stunned by Zoro’s peculiar mindset, so different from ordinary people.

Could he be a masochist?

The world is vast and truly full of wonders.

He’d teased Zoro, enraged him, and even knocked him down with a single strike; not only did it not make him angrier, his affection and respect actually increased.

This truly was a miraculous game. The move was so masterful.

In reality, where could you find someone so simple and adorable? If you angered someone and beat them down, they’d probably hate you for a lifetime, desperate to get revenge.

Looking at Zoro before him—dusty, proud, but with a hint of longing in his face—Tang Shen felt a sudden, complex emotion.

In the anime, Zoro never mentioned his family, so no one cared about it. Now it seemed it wasn’t that he hadn’t mentioned them, but that he never had any. His pride, his refusal to bow, was just a disguise for a fragile heart, masking himself with strength to gain the bare minimum of respect, rather than humbling himself to beg for it.

He never admitted his weaknesses, never accepted humiliation, always holding his head high with pride—it was simply to preserve the last bit of stubbornness.

Tang Shen was lost in thought. In both his lives, he’d been an orphan, without family or relatives, struggling in the world, striving to become stronger and more perfect through learning. Outsiders saw him as perfect, strong, enviable.

But the stronger and more perfect such people seem, the more they crave acceptance and friendship.

Just as, in the future, Roronoa Zoro would risk his life to protect Luffy and the others, simply because they were his companions, and acknowledged his existence. That little ship, the Merry, was their haven.

No matter how powerful, how perfect, how tough someone seems on the surface, deep down, they still yearn for friendship, because their hearts are lonely.

As Tang Shen stayed silent, the longing once hidden in Zoro’s eyes slowly dimmed, replaced by disappointment, sadness, unwillingness, numbness—finally transforming into resilience. Yes, it always ended up like this.

He was like a lone hyena, returning to his solitary world, licking his wounds, hugging himself tightly, yearning for strength—because strength would bring more acceptance, and maybe then someone would befriend him.

So he desired to grow stronger.

He slowly turned, clenched his fists, and walked away in silence.

Just then, a voice sounded behind him, one he could hardly believe.

"I have no objection. From now on, you’ll be my subordinate, Monkey D. Roger’s little brother."

Roronoa Zoro’s body stiffened, turning robotically, staring dumbly at Tang Shen, who stood ahead smiling brightly and handsomely, reaching out to him.

No ridicule, no scorn, none of the indifference others showed—just that smiling gaze. That smile brought the first ray of sunshine into his life, making him nervous and uneasy, simply because he couldn’t quite believe it.

"I... I... I’ll definitely defeat you! Then, I’ll be the big brother!" Zoro’s face flushed, stammering, finally blurting out his proud declaration.

He obviously wanted to say something else, but in the end, this was all that came out.

[Roronoa Zoro’s affection for you +50]
[Roronoa Zoro’s respect for you +20]

"Hahaha—green-haired brat, you’re far from beating me!" Tang Shen laughed heartily.

"Idiot, don’t call me green-haired brat!" Only now did Zoro realize the nickname, his reaction slower than most.

"Alright, so what should you call me?"

"Big... big brother!"

"That’s more like it, green-haired brat."

"......"
.....

Frost Moon Village, as dusk settled, people grew more numerous, smoke rising from many households.

What was once two walking together had become three—the little green-haired hothead often teased, growing frantic but helpless, making Tang Shen and Kuina laugh uproariously.

And amid their laughter, Zoro felt something new blooming inside him—something he’d never felt before. It made everything seem wonderful.

"By the way, little green, why did you come to the Isshin Dojo?" Tang Shen asked casually.

By now, Zoro had accepted Tang Shen’s nickname for him—it was better than 'green-haired brat,' at least! He comforted himself this way.

"Of course, I came to challenge the dojo. I heard it’s strong here, so I came to face the strongest. Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a kid—I’m invincible in the neighboring village," Zoro said matter-of-factly, ambition shining in his eyes.

After speaking, he suddenly paused, turning to Tang Shen and asking, "Big brother, you’re not the head of Isshin Dojo, are you?"

In his mind, Tang Shen had defeated him so easily; he must be strong and headed to the Isshin Dojo, so he must be the master—the strongest one.